Wedding Vendors
Wedding Dress: Enaura Bridal
Groom’s Suit: The Black Tux
Las Vegas Wedding Photographer – Valley of Fire Desert Shoot with Donna & Dan
Some wedding stories deserve a sequel — and this one definitely did. The day after Donna & Dan’s epic Las Vegas wedding at The Venetian, we packed up our gear, hopped in the car, and drove straight into the desert for a shoot that was honestly next level. Golden hour, red rock, an open road, and two people who were totally down to go all in — it was the perfect way to close out this destination wedding.
Why Valley of Fire?
After photographing their ceremony, portraits, and reception at The Venetian, we knew we had captured the full Las Vegas energy — the luxury, the lights, the celebration. But Donna and Dan aren’t from Nevada. They wanted to take home memories that felt bigger. That felt like adventure. That felt like something no one else had.
So Chelsey and I spent weeks looking at every possible spot within driving distance of the Strip — researching, cross-checking light, accessibility, terrain, everything. Eventually, we landed on Valley of Fire State Park, and the second we saw it, we knew. This was the place.
Sunset, Sandstone, and Total Freedom
We picked up Donna and Dan at The Venetian the next day, gave them time to recover from the wild party, and hit the road. The desert drive gave us time to chill, connect, and just talk — and honestly, that’s part of why the photos turned out so personal. It didn’t feel like a shoot. It felt like a road trip with friends.
We timed it perfectly. The light was starting to dip just as we arrived, casting that perfect golden glow over the red rock. They brought their wedding outfits — Donna in her sleek white dress, Dan in his suit — and we hit the ground running. Or more accurately… walking, dancing, laughing, and holding hands through one of the most unreal landscapes you can imagine. And yeah, people go to Valley of Fire for photos all the time. But we found ways to do it differently. We pushed the compositions, worked the silhouettes, and used the landscape as more than just a backdrop. The sky turned from gold to peach to deep indigo, and with every frame, it just got better and better.
The Naked Truth
And then, near the end of golden hour, I remembered something. Back in Whistler, we had done a nude couple photo in the mountains. It was tastefully done, silhouetted against the landscape, and powerful as hell. When I asked the bride that day why she wanted to do it, she said something that stuck with me: “I only have this body right now. I want to remember it. I want to look back one day and say, damn… I was a total smoke show.” So I brought that idea to Donna and Dan. No pressure. Just a thought. And without even hesitating, Donna said, “I’m down.”
They walked out to the edge of the desert cliffs, just the two of them, no clothes, no posing, just raw and real — and the results speak for themselves. These photos weren’t about shock value. They were about trust, intimacy, and presence. And yeah — they look freaking incredible.
Why We Do This
These kinds of sessions are why I love photographing destination weddings. It’s not just about pretty venues and timelines. It’s about experiences. It’s about trust. It’s about giving couples something that feels entirely theirs. Donna and Dan gave us that trust. And they walked away with the kind of images that will mean even more 40 years from now than they do today. This desert shoot wasn’t the end of their wedding. It was the exhale after the party. The slow dance after the last song. The perfect closing scene.
📍Planning a Destination Wedding in Las Vegas?
If you’re getting married in Las Vegas and want more than the typical Strip photos — if you’re dreaming about creative portraits in the desert, or epic next-day sessions that make you feel something — we’d love to help you create it.
