Our photography team regularly shoots in some beautiful natural settings, but few places can compare to the splendor we recently found at Glacier National Park in Montana. Here’s an inside peek at how our winter shoot came to be.

Finding Inspiration

We plan in advance for all of the photoshoots that happen during the year to give us time to curate the best images for each catalog. This may be surprising, but our winter catalogs are always shot during the warm, summer months. So, we seek out a location that is wintery and chilly enough, even during summer, to allow magical winter backdrops and to match the catalog theme.

While Glacier has long been at the top of our list for a shoot, it usually gets quite crowded in summer. This year we were lucky to get lodging and find secluded locations in the park. To find these areas, we always take a trip to scout out the area a month or two beforehand.


During our scouts, we often discover locations that we previously didn’t have in mind. This year we came upon a beautiful lake and discovered there was an amazing boat to use as a prop that was perfect for our vision. We knew this was a gem we couldn’t find elsewhere, and we ended up turning it into a pivotal part of our lake shoot.

Serendipity in the Park

Before each shoot, our VP of Creative prepares an image shot list for all we need to accomplish each day while on location. While planning is critical, our photoshoots are always an adventure because we explore a variety of areas we didn’t know existed. This allows the team to be flexible and choose which shots to take at which locations.



Thinking about Glacier, with a smile on her face, she says “It’s not that hard to take shots in an environment that’s that epic.”

Things We Loved at Glacier

Going-to-the-Sun Road: This scenic mountain road is simply stunning. Tip: We left our lodging before dawn so we could get there by sunrise. It was epic! The road even has its own app created by Gypsy Guide that you can download for a self-guided tour of the park from your car (even when offline).

Where to Stay: We suggest staying at the Apgar Village Lodge. The cabins and lodges sit on the shores of the largest lake in Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald.

Town to Explore: Whitefish, Montana is the cutest town that is a must-see when exploring Glacier. It was named one of the “Top 25 Ski Towns in the World” by National Geographic.

What to Eat: Eddie’s Café & Gifts was great, and they have amazing ice cream, too!

When to Visit: Make sure to get your reservations early! Go in summer when the weather is mild and the scenic beauty is at its peak. Late August remains more available during the summer months.
We hope you enjoy the setting of Glacier National Park for our winter catalog photography. Read our blog to learn more about the inspiration behind our Winter Collection.

Holiday Shoot 2019

It’s the season for sharing love, charity, and sentiment, and the Sundance design and photography teams happily channel this spirit into the annual photoshoot of our Holiday Catalog. Here’s a sneak peek at how it all comes together.

The Inspiration

Our Holiday Catalog is always built around several design concepts. This year’s holiday themes include Global Nomads, St. Petersburg, Northern Lights and the warm, cabin-like feel of our Men’s Almanac. Our designers and our fashion team use these themes to collaborate on style boards, creating exactly the looks we want.

The Location

To support the design team’s inspiration, we look for epic snowy backdrops in areas of great natural beauty.  Our VP of Creative researches a variety of locations that are breathtaking and aspirational. This year’s locations are in the mountains of Utah and at a local ranch in Colorado. Once our VP decides on these spots, she creates inspirational packets that help define the styling, landmarks and photography direction for each location.

The Execution

Our VP brings in expert stylists who can design and build inspiring sets and props for each location. This year the team created an entire greenhouse and a drawbridge specifically for the Holiday Catalog shoot! Once the sets are complete photographers capture the magic of the season. Most of this talented crew has worked with us for years and know precisely how to make these beautiful images come to life.

The Comradery

Our teams work together beautifully. “The fun thing,” reflects our VP of Creative, “is the comradery. The people on our crew share the same sense of wonder and the joy of traveling.” She adds, “We love researching places at our shoots, such as ‘what are the best stores’ or ‘what are the best restaurants.’ We really try to make our photoshoots an exploration of the location we are shooting in, finding fun things to do and see. It’s a joy to work with all these people who are on board with me and have a history at Sundance and are as passionate about the brand as I am.”

Part of Bears Ears National Monument. Photo credit: Tim Peterson

On December 28th, President Obama created new national monuments in a sacred tribal site in our very own state of Utah and a swath of Nevada Desert. Known as Bears Ears, the White House announced the designation of 1.35 million beautiful acres of land in Utah as a national monument.