Darin + Kristen | Engagement Pictures in Palo Duro Canyon

I could not have been blessed with a better couple to take pictures of for my first time back in Amarillo, Texas! And we got to go to Palo Duro Canyon! It was literally the perfect evening. Here’s what I love about these two: they clearly love having fun together and they don’t always take everything seriously! But on the flip side, they aren’t afraid to get super romantic. They are going to have an intimate backyard wedding this fall and it is going to be breathtaking, I’m sure of it.

EngagementsKayla SmithJune 23, 2021palo duro canyon, engagement, engagement photos, couple, summer, sunset, love, wedding picturesComment

Mark + Madi | Fun and Playful Engagement Photos in Amarillo, Texas

Just know that if you decide to book your engagement/wedding photos with me, I’m definitely going to make you hug, kiss, and cuddle, and I might even make you dance in the street or run down the road holding hands with each other. Fair warning! Madi and Mark were one of my most FUN couples to date! I never had to prompt them to laugh at each other or giggle. It was so natural for them. Their smiles, their hugs are genuine and they come from a place of pure love for each other. They are best friends. They went along with all of my crazy plans and had a great time while doing it.

EngagementsKayla SmithJuly 15, 2019engaged, engagement, love, couple, photographer, amarillo, downtown, palo duro canyonComment

My Favorite Spots to Take Photos in Palo Duro Canyon

I have taken engagement, family, senior, and wedding photos in Palo Duro Canyon literally dozens and dozens of times. It never gets old for me! Each time I’m driving on the flat plains and then suddenly the world opens up into the canyon, I am amazed. It is absolutely my favorite place to take pictures around Amarillo, Texas. It is beautiful and versatile. And because of that versatility, I thought it was necessary to create this blog to show some of my favorite spots within the canyon to take photos. These little sub-locations within the canyon are completely different from one another and it’s hard to choose a favorite among them. They all look great any time of year but some can look drastically different from one season to another and on those, I’ve noted which season the picture was taken in.

Kayla SmithFebruary 19, 2019palo duro canyon, engagement photos, family photos, senior photos, locations, amarillo, texas, amarillo texas, texas panhandle, natureComment

Hannah + Ty | Colorful, Free-Spirited Wedding in Palo Duro Canyon

Ty and Hannah’s wedding was one for the books.

It was totally, 100%, completely different from any other wedding that I have photographed and that is a beautiful thing! It was refreshing, real, and so much fun.

Hannah and Ty came from Houston to get married in Palo Duro Canyon simply because they love it. They had tons of bridesmaids and groomsmen and family members come up to support them because they are very clearly loved and cherished by many. And I can see why. Both Hannah and Ty have something about themselves that attracts people to them like a magnet. They light up the room when they walk in and I noticed that right from the start.

WeddingsKayla SmithNovember 15, 2018wedding, palo duro canyon, bride, groom, wedding photographer, wedding ring, details, weddings, wedding dress, wedding planningComment

Sawyer + Emily | Palo Duro Canyon Engagement Session

The way Sawyer proposed to Emily was pretty sweet. They knew they were going to get married at some point so they were already touring wedding venues. Their hearts were set on the Fulford Barn outside of Brownfield, Texas. They walked around the property and eventually made it to the lawn where much to Emily's surprise, Sawyer had set up a table with pictures of the two of them, beautiful flowers, and other sweet memorabilia. He then got down on one knee and asked her to become his wife.

EngagementsKayla SmithMarch 9, 2018engagement photos, engagement, amarillo tx, palo duro canyon, spring, lubbock photographer, bride, coupleComment

Rachel + Matt | Late December Wedding in Palo Duro Canyon

"We were together...I forget the rest" - Walt Whitman

Literary quotes decorated Rachel and Matt's wedding - making their day a true reflection of their personalities. Even before Matt came along, Rachel always wanted a winter wedding and I hope the late December day in Palo Duro Canyon was everything she imagined it would be. Despite the 20 degree weather- and from a photographer’s perspective - I’m so glad they still decided to get married outside. In the frigid temperatures they said their vows as Rachel’s dad officiated and they planted a new pine tree together. It was a representation of their young marriage and the years of cultivation and care ahead of them.

WeddingsKayla SmithJanuary 15, 2018wedding, amarillo, texas, palo duro canyon, wedding photographer, weddings, bride, bridal, tx, amarillo txComment

The Mauldin's | Palo Duro Canyon Family Photos

The Mauldin's family photo session in Palo Duro Canyon was one of those sessions that I got too distracted talking to the family and getting to know them when I should have been taking their pictures! I'm sort of kidding but I really did love getting to know this wonderful couple and their energetic, spirited kids. I can tell that they have a ton of love for each other. When a little girl tells her mom several times in an hour in the most sincere voice, "I love you, Mom," you know they've got something special.

FamilyKayla SmithDecember 8, 2017palo duro canyon, fall, autumn, family, family photographer, family photos, mom, kidsComment

Belle | Palo Duro Canyon Head shots

Gosh, this girl is so pretty! She is graduating from West Texas A&M University this December so she did a graduation/head shot session with me. She needed some fresh head shots because she is leaving for Los Angeles after graduation where she is moving to go to film school and pursue a career in acting. She told me she wants to start out in commercials. I hope these pictures will help get her where she wants to go!

SeniorsKayla SmithNovember 7, 2017palo duro canyon, graduate, college senior, west texas a&m university, west texas, photographer, modelComment

Kayce | Ethereal Palo Duro Canyon Bridal Session

I get pretty attached to my clients and Kayce is no exception. Since she lives in Fort Worth, the first time I met her in person was during her bridal session in Palo Duro Canyon - where her wedding also was. I instantly liked her. And her wedding last weekend ended up being one of my all time favorites for many reasons but mostly because the people there were awesome. Not only were Kayce and her now husband Conner so amazing, nice, and relaxed but their wedding party was perfect as well!

WeddingsKayla SmithMay 10, 2017palo duro canyon, wedding photographer, wedding, bridal photos, bride, wedding dress, canyon, texas, weddingsComment

Alyssa + Patrick | Palo Duro Canyon Engagement Photos

These two adorable people have spent six years together (four of which were long distance) and they are now getting married later this year. They are so amazing together and they are as sweet as they look. Their engagement session in Palo Duro Canyon was full of real laughter (my favorite!) and lots of cuddling for warmth. Though it was a breezy, crisp January day, their smiles are what make the pictures look warm.

EngagementsKayla SmithFebruary 4, 2017palo duro canyon, engagement, engagements, love, couple, marriedComment

Aleecya + Kyle | Downtown Amarillo & Palo Duro Canyon Engagement Session

Aleecya and Kyle's engagement session was one big giggle fest. Aleecya warned me before her session that her fiance, Kyle, was "not much of a picture guy." But I promised her that I would make them feel comfortable and rarely would I have them just staring at the camera. So I made them kiss and do silly things and the two of them were pretty much laughing the entire time we were downtown.

EngagementsKayla SmithJanuary 31, 2017downtown, palo duro canyonComment

Callie + Kyle | Palo Duro Canyon Engagement Photo Session

These two are a couple of my favorites. A lot of people ask me if I know my clients before they hire me and the answer is no 98% of the time. However, sometimes clients come along that I feel like I have known for a long time. Callie and Kyle are a couple of clients like that. Their engagement session went so smoothly and comfortably and I could have photographed them for a couple more hours easily - except without the mosquitos that literally ate me alive ;)

EngagementsKayla SmithSeptember 21, 2016engagements, engagement, couple, love, engaged, bride, groom, palo duro canyon, lubbockComment