Roots in Motion Utah Indigenous Fashion Week 2026 Promo Shoot

Roots in Motion was created for the 2026 Utah Indigenous Fashion Week, and being part of this project felt incredibly meaningful. I always enjoy working with Indigenous creatives because there is a shared understanding of the stories we are trying to tell. This shoot carried that feeling in every part of the process.

The concept for Roots in Motion is rooted in the shared movements of Indigenous peoples across the world. It reaches beyond Turtle Island and speaks to migrations, both human and non human, and the ways our bodies and stories move with land, water, and time. Jessica Wiarda, who led the creative direction, shaped this vision beautifully. The idea was to create imagery that felt alive in the way our cultures move, shift, and continue. Flowing color, shifting light, and the cycles of earth and water all guided how we approached the shoot.

Jessica and I built a moodboard that held all of these ideas, focusing on rhythm, warmth, and movement. I helped her choose the studio space so we could create long, sweeping gestures with the garments and give the light room to move across the set. The space mattered because the entire concept depended on motion. We wanted the images to feel like they carried breath and continuity.

Our model, Sacoya, moved through the set in a way that brought the story forward. Nothing was forced. The fabric reacted to her steps, the lighting wrapped around her, and every frame felt connected to something larger than the room we were standing in. It felt like we were photographing movement as memory.

During all of this, I kept thinking about the teal tulle skirt I made when I was sixteen with my grandma. I wanted to shoot something editorial back then, but I did not have access to wardrobe pieces that looked the part, so my grandma suggested we make something ourselves. We sat together for hours building that skirt out of layers of tulle. I photographed it like it was the most important piece in the world. Looking at my work now and seeing how far I have come since that moment feels surreal in the best way. I still carry that same creative drive, and I carry her with me in everything I make.

Roots in Motion gave me a chance to bring fashion, story, and culture together in a way that felt honest. It also gave space to highlight Indigenous designers and creatives who put so much talent and care into their work. Promoting the 2026 Utah Indigenous Fashion Week through this imagery felt like an honor. This show celebrates Indigenous artistry, and this shoot was a small piece of that larger vision.

The team that came together for this project brought intention and skill to every detail. Their contributions shaped the final images and gave the work its depth and clarity.

Crew

Creative Director / Utah Indigenous Fashion Week Director: Jessica Wiarda
Photographer: Emmerson Edmo
Model: Sacoya Anderson
Hair and Makeup Artist: Nicky Tsosie
White Dress Designer: Bryan Beyal
Tulle Dress Designer: Emmerson Edmo
Jewelry: The Green House Gallery

Production Assistants:
Nic Baca
Morgan Casey
Hailee Roberts
Nizhoni Guthrie
Strike Agency