Ever get an idea stuck in your head and it just WON'T GO AWAY until you see it through?


I have wanted to do an outlaw-style western shoot for a few months now. It was stuck in my noggin' and I just couldn't stop thinking about it. While I was doing a couples session, I mentioned wanting to do more creative shoots. Tylar jumped at the chance.


Planning this shoot was pretty easy. Tylar had all the attire already and borrowed some extra things (a vintage jacket that was her grandmother's and a holster that was her grandfather's.)


I initially had another location in mind that was more of a forest setting but I knew I wanted it to feel more western than that. Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park in Gardnerville, NV was the perfect setting. There is a little bit of everything on the grounds; old farm equipment, a house with a gorgeous porch and a seemingly endless field.


During this session, we tried a combination of editorial and go-to poses and a ton of different outfits.

Western country style outfit with denim vest, black cowboy hat, crop top and dark pants against white wall.
Rustic fashion portrait with denim vest, black crop top and distressed jeans against weathered stone wall and white fence.
A person in distressed black jeans and a crop top poses against a stone wall with a white ladder and green vines.
Country western styled portrait against white barn door featuring black outfit and hat with dramatic sun flare.
Portrait in black attire against green door and brick wall showcasing western style with vintage belt detail.
Moody black and white portrait showing a person in a black outfit seated by a door with shutters.
Portrait with blonde wavy hair wearing moody makeup against white siding in warm natural lighting.
Sun-drenched outdoor portrait of someone with blonde hair wearing a tan dress and wide brimmed hat while resting on wooden fence.
A person in a beige dress holding a black cowboy hat leans against a wooden fence in a grassy field at sunset.
Stylish portrait in beige dress with black corset belt and wide brim hat against white wood siding.
Artistic black and white photo of a figure in a corseted dress and long sleeves posing outdoors with mountains in background.
Person with flowing blonde hair poses in tan dress with black corset belt against rural landscape at sunset.
Person in black fringe jacket and tall boots stands in sunlit meadow with mountains in background on sunny day.
Silhouette against mountain landscape at sunset with black boots and modern western wear casting long shadows on grassy field.
Western style outfit with black fringe jacket, shorts and hat posed in sunlit field with wooden structure backdrop.

At one point Tylar said "You remember the movie Holes? I feel like Kissin' Kate Barlow!" and man, was that spot on!

I broke out my black chair and it fit the vibe we were going for. I also had a vision of a hat tipped low and scarf covering her face so we rolled with that too. Very "Western Outlaw".


With it being about 100 degrees at 7:30pm, I did run into an issue with my camera malfunctioning and had to end the session early. However, we got more than enough shots.


I think to date, this is one of my favorite creative sessions. I am so grateful to Tylar and her openness to any and all of my ideas!

Black and white portrait of a masked figure with long flowing hair in dramatic lighting.
Black and white photo of someone in western attire sitting in an armchair outdoors with mountains in the background.
Dramatic black and white portrait of western cowgirl in black dress and wide-brimmed hat leaning against wooden fence.
A person in a black cowboy hat and jacket poses outdoors during golden hour with sunlight creating a backlit silhouette.
Silhouetted figure in western attire sits in field at sunset with tall wooden structure casting dramatic shadows.
Style photo of western fashion with black boots, cowboy hat and fringed black jacket captured at golden hour in a rustic field setting.
Artistic fashion photo of someone in a black outfit posed outdoors in arm chair during golden hour with long shadows on grass.
Stylish western outfit with black hat and boots crouching in grassy field with rustic farm equipment and mountains behind.
Stylish portrait at sunset with a wooden structure casting dramatic shadows across a rural western landscape.
Artistic portrait of someone in black western wear reclining outdoors in a grassy field at golden hour.
Silhouetted figure relaxes in armchair at sunset in grassy field with mountains in background.

Woohoo! You've stuck around this far! I would love to share some history on Dangberg Home Ranch with you.

From the ranch's website:

"Heinrich Friedrich Dangberg was only eighteen when he came to America in 1848. He came west in 1853, where he built a log cabin, cleared and irrigated his claim, and married Margaret Ferris, the daughter of a notable American family. A self-made man, his hard work, foresight, and leadership lead to prosperity and influence. The cabin grew into a house as Heinrich and Maggie raised five children who eventually inherited one of the largest ranches in western Nevada. In 1902, the family formed the Dangberg Land & Live Stock Co. and over the next few decades the ranch expanded to almost 50,000 acres supporting cattle and sheep, vegetable crops and other products. In 1905, the family founded the town of Minden and there, by themselves or in partnership with others, established several businesses focused on agriculture, banking, and a hotel. Today, the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park preserves this fascinating chapter in Nevada’s history. Nevada’s elite once passed through the doors of the Dangberg Home Ranch, and now you’re invited to visit, too."



While Dangberg Home Ranch is open to the public during daylight hours, it is a non-profit that relies on donations. Please consider donating here so that we can continue to preserve this piece of amazing Nevada history.

As always, thanks for reading!


Kati