The oldest desert
Flying dress in Namibia, Africa
For a long time, I dreamed of photographing a couple on the world’s oldest desert – the Namib. The Namib Desert is one of the world’s oldest deserts, stretching along Namibia’s Atlantic coast. Known for its towering red sand dunes, vast gravel plains, and the surreal clay pan of Deadvlei — where ancient, sun-blackened trees stand against bright white salt flats — it offers breathtaking landscapes.
A few months ago, our friends started planning a trip to Namibia, and we decided to join. Together with Clarissa, we began secretly planning something very special in Sossusvlei. It was meant to be their photoshoot—but Roger had no idea Clarissa was preparing to tell him something important. And of course, there was supposed to be a stunning white flying dress…
We made it to Namibia! Safari adventures, city strolls, late-night shoots under the stars—it was already unforgettable. And the warm-up couldn’t have been better: a flowing red dress under the vast Namibian sky, in the heart of the savannah.
The next day, right in the middle of a dusty dirt road, we captured a few portraits of our main heroine — raw, free, and glowing in the soft afternoon light.
Then, on the way to Sossusvlei, disaster struck. We stopped in Windhoek, opened the trunk, and… no suitcases. No flying dress. Everything stolen. But Clarissa didn’t give up. Within two days she found a replacement dress from a local rental.
First, we drove to the location in a 4×4 bus. It was a bumpy ride, but so much fun! Then came a short walk to Deadvlei — a surreal clay pan in the Namib Desert, where dark, dead camel thorn trees rise starkly against the brilliant white salt flats, all framed by towering red sand dunes under an endless sky.
And on the very day we had planned, the desert gifted us something rare: a cooler breeze, fewer crowds, and the perfect atmosphere for the most beautiful emotions between Clarissa and Roger. Surrounded by dry trees and the world’s tallest dunes, it all came together flawlessly.
I took some amazing photos of them with the unique desert as the backdrop. Then it was time for something very special — a surprise for Roger. Clarissa began reading how much she appreciated him. Tears welled up, time seemed to stand still, and they focused entirely on each other. It was the most intimate moment of the day.
Then we had a blast recreating one of their favorite photos from their honeymoon, bringing back those joyful memories with lots of laughter and playful moments.
Right next to us stood Namibia’s tallest dune — Big Daddy. Towering over the desert at around 325 meters, its massive, perfectly sculpted slopes are iconic in the Namib. We couldn’t resist using it as a dramatic backdrop for some breathtaking photos.
Before we left, we played among the other dunes, feeling the wind and the endless desert around us. It was one of the most beautiful days of our lives.
For those curious about behind-the-scenes and technical details, I invite you to watch this video.