Nevada Dry Lake Beds | Everything to know for your photoshoot
What makes this location stand out?
This is one of my FAVORITE locations to shoot at. Because it is such a minimal, neutral location, it ensures that your family is the main focus. The background is neutral so the photos can be displayed well throughout your home. Because there is no vegetation, the Dry Lake Beds photographs consistently year-round regardless of season!
What time should I schedule my session?
The timing of your photoshoot can significantly impact the quality of your images. The Dry Lake Beds are very minimal and don’t have any shade. In order to avoid harsh shadows on your faces, consider shooting during the golden hours—shortly after sunrise or before sunset. The soft, warm light during these times can enhance the textures of the landscape, provide beautifully backlit photos, and keep the light out of your eyes and harsh shadows off your face!
For the best results, I recommend starting to shoot an hour and 15 minutes before sunset. This will give us some wiggle room, but also ensures we will be shooting in that prime golden hour!
What is the best thing to wear at the Dry Lake Beds?
Opt for neutral clothing or deep earthy tones. Because of it’s minimalism, many colors photograph well here, but take care to avoid bright and neon colors to avoid color casting, which occurs when tones or colors are reflected onto the skin. For instance, wearing a red dress may cause those red hues to reflect onto the skin, which may not be flattering. Neutral colors will also photograph more true-to-life and match your home when displayed!
A note on weather:
Because the lake bed is so exposed, shoots that are scheduled for windy days may need to be rescheduled. There are no trees or walls to block the wind here!
Also note that the lake beds flood after heavy rain! This can have a really cool effect as well, but it can also lead to muddy messes. You may consider rescheduling if it is going to rain the day before or day-of your shoot!
