Joshua Tree National Park Proposal and Engagement

Alana and Stef first contacted me through Wandering Weddings, a great directory and resource for eloping couples planning adventure elopements. They were traveling to SoCal from Berkeley, CA and reached out about having an engagement session in Joshua Tree in May. Needless to say, I was SO excited! As it happens, they had both visited the Palm Springs area before and had planned on visiting the park on the same trip, but the weather had other plans then. (P.S. Spring is a great time to visit JTNP with the weather warming up slightly and the flowers blooming, however it also means a higher chance of rain. I had visited the park in early Spring just two months prior and actually had a few days of rain then!) This time, we crossed our fingers for clear skies, and while we did get that, we had strong winds too. A+S were absolute troopers for braving the gusts, but I do always recommend bringing layers even if the forecast predicts warm temperatures. The desert can get chilly quick after the sun goes down! And it never hurts to throw an extra jacket or blanket in the car ;)

We started the session exploring the desert, jumping over rocks, and drooling over the dreamy golden glow of sunset while battling the winds that raised goosebumps all down our arms. Stef popped the question not long after we began our session, which came as a surprise to all of us! Peep at that GORGEOUS ring! Stef later shared with me that he had such a fun time picking out the stones and design, that he even designed a computer program to help himself organize all the options he had. (I mean, what?!)

We explored till the sun went down, the winds started dying a little, and the sky turned pink with cotton-candy clouds overhead. We ended the night in their red vintage convertible which they had rented for their vacation. (Nothing like a vintage car that screams Joshua Tree & Palm Springs!) Alana mentioned that Stef had asked her what she was most excited about going into the shoot (not knowing that Stef was going to officially propose!), and Alana had responded, “to make out with [him]”. (LOL!) To witness love like the one these two share is a truly incredible experience. A+S were absolutely giddy around each other and just couldn’t get enough of one another. I am always (and will forever be) in awe of all the couples that allow me into such an intimate space, and thank you, Alana & Stef, for allowing me into yours.

engagement photography in Joshua Tree national park

Permit needed? Yes, a special use permit is required for to take engagement photos within JTNP.

Cost of Permit: $120

Download the permit application here and follow the instructions on this website on how to submit it. Instructions for paying the permit fees online will be emailed to you once your application has been reviewed.

Entrance fee: $30 (This is separate from the permit fee and is collected when you enter the park. This is good for 7 days, so be sure to keep your receipt if you want to enter the park again. Alternatively, if you plan on visiting multiple national parks within the year, I highly recommend the America The Beautiful Annual Pass! For just $80, it gets you into any National Park for a year, and can be purchased on Recreation.gov.)

In terms of avoiding crowds, weekdays are ALWAYS your best bet! The park does get very crowded on weekends, so if you do have to arrange a weekend shoot, I highly recommend buffering in extra time for entering the park and finding parking.