5 Best Places to Take Engagement Photos In Utah | Outdoor Photoshoot Locations
5 Best Places to Take Engagement Photos In Utah | Outdoor Photoshoot Locations
Unique Outdoor Locations To Take Pictures in Utah That You Haven’t Already Heard Of
Lifestyle Photography | Tai Lee Photography
Utah is one of the most beautiful states with stunning scenery and landscapes which gives a HUGE variety for places to take your engagement photos or even to plan your elopement. The epic scenery, from mountains, red rocks, and sand dunes, to lakes, waterfalls, and salt flats, adventurous couples will have no problem choosing good places for their engagement photo shoot ideas. I’ve included a list of my 5 favorite adventurous and epic locations in Northern Utah with links to every single place so you can find them easily, and I’ll reference what main cities they are close to, like Salt Lake, Park City, Provo, Utah County, etc. There will also be a bonus list at the end of the blog post with even more locations if you haven’t quite found the right one for you, so be sure to check that out as well.
Also, please please please remember to respect the land and leave no trace. For each of these locations you can move about pretty freely, but please respect the rules if there are any, and pack out whatever you brought in.
Need help choosing a location for your engagement or elopement photos in Utah? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and I’m happy to help! Contact me HERE.
Ok let’s jump into these epic locations that will take your engagement photos to the next level. Each of these locations would also be STUNNING locations for a Utah elopement. Or even a family session for those who love the outdoors and are a little more adventurous. Google map links included.
1 | Squaw Peak
If you want epic mountain views, this place has got those mountain vibes. You can turn a full circle and just see mountain ranges, rocks, hills and the skyline is gorgeous. This location near Provo in the canyon is so pretty in the spring time when everything starts to turn green and you still see a little snow on the peaks of the mountains. And if you’re into fall colors, this place is KILLER that time of year. You could go here for photos in the winter for really neutral landscape colors as well. You turn off the squaw peak road and drive up for a couple of miles and will reach a parking lot on your left hand side. This is where you can pull off for your shoot. In the spring and summer you can follow the road up higher to the Buffalo Peak Trailhead but it is closed during the winter due to snow.
Google Location and Photo Examples | https://goo.gl/maps/mZnm5GYPfS1dvCsx6
Provo Canyon, UT
2 | Antelope Island | The “Other Side”
This location is near Salt Lake City in the Layton area. A lot of people will typically go and take their engagement and family photos at the Lady Finger Trailhead. And while I can totally see why, there is another part of Antelope Island that almost looks like you’re in another country. There are winding roads, with rocky cliff areas, and from some areas you get a stunning view of Utah Lake and the grassy fields. Lady Finger is a popular area for a reason, but often a lot of the best spots are already occupied with other photographers and their clients, so don’t hesitate to drive up the Antelope Island road a bit to buffalo point, or Garr ranch, or find your own cool spot on the side of the road. Keep in mind, there are actual buffalo here and they may seem mild and like they are going to leave you alone, but they are wild animals, and don’t have your best interest at heart so just be mindful of that. Also, Antelope Island is a state park and a photography permit is required to take photos there. Last I checked it was $60. The ideal time to shoot here is in the spring, winter, and fall. The bugs here are INSANE when it’s warm and that, unfortunately, is an understatement. So if you’re tempted to go here and it’s summertime, don’t do it. Trust me. You’ll thank me later.
Google Location and Photo Examples | https://goo.gl/maps/ouVuL2Tf9bHXsmWJ6
Address | 4528 W 1700 S Syracuse, UT 84075
3 | Bloods Lake
We discovered this hike last year as a family and my jaw literally dropped when we got the the lake. The hike itself if beautiful and there are a lot of photo locations along the entire trail, but the lake itself is stunning. If you aren’t feeling super adventurous and don’t want to do the entire hike, there is a parking lot on the road above the lake that you can drive to and just walk down into the lake area. If you’re feeling super adventurous and like you want something unique for your engagement photos, a dip in the lake at the end of your session would be so rad. At golden hour you get that glow from the sun on the lake and you are surrounded by a little mountain cove area. I would recommend going here on a week day if you want to have a little more of that intimate, we-have-the-whole-place-to-ourselves experience. This trailhead is kind of in between Heber, Park City, and Salt Lake and the ideal time of year to shoot here is in late Spring to Fall. It is closed in the winter.
Google Location and Photo Examples | https://goo.gl/maps/LV1h4dzXZcjTjyvK6
Address | Guardsman Pass Overlook Rd Park City, UT 84060
4 | Grantsville
I was driving out to the Salt Flats for a photo session and saw the coolest grassy, rocky hillside that, again, reminded me of a place you’d see in another country. It totally gave me New Zealand vibes and I knew I needed to photograph a couple here, whether it was an elopement, engagements, or a vow renewal. This is a location that you will have more to yourself and isn’t frequented by a lot of photographers. A lot of the popular locations can get quite crowded and sometimes you just want that intimacy and space to yourselves and this is a great place for it. There are bugs here as well, but not quite like Antelope Island. I would recommend a can of bug spray though if it’s very warm. A bonus about this location is that it is near Saltair and has some spots on the side of the road that you can pull over as well that have a Salt Flats look without having to make the trip clear to Wendover.
Google Location and Photo Examples | https://goo.gl/maps/3djZdF7YcM9gzFDG6
5 | Mirror Lake Scenic Overpass
This is another epic mountain location but has a different look than Squaw Peak and Bloods Lake that again we discovered as a family on a Sunday afternoon drive. It is on the Mirrorlake Highway near Park City or Heber Utah, and instead of having to hike clear to the top of a mountain, you can literally drive to it and pull over into a parking lot. You get the view that usually only those who backpack into the Uintahs get to experience and there is literally no hiking involved. You feel like you are on top of the world, and you kind of are. This location reminds me a little bit of Yosemite National Park, but without the crowds. You could make an entire experience out of this location and have a really unique photoshoot by including some hiking and camping. Or if you eloped here, you can choose a wedding package that includes full day coverage or day before coverage as well so that you can adventure, camp, lounge, hike, do yoga, or meditate on the mountain. Your photos can be more than just having your photos taken and turned into an experience that becomes a beautiful, meaningful memory. The ideal time to do a shoot here is late Spring through early Fall since it is closed during the winter.
Google Location and Photo Examples | https://goo.gl/maps/AbA9trsGqqy2aLuq9
Other Locations On Mirror Lake Highway | CLICK HERE
Bonus | Battle Creek Falls
Utah has got some really beautiful waterfall locations that are really great locations for doing pictures as a couple. Battle Creek Falls is one of my favorites and isn’t as touristy as some others, and it’s an easy hike to get to it. You can take photos in front of the waterfall but you can also climb above it to get a scenic view of the mountains and rocky edges with water spilling over the edge. It’s GORGEOUS.
Google Location | https://goo.gl/maps/vdGAVMQJJ9mqGDwL6
Address | Battle Creek Falls Trailhead Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
It feels a little weird to not be mentioning the Salt Flats, the sand dunes in Little Sahara, and of course I want to mention Amangiri, but I’ve actually got another blog post talking ALL about those locations that you can visit if you are wanting some more Utah photo location inspiration. I’m currently working on compiling a comprehensive list of locations all in one place, but for now, enjoy these other blog posts I’ve put together.
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Utah Photo Location Guides
Wedding or Elopement Planning Guides
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Tai is a wedding and elopement photographer based in Northern Utah, that travels within the US to artistically document families, weddings, and elopements. She mixes digital and film photography and takes a documentary, storytelling approach to her session.
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