Erica + Josh | Utah Ice Castles Formal Session
I have been wanting to photograph the Utah ice castles for as long as I can remember, and this year it finally happened! The ice castles are exactly what they sound like: gorgeous structures made entirely of crystal-clear icicles that you can walk through and explore. They are only built in five locations in the United States, and we Utahns are lucky enough to have one close by in Midway, UT, at Soldier’s Hollow. The entire ice castle experience is built with hundreds of thousands of icicles and includes tunnels, ice slides, lights, sculptures, music, and so many more cool wintery experiences.
It was roughly 34 degrees when Erica and Josh joined me for their winter session. Talk about cold! We used my favorite winter trick to stay warm—placing hand warmers everywhere! I know it sounds crazy, but if you are a female and you’re photographing out in the cold, simply place a hand warmer in the top corner of your bra, and I promise it will keep your torso warm for hours. As a Utah wedding photographer, you can trust that I have learned from my many sessions in the cold! Even though it was freezing, Josh and Erica were such troopers throughout their formal session. They laughed and smiled with me the entire time! If you are looking for a unique and wintery location for your engagements, bridals, or wedding portraits, you should definitely consider the Midway Ice Castles.
The sole purpose of the Ice Castles is to bring joy to others. The founder, Brent Christensen, built an ice cave in his yard to get his kids out of the house and make them smile. His creations have been bringing a smile to people's faces ever since! The only downside to the ice castles is the crowds. They are often full of people, especially on Saturdays, so we had to wait for crowds to pass in order to get the perfect shots. You do not need any special appointment or photography pass to photograph there, however, so it is worth the wait. The Midway Ice Castles are a stunning backdrop and an incredible experience!