Luxury Engagement Photo Session at Amangiri Resort in Canyon Point, Utah
Amangiri Resorts | Canyon Point, Utah
Tai Lee Photography | Amangiri Utah Engagement, Wedding, and Elopement Photographer
LUXURY ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT AMANGIRI RESORT IN THE UTAH DESERT
Imagine being so far away from everything that you only hear the still, quiet sound of nature. The sound of the breeze, the rustle of desert plants, the breath of the earth. The word Amangiri means ‘peaceful mountain’ and that is exactly how it felt to be there. Not only while exploring the steep cliffs, canyons, mesas, white slot canyons, and rock formations, but also while wandering through the Amangiri Resort, with its architecture and design that honors and complements the nature surrounding it. Instead of competing with nature, it became one with it and it truly does feel like you are in the wild west. Be sure to watch the video in the link to the Southern Utah Resort because it beautifully expresses how it feels to be there.
Another beautiful element of this luxury resort is the way they honor the Navajo people, who are known as ‘Earth Surface People’ with their dining and spa amenities, and cultural experiences. They work directly with the people of the Navajo Nation who share their musical and storytelling abilities with guests and also celebrate their flavors in the food menu. They offer Navajo-guided slot canyon tours, as well as storytelling and dance rituals. You can watch the video they have on their site that describes more of the heritage and culture HERE.
Now that I’ve sold you on Amangiri, let me back up a bit. I first got an email from a beautiful couple who had just recently gotten engaged and were wanting to celebrate their engagement at Amangiri in Southern Utah and wanted to add a destination engagement photo session while they were staying in such a beautiful setting—I don’t blame them! In their email, the couple complimented my work and said that it had reminded them of one of their favorite videographers, Emmanuel Lubezki, which were such meaningful words to me and I could already tell we were going to really connect creatively.
The trip down south was such a magical drive, full of all kinds of unique desert landscapes in Utah (which would all be perfect for Utah Engagement of Elopement Photo Sessions). As I slowed down and turned onto Kayenta Road in Canyon Point Utah, I pulled over and just took in the vast landscape. After driving through the gate and stepping out into the hot desert, I was already feeling inspired by the type of engagement photographs we would be able to create. I also realized we were going to BAKE. It was SO HOT—typical of any desert in the middle of summer.
The first day of our shoot, the couple and I met up at the red rocks, and white slot canyons that are on the Amangiri property. They chose the most beautiful, neutral colored outfits for part one of their engagement session that worked so well with the surroundings— a charcoal, grey suit (wool by the way in 102 degree weather), and a tan dress. They were troopers and we had lots of water to help us out in the heat. I turned my speaker on and we listened to music while we wandered through the slot canyons and on top of the rock formations. We did come across a tiny little snake who was surprisingly aggressive, so be on the lookout for him in the photos. Slot canyons are beautiful but it is really important to be aware of some of the risks, such as snakes, and flooding. Be sure to check the weather for any nearby rain, and if you are unsure, check with local guides.
One thing I really loved about photographing these two was how open they were to trying out creative ideas, and they also had a few of their own. It really felt more like a collaboration than anything and wasn’t just engagement photos, but more of an experience. We shot clear into the night to create some night-sky photos, and the evening light is always so beautiful to photograph.
On day two of we met up at the Amangiri resort early in the morning to beat the heat and it almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We spent time at the spa, near the moss walls, and ended at the couple’s room. The lines and colors are so clean, and so minimal and the outfits the couple chose on day two were just as beautiful as day one. Neutral colors and muted colors ALWAYS photograph so well. I’d definitely take note of what they wore for some engagement photo outfit ideas and inspiration. The cool thing about taking photos at Amangiri though, is that it is a neutral backdrop, so you really could play with any color palette for your outfits.
Day two was just as magical as day one and this whole shoot just felt like something out of Vogue. It was an honor to celebrate this couple and their recent engagement and also to be part of creatively preserving these memories for them and I am currently in the process of getting their fine-art album ordered so they can look back and re-live the experience again and again.
Scroll down for some destination engagement inspiration, and be sure to watch for some film photos that have some light-leaks on them. Film photography is one of my favorite ways to add to the experience for couples and weddings that I photograph and is a creative gift I love to offer each of my clients. Bonus points if you can pick them out. Hint: they are the ones with washes of pinks and reds. I’d love to hear below in the comments which images stood out to you and why!
**Images were chosen to protect privacy of the couple, which I can totally respect.
Interested in destination engagement photos that make you feel something? Let’s make magical images of the two of you. Click below to inquire.
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Tai is wedding and elopement photographer based in Utah servicing Northern and Southern Utah and surrounding areas, and provides services across the U.S. Tai specializes in creating fine-art photography that captures emotion and tells your unique story in a beautiful way.
Follow me over on instagram @tailee.photography
