The journal · page 2
Wedding venue guides, portrait locations, Southwest road trips and home projects — written to be useful.
PortraitsDowntown El Paso Christmas Lights: A Winter Photo Session Guide
Winter in El Paso is short, bright and surprisingly cold after dark. Here is how to plan engagement or senior photos around the downtown holiday lights.
PortraitsRed Sands El Paso: A Photo Session Guide to the Dunes
The dunes on El Paso's east side are one of the most dramatic backdrops in the region. How to plan an engagement or portrait session there, and what to bring.
HomeAll About Windows: Efficiency, Natural Light and Treatments
How to read a window label, which frames and glass suit your climate, where to place windows for good light, and treatments that keep heat where you want it.
HomeHome Organization Labels: How to Make Them Helpful, Not Hurtful
A good label tells everyone in the house where things go. A practical guide to labeling pantries, closets and kids' rooms, plus a gentle note on labeling people.
HomeHow to Hang Light Fixtures: Sizes, Heights and Spacing That Work
The rules of thumb for sizing a chandelier, hanging it at the right height over your table, spacing pendants and adding light to an empty corner.
WeddingsHow to Find Your Wedding Photographer (and What to Ask)
Your photos are the one part of the wedding you keep forever. Here is a step-by-step way to find the right photographer and the questions worth asking.
TravelA South Dakota to Yellowstone Road Trip: Route, Stops and Photo Tips
From the Badlands to the Black Hills to Yellowstone's East Entrance: a practical route, the stops worth slowing down for, and how to photograph them.
WeddingsGila Valley Temple Wedding Photos: A Planning and Photo Guide
How a Gila Valley Temple wedding day usually flows, when to plan photos on the grounds, and the small-town spots nearby that round out the gallery.
HomeMaking the Switch: Cloth Napkins Instead of Paper Towels
A practical guide to swapping paper towels for cloth: how many napkins you need, where to find them second hand, and a laundry routine that sticks.
WeddingsUnique Wedding Exits: A Guide to Every Kind of Send-Off
Sparklers, petals, bubbles or a private last dance? How to choose a send-off that fits your venue, your timeline and the photos you actually want.
WeddingsThe Venue on Main: Planning a Styled Shoot in the Gila Valley
Styled shoots are a creative workout for vendors and a preview for couples. Here is how to plan one at a small-town Gila Valley venue, step by step.
WeddingsPlanning an Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Wedding (and a Cactus Theme That Works)
A desert-garden wedding west of Tucson, plus how to carry a cactus theme through invitations, florals and décor without tipping into kitsch.
Have a question, a story idea or a correction?
We read every note. Tell us about a venue we should cover, a project you want to see, or something we got wrong.