Photographing in the Desert Heat: Summer Tips

By the middle of June, most people assume the Coachella Valley is closed for photographs until the snowbirds return. The light gets harsh, the pavement shimmers, and 115 degrees on the thermometer does not exactly say "let's go take family portraits." I understand the hesitation. But after photographing many summers here in Palm Desert, I can tell you that some of my warmest, most luminous images were made in July and August. The desert in summer has a softness in the early morning and a glow at dusk that you simply do not get the rest of the year. You just have to know how to work with the heat instead of against it.

Most of my year is spent close to home — in clients' living rooms with the window light pouring in, on shaded patios, and in the gardens and neighborhood parks tucked all over the valley. That is where my families are most themselves, and it is the heart of how I work. Summer simply leans into those same comfortable, cool settings even harder, with the open-air, golden-hour moments saved for the gentlest hours of the day. If you are planning a summer session, or trying to decide whether summer is even worth attempting, this is everything I have learned about doing it beautifully and comfortably. My goal is always the same — that the session feels like an experience, not an ordeal, and that you walk away with images you will treasure. In summer, getting there takes a little more planning. Here is how I do it.

Why summer in the desert is better than people think

There is a quiet that settles over the valley once the season crowds leave. The popular spots empty out. You can have a stretch of desert, a date grove, or a downtown Palm Springs street nearly to yourself, which means we are never rushing or working around other people. That privacy alone changes the feel of a session — you relax, the kids relax, and honest moments come more easily.

The summer light is also genuinely special. Our humidity occasionally climbs in late summer with the monsoon, and those passing clouds can turn an ordinary sunset into something extraordinary. The skies over the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains can go pink, gold, and lavender in a way that feels almost unreal. When the conditions cooperate, there is nothing like a desert summer evening.

So the heat is real, but it is manageable. The trick is timing, preparation, and a calm plan. Let me walk you through each.

Timing is everything: shoot at the edges of the day

In summer, the single most important decision we make is when. The middle of the day is off the table — not just for comfort but for the quality of the images. Overhead sun creates harsh shadows under the eyes, makes everyone squint, and flattens the gorgeous desert color into a washed-out glare. We work at the edges of the day instead.

Early morning (the underrated winner)

My favorite summer slot is sunrise and the hour just after. In July, the sun comes up around 5:30 to 5:45 in the morning, and for the first ninety minutes the desert is genuinely pleasant — often in the 80s rather than the triple digits. The light is soft and directional, the air is still, and the whole valley feels brand new. For families with young children, morning is also when little ones are at their happiest, before the day has worn anyone down.

Yes, it means an early start. But I promise the trade is worth it. We are usually wrapped and you are headed to breakfast before the heat ever becomes a factor.

Golden hour and dusk

The other beautiful window is the last hour before sunset, which in midsummer means roughly 7:00 to 8:00 in the evening, with the sun setting close to 8:00. The catch in summer is that the air is still hot right up until the sun drops, so this slot rewards a venue with some shade or a breeze. The payoff is that legendary desert golden hour — warm, glowing, flattering light, and often a spectacular sky as the color builds over the mountains. We can keep shooting into the blue and pink afterglow, which is one of my favorite times to make a quiet, romantic frame for couples.

If you would like to understand how this light shifts across the year, I wrote more about it in my guide to chasing desert golden hour in the Coachella Valley.

Where to shoot when it's hot

Location choice does a lot of the work in summer, and most of my favorite summer settings keep us cool by design. In order of how often I actually use them:

• Your own home. This is where I do most of my work, summer included. A living room with soft natural window light, a familiar kitchen, the kids' own rooms — there is no fighting the heat, no squinting, and everyone is instantly at ease. We can move between air-conditioned indoors and a shaded patio, and for families with babies or anyone heat-sensitive it is the gentlest option by far. If you have a pool, a few quick early-evening frames out back are a lovely bonus.
• A local park, garden, or shaded patio. The valley is full of leafy neighborhood parks, public gardens, and date-grove edges that give us dappled shade and a green, alive backdrop close to home. These are my go-to outdoor spots in summer — small, comfortable, and easy to slip in and out of before anyone overheats.
• Covered and shaded architecture. The shaded courtyards and breezeways of mid-century Palm Springs buildings photograph beautifully and keep the sun off us.
• Higher and cooler. When the floor of the valley is brutal, we can go up. The Palms to Pines drive toward Idyllwild climbs into pine forest that runs noticeably cooler, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries you to a different climate entirely in about ten minutes — a fun option if you want a real change of scenery.

I will always scout and suggest spots based on your session, the time of day, and how the group will handle the heat. With babies, elderly family members, or anyone heat-sensitive, I lean toward home or a shady park every time.

What to wear in the desert heat

Wardrobe matters more in summer than any other season. Comfort and breathability are not a compromise here — they actually photograph better, because a person who is comfortable looks relaxed.

• Choose light, natural fabrics. Cotton, linen, gauze, and flowy weaves breathe and move beautifully in even a slight desert breeze. Heavy synthetics trap heat and show sweat.
• Lean toward lighter colors. Soft neutrals, creams, dusty pastels, and warm earth tones suit the desert palette and stay cooler than dark colors, which absorb the sun.
• Flowing shapes love the desert wind. A long dress or a loose skirt catches the breeze and adds a gorgeous sense of movement, especially out in a park or garden at golden hour.
• Bring a backup. For families and kids especially, pack a second outfit in case of spills, sweat, or a meltdown. It buys us flexibility.
• Mind your feet. Sand and pavement get genuinely hot. Sandals or shoes you can slip off for barefoot frames work well; just be aware the ground can burn little feet midday, which is one more reason we shoot at the cool edges of the day.

Staying cool and comfortable during the session

A summer session is a small expedition, and a little preparation keeps everyone happy. Here is what I encourage every client to bring, and what I bring myself.

• Water, more than you think. Hydrate well the day before and the morning of, and bring cold bottles for everyone. I keep extra in my bag.
• Sun protection. Sunscreen applied early (and rubbed in fully so it does not show), plus hats and sunglasses for the in-between moments while we move between setups.
• A cooler with cold towels. A few damp, chilled washcloths in a small cooler are a lifesaver for cooling necks and wrists between frames.
• Shade you can carry. A large umbrella or a pop-up canopy gives us a cool base camp, especially for the youngest and oldest members of the group.
• Snacks for the kids. A happy, fed child is a photogenic child. Keep treats handy for between-shot resets.
• Easy, breathable touch-ups. Skip heavy makeup that can slide in the heat; a light, sweat-friendly approach holds up far better.

My own approach is to keep the pace gentle even when it is hot. We take breaks in the shade, we never push a child past their limit, and we let the session breathe. That steadiness is part of how I work in every season, but it earns its keep in summer.

Common summer mistakes to avoid

After enough desert summers, I have seen the same handful of missteps trip people up. They are all easy to avoid once you know them.

• Booking midday. It is the most common one. The light is unflattering and the heat is genuinely unsafe for a long session. We simply do not shoot at noon in July.
• Underestimating the morning option. People resist the early call time and then thank me afterward. Morning is often the best slot of the whole summer.
• Overdressing. Heavy fabrics and dark layers look beautiful in a March session and miserable in an August one.
• Forgetting the kids' rhythm. Scheduling a session over nap time or right after a hot afternoon sets everyone up for a hard time. We build the plan around the children.
• No shade plan. Choosing a wide-open location with nowhere to retreat between setups. Even a single shade umbrella changes the whole experience.
• Skipping a weather check. Late-summer monsoon storms can roll in fast. I always watch the forecast and keep a backup window so we are never caught out.

What to expect when you book a summer session with me

When we plan a summer shoot, I will start by asking who is coming and how everyone handles the heat, then build the timing and location around that. For many families that means staying in the cool of home with the window light, or meeting at a shady local park; if you are set on the open-air, golden-sky look, we pick a sunrise or golden-hour window and a spot with shade or an easy escape from the sun. Either way we keep the session focused so no one is overheating. I will send you wardrobe guidance ahead of time and a short list of what to bring. On the day, I keep things slow and reassuring — we work with the light, take our breaks, and let the real moments happen.

If a storm or a heat warning makes the day genuinely unworkable, we reschedule. Your comfort and safety come first, always, and the images are always better for it.

A few related guides you may find helpful as you plan:

• Chasing desert golden hour in the Coachella Valley
• The best photo locations in Palm Springs and Palm Desert
• What to wear for your desert family session

A warm invitation

Summer in the desert asks a little more of us — an early alarm, a cooler full of water, a flexible eye on the sky. But it gives back something special: the cool ease of a session at home, quiet green parks all to ourselves, soft morning light, and skies that can take your breath away. Done thoughtfully, it is one of my favorite times of year to photograph a family.

If you are thinking about a summer portrait session here in Palm Desert or anywhere across the Coachella Valley — whether in the comfort of your own home or out in the desert at golden hour — tell me a little about your family and what you are hoping for, and we will shape a plan that fits. You can reach me any time through my contact page. I would love to hear from you.