A dreamy senior photography session in the Valles Caldera

When this beautiful senior told me she was hoping for mist for her session, I felt I had to temper expectations. It's been a dry year, and moody New Mexico days are few and far between. Yet, when we arrived to the Las Conchas trailhead, we found a beautiful fog cloud blanketing the forest canopy. It was one of those rare days when the weather becomes part of the session rather than something to work around. We even had a light rain fall by the East Fork River that absolutely made the day. From there, we headed into the Valle Grande, where the clouds opened up just enough to give us that beautiful, glowy backlight that photographers dream of.

I’ve photographed the Valle Grande more times than I can count, but somehow it always manages to surprise me. And on this day, it gave us the perfect ending to a session that felt completely her.


Young woman in white dress standing in a mountain stream surrounded by pine trees and rocky landscape.
Young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes smiling outdoors in a field, wearing a white dress and pendant necklace.
Young woman in white ruffled dress standing in a misty forest stream surrounded by lush greenery.
Young woman in white ruffled dress standing in forest stream with misty trees background.
Young woman in white flowing dress smiling in a lush green mountain meadow surrounded by tall pine trees.
Young woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a white top and oval pendant necklace outdoors.
Woman in white dress standing in rain with arms outstretched, surrounded by pine forest and mountains.
Smiling blonde woman in brown maxi dress standing in a meadow with daisies, rocks, and pine trees.
Young woman lying in a field of white daisies, smiling, wearing a dark dress with rocky cliffs behind her.
Woman in flowing brown dress walking through green meadow with dramatic rocky cliffs in background.
Young woman in brown dress smiling over shoulder outdoors near rocky cliff.
Woman in white dress embracing rain with open arms in black and white forest landscape.
A young woman in a flowing white boho dress stands in a lush green meadow surrounded by misty pine forests.
Woman in white ruffled maxi dress poses gracefully in a green meadow with misty mountains in the background.
Young woman in white ruffled dress standing in green meadow with misty mountains in background.
Young woman in white dress sitting in green meadow, smiling with mountain landscape in background.
Young woman in white sundress with necklace smiling outdoors with mountain landscape backdrop.
Black and white photo of a young woman in a flowing white dress posing in a field with mountains behind her.
Young woman in white ruffled dress laughing in green meadow with mountains and dramatic cloudy sky.
A woman in a white dress and boots stands in a vast green field with mountains and dramatic clouds behind her.
Young woman in white dress with jewelry poses in green field with mountains in background.
Young woman with long hair lying in green grass, wearing a white dress and delicate necklace, gazing upward peacefully.
A woman in a white dress runs through a vast green meadow at sunset with mountains in the background.
Black and white photo of a young woman in a white dress and boots running through a grassy field with mountains behind.
Young woman in white dress sitting in a grassy field, smiling, with mountains in the background, black and white photo.
Bride in white dress walking on mountain road centerline holding bouquet under dramatic cloudy sky.