Planning/Las Vegas photo spots
Las Vegas · Weddings and elopementsLas Vegas, beyond the chapel door
Couples planning Las Vegas weddings asked us the same things: where can we take photos, how hot will it be, and is the chapel’s photographer enough? Here is what we tell them.
- Best lightEarly morning or sunset
- Closest desertRed Rock Canyon
- Night iconThe Bellagio fountains
- Ask the chapelDo we get every photo?
Las Vegas gives you neon, desert and old Hollywood glamour within an hour of each other. The trick is choosing two or three, not ten.
Las Vegas is famous for quick elopements, but we photograph full weddings there too, at chapels, resorts and country clubs. The same few questions came up on almost every call.
Below: what to ask your chapel, the spots couples love, how to beat the heat and how to plan your route.
Before you book, ask the chapel
Many chapels include a photographer in their packages. That can be fine for a short ceremony, but ask four questions first:
- Do we receive every photo, or a set number, with the rest sold per image?
- Can an outside photographer work alongside yours? Some resorts allow only their own photographers inside the chapel.
- How long do we have in the chapel, and is there time for portraits?
- Are the files full resolution, and can we print them anywhere?
With us, every collection includes edited, full-resolution photos with no cap on the number, in a gallery that never expires.
Where to take your photos
The Bellagio fountains
Iconic at night, when the fountains run on a schedule. Arrive a few minutes early to find a gap at the rail.
The Venetian
Canals and colonnades that feel like Italy. The upper balconies are quieter, even for a vow exchange.
Fremont Street and the neon
The real old Las Vegas: lively and loud. Plan 45 to 60 minutes and embrace the crowd. The Neon Museum needs its own booking.
The Welcome sign
Expect a line at busy times. Early morning is quietest.
Red Rock Canyon
Red sandstone and big skies a short drive west of the Strip. Best in the last hour before sunset.
Valley of Fire
About an hour northeast, with deep red rock. Worth it for an engagement session or a day-after shoot.
Beat the heat, chase the light
Summer afternoons in Las Vegas regularly pass 105°F. Plan outdoor portraits for early morning or the last hour before sunset, and save midday for cool interiors.
One shy couple chose eight o’clock on a Sunday morning at the fountains, when the plaza was nearly empty. They had it almost to themselves.
Casinos are strict about cameras on the gaming floor. We photograph inside the hotel where you are staying, where your room key opens more doors.
Two or three stops, not ten
Pick one mood
Glamour, neon or desert. Mixing all three in one afternoon means more time in cars than in photos.
Cluster your stops
Walking between Strip hotels takes longer than it looks. Ten to fifteen minutes each way is normal.
Do family photos first
Then take the Strip or downtown with just the two of you during cocktail hour.
Give the desert its own session
Red Rock or Valley of Fire at sunset deserves an hour of its own, the day before or after.
“Downtown” in Las Vegas means Fremont Street and the old neon, not the Strip. Couples mix them up all the time. Both are wonderful; they are just a short drive and a whole era apart.
Lulan Studio · wedding photographers & filmmakers
Las Vegas, answered
Where can we take wedding photos in Las Vegas?
The Bellagio fountains, the Venetian, Fremont Street and the neon signs, the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, and Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire for the desert. Check each property’s rules before a longer shoot.
Is the chapel’s photographer enough?
For a short ceremony it can be. Ask whether you receive every photo or a set number, and whether an outside photographer may work alongside them.
When is the best time for wedding photos in Las Vegas?
Early morning or the last hour before sunset. Midday summer heat is hard on everyone, and the light is harsh.
Do you photograph full weddings in Las Vegas?
Yes, from chapel elopements to full weddings at resorts and country clubs. See Las Vegas wedding photography.
Planning a Las Vegas wedding?
Tell us your chapel or venue and the look you love, and we will plan a route that fits the light.