As an Idaho photographer, I get to meet so many incredible people who roll through our little corner of the world. Some are exploring, some are sightseeing, and some are just visiting family and secretly trying to figure out how to pack up their lives and move here (don’t deny it, you’ve thought about it). We live in such a ridiculously gorgeous area, mountains, rivers, and views that make you want to slap them on a postcard, so naturally, people want to take advantage of it and book family photos while they’re here.

That’s exactly what Jeremy and Marcela did. They drove all the way from Iowa, camper and dogs in tow, for some family time in Idaho. I say “all the way” like it was a weekend drive, but if you’ve ever driven across Nebraska, you know that trip deserves a medal.

Now here’s where things get funny. Jeremy and Marcela have this ongoing debate about whether Iowa has mountains. Marcela swears up and down that it does (spoiler: it doesn’t). Jeremy, bless him, is standing firm that Iowa’s “mountains” are really just… well, glorified speed bumps compared to Idaho. Let’s just say the Lemhi Range settled that argument for them real quick. Sorry, Marcela — you walked straight into that one.

We started their Idaho photo session by sneaking down to the river for some shots of just the two of them, because fun fact: these two just got ENGAGED. Yep, surprise! Marcela is now rocking that fiancée title. (Insert confetti and champagne here.)

And let me tell you, Marcela showed up ready for her close-up. She got pampered at Blown Away Salon in Challis by Kayla Johns, who worked her hair magic, and then Maddie from Aura Makeup Artistry gave her the kind of glow we all secretly wish we woke up with. Marcella looked stunning, and honestly, I wasn’t even surprised because I knew those ladies would deliver.

Meanwhile, Jeremy’s contribution to prep was… well, showing up. He did, however, make one very clear request: “No walking photos.” If you know me, you know that I love a good “drunk walk” pose to shake the jitters out. It’s basically engagement-session yoga with a side of laughter. But fine, I behaved (this time) and didn’t make him do anything too silly. And you know what? We still got some absolutely amazing shots. Turns out, you don’t have to walk to look good in front of the camera. Who knew?

I’m really hoping these two make it back our way soon, maybe for an Idaho elopement or wedding in the mountains. Because let’s be real: once you’ve had photos taken here, everything else just looks like… well, Iowa hills.

So whether you’re traveling through Idaho, visiting family, or just in need of a good excuse to pack up the camper and dogs, don’t forget that this little slice of heaven makes the perfect backdrop for engagement photos, family photos, or even a “just because we’re in Idaho” session. Trust me, you’ll leave with pictures you’ll love and maybe even a fresh perspective on what counts as a mountain.