There’s something beautifully honest about life on the road — dusty adventures, and setting up camp at sunset in spots you’ll remember for years to come. That’s exactly what I got to document with Collin and Rachel during this Sierra Nevada couples session.
The Open Road, a Chapter Worth Remembering
Married for nearly a decade, these two were wrapping up a season of full-time travel across the West Coast with their two pups, chasing freedom and wild places before settling into their new life in Utah. Rachel and I had been Instagram friends for years, she’s an incredible artist, and when she reached out to document this chapter, I couldn’t say yes fast enough!
What started as a plan to shoot in Lake Tahoe quickly turned into something far better — a tucked-away campsite down a dirt road in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas, the kind of spot that doesn’t show up on every map but somehow feels like the perfect spot.
Far from Tahoe Crowds, finding a remote location in the Sierra Nevadas
When we first started planning their adventure session in the Sierra Nevadas, the original idea was to meet up in Lake Tahoe. But summer in Tahoe can be… chaotic — crowds, traffic, and very few quiet corners to soak in the beauty that Tahoe is.
So they pivoted, opened up iOverlander, and found a new camp spot a few hours away. The day before our shoot, they dropped me a pin — a location neither of us had ever seen, a few miles down a dirt road in the Sierras, surrounded by towering pines and overlooking a beautiful canyon.
This spot felt like it belonged to their story. Remote, real, and free. The kind of place you find when you’re living on the road.
Living on the Road, Together
On the day of their shoot, when we met up they’d just spent the day hanging out by the river — no agenda, just soaking in the quiet beauty of the Sierra Nevadas with their pups. As the sun started to dip, we drove down to their off-grid campsite to document what their life on the road had looked like.
After settling back into their campsite, they cooked fajitas for dinner as golden light filtered through the trees, the dogs roamed free, and they soaked in these last sunsets before saying goodbye to life on the road.
Unique Ideas for Your Sierra Nevada Couples Session
Maybe you don’t live on the road like Collin and Rachel, but if you’re drawn to fresh air, and the feeling of dirt under your boots, the Sierra Nevadas are an incredible backdrop for your couples session. Whether you’re bringing your pups along, celebrating an anniversary, recently engaged, or just want to document your story outdoors — we can create a session that reflects what you love most.
Here are some ideas to spark inspiration — all rooted in adventure, connection, and the slower pace of the mountains:
- Hiking your favorite trail with the pups
- Setting up camp: your tent, a campfire, dinner under the pines
- Cooking together at your site — coffee, tacos, s’mores, anything that feels like home
- Stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking on an alpine lake
- A slow, riverside picnic with your feet in the water
- Hammocking under the trees
- Stargazing while cozied up by the fire
- Reading or playing cards by a lake
- Bouldering or scrambling barefoot on granite slabs
- Bring your bikes for a trail ride and post-ride snacks
The beauty of these sessions is how personal they can be. You don’t need a perfect plan — just a love for the outdoors and a few favorite ways to spend time together.
Your Sierra Nevada Photographer
Spending the summers of my childhood camping in spots all over the Sierras, I fell in love with these mountains early — and that love has only grown deeper as an adult. The tucked-away lakes, the dusty forest roads, the stillness you only find off the beaten path — this place holds so much more than just beautiful views.
If the outdoors feels like home to you too — or you have a favorite trail, campsite, or mountain town that’s part of your story — I’d love to help you plan a photo session that reflects it. From laid-back evenings at camp to sunrise hikes with your pups, these sessions are about more than just photos. They’re about documenting a chapter of your life, surrounded by the places that matter most.
Let’s create something that feels real to you — somewhere in the Sierras. If this sounds like your kind of adventure, send me a message through my contact page and let’s start planning your session.
