🐚 Nautilus Shell – Spirals + Shadows

Fine Art Photoshoot at Nautilus Shell near Kanab, Utah

Model: @mamma_long_legs @sheiladelacruz_ @ivy.frost_

Model: @very_foster_

A Hidden Spiral in the Desert

Model: @mamma_long_legs

Back to another local gem: the Nautilus Shell rock formation near Kanab, Utah. I’d heard whispers of this place growing up — a slot-like spiral carved by wind and water, buried in the desert. It wasn’t until this retreat with Salt Lake City Inspired and Eternal West Editorial that I finally made the hike to see it myself, camera in hand.

Being born in Kanab and now traveling from Logan for destination shoots, moments like this are why I do what I do.

📍 View the full Nautilus Shell gallery here

Model: @baebecurvy

The Shoot: Angles, Models & Golden Hour Glow

We had multiple models with different looks and styles: soft boho dresses, edgy structured fashion, and minimal earth-toned pieces that played off the sandstone perfectly. The spiral wall of the shell created endless creative opportunities. I shot from above, below, and through narrow slots to exaggerate lines and light.

The sun was low during the shoot, casting diffused beams through the formation. Shadows moved quickly, creating moody tones that changed every few minutes — which, honestly, kept me sprinting around with excitement.

Model: @sheiladelacruz_

✨ Book your Nautilus Shell portrait session

📸 See more unique locations in Utah’s backcountry

Keywords: Nautilus Shell Utah photography, southern Utah spiral rock photoshoot, Kanab destination photographer, creative retreat photography, Logan Utah traveling photographer, fine art desert portrait session