Cherry blossoms in Utah are notoriously finicky. Every year, I book clients for dates that I *hope* the trees will be blooming, and every year, mother nature laughs at me. This year was no exception! I re-booked my cherry blossom sessions no less than eight times. Luckily, I have AMAZING clients who were willing to play "calendar Tetris" when summer decided to crash the party in mid-March.
One such client was this stunning high school senior! I hardly even had to boss her around—she was a natural at posing (and if you know me, you know how bossy I get when I'm behind the lens). We dodged a few joggers, stray dog walkers, and—of course—a small army of other photographers to snag these shots!
A Word to the Wise (and the Panicked)
Heads up if you’re planning to shoot here: about two-thirds of the trees just... didn't show up to work this year. No blossoms. At all. I had a very brief (and very real) moment of internal screaming when I pulled up to see totally bare branches! Thankfully, we found a few nice, fluffy trees hiding further North on the trail.
The blossoms have been spectacular in years past, so I’m no arborist, but this year felt like a bit of a snub from the trees.
Pro Tip: Do yourself a favor and scout The Riverwoods before your shoot so you know exactly what you're walking into. It would be so embarrassing to show up promising a floral wonderland and delivering a stick forest!
Despite the drama, this location still screams Spring: the surviving blossoms, the gentle sun peeking through the branches, and that classic "crisp-and-chilly-but-somehow-still-nice" Utah air. It was a perfect backdrop for a beautiful Senior session!
