A Fall Formal Session at Schwabacher Landing in Grand Teton National Park
Madison and Sheridan were already married when they made a special trip from Idaho Falls to Grand Teton National Park for their formal session. As a couple who loves the mountains and spending time outdoors together, it only made sense to put their wedding attire back on and trade their wedding venue for the Tetons.
Their entire session took place at Schwabacher Landing during the first week of October. This is typically one of my favorite time frames to recommend to couples hoping for fall colors in Grand Teton National Park. Of course, Mother Nature does not exactly work on a schedule, so peak color can vary from year to year. Luckily, Madison and Sheridan were greeted with plenty of those beautiful golden tones along the river and throughout Schwabacher Landing.
Madison had done her research before the session and sent over locations she loved. I was able to let her know that many of those views were actually located within different areas of Schwabacher Landing, which made the location an easy choice for their session. We spent the evening moving throughout the area and taking advantage of the variety it has to offer.
They both wore their wedding day outfits, with Madison back in her bridal gown and Sheridan in his suit and cowboy hat. Madison also made her own bouquet for the session, adding an extra personal touch to their post-wedding portraits.
The weather, however, kept us on our toes. Rain was in the forecast, so we moved their session earlier in the day to give ourselves the best chance of avoiding it. We had a little bit of everything, including sunshine, rain, and plenty of clouds. Honestly, it ended up giving us some beautiful variety throughout their photos.
Madison and Sheridan were the perfect mix of playful and elegant. You could tell how much they genuinely enjoyed being around each other, which always makes photographing a couple feel effortless. They were completely in love and did not need much encouragement to laugh, have fun, and simply enjoy being together in one of their favorite kinds of places.
Then, toward the end of the session, the clouds gave us one last surprise. A beautiful cloud shelf formed across the Tetons, creating a dramatic backdrop and ending the evening in a way none of us could have planned.
As a Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park wedding photographer, one of the things I love most about photographing couples here is that every session looks a little different. Fall in Grand Teton National Park can bring golden leaves, unexpected weather, dramatic skies, and sometimes all of the above in the same afternoon.
If you are planning a Grand Teton National Park wedding or want to schedule post-wedding formals in the mountains, early October can often be a great window for fall color. I always recommend having some flexibility with timing, though, because the weather and peak foliage can change from year to year. Having a photographer who regularly photographs in the park can also make a huge difference when it comes to choosing the right location and making adjustments when the forecast has other plans.
For Madison and Sheridan, a little rain, some sunshine, and a last-minute cloud shelf over the mountains made their Grand Teton National Park formal session one to remember. To book your own unforgettable session in the park, I would love to connect over at Sierra Laine Photography or if you want to see anther Grand Teton Formal Session, you can head to Mady & Michael's here.
