Before jumping to Google or Instagram, I recommend asking yourself a few questions:

This may seem obvious, but the best engagement session images come from sessions where the couple is doing something they are naturally inclined toward and love to do. Are you happiest when exploring in the mountains? If so, is there a particular hike or overlook that is meaningful to you? Let me know if some place comes to mind and we can either try to shoot there or somewhere similar if it's too difficult to access.

Do you love to try new restaurants and walk your pups around downtown? If so, an urban session might be a good fit. There are a ton of scenic spots around Denver and even a lot of variation within Denver itself (detailed below).

When you are getting married has a lot to do with when we will do your engagement session. For one thing, if you are getting married within 6-12 months or even sooner, we won't have as much wiggle room when it comes to shooting within a particular season. We may have to schedule your session for as soon as possible if it means getting your save the dates out! But if your wedding is a bit further out and you have some flexibility, think about if you would like your engagement images to reflect the season you will be married in (think: fall foliage for your save the dates for a fall wedding the following year) or if you'd rather just take advantage of a certain seasonal element such as wildflowers. That will help dictate when and even where we can shoot.

Something else that will help us narrow down where the best location for you might be is if there are any limiting factors. Are you only going to be in Colorado at a certain time of year or for a limited amount of time? For example, if it's over the holidays, we will want to schedule your session somewhere we can at least get out of the cold for a few minutes here and there during the session, if not shoot entirely indoors. Are you interested in shooting on a mountaintop but not interested in hiking more than 10 minutes to get to the view? If so, then we'll want to select a location with great easy-access views.

Guanella Pass

Above 11,000 feet, this summit location has beautiful mountain peak views and alpenglow if you go at the right time. It's also somewhat close to Denver (about an hour and a half all the way to the top of the summit) and has an easy-access parking lot and bathrooms (albeit rustic). This one also doubles as a nice road-trip style session option, with gorgeous foliage in the fall and lots of places to stop all along Guanella Pass road. Other similar locations include the Peak to Peak Highway in Boulder County, numerous locations all over Rocky Mountain National Park (permits and weather permitting), and Boreas Pass in Summit County.

Cheesman Park & Pavilion

I love this spot because it is right in town and has a very regal, old-world quality with the neoclassical columns. It's great for a more neutral choice and has a lot of potential for a more editorial look. The only thing to note is that it is open to the public and can get crowded on warmer days. Another spot that is similar is the Byron E. White Courthouse downtown (see below), but that does require a permit so there needs to be some lead time before your session if you want to shoot there. 

Now you should have some idea of what kind of location would make the most sense for you. But where? Below are a few of my favorite spots.

Boulder Foothills

There are ton of beautiful spots in Boulder, but my favorites are the ones near the Flatirons. Chautauqua Park has some of the best views of the Flatirons, but one of my absolute favorite locations is Fourmile Canyon Creek trail, especially for wildflowers in the summer.

Union Station

A classic! Union Station is an iconic location to indicate to your guests that you are getting married in the Denver area, or are from the Denver area. There are a lot of fun ways to make your session here special — so many nooks and crannies to shoot in. 

If you want to look at a few more options, the list below is a great place to start.

There are so many gorgeous places we can shoot; these are just a few ideas. If you have a fun idea for your session, please let me know and we will figure out how to make it happen! Oh, and in case you were wondering — yes, pups are more than welcome!!

Natural

Urban

RiNo Arts District (Denver)

A Cocktail Bar or Restaurant Such as Citizen Rail

Paint Mines (Calhan)

Brainard Lake (Ward)

In your home!

Officer's Gulch (Frisco)