AMANGIRI, WHITE POCKET, CORAL PINK SAND DUNES, ARCHES – PRE-WEDDING DESTINATION SESSION
Maggie and Kevin have a pretty adorable love story. Their destiny started off when they went to the same kindergarten school when they were only three years old. They didn’t talk that much then but years later they were able to find a school commemorative book that had the message “Friendship forever. p.s Please don’t hit me again.”
Each of them parted ways, Kevin went to Shanghai and Maggie went to England. They became strangers but through the power of social media, they randomly connected years later again on Facebook. From there, they talked everyday and started to kindle the start of a deeper romance 🙂
After 5.5 years together, Kevin popped the question in the sweetest and most romantic way. He flew them all the way to Australia and they hiked up a hill to watch the sunrise. He proposed with the most perfect backdrop of mother nature, together with a hiding photographer who was secretly taking photos in the bush, and a cliff top breakfast waiting for them. Maggie and Kevin’s pre-wedding photos were all about embracing the natural beauty of the environment around them. We toured some of the most amazing and less traveled natural parks in the USA. We traveled over multiple days, spending time hiking, enjoying, laughing, and exploring some gorgeous sites in Utah and Arizona: Amangiri, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, White Pocket, and Arches National Park.
The Amangiri Engagement Session
We started our adventure at the world famous Amangiri, a luxury wilderness resort in Canyon Point, Southern Utah. We started bright and early, before sunrise, so that we could get the first morning glow of sunlight for this gorgeous Amangiri engagement session. The architecture integrated elements of the Earth and dramatic use of light characterized the first part of our session together.
Continuing the Amangiri Engagement Session at Coral Pink Sand Dunes
The next part of our day took us to Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Here you have the soft, pink sand that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the Sahara desert except that you’re in Utah and you don’t have the sweltering heat! Running up and down the dunes was exhausting but it was worth it to get the playful interaction between Kevin and Maggie.
Day Two of Engagement Portraits at White Pocket
The next day we made our way to White Pocket. We had originally planned to hike The Wave, the most popular of the canyon hikes. But access is only permitted by lottery and we didn’t get a spot. But that worked out for the best. White Pocket was unreal. It’s hidden and unknown and requires a 2 hour drive with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. There are plenty of spots to get stuck in the deep sand or narrow “roads” so it’s only for the adventurous and well-prepared. The canyons and hills are abandoned and it looks like a scene from Mars.
The Final Day at Arches National Park
Our last stop on the multi day trip was to Arches National Park. It’s famous for the rock formations that create natural rock arches, which look like big windows into the natural landscape. We arrived in the late evening, just in time to use the twilight for the last scenes of the rugged landscapes.
Having a multiday shoot was an element that we really enjoyed. It allowed us to take our time to explore and not rush. To get the time to know each other and to play around with different locations, lighting and outfits. It was a moment to enjoy our adventure together.
Our super vista views were combined with dramatic gowns and outfits to create a fashionable look at each location. It was a great way to blend fashion and nature, really using the Utah landscapes to our full advantage!
