06/03/2026
People often see a finished photo and assume it happened in a few seconds. This image took months.
First came the scouting. We knew we wanted Sedona, but not just any viewpoint. I spent weeks researching trails, looking for dramatic red rock scenery that felt isolated enough for a portrait session.
Once we picked a location, the planning began. We were on the trail at 5.30a to beat the crowds and catch the best light. Being one of the first people out also gave Meredith privacy to change and let us work without hikers constantly walking through the frame.
The green dress wasn’t an accident either. Meredith brought multiple options, but this one immediately stood out against the red rock landscape.
Even our hiking direction was intentional. We hiked the loop counterclockwise so the mountains would sit behind her while the morning sun lit her face. The goal wasn’t just to take a portrait in Sedona. It was to create a portrait that felt connected to Sedona.
We experimented with poses, composition, and perspective. I shot several hundred frames searching for the right combination of light, expression, and background.
Then came the editing. Hundreds of images became dozens. Dozens became a handful, each then edited for color, retouching, and recomposition in post.
The shutter click lasted a fraction of a second, but everything else took weeks.
