The bright red sandstone of Valley of Fire State Park makes it one of my favorite Las Vegas engagement photo locations! Victor and Maike are from Germany and spent September & October traveling through California and into Nevada!

We originally planned to do their engagement photos in California’s Death Valley, but due to flooding and road damage from Hurricane Hilary, our plans had to change. Valley of Fire was the next best option I knew would create the desert vibes they were after! 

Victor and Maike first met at a bar thanks to the wingwoman skills of Maike’s best friend. They both love to dance and have been taking ballroom dancing lessons together for over 3 years now! We did a few dancing photos later in the session and I could tell they have some moves down! 

Engagement Photos at Valley of Fire 

For the first half of Victor and Maike’s engagement photos, we explored the area near the red sandstone cabins at Valley of Fire. These cabins were built for travelers to stay at, but are now a picnic area. They were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps using sandstone from within the park. This section of the park has the warmer shades of red and orange sandstone that the area is known for. 

Victor and Maike originally wanted half of their engagement session at the sand dunes at Death Valley. So at Valley of Fire we went to an area of sandstone that had lighter and creamier tones. They changed into different outfits and it gave this part of their engagement photos a cleaner and brighter look from the red tones! There was a lot of different lighting to play with as well! 

Taking Photos at Valley of Fire 

It’s important to note that a photo permit is required for a session at Valley of Fire because it is a Nevada State Park. I hold an annual permit here, so I’m ready whenever someone wants a session! The photo permit details can be found here. Since Valley of Fire is an open desert, the best times of year for a session are spring and fall due to the cooler temperatures! Victor and Maike’s session was in September when it was a bit cooler than summer months.  

It was so fun to show off Valley of Fire to Victor and Maike and to get to hear about their lives together in Berlin! I’m so thankful for all the incredible couples that photography allows me to cross paths with! To see more engagement photos at this location check out this blog after checking out Victor and Maike’s!

Las Vegas Engagement Photographer 

I’m a local Las Vegas Engagement Photographer and would love to chat with you about planning engagement photos! Head to my contact form if you’re ready to start planning an engagement session in Las Vegas!

For more Valley of Fire inspiration, you need to check out Emily & Travis’ engagement session!