Golden Hour with a Sangre de Cristo Mountain Backdrop

It's officially autumn, which means that my schedule is filled with sessions, especially family portraits and senior photos. After seeing Helen's desert session on my website, Emry and her mom were inspired to drive all the way from Denver to spend an afternoon with me in the same location. The Nambe Badlands are a unique section of public open space trails with sweeping views of the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It's the perfect place to photograph at sunset and during blue hour, when dramatic backlight cotton candy skies fill the frame. A deeply religious student-athlete, Emry brought a simple prop to this session: her Bible. She plans to run D-1 cross country next year.

Smiling blonde woman in a denim lace-up dress holding a floral book against a warm adobe wall.
Santa Fe senior standing in the arched doorway of a historic adobe church under a blue sky in New Mexico.
Smiling blonde woman in a teal sundress leaning against a warm adobe wall in soft natural light.
Blonde woman in a white tank top and light blue maxi skirt with cowboy boots on a desert trail.
Blonde woman in a white tank and blue tiered maxi skirt walking through a sun-drenched desert path.
Blonde woman in a white tank top and flowing blue skirt walking on a sandy desert trail at sunset.
Close-up of brown leather cowboy boots with white floral embroidery resting on sandy desert ground.
Smiling blonde woman in white tank, jeans, and embroidered cowboy boots posing in a desert landscape.
Young blonde woman in white tank top, jeans, and cowboy boots sitting in a grassy field under cloudy skies.
Young woman with cross necklace reading a book while sitting cross-legged in a scenic open field.
Smiling blonde woman in white tank and jeans with floral cowboy boots seated in a rustic open field.
Blonde woman in white tank top and jeans relaxing in a dry grass field with mountains in the distance.
Overhead view of a woman in jeans and cowboy boots reading a book while sitting on dry ground.
Blonde woman in white tank top reading a book cross-legged in a dry field with cloudy mountain backdrop.
Young blonde woman in white tank top and jeans running freely through a wide open field near mountains.
Smiling blonde teen in floral sundress and cowboy boots standing in golden field with stormy mountain backdrop.
Young blonde woman in white floral sundress posing thoughtfully with mountain landscape at golden hour.
Santa Fe senior teen in white floral sundress and cowboy boots in golden field with stormy New Mexico sky.
Blonde teen in floral sundress running through golden meadow with dramatic mountain range in background.
Black and white close-up of blonde teen showing back tattoos in floral sundress outdoor portrait.
Blonde teen in white floral sundress and cowboy boots smiling at sunset with golden sun flare.
Blonde teen in white floral smocked dress with sun flare behind her in a natural outdoor setting.
Blonde woman in floral dress touching hair at golden sunset in desert field.
Black and white photo of smiling blonde teen in floral dress with sun flare through trees.
Santa Fe senior in floral mini dress and cowboy boots walking in golden sunset field.
Smiling blonde woman in floral dress standing in field with snow-capped mountains behind.
Smiling blonde woman in floral dress and cowboy boots standing in field with mountains.
Blonde woman in floral dress and cowboy boots walking on dusty desert trail at dusk.
Black and white photo of Santa Fe senior in floral dress walking through field with sunburst behind her.
Blonde woman in floral dress and cowboy boots smiling on desert dirt path at sunset.
Blonde woman in floral dress holding flowers on scenic desert hilltop at golden hour.