Once a year we travel to the Bonneville Salt Flat in Utah and spend a week or so guiding our amazing clients through a once in a lifetime boudoir experience.
I fell in love with the Salt Flat years ago and have since then made it an annual destination for my clients and I. As a lover of nature, I was captivated by the vastness of the environment. There is a certain openness that makes you feel as though time is standing still. As if it is just you, my team supporting you, and the experience.
I know that destination sessions are a bucket list item for many, but the travel and anticipation can cause us to keep telling ourselves, “maybe next year it will make more sense”.
Sometimes it feels like I am shouting this from the rooftops but… the time is now!
There will never be the perfect time to do something for yourself, unless you make it one.
So, I’ve put together this FAQ for you to share some insight on some of the more nitty gritty aspects of your Salt Flat Destination Session:
Q: When is the best time of year to visit?
A: The Salt Flats are actually wet for most of the year but they dry up between July and September. The best time to shoot there is in August when the salt is the driest, therefore helping create a beautiful white canvas.
Q: How should I prepare for my Salt Flat Session?
A: We recommend booking your accommodations at least 6 weeks before your session date. The Salt Flat is about an hour and a half west of Salt Lake City which is where the majority of my clients decide to book their accommodations. There are some more accommodation options that are closer to the Salt Flat, but there’s not a ton else nearby. So, if you are making it a few day trip, I think Salt Lake City is the way to go.
Other than accommodations, prepping for your outdoor session isn’t too different from a normal session! You will be receiving all of our thorough prep materials leading up to your date to ensure you are 110% ready to conquer the day. The only thing I would add is HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! Traveling can be unexpectedly dehydrating and with that salty air, you will thank me later!
Q: Can I bring my partner or a friend to come along if they are traveling with me?
A: Your session experience is for you and we want you to bask in every moment of what that means. This is a question we get quite often and after years of guiding women through boudoir sessions, some solo and some not, I can tell you that it is worth the pre-session jitters to be able to experience this by yourself. We recently put out a blog post on this topic, give it a read (view here) if you are interested in knowing more.
Q: How long will we be in the sun?
A: One of the many benefits of doing an outdoor session is we get access to an array of different lighting circumstances as we move through shoot time which means we will be shooting slightly longer than an indoor session to allow the sun to shift. With that being said, we shoot from golden hour through dusk so we don’t have to worry too much about sun exposure unless you are someone who is super sensitive to the sun. In that case, I recommend applying a sheer sunscreen and spf moisturizer to your body and face before arriving at Hair and Makeup. We try our best to avoid sunscreen application during your session! It can get all over clothing and makeup and create an unflattering tint to your skintone… trust me on this one!
Q: Are we going to be in public?
A: Most often, we are able to drive out to a spot where we can be completely solo. The Salt Flat is massive and there is plenty of open space to work with. We are never too far from the car if you want some coverage to change outfits or need a moment to regroup.
Boudoir Sessions are for stepping out of your comfort zone and there are endless ways to do so during our outdoor sessions. My best advice on this topic is to plan on the side of comfort and if in the moment you are feeling like experimenting, we can do so during your shoot!
One of our fabulous Brand Ambassador’s first session was at the Salt Flat and was featured on our blog earlier this year (view her feature)! She is a Salt Lake City resident yet had never stepped foot on the Salt Flats prior to her boudoir shoot!!
Here is what she had to say about her experience:
“Lindsay was fabulous to work with. From start to finish it was an amazing experience and I’ve never felt more comfortable in my own skin. I absolutely loved how my pictures turned. You won’t regret booking a session with her!”
I am ecstatic to be traveling to the Salt Flat again this summer and to share the beauty that we create together. I hope that this information is helpful and as always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or are interested in booking your session.
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