Has a lake engagement shoot been calling your name? If you’ve decided to do your engagement photo session in Lake Tahoe, I’m so stoked for you! Not only does Tahoe’s gorgeous scenery make a stunning backdrop at any time of the year, but there’s also so much to see and do. If you don’t know where to begin, no worries! I’ve got you covered!

As a Lake Tahoe photographer, I’ve compiled the perfect list for you. Not only will these activities make for an unforgettable experience, but they can also help us create some stunning portraits no matter the season! Here are 20 things to do for your Lake Tahoe engagement session! 

1. Hike Tahoe’s Gorgeous Trails

With so many scenic trails to choose from, hiking in Tahoe is an absolute must! You can use AllTrails to locate some of the best trails in the area, or you can talk to your photographer for some recommendations. You can capture some gorgeous Lake Tahoe engagement photos as you explore the trails and the vistas are are stunning.

As an added bonus, you can bring your dogs on most of the trails. This makes hiking the perfect activity if you want your fur babies in your engagement photos since only some beaches in Tahoe are dog-friendly. 

2. Experience “Big Blue” from a Boat 

Tahoe is nicknamed “Big Blue” due to its iconic blue waters, which can make a breathtaking backdrop for your engagement photos! I highly recommend Sail Tahoe Blue, my favorite sailing charter. These guys will do private charters that are so much fun, and you get the whole boat to yourselves. You can sail off into the sunset and snag some unforgettable Tahoe engagement photos! 

If you want to take your engagement pictures aboard a yacht, I recommend Tahoe Bleu Wave. Tahoe Blue Boat Rentals is great for motorboat and pontoon rentals! 

3. Go on a Kayaking or Canoeing Adventure

Canoeing, kayaking or taking an SUP personal watercraft can be a fun way to adventure in Tahoe’s mesmerizing blue waters! Lake Tahoe’s calm waters make it a great place for people of all skill levels to take part in these sports. And I can think of fewer things that are more romantic than canoe engagement photos!

Clear kayaks can be a truly unique way to experience the lake. The water is so clear you can see so much when you choose a clear kayak! I recommend Clearly Tahoe for clear kayak rentals. 

I highly recommend kayaking from the shores of Emerald Bay to Tahoe’s only island, Fannette Island for a fun trip. You can hike to the top of the island and visit the historic, unfinished Tahoe tea house. This can make for a great Lake Tahoe engagement session!

4. Go Tubing or Rafting Down the Truckee River

Adventurous couples might consider whitewater rafting or tubing down the Truckee River! These watersports can make for really fun and candid Lake Tahoe engagement photos! I can easily follow you down the river on the nearby bike trail, or I can join you in the boats/tubes to capture epic portraits of the two of you together! 

5. Try Parasailing Together

Parasailing, wakeboarding, and wake surfing are all adventurous activities that can make for an exciting photo session! I’d love to jump in the boat with the two of you as you hit the waves together! We can create some epic Tahoe engagement photos during your watersport adventures!  

6. Go Fishing!

If you and your significant other love fishing, this can make for the cutest engagement photos! You can go fishing on Lake Tahoe, any of the surrounding smaller alpine lakes, or the Truckee River. As a Lake Tahoe photographer, I love the idea of capturing some cute photos of the two of you fishing dockside or in the water! 

7. Go for a Swim or Underwater Adventure!

Why not go for a swim while you’re in Tahoe? We can capture photos of the two of you splishing and splashing in the water! Water temperatures are the warmest from July through September, but if you’re a daring couple, you might consider taking a polar plunge in winter!

Interested in an underwater adventure? Lake Tahoe has some of the clearest water in the world, which makes it perfect for underwater engagement photos! The underwater world of Tahoe is absolutely breathtaking. There’s even an underwater trail for scuba divers in Emerald Bay! 

8. Experience the Thrill of Horseback Riding

Why not experience the area’s beauty from the back of a horse? Horseback riding can make for stunning Lake Tahoe engagement photos, and it can be a memorable adventure!

If you don’t have your own horses, there are three places where you can go horseback riding in Lake Tahoe: Alpine Meadows Stables, Zephyr Cove Stable, and Camp Richardson Corral. 

9. Take a Sleigh Ride 

Winter can be one of the most magical times to document your love story! The whole area transforms into a beautiful winter wonderland. If you’re planning a winter engagement photo session in Lake Tahoe, you might consider taking a sleigh ride at Sand Harbor.

Borges Sleigh and Carriage Rides also do carriage rides during the non-winter months! 

10. Enjoy the Magic of a Hot Air Balloon Ride 

Have you ever dreamt of taking hot air balloon engagement photos? Hot air ballooning in Tahoe is a magical experience that you won’t want to miss out on!

The region has the only hot air balloon in the world that departs and lands on a floating barge directly from a lake! Lake Tahoe Hot Air Balloons offers rides from May through October, weather permitting. Your Lake Tahoe engagement photographer can tag along to capture some stunning photos of the two of you while you’re up in the air!

11. Go Bike Riding Together

Bike riding can make for an exciting adventure — and sweet engagement photos! Some of my favorite scenic bike trails are Camp Richardson Trail and East Shore Tail. These are perfect for Lake Tahoe adventure engagement photos, but all of the bike trails in the area are so beautiful!

Check out all of the Tahoe Bike Trails. Keep in mind that bikes with wide tires for riding on sand or snow are available for rental at many locations around the lake. 

12. Ski or Snowboard Tahoe’s Slopes

If you’re planning a winter engagement photo session in Lake Tahoe, you might consider skiing or snowboarding at one of the 14 skirt resorts in the area! Ski lifts can make for some really fun photos as you head out to your snowy adventure. (You can ride the ski lifts or gondolas to capture some gorgeous photos of some of the epic views in the area). 

13. Try Your Hand at Ice Skating

One of the most romantic winter sports is ice skating! You can hold hands while you skate around an outdoor rink — and your Lake Tahoe photographer captures gorgeous shots from a distance or on the ice with you! There are a few outdoor rinks in the area. One of my favorites is Northstar Village Skating Rink. They have fire pits for you to cuddle by or cook s’mores! It has a great ski village vibe but no nature views.

If you want a picturesque backdrop for your Lake Tahoe engagement photos, then you might want to do your session at Truckee Ice Rink. This scenic location near a river is surrounded by nature!

14. Go on a Backpacking and Camping Adventure

Backpacking and camping are two common activities in Tahoe. Backpacking into Desolation Wilderness can bring you to some spectacular alpine lakes. Some of these areas, including Lake Aloha, do require a permit if you plan to camp overnight.

You can take a boat out to Emerald Bay, which is a beautiful campground that you can only access by boat. If you’re planning to just visit the area, you can hike in. 

Make sure to ask your Lake Tahoe engagement photographer to tag along and capture the memories you make while backpacking and camping in the area! There’s lots of opportunities for breathtaking backdrops! 

15. Go Sledding Together

Is there anything cuter than embracing your inner child and sledding together? This can make for a magical winter Lake Tahoe engagement session! You can even bring your pups along for some photos! 

16. Try Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling can be a really great way to see the backcountry of Tahoe! The Spooner Lake wilderness and the Truckee area are popular places to go snowmobiling. This can make for unforgettable engagement photos for an adventurous couple! 

17. Have a Snowball Fight! 

A snowball fight can make for really fun and playful engagement photos that you’ll get to cherish for life! Whether this is the main focus of your Tahoe engagement photos or you just choose to incorporate a few, this can lead to some really adorable portraits. 

18. Go Snowshoeing 

Snowshoeing can make for a really unique Lake Tahoe engagement session! You can take any trail in snowshoes during the winter months. (You’ll find them at all of the ski rental shops). 

19. Visit a State Park

All of the state parks on both the Nevada and California sides of Lake Tahoe are absolutely beautiful! They’re filled with trails, beaches, campgrounds, and some of the most spectacular views that Tahoe has to offer. There are plenty of great opportunities for beautiful Lake Tahoe engagement photos in the parks. 

For a unique perspective — and for some really cool engagement photos — you might consider visiting the state parks by boat! 

20. Go Stargazing 

The stars in Tahoe are spectacular! If you want some pretty engagement photos of you and your book with the stars in an iconic location, look no further than Emerald Bay! The state park has less ambient light because it’s secluded from most of the larger cities around the lake, and the iconic silhouette of the bay can be seen all night.

We can use headlamps to hike to viewpoints to watch the stars and capture some epic engagement photos in Tahoe!

Thinking About Booking Me? 

I’m so honored that you’re considering me as your Lake Tahoe engagement photographer! No matter what type of engagement session you’re dreaming of, I might be able to help you! If you have more questions or you want to find out if I’m available to help you capture this exciting chapter of your love story, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d love to help you bring your Lake Tahoe engagement photo dreams to life!