Love At The Bottom Of The Earth
Antelope Canyon X · Page, AZ · Taadidiin Antelope Tours
Couples · LGBTQ+ · Travel · Navajo Nation
A love story, a surprise, and two women who flew across the country to be exactly where they were supposed to be.
There are mornings in this work that feel ordinary right up until they don't.
I had driven nearly seven hours from Salt Lake City the day before, just me and my gear and the kind of quiet anticipation that settles in when you know something significant is coming but can't quite name what it is yet. I booked the 10am to 1pm tour slot through Taadidiin Antelope Tours on purpose. I knew what the light would be doing at that hour. Sun almost directly overhead, threading down through the narrow cracks in the earth, turning everything below into something that looks less like Arizona and more like the inside of a dream. There was no other slot worth considering.
I showed up 30 minutes early. Classic me. Standing in a parking lot in Page, Arizona, running through my mental checklist for the hundredth time, equal parts ready and terrified and grateful to be there at all.
And then two women stepped out of a car, and everything shifted.
The moment Kristen stepped out, I noticed something that made me laugh right there in the parking lot. She was wearing the exact same sunglasses as me. Same brand. Same color. Everything. I don't know how to explain what that felt like except to say that some moments arrive quietly and announce something anyway. All of us, me driving seven hours from Salt Lake, Zoë quietly carrying a secret for months, Kristen with absolutely no idea what was waiting for her, standing in a parking lot in the middle of the Arizona desert with the same sunglasses on.
We were all exactly where we were supposed to be. In Page, AZ haha!
The Plan That Started Months Before
Because here's what I knew that Kristen didn't.
A couple of months before this trip, Zoë had reached out to me. She was planning a western road trip with the woman she loved, and she had been quietly carrying a secret for months. She was going to propose on this western adventure, and she wanted a photographer waiting at Antelope Canyon X the morning after, ready to capture the very first hours of their engagement while Kristen still thought they were just... on a road trip.
We planned everything together. Outfits. Timing. What Zoë envisioned for them and what she wanted Kristen to hold onto forever. She had thought of every single detail, and I was in on all of it, this beautiful conspiracy of love that Kristen was completely oblivious to right up until the moment she wasn't!
The day before our session, somewhere out in the wide open American West, Zoë got down on one knee. Two perfect rings. A question that changed everything…
So by the time Kristen stepped out of that car in the parking lot, she was still glowing from being completely surprised by the person she's going to marry, and was about to walk into another experience she had absolutely no idea was coming. I want you to really sit with that. The layers of love and intention and planning that went into a single morning in a canyon in Arizona, I was even holding back some tears!
Whose Land This Is
Before I tell you what happened inside the canyon, I want to tell you a little about the canyon itself, because the more I learned that day, the more this stopped feeling like a beautiful backdrop and started feeling like something much bigger.
Antelope Canyon X sits on Navajo Nation land, and Taadidiin Tours, the family who guided us, are direct descendants of a man named Hastiin Tádídínii. In the 1860s, during the period known as the Long Walk, when the Navajo people were forcibly removed from their homeland, Hastiin Tádídínii hid in these very canyons for years to survive. He made it through. His family never left. Eight generations later, his descendants are the only people permitted to guide visitors through this land, and they do it while sharing his story, their story, with every single group.
And here's the detail that stuck with me the most. Our guide told us that the Tadytin family still herds a small flock of sheep that wander freely near the canyon, descendants of a much larger flock Hastiin Tádídínii once kept and generously shared after he returned home. We didn't see them ourselves, but our guide walked us past the quiet hollow worn into the land where they usually rest and sleep. It's a small detail, but it stayed with me the whole drive home. You're not just visiting a beautiful rock formation out here. You're stepping into a family's home, one that's belonged to them for nearly two centuries, sheep and all.
|This is sacred land before it is anything else. Every part of the experience reflected that, and I think it's better for it.
Into the Earth
I'll be honest with you about something. As we made our way toward the canyon entrance, I felt a quiet nervousness I hadn't fully anticipated. Not about my work, not about the light or the shots or the technical details I had spent weeks obsessing over. Something softer than that. A hope, I suppose, that every part of this day would feel as safe and celebrated and expansive as these two women deserved it to be.
What happened next is something I will never forget.
Our Navajo Nation guide, Garrett, from Taadidiin Antelope Tours didn't just lead us into the canyon. He welcomed Zoë and Kristen into it. Fully, warmly, without a moment's hesitation. Before we even descended into the first passage, he gathered a handful of the canyon's red sand and poured it into his palm alongside a little water, showing us how silica and time and the patience of a river had carved these walls over centuries. Standing there, watching him hold the entire history of this place in his hands, while two newly engaged women leaned in to see... I thought, yes. This is exactly right. This is exactly where all of us are supposed to be. The nervousness dissolved and never came back!
|He held the history of the canyon in his hands, and I understood for the first time what the word ancient actually means. Not old. Ancient.
There is a difference.
The lower section required descending a long staircase, dropping deep into the earth. Something fundamental shifts the moment you make that descent. The wind that had been moving across the surface? Gone. The noise of the world above? Gone. The temperature dropped just enough to feel like the canyon was exhaling, and these impossibly tall, swirling walls of red and orange sandstone rose up around us like we were being draped in ancient sand.
You could feel the water that rushed through it. Not see it, not hear it, feel it, somewhere behind the stone, behind the centuries, behind the silence. I kept thinking about that the whole time we were down there!
What Happened in There
This is the part where I genuinely struggle to find the right words, which honestly doesn't happen to me all that often haha.
Our guide, Garrett, was extraordinary in a way that went far beyond the tour. He was creating with us. At one point he reached down, gathered a handful of that rich, deep red canyon sand, and threw it behind Zoë and Kristen, letting it cascade off the walls in slow, glowing curtains of color. A waterfall made of fire. The light caught it in a way I wasn't prepared for and I was shooting as fast as I could while internally losing my mind completely, just trying to keep my hands steady and trust what I was seeing!
Then there was the moment I laid flat on the ground. Camera angled upward, the two of them placed in the lower right corner of the frame with the towering canyon wall climbing toward the upper left. A natural golden ratio. The couple as the anchor, small and luminous and completely themselves, while the ancient earth did everything else around them. You reach a point in this work where the technical decision and the emotional instinct arrive at exactly the same moment and there is nothing to do but trust it completely. I trusted it. I went!
And then came the moment I will carry with me for a very long time.
An unedited image (including the super fun wristbands they made us wear inserts sarcasm)
I asked Zoë and Kristen to re-enact the proposal from the day before… Loooook, I know what you're thinking, staged moments can feel so constructed and performed and you can always tell when they are. But not this time. Not even close. The second they stepped back into it, something completely real surfaced. Kristen started to cry. Not performance tears, real ones, pulled straight from what had actually happened just hours before when the woman she loves surprised her in the middle of a road trip with a question and two perfect rings. The canyon went quiet around us and I kept shooting and I tried very, very hard not to lose it myself, I really did!
|That's the thing about genuine emotion. It doesn't care whether the moment is a re-enactment. It finds its way through, even if you aren’t expecting it.
"Preston, This is Really Amazing"
Somewhere in those three hours, which somehow felt like one, Zoë turned to me and said "Preston, this is really amazing, thank you!"
And I felt that, somewhere I don't have a word for.
Here’s the thing, Zoë planned all of this. She reached out months before, carried this secret, chose this canyon and this tour and this (points to myself) guy from Salt Lake City who drove nearly seven hours for two women I haven’t ever met in person (yes we did facetime prior lol). Every beautiful thing about that day started with a decision Zoë made because of a love she has for Kristen… and she wanted the whole world to see it. That’s better than screaming your love from a rooftop in my opinion.
But what I keep coming back to is simpler than any of that. They could have handed their phones to the guide or taken selfies, a lot of people do, and that canyon alone would have made the day extraordinary. However, Zoë wanted someone there who would really be there. Present. Invested. In the moment. Someone who would feel the weight of what they were walking through and make sure it was captured in a way that spoke their language.
They were there for the experience, and I was there to capture their true reactions to all of it.
That's the job. That has always been the job.
For Those Needing This Experience
I get asked about this almost as much as I get asked about the photos themselves, so let me give you some tips.
Antelope Canyon X is not the canyon most people picture when they think of Antelope Canyon. The upper and lower canyons get the crowds and the Instagram fame. X is different. You cannot simply show up and walk in. This is ancient land, and the Navajo Nation is, understandably and rightfully, incredibly protective of it.
Here's what it actually costs and how it actually works. We paid roughly $600 for a private Photo Tour for three of us (roughly $157/person), which included our permit to enter the canyon and to shoot with my camera and the hiking permit. That price gets you your own dedicated guide (I HIGHLY recommend Garrett) rather than being folded into a larger group, which made an enormous difference. Standard tour passes are much cheaper, but you'll be moving through the canyon with a larger crowd, and if photography is your priority, that truly matters more than people expect.
A quick note on tripods, because I had to sort through some conflicting information myself. Taadidiin's general policy states that tripods aren't permitted inside the canyon unless it’s a photo tour. Navajo Nation will suggest getting a land use permit if you want to use a tripod, so there are a couple contradictions there. When I showed up for our Photo Tour specifically, my guide told me I was fine to set mine up, as we were on a photo tour and it was allowed. I'd still recommend confirming directly when you book, since policies can vary, but in my experience, being on a dedicated Photo Tour solved this entirely.
One more honest detail. Even with a private tour, you may still cross paths with larger groups moving through the canyon around the same time. It's not a guarantee of total solitude. If minimizing crowds in your shots matters to you, I'd specifically request the 10am to 1pm slot. That window gave us the best light of the entire experience and noticeably fewer people in our frame.
For photographers reading this specifically, lighting in there moves fast, and there is so much ground to cover. What looks flat one moment turns into a beam of gold minutes later, so you have to stay ready rather than chase a shot after it's already passed. It’s hard to assume you can just “Get the shot on the way back”. Build in more transition time than you'd expect too, especially if you're working with clients in formal wear or trying to navigate tight spaces with gear.
And, I can’t say this enough, our guide, Garrett, was exceptional. Knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping us get incredible images. He suggested shots I never would have found on my own and even helped create some of the most stunning moments of the entire session by throwing sand through the light for us. If you book a Photo Tour with Taadidiin, you're not just getting access to the canyon. You're getting a collaborator.
The story writes itself in a place like that. I just make sure it’s preserved forever.
FAQ’s
Is Antelope Canyon X different from the regular Antelope Canyon tours?
Yes. Most people are familiar with Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, which are the more heavily trafficked and well known sections. Antelope Canyon X is a separate, less crowded slot canyon also located on Navajo Nation land, accessed exclusively through Taadidiin Antelope Tours.
Can you bring a tripod into the canyon?
It depends on the type of tour. Standard tours generally do not allow tripods or bags. If you book a private Photo Tour specifically, tripods are typically permitted, though I'd recommend confirming directly with Taadidiin when you book since policies can vary by guide and group.
How much does a private photo tour cost?
I paid roughly $600 for a private Photo Tour for three people (roughly $157/person), which included the permit fee to shoot with a camera inside the canyon. Standard tours are significantly cheaper but place you in a larger group, which is worth considering if photography is your priority.
Is Antelope Canyon X good for proposals or engagement sessions?
Genuinely, yes. The lighting, the privacy of a guided photo tour, and the scale of the canyon walls create an incredibly emotional and visually striking backdrop. If you're planning a proposal or want to document one shortly after it happens, I'd recommend booking well in advance and requesting a guide experienced with photography sessions.
What is the best time of day to shoot inside the canyon?
I booked the 10am to 1pm slot specifically because that's when sunlight filters most directly through the openings above, creating the gold and copper lighting the canyon is known for. It also tends to have fewer crowds than later afternoon slots.
Is Antelope Canyon X LGBTQ+ friendly?
Our experience was overwhelmingly warm and welcoming. Our guide treated Zoë and Kristen with the same care, enthusiasm, and genuine investment he would show any couple, and went out of his way to help create meaningful moments for them throughout the tour.
Do you need a guide to enter the canyon?
Yes, always. Antelope Canyon X is located on Navajo Nation land, and a licensed Navajo guide is required for entry at all times. This isn't optional, and it's part of what makes the experience feel respectful and intentional rather than purely touristic.
How far is Antelope Canyon X from Salt Lake City?
The drive is approximately 6.5 to 7 hours depending on stops, which is the route I took to reach Page, Arizona the day before this session.
Do you travel for photography sessions outside of Utah?
Yes. I regularly travel for couples and engagement sessions, including this trip to Page, Arizona. I'm based in Salt Lake City but happily drive, fly, or coordinate travel for sessions further out if the location is worth it, and a place like Antelope Canyon X always is.
What should couples wear for an Antelope Canyon photo session?
Flowing, lightweight fabrics tend to photograph beautifully against the canyon's red and orange tones. Earth tones, creams, and soft neutrals complement the environment well without competing with it. I always recommend discussing outfit choices ahead of time so we can plan around the lighting and overall mood you're going for.
How long does a typical Antelope Canyon X photo session last?
Our session ran about three hours, which is standard for a private Photo Tour through Taadidiin. That time includes the guided walk through the canyon as well as dedicated time for portraits and posed moments along the way.
Can you do a proposal photography session at Antelope Canyon X?
Absolutely, and it's one of the most visually striking locations I've worked in for this kind of moment. If you're planning a proposal, I'd recommend reaching out early to coordinate timing, guide availability, and how discreetly you'd like the moment captured.
Are same-sex couples and LGBTQ+ clients welcome at Antelope Canyon X?
In our experience, completely. Our Navajo Nation guide was warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in creating a meaningful experience for Zoë and Kristen specifically as a couple, with zero hesitation or awkwardness.
What makes Antelope Canyon X different from photographing in a studio or typical outdoor location?
The scale and lighting are unlike anywhere else I've shot. The canyon's narrow openings create dramatic natural light beams, and the swirling sandstone walls add texture and color you simply cannot replicate elsewhere. It demands more technical precision but rewards it tenfold.
Do you offer destination wedding or elopement photography?
Yes. Whether it's a full elopement, a proposal, or a smaller intimate ceremony, I work with couples planning meaningful experiences outside of a traditional wedding format, including destination locations like Antelope Canyon X.
How far in advance should I book a session at Antelope Canyon X?
I'd recommend booking at least a few months out, especially if you're coordinating both a photographer and a private tour slot with Taadidiin. Good lighting windows and private tour availability can fill up quickly, particularly during warmer months.
What kind of camera equipment is best for shooting inside a slot canyon?
A camera capable of strong low-light performance is essential, since lighting conditions shift dramatically throughout the canyon. A versatile lens that handles both wide environmental shots and tighter portraits will serve you well, since space and positioning inside the canyon can be limited.
How do I book a session with Shot by Powell?
You can reach out directly through my website at shotbypowell.com or send a message through Instagram. I'm always happy to talk through your vision, location ideas, and what kind of experience you're hoping to create before we get into logistics.
If You're Planning Something...
Whether it's a proposal, an elopement, an anniversary, or a moment that deserves more than a phone camera held at arm's length, I work with couples from everywhere. Near and far. I drove nearly seven hours for this one and I would do it again tomorrow without a single hesitation.
Reach out and let's build something you will never forget. The canyon doesn't wait, and neither does the perfect moment!