Bryce Hiking Weekend — REI Signature Camping

I think my husband is going to regret inviting me on a hiking weekend in Bryce Canyon National Park with REI at one of their new Signature Campsites. Let's just say, from now on I'm going to expect a cold, scented towel and iced lemonade after all hikes. 

I've experienced Bryce Canyon before, but never like this and especially not in a tent setup large enough for a closet, mirror and nightstand. The campsite is impressive with its spacious tents and wooden platforms. Did I mention they deliver French press coffee to your tent every morning? 

While REI brings together all the comfort and style a camper could want, it's the beauty of Bryce Canyon that steals the show. Hikes in Bryce wind through incredible landscapes of red rock and hoodoos — tall, skinny spires of rock. The slot canyons of Escalante are sandstone playgrounds, filled with plenty of challenges. This place is amazing!

Not only did our weekend in Utah give us a much-needed break from the Phoenix heat, it gave my outdoors-loving husband a glimpse into our future as campers. I'd like to thank REI for that.

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp details. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Bryce Canyon National Park. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp and Eno hammocks. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp details. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Hiking in Bryce. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Geoff turns 50. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Campfire. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp details. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

French press coffee in the morning. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography 

Outdoor kitchen. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Trails and gourmet meals. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Outdoor kitchen. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail & Kodachrome S.P. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Geoff and Jane. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Slot canyons in Escalante. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography 

Guiding in Escalante. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail & Escalante. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography 

Bryce Canyon Signature Camp. 2013. Bryce Canyon, Utah. ©Jill Richards Photography

On Assignment: "This is Phoenix" campaign

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography 

Leah in yellow. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah in the morning light. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Heated pools in the winter. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Poolside martini. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Leah at The Phoenician. 2013. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

Model: Leah Notebaert of Ford Robert Black Agency.
Styling, H&M: Diane Aiello.

This is one of several shoots I did with Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau for its new "This is Phoenix" advertising campaign. And really, nothing says "Welcome to Phoenix" like one of the city's finest resort pools. The Phoenician, with its perfect landscaping and gorgeous yellow cabanas, was the perfect location for our early morning shoot. Not to mention, the water was heated. I think our model Leah appreciated that.

A lazy Sunday in New Orleans

Live music on every street corner. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Sunday afternoon. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography 

Locals. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Barkus parade. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Sunday Mardi Gras parade. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Tourists. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Locals. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Throwing beads. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Purple, green and gold. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

Barkus parade. 2013. New Orleans, LA. ©Jill Richards Photography

I had big plans for my trip to New Orleans — being in bed with the flu was not one of them. Sadly, I only got one day out in the sunshine with my camera. Being sick in New Orleans is a special kind of torture, but then again, one day of shooting in The Big Easy is better than 10 days shooting in other towns. Cheers to New Orleans.

Billboards: This is Phoenix.

Attention people of Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and San Francisco, the sunny city of Phoenix is looking to lure you to the desert with a batch of new fancy billboards. Hope it works.

The billboard design ties in with the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau's advertising campaign using Instagram/Hipstamatic-type images. Basically we're saying to travelers, "If you come to Phoenix, these are the memories you will make."

This is Phoenix billboard #1. 2012. ©Jill Richards Photography

Golf at The Boulders. 2012. Carefree, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

This is Phoenix billboard #2. 2012. ©Jill Richards Photography

Poolside at The Phoenician. 2012. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

This is Phoenix billboard #3. 2012. ©Jill Richards Photography

Poolside at The Phoenician. 2012. Phoenix, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography

This is Phoenix billboard #4. 2012. ©Jill Richards Photography

Rock Climbing. 2012. Superior, AZ. ©Jill Richards Photography