A first family photoshoot in utah-at the iconic salt flats

There are some sessions that carry an extra layer of meaning, and this one was definitely one of them. This beautiful family recently moved to Utah, from Georgia, and this was their first professional family photoshoot here. I was the lucky one chosen (once again 💕), and we knew right away the perfect place to mark their new chapter: the Great Salt Flats.


Because truly… nothing says “we’ve moved to Salt Lake City” quite like a photoshoot at the Salt Flats!

WHY THE SALT FLATS?

The Bonneville Salt Flats are unlike anywhere else in the world. Just 90 minutes outside of Salt Lake City, they stretch out like a giant mirror, reflecting the sky and creating that dreamy, surreal backdrop photographers love.


It’s an iconic Utah location for a reason:

• Endless open skies and reflections that change by the minute.

• Neutral tones that make families pop against the landscape.

• A sense of adventure and fun — kids can run, twirl, and play freely.


For a family new to Utah, the Salt Flats were the perfect way to capture not just portraits, but the feeling of a new home filled with possibility and endless adventure with all that Utah awaits for this young family. I thought how cute it was that the little boy, wanted to even TASTE the salt! Had to add that portrait in for your viewing pleasure, down below! And I love how intuitive mama was to bring their bikes to ride in-between. I had the same thought but failed to mention it before out shoot, just because I thought it might've overwhelmed them when getting ready and out the door. It was a 2 hr drive each way. So keeping littles happy and fed and blood sugar up and awake for our shoot, and not messy, is always the challenge on any photoshoot. Extra props to mom and dad for pulling that off on an extra long photo shoot day! Follow your gut and intuition always. It won't lead you astray. Always better to be over prepared than under prepared, in my opinion! She wasn't sure it would match the aesthetics, and I thought it was just fine. It's them right now. And when in doubt on coloring, we can always turn an image black and white to have the print match your home aesthetic.


THE SESSION

We scheduled the shoot for golden hour, 1.5 hrs before sundown, to meet, prep gear, give direction, when the light is softer and potentially to have the reflections at their best. Yet this was bone dry ground and still beautiful and WAY less messy for kids! A win! We allotted plenty of time for the kids to get out their bikes and their wiggles of being in the car for hours! They laughed, played, and danced across the salt crust, and mom and dad soaked in the beauty of it all.


I shot over 2,000 frames (yes, really!) and narrowed them down to just over 300 proofs. That takes some time! And is my hardest part of the whole process! Every giggle, hug, and windblown moment told the story of their love for one another and their excitement for this new chapter in Utah.


With kids, for our full sessions that last 90 min or longer, I tend to start with playtime FIRST. Let them ride their bikes, run, and play tag etc! Get those wiggles out and start by helping them be comfortable with me having a camera in their faces. It gets their energy out and spirits lifted, and you just never know how many fun candids we can get during this warm up phase. And when in doubt or kids start to cry, back to playtime, always, and in this case, turn them upside down. See? you can't even tell they were crying? They eventually start to laugh! ha ha. We want the kids and adults to have fun and make the whole process a memorable experience for the positive.


Pro tip: Just remember, the younger you start and train your kids for family portraits, the easier each shoot, will be as they grow older and will fight you less on family portraits, each time. It also helps sticking with the same Photographer to familiarize them each time they see you, to feel that much more comfortable. Plus, we as your Photographer LOVE to see your family grow each session! It becomes a family reunion! I know I ADORE it!


WHY FAMILY PHOTOS MATTER

Life moves fast — between moves, new jobs, kids growing up, and all the in-between moments, it’s easy to forget to pause and document the season you’re in. A professional family session isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about:

• Preserving memories you’ll look back on years from now.

• Marking milestones like moving to a new state or city.

• Creating art for your home that reminds you daily of your love and connection.


For this family, the photos represent more than just a move to Utah. They represent a fresh start, resilience, and the joy of being together and playing together. These cute boys will look back at these photos, when they are older, and think how cool their parents were for taking them to this place and playing with them! And laughing at themselves at their cute little personalities that also came out to play that day. And getting to see how much in love and playful their parents were and how they placed an importance on letting the world see their beautiful growing family and didn't hide from having portraits of themselves taken. Your kids want to see you! No matter how you show up. Give them the gift of these memories.

STYLING NOTES

This family chose neutral tones that blended beautifully with the Salt Flats backdrop and also would print nicely for the aesthetic of their particular home. Always think with the end in sight and where you will print and hang the final portraits in your home. Think light creams, soft blues, and greens and gentle textures that kept the focus on connection.

Pro tip: when shooting at the Salt Flats, keep outfits simple and timeless — the landscape already provides plenty of drama! But you can also choose to be as dramatic or downplayed as you wish. Come as you are and we will still make magic together, no matter what! You don't need a brand new outfit. Don't stress too much, as it'll show in the portraits.


Another pro tip: Pick what you feel your best in and go from there. If you must have brand new, then I suggest a new flowy maxi dress for mama, with at least 3 coordinating colors in the soft patterns like floral, to match everyone else to YOUR dress. Mamas, I'm talking to you, because we all know WHO does the shopping! Put yourself first here. Let them coordinate to you, this way you can shine and feel less stressed during the shopping and coordinating process. I also provide personal wardrobe consultations for all my FULL sessions and give my opinions through a zoom, FaceTime, or texts while you're shopping! I'm here for your for the entire process.


Final Thoughts


This session reminded me why I love what I do. Being trusted to capture someone’s first Utah family session is such an honor. The Salt Flats gave us a canvas unlike any other, but it was the family’s laughter, love, and energy that brought the images to life.


To this sweet family — welcome to Utah, again! And Happy 1st Anniversary of your big move from Georgia! May these photos always remind you of where this chapter began. 💕And I look forward to our next shoot in the future. I'm thinking somewhere in the mountains or skiing in the snow!


✨ Thinking about your own family photoshoot in Utah? Whether you’re new to the state or have lived here forever, the Salt Flats are one of my favorite spots to create timeless portraits. Message me below to reserve your session or send me a text: 801.414.4419. Fall family portraits are underway. Fall leaves will be shifting this week. Limited sessions available between now and mid Nov. Let's make some magic this Fall! Mini sessions start at just $300. Salt Flats Sessions start at $900. And I do allow you to share your session with another family for a 90-120 min session for $1200. And that makes it EVEN more fun! Golden hour shoots starts at around 5:30- 6 pm this time of year. The sun currently sets at 7:20 and lowering. We can shoot for 15-30 min post sundown, depending on location, so long as I have my off camera lighting setup and my assistant. I look forward to a fabulous Fall Season! xo...elle