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!”
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.
The iconic windmills & mountain backdrop provide the perfect set-up for an impromptu photo shoot…
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.
Yes, we brought pretty dresses….but we also brought desert-appropriate, comfy gear.
Tips for Photo Shoots at Palm Springs Windmills
Bright colors juxtapose nicely against the blue sky & the desert backdrop…
Play around & discover new vantage points…the possibilities out here are endless.
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.
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)!
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.
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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Absolutely gorgeous shot of the Palm Springs windmills!! We’re headed out to Coachella this weekend & hope to get some shots out here. Are these shots you got close to the freeway? Thanks!
Hi Jada! Yes, pretty much all these shots were taken within about a mile of the I-10 freeway. To get up close to the windmills, get to Garnet Ave off Indian Canyon, which parallels the freeway & will take you very close to the windmills. Other, more faraway shots can be found all over, but especially on the north side of the freeway (around Dillon Road). Good luck!! Have fun at Coachella this weekend! xoxo