Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills

With Coachella & Stagecoach right around the corner, I’ll spend the next few posts writing about the place I call home….Palm Springs!  I wrote about road-tripping to Joshua Tree National Park a couple weeks ago, & today, I’ll include more photos from one of the stops on that road trip: the iconic Palm Springs windmills.  If you’re driving out from L.A. or Orange County, the windmills make a perfect stop on your way into the Coachella Valley.  Here, join my photographer friend & I as we give you our best “Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills!”

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl's Road Trip to Joshua Tree, Girl Who Travels the World

Have an epic Palm Springs windmills photo shoot on your way into the desert!

Map of Palm Springs Windmills

Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs Windmills

Pioneertown

Cabazon Outlets

Downtown Palm Springs

Empire Polo Fields (Coachella Grounds)

Tips for Road Tripping & Photo Shoots

  • The Palm Springs windmills are located right off I-10, making it an easy stop en route to Palm Springs or even Indio (home of Coachella Festival).  You’ll want to exit at N. Indian Canyon Drive (if coming from L.A.), turn right onto Indian Canyon, & then make an immediate right onto W. Garnet Ave.  Garnet parallels the freeway, & will take you right towards the windmills.
  • Sunrise & sunset are the best times of day to get epic shots at the Palm Springs windmills.  Avoid the heat of the afternoon, between 2-5PM.
  • Bring several outfit changes.  Long, maxi dresses, bathing suits, cut-offs, or even more formal attire could all be appropriate for a photo shoot here.
  • There are TONS of vantage points for getting unique shots here, as the windmills are spread out on both sides of the highway.  It’s cool to get right up close to them ~ but it’s also fun to look at them from far away (i.e. at the Dillon Road & Highway 62 area).
  • You’re about 15 minutes from downtown Palm Springs at the windmills ~ but other good road trip stops include the Cabazon outlets (25 minutes from windmills), Pioneertown (30 minutes), & Joshua Tree National Park (45 minutes).  Getting to the Empire Polo Fields, where Coachella is held, is about a 35 minute-drive.

Photos of the Palm Springs Windmills

All of our shots in this post were taken in the early morning hours, between 7-9AM.  This made for a lovely & intense blue sky, as well as no other people around.  Essentially, ideal photo conditions.

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

The iconic windmills & mountain backdrop provide the perfect set-up for an impromptu photo shoot…

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

If you’re more of a pro, consider bringing your own light source (like Chelsey did), for more professional shots…especially if you’ll be visiting at sunset.

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

Yes, we brought pretty dresses….but we also brought desert-appropriate, comfy gear.

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

Bright colors juxtapose nicely against the blue sky & the desert backdrop…

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

Play around & discover new vantage points…the possibilities out here are endless.

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

Look at the patterns made in the sand out here….beautiful.

Photos of the Palm Springs Windmills

 The first two shots below were taken on the north side of the I-10, by Dillon Road & Highway 62.

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

Wall Road & Tipton Road both cross the freeway, right around the Highway 62 area ~ & you can get cool shots from the bridge (as long as it’s safe & traffic-free)!

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

This is one of my favorite windmill shots ~ & it was taken on the “other” side of the freeway (north side, by Dillon Road). Gives more of a long shot perspective, with the San Jacinto Mountains in the distance.

Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World

I personally don’t use Photoshop ~ but Chelsey used it to create this cool effect of a pink sky. I love how it turned out…

Tips for Photo Shoots at the Palm Springs Windmills

Thanks for reading about these “Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills!”  As for hotels, if you’re looking for mid-century modern chic with some fabulous pool parties, check out my post on some of the hippest hotels in Palm Springs…

xoxo Noelia

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How to Take Photos at Palm Springs Windmills, Girl Who Travels the World