The Drive

A few weeks ago my family was lucky enough to travel to Pagosa Springs for a truly magical shoot. We traveled from Denver, southwest through the San Juans. I am pretty used to the majestic views of the Rockies, but the San Juans took my breath away. We passed over the front range, into a large plateau. After several hours these mountains grew like titans suddenly off the plains. The trip was over 5 hours, but hardly felt like it with such insanely gorgeous views! 

The Scouting

We experienced the restoring hot springs in Pagosa Springs, I totally recommend the springs if you are in the area. On Saturday night, we scouted the location, right at sunset. Again, the views made it hardly feel like another hour’s drive. The forest in Pagosa Springs is totally different from the forests around Vail and Breckinridge. The trees are larger and taller, the forest floor is alive, like a green carpet, and in the trees Spanish moss, white wisps moving in the breeze. The falls where we were shooting were in a deep canyon, a major challenge for lighting, and can lose light hours before actual sunset. This forest was filled with cool logs and stumps, small trees and roots, beautiful backdrops with the human body. We finally got to the falls, watching them pound the pool of water below, hitting pine trees on its path, misting the area with fresh pine scent. We followed the creek and found that the canyon wall reflected orange light on the water, but only for brief moment before casting the canyon into shadow with the setting sun. Even though the creek was pure snow melt, I knew we had to take photos in the water. On the ride home I noticed several cars pulled over on the side of the dirt road. Just at sunset when the tips of the mountains were pinks and purples, the wide plain to our left held the largest herd of Elk I have ever seen. Young and old, all moving and buggeling to each other. 

The Shoot

The next night we had the even more glorious light. I had the joy of working with a lovely mama who feels at home in nature. She wanted to have a session to do something for herself. My spirit really sings with such a pure intention for the art, I love the self care. I can definitely relate as a mother myself, it can be so easy to be caught up in the needs of your children. But you bring them the best mother when you are living for yourself as well. She looks incredible in the magical forest light. I love showing different parts of her personality and different characters with her different looks. She was so present and committed to getting gorgeous photos and you can tell. If I was her I would enlarge so many of these for my home! I have so much gratitude for this shoot, I have the best job ever!

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