The main locations we wanted to shoot in during our trip were the Antelope slot canyons.  We probably should have done some more research before we just showed up because when we got there and started asking around, we kept hearing something along the lines of how the folks in charge would have a 12 year old lead us in…and then leave us to die.

Nice.

Well, we decided to give it a go anyway.

This was our first exposure to the canyon – this and the memorial to the 15 tourists who had died in the 90’s.  Mind you, August is monsoon season for Arizona.  Even better!

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So you keep going and this is the entrance to the canyons.  You climb in through this crack…

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You then climb down a series of ladders (this was from our scouting trip before we involved the dress)…

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and then tunnel you way through this – in a wedding dress.  Tara is my hero.

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So is Andrew because he was this excited about it! :o)

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In case you were wondering, they didn’t even send us down with a 12 year old – they just let us wander down all by ourselves to die.  Was it worth it?  Uh, yah.  Soooo worth it!

One of my favorites from Sean…

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The bump and the tourist who decided Tara and Andrew were quite the attraction…

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and my resulting image…

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…and then one from the sunset on the way home – you know, just for fun. :o)

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The end.

29 Comments

  1. Rita Frickin Wiebner ;) on September 4, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    I love the baby bump!!!!! Oh, and the photos of your couple rock socks too. :)

  2. david & kimi b ~ ohana photographers on September 4, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    oh dear Lord i knew this was a mistake. ridiculous! you guys are amazazazing!

  3. adrian hitt on September 4, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    you guys make me laugh! i love sean for photographing mel coming down the ladder. you go girl!! wonderful images – the both of you.

  4. chris on September 4, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    yay! ask, and you shall receive!

    … but where are the other bajillion or so?

    =)

  5. Natasha on September 5, 2008 at 1:21 am

    Oh WOW! This is just gorgeous! The baby bump is so cute, can’t imagine you climbed in there, sooo brave!

  6. Cathy Crawley on September 5, 2008 at 4:09 am

    You guys are crazy, just my kind of people :)

  7. Tara on September 5, 2008 at 6:06 am

    ok, first- YOU are the hero for navigating the canyon and ladders with your bump
    second – andrew is gonna kill you for that one in the middle, haha!
    and finally – they are b e a utiful!

  8. Lisette Price on September 5, 2008 at 7:49 am

    Gorgeous! What a location!

  9. Lindsay Gaskins on September 5, 2008 at 8:46 am

    Look how adorable you are Mel!!!! I just want to reach in the computer screen and rub your belly! (and i am definitely not a touchy-feely person!! lol)
    Wonderful shots guys!

  10. jessica @ budgetsavvybride on September 5, 2008 at 9:41 am

    in-friggin-credible. just breathtaking!!

  11. Emily Beaty on September 5, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Loveeeeee these! What an awesome location, and you captured it so well!

  12. Melanie Watson on September 5, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Beautiful absolutely stunning and well worth the risks! ;) Love your cute little baby bump Mel. You are adorable. Great job altogether guys. Makes me want to go to AZ now. Their tourism board should pay you for that kind of promotion. ;)

  13. Jonathon Campbell on September 5, 2008 at 1:29 pm

    What up! These are awesome. Your images are so inspirational

  14. miranda on September 5, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    you guys never cease to amaze me! mel you look freakin adorable!! great job guys!!

  15. Garrett on September 5, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I think I saw you guys the other night on the Travel Channel!

    Inspiring.

  16. ricki ford on September 5, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    I love images 6

  17. Marlena Wright on September 6, 2008 at 12:18 am

    wicked amazing.i’m glad you added the pictures of you guys shooting; otherwise i wouldn’t believe these were REAL. (ok, so i would.)

  18. Becka Knight (Studio222 Photography) on September 6, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    WOW! I’m even more impressed that you braved that staircase with your baby bump!

  19. Heather @ Southern Weddings on September 7, 2008 at 10:28 am

    These images are breathtaking! Fabulous location!

  20. mel on September 7, 2008 at 10:49 am

    Thanks Rita! Hey David and Kimi! Thanks so much! Adrian my dear, making you laugh is what we’re here for. :o) Sorry Chris – I’m one busy preggo! Natasha – thank you! Hehe – thanks Cathy! :o) Hey Tara! lol – tell Andrew he can’t smile like that for a girl and expect her not to show it off! ;o) It was too funny to pass up – and you live far enough away that he can’t strangle me that easily! :o) Thanks Lisette! Haha – I don’t have belly rub phobia yet Lindsay so you’re in luck – ha! Jessica- thank you! Thanks to you too Emily! It was an incredible location! Hey Mel! I think you’re onto something here… ;o) Jonathon – hey! We really appreciate that! Hey Miranda! Thank you so much! Haha – Garrett – you’re one to talk about travelling all the time! If anything, we’re just feeling more like Garrett and Joy this year! :o) Thanks Ricki! Hey Marlena! Thank you! Becka – it wasn’t so bad – we were just veeeery careful. :o) Thanks so much Heather!

  21. Courtney D. on September 7, 2008 at 10:51 am

    Wow…All of the above are wonderful and Mel you are growing so fast (love the bump). Your child is already jetsetting in the womb!

  22. Bradford on September 7, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    Simply awesome!!!!

  23. ed pingol on September 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    niiiiiiiiiiiiice!!! awesome awesome location.

    //ed

  24. Jo @ Allegro Photography on September 14, 2008 at 10:03 am

    what a fabulous setting and fabulous images- you rock my world!

  25. mel on September 15, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Thanks so much you guys! :)

  26. Joe - Minnesota Photographer on October 10, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    The canyon shots are amazing… You really worked the shape and line of the rocks … must have been like a crazy studio shoot, even though you were technically outdoors.
    Great stuff.

  27. Whitney May on November 12, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    Simply Stunning…Amazing work. These photos are shockingly good:)!!!!

  28. Sean on August 21, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    Thanks Joe & Whitney!

  29. Chris Scott on December 20, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    15 years later and I’m showing MrT these photos because we’re headed to the slot canyons tomorrow! Been looking forward to visiting since you guys posted these photos.

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