PhoenixPhotographer

An honest look at my life two years post-grad

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As of today, I’m exactly two years post-grad. In December of 2017, I graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a degree in photojournalism. I’ve written this blog post a few times & deleted because I’m not sure how to structure my feelings of the last two years into words. If you asked me on December 16th, 2017 what I wanted to be doing two years from then, I’d probably tell you living out in Arizona with my high school sweetheart & pursuing photography full-time. The wildest part of it all is that’s exactly what I’m doing. I currently reside in Tempe, Arizona with Brannon, my boyfriend of almost 9 years, & I’m working on being a full-time wedding photographer.

With such a big move comes a lot of change. I’d like to not sugarcoat it & act like everything is all sunshine & unicorns because it’s not. I’ve realized that life after college often comes with a lack of clear milestones. Up until this point, what my life was leading up to always had a clear finish line. Whether it was moving on from elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, high school to college & ultimately getting a degree from college - there was always a set plan in place, that no matter what the process was like or how hard it was to get there, you had a goal you wear reaching for. I’ve contemplated if that’s why getting engaged & then married & eventually having kids is looked at as the new “milestones of life” once you hit a certain age. So when you’re living a not-so-typical life compared to others, you yourself can contemplate what you define as the important moments.

Obviously I can set my own goals now whether it is personal or within my business, but with being self-employed, it’s sometimes a weird line to walk of always creating your own tasks to complete just to feel satisfied with the job you’re doing. I think it’s often a daunting job, being your own boss & realizing that if what you’re pursuing doesn’t work out it’s purely on you, no one else. After leaving Indiana, I was also leaving a clientele that I had been building up for nearly 3 years & moving to a big city where I knew no one. I often feel unsuccessful in my career, especially in 2019. I was used to being constantly busy & having every day filled with photoshoots. I’ve had to dive into a different side of my business over the past 1.5 years to really figure out what I want to be doing & who I am as a photographer. I have to remind myself that living busy does not define your worth. In a current world that glorifies hustle culture, it can make working from home & spending hours reading marketing information & designing a website look not so glamorous. Every day I feel overwhelmed with the idea that I’m not sure if I’ll make it in this business. I read the statistics for how hard it is to truly run your own photography business & then when I look at the numbers of how many photographers there are in the Phoenix-metro area alone, how will I ever stay afloat?

I keep rolling with the punches though. Whenever there’s a low point, eventually there usually is a high. I ride that wave as long as I can - to stay motivated & tell myself that there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. Because there’s really not. This is what I’m meant to be doing. I may not always be traveling to a destination or have my weekends fully booked, but what’s that saying about how Rome wasn’t built in a day? I think that applies here.

So here I am, exactly two years since I walked across the stage at Worthen Arena to get my diploma. I’m pursuing the career I’ve always dreamed of, living with the love of my life & I can see mountains from my bedroom window. So if you asked me ten years ago where I’d think I’d be at this point in my life, I could have only dreamed that this is what I’d be doing. So I’m going to ride on that wave for now & keep chasing this current adventure.


Check out my blog post from two years ago here.


Samantha Rose Photography is an elopement & wedding photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona. When she’s not capturing people in love she can be found wandering the Desert Botanical Garden, eating pizza, or listening to the podcast Crime Junkies.

Seven of the Best Spots for Engagement Photos in Phoenix, Arizona


Where to take engagement photos in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix Engagement Photographer


Anywhere you go in Phoenix for your engagement session photos is going to be beautiful & have their own unique look. Whether you’re wanting the side of a mountain with saguaros or palm trees & water, the Phoenix area has so much to offer. If you have a love for the southwest & adventuring around the desert, these locations are for you.

I’ve created this list of some of my favorite areas that I have photographed engagements & couples in & around Phoenix. If you’re recently engaged & looking for a photographer to help you find the perfect spot to celebrate & capture your love, please reach out!

After reading this blog, let me know which location in Phoenix is your favorite in the comments below!

Phoenix Engagement Locations


The Salt River

A little outside of Phoenix located in the Tonto National Forest, the Salt River offers a variety of water views (hopping in the river for photos not required, but definitely extra fun) and mountain backdrops. If you’re looking for something with a more beachy vibe & different from the usual desert backdrop for your engagement photos, this area by Coon Bluff is perfect for engagement or couples photos. If you’re lucky you might even spot some wild horses.

Pro Tip: Bring sandals or water shoes to walk around in because there is actual sand at this area & it can be tough to walk around in any type of heels. Keeping a towel handy is also recommended, just in case you get wet!


Downtown Phoenix

If you & your love are looking to get away from the cacti & mountains & want a city atmosphere, downtown Phoenix is the place to capture your engagement photos. Offering a variety of murals, alleys, & textures – the colors of the city offer cooler tones & make it easy to either dress up or dress down your wardrobe.

Have a restaurant or bar downtown you love? Grabbing a drink after running around the city can add something special to the end of your engagement session.


Scorpion Gulch

Located at South Mountain Park, Scorpion Gulch offers a perfect golden glow at sunset. The ruins at the location were originally built in 1936 & operated as a store for many years through the 60s until becoming a bar in the 70s & eventually shutting down. The area was preserved & now is a great spot for capturing your engagement photos in the Phoenix area. The marked paths & easy access make it easy to fit in a variety of backdrops in a small area.

Pro Tip: Bring a blanket to sit down for some photos to keep your clothes clean (don’t worry – I always have extras in the trunk of my car).


Papago Park

Papago Park is a beautiful, public park located in Phoenix near the Desert Botanical Garden & the perfect spot for engagement photos! This park is great if you want a mix of everything – cacti, mountains, palm trees, water, & you can even see the Phoenix skyline in certain areas.

I recommend starting on the north east side of the park, near Hole in the Rock, while the sun is still high in the sky. Then end your engagement session with a great view of the sunset near Hunts Tomb.

Want to explore more of Papago Park? Check out this Phoenix Engagement Session here.


Lost Dutchman State Park

Although this location is technically located in Apache Junction, AZ – it’s still a part of the Phoenix Metro, making it a great area for engagement photos! The Superstition Mountains offer a unique landscape that you can’t find anywhere else in Arizona. Lost Dutchman State Park has easy, accessible trails, as well as longer hiking opportunities for those that want more adventurous engagement photos.

At sunrise, you’ll have the sun coming up from behind the mountain during your session. And during sunset, the mountains will be lit up with the sun’s glow at the end of the day. Either time of day is sure to give you beautiful, unique photos.”

Take your engagement photos in the spring time for wildflowers!

*Lost Dutchman requires a photography permit to have your session here. Photo permits currently run $50, along with entry into the park which is $7-$10/car.


Saguaro Lake

Saguaro Lake is another area that offers breathtaking views & something a little different than your typical desert backdrops. Here you can get right next to the mountain & tall saguaros for your engagement photos, all while being surrounded by lake views.

This is a great area for sunset sessions that lead into blue hour. There is a small hike involved that takes about 5-10 minutes.

Check out more photos from Saguaro Lake here.


Desert Botanical Garden

One of my favorite places to visit in all of Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden has so much to offer for engagement photos. Whether you want wild flowers, tall cacti, short cacti, or a mix of it all – the colors & layout of this place really show off what makes Phoenix, Arizona unique.

*Pro-Tip: Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds!

*Admission into the garden is required. I’m a member of the Desert Botanical Garden & can get one person in for free & 20% off regular admission.


I help plan out your whole engagement session – giving advice on time of day to start & taking you to all the best view points.

Check out this blog post all about how to plan & prepare for your engagement session here.

The Phoenix area has so much to offer when it comes to the perfect location for your engagement photos. Whether you’re looking for the side of a mountain, in the city, or an easy trail surrounded by cacti - you can’t go wrong with any of these spots. These also aren’t the only options, just some of my favorite spots that I’ve captured photographs at. No matter where you choose to have your engagement photos, make it somewhere that feels special to the both of you.

Samantha Rose Photography is a traveling elopement photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona. When she’s not capturing couples in love she can be found re-watching the Office, drinking too much Mountain Dew, or hiking a new trail.

Papago Park Engagement Session in Phoenix, Arizona

Two weeks ago, I photographed one of my best friends & her amazing fiancé. I might be a little biased (& I know I've said this about almost every session), but this was truly my favorite couple's session I have ever done. I just recently became an Arizona based photographer & I moved out West three months ago & a few months before that, these two moved out to Arizona TO THE SAME CITY & we live less than 15 minutes from each other. 

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These two have been officially engaged for a year now & I was so excited they wanted me to photograph their love & cute selfs. I've always loved photographing couples, but probably have the least experience in that area (compared to portraits), but over the last couple months I've been working on learning more about posing & all the genuine emotions there are between couples & I think it really shows through these photos. 

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So excited to photograph more couples & adventures in Arizona this year.

Backayard Phoenix Elopement


Phoenix, Arizona Elopement Photographer


You know what the beauty of eloping is? You can do WHATEVER YOU WANT.

Victoria & Sam wanted a simple, intimate ceremony with their immediate family & to enjoy a nice meal afterwards to celebrate. So that’s exactly what they did. These two have been together for 10 years & decided 2018 was the year they wanted to tie the knot together. On June 28th, they gathered at Pomelo Phoenix for a short, sweet ceremony outside in the shade & then headed inside for cake & dinner.

Venue: Pomelo PHX

Venue: Pomelo PHX

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Flowers by: Pam's Floral

Flowers by: Pam's Floral

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