How To Plan An Engagement Session In Death Valley
Anant + Amy
Do I Need A Permit To Shoot Still Photos?
If you’re planning to have an engagement or elopement session in Death Valley, you do not need to secure a permit for still photos. However, according to the National Park Service website, you only need a permit for still photos if:
- the activity takes place at location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed; or
- the activity uses model(s)*, sets(s), or prop(s) that are not a part of the location’s natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities; or
- a park would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity.
When Is The Best Time To Visit?
November to March mark the cooler months, so this time window is perfect for planning your visit to Death Valley. Since temperatures can soar in the hotter months, avoid summer at all costs. Springtime in Death Valley promises wildflower blooms across the desert, which peaks from around March to early April. The autumn and winter seasons are also ideal times to visit, due to clear skies and cooler weather. However, if you decide to visit in December, be ready to anticipate possible rainstorms, although these are rare.
What Are The Best Photography Spots In Death Valley?
Death Valley has many unique spots to hold your engagement session. Trust your photographer to find the best places to shoot photos, but here are a few places that draw in lots of couples because of their natural beauty.
One of the most photographed spots in Death Valley is Artists Palette. Eye-catching pinks, reds, oranges, purples, greens, and yellows characterize this singular geological phenomenon, caused by volcanic activity thousands of years ago.
Known as the lowest point in America, Badwater Basin is 282 feet below sea level. These photogenic salt flats also have some of the highest temperatures in America, so plan your visit around sunrise or sunset to see the sky change color.
This is one of the top places in Death Valley to hold an engagement session, because of its extraordinary views of the California sunrise and sunset, as well as the badlands below. The rolling hills and peaks were formed by the flow of water through the valley thousands of years ago and will provide a stunning backdrop for your photographs.
One of the most mystical and remote places to hold your engagement session in Death Valley is known as “The Racetrack.” Accessible only by 4X4 vehicle, the place gets its nickname through the rocks that seemingly travel across the area by themselves. Though no one has actually seen the rocks move, these ‘sailing stones’ are pushed naturally across the surface of the dried lake bed, leaving a unique trail behind them.
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