Maya’s Fashion Portraits on the Bonneville Salt Flats

by dav.d

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a fun location for portraits. It has been a few years since I last went out to the Salt Flats and it was worth it!

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Going for all the drama with pose, dress, expression, and lighting

Maya is from Chicago and her job has been affected by covid-19 and so she has been doing some bucket list activities. One included a fashion photo shoot on the Salt Flats

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats

There are several websites online that will rent fashion for a lot cheaper than buying a dress. This is true for bridal gowns and almost anything can be rented. So we have a unique red dress with flowing fabric. We even had a friend throwing the fabric in the air and ducking out of the way.

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Maya flew all the way from Chicago for this photo shoot
Behind the scenes of a Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats

A behind the scenes of the photo shoot. My lighting setup has improved since my last Bonneville Salt Flat photo shoot.

And here we have the edited photograph where I have removed my light. I have enough sandbags to secure a small village. And the light helps add a bit of flare and drama to the scene. It was very bright to begin with, and we had to do the 1-2-3 open your eyes technique.

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Removing the light from the photograph

One other tip before a photo shoot, don’t wear sunglasses for a few weeks before the photo shoot. If you wear sunglasses a lot your eyes aren’t accustomed to bright sun and you squint a lot. So that’s a great tip!

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
We’re using all the posing techniques for this shoot

Most of the people I photograph are not professional models. Professional models practice poses in front of a mirror so they know angles and what to do with their body, head, and hands. Since this was Maya’s first fashion shoot I was able to coach her on posing legs, hands, and head. The big take away is bending joints. No straight arms. Cross your legs. I’ll make you look your best.

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
We’re creating haute couture poses with a red dress

And the Salt Flats cry out for epic wide shots. We have a pure white ground. We had textured clouds in the sky. Distant mountains help with some horizon detail for scale.

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Renting a dress online is a great idea for fashion photography

And I photoshopped the “assistant” throwing the dress in the air and running away.

Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
We had a friend throw the dress into the air

July & August are the best months to photograph. The salt flats are dry and support a car, however, bring beverages. It can be 100ºF!

dav.d
Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Maya rocks the red dress on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Red dress model on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Using a long lens to put the mountains in the background

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dav.d photo
dav.d is a portrait photographer based in Utah.