Sunrise Arch Engagement Photos on Moab BLM Land

There’s something undeniably special about Moab. The red rock, the sprawling desert quiet, the arches that glow warm at sunrise — it’s a place that feels otherworldly no matter how many times I return. When this sweet couple hired me for their Moab micro-wedding, they also decided to take advantage of something I absolutely love offering: split coverage.

Instead of using all their photography hours on the wedding day itself, they chose to separate a portion so we could do a sunrise portrait session in casual clothing at a completely different location. And honestly? It was one of the best decisions they could’ve made.

Hidden Arch on BLM Land

Shortly after the sun rose, we met up and headed down sandy, stretching dirt roads that seemed to go on forever — the kind of quiet backroads that make you feel like the world is still asleep. This arch isn’t one I publicly name (gotta protect the lesser-known gems!), but let me just say: it was worth every mile. We reached the area to find… no one. Not a single person. Just soft desert silence, cool morning air, and the faintest glow beginning to touch the horizon. As the sun crept higher, the first rays streamed directly through the arch, filling it with golden light. It was mesmerizing — one of those views that stops you mid-sentence. The perfect backdrop for capturing the two of them simply being themselves.

Why Sunrise in Moab Is Pure Magic

If there is one lesson I’ve learned over years of photographing in Moab, it’s this: sunrise is always best.

Especially if you want privacy, empty landscapes, and dreamy soft light. The national and state parks get packed fast — even on weekdays, even in shoulder season — but sunrise?
Sunrise gives us peace.
Sunrise gives us color.
Sunrise gives us room to breathe, explore, and create.

And this little BLM hideaway was the perfect place for that.

The Magic of Split Coverage

One of my favorite tools in my photography packages is the option for split coverage, meaning your hours don’t all have to be used consecutively. Some of my packages include split coverage for free, while smaller ones have a small added fee — but the flexibility it gives couples is huge.

Here’s why splitting your coverage is so beneficial:

1. Multiple Locations = More Variety

When you split your hours, you’re not confined to a single backdrop or timeline.
You can explore:

• A forest in the morning

• A canyon at sunset

• An alpine lake the day before

• A desert arch the day after

Your gallery instantly becomes richer, more dynamic, and more “you.”

2. Multiple Outfits, Multiple Moods

Wedding attire is beautiful — but it’s also formal, structured, and sometimes not the most comfortable for climbing rocks, hiking, or running around the desert.

Splitting coverage lets you:

• Do a casual, cozy sunrise session

• Save the wedding clothes for ceremony time

• Bring variety into your photos without “changing the vibe” mid-wedding

It gives you the best of both worlds.

3. Lighting Flexibility

Midday desert light can be harsh. Sunrise and sunset are heavenly.

Split coverage lets you take advantage of the best lighting conditions across different parts of the day — instead of squeezing everything into one block of time where the light may not be as soft and glowy.

4. Capture You as Your True Selves

Not every moment of your wedding experience needs to be formal. Some of the sweetest photos come when my couples are in their natural element — messy hair, comfy clothes, genuine laughter, no pressure.

These photos often feel intimate and real in a way wedding-day portraits can’t always replicate.

5. Choose When Family & Friends Are Present (or Not!)

Split coverage allows space for both experiences:

• A quiet, romantic adventure — just the two of you

• A wedding ceremony surrounded by family and friends

Or flip it! You get to choose what moments feel right to share, and which ones you want to keep sacred.

6. The Chance to Do an Activity

This is my favorite perk. With a separate session, you can incorporate an adventure or ritual that feels meaningful to you both. Think:

• A sunrise hike

• Morning kayaking

• Foraging wildflowers to build your bouquet later in the day

• Making coffee together in the desert

• Exploring a place you’ve always wanted to see

These moments tell a deeper, fuller story of your wedding experience.

A Morning I’ll Never Forget

Split coverage gave them the freedom to experience both: the morning adventure and the ceremony, the intimacy and the celebration, the casual and the dressed-up. And honestly? That combination is pure magic.

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