Raised to Road Trip

Raised to Road Trip

By Meagan Bourne

Three more days, two more days, one more day… This was the constant countdown in my mind when our family road trips edged closer and closer throughout my childhood. I usually was sleepless the week before as I sat anticipating the long hours on the road, the photographs waiting to be taken, and the wilderness to be explored.

My parents gave my brother and me an immense love for the outdoors. We spent family trips in Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, different parts of Colorado, and all over the Eastern Sierras. My dad would always tell us, “We are leaving no later than 12pm this afternoon.” My mom, brother and I would smile and agree, knowing there was no way he would actually be ready on time. Typically, we never hit the road before 8 or 9 at night, but that was my favorite part of our family road trips. We would blast the radio and drive all night.

In the morning, we would wake up in the mountains, next to a river, surrounded by trees and fresh air and tall green grass. I would grab my little canon camera and go explore the new sights as soon as I woke up. I wanted to capture everything, the details of the flowers growing next to the river, the jagged edges of the mountain peaks against the sky, my family laughing around the campfire. I enjoyed shooting so much growing up because I had more than just stories to tell from my memories. I had something tangible that could bring me right back to when I was there.

As I grew up, I began taking my own trips. It started with friends from high school and college. We often travel all over the United States, sleep on the side of the road when our eyes are too tired to stay open, hit new trails with our backpacking packs, or surf trips up the coast to discover new, less crowded waves than the ones we get here in Southern California. Over the past few years, I have been broadened my travels to farther destinations such as Oahu, Australia, and New Zealand. Going on these trips allowed me to meet so many incredible people and see beautiful places all while documenting everything with my camera, my constant companion.

My photography style has changed and grown as I have pursued it more and more over the years. I have developed a passion for shooting love stories, especially for adventurous couples. What’s better than spending my time investing in people, capturing new places, and creating new friendships while being a part of something so memorable? I can’t think of anything.

If someone had told me back when I was a young girl on road trips with her family that I would someday be a photographer for a living, I would’ve stood in disbelief, but mostly I would’ve been filled with an overwhelming amount of excitement for the future… which is exactly how I feel now watching this dream turn into a reality. I hope to continue to inspire others to see the little details in life, appreciate the people and love around them, and to get outside and see all of the beautiful places this world has to offer.

Photos by Meagan Bourne

Meagan Bourne is a wedding photographer and college student in Southern California. Find her on Instagram and see more of her work on her portfolio site.

Did you grow up road tripping? How did it impact your present?