Rocky Mountain Balloons
Spring in Full Bloom: A Styled Shoot with Rocky Mountain Balloons
Some collaborations come together, and you just know you're going to love every frame. This one — a spring-themed children's party styled shoot with Ashley and Jackie Schultz-Barkley of Rocky Mountain Balloons — was exactly that.
If you haven't come across Rocky Mountain Balloons yet, they're a Boise-based balloon artistry and event design company with a story as warm as their work. Ashley and Jackie started the business while planning their own DIY wedding in 2019, discovered an unexpected passion for balloon artistry, and built something genuinely beautiful from there — running it out of their living room during the pandemic before growing into a real brick-and-mortar presence in Downtown Meridian. They're also deeply community-minded, with programs focused on sustainability and giving back to local nonprofits. The kind of small business you root for.
For this shoot, the concept was a boho spring children's party set outdoors in an open field — and the installation Ashley and Jackie built was genuinely jaw-dropping. A large-scale balloon garland backdrop swept across peach, blush, sage, and sky blue, flanked by fringe-draped triangle frames and flanked on either side by simple white canvas teepees. The whole thing felt like it belonged in a field of wildflowers. Sunshine, blue sky, and all that texture and color — it was a photographer's dream to walk into.
The tablescape deserved its own shoot, honestly. A low-slung wood farm table dressed with vintage pink glassware, gold cutlery, pearl bead garlands, jelly beans in coordinating colors, and a stunning three-tiered birthday cake with tall taper candles and dried florals — every detail considered and cohesive. I spent time getting in close on the details because with work this intentional, the details are the story.
And then there were the kids. No amount of styling creates the kind of energy two boys bring to a party setup when you tell them they can just have fun. Arms in the air, spontaneous dance battles in front of the balloon wall, full chaotic joy — some of my favorite frames from the whole day were completely unplanned. That's the thing about photographing events and celebrations: the best moments are the ones that remind you why people go to all this trouble in the first place.
If you're an event designer, florist, balloon artist, or creative vendor looking for photography that shows off your work the way it deserves to be seen, let's make something together.
Leah Flores is a commercial photographer with nearly 20 years of experience working with brands including Nike, National Geographic, and VICE News. She specializes in lifestyle, event, and adventure brand photography across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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