Editorial Portraits in the Utah Dunes

You don’t have to wait until your engagement, wedding day, or family portrait session to capture magical, memorable photos. Any day can be worth celebrating and documenting.

I encourage you to take moments for yourself and capture where you’re at in your life– no matter what stage or lifetime milestone you’re near. 

As a photographer, I absolutely love it when clients reach out to me for self-love or portrait shoots. These photoshoot sessions are designed to capture the essence of YOU as a person. 

Who you are. What you stand for. Your style, your energy, and your being.

OR you can use these sessions to create something beyond even your current vision of yourself. This is a chance for you to be whoever you want to be, and feel amazing in front of the camera lens. 

And after, you’ll end up with a portfolio of stunning shots that celebrate you.

So to help inspire you, I’m highlighting one of my favorite solo portrait sessions I shot in the Little Sahara Sand Dunes of Utah. 

This was an editorial-style photoshoot, and the sprawling dunes offered the perfect neutral space to get creative with the model. I was eager to capture these moments in such a unique landscape. 

I feel so lucky to be able to explore nature’s beauty through my work. And although I’m a Colorado photographer, I love travel and adventure– so any opportunity I get to discover a new destination is a dream for me. 

Portrait photography at the Little Sahara Sand Dunes for the first time was truly ethereal, and I can’t wait to return for another photoshoot there some day. 

Little Sahara Sand Dunes

The Little Sahara Sand Dunes are a breathtaking natural wonder. Situated about 115 miles from Salt Lake City, Little Sahara is tucked away in the Sevier Desert. The dunes stretch across 124 square miles in Central Utah and rise up to 700 feet above the surrounding desert. 

Needless to say, it’s a picture-perfect place for a photoshoot. The sand is a warm color that contrasts beautifully with the sky– and any other colors you may want to incorporate into your photoshoot. 

One of my favorite things about the dunes is how the colors change throughout the day. As the sun moves across the sky, the sand takes on different hues and shadows appear– creating endless possibilities for your shots. Luckily for this photoshoot, we had the perfect weather. Overcast is actually beautiful weather to shoot in, because it softens any glare or shine that may cast on my clients. It eliminates shadows and provides ideal lighting for portraits like these.

The Experience

On the day of the photoshoot, we arrived at the Little Sahara Sand Dunes early in the morning to take advantage of the best lighting. Photographing at the dunes was a unique experience– especially after an evening of rain– but it was all worth it for the magical photos we were able to capture. 

The sand provided a beautiful, natural backdrop that made the photos look so unique. The contrast between the model’s dress and the bouquet of deep neutrals was the perfect vibe for my moody editing style. The black dress offered incredible texture– which I always love! We used it as a dynamic prop to create unique silhouettes and positions. I loved taking standing, seating, and laying shots. I always want my clients to feel comfortable and authentic, while cultivating a variety of photos– with no two the same.

Having the opportunity to capture photos here is something I’ll remember. And now, I have these captivating photos to always remind me of the memories made there.

That’s what photos do.

They transport you back to a time and place, and you can feel like you’re reliving that very minute. That’s why I ENCOURAGE you to capture as many of life’s moments as you can. 

Because even the little moments and memories are the ones we cherish the most.

That being said, now I want you to take a leap and step outside your comfort zone for a self-love or portrait session. If you’re someone who’s always behind the camera taking the pictures– you need a photoshoot like this.

Remember, you don’t need an excuse to feel like a model for a day. 

You deserve to have a portrait session any time- so you can capture the unique and perfect moments of where you are in your life right now. 

So, if you’re craving the urge to get some fresh self-love photos– let’s do it! I want to help you capture your authentic self on camera. And don’t worry– I’ll make it super fun for both of us.

Nothing will feel staged or forced. I just want you to be yourself, and I’ll capture all that is uniquely you and beautiful. 

If you’re interested in self-love, or editorial portraits, I’d love to be your photographer. So get in touch with me and we’ll start dreaming up your vision.

And if you do have any milestone moments you want to be captured as a couple, with your family, or more– you know I’m still your girl.

Whether it’s a dreamy, mystical backdrop like the Little Sahara Sand Dunes– or even a session right outside your back door, I’m so excited to work with you to capture memories together. So check out my website, or message me on Instagram at @lindenwilsonn to connect, and we can meet to discuss your dream photoshoot!