12 Desert Photoshoot Ideas to Get That Stunning Shot

Are you on the hunt for picture-perfect desert photoshoot ideas? We can’t blame you. After all, there is something magical about the desert as a backdrop for a photoshoot.

While desert landscapes strike some as foreign, stark, brown – and even dangerous – they change their tune when seeing the magnificent colors of the cacti in bloom after a monsoon, or a sherbet sunset against red rock formations. With their dramatic scenery, deserts are highly Instagrammable settings for photoshoots of all kinds – weddings, engagements, birth announcements, and commercial and editorial shoots.

But where can you take your desert photos? Look no further than Peerspace, the largest online peer-to-peer marketplace for hourly venues and event site rentals. Peerspaces range from mansions to barns to photography studios to theatres to taverns, and you can book venues in several countries and hundreds of cities.

Here, we’ve rounded up 12 Peerspaces that will help you turn gorgeous desert photoshoot ideas into reality. Let’s get to it!

1. Coachella

Coachella – one of the most infamous music festivals in the world — happens annually in mid-April in the Southern California desert. Along with the festival are parties, marketing campaigns, film shoots – you name it. If you’re hoping to take your desert photoshoot during festival week, it’s a good idea to plan well ahead.

Look to Peerspace for gorgeous desert settings where you can take your pics. Located right in the heart of the action, just blocks away from the festival stages, this desert estate would make an excellent backdrop. On the property’s 40 acres are a man-made lake, tons of palm trees, and even a faux white sand beach. That sky, though, against the mountains, will seal the deal.

2. Palm Desert

A playground for celebrities since the 1930s, Palm Springs attracts designers and aesthetes because of its exotic desert vibe and its pristine mid-century modern architecture. This Mexican-style villa has tons of style and character, and it’s situated on a huge adobe-walled lot with landscaped desert vegetation.

Take your photos by the glimmering tiled pool with tall palms in the background, and the steep mountain foothills behind them. It’s a quintessential desert dreamscape.

3. Tucson

A city of about a million people, known for its gastronomy, mild Sonoran desert weather, towering mountains, and cinematic scenery, Tucson has some really great Peerspace venues where you could do an amazing desert photoshoot.

The Sonoran Desert is the only home to the iconic saguaro cactus, and this 4,200-square-foot home has several in the nearly four-acre yard. The oldest part of the house is from the 1920s; it’s been added on since, and through the generations, it has maintained its Latinx character. Another desert photoshoot idea would be to stage out in the landscaped yard. With its winding paths and wildlife, the acreage might as well be a private botanical garden.

Our creative sunflower photoshoot ideas help you celebrate one of nature’s most gorgeous specimens. Check them out!

4. Phoenix

Desert sunsets and sunrises make up a huge component of why Phoenix, AZ is such a stunning part of the world.

This private outdoor event space near Phoenix features sweeping sky vistas that you won’t be able to stop photographing. But once you look back down, you’ll see the lovely pool and water features, the cactus-centric landscaping, and the expansive mountainous vistas of nearby saguaro and other iconic desert plants.

5. Sedona

Technically situated in “high desert” terrain, the gorgeous town of Sedona sees its fair share of annual snowfall. This makes for an incredibly scenic contrast against the other-worldly red rocks that punctuate the entire area.

Because of those views, this Sedona villa has been utilized for everything from filming commercials to renewing wedding vows. The residence and its three acres of high desert land will make the ideal setting for your desert photoshoot.

6. Santa Fe

Another high desert town, Santa Fe’s terrain is mixed desert, grass, and forest. Regardless of the technicalities, it’s a very lovely place for your desert photoshoot.

That’s especially true if you base out of a gorgeous location such as this Blue Sky retreat. It’s only five minutes from the historical downtown plaza, but worlds away as it looks over the Tesuque Valley, various mountain ranges, and other desert landmarks. It would be the perfect setting for editorial, commercial, or portraiture photoshoots.

7. Albuquerque

Situated at a higher elevation than most cities of its size, Albuquerque is another New Mexican city surrounded by high mountain ranges. It has one foot in the pines and the other in the desert below.

This home reflects the best of both worlds and would be a lovely setting for your desert photoshoot. The interior reflects the curves and angles of the desert environment, in the southwestern color palate of clays, tans, and ochres. Meanwhile, the backyard is surprisingly green, with tall pines and other foliage, a pool, and a spacious xeriscaped relaxation area.

And Peerspace reviewers love it! Just check out what this past renter shared after their photoshoot here: “This house is the PERFECT New Mexico modern home. The furnishing, the layout, all down to the smallest details, this place manages to encapsulate the southwest look and be super chic at the same time. Very clean, very fancy. The hosts were super nice and made us feel comfortable to work in their space. I would definitely recommend this wonderful home.”

8. Joshua Tree

One of the most spectacular structures in the Joshua Tree area of the Mojave Desert also happens to be one of the most jaw-dropping Peerspaces in the world.

No exaggeration – this award-winning “invisible house” is covered in mirrors, reflecting the rocky formations and exotic vegetation to the point that you can barely see the structure itself. The house is set on almost 100 acres of pristine rugged terrain that will help you capture the most stunning desert photoshoot imaginable.

Don’t forget to pose beside the color-changing, 100-foot-long swimming pool. As a bonus, you can shoot from inside the fantastic structure to the desert beyond, since the walls are transparent, moveable, or both.

Discover more cool secret spots in Joshua Tree here!

9. Las Vegas

There are tons of available Peerspace venues in Sin City that would make a lovely setting for your desert photoshoot ideas.

Take, for example, this grandiose hacienda set on a one-acre lot of lush desert vegetation. The backyard features large desert shade trees, fountains, a gazebo, and of course a swimming pool with a sunken swim-up bar. There are lawn games, an AirStream, and other amusements that could make a fun backdrop for your desert photoshoot. If that’s not entertaining enough, the residence is just a few minutes away from the Vegas Strip.

Speaking of Vegas, our favorite indoor photoshoot ideas in Las Vegas help you take a break from the sun while discovering amazing new creative spaces!

10. Kanab

Kanab is a southern Utah city home to Coral Pink Sands Dunes State Park and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, which should give you insight into what its natural landscape must look like.

At first glance, the interior of this vast ballroom and event space doesn’t scream “desert scenery” – at least not until you step outside and see the gorgeous red rocks of Southern Utah all around you. It’s an ideal setting to base a desert photoshoot out of, and you can thank your crew afterward with a trip to one of the area’s three national parks – Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon.

11. Somewhere in the middle of the Mojave

Looking for some serious desert space for your photoshoot? Check out this 2.5-acre expanse of unadulterated Mojave desert terrain, including four retro, themed travel trailers, and a boat. Your photoshoot will have to be a bit vintage as well, as there’s no electricity to run lights – or anything else.

This is an incredible place to shoot, especially at night when the magical stars are out in force and the temps cool off. And it’s tucked away – while the address is in California, it’s only an hour away from Vegas and 1.5 hours from Death Valley National Park.

12. Malibu

If you need a place much closer to a major airport to do your desert photoshoot, this Malibu production facility evokes a desert scenario. The architecture of the structures on the land is definitely unusual, and it seems to suggest Sub-Saharan African deserts more than the US Southwest.

Nonetheless, it’s a cool place and with some creativity, it would allow for fantastic desert photoshoot ideas. For more gorgeous Malibu production spots, check out Peerspace.

Desert photoshoot ideas: conclusion

While it may seem that desert photoshoot ideas are all sand and cacti, these gorgeous Peerspace venues show you how diverse your desert shoot can be.

They’re also only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the amazing desert-set locations you can book on Peerspace for your next production or event, so check out our platform to begin your search today!

Find even more desert photoshoot locations on Peerspace