Haute on the Ranch: A Letter, A Lens & A Legacy

Over the last 13 years in business, Savannah Sevens has held dozens of photo shoots, snapped thousands of images, and created look after look after look. We’ve traveled to charming small towns in Kansas, the rolling Nebraska Sandhills, and rugged Taos, New Mexico, with each editorial creating its own distinctive story.

This summer, Savannah 7s owner Ryley Wimer headed to Montana for our next photo shoot, but what was captured was more than a collection of pictures. It was the culmination of her daughter’s ambitious idea; a reflection of her western heritage; and the honoring of her family’s legacy. The distinctive story that unfolded this time was one Ryley never could have imagined.

“It has become the most meaningful photo shoot in Savannah Sevens history,” said Ryley. “And it truly embodies what this brand is all about.”

The Letter That Started It All

Ryley’s nine-year-old daughter Blayke did something without her mom knowing it.

She secretly wrote a letter to her Great Aunt Kitty about a plan to gather her and her sisters together. Blayke thought it would be fun for all of her aunts to wear outfits from Savannah 7s and take a few updated photos together – something they haven’t done in a long time. 

To Blayke’s delight, her Aunt Kitty was touched by the idea and excited to help make it happen. Blayke sent additional letters to the sisters providing shoot details as well as clothing size cards to assist her mom with the styling. While one of the Herrin Sisters was unable to be there, this letter kicked off what was to become a milestone three-generation photo shoot. 

Styling The Sisters

The western way of life is a part of Ryley’s heritage. From growing up on a ranch and learning to ride a horse before she could walk, to hearing stories about the long line of cowgirls on her mother’s side {read about the Herrin family history}, the traditions and culture of the west are heavily woven into the fabric of Ryley’s family, including their style.

For the photo shoot, Ryley wanted these strong roots to be celebrated. She started with the timeless staples of western fashion: boots, denim and turquoise. Then she added specialty pieces, like an heirloom-quality embroidered jacket; a one-of-a-kind vintage concho belt; and touches of current trends like lace and fringe.

Each sister – Marcia, Carol, Mary and Kitty – had her own signature style and yet the outfits as a whole were imbued with their personal heritage. 

“It was such an honor to create looks for my mom and her sisters,” said Ryley. “I wanted them to feel comfortable, confident and authentic. It was important to get this right, not only because it had been so long since they’ve been able to take photos together, but also because their real connection to western style has always been a part of who they are."

Continuing The Legacy

Ryley’s mother and her sisters grew up on a cattle ranch in the Helena, Montana valley, so it was only fitting that Big Sky Country be the backdrop to their photo shoot. 

Just to the north of Missoula with the majestic mountains in the distance, Ryley and her family settled on Cattle Springs as the shoot location. Primarily a wedding venue, the property is also a working ranch and owned by a 4th generation Montanan. It reflected the deep importance of heritage, family and a connection to the land.

All of the images were captured by local photographer Jillian Mamuzich at Lady West Photography. Her unique ability to tell a story through her lens while also reflecting the shoot’s purpose and heart were invaluable. 

To be able to gather three generations of women for a day of photos is a feat in and of itself. To know each image was guided by and created because of legacy, those are the important memories time will never fade. View the whole image gallery from the shoot!