Top 5 Family Photo Locations in East Valley Arizona
Family photos
The East Valley here in Arizona is full of stunning desert locations for family photos! Today I wanted to share with you actually six of my favorite locations around the valley where you can get beautiful photo backdrops year-round without having to drive to the mountains.
Let’s explore them together!
The East Valley here in Arizona is full of stunning desert locations for family photos! Today I wanted to share with you six of my favorite family photo locations near me in the valley where you can get beautiful photo backdrops year-round without having to drive to the mountains.
One of my go-to's for family photos is Riparian Preserve in Gilbert. This area is free to the public (always a plus for family photos, in my opinion!) and is so diverse. It even has a wetland wildlife sanctuary! Whether you want photos with greenery, water, or the classic Arizona cactus desert backdrop, you can find them here. The preserve is located in Gilbert just behind the Southwest Regional Library on Greenfield and Guadalupe. It’s a great spot for sunrise and sunset shoots.
Another park I love to use for family sessions is Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler. It is also free to the public and sits on over 100 acres of land. There is a fishing lake and tons of trails through the desert. You can often see people riding horses through the park, so this spot is a great option if you’d like to have your horses join the shoot too!
Downtown Mesa is full of all sorts of interesting public art. Whether you want a mural backdrop or just a classic white brick wall, you can find it in downtown Mesa! I love the unique look of city portraits for families.
San Tan Regional Park is another one of my family photo favorites, especially in the springtime. There is an entrance fee of $7 per car, so be prepared for that. But once you’re in there are acres of desert views and great trails. It is especially lush here in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming! This is a great option for families around Queen Creek looking for desert backdrops.
Speaking of Queen Creek, the Queen Creek Wash Trail is another great option. It’s a paved 5-mile-long trail with a much more rural feel than other paved trails around Phoenix. It winds through open deserts, farmlands, and residential communities. There are a number of parking lots along the trail so don’t worry, you won’t have to walk far for a great photo spot.
And finally, I always love shooting at Hole in the Rock in Tempe. It is a beautiful spot year-round for sunrise or sunset photos. You can find all sorts of backdrops here, from red rock to cacti to ponds. Everything here is a quick, relatively easy walk away. And with no parking fees, it’s a great place to stay and explore a little after our session together if you like!
If you’re planning a family photo shoot in East Valley soon, please get in touch! I can’t wait to meet up with you at one of these places.
