Sep 24, 2026 | 2026, Action, Adventure, Cowboys, Cowgirls, cowgirls with cameras, creative, equine photography, horse photography, Horse Photography Workshop, horses, Horsewomen, Photography, Ranch Photography, ranch photography workshop, Ranching, traveling photographer, Western, western photographer, Western Photography, western photography workshop, women supporting women |
Authentic Western Photography at the Cottonwood Ranch hosted by Cowgirls with Cameras
There’s something about waking up at the Cottonwood Ranch and watching that first golden light spill across the hills. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to grab your camera before your coffee is even finished. Of course, we are already up and at our shoot location before the light peeks over the mountains!
Our 2026 Western Photography Workshop at the Cottonwood Ranch was another incredible week of big skies, beautiful horses, hard-working people, and plenty of time behind the camera. As always, it was about so much more than photography.
The Cottonwood Ranch has become a special place for Cowgirls with Cameras. This was our fifth year back, and somehow McKenzie found another incredible spot for us to photograph. From sweeping mountain views to working horses and those wide-open Nevada skies, there is never a shortage of stories waiting to be told.
We welcomed another fantastic group of photographers who came ready to learn, create, and try new things, and perhaps most importantly, encourage one another. Watching everyone find their own perspective and see the same scene in completely different ways is one of my favorite parts of teaching.
Because there really isn’t one right way to photograph the West.
Our days were packed with photography, with two scheduled shoots each day, plus classroom time covering everything from the exposure triangle and histograms to composition, storytelling, equine and human posing, and techniques for making the most of the situations in front of your camera. And then there are the unexpected moments, the ones you can’t put on a schedule.
One of the things I love most about our Cowgirls with Cameras events is watching a group of photographers who may arrive as strangers quickly become a community. We learn together, laugh together, troubleshoot together, and cheer each other on. By the end of the week, everyone leaves with new images, new ideas, and friendships that often continue long after we leave the ranch.
A huge thank you to McKenzie, Jason, Easton, and Cavin at the Cottonwood Ranch for opening their doors again and making us feel right at home as always. McKenzie has officially earned the title of first-class photography location scout; every year she seems to pull another amazing location out of her hat, complete with those incredible 360-degree views.
And of course, Piper and Jerod made the trip from Wyoming again, bringing their horses, their dogs, and plenty of personality. We love having them and their four-legged crew, now a regular part of the Cottonwood experience.
And thank you to Jennifer for joining us from Idaho, and to Lynn, Chett, and Avery for adding so much to our shoots with your lovely family.
We also had the pleasure of heading over to the Uhart Ranch right next door for a couple of evening shoots where the scenery was amazing. Thanks to Domingo, Ruby, and Marcus for the wonderful hospitality!
Huge thank you to Joe for keeping everyone well fed. A lot of moving parts go into making these events happen, and we are so grateful for everyone who helps make it all possible.
We were also incredibly thankful for the incredible skies we had this year. After the drought and difficult conditions the West has experienced, seeing those clouds build and moving across the landscape was pretty special.
Sometimes you show up at a photography workshop just hoping to come home with beautiful photographs, then you leave realizing you got so much more than that. That’s one reason we keep coming back to places like Cottonwood Ranch. Of course, the photographs matter, but it’s the people, the stories, the experiences, and all those little moments in between that really stick with you long after you’ve packed up your camera and headed home.
Our 2027 Cowgirls with Cameras Cottonwood Ranch event is already full,
but if you’d like to join the waitlist, head over to Cowgirls with Cameras.
Until next time, keep shooting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep telling your stories through the lens.
