Travel Journal: Hire A Photographer For Stunning Vacation Photos.
Destination photo shoots don’t have to be limited to engagements and weddings. Next time you travel for leisure, consider hiring a photographer to capture the special moments while you focus on taking them in.
There are rarely photos of Luke and me. So we were excited to be accompanied by Charlotte-based photographer Crystal Cofie on a destination photoshoot in the desert. In addition to lifestyle and portraits, Crystal takes beautiful engagement and wedding photographs and has expanded that into destination shoots. We had been scouting the Arizona desert as a location, wanting the look and feel of the multi-armed Saguaro cactus that reminds Luke of old western movies. Neither Luke nor I had been to Arizona, and the desert landscapes in Tucson were even more breathtaking than we imagined.
Fortunately, my professional instincts kicked-in while packing. I elected to carry my four outfits onto the plane with me, and upon landing in Tucson, I learned that my luggage did not make it on the connecting flight. They said I could expect to be reunited with my bags sometime the following day, certainly well after our early morning shooting time. That meant no styling kit (pins, clips, etc.) and no accessories other than the necklace and earrings I wore on the plane. Appreciating that it could have been worse, I took it on the chin and accepted it as a challenge.
The team assembled early the following morning at The Graduate Tucson, a fun, Southwest-spirited hotel near The University of Arizona campus. The rooftop terrace, with beautiful views of the mountains and the lobby a sort of indoor desert, provided the backdrop for two of our looks. Luke and I supplied wardrobe and styling. He mostly grabbed from his closet while I sourced much of my wardrobe from local Charlotte retailers. Amazing make-up Artist Krysta Medley was on hand to slay my face, and Crystal was armed and ready with camera equipment and a plan. We were on schedule to shoot at sunrise.
The experience was one I won’t soon forget, from the cactus needles which stick to everything (wear boots!) to the endless holes in the sand where unidentified (by us) critters hide from the rising sun to the occasional wildlife galloping in the distance. For the most part, everything was tranquil, which I found peaceful and frightening. And it was nice not having to worry about pulling my phone out to capture every moment and instead admire my surroundings in real-time.
Crystal was amazing to shoot with; from making sure we had a path free of cactus needles to falling into cacti herself to make a shot, she always put us first and made us safe while still looking great! She efficiently took us from sunrise shooting to a break during the hottest part of the day to a second shoot at sunset, knocking out all of our looks in one day!
Featuring these North Carolina retailers and makers in some of my looks:
Red & Pink Gowns by Nitsa’s Boutique
Black Lace Dress by The Dress Designer
Snake Hat by Rowan Haberdashery
The color of this gown from Nitsa’s was perfect to pop off the neutral and green backdrop of the desert.
Get The Look.
