When I first visited Walnut Creek Metro Park to scout the area for this Couples Session, I’ll admit that I wasn’t that thrilled to shoot there. As an adventure photographer who started out in Colorado, I guess it’s fair to say that I’ve always been spoiled when it comes to locations for photoshoots and hiking. The number of spots to shoot that offer sprawling mountain ranges, snowcapped peaks, alpine lakes, etc. are too many to count where I’m from! So, the idea of shooting at a crowded city park on the outskirts of the major city of Austin, Texas was… slightly underwhelming…?
But that mindset changed when I met Cynthia and Lee at the park on the day of their shoot. They were both so eager to show this newbie Texan around one of their favorite stomping grounds. We hiked through wooded forests together on that Saturday evening as they led me to a canyon like riverbed where dogs ran freely and kiddies splashed in the water and bicyclists descended into a rocky river crossing. We started their photoshoot there then decided to hike to the other side of the park to shoot at a bridge.
Though, we never even made it to the bridge because we kept getting sidetracked by even better hidden gems along the way. (If you’ve shot with me before, you know that’s not a surprise though. My sessions are laid-back, go-with-the-flow and off the beaten path — that’s part of what my clients love about adventure shoots with me!) We cut through branches to shoot in a small patch of cacti, ventured off trail to dance in some dreamy back-lit trees, and ended the session with some cozy sitting cuddles in tall, winter field grass.
I didn’t go into the session feeling all that excited to explore a downtown park and participate in a so called “hike” that I knew would be more like a moderate walk on cement paths instead of the treacherous backcountry hikes I’m used to in the Rockies. But I left the session with a completely new view on my new home of Austin, Texas. It’s beautiful. In its own ways, of course. No, there’s no Pike’s Peak or Maroon Bells. And yes, I may always be partial to my home of Colorado. BUT after exploring this area with a rad couple of clients, I’m so excited to keep shooting here while making the most of what my new home has to offer. Here’s to seeing things in a new way. After all, photography is all about perspective. Isn’t it?
Erin L Malcolm Creative 