Palm Springs Photo Shoot Locations: 10 Retro & Fun Spots

So, you’re engaged. Congrats! Now let’s talk Palm Springs engagement photos. If you want retro vibes and real desert magic instead of a generic backdrop, you’re in the right place.

Below are some of the best Palm Springs engagement photo locations I know of, from secret art murals to the iconic windmills, all spots that consistently deliver photos that actually stand out. If you’re asking, “Where are the best places in Palm Springs for engagement photos?” this guide is for you.

Why trust me? I’m Ryan Horban, a Palm Springs photographer with over 10 years of desert experience. I’ve worked with hundreds of couples and know every hidden gem, every golden-hour glow, and every retro door in town. And yes, I can give you restaurant recommendations too, so you can enjoy some post-shoot cocktails. Let’s dive in.

1. Palm Springs Art Murals

Palm Springs art murals can be found all throughout the city, offering rad backdrops for any engagement photoshoot. These murals include angel wings, a woman holding a python, space-like patterns, and all sorts of colorful designs. The best part is many of the best ones sit right off Palm Canyon Drive or Tahquitz Canyon Way, making them easy to reach. This is also one of the reasons to work with a local Palm Springs engagement photographer instead of someone unfamiliar with the area. Knowing where all the hidden gems are located makes your engagement photos that much better and more unique.

For more information on where some popular Palm Springs art murals are located, check out this article.

2. Moorten Botanical Garden

Moorten Botanical Garden is a popular Palm Springs engagement photo location for couples seeking a little greenery for their gallery. General admission runs $7, and the greenhouse inside is one of the most unique spots for a photoshoot, though it’s a tight space in there with a lot of cactus and other plants that can bite you, so be careful. But Moorten’s will absolutely let any engagement photographer get creative. Even if you’re not after that greenhouse desert-garden vibe for your session, it’s still worth stopping by. The Moorten family are awesome people, and they sell some rad cactus-style souvenirs too.

3. Palm Springs Neighborhoods

One of the best reasons to shoot engagement photos in Palm Springs is that the city has so many great locations to choose from. Sure, Moorten Botanical Garden, the windmills, and Ace Hotel are iconic spots for fun retro photos, but the streets themselves are where it’s at. Even a random Palm Springs neighborhood can produce amazing photos. I especially love the Old Las Palmas neighborhood, with that palm tree, golden-light, relaxed desert vibe. If you’re doing a desert engagement session, I’d genuinely recommend grabbing some shots in a Palm Springs neighborhood. Another reason to choose a local photographer who already knows which streets to use.

4. La Serena Villas

The Parker, Korakia, and other posh hotels get all the love when it comes to a Palm Springs wedding or elopement, but they also charge photography fees to shoot on their property. At the Parker, for example, which I do love as a location, that permit runs $5,000-$7,000 depending on the day. If you want to pay that, go for it, I’m all for it. But if you’d rather get great engagement photos without dipping into your concert-ticket fund, La Serena Villas is my suggestion.

5. Palm Springs Desert

What makes Palm Springs a unique location for engagement photos is the abundance of warmth and desert landscape. Simplicity is always a good thing for a photoshoot, and there’s nothing better than two people in love, drinking champagne, dancing, and smiling in the desert. One of the more popular open desert spots is behind the Palm Springs Visitor’s Center, right off Highway 111 as you enter the city, offering open desert, a beautiful view of the San Jacinto mountains, and plenty of privacy.

For more information on the Palm Springs Visitor’s Center, click here.

6. Palm Springs Windmill Photo Spot

You can’t talk about Palm Springs engagement photo locations without mentioning the iconic desert windmills. Take Indian Canyon Drive and head from downtown toward the 10 freeway until you find a stretch of windmills you like. Park on the side of the road (careful about soft sand, you don’t want your car to get stuck) and capture those wind-blown, wild-hair, modeling-type photos with windmills in the background. The coolest part is they sit along the San Jacinto mountain range, so you can extend golden hour by about 45 minutes. If you want to stretch that golden light as far as it goes, this is a great spot to finish the session.

Get more information on the Palm Springs windmills location here.

7. Ace Hotel & Swim Club

A centrally located, hipster-vibe hotel, Ace Swim Club has a little bit of everything for engaged couples chasing the coolest spots in Palm Springs. Every year the hotel commissions a new art mural that makes a great backdrop. From a photography standpoint, the property is full of rad little areas: a ’60s-style diner in the King’s Highway, a stylish bar area, white walls for minimalist shots, and the popular ACE sign out front.

For more information on Ace Hotel & Swim Club, click here.

8. Private Estate or Airbnb

Sometimes the best engagement photos just need you and your partner in a relaxed setting, which is why one of the best Palm Springs locations is an Airbnb or private estate. One of the coolest things about Palm Springs is the sheer number of stylish Airbnbs and mid-century rental properties around. Look online for a spot that fits your style. Grab some champagne, relax in a hammock, take a dip in the pool, or just chill. Not every engagement session needs to be a full photoshoot. Sometimes it’s just you and your partner enjoying a little getaway while a photographer captures you in all your glory.

9. Saguaro Hotel

Every best-of Palm Springs engagement photo list has to include the Saguaro Hotel, off Palm Canyon Drive about a mile from Ace Hotel & Swim Club. Honestly, it kind of has to, since the Saguaro is one of the most Instagrammed locations in Palm Springs. Colorful walls, a mid-century entryway, and a highly-rated tequila bar at El Jefe inside the property make it one of the best spots on this whole list. If you get the chance, order the veggie nachos at El Jefe. They taste like they were handcrafted on an iron skillet by angels.

10. The Parker

You’ve seen this spot on commercials, in magazines, and in at least one influencer’s photos. The Parker is genuinely one of the most iconic desert locations for photoshoots, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Also one of the best Palm Springs engagement photo locations, but no, it’s not cheap, actually one of the most expensive places to shoot, with a photography fee between $5,000-$7,000. But the breeze block wall is legendary, and the lemonade stand has all the retro vibes. This place is awesome, and even if we don’t shoot your session there, you should go for drinks and dinner anyway.

Engaged couples wondering where to shoot in Palm Springs can use this location guide or reach out to me directly for more on where to find the best spots in the city. I’ve been shooting desert engagement sessions and weddings for over 8 years and would love to hear from you. Hope you found this guide helpful.

Ryan Horban: Palm Springs Engagement Photographer

So why should you listen to some random online person’s tips about your engagement session? Fair question, there are some real weirdos out there, so you should be careful. Here’s why you can trust this list. My name is Ryan Horban, and I’m a Palm Springs wedding photographer, nice to meet you. I have over 10 years of experience serving couples in Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and the entire Coachella Valley. In that time, I’ve been fortunate to work with hundreds of amazing couples and to intimately explore this beautiful city. I even know where those random neighborhoods with the cool yellow and pink doors are.

Feel free to check out my Palm Springs wedding, elopement, and engagement reviews on The Knot.

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