Prada Marfa Photoshoot in Marfa, TX — A Fashion Travel Session

West Texas Fashion Shoot • Prada Marfa (Valentine, TX) • Downtown Marfa • Golden Hour

I’ve wanted to photograph Prada Marfa for a long time—and so has Aiva, who’s modeled for me for several years. So we made it happen.
My girlfriend Michelle and I met up with Aiva, her mom Jo-Ann, and Kaylin for a fun, fashion-forward shoot in West Texas. We photographed at the iconic Prada Marfa installation in Valentine, TX, then headed into Marfa for a downtown walk-around session. The vibe was simple: great light, strong looks, and images that feel like a road trip you’ll never forget.
We shot during the day and again in that morning golden hour glow—because if you’re going to do Marfa, you might as well do it right.

Overview

/ Overview

Prada Marfa is iconic for a reason—so we leaned into it and made the photos we came for. Clean frames, bold outfits, big West Texas sky, and that unmistakable roadside backdrop in Valentine, TX. After that, we headed into downtown Marfa to add a different feel: more texture, more color, and more of the town’s personality to round out the story.
 
And like most good travel shoots, the in-between moments ended up being part of what made it special. We ran into a local biker group from Waco, TX, which was such a fun “only in Texas” moment.
 
Michelle and I were also surprised by how much there was to do in Marfa and decided to stay an extra night—glad we did. We had an amazing dinner and breakfast at Hotel Saint George (highly recommend), and we met “The Mayor” (not actually the mayor—just a bartender at Spirit Co. Distillery).
 
She was so kind she even loaned me her 4Runner so I could drive to Bordo’s and grab one of their legendary sandwiches. That’s the kind of hospitality and randomness that makes Marfa feel like more than a photo stop.

/ Objectives

  • Create a fun, fashion-forward set of images in an iconic West Texas location
  • Photograph Prada Marfa in a way that feels fresh, not touristy
  • Capture variety across two looks/locations: Valentine + downtown Marfa
  • Deliver a tight, curated set that feels like a mini editorial/travel story
Model wearing a black cowboy hat and black top with beige shorts posing outdoors near a Prada storefront sign in warm sunset light.
Smiling dog with tan, black, and white fur relaxing on rusty metal steps, wearing a black collar.
Woman in a burgundy leather bustier top with a studded belt, standing outdoors in warm sunset light, looking to the side with sunglasses on her head.
Bartender with spiky hair in a blue shirt pours a red cocktail from a shaker at a wooden bar, bottles in the background.
Pink cocktail in a glass with a lime wheel garnish, ice, and a brown sugared rim on a gray surface.
Bar menu booklets labeled 'MARFA SPIRIT CO' held upright in a wooden bucket with dried flowers in the foreground.
Prada storefront with black sign reading 'PRADA MARFA' above a white awning showing 'PRADA' in bold letters, window display of shoes and bags outside in a desert setting.
Group of motorcyclists wearing patches and vests pose together in front of a Prada Marfa storefront on a sunny day.
Fashion model wearing a black cowboy hat, corset top, shorts and knee-high boots posing in front of a Prada storefront with large PRADA signs.
Stylish woman posing outside a Prada store wearing a burgundy leather bustier and decorative belt.
Woman wearing a black cowboy hat and beige shorts, looking downward in warm sunset light outdoors.
Woman in a black t-shirt and jeans stands beside tall concrete columns outdoors, looking to the side under a clear blue sky.
Woman in a black top and jeans speaks on a bright yellow payphone mounted on a gray wall outside, smiling at the camera.
Young woman in a black strapless top and denim shorts leans against a beige stucco archway beneath a metal 'MARFA' sign under a blue sky.

/ Final Outcome

If you’re thinking about doing a travel shoot like this, the biggest win is planning for variety without overcomplicating it: one iconic location , one walkable town location , and a little time set aside for golden hour.

 

From there, it’s just about showing up with a good attitude, being open to the unexpected, and letting the trip be part of the story the photos tell.

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