Laura Smith Photography: Blog

Spring Mini-Sessions – 2023

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 02:18:20 GMT

I am counting down the days to the return of some COLOR in Colorado! If you're doing the same, I would love to have you join my annual SPRING MINI-SESSIONS to update your photos in the gorgeous crabapple blossoms. Read on for all of the details...

All photos will be fully edited and delivered in time for Mother's Day (hello, perfect gift idea!)

Mini-sessions are a quick and easy way to update your photos, and are great for families, couples, kids, or headshots. Looking for something else? Head over to my contact page and we can chat!

Spring Mini-Sessions: $425

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on or before your photo session date)

Location: Centennnial, CO – near Park Meadows Mall

Dates + Available Times:

Sunday, May 7th – South Metro Area

Available Times: ~~5:30pm~~, 6:00pm, ~~6:30pm, 7:00pm~~

Inclusions:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful location
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more
Afternoon/evening times available to take advantage of the best light
A one week turnaround time for your photo gallery

Do you need an extended family session or prefer the full experience and flexibility of a longer photo session? I am currently scheduling portrait sessions throughout the remainder of 2022 – please reach out and I will be happy to help!

5 Reasons to Schedule Your Photos in the Winter

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:27:30 GMT

This post will start with a screw up on my part, because I can't tell you how many times I hear, "Do you take photos outside of the fall months?' Or, "Do you even schedule photo sessions in the winter?" I must have dropped the ball, because 1.) YES I DO and, 2.) I'm clearly doing a terrible job of showing off those photos.

I'm here today to relay the message that WINTER PHOTOS ARE AWESOME. They really are! I'm going to start rattling off some of my favorite things about winter photos, and then I'll show you the actual proof with some of my fav winter photos below. Read on.....

TOP FIVE REASONS TO SCHEDULE YOUR PHOTOS IN THE WINTER:

1.) SNOW!

There is nothing like a gorgeous, snowy photo. They are sublime!

2.) Easier scheduling

I have so much more scheduling flexibility in the winter (after January 1st!), so if the forecast sucks or it will be dry and boring on your scheduled date, we can wait until Colorado gives us some beautiful fresh snow.

3.) It's more fun to snuggle when it's cold

No one wants to snuggle when it's 90 degrees and everyone is sweating, but wrapping up in a cozy blanket with your loved one(s) when it's chilly is heaven, and it makes for incredible photos!

4.) You're pregnant

I'm not sure why most of my maternity clients are pregnant in the winter, but they are. If you're due in late winter or spring, your maternity photos will happen in the winter, and they will be glorious.

5.) You want something different

Fall in Colorado is beautiful, but it's also when 99% of people update their photos. If you want to stand out, winter photos are the way to go!

I want to add in a little note about Colorado's weather (as if we aren't all painfully aware of how volatile it can be!) Just like the other 3 seasons, any given winter day could give us warm temps, cold temps, wet, dry, wind, sun, rain, snow, blizzard, bomb cyclone, or a mix of these within a single day. If you have a certain look in mind – let me know! I will do my best to make it happen for you.

Are you sold yet!? Either way, take a look at some of my favorite winter photos. :)

Best of 2022 // Laura Smith Photography

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:00:00 GMT

What. A. Year.

2021 was an incredibly busy year for my business as families who missed out on photos in 2020 came back in huge numbers. I was so grateful for each and every client, but I entered January of 2022 feeling burned out and exhausted. If I'm being completely honest, I spent the first 5 months of the year trying to talk myself into photographing clients again. I obviously couldn't stay away forever – because I LOVE what I do – so I decided to take it easy in 2022 and try to give myself room to breathe (even in the fall busy season.) This was, without a doubt, the BEST decision that I made for my business and my family this year.

As I sit here in late December, I can happily say that I feel about a million times less stressed out than I did at this time last year. Even more importantly, my family didn't suffer because of my work schedule this year, and that is worth its weight in gold.

On a personal level, 2022 was filled with huge personal losses and (what felt like) never-ending illnesses. In between that, we bought 60 acres with a canyon in southern Colorado, traveled to the Gulf over spring break, and spent some time camping at our home away from home in Westcliffe, among other things. It was a roller coaster of a year, with high highs, and low lows, but there is so much to be thankful for.

I will end this very similarly to last year's post with some much-needed thank you's. I wouldn't still be here celebrating 12 years of LSP without the help of so many:

Clients (past, present, new, returning): thank you for trusting me with your photos – I appreciate you so much.
My husband Jason: thank you for continuing to be the unsung hero behind Laura Smith Photography. You have supported me in every way possible since the beginning, and I truly couldn't have done any of this without you.
My parents: thank you for providing the gorgeous red truck used in my holiday mini-sessions. And for giving me life. Not necessarily in that order.
The administration, teachers, parents, and students at Waterstone Preschool: thank you for having me back as your school photographer for the 8th year (and counting.)
Devyn (my massage therapist + gorgeous client): you are almost entirely responsible for my body remaining upright – especially during the busy season, lol. Thank you for being a miracle-worker!
Friends and followers: thank you for taking the time to read my posts – and if you commented, liked, or shared I am doubly-thankful.

I wish you all a safe and happy New Year, and I hope to see you in 2023. Cheers! 🥂

~Laura

PS: No post would be complete without photos, so scroll on for some of my favorite photos from 2022. (Not included below: 138 young children from Waterstone Preschool, but I can assure you that they were adorable, as always!)

Devyn + Dean // Elizabeth, Colorado Anniversary Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:45:00 GMT

Devyn has been my massage therapist for the past few years, and she is INCREDIBLE at what she does. We can all indirectly thank her for my business still being active, because she is the reason that my body can still do this job, haha. I kid, but I'm also serious because aging sucks and my back hurts. 😝

Anyway, Devyn wanted to document her first wedding anniversary with some winter photos, and we lucked out with the most BEAUTIFUL, snowy day for photos! Don't get me wrong: it was miserably cold and we suffered for these photos, but oh. em. gee. it was worth it!

Winter photo sessions in Colorado are a big gamble, because you never know what you'll get. It could be 60 degrees and sunny, or it could be negative temps and blowing snow, or somewhere in-between. However, if I could choose anything for a winter photo session – this would be it. This was the quintessential Colorado couple's session: full of love, snuggles, laughter, and snow, and I loved every glorious, freezing cold second of it!

Devyn and Dean: happy anniversary! I couldn't be happier for you both, and I am grateful to have helped you document your love. 🥰

Keep scrolling for some of my favorites from this gorgeous anniversary photo session! I included a couple of photos in color and black and white, because I'm entirely unsure of which I love more...

Fall and Holiday Mini-Sessions – 2022

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:00:00 GMT

I am happy to announce that my calendar is open for the remainder of 2022! Please scroll down for all of my family photo options for 2022, including fall and holiday mini-sessions. If you have questions please don't hesitate to reach out - I'd love to chat.

I am also happily booking senior photos, newborn photos, and extended family photos through the remainder of 2022. Please visit my pricing page for all of my photo session options. My last available date for all 2022 photo sessions (other than newborns) is December 11. Lastly, in an effort to be more present for my family, I will be taking on a lighter schedule than usual for the remainder of this year, so please reach out soon to book your photo session!

Are you ready book a photo session or chat? Please reach out via one of the contact options below:

Contact Form: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/contact

Email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com

Mini-Session Options:

~~Fall Mini-Session: $395~~ (SOLD OUT)

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date. I will keep this post updated with current availability – if you see it open below, it is still available! Please email me with your preferred date/time and I will send you the booking link to reserve it. Your time will be held for 24 hours to give you a chance to sign the agreement and pay the $100 booking fee.)

Included in the price:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful location in Parker or Littleton
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for a successful photo session, and more!
Afternoon/evening times available
A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery
Mini-sessions are a great choice to quickly update your (immediate) family's photos!

Dates + Locations:

~~Saturday, October 1st – Littleton PM~~

~~Available times: 4:00, 4:40, 5:20, 6:00~~

~~Saturday, October 8th - Parker AM~~

~~Available times: 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30~~

~~Saturday, October 8th - Littleton PM~~

~~Available times: 3:50, 4:30, 5:10, 5:50~~

~~Saturday, October 15th - Littleton PM~~

~~Available times: 3:40, 4:20, 5:00, 5:40~~

Examples from the Littleton location:

Examples from the Parker location:

Red Truck Holiday Mini-Session: $425

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date. I will keep this post updated with current availability – if you see it open below, it is still available! Please email me with your preferred time and I will send you the booking link to reserve it. Your time will be held for 24 hours to give you a chance to sign the agreement and pay the $100 booking fee.)

Included in the price:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful pine forest location with a beautifully restored Ford Model-A pickup truck
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for a successful photo session, and more!
Afternoon/evening times available
A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery
Mini-sessions are a great choice to quickly update your (immediate) family's photos!

Dates + Location:

~~Sunday, November 6th in Elizabeth, Colorado~~

~~Available times: 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00pm~~

~~Sunday, November 13th in Elizabeth, Colorado~~

~~Available times: 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00pm~~

JUST ADDED: Sunday, November 27th in Elizabeth, Colorado (Fully-edited photo galleries will be delivered by Friday, December 2nd)

Available times: ~~2:00~~, 2:30, ~~3:00, 3:30~~

Analuisa // Bishop Machebeuf Senior Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT

I ❤️ SENIORS

No, really! Seniors are some of my favorite people to photograph – they are interesting and enthusiastic, adventurous, and so much fun to hang out with.

I get a lot of questions about how a senior session works and flows, so I thought I'd talk about that while sharing some of my favorites from Analuisa's photos. (Shoutout to the Bishop Machebeuf High School class of 2022!) This girl nailed her photo session: she brought fabulous outfits, an infectious smile, and some fierce energy, and I loved every second with her!

Here is what you can expect from inquiry through the delivery of your own gorgeous photo gallery...

Inquiry/Booking: you reach out to book your photo session, and we chat about your needs and some available dates. After choosing a date, I will send you a link to book your photo session. Your booking link will include a session contract/agreement and invoice (this will need to be signed by a parent or guardian if you are not 18 yet.) A $100 non-refundable payment is due at booking, with the remaining balance due on the date of your photo session.

Planning: after booking, I will send you my location and senior photography guides to help as you plan. I'm also available by email or phone to chat about specifics. Let me know if you have a hobby that you'd like to include – I would love to personalize your photos with something special! (instrument, dance, sport, car, etc.) I will reach back out about a week before our scheduled date with a short questionnaire and to confirm our plans.

PHOTO DAY: we will meet at your chosen location, and spend up to 90 minutes taking as many photos as we can! You can bring up to 4 different outfits, but keep in mind that most locations do not have changing areas. A lot of my seniors change in the car or behind a large blanket that I hold up for privacy. I will do my best to get a huge variety of poses and backdrops and help you feel at ease in front of the camera. I always help with posing, but keep it relaxed (no angry, overbearing photographer vibes here!) We will take posed photos, candid photos, and everything in between. We will laugh and joke and have a blast together.

Post-Session + Gallery Delivery: I will get to work on your photos right away. If you want a social media sneak peek, I will gladly post a few of my favorites about 3 days after your session, but either way, you will receive your entire gallery of edited, downloadable photos within 7 days. Do you need help formatting your yearbook photo? Let me know – I'm happy to do that for you!

How many photos should you expect? I typically deliver 75+ photos for a 90 minute senior photo session. The number will vary from person-to-person, but this is a good estimate. Do you have other questions? Email me! I'd love to help: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com.

What's the deal with Mini-Sessions?

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 17 May 2022 14:36:37 GMT

Update: I am currently booking fall and holiday mini-sessions for 2022. Information and availability is all at this link: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/blog/2022/7/fall-photo-sessions-and-availability-2022.

I want to dive into one of the most common questions that I hear:

What's the deal with mini-sessions!? Are they available all year?

I get a huge number of inquiries for Colorado mini-sessions throughout the year, and I want to chat about them today. Most people request a mini-session because they are either 1.) looking for a lower price or 2.) only need a few photos. Mini-sessions are a great option for these folks!

In a nutshell: mini-sessions take place on specific dates during the year, and I will usually schedule several families back to back. This allows me to serve more families during peak color-changing seasons (specifically the flowering trees in spring and the changing fall leaves) and gives my clients a lower priced photo session. Win win.

Every photographer runs their mini-sessions differently. Some are 5 minutes long and include one or two photos, and some are longer. All of my mini-sessions are 20 minutes long and include a downloadable gallery of 15+ photos. The locations are all in the South Denver Metro Area, and I choose the locations carefully to take advantage of the most beautiful colors and backgrounds. I've found that 20 minutes gives me enough time to get a small gallery of beautiful photos with a variety of poses, some fun candids, and a couple of different backgrounds.

To answer question number two: mini-sessions are not available outside of the pre-scheduled dates, HOWEVER, I have a 30-minute photo session that is a great mini-session alternative. It gives my clients the shorter photo session and lower price that they want, without waiting for May or October. It is also perfect for anyone who needs more flexibility on date and/or location. These clients will receive my location guide with 8 beautiful locations to choose from, and they always have the option to choose their own location within 20 miles of Kiowa, Colorado. 30-minute photo session clients will receive a gallery of 20+ photos, and as with mini-sessions, the gallery will include a variety of poses, some fun candids, and several different backgrounds.

I hope this helps, and if you ever have questions about mini-sessions, 30 minute sessions, or any of my other photo session options please reach out! I'm always happy to hear from you. 😊

My next mini-session dates are scheduled for October

No blog post would be complete without some photos, so I've included a few favorites – the following photos were all taken during 30-minute photo sessions in 2021!

Baby Annie – Elizabeth Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:45:00 GMT

I adore this family, so imagine my excitement to photograph them for the first time as a family of four! I arrived at their gorgeous Elizabeth, Colorado home and was immediately struck by the joy and excitement from each family member.

Baby Annie is surrounded by love: her big sister Cora is already enamored with her, and she couldn't have been born to a sweeter pair of parents. Annie will be blessed beyond words by her incredible family!

Chance and Ashley: thank you so much for allowing me to document baby Annie's newborn photos. I have so enjoyed every photo session with your family over the years, and I'm already counting down to the next one! 😉

Please scroll on down for some of my favorites from Annie's newborn photo session!

Family Photo Sessions – What to Expect

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 21:45:00 GMT

We usually know what to expect when visiting a large chain store because every location will be very similar in style and process, but the same cannot be said for a small photography business. You could work with 10 different photographers, and every single one of them might be different than the next. From editing styles, to posing and locations, to prices and inclusions – it will all vary. This brings me to the reason for this post...

What should you expect from a family photo session with me?

Before I go on – you can view my full prices and information here. The photo session lengths will vary depending on your needs, but all of my family sessions – from 20 minute mini-sessions up to 90 minute + extended family sessions - will have a similar flow. The number of photos in your final gallery will vary, depending on how much time we have and your own family's dynamic, but I always try to photograph the following during every family session.

POSED PHOTOS

I always begin every photo session with the "money shot." This is the classic, posed, everyone-looking-at-the-camera-smiling-photo. I've found that if we start with this photo, it makes the rest of the session more relaxed and fun. As we progress through your photo session, I will take more posed photos of your entire family with different backdrops.

SMALL GROUPINGS

Next, we will get photos of smaller groups – parents together, children together, each parent with each child, and any others that you request.

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS

I always try to get at least one photo of each individual child. I am also happy to get individual photos of the adults – we can all use an updated photo of ourselves for social media or LinkedIn, right?

CANDID PHOTOS

Sprinkled throughout the poses mentioned above, I will take a variety of prompted-candid and behind-the-scenes photos. These photos will typically account for about half of your final gallery, and they they are often my clients' favorites! Some examples include: walking photos, airplane photos (a favorite with older babies and toddlers!), playing parachute with a blanket, tickle photos, family hugs, and more.

Hopefully this post has given you a good idea about what to expect from your photo session, but I do want to mention that every photo session will be different, just as every family is different. I always make space for different family dynamics, and do my best to create authentic, artistic photos that are unique to your family.

Lastly, I want to address prices and inclusions. I linked my pricing page above, but it's important to know what you're paying for before booking any photographer. Some photographers charge a low upfront fee and then sell photos separately, while others are all-inclusive. I fall into the latter category because it is what I would want as a consumer. The prices that I post are all-inclusive – from planning through the delivery of your final, fully-edited digital images. I also include a print release to give you the freedom to print and share to your heart's desire. As always, I'm here if you have any questions, and I'm happy to help!

Spring Mini-Sessions 2022

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:12:46 GMT

Colorado winters feel like they last forever, so when the weather warms up and the colors return I'm in heaven. I hope you'll join me to celebrate my favorite season with some gorgeous photos in the blooms! When you're ready to schedule your mini-session, please fill out my booking form with your preferred time (see current availability below) and I'll get you taken care of.

Location: near Park Meadows Mall

Mini-sessions are a quick and easy way to update your photos, and are great for families, couples, kids, or headshots. Looking for something else? Head over to my booking form and let's chat!

Spring Mini-Sessions: $395

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on the photo session date)

Dates + Available Times:

Sunday May 1st in South Metro Area

Available Times: ~~5:30pm, 6:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm~~

Saturday May 7th in South Metro Area

Available Times: ~~5:30pm, 6:00pm~~, 6:30pm, ~~7:00pm~~

Inclusions:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful location
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more
Afternoon/evening times available to take advantage of the best light
A one week turnaround time for your photo gallery

Best of 2021 // Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 01:10:00 GMT

I love nothing more than going through my work from the year, and remembering each client that I had the opportunity to work with. 2021 was one for the books, and I can't wait to show you some of my favorite photos from the year, but first I want to share some thoughts...

After 10+ years in business, I've found that common threads tend to weave their way through each year. I don't always notice them in real time, but they become obvious when I take the time to reflect, and I'd like to share one of my biggest takeaways from 2021.

Most of us schedule our family photos when things are going well in our lives: our marriages are solid, our kids are happy and healthy, and we want to capture our joy, our love, and our happiness. This year, I was humbled to serve several families who were not in a happy place. Whether it was a devastating health diagnosis, a pending divorce, or a divide between family members: circumstances were painful. However, these families all had one thing in common – they showed up and documented their love in the midst of pain. I am humbled and grateful to have witnessed the courage of some of these families.

Whatever stage you're currently in, this is my gentle reminder that your family is beautiful and worth remembering in every season of life.

I want to end this post with some much-needed thank you's. As much as I would love to take all of the credit for this business, I wouldn't be here without the help of so many:

Clients (past, present, new, returning): thank you for trusting me with your photos – I appreciate you so much.
The administration, teachers, parents, and students at Waterstone Preschool: thank you for having me back as your school photographer for the 7th year (and counting.)
My husband Jason: thank you for continuing to be the unsung hero behind Laura Smith Photography. You have supported me in every way possible over the past 10+ years, and I truly wouldn’t still be doing this without you.
My parents: thank you for providing the gorgeous red truck used in my holiday mini-sessions. And for giving me life. Not necessarily in that order.
Friends and followers: thank you for taking the time to read my posts – and if you commented, liked, or shared I am doubly-thankful.

As we close the door on 2021 and move into the New Year, I want to wish you all a blessed and Happy New Year. I hope to see you in 2022. Cheers! 🥂

~Laura

PS: No post would be complete without photos, so scroll on for some of my favorite photos from 2021...

Emma // Eaglecrest High School Senior Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Emma brought the fire to her senior photo session! We met at Castlewood Canyon in Franktown, Colorado on a scorching hot day in late August, and I was excited to meet her entire family during her photo session. To start: they saved me from a real-life bee attack before we took a single photo. One of the BEST parts of late summer photo sessions is the abundance of sunflowers, and one of the WORST parts of late summer photo sessions is the sunflowers (because BEES.) 😂 I used a new cleaner on my camera bag that week, and it was the most effective bee magnet I've ever seen. Now I know.

Back to Emma...this girl was incredible: kind, funny, and so easy-going that her senior photo session was a breeze! She brought three different outfits, some awesome attitude, and we spent our time exploring several of my favorite areas at the canyon. We found sunflowers (bees), gorgeous foliage, sun-drenched fields, and canyon views to die for.

You're the real deal, Emma, and I'm so glad I got to meet you! I'm wishing you all the best as you start your senior year at Eaglecrest High School!

xoxo,

Laura

Fall Mini-Sessions 2021 Recap // Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 21:15:00 GMT

October 2021 was the busiest month in the history of LSP, and these fall mini-session families are responsible for a large part of that. I met 13 incredible new families, and they were all so wonderful to work with. I also had the chance to catch up with 7 returning families and it's such a privilege to see my clients grow each year.

My fall mini-sessions typically span the entire month of October on a handful of weekend dates at two different locations in Littleton and Parker. Most years I'm primarily in Parker during October, but this year the majority of my fall minis took place in Littleton and I'm thrilled with the results. We had BEAUTIFUL Colorado weather, STUNNING fall colors, and so many lovely families.

I am truly thankful to each and every person who joined me this year during my fall mini-sessions, and I can't wait to see you again in 2022!

The Wood/Meyer Extended Family // Castle Rock Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 21:30:00 GMT

Let's talk about a family who values photography, because this one sure does! I photographed Alex and Evan's immediate family for the first time last summer, followed by an extended family photo session with Evan's parents and sister last fall. This year I was excited to meet the extended family on Alex's side. They chose my favorite location in Castle Rock (a location gem if ever there was one – it's beautiful in every month of the year, plus it has great light in the morning and in the evening which is a huge bonus!)

This family arrived looking incredible and ready to have some fun. I was a little nervous about capturing the large group photos because it's no small task to pose big groups (especially when young children and dogs are involved!) but these folks were a breeze. Take a look at photo number 1 below, because it's what I call a "unicorn" photo – everyone looking amazing + smiling + eyes on the camera and no head swaps (photoshop work) involved. Hallelujah!

Scroll on down for my favorites from this vibrant and love-filled extended family photo session. Wood/Meyer families: thank you SO much for a beautiful morning together, and I can't wait to see you all again soon!

xoxo,

Laura

The Gunderson Family // Castlewood Canyon Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 15:45:00 GMT

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: photos are important during EVERY stage! I work with countless families with young children, but those numbers dwindle as the kids get older. Schedules are busy. Kids are older or away at college. Photos slip lower on the to-do lists. I get it, honestly. Having said that, I am always thrilled when families with older kids schedule family photos! This family was fantastic: funny, kind, easy-going, and so sweet with each other. We spent our session time exploring Castlewood Canyon in Franktown together (side note: Castlewood is one of my favorite locations, and is included in my client location guide. There is a small permit + entrance fee to use the location, but it's 100% worth it for the views and versatility!)

Gunderson family: thank you for a wonderful evening – you're a gorgeous family, and I can't wait to work with you again in the future!

xoxo,

Laura

Red Truck Holiday Photo Sessions // Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:30:00 GMT

Red Truck Holiday Mini-Sessions

**Update: I've added a few more openings on Sunday, November 14th. If you're ready to reserve your photo session, email me with your preferred date and time and I'll get you taken care of! Email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com**

This is one of my very favorite events each year – I'm thrilled to be hosting several days of holiday photo sessions with the red truck again this November! The location is a beautiful pine forest in Elizabeth, Colorado, and each family will have the option to have photos taken with the red truck as well as photos in the forest. Scroll on for more information and example photos...

Price: $395 ($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date)

Includes:

20 minutes of photography time at a pine forest location with a beautifully restored red Ford Model-A truck
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!
Afternoon and early evening times available
Mini-sessions are a great choice to quickly update your (immediate) family's photos!

Dates:

Saturday, November 6th in Elizabeth, Colorado

~~Available times: 3:10, 3:50, 4:30~~

Sunday, November 7th in Elizabeth, Colorado

~~Available times: 2:50, 3:30, 4:10~~

Sunday, November 14th in Elizabeth, Colorado (JUST ADDED!)

Available times: 2:10, ~~2:40, 3:10, 3:50~~

The Votava Family // Kiowa Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:00:00 GMT

Oh how I adore this family! Jeff and Dawn make raising a large family look effortless, and as a mom to four kids myself, I know that is far from the truth. This was my second time photographing this gorgeous family, and with their oldest son now living out of state, it was a different (but beautiful) dynamic for this photo session. I spoke with Dawn about the struggle of family photos as kids grow and leave home, and I was touched by her desire to continue documenting her family through the changes. 💛

They chose to come to my home in Kiowa, Colorado for some farm family photos, and we had a beautiful evening full of breathtaking golden light. We laughed hard, had some fun, and took some stunning photos, and I am once again so incredibly grateful for the blessings of this job.

Jeff and Dawn: Thank you. Your family is incredible, and I am so thankful for your trust in me to photograph you. 💛

Fall Photo Sessions and Availability – 2021

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 21:00:00 GMT

**Newly opened date for Red Truck Mini-Sessions – scroll down to option #4 for details!**

Update as of 10/24/2021: October is fully-booked, I have a couple of weeknight openings in November, and two weekend openings in early December. I am doing my best to accommodate as many people as possible, and my schedule is changing fast, so please email me for my current availability. Email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com

We are inching closer to family photo season, and 2021 marks my ELEVENTH year of fall family photos! This makes me feel both incredibly grateful – and older than I'd like to admit – but mostly grateful. 🥰

I try to mix things up a bit each year to keep things interesting, and I am SO excited to share what I have planned for my family clients this fall! As always, I have my 30 and 60 minute session options available, and this year I also have TWO different types of mini-sessions! I will (of course!) be doing several days of mini-sessions throughout October to take advantage of the gorgeous Colorado fall colors. I have also scheduled holiday mini-sessions with the red truck in November. I have a super-limited number of these available, and I had to turn people away last year which I absolutely hate, so please book soon if you want to participate!

My apologies in advance for such a wordy post, but I wanted to include as much info as possible and answer every question that I could think of. If I missed something and you have questions please don't hesitate to reach out – I'd love to chat! My email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com

2021 Fall Family Session Options:

#1: 60 Minute Family Portrait Session: $595

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date)

Included in the price:

60 minutes of photography time at the location of your choice (travel within 50 miles of Kiowa, Colorado is included!)
40+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!
Sunset or morning session time
A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery
This is the best option for larger (immediate) families and anyone who wants to customize their session date and location! Please see my full pricing page for information on extended family, senior, and newborn sessions: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/pricing

#2: 30 Minute Portrait Session: $395

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date)

Included in the price:

30 minutes of photography time in Elbert County, Colorado (Elizabeth or Kiowa)
20+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!
Sunset or morning session time
A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery
30 minute sessions are great for small (immediate) families, young children, headshots, and anyone who doesn't need a full hour of photography.

#3: Fall Mini-Session: $350

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date)

Included in the price:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful location
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!
Afternoon/evening times available
A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery
Mini-sessions are a great choice to quickly update your (immediate) family's photos!

Dates + Locations:

*Saturday, October 2nd in Littleton – location C (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 4:00, 4:40, 5:20, 6:00~~

*Saturday, October 9th in Parker – location B (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 3:50, 4:30, 5:10, 5:50~~

*Saturday, October 16th in Littleton – location C (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 3:40, 4:20, 5:00, 5:40~~

*Sunday, October 17th in Littleton – location C (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 3;40, 4:20, 5:00, 5:40~~

JUST ADDED: Saturday, October 23rd in Parker – location B

~~Available times: 9:00am, 9:40am~~

JUST ADDED: Saturday, October 23rd in Littleton – location C

~~Available times: 4:00pm, 4:40pm , 5:20pm~~

#4: Red Truck Holiday Mini-Session: $395

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date)

Included in the price:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful pine forest location with a beautifully restored Ford Model-A pickup truck
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!
Afternoon and early evening times available
Mini-sessions are a great choice to quickly update your (immediate) family's photos!

Dates + Location:

Saturday, November 6th in Elizabeth, Colorado (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 3:10, 3:50, 4:30, 5:10pm~~

Sunday, November 7th in Elizabeth, Colorado

Available times: 2:10, ~~2:50, 3:30, 4:10pm~~ (2:10pm was just re-opened due to client illness)

Sunday, November 14th in Elizabeth, Colorado (JUST ADDED!)

Available times: 3:20, ~~4:00 pending~~

A few final notes:

My farm in Kiowa will be open for 30 and 60 minute photo sessions for returning clients again this fall! We are about an hour away from the Denver Metro area and you can't beat the Colorado sunsets out here. See example photos here: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/locations-kiowafarm
I do have some weekday availability throughout the year, so let me know if that's something you're looking for and I'll be happy to help.
I will always be flexible with newborn photo session scheduling, but I recommend getting on my calendar early, because I only take a couple of newborn clients each month.
Find all of my prices + info (for everything other than mini-sessions) here: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/pricing
December 12th will be my last available photo session date for 2021, so schedule yourself accordingly! 😊
Have questions? Want to book a photo session? Email me! laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com

Colorado Fall Family Mini-Sessions 2021

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 21:14:00 GMT

**Update 10/24/2021: THANK YOU to everyone who joined me this year for my fall mini-sessions! I was blown away by the number of incredible people that I met, and I loved reconnecting with some amazing returning clients. If you'd like to be one of the first to know about upcoming mini-session dates, email me to be added to my VIP list! Email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com.

If you're looking for stunning fall family photos, Colorado is the place to be. I already wrote a post about all of my fall family photos options, but if you're here you must be looking for a FALL MINI-SESSION! Mini-sessions are the perfect way to quickly update your family's photos in a beautiful location, and I schedule several mini-session dates throughout October to give as many families as possible the chance for gorgeous photos in the fall colors. I have four evenings of mini-sessions scheduled in October at three different (but equally stunning!) locations throughout the Denver Metro Area.

Fall Mini-Sessions: $350

($100 due at booking, remaining balance due on your scheduled date)

Included in the price:

20 minutes of photography time at a beautiful location (See below for details)
15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and sharable online gallery + print release
My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!
Afternoon/evening times available to take advantage of the best light!
A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery

Dates + Locations:

*Saturday, October 2nd in Littleton – location C (SOLD OUT

~~Available times: 4:00, 4:40, 5:20, 6:00~~

*Saturday, October 9th in Parker – location B (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 3:50, 4:30, 5:10, 5:50~~

*Saturday, October 16th in Littleton – location C (SOLD OUT

~~Available times: 3:40, 4:20, 5:00, 5:40~~

*Sunday, October 17th in Littleton – location C (SOLD OUT)

~~Available times: 3:40, 4:20, 5:00, 5:40~~

~~JUST ADDED: Saturday, October 23rd in Parker – location B~~

~~Available times: 9:00am, 9:40am~~

~~JUST ADDED: Saturday, October 23rd in Littleton – location C~~

~~Available times: 4:00pm, 4:40pm , 5:20pm~~

And just for fun – a few more example photos from past fall mini-sessions...🍂

Sarah, Scott, and Silas // Hudson Gardens Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 20:30:00 GMT

I met Sarah, Scott, and little Silas on a hot summer evening at Hudson Gardens in Littleton. Silas just celebrated his first birthday, and they needed some updated family photos to mark the occasion. I love meeting new families, and this one was no different. They were full of kindness and so easy to work with! We explored the gardens and found so many gorgeous places to take photos, and little Silas basically ran the show (as per usual with that age!)

I left Hudson Gardens that evening with a giant smile on my face, and a feeling of overwhelming joy that I get to do this job that I love so dearly. I love nothing more than building relationships while creating art – I can literally not think of anything that I'd rather be doing.

Sarah and Scott (and honestly anyone else who has hired me to photograph their family): THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for trusting me with your family's memories. I don't take the honor for granted. 💛

Baby Wesley // Denver Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 23:00:00 GMT

Keeping on with the 2021 baby boom, I'm so excited to share my favorite photos from baby Wesley's Denver newborn photo session! This sweet family probably looks familiar if you've followed my work/blog for a while – I've been photographing them since 2012 when Matt and Jess were expecting big sis Berkeley, and I have had the incredible honor to photograph all three of their baby's newborn photo sessions, yearly family sessions, and more.

Baby Wesley was soooo sweet and his big brother Dash and sister Berkeley are thrilled with their family's new addition. Dash kept things chaotic and fun as always, and Berkeley was so attentive and sweet with her new brother.

Hess family: I love you all and couldn't be happier for your new family of FIVE! Thank you so much for your support and for trusting me to photograph your family each year! ❤️

Waterstone Preschool 2021 // Littleton School Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 01:00:00 GMT

One of my FAVORITE jobs each year is photographing the children at Waterstone Preschool in Littleton! If you've been following me for a while, you know that I LOVE kids, so it is an absolute joy for me to be able to spend a couple of days photographing dozens of them. This year we had 130 children ranging in age from 12 months to 5 years old, and as always, I left each day with sore cheeks from smiling so much. ☺️

This job is extra special to me for a couple of reasons...

1.) I grew up in this church (back when it was still Centennial Community Church) from the time I was 5 years old, so going back feels like going home.

2.) I taught at the preschool for 3 years before I had children of my own. My time teaching at Waterstone Preschool was incredible, and I was blessed beyond words by the children, by my co-workers (a few of whom still work there!), and by gaining skills and knowledge that have served me during my own parenting journey.

As you probably know, I don't live in Littleton anymore, but I LOVE having the excuse to go back each year! This year our schedule was different due to COVID–I'm normally there in September/October, but this year it was April because things were still crazy in the fall. We were hoping to luck out with warm weather and spring blooms because our photos have always taken place outside, but Colorado had different plans, per usual. 😉

I actually had a feeling that the Colorado weather wouldn't cooperate, so I started working on a backup plan a couple of months ago, and it's a good thing–we ended up needing to do this year's photos inside because of snow and cold. My vision for our indoor photos was: minimalistic, modern, and clean.

I didn't want the backdrop to distract from the kids' personalities, and I feel like we accomplished that! When I think of traditional indoor school photos, they tend to feel stiff and ultra-posed, so I wanted to find a way to keep things fun and relaxed. I considered incorporating a chair or apple crate, but decided to skip that and just follow the children's lead with relaxed posing and I'm SO glad I did! These kids brought so much personality and fun, and I'm thrilled with the photos that we created!

Scroll on down for an overload of cuteness! Thank you to Waterstone Preschool staff, students, and parents for having me back for the 6th year in a row–I can't wait to see you all again in September!

**I want to say a special "thank you!" to the parents who have allowed me to share their children's photos–I will never post client photos without permission, and I am so thankful to be able to share these with you!**

Baby Tatum // Parker Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 01:00:00 GMT

My favorite part of spring 2021 has 100% been the baby boom! Newborn photos are my happy place, and little Tatum was such a joy. 💙

Baby Tatum was joined for his photo debut by his gorgeous mama, dad, and big brother (who was so proud and excited to be a big brother!) I'm honestly not sure if I've ever met a more excited older sibling, so seeing Kash beam with love for his new little brother was the best surprise of the day. This family is so much fun, and I never leave their photo sessions without a smile.

Weiand fam: I adore you, and couldn't be happier for you to be a family of FOUR now! Congrats on baby Tatum, and I can't wait to see you again soon.

Scroll on for a few of my favs from their Parker, Colorado newborn photo session!

Spring Mini-Session 2021 Recap // Littleton Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 14 May 2021 20:15:00 GMT

When people think of seasonal mini-sessions in Colorado, most will imagine the colors of fall, but I'm here to SING THE PRAISES of spring today! Spring has always been my favorite season, and I honestly can't say enough about spring photos. I am in heaven when winter finally ends – the trees are in bloom, the grass is growing, and the world looks alive again. 🙌

My spring mini-sessions were cancelled last year because of the COVID shutdowns, so I was even more excited for them this year. I had three incredible families join me in Old Littleton along the Crabapple Trail this year, and I loved every single second of our time together. THANK YOU so much to those who joined me, and if you missed out on these spring mini-sessions I'd love for you to join me in May 2022 or even this October for fall mini-sessions! (See my 2021 fall mini-session info here: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/blog/2021/8/colorado-fall-family-mini-sessions-2021)

Scroll on down for some of my favorites from my Littleton spring mini-sessions!

Baby Charlie // Denver Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 01 May 2021 16:30:00 GMT

Dear 2021: thank you for ALL OF THE BABIES!!

I am LOVING the Colorado newborn photo sessions this year, and am so thankful for the sweet babies who have come into the world recently. I met Kyle and Carrie at their maternity photo session in February, and was instantly struck by their kindness and love for each other. I knew within minutes of meeting them that they would be incredible parents, and that was confirmed when I saw them with their sweet baby girl.

Charlie was an absolute DREAM to photograph, and capturing the love between this new family of three was such a joy for me. I met them at their home in Denver and spent the morning soaking up so many incredible moments with Carrie, Kyle, and baby Charlie, and left with a giant smile on my face. I will never NOT be thankful for each and every family that invites me into their home to photograph their new baby. In-home/lifestyle newborn photo sessions have my heart forever and ever. ❤️

Kyle and Carrie: I couldn't be happier for you both! Charlie is beautiful, and you two are such wonderful parents already. Congratulations again!!

The Weiand Family // Castle Rock Maternity + Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Gorgeous family: ✔️ Beautiful light: ✔️ Lots of love and a very happy photographer: ✔️

I adore this family, and was over-the-moon-excited to find out that they were expecting a new baby! I photographed Cam and Jenna's engagement photos a couple of years ago at my farm in Kiowa, and this time we met at one of my favorite hidden gem locations in Castle Rock, Colorado to photograph their family-maternity photos. It is beautiful year-round, and hardly ever busy, and the light is soooo good!

Cash was adorable as always (I seriously love that little dude!) and he is SO excited to be a big brother soon! I can't wait to photograph him with his new baby brother or sister in a few weeks!

Now I want to take a minute and shout out ALL OF THE MEN that I photograph each year. Cam was such a great reminder of the incredible men that I work with each year, because like most men he doesn't love having photos taken. Even so, he shows up and gives it his all during our photo sessions because he knows how much it means to Jenna. I hear so many horror stories from photography friends of mine, who have men show up grumpy, angry and refusing to take direction, and that will completely ruin a photo session because the stress spreads to everyone. Thankfully, that is so far from any experience that I've ever had, so thank you to every single one of you who shows up and does the dang thing each year (including my own amazing husband!) I am personally so thankful for each and every one of you for making my job so fun and enjoyable, but even more for the gift that you are giving to your family. 💙

Now onto the photos! I'm SO IN LOVE with the photos from Cam, Jenna, and Cash's family-maternity session! Enjoy!

Baby Kash // Littleton Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 21:30:00 GMT

I only photographed a couple of newborns in 2020 (thanks, COVID 😖) but 2021 is gearing up to be full of babies, and I am SO READY FOR IT!!!

Baby Kash was born a few days early, which ended up being perfect because Colorado gave us two feet of snow on our original newborn session date. Instead, I drove into Littleton on a warm and sunny morning and loved every single second with this incredible family. I hadn't met the Nadeau family until the morning of Kash's newborn session, and I am always amazed by the amazing people that I've been able to meet because of this little business of mine. Kimberly, Jace, and their boys were so warm and welcoming, and their family was such a joy to photograph!

Baby Kash was a DREAM who barely made a peep during our entire time together (this is totally not the norm – most babies like to be loud during at least a portion of their newborn photos. 😉) I love everything about this newborn session, but I think that the photos of the boys together might be my favorites – Kane was such a ball of fun and energy, but was so sweet with his new brother.

Kimberly and Jace: thank you so much for trusting me to photograph your new family of 4! I adored meeting you all and can't wait to do it again! 💙

The Scott Family // Elizabeth Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 20:15:00 GMT

Prepare yourselves for some CUTENESS today! Little Oren just turned one, and his family celebrated with some updated family/first birthday photos! I met Shannon and Jon last year during their winter maternity session, and then I photographed Oren's newborn session just hours before the COVID shutdown began in March of 2020. I was so happy to see this awesome family again, and with the world feeling a little bit more normal again. 💙

As we all know – Colorado weather is crazy – and March is super unpredictable, so I recommended a forested location because it looks great with or without snow. We lucked out with warm(ish) weather and a GORGEOUS golden hour-filled evening, and I'm completely in love with these photos.

We started with some fun family photos (baby throwing ✔️, baby swinging ✔️, hugs ✔️, airplane pose ✔️) and ended with Oren dressed in his Where the Wild Things Are outfit eating dirt. It was all magic, and I loved every second with these fine folks.

Scott family: thank you SO much for trusting me with your family's photos! I adore the three of you, and I can't wait to see you again soon!

Carrie + Kyle // Castle Rock Colorado Maternity Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:45:00 GMT

What is better than seeing my clients every year? Seeing them TWICE in a year! 😍

Carrie and Kyle booked my maternity + newborn session combo, so I will get to see these gorgeous faces two times in 2021! I put together this session combination a couple of years ago to give expectant parents the opportunity to easily document their pregnancy and new baby. I found that so many people wanted to document both, so I combined my 30 minute portrait session option (maternity) with my in-home newborn session, added a discount for booking both, and voila!

I met this gorgeous couple at my favorite Castle Rock hidden gem location, and we were blessed with a beautiful winter afternoon for photos. Once the fall colors pass, Colorado is left with a lot of yellows and browns (unless there is snow on the ground) so the color wheel-lover in me was thrilled with the combination of Carrie's red dress and Kyle's blue clothing with the yellows! (Primary colors for the win!) Also – can I just rave about the way that the (almost bare) trees still reflect fall-like colors into January!? I'm smitten!

These two were so easy-going and sweet with each other, and I'm so thrilled with the photos that we created together! Carrie and Kyle: thank you for being so kind and fun to work with! I can't wait to see you both again soon when your baby girl arrives!! 💜

Spring Mini-Sessions 2021

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:15:00 GMT

As I write this, it is a windy and cold February morning in Colorado, but spring is coming and I AM SO READY! Last year's spring mini-sessions were cancelled because of the COVID shutdown, so I'm extra-excited for this year! We will be back in Old Littleton again this year, because you can't beat the Crabapple Route if you're looking for flowering trees and colors. 😍

Mini-sessions are a quick and easy way to update your photos, and are great for families, couples, kids, or headshots. Need something else? Shoot me an email and let's chat!

(Example photos from this location during my 2019 spring mini-sessions!)

Details:

Price: $325 (All-inclusive, includes everything listed below)
Date + Location: Saturday May 1st in Littleton, with Saturday, May 8th reserved as a backup date in case of bad weather
Ready to book? A signed agreement and $100 retainer fee will reserve your time with the remaining balance due prior to your photo session. Email me and I will be happy to get you scheduled! (laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com)
Available Times: 5:30pm, ~~6:00pm~~, ~~6:30pm~~, ~~7:00pm~~

Includes:

•20 minutes of on-location photography time and a beautiful gallery of 15+ hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and shareable online gallery

•My custom e-guide with helpful tips to prep you for your session - this includes tips for coordinating your clothing, dressing to flatter your figure, prepping your kids for success at your session, and more!

•A two week (max) turnaround time for your photo gallery

•A print release to give you the freedom to print and share your images however you choose

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

COVID SAFETY:

In order to protect my clients and my family, all photo sessions include social distancing. I typically photograph clients from 10+ feet away because of my lens choices, but always have a mask handy if I need to come in closer for photos. I want to do everything in my power to make my clients feel comfortable, so please let me know if you have questions about this or anything else related to COVID safety and I will be more than happy to help!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Nedved Family // Elizabeth Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 18:00:00 GMT

I'm back today with a gorgeous holiday-themed winter family photo session! As I've talked about before, it becomes tricky to choose a photo session location after the fall leaves are gone, because Colorado is finicky in the winter. Thankfully, pine trees are beautiful all year long, and they look great with or without snow, so they are perfect in the winter!

When Christy reached out about updating her family photos, she mentioned wanting to incorporate a holiday theme into their photo session and I knew the perfect location! This spot is one of my favorites because of the tall pine trees–plus it requires very little walking so it's great for families with younger kids. When we added in a few of my holiday props and their clothing we had ourselves a gorgeous Christmas/Holiday-themed photo session! The Nedved family also wanted to include their au pair in their photos and it was wonderful to have Glenda join us!

We lucked out with a gorgeous December afternoon with incredible golden hour light, and I'm thrilled with the photos that we created together! Nedved family: thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos–I hope that you love them as much as I do! 😊

Heather & Josh // Castle Rock Engagement Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 05:30:00 GMT

Heather and Josh's Castle Rock engagement session was a joy in every way possible! First–and most importantly–they are incredible human beings who radiate kindness and love. We also lucked out with a gorgeous December day in Colorado, and even though the fall colors were gone we found pockets of color and some beautiful Colorado backdrops to take advantage of. Seriously–scroll on down because you won't believe that the trees were almost completely bare and brown when you see how fall-like our first backdrop looked! (For anyone who may be curious...Heather and Josh were shaded, but the tree behind them was in direct sunlight and was reflecting the golden colors into the camera. 😊)

I've always struggled with winter photo sessions–Colorado is either freezing cold and covered in snow, or warm but lacking color. Over the past couple of years I've challenged myself to try to love winter photo sessions, and this one in particular gave me such a boost artistically. Heather and Josh were so natural in front of the camera and needed very little direction, which gave me the opportunity to think outside of the box and get creative. I'm honestly obsessed with these photos, and they even made me want to photograph more winter photo sessions despite my dislike of being cold. 😉

Heather and Josh: I wish you both so much happiness as you start your lives together, and I couldn't be more happy for you! Congratulations on your engagement, and thank you for trusting me with your engagement photos!!

Best of 2020 // Colorado Portrait Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:56:14 GMT

What a year! Looking through my work from the past 12 months is always one of my FAVORITE things to do after I photograph my last session of the year, but it was extra-emotional this year.

When the world shut down in March, I didn't think that I would be working very much for the remainder of 2020. None of us knew what was coming, but I never imagined that people would be booking photo sessions during a pandemic. I am so thankful to admit that I was wrong, and I was blessed with an abundance of incredible clients this year! I truly don't have the words to describe how thankful I am for each person who allowed me into their lives this year – my heart is overflowing as I think about about each and every one of you! 💕

*To those of you who trusted me to photograph your family this year: THANK YOU!!

*To those of you who chose me to photograph your senior photos this year: THANK YOU!!

*To those of you who hired me to update your business headshots this year: THANK YOU!!

*To those of you who invited me into your homes to photograph your newborn: THANK YOU!!

*To those of you who trusted me to photograph your engagement or milestone anniversary: THANK YOU!!

*To those of you who followed along on my social media or blog and provided encouragement, the occasional "like," or virtual hugs: THANK YOU!!

CHEERS to the end of 2020, and I am sending you all the warmest wishes for a beautiful 2021! Happy New Year, friends! 🥂

(Scroll on down to see some of my favorite photos from 2020!)

The Free Family // Elbert County Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:00:00 GMT

I have loved photographing this awesome family for the past 3 years! Bob, Jessie, and their kids are always so warm and welcoming, and their property in Kiowa, Colorado is SO perfect for photo sessions! Each year, the kids show me new areas of their forest, and we explore together while updating their family photos.

Speaking of locations – helping my clients choose the perfect location for their photo session is one of the most important parts of my job. It's easy with this fam since we take their photos at their house, but the majority of us don't live in a magical forest, so it's a little more difficult. 😉

I don't talk a lot about the behind-the-scenes work that I do, but I spend a lot of time searching for new locations, and then doing the research to make sure that they will work well for my clients. This includes researching any applicable photography permits that many public locations require, scouting the locations in person to see what times of day and in what seasons they will work best (some locations have better light in the morning, and some in the evening; some work best in spring/summer/fall/winter, etc) and finding out who owns specific pieces of land because trespassing isn't my jam. 😉 I've found several hidden gems that I was sure were private property, but they are actually publicly owned and free to use. I also make sure to have a couple of easily accessible locations handy for clients who can't walk longer distances. Clients: if you ever have a question about potential locations please let me know! I'm always happy to help with your search! 😊

Back to the lovely Free family...their love and energy gets me every year, and they are an absolute JOY to photograph! Bob, Jessie, and kids: THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for trusting me with your family photos each year! I appreciate you all so much and can't wait to see you again next year! 💜

The Roberson Family // Kiowa Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 02:00:00 GMT

I've had so many people ask me if Jason and I bought our house (in part, at least) because it is such a great location for photo sessions, and I feel so silly when I have to admit that it literally didn't cross my mind even once when we chose to live here. We knew that we wanted to be in Elbert County, but this particular house just kind of fell into place in a really cool way – the rustic backdrops and unobstructed views of Pike's Peak were just a fun bonus. To be fair, I wasn't photographing a lot of photo sessions back then because I was primarily a wedding photographer, but it still feels a little crazy. I did my first photo session here out of necessity – I had a colicky newborn who was exclusively nursing and I couldn't be gone for more than a couple of hours at a time, so I offered to have a couple of people come out here for their photos. The rest is history. 😉

Fast forward 4 years and farm sessions have become a full-fledged "thing." What started out of necessity has become an integral part of my brand, and one of my very favorite places to photograph my clients – including this gorgeous family! The Robersons were one of my last families of 2020, and I loved my time with them so much! They were laid back, so kind, and a lot of fun – and the farm was the perfect backdrop for their winter photo session.

Scroll on for some of my favorites from the Roberson family's Kiowa farm photo session...

Silhouettes // Elbert County Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:22:43 GMT

Silhouettes combine two of my favorite things: incredible skies and my clients! I have been posting silhouettes as a part of many of my photo sessions for several years now, and I still get SO many questions about them so I'm here to answer some of the most common questions today. Make sure to scroll all the way to the end of this post to see some of my FAVORITE silhouette photos from over the years! 😊

1.) Question: How do you photograph a silhouette? Answer (part 1): Most of my photos are taken by exposing for the skin tones while making sure that shadows aren't too dark and highlights aren't too bright. Silhouettes are created by exposing for the sky, which will underexpose the human subject in the photos creating the shadow look. Answer (part 2): It is actually difficult in many locations to find enough open sky to use behind my subjects, so many of these were taken during photo sessions at my house in Kiowa. We are out in the open on the Colorado plains which is perfect for big sky photos. Most of the time I end up laying on the ground and shooting up with a wide angle lens to achieve the look – this gives the photo more of the human subject and sky, and less of the ground. It is necessary to find an area without trees/buildings/houses/etc because too many objects creates a big shadowy mess, for lack of a better description. 😉

2.) Question: Can you create silhouettes at every photo session? Answer: The short answer is, no. I have tried many times, and silhouettes really don't work well outside of the golden hour. They work even better if you wait until after right after the sun dips behind the horizon because the light is even and that is usually when Colorado starts to show off with glowing orange or deep blue skies. If a silhouette photo is important to you, please let me know when you are scheduling your photo session and we will make sure to time it right!

3.) Question: Do silhouettes require a lot of post-production (editing) work? Answer: No. I work hard to nail my exposure while taking the photo, so when I go to edit the silhouettes I usually only need to add a little contrast and sharpening and they are good to go! I also enhance the colors sometimes if they need a little bit more "wow" factor. I usually use the same, or very similar, camera settings for all of my silhouettes. It will vary a little based on the brightness of the sky, but I usually start with ISO 100, F3.2, and a shutter speed of 400+. I will bump the shutter even higher if I am capturing movement, such as the ballet jump photo included below.

Now for the fun part – photos! 🤩

Sparkle // Colorado Real Estate Headshot Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 23:51:57 GMT

I was thrilled when Sparkle reached out to book a headshot photo session! We have known each other for over a decade, and I couldn't be happier for her as she moves into a career in real estate with Kentwood. (Side note – do you need a great realtor in the Denver area? You can find Sparkle here: https://www.kentwood.com/bio/sparkle.) 😊

We had an amazing time together, and she ended up deciding to book two separate photo sessions so that she have plenty of variety with two different looks. Sparkle chose an urban location so that we could incorporate some great textures and backdrops into her photos. I LOVE the photos that we created during our time together, and I can't wait to watch her thrive in the Denver real estate market! Scroll on down for some of my favorite photos from my time with Sparkle!

The Hess Family // Castle Rock Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:45:00 GMT

If you've followed me for a while, you've likely seen these faces a few times. I love photographing my cousin Matt and his family each year. This year we chose one of my locations for winter photo sessions in Castle Rock and they rocked it, per usual.

I almost never do this, but we scheduled their session in the late morning which meant that we were dealing with harsh sun. I know that some photographers won't schedule photo sessions outside of the golden hour at all, and I do try to schedule mine during that time whenever possible because the lighting is so much better, but sometimes schedules just don't allow for it for whatever reason. The good news is that with the right location, mid-day photo sessions are totally doable and can turn out great!

I love this location in every single season for it's versatility, shade options, and lack of heavy traffic. It also has this magical ability to give off fall vibes in the middle of winter! It's a beautiful little gem.

Matt and Jess: your family photos are always one of the highlights of my year. Thank you for trusting me to document your photos for the past decade! 💛

The Meyer Family // Extended Family Photo Session in Elizabeth, Colorado

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 21:30:00 GMT

I usually see trends when I look back over my photo sessions each year. For instance: 2019 was the year of extended family photo sessions, but it wasn't until November that I photographed my first extended family in 2020. A lot of this was due to the shutdowns and limits on gatherings in public places, but by the time fall came around I missed them dearly. Thankfully, the Meyer family came to me with a request to document their time together and I was elated to get a big family in front of my camera again! 🥰

I met Evan, Alex, and Carson over the summer when I photographed their immediate family, but this time they wanted to include Evan's parents, his sister, and her husband. They also brought their dog Stella again, and I will never complain about an adorably sweet dog joining us. 😉

We had a beautiful morning for photos at Evans Park in Elizabeth, Colorado and I loved getting to know the rest of the Meyer family. Evan, Alex, and family: thank you so much for allowing me into your world to document your family's photos! You all are fantastic and I can't wait to do it again soon!

The Day Family // Colorado Red Truck Holiday Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:15:00 GMT

I loved every single second of my Red Truck Holiday Photo Sessions this year! The Colorado weather was PERFECT, and our location was a gorgeous pine tree forest in Elizabeth. I met some amazing new families, and photographed some returning favorites like this one, and we had some fun with the beautifully-restored antique Model A truck.

Sarah and boys: you know that I love you all, and I've photographed you approximately 10 bajillion times so there's really nothing new for me to share here. Thanks for always being so much fun and for trusting me with your photos each year! 🥰

(Please email me if you want to be the first to know about Red Truck Holiday Mini-Sessions in 2021! I am hoping to host at least one day of photo sessions with the truck next November and would love to include your family! Email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com) 😊

The Landgren Family // Colorado Red Truck Holiday Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 07:00:00 GMT

I loved every single second of my Red Truck Holiday Photo Sessions this year! The Colorado weather was PERFECT, and our location was a gorgeous pine tree forest in Elizabeth. I met some amazing new families (like this one!) and we had some fun with the beautifully-restored antique Model A truck. I actually owe some of the success of these mini-sessions to the lovely mama in these photos. Jennifer emailed me toward the end of the summer to ask if I would be hosting Red Truck Mini-Sessions after finding photos that I posted of my own kids in this truck last year. I hadn't put a ton of thought into it yet, but I decided to go for it, and I'm so happy that I did!

Landgren family: you were a JOY to photograph, and I absolutely LOVE the photos that we created together! Thank you so much for trusting me with your family's photos, and I hope that you love these as much as I do. I hope to see you again next year! ❤️

The Prinzo Family // Colorado Red Truck Holiday Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 16:15:00 GMT

Prinzo family: you were a JOY to photograph, and I absolutely LOVE the photos that we created together! Thank you so much for trusting me with your family's photos, and I hope that you love these as much as I do. I hope to see you again next year! ❤️

The Farnsworth Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 17:15:00 GMT

I met some INCREDIBLE families (and caught up with some returning favorites like this one!) during my fall mini-sessions this year! I spent four evenings in October photographing families at two of my favorite locations in Parker and Littleton, Colorado. On a personal level, I love having the opportunity to photograph so many families in such a short period of time. Mini-sessions give me the chance to photograph about 3 to 4x more families than I would be able to otherwise – when we are working with fall leaves time is of the essence, so minis are a perfect way to help as many clients as possible to take advantage of the gorgeous Colorado fall colors!

I loved my time with the Farnsworth Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Allen Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 17:00:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Allen Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Norris Family // Littleton Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 01:15:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Norris Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Littleton, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

May, Slade, and Seth // Littleton Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:30:00 GMT

I loved my time with this sweet family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Littleton, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Benson Family // Littleton Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:15:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Benson Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Littleton, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Scott Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 21:00:00 GMT

I met some INCREDIBLE families during my fall mini-sessions this year! I spent four evenings in October photographing families at two of my favorite locations in Parker and Littleton, Colorado. On a personal level, I love having the opportunity to photograph so many families in such a short period of time. Mini-sessions give me the chance to photograph about 3-4 times more families than I would be able to otherwise – when we are working with fall leaves time is of the essence, so minis are a perfect way to help as many clients as possible to take advantage of the gorgeous Colorado fall colors!

I loved my time with the Scott Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Robischon Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:00:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Robischon Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Clark Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:00:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Clark Family and it was so much fun to see how much their little guy grew since I saw them last year!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Turner Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 18:00:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Turner Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Seitzinger - Trotter Family // Parker Colorado Fall Family Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 17:00:00 GMT

This family was so much fun and full of joy!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

The Miller Family // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 16:00:00 GMT

I loved my time with the Miller family (seriously – how adorable are these girls!?) Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

Alyssa and Ken // Parker Colorado Fall Mini-Session Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 15:00:00 GMT

Alyssa and her dad Ken were the sweetest father-daughter duo, and I loved my time with them!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍

Elizabeth and Brady // Colorado Couple's Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 20:00:00 GMT

I photograph a LOT of people during the fall months in Colorado, but few get me as excited as this one because it's my sister-in-law! Elizabeth and Brady eloped and I couldn't wait to get them in front of my camera to celebrate their new marriage!

We chose one of my favorite locations for fall colors in Parker, and literally couldn't have timed things better. We had a gorgeous, warm evening and the leaves were PERFECTION! (Side note: does anyone else hear Chandler's voice when they hear that word? No? Just me? 😆)

Anyway, I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves on this one. It was epic and wonderful, and I'm obsessed with every single photo that we made together. ENJOY!!

Red Truck Holiday Photo Sessions // Elizabeth Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:40:19 GMT

I am so excited to offer something NEW this year: Red Truck Holiday Photos in beautiful Elizabeth, Colorado! I did these last year with my own family and my cousin's kiddos, and after blogging the photos I had several requests to open them up to clients this year so here we are! Read on below for the details... 😊

RED TRUCK HOLIDAY PHOTO SESSIONS

Date: November 1st

Location: Pine forest in Elizabeth, Colorado

Cost: $350 ($100 + signed agreement due to book, with the remaining balance due prior to your photo session)

Includes: 20 minutes of photography time • 15+ edited images delivered electronically via a private online gallery • no further purchase required

Current available times: 2:00pm, 3:30pm

EMAIL ME TO BOOK: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com

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I will have a similar setup to the photos below, including the artificial tree, pillows, and blankets. If you would feel more comfortable bringing your own blankets due to Covid that is 100% okay too! I am happy to take some photos of your family in the forest as well as in the truck - we can split your time however you choose. Due to the small size of the truck, these photo sessions are for immediate families/sibling groups only. Please email me with any questions and I will be happy to help! laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com

The Booghier Family // Elizabeth Colorado Headshot and Family Photography

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 21:45:00 GMT

Updated family photos? CHECK. New business headshots? Double CHECK!

When Phil reached out to me, it was primarily to update his business headshots, but he was also hoping to get a few new family photos because they were long overdue. I usually recommend my 30 minute photo session option for headshots, but by switching to the 60 minute session option it gave us plenty of time for some family photos AND some updated headshots! We met at one of my favorite hidden gems in Elizabeth, Colorado and grabbed some family photos with Phil's wife and daughters, and then we headed to downtown Elizabeth for some headshots! I LOVE the variety that we were able to get in such a relatively small area, and downtown Elizabeth has so many great colors and textures that are perfect for headshots!

Phil (and family) thank you for such a fun evening of photos! I loved meeting you all and hope to do it again in the future!

The Thatcher Family // Franktown Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 15:45:00 GMT

I adore this sweet family, and have loved to document their family photos for the past several years. However, this year was my favorite yet! This was a big year for the Thatcher family - Rich and Morgan celebrated their 20th anniversary, and they also have their first high school senior this year. Morgan decided to plan a big photo session to celebrate and document all of their milestones, and I was thrilled to be a part of it!

If you have worked with me in the past, you may know that I love to find locations that are both beautiful and free to use, but I also love to splurge on gorgeous locations when my clients want something different. This session is an example of the latter: Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown is full of million dollar views, hiking trails, and so much more. They also charge photographers a permit fee plus the normal entrance fee to use the location, but oh my word is it beautiful place for photos! (As a side note: I fully support locations charging a permit fee to ensure that the gorgeous Colorado locations that we all know and love are protected for future generations - I have seen too many amazing places overrun and damaged in the past few years by photographers and others being careless.)

Back to the Thatcher family. We started their session with photos of Rorey to celebrate her senior year - she was so relaxed, sweet, and fun to hang out with and I love the photos that we created together. 💜 Next up was some couple's photo time with Rich and Morgan to commemorate their 20th anniversary. I LOVE photographing these two together each year because they are so clearly in love. With their 5 kids in the background, they hugged, laughed, embraced, and nailed their couple's photos as they do every year! Then we moved on to photos of the whole family, and we ended with a stunning golden hour at the iconic Castlewood Canyon bridge.

Thatcher family: THANK YOU so much for your support and for trusting me to photograph you each year! I am so grateful for you and I can't wait to see you next year!

Megan // Elizabeth High School Senior Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Summer is the season for senior photos, and I had some STUNNERS this year!

Enter:: Megan. Class of 2021 from Elizabeth High School. 😍

I loved getting to know Megan during her Elbert County senior photo session! She chose my property in Kiowa for her location and our evening together was perfect in every way. Between Megan's contagious smile, the incredible views, and gorgeous golden hour light – we made magic together.

Megan – thank you so much for trusting me as your EHS senior photographer! I wish you an amazing senior year, and I can't wait to see where you go from there! 💜

Lindsay & Michael // Parker Colorado Couple's Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:00:00 GMT

Lindsay is one of my oldest friends (we have a 20+ year history together) so I jumped at the chance to update her couple's photos with her husband Michael. I photographed their elopement 5 years ago and it was so much fun to work together again.

When we first started planning, Lindsay told me that she and Michael wanted something different than my normal photos – essentially, they are not the type of humans who want to frolic happily in nature, haha. Instead, we went for an urban backdrop and it was absolutely PERFECT! We found amazing colors and textures, and even a Little Free Library! We laughed a lot, explored, chatted, and also took some photos along the way. 😉

Enjoy some of my favorites from Lindsay and Michael's urban couple's photo session!

Brooke // Elizabeth High School Senior Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 22:28:43 GMT

Brooke's senior photo session had it all: a gorgeous and enthusiastic girl, incredible golden hour light, and a perfect Elbert County evening. Brooke started planning for her session early, so she was ready to go with several amazing outfits and a list of ideas to run with. I LOVE it when seniors arrive to their session with some ideas to make it their own - I also love it when they want to incorporate hobbies and interests into their photo session! Brooke is a gymnast, so of course we took some photos to commemorate that as well.

I have been using my farm in Kiowa for photos for years, but Brooke was my first senior photo session here and I absolutely loved it!! Between the open fields, the ~~broken~~ rustic fences, the red barn, and the incredible golden hour sun it was so perfect. Brooke: thank you so much for trusting me with your senior photo session! I loved our time together, and I think that we created some incredible photos! 😍

Scroll on to see some of my favorites from Brooke's Elizabeth High School senior photo session!

Baby Noah // Littleton Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 01:00:00 GMT

My last photo session in March before the Covid shutdown was an in-home newborn session, and it felt SO GOOD to finally do it again in August!

I met the Dressler family last fall during my October mini-sessions, and I was absolutely elated to see them again in July for a maternity photo session, and again in August for newborn photos after Noah was born! These kids are hilarious and so sweet, and every time I see them I enjoy photographing them just a little bit more. 💜

During my time at the Dressler house, we had big brother antics (seriously - get a load at how CUTE Logan is!) and the sweetest big sister snuggles, and pouty baby lips, and so much more! It was such a wonderful day, and I am so thankful to Kathleen and Wyatt for trusting me with to photograph their family's milestones! Scroll on down to see my favorite moments from our time together!

The Winsinger Family // Elizabeth, Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:31:00 GMT

This sweet family filled my cup in so many ways during our time together! We met at one of my favorite hidden gem locations in Elizabeth, Colorado to update their family's photos, and I left with a renewed joy and thankfulness for this job that I love. (I do realize how cheesy that all sounds, but it's the honest truth.)

I met Reba in 2012 in our MOPS group in Littleton, and I photographed her family for the first time that fall. Fast forward 8 years, and she has added a baby boy to her family and was ready to update their family photos! I LOVED catching up with these phenomenal folks, and their kids are adorable beyond words! What started as a cloudy, but pleasant, evening turned into a stunning golden hour at the end, and I am so thrilled with the photos that we created together!

Reba and Daryl: thank you so much for an amazing evening, and for your kindness and warmth! I loved our time together so much and hope to do it again in the future! 💜

Hannah // Chatfield Senior Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:15:00 GMT

Just wait until you see the VIEWS from this beauty's house in the foothills of Littleton, Colorado! Normally, deciding on a location is one of the more difficult choices for my senior clients, but not this time. Every single photo that you're about to see was taken at Hannah's house, and I was giddy with joy from all of our incredible backdrop choices! I love that we were able to incorporate her home into her photos to give them an added degree of sentiment. Do you have a location that's meaningful to you? If possible, let's use it for your photo session!

Back to Hannah...this girl was such a natural in front of the camera, and I loved our time together! She was so sweet and fun to hang out with, and we included her sisters in a couple of photos (I LOVE a good sibling photo!)

It's been a tough few months for most humans, but I feel especially bad for my seniors who have had to miss out on so many milestones due to COVID. Here's hoping that things will take a turn for the better in 2021 and they can end their senior year on a high note! 🤞 Either way, I am incredibly thankful for the kind, resilient teens that I've had the pleasure to know this year – you are an inspiration to us all! 💜

Scroll on for some of my favs from my time with the gorgeous Hannah!

Maggie // D'Evelyn Senior Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Summer is the season for senior photos! Maggie's senior photo session took place at her house in Littleton, with stunning views and red rocks in the background. We also included her beautiful horse in some photos. (Side note: if you have a horse that you want to include in your senior photos, my answer will always be a resounding YES!)

Honestly, if you ask me to include just about anything personal in your senior photo session my answer will be yes! Do you play an instrument? Bring it! Do you play a sport? Let's incorporate it! Do you participate in choir/drama/debate/etc? Let's chat and figure out how to include it in your senior photo session!

I photographed Maggie's older brother in the same location 3 years ago, so it was wonderful to be back and have a chance to catch up with their family. Kind and interesting people are my jam, and these folks are the best of both! And Maggie is one of those girls who is bound for greatness–I can't wait to watch and see what she does! 💜

Scroll on for some of my favs from my time with the gorgeous Maggie!

The Dressler Family // Littleton Colorado Maternity Photo Session

(Laura Smith Photography) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 01:00:00 GMT

I met Kathleen, Wyatt, and their kids at my fall mini-sessions in Parker last year, and when they reached out to have me photograph their maternity and newborn sessions this year I was thrilled to be able to see them again! This family radiates love and warmth, and they are so laid back and fun to be around! Logan (little bro) wasn't thrilled about having his photo taken - in fact he was dead set against it - but watching Kathleen and Wyatt give him space and not forcing him to "sit and smile" was such a beautiful thing for me to be able to see. As a parent, I 100% understand the frustration when kids don't cooperate for photos, but photo sessions are so much more meaningful and real when we give kids the space that they need to be comfortable. Kathleen is a photographer also, so I'm guessing that is why she and I were on the same page with this idea. If you scroll to the very end, you will see that Logan smiled for ONE photo as we were walking back to our cars, haha. 😉

For this session, we met in one of my favorite hidden gems in Littleton. Parks aren't immune to the fallout from Covid, and this spot hasn't been well maintained over the past few months. The pond and waterfall were empty, the annual flowers weren't planted, and there was more trash than usual. However, you would never know these things when you see the photos, because 1.) they are so beautiful and full of love that you only notice that, and 2.) I was creative with framing and the areas that we chose to use. 😉 All of this is to say: so many people get caught up in finding a "perfect" photo location, but honestly we can make almost anywhere look amazing if you trust the process. That is all. 💜

Now for the fun part - photos! Enjoy some of my favorites from the Dressler family's maternity session, and stay tuned for more when little Noah arrives!

Fall Photo Sessions and Availability – 2020

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 16:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite times of the year is almost here...FALL PORTRAIT SEASON!!

*Updated 10/12/2020

2020 Fall Session Options

#1: 60 Minute Portrait Session: $550

•Includes: 60 minutes of on-location photography • 40+ edited images delivered electronically via a private online gallery • no further purchase required

•Location: Your choice! (Travel within 50 miles of Kiowa, Colorado is included in the cost of the session)

•This is the best option for larger families and anyone who wants to customize their session date and location! (Price may vary for extended family sessions and/or locations requiring a permit or fee for photo shoots.)

#2: Mini-Session: $295 (See below for photos from these locations)

•Includes: 20 minutes of photography time • 15+ edited images delivered electronically via a private online gallery • no further purchase required

•Mini-sessions are a great choice for anyone who wants an opportunity to quickly update their photos!

•Dates + Locations: (I will keep this updated as much as possible with the current available dates/times)

Saturday, October 3rd in Parker (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, October 10th in Parker (SOLD OUT)

Sunday, October 11th in Parker (Re-scheduled until 10/18 due to high winds)

Saturday, October 17th in Littleton (SOLD OUT)

Sunday, October 18th in Parker (SOLD OUT)

#3: 30 Minute Portrait Session: $350

•Includes: 30 minutes of on-location photography • 20+ edited images delivered electronically via a private online gallery • no further purchase required

•Location: Elbert County, Colorado (Elizabeth or Kiowa)

•30 minute sessions are great for immediate families, young children, headshots, and anyone who doesn't need a full hour of photography

All Options Include:

•A two week turnaround time for your photo gallery

•A beautiful gallery of hand-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via your own private, downloadable, and shareable online gallery

•A print release to give you the freedom to print and share your images however you choose

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COVID CHANGES:

•In order to protect my clients and my family, all photo sessions will take place in the beautiful Colorado outdoors and include social distancing. I am happy to wear a mask during your photo session, if requested. Please let me know if you have questions about this and I will be more than happy to help!

•I will do my absolute best to maintain my one week turnaround for photo galleries, but during the fall months gallery deliveries may take up to two weeks.

•All sessions will be booked with a signed session agreement and a flat $100 retainer fee which is credited toward the session price. The remaining balance is due at or before your photo session.

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Examples of past mini-sessions at the PARKER location:

Examples of past mini-sessions at the LITTLETON location:

Examples of past fall sessions at different locations:

Thank you for taking the time to read through all of this, and know that I would be so honored to photograph your family this year!! Email me at laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com with any questions and to get your photos scheduled! Talk to you soon!

The Meyer Family // Parker, Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 01:00:00 GMT

This sweet family session was such a breath of fresh air after several months at home during the COVID shutdown. I met the Meyer family in Parker on a warm, summer morning and we had a great time updating their family photos! As you will soon see, their son Carson was WAY TOO CUTE, and their dog, Stella, was beyond adorable and fluffy! Speaking of Stella, she was possibly the best behaved dog that I have EVER seen at a photo session! She seriously just sat there and watched us when she wasn't in front of the camera, and when she was being photographed she was either smiling or snuggling.

Evan and Alex: thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos! It was such a pleasure to meet you all! 💜

Our Piece of Westcliffe // Personal Post

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:24:39 GMT

I rarely share personal posts anymore, but I'm making an exception because 1.) I'm excited, and 2.) there are photos to share! 😉

The past few months have caused so many people to make some big decisions and life changes, and I guess that we have now joined that club (on a smaller scale, at least.) Jason and I have been thinking about buying another piece of land for years - I kid you not, we have probably talked about it weekly for the past 5 years - and last week we closed on a property in Westcliffe! We are now the proud owners of 35 acres in the Wet Mountain Valley. The majority of the property is rolling hills with a few small pine trees, but there are also some rock outcroppings, a seasonal creek, and a grove of aspen trees. However, the main selling point was the views - photos honestly don't do this place justice. There are panoramic views of the Sangre De Cristos and Wet Mountains from almost every inch of the property and that is what sold us on this place.

We don't have any immediate plans for the land other than using it to camp, but I'm hoping to use it for photos in some capacity, and I'm pretty sure that Jason will eventually build an off-grid tiny house on it, haha! 🤞 (And no, we're not leaving Kiowa!)

Now for the fun part...photos! All of these photos were taken during a family hike on the property - enjoy!

The Vegh Family // Littleton Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 23:30:00 GMT

This adorable baby girl just turned one, so her family wanted to document her first birthday with some updated family photos! We met at one of my favorite hidden gem locations in Littleton and had a beautiful afternoon for photos. Riley was such a doll, and despite being super shy (which is SO normal for toddlers!) we got some adorable smiles out of her and I'm thrilled with the resulting photos!

Vegh Family - thank you so much for trusting me to photograph your family! I loved getting to know you all and hope to do it again in the future! 😊

The Pruitt Family // Elizabeth Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 21:45:00 GMT

This gorgeous Elbert County family photo session was the perfect way to jump back into business after the Covid-19 shutdowns! Chelsea, Andrew, and little Coy made my first session back so much fun! They were full of energy, and chasing Coy around the forest was exactly what I needed after months at home.

Maybe it was the fact that I barely touched my camera for months, or maybe I was just inspired by the beautiful morning light, but I *almost* love the black and white photos from this session even more than the color photos. That's saying a lot considering how much I LOVE color! I included some copies of each below and you can decide for yourself. 😉

Pruitt family - thank you so much for trusting me to photograph you!! I loved every second of our time together and I can't wait to do it again! 😊

Baby Oren // Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 05:30:00 GMT

Baby Oren's Colorado Springs newborn photo session was memorable for so many reasons. As you will see below, he is an ADORABLE baby! His parents are incredible people - I first met them during their beautiful winter maternity session in January. Oren's nursery is one of my all-time favorites! Full of amazing decor and style, but also so many meaningful items. I loved my time with this amazing family so much, and this was one of those sessions that just completely filled my cup creatively. (Fellow photographers - you know what I'm talking about!)

These photos were taken on the afternoon of March 15th, and later that evening we got word that my husband's office and our school were closing due to COVID-19, and thus began our time in quarantine. This session was my last under normal circumstances, and honestly I miss it. We have actually enjoyed the forced time at home together, but I do miss the ease of life and business before COVID uprooted everything.

That being said, even though it took me almost 4 months to get them on the blog, these truly are some of my favorite lifestyle newborn photos ever, and I'm so happy to be sharing some of my favorites here today! Shannon and Jon: I am so thankful to have met you both, and I wish you a lifetime of happiness with your baby boy! Thank you so much for allowing me to document your journey to parenthood! ☺️

This face...I can't resist pouty baby faces! 😍

Bella // Parker, Colorado Senior Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:00:00 GMT

Bella's senior photo session was one for the books. It was a miserably windy evening, but you will never know it when you see the smile on this beauty's face! Bella was absolutely radiant and such a joy to photograph!

We met at McCabe Meadows in Parker, and other than the wind it was a gorgeous evening! We had a perfect golden hour and sunset and took advantage of every second of light. Bella was up for anything, and we put her dancing skills to use with some incredible silhouettes at the end! I love having the chance to incorporate something personal into every senior photo session - whether it is a sport, instrument, dance, debate, or something else, including these things adds so much to an already incredible milestone photo session!

Bella - I wish you all the best, and I'm so happy to have had the chance to get to know you during your senior photo session! Thank you again for such a great time! 💜

COVID-19 + Summer Photo Sessions

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 19:54:54 GMT

Hello, all! It's been a while since I posted here or on social media, so I'm here today to do just that. It's been a crazy few weeks (months?) and my instinct has been to become even more introverted than normal, but it is way past time for me to pop on here for some updates. 💜

I let my business take a back seat to real life for the past couple of months, and honestly it has been great for my family. We have spent more time together, rested more, played more, and my cooking has never been better, haha. However, I am SO ready to get back behind the camera, catch up with my amazing clients, and create some art again!

I am officially back photographing clients as of June 1st!

Outdoor photography has always been a relatively safe activity, so my procedures won't have to change too much. Even so, I have been working behind the scenes to create some plans to keep my clients and myself safe.

I will continue to adapt based on the ever-changing rules in Colorado surrounding COVID-19, but these are my current plans for summer photo sessions (Updated 6/24/2020):

I am booking outdoor photo sessions only, including outdoor newborn sessions! As long as the weather holds out, I will be taking advantage of the warm weather and the gorgeous Colorado landscapes. I will update with my plans for fall and winter when we get closer to that time.
I will be photographing clients from a distance, primarily using long lenses. Long lenses force me to stay farther back from my subject which allows for plenty of social distancing. They also create that tack sharp subject + dreamy blurred background that I love so much! (This actually won't change my photographic style at all because I already photograph this way, but it is relevant so I wanted to mention it here.)
Because all of my summer photo sessions will take place outside and with social distancing, I will let each client decide if they would prefer for me to wear a mask or not. I am happy to do so if requested!
For the time being, I will not be touching clients (shaking hands, hugging, fixing hair, etc.)
I will postpone with as much notice as possible if there is any concern of illness with myself or my family. (I have also given my clients the ability to postpone their sessions without penalty due to COVID-19 concerns.)
I have added new COVID-19 waiver to my normal photo session agreement.

I want to thank all of my clients for being so patient and understanding as we navigate this new "normal" together! You all have been so amazing and I couldn't be more thankful for you! If you have any questions about the safety of photography sessions please don't hesitate to reach out and I will be happy to help. I will be keeping you all updated as I make some decisions about photo session scheduling moving forward, but please reach out if you want to start planning for summer or fall photos! (email: laurasmithphotography@hotmail.com)

And because no blog post is complete without at least a couple of photos - I bring you my own kiddos. We took these last summer when our field was lush, green, and full of blue bells. 💜

The McCoy Family // Franktown, Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 05:15:00 GMT

I love this family to pieces, so I was thrilled update their family photos on a chilly February afternoon! We met in beautiful Franktown, Colorado, and this family photo session had so much going for it: we had gorgeous light, beautiful clean snow, and a plethora of leftover fall leaves to add some amazing color to the photos! And Brittanie always does an incredible job of styling her family, so of course they arrived looking INCREDIBLE! Their blending of neutrals and pops of color were so perfect for this time of year.

These two adorable boys were such troopers during our time together! It was a cold afternoon and the snow was deep, so we were all freezing cold and wet by the time we finished. We had snowball fights, hugs, running, laughing, and so much fun and I'm so happy to share some of my favorite photos today!

Brittanie and Marcus - you guys are the best, and I'm so happy to have had the chance to photograph you again! I can't wait for the next time! ☺️

Baby Elijah // Parker Colorado Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:45:00 GMT

World: meet baby Elijah. I am so in love with this little guy already, and I can't wait to over-photograph him every chance I get! You can see photos from his birth here.

Lifestyle newborn sessions are some of my favorite sessions to photograph! It is no small honor to be invited into a family's home to document their first days home with a new baby, and I love every second of it. Watching Sarah and her two older boys doting on baby Elijah was such a joy, and I'm thrilled to share a few-too-many of my favorites from our time together. 💙

Baby Elijah's Birth // Castle Rock, Colorado Newborn Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 03:45:00 GMT

My best friend-cousin had a baby, so prepare yourself for the photo over-share that's about to happen! 🙃

I was so honored to be able to document baby Elijah's first few hours of life! Castle Rock Adventist's rules kept me from being in the operating room during his birth, but I was able to go back soon after so that I could photograph his brothers and aunts meeting him for the first time. Cue all of the tears. 😭

I usually get way too wordy when I share photos of Sarah and her boys, but today I will just say, "Welcome to the family, Elijah!!" He is SO loved and we are all completely obsessed with him already!

Enjoy the baby sweetness to come! 💙

Shannon and Jon // Castle Rock, Colorado Maternity Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:30:00 GMT

Winter is such an unpredictable and exciting time to schedule photo sessions in Colorado! Will there be a foot of snow or will it be 70 degrees? Sun or clouds? It could literally be anything, which adds to the fun. 😉

Shannon and Jon scheduled their maternity photo session for mid-January, and to be honest, I was expecting at least a little bit of snow - even if it was just old dirty snow, haha. What we experienced was the exact opposite: we had a gorgeous winter evening with blue skies and dry fields and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The downside to winter in Colorado is that unless the ground is covered in snow, there is a lot of yellow and brown. However, Shannon's stunning red dress was the perfect pop of color, and their gallery was a stunning mix of primary colors (red dress, blue sky, yellows/browns from the location) which I absolutely loved!

These two were clearly so in love and sweet with each other, and they are elated to become parents soon! Shannon and Jon booked my maternity + newborn session bundle, so I get to see them again in a few weeks when I photograph them as a family of three! 💙

Shannon and Jon: thank you so much for trusting me with your maternity photos! I LOVED meeting you both and I can't wait to photograph you again soon when baby Oren arrives!

The Free Family // Kiowa Colorado Extended Family Holiday Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 21:30:00 GMT

I always love my time photographing the Free family! I met them last year when they first moved to Kiowa, and I have been honored to photograph them on their gorgeous property two more times since then. This year was extra-great for a couple of reasons: 1.) Jessie's mom and grandma were in town for Christmas, so we got to include them in some photos, and you all know how much I LOVE extended family photos! 2.) Bob had his antique truck set up for us to use as a backdrop for some photos! The truck has sentimental value to his family, so in addition to being a fantastic backdrop it was also meaningful. ❤️

I am thrilled with these photos, especially considering that it was the week of Christmas and it was freezing cold!! We also had some epic golden light sneak in for a few minutes! I'm not sure why, but I also loved the black and white conversions on many of these photos better than the color versions! That almost NEVER happens for me (I honestly can't remember the last time I even blogged a black and white photo here? This may be the first time.) I'm including both versions for some of these photos and you can decide for yourselves!

Bob, Jessie, and family: thank you so much for your continued support! I have loved getting to know you all over the past year, and I can't wait to do it again in 2020! ☺️

The Singharaj Family // Elizabeth Colorado Extended Family Holiday Photos

(Laura Smith Photography) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 21:30:00 GMT

I absolutely love snowy winter photo sessions! I met the Singharaj family at Evans Park in Elizabeth, Colorado on a chilly, winter afternoon in December. It wasn't actually chilly - it was downright freezing, but despite the cold we had a great time together!

I have photographed Chris, Diana, and their girls twice before, but this time we included Diana's sister Gloria and her family, as well as their parents. Diana and Gloria wanted to get their whole family together for a session to gift to their parents. I realize that my opinion regarding photography is almost always biased, but I think that family photos are one of the BEST gifts EVER!

Diana told me that their hope was that we would be able to achieve cozy, snowy, photos together, and I absolutely loved the idea! The problem? We hadn't had a decent snow in Colorado in WEEKS and snow was hard to come by. I finally found this large area of untouched snow in a shaded area at Evans park and knew that it would do the trick! After our photo session I added in a little bit of photoshop magic (falling snow) and we had that cozy, snowy look that we had set out to achieve.

Singharaj family: I can't thank you enough for trusting me to photograph your extended family session! I loved our time together and I hope to do it again in the future!! ❤️

2019 In Review // Kiowa Colorado Family Photographer

(Laura Smith Photography) — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:18:00 GMT

This post is my favorite each year because it gives me a chance to reflect on all of my work over the past 12 months. This little business of mine allowed me to meet and re-connect with a bunch of incredible people in 2019, and I am so so thankful for each and every one of you! Before I move on to the photos, I want to share something with you...

I worked with several people this year who were going through some huge personal struggles behind the scenes, and I want you to know that even if we aren't actively in touch I am here rooting for you and praying for you. No matter what you hire me for: family photos, newborn photos, senior photos, a mini-session, or anything else - I want the best for you!

One of my favorite parts of social media is being able to watch as my LSP clients grow and thrive, and to also be able to pray behind the scenes when things are not going as well. This business has given me a unique opportunity to meet and connect with a huge array of people who I probably wouldn't meet otherwise, and I am so incredibly thankful for that gift. I also don't take it for granted when people confide in me during our time together and I don't take the responsibility lightly.

When I get emails from past clients who haven't seen me for a while, they almost always start by re-introducing themselves. I just want to say that you never need to do that with me, because if I have photographed you ever, I remember you. It doesn't matter if it was in 2011, last month, or each and every year, I remember you.

I will close by saying a resounding THANK YOU to you all - my clients, friends, family, followers, and anyone else that I have forgotten to mention here. Thank you for another incredible year of memory making, and I hope to see you all in 2020!

xoxo,

~Laura

Now on to the photos! I have chosen a few of my favorite photos from each of my 2019 photo sessions (minus a handful that cannot be shared online.)