Fall Photography for an Autumn Anniversary – Flagstaff, AZ
Who says Arizona doesn't have seasons?
Dani & Nathan’s adventure photography session ahead of their anniversary deserved an amazing backdrop to celebrate the best of the autumn season. Here in the Phoenix valley, fall foliage is a bit of a rarity, so we decided to venture north to Flagstaff!
Only two hours from Phoenix, Flagstaff is one of my favorite places for photography. The higher elevation gives Flagstaff well-rounded seasons. Snowy winter, wildflower springs, green summers, and most important for this session, bright fall leaves!
The tough part is, Flagstaff's secret is out
So called “leaf-peepers” flock north, chasing the peak golden colors of the aspen trees in droves. There are many beautiful locations like Aspen Corner and Lockett’s Meadow, but they tend to be crowded. I wanted to find somewhere more secluded for these lovebirds!
The general rule of thumb for adventure sessions is to pick two: great views, privacy, and easily accessed. For this anniversary, we needed to leave out that last one! I scouted the area and found a trail on the other side of the mountain, past Snowbowl and Harts Prairie Preserve down a bumpy fire road. It would not be a walk in the park, but having an aspen grove all to ourselves would be worth the effort.
Location selected, we hit the trail
It was an incredible day for our trek. The elevation was challenging, but the views and peace were a perfect reward. We did not pass another soul for at least an hour. After over three breathtaking miles, we found ourselves surrounded by the golden glow of aspen trees in the fall. Dani & Nathan swapped their hiking clothes for formal attire, and then we pranced in the autumn leaves! The mountain took one last toll from us on the way down to the cars – those blue skies turned thunderous. Getting caught in a small hailstorm is all in a day’s work as an adventure photographer!
Fall couples sessions in Flagstaff
This fall anniversary session in Flagstaff, Arizona was an absolute dream. Arizona fall colors are short-lived and hard-to-find if you want them all to yourselves, but the extra effort to celebrate Dani & Nathan was worth every step.
On to the next adventure!
