Born in the Desert | Robyn Cage

It’s happening.  An album I’ve long anticipated.  Robyn Cage is, indeed, about to deliver new music to us eagerly awaiting fans.  And I couldn’t be more fired up to have been involved in creating the artwork.

It’s no secret that I’m smitten with this talented singer songwriter.  Well, me… and her enthusiastic fanbase that rocked a killer Kickstarter campaign with/for her toward the end of 2014 (she met Stretch Goals #1 AND #2).  So much support and passion follows her career, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to work with her several times (please check out previous shoots here and here and here).

Each opportunity with Robyn provides the freedom & confidence to push & explore a bit more, and this session was no different, due largely to the fact that I was invited to shoot on a working set.  Robyn was near Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park filming a music video for her single Born in the Desert with her team (Bryce Johnson, director/videographer; Amy DeVore, makeup & hair), and V & I were there to capture Robyn as she worked.  Having Robyn’s focus be elsewhere (Bryce’s camera) while we photographed, and since she was singing along to her own music for each take, I felt like I was getting closer to capturing her genuine artistry with my photos (rather than, say, staging her near a red rock and guiding her through artificial posing suggestions).

The props didn’t hurt, either :).  Robyn’s team, which also included her parents, husband, and others on set (Laura Johnson, Darryl Dobson) hauled a bathtub (which they heated by charcoal so Robyn wouldn’t get hypothermia in the 30 degree weather) and an antique piano hundreds of miles into the desert to help craft her vision for the shoot.  In the end… it’s all so remarkable, and stunning, and a perfect fit for her music.  I can’t wait til the video comes out so I can share it along with the photos.  Until then, here are some of my favorites from the day.