In May 2022 I hosted my FIRST destination photography retreat in Salt Lake City, Utah! Six wonderful, fun and talented photographers attended, along with my trusty assistant Meg who helped me with all the logistics behind the scenes.
In 2021, I took a completely spontaneous trip to Utah after dreaming of seeing the Salt Flats for years. But it was so much more than just a quick trip – it was soul reviving, freeing, and empowering.
That first crunchy step onto the Salt Flats was like MAGIC. I instantly felt so alive and so determined to soak in all the beauty the world has to offer. I knew I wanted others to feel that feeling too, so the first Remy Photos Destination Photography Retreat was created!
Meg and I poured our hearts into planning three full days of stunning styled shoots and an all-inclusive retreat experience. We seriously lucked out with the sweetest models and vendors, and a group of photographers that were always ready to embrace the adventure.
STYLED SHOOT #1 – Bonneville Salt Flats
For our first styled shoot, we headed to the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats. Five models, a florist, and two ALPACAS (named Macaroni & Cheese) met us out there! We were hit with an unexpected, very cold 50 mph wind storm out of nowhere, but this group had ZERO complaints. The wind actually made for super cool windblown shots and lots of fun movement in the models’ gowns! It’s hard to be disappointed at the Salt Flats; they truly feel otherworldly.
STYLED SHOOT #2 – Utah Lake
Our second styled shoot took place at golden hour along Utah Lake. The shimmering water against the breathtaking mountains and golden sunshine on our sweet models was more than I could ask for. We had multiple setups: a cute picnic for two, a stroll in the sand, and a champagne shower! Macaroni and Cheese (the alpacas from the Salt Flats) joined us again, and we reused Stem + Bloem’s colorful florals to make the most of her incredible work!
STYLE SHOOT #3 – Antelope Island State Park
The last day of the retreat started bright and early (4 am!) for a sunrise shoot at Antelope Island State Park. Once we saw the sunrise over the mountains making pastel skies, EVERYONE agreed it was worth it! Our models Maddy & Kobe braved the crisp Utah morning air, frolicking in the completely empty streets, and snuggling on the beach. It felt like the whole park was reserved for us!
In between our styled shoots, we forced Meg to model for us, exchanged headshots, went on In-N-Out and soda shop runs, and spent lots of time editing altogether on the couch of our AirBnB. We left this trip with new friendships, unforgettable moments, full hearts, and even fuller memory cards!
Xo, Remy
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Assistant/Bestie/Coordinator: Meg Harlow of OBX Bright Booth and Bright and Social Co| Florals: Stem + Bloem | Gown Rentals: Utah Gowns | Alpaca Rentals: Pepper Grass Ranch | Salt Flats Models: Jakelle, Liz & Ashley | Utah Lake Models: Sara + Remington, Tessa | Antelope Island Models: Maddy + Kobe
