Virginia Treat Transforms Craters of the Moon Caves to Fashion Icon Supporting Conservation

By Tabitha Rossman, Edited by Lisa Bauman 

Virginia Treat, amazing photographer who supports conservation and caves, has a project you will find quite interesting. Virginia has been photographing since 2015 when she found out she enjoyed being behind the camera instead of in front of it. It started out as a hobby just taking photos of family and nature photos, as well as improving on her photography by taking photos of models/friends. Virginia’s work has been published in several magazines and newspapers from the Surreal Magazine, Fashion Bombshell Magazine, Idaho City Newspaper, Idaho Statesman Newspaper and an article that came out in the July/August issue of Greenbelt Magazine.

Then after a family trip to Craters of the Moon, Virginia started talking with her husband about a big idea she had combining nature with high fashion to create a variety of different themes throughout the year. She wanted to create a book and use the proceeds to donate back to nature conservation facilities and organizations. She had asked her friend Amanda Wood if she was interested in doing the hair and make up for the photo shoots and then it just proceeded to grow from there.

Virginia chose to do part of her project in caves because of her fascination with Craters of the Moon since she first visited at 10 years old when she moved to Idaho. The idea struck her when she took her kids there for their first time last year. Virginia has a slight obsession with geology as well. When she was going to school She wanted to be an Archeologist or a Veterinarian. The sciences have really inspired her.  “I am not a caver by any means,” said Virginia Treat, but she would love to do it if she had more time.  

The Craters Cave shoot was the kickstarter to the whole initiative. It has been a lot of fun and adventures for Virginia. The Craters Cave shoot was theme #5. Theme #6 (Botanical and Butterfly) that was done the end of June 2016. All shoots are taking place in various places in Idaho. Theme #1 was Idaho Wildlife (Elk, Bear and Wolf); Theme #2 was Idaho Fish (Coho, Steelhead and Rainbow); Theme #3 Birds of Prey (peregrine, Owl and Eagle); Theme #4 Bruneau Sand Dunes (Sandstorm, Hare, Snake and Stars). She is planning on doing 10 – 12 themes total; finishing one shoot per month. 

When she took her photos at Creators of the Moon she wanted to capture in her images with her models were the elements that would be recognized when people looked at them, which were the Fire, Ice, and Lava. She saw more things while she was at the park and wanted to represent them, such as beautiful flowers and bats that hung around the entrance of the cave, but that will have to come another time. She picked spots to photograph in the cave where natural lighting shined through like skylights - that and to help keep her models stay safe since they were in unitards and leggings, then put the costumes once ready to shoot. The photo shoot inspired her to do more caving and she plans to do more; especially to gain more experience shooting photos in the dark!

“Live your Passion, make a difference, and leave a legacy. I try to do that with everything that I do.” said Virginia.

To photographers and people in general she says “Don’t give up. You will most likely get more No’s than Yes's but you can't let that stop you. If you have a passion for something then go for it! Keep submitting, keep doing the best that you can, learn and educate yourself and most of all have fun.”

Virginia has a lot of gratitude to those who have supported her. She especially credits Amanda Woods with Woods on Fire Innovative Beauty who did all the hair and makeup for the shoots. She mentioned Samantha Chapman, Holly Cowie, Nina Luque, and Unique Irish who assisted with the costumes and her assistants Danielle and Abby Dee. For the Element shoots her models were Allie Smith Hobbes (Fire), Geo Handy (Ice), and Kesline Frederick (Lava). 


The book is scheduled to be completed and published sometime in 2017. So far donations are going to Craters of the Moon Nature History Association and the World Center for Birds of Prey. She is still currently looking for organizations to help assist in and promoting her book so that this project will promote awareness and conservation.

Please contact her if you would like to feature the book in your store. You can also order the calendar and individual prints at YouCaring.com/NatureConservation. If you would like to see more of Virginia Treats work please feel free to check out her Facebook page or her personal webpage .