SARAH’S WORLD
BEHIND THE LENS : ON LOCATION IN NEVADA
A sneak peak at our work on location in the beautiful landscape of Nevada, the perfect backdrop for our lifestyle shoot.
We’re so lucky that our work takes us to exciting places all over the world. We regularly travel to amazing locations for photo shoots and a favourite favourite is Nevada as the light in this part of the world is so perfect and they get hardly any rain (which is always be a problem shooting in England!)
Joining Sarah on location was our trusted team : as always the immensely talented photography duo Natalie Bayliss and Max Tetlow and model Grace Tuffnell as the star of the campaign (truly the most patient model we’ve ever worked with!)
OUT ON LOCATION
There are few locations on earth as stunning as the Nevada Desert and it was the perfect place for shooting the lifestyle images for our Botanica and Elemental collections. We wanted the backdrops to reflect the leaf and floral theme of the jewellery from the Botanica range (all inspired by nature) so we started on the desert plains where the mountain background looks amazing against the cactus and Aloe plants.
Moving further up the mountains the landscape changes and becomes more alpine as you reach Mount Charleston with a completely different look to suit our Elemental jewellery pieces. The woodland and mountains worked so well, as this collection reflects the mineral qualities of the precious metals and earthy gemstones (with the feel of being forged from the earth).
EXPLORE
We can’t recommend this part of the world enough for anyone who wants a trip off the beaten track, to soak in scenery that simply leaves you jaw dropped. The colours of the landscape change dramatically as you explore more of the region with each new discovery topping the last. You’ll love the drive through the Spring Mountain range where the yellow wildflowers burst out of the landscape (we had to stop at the side of the road to shoot amongst these).
Get your camera ready for the Valley of Fire situated nearby. We’ve shot there before and couldn’t believe the bright reds, rust and gold tones in the rock formations or the crazy strips of colour at Rainbow Vista.
HIDDEN GEMS
We need to shoot at stunning locations but they also need to be away from the crowds to allow us to shoot without distraction. So we research for months before our journey and hit upon a few treasured gems we need to pass on. One was Floyd Lamb Park; a literal oasis in the desert that’s so tucked away it’s always quiet. It features a beautiful lake with mountains in the background and parkland complete with tame peacocks and rabbits wandering around (the peacocks got very interested when our picnic came out when we took break from shooting!)
Another hidden gem is Nelsons Landing, a ghost town in the middle of the desert, used by film crews and fashion magazines for photo shoots. With vintage automobiles and even a crashed plane surrounding the collection of rustic buildings it was a dream to work there. For a small fee they’ll let anyone explore and will rent areas for parties and weddings. Take time to check it out, it’s not something you’ll see everyday and the family who run it and live there are so friendly with plenty of stories to tell.
STAY + EAT
With Mount Charleston being a hikers paradise in Summer and a ski resort in Winter it’s an obvious place to stay and if you want to do it in style try The Resort on Mount Charleston or the Retreat on Charleston Peak. If your looking for a city vibe then the sights and sounds of Las Vegas is only 30 mins drive from the desert (we recommend The Venetian or Caesars Palace for sheer fun).
Luckily for us it’s not all work and we get to try the local cuisine. A highlight had to be The Peppermill in Las Vegas, originally frequented by Elvis this place oozes vintage cool including fire pits in the lounge area and the craziest portions we’ve ever seen! Also worth a try is the Boulder Dam Brewing Company where we recharged in their garden over lunch between shooting in the Desert nearby. The restaurant is more like a museum with artefacts everywhere and a menu that includes local specialities such as Orange Cilantro Chicken and Beer Battered Pickles.
UNMISSABLE
Be sure to see the amazing sunsets in the desert, they’re like nothing we’ve ever seen! Its hard not to feel totally at peace watching the mountains change in the stunning colours and light, and be sure to take a bottle of wine to share while enjoying the view.
