Tag Archives: Brett Siegel

Ok, so when Brett met me I had never really been camping before.  I know, even I am kind of shocked by this revelation.  I was never a girl scout and our family vacations were road trips from one bed and breakfast to the next.  Honestly Brett was pretty floored that I was a camping virgin.  It was quite the contrast from his boyscout summers spent backpacking for days, sleeping under the stars and foraging.  Oh wait your not supposed to forage… oops.

He eased me into the campers lifestyle.  On our first trip we car camped and slept on an air mattress in the bed of the truck.  During our second camping trip he had me set up the tent.  I think he spent a lot of time laughing while I tried to figure out where all the polls went and got tangled up in the rain fly.  There was definitely some pouty lip and foot stomping the first couple times I set up the tent, it is so much easier to just blow up an the air mattress in the back of the truck and be done with it.

Brett is our master cooker because my camp cooking skills consist of roasting marshmallows and boiling water.  He is also the official fire starter and he usually has to pick out where the tent is going to go.  The few times he left if up to me we ended up on a hill or somewhere quite lumpy.

Well a year ago today we took our camping skills to the next level and hiked into Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon.  To get down to the waterfalls and camp sites it’s a 13 mile, 3000 vertical foot hike down switchbacks, over rocky terrain and through the canyons. Due to the extreme Arizona heat our little group opted to make this hike in at night, beginning our descent at 2:30am.

Brett and I managed to bring all the wrong gear.  Our camp stove was to big, our tent was heavy and leaked when we got a fluke rain storm, and our campers pot set got stuck inside of each other making it impossible to cook.  But we had the time of our lives!  The air was hot on our skin and the water chillingly perfect.  We visited all of the waterfalls and wished we had more time to visit them all again.

When we decided to go with our friends to Havasupai we knew it would be the trip of a lifetime and we probably wouldn’t return.  But I think back on our trip often and I’ll admit that I’m starting to get the itch to go back.

We wanted to post this to share what an amazing time we had.

backpacking in to havasupai village and waterfalls grand canyonWe followed the tradition and placed rocks in the wall.backpacking in to havasupai village and waterfalls grand canyon wild horseswild horses along the trail down to havasupai village grand canyonhavasu tribe villageone of the last working pony express in the united states havasupai tribeThe Pony Express still exists!  We totally should have mailed a letter.havasu tribe villagehiking to the village in havasupai grand canyonHavasu falls havasupai grand canyonOur first look at Havasu Falls
Havasu falls waterfall grand canyonHavasu waterfall havasupai grand canyonHavasu falls waterfall havasupai grand canyonplaying in the water under Havasu falls havasupai grand canyonHavasu falls havasupai grand canyonHavasu falls havasupai grand canyonplaying in the water at havasu fallsromantic moment at Havasu falls havasupai grand canyonjumping off the rocks at Havasu falls havasupai grand canyoncliff jumping off the falls at Havasu falls havasupai grand canyonwild horse on the trail down to Havasu falls in Havasupai Grand CanyonWe saw quite a few wild horses (or somewhat wild) running around.havasupai grand canyonriver running through camp sites in havasupai grand canyonriver running through camp sites in havasupai grand canyonOur camp site across the river.
My green floaty! We found a rock to tie it to.  But after the rain storm we came back to find a tree had fallen on it.campsite in havasupai grand canyonNot our dog…

 He liked hanging out in our camp site though.

The Gang!summer rain storm in havasupai grand canyonAiring out our sheets after the fluke rain storm that flooded our supposedly water proof tent.Havasu falls at night long exposureCome on guys can’t you see i’m trying to take a picture here.
night exposure havasu falls havasupai grand canyonExploring the old mines.  It was a pretty creepy thing to do at night.  But I can’t imagine that it would be much less creepy during the day.Mooney falls havasupai grand canyonMooney FallsMooney falls havasupai grand canyonMooney falls havasupai grand canyoncave down to Mooney falls havasupai grand canyonTake a right down through the dark cave and then scale the cliff holding onto the chains as you go to get down to Mooney Falls
trail down to mooney falls havasupai grand canyonMooney falls havasupai grand canyonMooney falls havasupai grand canyonCan you spot Brett, Ashley and Jenna?
Mooney falls havasupai grand canyonHow about now?Mooney falls havasupai grand canyonMooney falls havasupai grand canyonsmaller waterfalls just down from Mooney falls havasupai grand canyonYep sometimes we take ourselves a little to seriously.Lower Navajo Falls havasupai grand canyonhiking in havasupai grand canyonhavasupai grand canyonLower Navajo Falls havasupai grand canyonLower Navajo Fallslower navajo falls waterfall havasupai grand canyonLower Navajo Falls havasupai grand canyonLower Navajo Falls havasupai grand canyonLower Navajo Falls havasupai grand canyonLower Navajo Falls havasupai grand canyonUpper Navajo falls havasupai waterfalls grand canyonUpper Navajo Falls on our last day.trails to havasu villageLooking down at what we hiked out of.top of the trail down the grand canyon into havasupai villageWe left the camp sites at 1 am to make the hike back out of the canyon and this fella walked with us all night guiding us back to the cars.  When we made it to the top he took a little nap, drank some of our water and then walked back down the trails with a new set of campers.
It would be an understatement to say that we were all tired.havasupai reservation dogsMore cute resi dogshavasupai reservation dog

 

Last time we saw Charlie he was showing off his stellar wooden Radio Flyer Tiny Trike, and I’m pretty sure he got that little 4 wheeled flyer going speeds even the guinness world records would be proud of.  Recently when crawling around  in the depths of our attic we found a beautiful mini red Radio Flyer wagon that we decided to share with Charlie on our next photo shoot.  We wheeled it into the backyard and watched his eyes grow big with excitement.   The next half an hour was spent with his mom and Brett taking turns pulling a laughing Charlie back and forth across the lawn. “More, more” and laughing was all we heard out of him.2 year old laughing in a red radio flyer wagon2 year old being pulled in a red radio flyer wagon by his momfun family portraits in San Diegotraditional red radio flyer wagon

brother and sister in a red radio flyer wagon

He did let Mackenzie ride with him for a minute, but then he wanted the wagon all to himself again

kids in a red radio flyer wagonfun la jolla family photosbig brother holding his little sister in a rocking chairwhat a good big brother Charlie islittle kid family portraits in La Jolla California

Susan and George, aside from bringing their wonderful horse along on their engagement shoot, found us a very special place for their photo session, The Newport Bay Conservancy or the Back Bay is it is locally known.  This is a fantastic nature preserve tucked into the heart of Newport.  Not only was it an absolutely picturesque spot for George and Susan’s photos, it also brought back memories for them.  On early quite mornings it was a favorite spot of Susan’s for a brisk jog and a few minutes of peaceful bliss.  Thank you both for sharing this beautiful spot with us.  Brett and I look forward to retiring to this peaceful estuary.

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Zombie engagement shoot

George was doing the Zombie walk

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We love to encourage couples we work with to bring props with them on their engagement shoot.  It might be a favorite board game or a special blanket made by a family member.  Well, George and Susan brought what means the most to them, Spiderman.  Now I’m not talking the classic collector’s edition comic book or George and Susan dressed in stretchy one-pieces.  Rather we are talking about Susan’s 18 hand beautiful bay gelding.  Susan used to compete  in Show Jumping with her horse, Spiderman.  She now trains others in this magnificent sport, and Spiderman helps younger generations accomplish their showing dreams.  It was an absolute treat to work with Susan, George and Spiderman.  Brett and I both spent time around horses when we were younger, but this was our first chance to work with a horse in conjunction with an engagement shoot and it was so much fun.  Spiderman was happy to take a nice scenic walk with all of us and stop to pose here and there.engagement shoot with a horse in Newport beachengagement session with a horse San Diegoengagement shoot with a horse New Port Californiawedding photography orange countyartistic engagement photosShow Jumpers in Orange Countyprofessional portraits with your horse Orange county southern californiafun portraits with your horseprofessional photos with your horse San Diegohorse friendly trails New Port bayromantic engagement photos with a horsebest wedding photographers in san diegotop wedding photographers in san diegoloving couple posing with their horseromantic engagement session with a horse New Port bayhorseback engagement shoothorse trainer wearing a square diamond engagement ringstunning horseback engagement shoot san diegostunning horseback engagement shoot New Port Orange CountyHorse engagement shootEngagement photography Orange countyshow jumpers in orange county