White Sands National Park

The only constant in life is change. I think most of us, knowing we can’t resist it, still put up a fight.

When we were told the military was moving up to El Paso, Texas for a year, I didn’t love the idea haha. In the last eleven, Tennessee has become my home. I have made amazing friends who have seen me through some Murphy’s Law Years. I know all the backroads to get anywhere and everywhere. I have started and built businesses, created connections, and found a daily/monthly/yearly rhythm.

Annnndddddd… then everything changes. Man makes plans & God laughs. Or do I make plans and God has more in store?

Maybe you’re wondering how this could relate to a Sunset Session at White Sands National Park.

I wasn’t even sure my photography work would continue in Texas… How do you start again?

You Begin Again in Beautiful Places by the Kindness of Strangers

I bought this dress on February 13th. At that point, we weren’t even sure we would be moving. I had a vision for this dress, to shoot it with a model at The Parthenon in Nashville during golden hour. It never ended up working out.

The second week after moving to El Paso, I made Jake drive me up to White Sands National Park to take a look around. He said, “It’s just some sand alongside the road, it’s not even that exciting to look at.” My husband is usually right (I’m not just saying that, he is… annoyingly so lol). But I was extremely happy to prove him wrong that day, and we both stood in awe of the beauty and magic around us.

I knew immediately I had to come back with that dress to this place and that it had been meant for a Sunset Session at White Sands National Park all along.

All You Have to Do is Ask

With a lot of trepidation, I put out a model call and over 60 ladies saw it and no one even liked the post… Crickets… UGH – I almost took it down. I was thinking, “They think I’m crazy. No one likes the dress. No one likes the idea. It’s too far to ask someone to drive.” But Jake told me to leave the post up. And then miracle of miracles, Rebecca messaged me saying her daughters would love to model for me and they would meet me at White Sands!

It seemed too good to be true and honestly after looking through the photos the last few days, it still seems too good to be real.

This Sunset Session at White Sands National Park

is probably my favorite I have done to date! The girls were amazing to work with! They both had such great attitudes and were naturals in front of the camera!

We also couldn’t have asked for better skies. We were only actively taking pictures for maybe an hour and over that hour the sky put on a show! It changed for us every few minutes, never disappointing.

I’ve made plans my whole adult life, and not one has ever worked out. By the grace of God, every failed plan has been a catalyst for something better.

So thank you Rebecca for your kindness and sharing your beautiful girls! You answered this photographer’s prayer and gave me the pick-me-up I needed to keep moving forward and embrace the change!

To anyone still reading this – if you’re in a season of change as well, don’t give up! The progress you make every day only needs to be millimeters and you’re still moving forward. You never know when that epic desert sunset is just around the corner!

I hope you enjoy this photo gallery below. It’s a session I’ll never forget!