Brendan’s cousin crew met us at Pioneer Park in St. George, Utah for their annual trip, and it could not have been a better spot for an evening portrait session. The red rock formations at 6:30 pm gave us soft, flattering light that wrapped around the group and brought out all the warm tones in the landscape.
With eight cousins together, the energy felt relaxed and easy. Their mix of elegant outfits and laid-back pieces fit the desert backdrop perfectly and worked so well for the “elegant meets playful” vibe they had in mind. We started with timeless group portraits tucked into the rocks, then shifted into more candid, close-knit moments as everyone settled in and forgot about the camera.
One of my favorite parts of this session was how the park let us move naturally between wide, cinematic group shots and simple individual portraits. A short walk could take us from sweeping views over St. George to intimate little pockets of shade between the boulders.
March in Southern Utah is such a sweet spot for outdoor portraits: comfortable temperatures, gentle light, and enough color in the sky to make the red cliffs glow. It all came together to create images that felt special and memorable for a family tradition that is clearly important to them.
Gallery Highlights
