Best Phoenix Photography Session Nature Locations Salt River

Lots of people ask my opinion for the best Phoenix photography session nature locations. Salt River is by far a favorite.

If you have time to escape the city and head out into nature Tonto National forest along the salt river has the BEST views and backdrops. Coons bluff is a favorite and I’ll have to blog about that location later, but tonights sessions is taken at the heart of the salt river.

This little favorite spot is actually at Users Water Pass. Right before you go up the hill to Saguaro Ranch and Saguaro Lake. It’s gorgeous. It’s also pretty accessible from the parking lot wihtout a whole lot of walking. Simply park in the water users rec lot and head east towards the lookout. Behind the restroom these is a paved path down to the river.

Remember you do need to stop off at a gas station or national forest building to grab your parking pass. They are only $8 and well worth the backdrop for your Phoenix photography session! They carry these passes on their website HERE.

I highly recommend this location if you have family coming into town so you are arranging a group session they get to see the prettiest views and get the whole Arizona experience for the photos. Even when it’s overcast and about to rain (like this shoot) it’s still lovely.

So get the kids some entertainment in a back back and hit the road. This location is north east of the city and very easy to get to. It’s about 45 min east of Tempe. The location is best shot the 1-2 hours before sunset for lighting and views. So maybe pack snacks for the littles too!

This family is a past client and friend of mine, I met Lisa through a mutual friend a few years ago. It’s been a treasure watching her family grow. Lisa’s dad and siblings came to Arizona for the holidays and wanted to capture all the moments and split the cost of a session! FYI- Many photographers do not have a cap on how many people are in the session, we base it on how long we need to capture what we feel is necessary to get a full experience with our style of photography. I require a min of an hour but recommend 1.5 hours for a group this size. We shot for about that.

Enjoy their session and consider Salt River for your next Phoenix photography session location!

Best Phoenix Photography Session Nature Locations Salt River