Making Magic Out of a Messy Location.

- Where The Wildflowers Are.

Sometimes, the perfect photo doesn’t require the perfect setting—just the right perspective.

For this session, we had a vision: a dreamy image of her emerging from a sea of wildflowers, like something out of a mountain meadow. So we did what any photographer with a vision does—we drove. And drove. Until we found a small patch of wildflowers off the side of the road. Not exactly remote or serene. In fact, just out of frame was a gas station, a shopping center, and a highway buzzing with traffic.

But angles—and gear—are everything.

To bring the vision to life, I used an 85mm lens. The depth of field helped isolate her beautifully from the background, letting the flowers wrap around her softly in the foreground. The lens compression also worked in our favor, pulling the distant mountains visually closer and creating that sweeping, elevated feel—even though we were far from any real elevation.

Instead of shooting straight on, I found the light, shifted position, and framed the shot with intention. And suddenly, this little roadside spot transformed. What looks like a peaceful mountain escape is actually a slice of creativity. Proof that even in a less than glamorous location and a little imagination (and the right lens) goes a long way.

It’s a reminder to any photographer (or dreamer): don’t overlook the overlooked. Sometimes the best places are hiding in plain sight.