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Every engagement shoot is special, but this one was extra special. I have known Jennie since we were in first grade. We have shared so many of life’s ups and downs together and I have had a front seat to her journey–all that led her to find her person. I was thrilled to photograph her and CJ’s engagement photos and celebrate this time with them. 

Jennie works in music and they both love the outdoors. Red Rocks was the perfect location to celebrate Colorado and the place where they met. I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS! 

Jennie shares the sweet proposal story, “In D.UM.B.O, Brooklyn, staring at the Brooklyn Bridge, the man of my dreams had pre-arranged for a street performer to be waiting there to play our song. As my jaw dropped, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Crying, I helped him up and said “YES!”

I knew from the moment I saw his angel face that all I wanted was him + a life together forever. I love him with all my heart! How did him and I get so lucky?! 

I am so thankful for CJ to invite me to join his family, letting me love his amazing kids and opening his beautiful heart to my family, as well. I cannot wait to continue our story of growth, love and adventures!”

Congratulations Jennie and CJ! The couple will be married this summer in Virginia.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out more of my work on my website.

I met Clarie and Troy at Mount Falcon West on a snowy, beautiful winter day to celebrate their engagement.

Troy shares, “Our story began during the spring of 2016 during our junior year while we were both attending Texas A&M University. We met at a scholarship banquet where we both had the same donor for our Fightin’ Texas Aggie rings. The Aggie Ring is a coveted symbol of camaraderie, commitment, and loyalty when students complete 90 credit hours. After hitting it off at the banquet, I asked Claire for her number. Less than a week later, we met for coffee in between our classes on campus. After a few more amazing dates, and returning from summer break, we began our senior year as an official couple.

Upon graduation in 2017, our long distance portion of our relationship began. Claire pursued a year of service with AmeriCorps before attending law school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, while I stayed in College Station, Texas, for an extra year to complete my Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering. It was during this time that we often took weekend trips to visit one another, and our relationship continued to grow. Through this experience, we fell more deeply in love—leaning strongly on our communication, trust in God, and the joy of being each other’s best friend.

After six years (yes, six years) of dating long distance, our prayers were answered when Claire moved to Colorado and we never had to live in a separate state ever again. It wasn’t too long after that when I proposed to Claire in November of 2023 while on a trip back to where it all began: Aggieland. I got down on one knee under the time-honored tradition of the Century Tree. Tradition says that when you walk under the Century Tree, it means you’ll be together forever. A proposal under the Century Tree takes that tradition a step further by resulting in a lifetime of happy marriage.

We are both so excited for our wedding this October and for a lifetime of silly, sweet, and significant moments and adventures with our doggy daughter, Aria, right by our side.

Our families and faith are so important to us, so we look forward to joining two families together and sharing the beauty of God’s hand in every step of our relationship that has forever changed our lives.”

Congratulations Claire and Troy!

I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Anna and Jim’s wedding in September of 2021. It was a thrill to see their family grow and be able to take some beautiful maternity photos of Anna.

This is my favorite from the session. Anna looks stunning, confident and angelic.

Anna shares, “I planned this maternity shoot for my husband as a secret present for his first Father’s Day. My baby was due March 13th and the shoot took place on March 1st. My little guy surprised us 9 days early (2 days after the photo shoot with Jess!). I was so happy I was able to sneak this in before he arrived. It was such a special experience to do this with Jess, who also shot our wedding a year and a half prior. Jess had never done an indoor maternity shoot like this before and she absolutely crushed it.”

Congratulations to Anna and her family!

Special thanks to @nest.out.west Cait Pappas for the gorgeous space.

Are you interested in planning a maternity session? I love helping mothers feel confident and beautiful. Contact me today.

There are a few ways to plan a Colorado elopement. You can go for an easy, simple elopement, an adventure elopement hiking up high into the mountains or go for more of a “micro-wedding.” This post is more for the simple elopement planners–you’ve found your forever person and you want to plan something simple, but memorable and wonderful.

If you are planning your elopement, CONGRATULATIONS! How exciting! I am a professional wedding photographer in Colorado and have some helpful tips for you.

Colorado is an amazing place to elope for the incredible scenery, but also because the state makes it very easy. You do not need an officiant, you can marry yourselves (self-solemnize)! And you do not need a witness, but your dog can be your witness, if you want.

Marriage licenses can be obtained and used in any county in Colorado. Here are some tips for getting your marriage license and licenses information for El Paso County (Colorado Springs), Jefferson County (Mount Falcon), and Larimer County (Estes Park).

Some things to consider when planning: location, permits, marriage license, vows, what to incorporate into the day (a bouquet, an intimate first dance, popping champagne, etc.), and traveling to Colorado, if you are out-of-state.

Where is the best place to elope in Colorado?

There are many! The places I have listed are some of the easiest to get to and simplest to plan.

One of my favorite places to recommend is Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The incredible rock formations and mountain views are breathtakingly beautiful, there are many great spots throughout the park that are easy to access by car and the park is completely free, you do even need a permit. The only downside is that it can get very crowded–plan for a weekday or go at sunrise.

Another one of my favorite locations is Mount Falcon, in the foothills, just outside of Denver. It can also get crowded on weekends, but has a secluded feel with forests and trails and mountain views. A Jefferson County permit is needed for professional photography, but it is inexpensive and easy for a photographer to get online. The fee is only $25 (as of March 2024) and you can get it the day of your elopement.

Estes Park is also a popular choice for an elopement because it can include Rocky Mountain National Park – one of the most beautiful national parks in the country. RMNP is gorgeous, but planning can be challenging as there are limited permits. Instead, enjoy the park together, but plan your elopement in Estes.

Other easily accessible locations you might like to consider are: Boulder, Lookout Mountain, and Evergreen Lake.

What should I do for my elopement?

All you really need are vows and usually rings, but you can add some other elements into your day to make it even more special. A vow book is a nice momento and photographs much more nicely than holding your phone. I always recommend a bouquet to any bride, because it adds color into your photos. You can plan a picnic, toast or mini cake cutting after the ceremony. Note that some locations do not allow alcohol and all parks require leave no trace practices to protect the land and wildlife. You can also plan a first dance, simply by playing a song on your phone or singing or humming together.

How can I plan my elopement from out-of-state?

It is easy! But if you are traveling from out-of-state there are some tips to keep in mind. First of all, altitude sickness is real. Drink lots of water a couple days before you arrive and while you are here. Most commonly, people experience headaches.
Also, keep in mind that the air is very dry and we are closer to the sun. I recommend packing chapstick, lotion, sun screen and a water bottle.
Finally, don’t forget valid identification for your marriage license.

If you need a recommendation for hair and makeup, a florist, a baker, a restaurant or accommodations, please ask! I’m happy to offer recommendations.

I would love to help you with beautiful photography! Contact me today.

See more photos from Mount Falcon and Garden of the Gods.

Yay! You are engaged! This is a really special time in your life. Let’s document it with some beautiful photos that capture your story, joy, style, personality and LOVE!

You are only engaged once and it goes by so quick! Don’t let the time pass without getting some great photos to remember all the excitement. It is a great opportunity to get some casual and fun photos to accompany your more formal wedding portraits.

It is also great practice for your wedding photos! It may sound strange, but taking engagement photos actually improves your wedding photos. You become more comfortable working with direction and understand the process so that we move more quickly through different posses and you know what you like.

For the shoot, the most important thing is to have fun! Relax, laugh, be comfortable and enjoy the session. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make the most out of your photographs.

Spring? Summer? Winter? Fall?

To plan the best time to take your engagement photos, think about the season, the weather, your seasonal outfit options and the locations that might be available. You may also want to plan your session based on when you want to send out save the dates or an announcement. If it turns out that the weather is bad on the day you’ve selected for your shoot, we can reschedule, no problem. We just need to decide 24 hours in advance.

Punctuality = Awesomeness
Natural light is very important to beautiful photography. The timing of your session is really important, because the sunlight greatly affects the shoot. Please arrive on time. Once the sun goes down, it is too dark to continue the shoot. You can check the sunset time for any day of the year using this calendar.

What should I wear for my engagement session?
Plan to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. For the standard hour long session, please bring one outfit change. Most couples choose one casual and one formal look to add variety to their images. I tend to discourage all black or all white outfits and really encourage neutral colors or pops of color. Consider your environment and what will work well with your surroundings. Don’t bring more than one outfit change or the time it takes to change will cut too much into the session. Accessories are also great ways to add variety including scarves, hats, cardigans, etc.
Keep in mind, depending on your location, you might have to change in your car.

Check out some wardrobe ideas on Pinterest. It can also be fun to bring items that tell your story like a picnic, bikes, your dog, records, coffee cups, or a banner that says “love” or “save the date.”

For brides to be:
Consider having your hair and makeup done professionally. This could be a great day to schedule a makeup and hair trial with the stylist you are using on your wedding day. I will also be taking close ups of your gorgeous ring on your finger. Why not treat yourself to a manicure! These ideas are absolutely not necessary, but I like to recommend them because how often do you have professional photos taken? Why not take advantage of this special time in your life and make yourself feel pampered and beautiful!

Where should we have our engagement photos taken?
There are so many amazing locations perfect for photography. I am happy to help you plan the best spot for you that fits your relationship and expresses your personality and style.

Ideas for great locations for engagement photography in Colorado:
Red Rocks, Mt Falcon, Lookout Mountain, Evergreen Lake, Garden of the Gods, Lost Gulch Overlook, the Botanic Garden, around the street art in RiNo, Highlands Ranch Mansion, City Park, Wash Park, Sandstone Ranch Park, and more.
*Please note some locations may require a photography permit or entrance fee.

Other places to consider:
Vineyard, orchard, farm, train station, beach, dock, ice skating rink, biergarten, etc.

What will be in bloom?
Some couples want photos with aspen trees, cherry blossoms or wildflowers. Consider the time of year that will work best for you.

Another idea is to choose some of your favorite spots:
The place you first met or a favorite cafe, restaurant, cupcake place, book store, etc.

Your don’t need to bring anything, but you may want to bring with you:
• picnic blanket (something with a very simple, neutral color) for some seated photos
• water bottle
• chapstick
• small mints (not gum)
• touch up makeup
• a hair brush (sometimes it can get windy!)
• a pair of sneakers. If we have to do a little hiking to get to scenic spots and you plan on wearing heels, a set of sneakers could really help. You can throw everything in a backpack or duffle and I can hold your bag while we shoot.

To take a closer look at an engagement session, check out these links:

Red Rocks Engagement

Lookout Mountain Engagement

Aspen Engagement, Grottos Trail

Maxwell Falls Engagement, Aspens

Brainard Lake Engagement

RiNo Art District Engagement

Barr Lake Engagement

Wash Park Engagement

Kenosha Pass Engagement

Central Park Engagement, NYC 

Duke Gardens, North Carolina

Mt Falcon Elopement

Cherry Blossom Engagement

Garden of the Gods Engagement

If you have any questions, please ask. I want your session to be great!

This post has been updated many times. Most recently, in January 2024.