Preparing for your Grand Canyon Photoshoot

If you've landed on this article, I'm sure it's because you're looking for ways to make the most of your upcoming vacation to the Grand Canyon. It's always fun to help families from all over the world, couples getting ready to propose and even solo travelers capture the memories of their trip with a unique photoshoot experience. It is, of course, one of the most picturesque locations in the United States! But there are definitely some one-of-a-kind elements to keep in mind during your planning and my hope is that you'll have the right information to make the most of your photoshoot at the Grand Canyon.

As time has gone on, it's been such a treat in my photography business to introduce people to one-of-a-kind views of the Grand Canyon and capture breathtaking portraits and experiences there and I figured I'd take a moment to jot down some of my best tips to help you prepare for your photoshoot.

How to Prepare for your Grand Canyon Photoshoot

Bring the right shoes!

While there are some locations that I deem "park-and-you're-there!", others may require up to 20 minutes of a trail walk / non-strenuous hike to get to. Furthermore, if you love photos that involve more action, movement and candid vibes, it's important to wear shoes you feel comfortable moving around in. Remember that photoshoots highlighting the natural environment of the Grand Canyon won't likely be on concrete or solid ground. My advice? Bring the wedges or heels! But make sure to start in tennis shoes.

Watch for elk

My biggest tip for my clients visiting the Grand Canyon is to keep an eye out for elk while you're driving around the area. These massive animals are really fun to see, especially if they're in a large herd. They are fearless of the roads and tourists, I've found. So you'll often need to wait for them to cross the road and generally be mindful that the Grand Canyon is their home.

Kid (and Adult) Safety

I love to see families using their school vacations to visit all of our awesome sights in Arizona. The Grand Canyon, obviously, being one of the top choices! I'm sure I'm beating a dead horse when I say it, but safety at the Grand Canyon is so important! Being aware of your surroundings should be a top priority. Talk with your photographer about if your photoshoot location has gated edges or not. While gates are not the most beautiful sight, it might be something to request in the case of a photoshoot with small children. This isn't just important for kiddos that wander, but equally as important for someone getting ready to drop to one knee and propose and for photographers whose prompts involve motion, lifting each other up or similar. While popular lookouts at the Grand Canyon will have gates up, many areas are not blocked and bring you right up to the cliffside. Have a conversation with yourself, your family and your photographer about how comfortable you feel at all times. Open communication is important and your photographer should prioritize your comfort and safety. Trust me, getting a dramatic picture at the edge of the Grand Canyon takes a backseat to safety.

Use the restroom before you head to your photoshoot.

Not all trails and locations at the Grand Canyon will have bathrooms for you to use, so I always advise using the restroom before heading to meet your photographer or having a conversation with your photographer about what facilities look like at the location of your photoshoot. This is something to consider not just for usual bathroom needs, but also if you are planning on using a restroom to change outfits. Having a backup plan, being close to your vehicle to change there or choosing outfits wisely for discreet outfit changes is another element to consider.

Cold Weather

When people think of Arizona weather, it's not unusual to think, "it'll be hot!". But that's not always the case at the Grand Canyon. During the winter, we often get very cold weather including snow, rain, fog and wind. Even in the spring and fall months in Arizona, I always advise triple checking the weather to make sure you pack appropriately no just for your photoshoot, but for your trip as a whole.

Photographer Travel

While we're discussing weather, it might be a good idea to be aware of where your photographer is based. If your photographer is based in the Grand Canyon, it's not likely they will have additional travel costs to keep in mind. For Grand Canyon based photographers, traveling to your shoot location won't be a second thought. However, it's more likely that your photographer lives in surrounding areas of the Grand Canyon, like Flagstaff, Williams or even as far as Utah or Nevada! These distances will certainly impact travel fees and usual travel concerns. Your photographer may see icy roads and winter storms as cause to cancel or re-schedule your session. Ask your photographer if travel cost is built into their pricing and what their policy is for inclement weather situations. Hint: this may be in your client contract!

Canyon Costs

It's important to be aware, especially if you're staying outside of the park's perimeter, that the Grand Canyon does have entry costs. There are day rates, annual passes and in some cases parking costs. If you're staying within the park perimeters, talk to your lodging about what costs you can expect. If you're staying outside of the park, do your research on if a day pass will suffice. You can use this link to explore fees and passes.

Have fun! Explore the environment!

The Grand Canyon is such a unique mishmash of climates being amongst a Ponderosa Pine forest, showing off the Colorado River and, of course, the vastness of the canyon itself. If you're coming with kids don't worry about the perfect pose. Be in the present with the ones your love and let your photographer lean into candids.

Be flexible.

During summer, the sun sets late in Arizona. Your photographer will most likely schedule your session at the end of the day when the light is most flattering on you. Have an earlier dinner and plan to fill your day with other fun happenings in the Grand Canyon.

Speaking of dinner....

If there's one thing that might be a little sparse in the Grand Canyon, it's restaurant options. Being a Flagstaff-based photographer myself, I haven't spent much time dining in the park. However, conversations with my clients who are planning a proposal at the Grand Canyon have led me to one conclusion that you may not like. My honest recommendation is that the Grand Canyon is best as a visiting point of your trip and not where I'd suggest romantic dinners or staying for more than a night or two. If you're looking for romantic dining, our restaurants in Flagstaff including Atria, Tinderbox (my personal favorite) and Shift are going to meet and exceed your expectations. Flagstaff is also a better stop for a small town stay with a bustling community for shopping. I'm not just saying this as a resident of Flagstaff, but as a traveler who loves to indulge in the food and culture of the place I'm visiting. Consider adding Flagstaff and Sedona to your trip to round it out with more lively moments and memories for you and your family.

And a bonus, no-brainer reminder: bring water.

The most important thing is to trust your photographer and have fun. You are on vacation in one of the most stunning places in the world. Get all your ducks in a row early so you can thoroughly enjoy your photoshoot and time with your favorite people.

Ready to book your Grand Canyon photoshoot? Click here!