Moab, Arches National Park, and the Canyonlands
I’m laughing as I try to find a way to begin this post because the first word that comes to mind as I describe our trip is WOW. Kelsey Haley Media, NAC Photography and I said WOW so many times as we drove through the southeast corridor of Utah, I think you could have made a drinking game out of it and ended up on the floor really quickly.
Being from the east coast where everything is hilly and green and you can hardly see beyond the treeline, seeing towering red rock formations jut into the vast skyline was otherworldly. We felt like we were on Mars. We are all New England wedding photographers (and now Dallas for me as well), so it is not often that we’re spoiled with such a totally different landscape like Moab to photograph.
I could go on and on about how beautiful Utah was, but instead I wanted to break down some tangible reasons behind why I feel that this trip would be great for every photographer.
4 Reasons Why You Need to Book Your Trip Pronto:
1. Many miles of open road to clear the mind. AKA time to get re-inspired.
I was a bit reluctant to book this trip when I did. It fell during the ONLY week where I wasn’t shooting weddings back to back for the foreseeable future, and I know Kelsey and Natalie felt the same. Prioritizing yourself when you run a business is HARD. But, I’m so glad we took the time for ourselves. We all had a mountain of editing piled up, but getting away, hitting the open road and just soaking in Utah’s natural beauty was exactly what we needed. So the takeaway here is, find yourself some good company that encourages, balances, and inspires you- get yourself a crappy rental car and drive. Of course we had the national parks in the area as the destination in mind, but don’t underestimate the value of top notch company and a whole lot of miles to drive.
2. Lots of bang for your buck when it comes to variety of landscape to photograph in an easily driveable distance.
We flew into Salt Lake City, rented a car, and drove 4 hours southeast to Moab. To reiterate point #1, I definitely think this is the way to go if you’re up for the drive and want to soak in some awesome scenery on your way down. Once you get to Moab, that’s your destination folks. The photos above are all within about a half hour drive from Moab. Let me say that again: A. HALF. HOUR. On the left, you’re looking at the La Sal Mountain Range in the distance, the middle image is the Colorado River peeking through the canyon at Dead Horse Point, and the right is at Arches National Park. Mother Nature is incredible y’all. Soak that shit up.
3. The natural backdrop in every photo you’ll take is so impressive, you’ll look like a badass photographer without even trying.
I feel like this photo should speak for itself, but I’ll add some words here for further emphasis. There’s a litany of reasons why I get in a creative funk from time to time throughout the year. Maybe it’s because everything is dead in the winter, or maybe I’ve been shooting at the same locations and feeling uninspired. Whatever your personal reason may be, the best way to remedy the funk is to go somewhere new, plan a styled shoot, and reactivate those creative juices. Oh, and a killer backdrop like this doesn’t hurt either. Working with what your momma (Mother Nature) gave you, you can create some real magic here in Moab.
4. Good for the body and soul.
Simply put, I just feel better outside. Sitting at the edge of a vast canyon, frolicking in a field of wildflowers, listing to a bird’s call echo against the rocks. For me, that’s what life’s about. We spend A LOT of time behind a computer as photographers, and I know it personally drains me and gets me caught up in all the wrong things. As soon as I get myself back outside, I feel refreshed and alive again. I’m reminded why I started a photography business in the first place- to create a life that I love and a schedule that I love, doing something that I love.
