I had surgery (a surprise appendectomy) at the end of December, so I've been laying low for the past few weeks. Everything went well, and I entered 2024 feeling grateful. I also learned to listen to my body much earlier – my appendicitis was chronic, and the pain was intermittent over the past 5 years. If you're ever dealing with something similar, please listen to your body and see a doctor. ❤️
I will be back to business-as-usual beginning in early February, and I can't wait to get back to photography and working with my incredible clients!
At the end of the day, 2023 was filled with incredible clients. Beautiful photos. Lots of laughs. What more could I ask for?
This wouldn't be one of my year-end posts without the obligatory THANK YOUS to Jason and my kids for being THE most incredible people I know. And to my clients, without whom I wouldn't still be here chasing this dream-of-a-business. I am so grateful for each of you!
See you in 2024!
~Laura
Scroll on for some of my fav photos from 2023 (excluding those that I'm not allowed to share publicly!).
All of that aside: these photos were worth the wait! I LOVED this family from the start – they were easy going, kind, and so much fun to work with. They came to my home in Kiowa during my favorite time of year (spring!!) and we had tall green grass, wildflowers, and mountain views. It was perfect.
Kaela and family: THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for trusting me to photograph your incredible extended family. I hope they were worth the wait! 💛
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Hope was an absolute joy to work with – she was fun, energetic, and up for anything. When I posed her in a bush on the side of her driveway? She trusted my vision. When I had her sit in weeds that were taller than her? She jumped in! (The strangest locations sometimes give us the most magic!)
I am completely over-the-moon about these photos, and I know you will be too. Congratulations on your senior year, Hope! I know you'll rock your last year at Chatfield, and I wish you all the best on the journey. 💛
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We met in Franktown, Colorado and took advantage of all that our location had to offer: ruins, hiking trails, incredible skies and golden hour sun, and sunflowers that should have been long gone, but were somehow still there for us to enjoy.
This girl is going places, and I know that she's going to do such great things in her last year at Ponderosa High School! Congratulations on your senior year, Meadow!
Scroll on down for a few of my favorite photos from Meadow's senior photo session!
The evening only got better from there! Ellie was fun, confident, and up for anything, and WE MADE MAGIC together. Hudson Gardens gave us so many incredible backdrops, and we took full advantage of as many as we could.
If you're curious about what a senior photo experience with me looks like – it involves several outfit changes (if you want them), lots of poses and backdrops, and taking as many photos as possible. I want you to leave with a huge gallery full of photos that you love, and I'll never make you pick and choose – you'll get every single keeper. This means that I only delete duplicates, test photos, and anything unflattering such as blinks, sneezes, etc.
Now onto what you're here for...the photos! Scroll on down for a few of my favorites from Ellie's Hudson Gardens senior photo session. (Side note: Hudson Gardens is such a great location for photos, and is an option for any of my clients who book a 60 minute or longer photo session. They charge a flat $50 photography permit fee to use their grounds, and honestly, it's a steal the amount of variety that they offer.)
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. :)
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!)
This year's families were wonderful: I had a great mix of returning and new families, and all of them were great to work with. Scroll on down for a few of my favorites from this year's Colorado fall family mini-sessions. Do you want to schedule one for your own family in 2023? Please reach out and I'll get you on my calendar for this October. 😊
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...
Grace arrived in style in a classic pickup truck, so of course we parked it in the field for some photos! She also brought her mom and her boyfriend Nick who hyped her up at every opportunity. We laughed so much and I had the best time meeting this trio!
I wish you all the best as you enter your senior year at Elizabeth High School, Grace! I know you're gonna rock it.
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: [email protected].
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!
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!
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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...
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
The gorgeous mom in these photos is battling cancer, and we met at Hudson Gardens in Littleton to document her with her incredible children. She is surrounded by an endless amount of love and I am so grateful to have met this beautiful family.
To Inyoung and family: thank you so much for trusting me with your story and your presence. You have the most wonderful family, and I will be thinking about you all and rooting for you as you continue your fight against cancer. Please scroll down for some of my favorite photos of Inyoung and her family, and send her healing thoughts as you go. 💜
Q: Is the truck available for other photographers to rent?
A: No. I receive a LOT of emails about this each year, so I'm answering this question first. I actually don't own the truck – my parents do. It belonged to my grandpa, and after he passed away, my parents brought it home to Colorado. My dad spent years restoring the truck, and now I rent it every November for these mini-sessions. Would they let me use it for free? Probably, 😉 but I pay them a set amount per mini-session family to put toward the truck's maintenance. Classic cars aren't cheap, and my dad has to set aside several days to be at my beck and call for photo sessions, so it's the least I can do.
Q: What outfit colors coordinate with the truck?
A: I've seen some great choices over the years! A few of my favs have been matching pajamas, holiday colors (green looks great, but I don't recommend wearing too much red because it can be overpowering with the truck), neutrals, blues, and so many others. Take a look through the highlights below for some great inspiration.
Q: What is your photo session turnaround time? I need to send out cards!
A: My turnaround time is fast – around 7 days. You'll have your photos in plenty of time for Black Friday sales!
Now onto the photos! This year's families were fantastic, and made these minis so much fun. Thank you to everyone who joined me – I can't wait to do it again next year!
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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!
When I walked into their home, I immediately noticed that their walls were filled with family photos, and I am thrilled to know that these photos will be displayed there too. This family chose my 30 minute photo session option (as so many with young children do) and it was more than enough time to give them a huge gallery of photos to update their walls with. Hopefully we can do it again when they're ready for another update!
Scroll on down for three of the cutest little girls you'll ever see, followed by our end-of-photo-session visitors. 🐂
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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
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
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. 💛
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. 💛
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!**
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!
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!
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 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!! 💜
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! 😊
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!!
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!)
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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! 💜
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...
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! 🤩
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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!
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! 💛
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!
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: [email protected]) 😊
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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! ❤️
(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: [email protected]) 😊
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! ❤️
(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: [email protected]) 😊
I loved my time with the Farnsworth Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
I loved my time with the Allen Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
I loved my time with the Norris Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Littleton, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
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I loved my time with this sweet family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Littleton, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
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I loved my time with the Benson Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Littleton, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
I loved my time with the Scott Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
I loved my time with the Robischon Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
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! 😍
I loved my time with the Turner Family!! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from our Parker, Colorado fall mini-session! 😍
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! 😍
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 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! 😍
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!!
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!
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!
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! 💜
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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!
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!
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! 💜
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!
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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!
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!
Evan and Alex: thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos! It was such a pleasure to meet you all! 💜
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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! 😊
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! 😊
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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! 💜
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! ☺️
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!
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! ☺️
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!! ❤️
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.)
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One of the toughest times for photos is when it is dry in the winter. Without some planning, you run the risk creating photos that lack color and interest. Snow makes things look bright, clean, and beautiful, but the endless, brown, deadness of winter can be hard to overcome. Some of that can be remedied by adding color back with outfit choices, but the location plays a huge part as well. When I am planning winter sessions with my clients, I offer locations that look great with or without snow, so that we will be prepared either way. Something as simple as choosing a location with pine trees instead of an area with only skeleton trees makes a big difference! Pine trees look amazing year-round, and can give winter photos some much-needed interest. Using areas with buildings or architecture are also a great choice because they tend to look great all the time.
Matt, Jess, and their kiddos ventured out to my farm in Kiowa for their family photos this year, and we had a warm and dry evening that ended with a BEAUTIFUL sunset (no joke, keep scrolling to see it!) The farm works well year-round because the red barn gives us a much-needed pop of color, and the golden hour sun turns the open fields of brown grass into something beautiful.
I always love my sessions with this family, and I am so proud of the photos that we created this year! Hess fam: thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos every year - love you guys! ☺️
We were originally going to drive to a local park that is full of pine trees, but we got a big snow before Thanksgiving, so we ended up parking down the street from my parents' house and it was perfect! I have been considering adding truck photos like these as a mini-session option next year also, so if that's something you'd be interested in let me know! If I get enough interest I may just do it. :-)
I hope that you enjoy the photos!
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I have had so many people ask me who photographs my family, and since 2018 the answer has been Jenny (the pretty mama in the red sweater with glasses.) She is also a photographer, and we have traded taking each other's photos for the past couple of years. This year we decided to trade extended family photos which was even more fun!
We had a GORGEOUS warm fall evening at Evans Park in Elizabeth, and the kiddos did great! Elbert County had the perfect golden hour sun, and after a successful evening of photos we met back up at our house in Kiowa for Bino's Pizza!
Somers fam: I love you all, and I'm so glad that we made this session happen! I hope that you all love these photos a much as I do!
We may have lost the sun, but thankfully we had no shortage of deer! We spent our evening chasing deer and it was so much fun!!
Mike and Veronica: thank you so much for trusting me as your family photographer! I hope to see you again in 2020! :-)
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Between Ryden's smiles, the sweet, loving nature of Kevin and Megan, and the gorgeous golden fall light this was such an amazing family session! I am obsessed with the photos that we created, and I am so excited to share a few of my favorites here today!
This year was so weird when it came to fall colors. Colorado was several weeks later than usual when it came to the leaves changing, and then as soon as we got close to peak colors in town, we had the massive freeze that turned everything from yellows and golds to dead brown. This was especially concerning to me because I chose a rose garden for my mini-session location, but thankfully we had incredible weather, a beautiful golden hour, and AMAZING families like this one, and those three things can make up for just about any location short comings. (And for the record, even with dead roses and brown leaves, this was a STUNNING location for fall photos!)
My first family of the evening was David, Taylor, and their ADORABLE kiddos! I first met them last fall during my Parker mini-sessions, and I immediately loved them. They are some of the kindest, most incredible humans that you'll ever meet, and I was so thankful to work with them again this year! I was also thrilled to find out that they are expecting baby number 3 in 2020 and I CANNOT wait to meet her! Based on Cohen and Nora, I'm guessing that she will be BEYOND CUTE!!
Norris family: thank you for trusting me to photograph your family again this year! I adore you all, and I can't wait to meet your newest addition next year!! :-)
I photographed Mary's extended family years ago (2012, I believe, but definitely before this blog existed, haha) and it was such a joy to photograph her again with the incredible family that she has now built. Luis and Mary have two of the most adorable kiddos, and Mary's mom was able to join us as well, so we got some sweet photos with her also! 2019 has definitely been the year of extended family photos for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way! In fact, it actually motivated me to schedule extended family photos for myself and they are some of my most treasured photos to date.
Luis, Mary, and family: thank you so much for trusting me to update your photos! I loved every second of our time together, and I hope to do it again soon! :-)
The *good* news is that I don't rely on the leaves for interest or color out here on the farm, so my Kiowa sessions were aaaaahhhhh-mazing! When I photograph sessions on the Colorado plains I use the rolling grassy fields, Pikes Peak views, old wood fences, and barns as my backdrops, so this place is a great all year long.
Anyway, I first met Slade, May, and their little guy Seth last fall during my Parker mini-sessions, and I was so happy that they wanted to come out to Kiowa this year! We had a PERFECT evening for photos - the weather was warm, the sun was full of golden light, and I had an amazing, loving family to work with! I am so incredibly thankful for clients like these who trust me to photograph them year after year! Slade and May: I loved my time with you so much this year - let's do it again in 2020! :-)
Jeff, Dawn, and family: thank you so much for allowing me to photograph your family this year! You were so gracious and it was an absolute pleasure to meet you all! I hope to do it again next year!
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Nate, Pam, and little Cora were SO much fun to work with, and I am absolutely in love with the photos that we created together! This adorable family is new to Colorado, and I was so honored that they chose me to document their family in their new home. I LOVED our time together, Fikse family! I hope to do it again next year!!
We met at McCabe Meadows, and had such a gorgeous evening for photos! I wasn't sure what would be left of the leaves after the giant freeze a few days prior, but we had some beautiful oranges and sun so I couldn't have been happier!
Kathleen and Wyatt: thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos this year! I LOVED meeting you guys, and I hope to see you again next year! :-)
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This session, however, was extra special because we were able to document baby boy #3's impending arrival! I can. not. wait. to snuggle and spoil this little dude in January, and it was so fun to celebrate Sarah's pregnancy with some maternity photos. Sarah, Matthew, and Liam: I love the crap out of you three, and I can't wait to meet baby E in a couple of months! :-)
Please enjoy a few of my favorite photos from their fall mini-session at McCabe Meadows in Parker!
Mini-sessions are perfect for families who: want a quick session to update their family's photos, love the gorgeous fall colors, and who want to take advantage of a less expensive photo session option. I usually start booking fall mini-sessions in early August, so if you want to take advantage of one for your family keep an eye out for information in late summer. :-)
The Lay family's photo session was so much fun, and I instantly fell in love with their sweet doggy (I mean LOOK AT THAT FACE!) I am so excited to share a few of my favorites from their Parker mini-session today...enjoy! :-)
We met at Gallup Gardens, which is one of my favorite places in Littleton! This is where I host my annual spring mini-sessions because the pink and white crabapples are GORGEOUS, but it is also beautiful through summer and fall! (And to my fellow photogs - the permits for South Suburban Parks are super easy and affordable which is such a bonus as we all know!)
As always, the gardens were the perfect place for family photos and I had a great time catching up with this amazing family! We had a beautiful fall evening full of laughter and light-chasing. When Katie first contacted me last year she told me how important light is to her for personal reasons, and I was so relieved when Colorado gave us a perfect golden hour sun again this year! Just before the sun dipped under the horizon, we moved to the giant willow tree at the garden and the natural light flares that resulted from the sun coming through the leaves are some of my all-time favorites! I am so thrilled with all of the photos that we created together again this year. :-)
Allen family - I have loved my time with you for the past two years! Thank you so so much for trusting me with your family's photos, and I hope to see you again next year!
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.
Scroll on down for some cuteness! Thank you (as always!) to the Waterstone Preschool staff, students, and parents for having me back for the 5th year in a row–I can't wait to see you all again next year!
**I want to say a special "thank you!" to the preschool teachers who have allowed me to share their own children's photos–I will never post client photos without permission, and I am so thankful to be able to share these with you!**
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As soon as I stepped out of my car to meet them, I felt at ease and knew that they were going to be a great family! It was a chilly fall morning in Castle Rock (especially for a crowd who is used to Florida warm temperatures!) but we were blessed with some gorgeous light and they were up for anything. We took a mix of big group photos, plus lots of breakouts with each individual family and couple. I also found out during our time together that Luisa and her fiancé Scott haven't had photos taken together since getting engaged 3 years ago, so we took a few extra minutes for those and I LOVE the way that they turned out!
Luisa, Scott, and family: thank you SO much for trusting me to photograph your extended family together! I absolutely loved meeting you all and I hope to see you again soon! :-)
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We had some AMAZING golden hour light during our time together, and between that and their infectious smiles and laughter, I am so thrilled with our finished photos! Oh, and I have to mention that Rich and Morgan are actual couple's goals! They have blown me away with their chemistry during both of our sessions, and I absolutely love photographing them together!!
Thatcher family - thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos again this year! I hope that you love your photos as much as I do, and I hope to see you again next year! :-)
Lindsay was a childhood friend of mine, and I am so thankful that we have kept in touch for almost 30 years! I have had the pleasure of photographing her amazing family several times over the years, from maternity photos to newborn photos to family photos - we have done it all, but this time was probably my favorite! Lindsay's husband Ryan recently started a new job as the principal at the Mount Evans Outdoor Lab School for Jeffco, and they have quickly grown to love it up there. It took me about two seconds to realize why...it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The entire property is full of million-dollar views, history, and so much variety - I was in photographer heaven!
We spent about 2 hours together, and it flew by because we were having so much fun! Ryan drove us around the property on an ATV and it really was an adventure! As I mentioned above, the entire property is incredible! We explored ridges with sweeping mountain views, groves of aspen trees, a pond with an incredible dock, historic barns and buildings, and so much more. I kept my camera out until I had lost every bit of light, because I was so inspired by the beauty surrounding us.
I will be honest and say that I am a creature of habit and I tend to stick fairly close to home. I have a number of locations that I tend to use a lot, and for good reason - they are beautiful! From Kiowa to Elizabeth to Castle Rock to Parker to Littleton - I know these places like the back of my hand and I LOVE my little hidden gems in each location, but it was so much fun to step out of my comfort zone for an evening and photograph in an entirely new place! I am already itching to book more mountain sessions, so if you like what you see here hit me up! ;-)
Lindsay, Ryan, and Blake: thank you SO much for having me up to your home away from home! I enjoyed every second of our time together and I am obsessed with the photos that we created together! :-)
Does anyone else see a heart in these aspen leaves!??
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We started off with a few extended family photos in front of one of the original cabins, and then moved on to some immediate family photos with Julie, John, and their three awesome kids down by the creek. We had a stunningly beautiful golden hour, and I am so in love with the photos that we created together!
Martell family: thank you so much for having me out to your gorgeous property, and for trusting me to photograph your amazing family! I hope that you love these photos as much as I do!
Matt, Jacquelyn, and their three little girls were beyond sweet and fun to work with! I am always prepared for anything when photographing babies and toddlers, but when the very first photo that I took of them was this first photo below, I knew that we would be fine. ;-)
These girls were full of smile, laughter, and joy for our entire time together, and I am so thrilled with our gallery of photos! Scroll on to see some of my favorites from my time with the Farnsworth family!
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We met at one of my FAVORITE hidden gem locations in Castle Rock and we basically had the whole area to ourselves for our entire hour together. We had a beautiful evening followed by one of the most stunning fire-orange sunsets I've ever seen. This, of course, meant that I was running around like a crazy person, trying to grab some silhouette photos before the light changed, and OH MY WORD was it ever worth it! I wish I had a behind the scenes photo of this silhouette set-up, because the resulting photos look NOTHING like what was actually happening, other than that glowing sky. ;-) I was on the side of a grassy hill yelling and waving my arms to direct this sweet family as they were standing in the parking lot. Needless to say, it is much less glamorous than it looks in the photos, haha.
Marie, Jessica, and Ryan: Thank you so much for trusting me with your extended family photo session. I loved photographing you with your beautiful little girls, and I hope that you love these photos as much as I do!!
Victoria initially reached out to me late last year to talk about doing a session this summer, so this family's photos have been a long time in the making! She wanted unobtrusive posing and lots of candid photos, and I think that we achieved that with these photos. This sweet family was full of laughter, hugs, and so many sweet, unplanned moments. I am absolutely in LOVE with the photos that we created together, and I am thrilled to share a few of my favorites today.
Victoria and Brendan: thank you so much for trusting me with your family's photos! I loved our time together, and I hope that we get to do it again soon! :-)
I met Jenna last year when she started teaching at our local school, and although she didn't have any of my kiddos in her class we quickly got to know each other through our mutual family connection. Jenna is the cousin of my husband Jason's cousin's wife Kaci. Sounds complicated, but it's actually fairly simple if you think about it. ;-) When Kaci told us that Jenna would be teaching at our school I *knew* I had to meet her, and my kids were immediately convinced that she was a long-lost magical unicorn of a cousin, so they were thrilled, haha. My kids were right about one thing - Jenna IS magical! She is one of the sweetest, kindest, and most wonderful humans, and we are SO LUCKY to have her teaching in Kiowa! Even better - my youngest daughter is in her first grade class this year!
Anyway, Kaci (who is also a super talented photographer!) was supposed to take engagement photos for Jenna and Cameron, but she was about 9 months pregnant and ended up not being able to take them, so Jenna asked if I would do it - I couldn't say yes to this fast enough!!
We decided on my farm for our location, and it was perfect! We had a gorgeous evening, and when you see these three together you will just melt! Cameron and his son Kash were so sweet with Jenna, and I adored the connection that the three of them have! I LOVE that Jenna and Cameron included Kash in their photos because it made them all the more special. I can't wait for these three to become an "official" family next year when they get married!
Jenna and Cameron - thank you so much for trusting me with your engagement session! I loved every second of our time together and I hope that you love your photos as much as I do! Congratulations on your engagement!! :-)
To make a *very* long story short: she introduced me to her cousin Jason in 2001 and he and I became good friends, 8 years later we were engaged, fast forward 10 years later and we are unabashedly happy with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 15 chickens, and a life that is so much different (in the best way possible) than what I ever could have imagined. There are very few people who have had a larger impact on my life than she has, and I am eternally thankful for her friendship and the fact that we can be BCF's for life. (Best cousin-friends.)
Don't even get me started on her boys, because I couldn't love them more! Matthew and Liam are some of my very favorite humans, but if it's possible I think that my kids love them even more than I do. Liam is two weeks older than my daughter Addie, so they have known each other since birth and now they are 9 years old and have the sweetest friendship. Matthew has recently won over my 3 year old son Benny, and they are officially best friends. I have never met a kinder, more mature, and awesome kid than Matthew. Any 13 year old who is as sweet as he is to a 3 year boy with hero worship is the real MVP in my book.
I could literally rave about these three forever, but you are probably here for the photos so I'll move on. ;-) We met in Old Littleton for some pre-sunset family photos, and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful evening. The Crabapple Trail and flowers were in full-bloom, and we ended the night with a picture perfect sunset (which means a silhouette photo for anyone who knows me!) And just for fun, I will end this post with a few personal (phone) photos of the kiddos throughout the years.
Sarah, Matthew, and Liam: I am thankful beyond words for you three. Thank you for letting me photograph you again, and I can't wait to do it again soon! :-)
Liam and Addie in 2010 vs 2019
Matthew with my son Benny, because they have the most awesome friendship EVER. (Pink sunglasses because he has 3 older sisters and we couldn't find any of his blue pairs, haha)
A Couple of cute photos with all 6 kids together. :-)
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Little Elsie was only about 4 months old when we did their fall session, so when Jessie contacted me to set up a quick session to celebrate her turning one I was thrilled to be able to photograph these adorable kiddos again! They are still just as cute, and their home is surrounded by a gorgeous forest, so we had no problem finding some fantastic places to take photos, right outside of their front door.
Bob and Jessie: Thank you so much for trusting me to photograph your amazing family again! I can't wait to see you all again soon! :-)
My cousin Matthew, his wife Christy, and their three kids just stopped by for a super short visit. Since they were only here for a couple of hours, we didn't have the luxury of choosing the "ideal" time to update their family photos, but we didn't let that stop us! I dragged them out to the fields at the absolute "worst" time of day (about 2:00pm with zero shade and the harshest light EVER) and we did our thang. Are there a few more highlights than I'd like? Yep. Do I love the golden hour sun more than just about anything else? Of course. But above all, I love these people and I am so happy to have had the chance to photograph them again. (See our last session from the middle of Kansas here.)
Matthew and Christy: thank you SO much for stopping by to see us, and for letting me photograph you again! We love you guys!!
I first met the Lash family last October when I photographed them in the gorgeous fall colors, and they were SO MUCH FUN that I was thrilled to have another opportunity to hang out with them! Diana coordinated their outfits to perfection (as always!) and the girls are so adorable and sweet!
We were blessed with perfect weather and a gorgeous golden hour for photos among the blooming crabapple trees and lilac bushes. I LOVE this location because it is full of great little spots for photos, but it is all in a relatively small area so it is perfect for families with young children and anyone else who can't walk longer distances. It also isn't usually very busy which is perfect for a family photo session!
I absolutely love the photos that we created together, and I am excited to share a few of my favorites here! Chris and Diana - you have such a wonderful family, and I am thankful to have had the chance to meet you all! I hope you love these photos as much as I do and I hope to see you again soon! :-)
I first photographed Chance, Ashley, and Cora last fall (see that session here) and they are such an awesome family! Ashley is a local kindergarten teacher and had one of my daughters last year and another this year. I am SO thankful for her and will never be able to thank her enough for all that she has done for my girls!
One of my favorite parts of photographing this family is that they are so easy going and relaxed, which definitely makes my job so much easier and allows for some added creativity and fun. For this session, we started in their back yard which backs to cattle property and was absolutely gorgeous! We had beautiful golden light and a ton of toddler smiles. Next, we moved inside and they changed into some cozy pajamas to take some lifestyle photos. We incorporated the Christmas tree and stockings, Cora's favorite books, and of course my favorite: toddler toes. :-)
Cora was beyond adorable and I loved every single second of our time together. Chance and Ashley: thank you both so much for allowing me into your home - I hope that you love these photos as much as I do!
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You have probably seen the views from my farm, but the Free family's property is completely different and only a couple of miles away from me! They have a gorgeous magical forest, and we were blessed with some stunning evening light that just added to the beauty of their property. One of my favorite parts of living in Elbert County is the variety in landscapes. One minute you are taking in the views of Pikes Peak and the rolling Colorado plains, and the next minute you feel like you have entered a mountain forest. It is stunningly beautiful everywhere you look!
I need to take a minute to talk about these kids too. I was expecting to have to pull out my entire bag of tricks to get a good photo of all seven of them together (because when there are young children involved it can get tricky.) However, I sat them all down together and hit the jackpot on our very first photo! (Take a look at the first photo below if you want to see what I mean.) My jaw hit the floor because that never happens, and ESPECIALLY not with a baby and 3 other kiddos who are 5 and under!! We then got to spend the rest of our time together having fun and getting a ton of great photos of everyone.
Bob and Jessie - you have such a gorgeous family, and I am so happy that we are now neighbors! I hope that you love your photos as much as I do, and I hope to photograph you all again soon!! <3
I was thrilled to get all of them out to my farm in Kiowa last fall for extended family photos! The last time we did an extended family session together was pre-grandbabies and before Brandon married Nicole, so it was definitely time to update their photos!
The love and laughter was contagious with this bunch! They were up for anything, and because of that we were able to capture some really authentic and joy-filled moments as you will soon see. We had such a gorgeous evening full of golden hour sun, kissing babies, and so many grandparent snuggles.
I hope that you love these photos as much as I do...enjoy!! :-)
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The past few years have been transformational for my business, and I am so excited to look back at the journey today! After moving to the farm and having my fourth baby, I was hit with the reality that photographing weddings no longer made sense for our family. At the time it felt like a huge blow, but I knew that I wasn't ready to give up on my business so I shifted my focus to portraits and hoped for the best.
The move from weddings to portraits felt strange and awkward. I had a huge case of imposter syndrome and I had a hard time feeling like a legitimate portrait photographer. I spent about a year tiptoeing around and trying to figure out what to do, but having no idea where to begin. If I am really being honest, I never loved or had confidence in the majority of my portrait work. I had taken photos and had sessions over the years that I felt proud of, but when I compared my work to the work of others I felt like it was lacking. It was so disheartening to see photographers who were producing work that I LOVED and to look at my own work and feel so much disappointment.
I spent some time feeling sorry for myself, and then got to a point where I realized that I had three choices - 1.) quit, 2.) continue taking photos that I didn't love, or 3.) stop feeling sorry for myself and figure out how to change my work into something that I do love.
What did I do?
1.) In mid-2017 I began by searching out artists who inspired me. Whether it was their use of light, or posing, or shooting style, or editing style, or whatever else, I immersed myself in studying work that made me feel something. Then I went back through my own past work, searching for photos that I took that I loved. I wanted to discover what it was about those photos that I was drawn to, and how I could replicate that feeling in my future work. (More on this below.)
2.) I signed up for classes. So. Many. Classes. I took classes about editing, posing, business, marketing, serving my clients better, and so much more. I read books and listened to podcasts and tried to soak up as much knowledge as I possibly could. I learned SO much through this process and I will be sharing more about the classes that I took and some of my favorite takeaways in a future blog series!
3.) I submitted 50 of my own photos to the Shoot and Share contest in early 2018. This was such a humbling experience, but SO VALUABLE. I actually felt good about the photos that I submitted...until I saw the incredible work of the other artists in the contest. I was BLOWN AWAY by the level of talent, and I was so inspired to improve myself after seeing so many amazing photos throughout the span of the contest. I didn't win any prizes or even place in the finals, but the experience itself was invaluable and I am counting down the days to this year's contest!
4.) I tried to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Whether that was mixing up my normal lenses or looking for new points of view, I wanted to challenge myself to create art in new ways.
“If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips your heart out - that’s a good picture.” ~Eddie Adams
I finally reached a turning point in the second half of 2018 where I began to see the changes that I had hoped for in my work. I started creating photos that I loved, and began to feel like I was carving out my own little niche among the countless photographers in Colorado. Does this mean that I have "made it?" Heck no! So much of owning a creative business is the continual process of growing, improving, and evolving, but to finally be producing work that I am proud of feels like a victory in and of itself.
What does this mean for my business moving forward? I have realized that photographing families and newborns, and the relationships and details within those sessions, is where my heart is. I will probably still photograph the occasional senior portrait session or maybe even a wedding here or there, but from now on I will be placing my focus on lifestyle sessions for families and newborns.
My hope is that in 2019 I will be the best version of me that I can be - as a wife, a mom, a photographer, a business owner, and as a human. I want to continue growing and improving and ultimately serving my family and clients to the best of my ability.
Most importantly, I want to end this post by thanking you all for your support over the years! If I have had the pleasure of photographing you in the past 9 years: thank you! If you have followed along on this journey of mine in any capacity: thank you! Your support and encouragement has meant the world to me and I truly wouldn’t be here doing what I love without you. I wish you all a joyful and blessed New Year!
~Laura
And because no blog post would be complete without photos, I have created a couple of collages of just a few of my favorite photos from years past. I mentioned above that I went back through my older portrait work in search of photos that I loved, and I have included some of those below. I chose some of these because of the connection or the moment that was captured, some because they exuded joy, some because of the bold and vibrant colors, and some just because. Now that I look at these photos as a whole I can see that they were slowly leading the way to my current style (bold, vibrant, joyful, connection-based.)
(If you want to see some more recent work, you can see my favorites from 2018 in this post!)
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To those of you who allowed me to photograph you this year I want to say "THANK YOU!!!" from the bottom of my heart. I couldn't do this without you and your support, and I am so incredibly grateful for each and every one of you! I want to wish you all a blessed New Year and I hope to see you all again in 2019!
...and because no blog post is complete without photos, I hope that you enjoy these collages with some of my favorite photos from 2018! :-)
David and Taylor: Thank you SO much for allowing me to photograph your gorgeous family! I loved every single second of our time together and I love the photos that we created! I hope to see you all again soon! :-)
Slade and May: Thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos this year! I LOVE the photos that we created together and I hope you do too! I hope to see you guys again next year!
Chris and Diana: thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos this year! I hope that we can do it again soon! :-)
Kurt and Brittany: it was such a pleasure to meet your sweet family! I hope that we will have a chance to do it again soon! :-)
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It was a chilly evening, but you would never know it by looking at the joy in their photos! (Well, other than the photo of the kids wrapped up in the blanket trying to stay warm between photos.) ;-)
Sparkle and Travis: thank you so much for bringing your crew out for updated family photos! I hope to see you all again next year!
Thatcher family: Thank you so much for trusting me to photograph your family this year! It was such a pleasure, and I hope to do it again soon!!
During our session planning, Katie mentioned that they would all be wearing some form of blue as it was her mom's favorite color and that capturing the light was important to them. What struck me most, though, was when she said that they were all ready for a reason to smile together again. I am so humbled to have been a part of such an important moment for them.
We scheduled their session for an hour before sunset, and we had a mix of cloudy and clear skies during the first 45 minutes, leading up to one of the most beautiful golden hours you have ever seen. The light was beyond words, and as it wrapped this amazing family with a warm golden glow their love for each other was so apparent.
Paul/Allen/Ungerland Family: I was so blessed by my time with you, and I hope that you have been blessed by the photos that we created. You are such an inspiration and I pray for strength and peace for you all in the months and years to come. Thank you so much for trusting me to document such an important session for you!
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Brandon and Nicole are longtime clients of mine, and truly feel like friends at this point. I have been privileged to photograph their engagement session, their gorgeous wedding in Grand Lake, several branding sessions for Nicole's jewelry business (see those here, here, and here) and a mommy and me session with Nicole and her daughter Thea last spring. Needless to say, I was elated to hear that they wanted me to update their family photos this fall, and I was even MORE excited when I found out that they wanted to come to Kiowa for a farm session!
I loved every. single. second of my time with these three! They are always so kind and fun to work with, and baby Thea was so full of smiles that I had to pinch myself to believe it! Nicole always does an incredible job of styling her sessions so I knew that they would look amazing, but she knocked the clothing coordination out of the park this time! She chose a color palate of neutrals and browns in varying shades and they were the perfect compliment to the golden light and warm tones here on the farm. And that sunset and golden hour light? Well it was perfect. :-)
Brandon and Nicole: I am so thankful for your support of my business over the years! I can't tell you how much it means to have been a part of so many huge milestones in your lives, and I can't wait to continue documenting them in the future!
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And can we take a minute to talk about how ADORABLE these two kiddos are!?? I may be slightly biased because they are my cousin's kids, but I swear that they should both be child models! If Berkeley and Dash look familiar, it is because I have been photographing them since before they were born, so they pop up on the blog every year. If you want to see their sessions from the past couple of years, you can see them here and here.
We spent an hour exploring some of my favorite hidden gems at McCabe Meadows and between our beautiful location and my gorgeous subjects, I am absolutely in love with the resulting photos!
Matt and Jess: I look forward to our sessions every year, and I am so thankful to be your photographer (and cousin!) ;-) I LOVE our photos from this year and I hope you do too!!
School photos are so much different than the other sessions I do throughout the year, so it is always a much anticipated challenge to create photos that are joyful, real, and in line with my photographic style, but also a tad more formal than my normal work. Oh, and I only get to spend about 90 seconds with each child which adds another level of difficulty fun. Thankfully, between an incredible group of kids and teachers (and my own bag of tricks) we get the job done each year. ;-)
I can only share a few photos publicly in order to protect the privacy of the students, but I can share a few adorable faces here today. (Thank you to the teachers who have allowed me to share their own kiddos photos!) I can't wait to see you all again next fall! :-)
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I have said it before, but Stephanie and Garrett are my people - they are down to earth and kind, and just a complete joy to be around. It has been so much fun to watch them grow from a newly engaged couple into incredible parents to two gorgeous girls (who I am fairly sure could NOT be any cuter!) Reagan and Callie turned on all of the joy and energy and laughter for their session!
I will be honest and admit that the idea of family photos can be stressful for the parents of toddlers - these tiny humans are unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go exactly as planned, but if you go into your session ready to go with the flow we can create some magic together! I actually didn't even have to have that pep talk with Stephanie and Garrett, because they were so relaxed and happy with whatever photos we were able to create (and I LOVE the photos that we created!!) Truly, though, it makes a HUGE difference if you can let go of the idea of Pinterest perfection when it comes to photos with young children, because if you let them lead the way we will usually end up with photos that are even more beautiful than you were hoping for. <3
Stephanie and Garrett: you two are the best. I am so thankful to have had the chance to get to know you both over the past few years, and I have loved every second of photographing some of your most important milestones! Thank you for making the trip out to the farm to update your family photos - I hope that you love these as much as I do!! :-)
We were blessed with a beautiful, warm, fall evening full of perfect golden hour sun, and this family is ridiculously photogenic, so we definitely created some magic together! I couldn't believe how natural they all were in front of the camera (seriously -- just wait until you see the photos!) And these girls were pros at looking adorable in front of the camera and running beautifully through the fields!
The best part about having my own children (not so patiently) waiting for the session to be over, was that it gave us a few minutes to sneak in some couple's photos during the last minutes of golden light. I absolutely LOVE the way that the couple's photos turned out so make sure you scroll all the way to the end!
Brandi and Ben: you have built such a gorgeous family, and I was so happy to be able to photograph you all this year! I hope that you love your photos as much as I do!!
One of the most common concerns that I hear from clients is that their child won't cooperate during our photo session. SO many parents are worried about spending the time and money to have their photos taken, only to have their baby/toddler/young child scream the entire time, and as the parent of 4 young kids I FEEL YOU SO MUCH. So so so much.
However, this post isn't intended to be a downer, but rather to encourage you that every single child reacts differently to photos and THAT'S OKAY! I have learned a few things in my years of photographing children and families, so I thought I would share a few of my favorite tips for prepping your kids for photo success today!
1. A fed child is a happier child. Try to feed your kiddo before our session to avoid a hangry meltdown. ;-) It also helps to pack some of their favorite snacks to bring with you!
2. A well rested child is also a happier child! When I photograph my own kids, I plan to start after nap time and before bedtime so that they are rested and have one less excuse to be grumpy, haha. I recommend the same thing for my clients!
3. Talk to them before the session! Almost all children, even as young as toddlers, like to know what is going on. The more that you talk about how important the photos are to you, where you will be going, and what to expect, the more likely they are to feel comfortable during our session.
4. Bribery, because let's be honest - it works. If your kiddo knows that they have something fun to look forward to after your photo session, they are more likely to want to do well! Ice cream works wonders for most kids!
5. Try to relax! This is probably the toughest one, but our kids definitely pick up on our mood and if you are stressed out it is likely that they will be too. Try to relax and let me take care of the rest!
6. Give yourself (and your kids) some grace! We all need this reminder sometimes! Your kids may be thrilled to have their photo taken, or they may not be, but either way I promise that I will do everything possible to get you the incredible photos that you are hoping for! :-)
I hope that some of these tips will be helpful during your next family photo session! And because no blog post is complete without photos, I am SO EXCITED to share some of my favorites from my session with the Somers family! Doug and Kaci have two beautiful kiddos, and we had SO MUCH FUN taking their photos on the farm! Their daughter Laycie is two years old, and to be honest she was nervous about our session. She probably would have preferred to play with the chickens all evening, but as you will see we got some BEAUTIFUL photos of her (and her handsome big brother Jase!)
Doug and Kaci: Thank you so much for trusting me with your family photos!! I am absolutely IN LOVE with the photos from your session and I hope you are too!
I had a couple of people ask me about the sun flare in this photo after I posted it on social media, so I will share the answer here as well. I did NOT add any "fake" sun flare to this photo -- this was just one of those lucky in-camera captures! I was literally crawling on my hands and knees as I followed them through the field, and somehow managed to frame the sun exactly where I wanted it. And thanks to the Sigma ART 35mm lens, we got that magical starburst flare that I love so much! :-)
I took advantage of an early December evening to take some photos of my own kids last year. My busy fall season was over, and even though we take family photos every fall I decided to throw in an extra session of my girls for fun. Sometimes I just need to get out and be creative without the pressure of pleasing anyone other than myself.
I also wanted get out of my comfort zone and use a lens other than my 135mm 1.2 (if there was such a thing as a lens soulmate, this would be mine — it basically never leaves my camera.) I know so many people who LOVE the Sigma ART 35mm 1.4, but after owning it for almost 3 years I still hadn’t used it more than once or twice. This session helped me finally fall in love with it too! It is fast, sharp, and the perspective and natural starburst sun flares with this lens are ahhhhmazing! It helped me bring my vision for this session to life perfectly!
We headed out to the back yard around sunset and took advantage of the absolutely perfect golden hour light. I was imagining something unposed, sun-drenched, and focused on their relationship as sisters, and that is exactly what we created! I let them pick out their own dresses and boots, and instead of taming their crazy hair I let it stay wild and blow in the wind. They danced, ran, and played, and they were absolute troopers as I chased them with my camera. It got chilly toward the end (and there may have been a little whining) but these have quickly become some of my all-time favorite photos!
Maybe I’m just a sucker for farm photos, but Kiowa sessions have stolen my heart over the past few years. Every time I take photos out here I love it a little bit more. I hope you enjoy them too!
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This post is actually two separate sessions: one was for Brittanie and her sons Colt and Jax and one was for Nicole and her daughter Thea, but these two mamas are sisters-in-law and best friends so we scheduled them back to back and took a few together! I have been photographing these ladies for yearrrrrs: both of their engagement sessions and weddings, multiple family sessions, as well as a handful of sessions for their jewelry business.
We decided to keep these sessions very relaxed and mostly candid and I absolutely LOVE the resulting photos!! We have brothers wrestling, cousins being adorable and sweet together, little boys giving their mom flowers, and yes, I included a few photos of Thea crying and Jax pouting because I'm pretty sure that EVERY SINGLE MOM ON THE PLANET can relate, amiright? ;-)
Okay, on to the photos! I hope that these make you smile as hard as I did when I edited them! Make sure to scroll all the way through because we have gorgeousness from start to finish!!
Brittanie and Nicole: I love you both and I am so thankful for your friendship and support over the years! I loved every second of these mommy & me sessions and I hope that you love these photos as much as I do!!
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I was SO excited to have an opportunity to photograph her with her sons Matthew and Liam during my spring Mommy + Me sessions this year! We took advantage of the gorgeous flowering trees in Old Littleton for their session! No one does blooming crabapple trees in the spring like Littleton! For a couple of magical weeks each year, the streets are filled with white and pink flowering trees and it is glorious! If you happen to be in the Littleton area in the spring, you should definitely check out the Crabapple Route!
These boys are two of the funniest and most awesome kids around, and they are both so insanely sweet with Sarah! They aren't just sweet with Sarah, though, they are great kids in general. This mama is doing something right and raising two awesome little men. <3
Sarah: You are my favorite friend-cousin and I love you and the boys dearly. I hope you love these photos as much as I do!
Emily brought several outfits with her, and it gave us a chance to really mix it up and get a lot of variety in her final gallery! Her first two outfits were casual - jeans and nice tops - super cute clothes that she would wear on a daily basis. Emily plays basketball and wrestles, so of course we had to do some sporty photos, and her Denver Broncos shirt and props were perfect for that look! Her last outfit was a beautiful black dress and was a fantastic dressier outfit to finish off our session!
Anyone who has worked with me knows that my sessions include a lot of laughs and energy! Emily showed up ready to rock it out, trusted my crazy vision, and was up for anything...and I think that it shows in her photos! Most importantly, Emily was incredibly sweet and down-to-earth, and was just a joy to hang out with! I have so many favorites from our session, but I think that my absolute favorite photos were her twirling in the black dress - she NAILED it!! Not gonna lie...I am a little bit obsessed with them!! :-D
Emily, thank you so much for trusting me with your senior photo session! Congratulations as you graduate and move on to bigger and better things! I wish you all the best!
I met Adam for the first time at this session, and he is the nicest guy and so excited to be a dad in a couple of months! The two of them together (plus their adorable dog Addi) were such a joy to photograph and we lucked out with a gorgeous golden hour and perfect spring weather! We met at a greenbelt (that was still mostly brown despite it being April in Colorado) in Castle Rock and spent the better part of an hour exploring and taking photos of the two of them.
Adam and Janet: Thank you for allowing me to photograph such an important milestone for you! I loved every minute of our session and I can. not. wait for your newborn session in a few weeks!! I hope that you enjoy your remaining time as a family of two!
UPDATE: Just as I expected, Adam and Janet's daughter is completely adorable and perfect! I was in photographer-heaven photographing their new family and baby Everly's first days at home. Go take a look at their in-home lifestyle newborn session here.
This was my very first collaboration with Lucky Lou Designs from the fall of 2014, and it is still one of my favorites! (You can view our more recent sessions together here and here.) I have known Nicole, Brittanie, and Heather for several years, and when they approached me to do a fashion-oriented branding session to show off their jewelry I was insanely excited! These ladies are so crazy-talented and creative and I knew that whatever they had in mind would be stunning...and I was right!
They requested a natural landscape setting, so when I came across this beautiful field with gorgeous views of the foothills I knew we had the perfect place! The fall colors and wild grassy fields were exactly what we envisioned to compliment their stunning jewelry and country + boho style! We scheduled their session for just before sunset so that we would have the most beautiful golden light of the day, and it was absolutely magical in this wild grassy field! They brought a few friends with them to help model the jewelry looks, and these ladies knocked it out of the park! They were all so incredible, natural, and fun in front of the camera! There was a ton of laughter and fun and a few photos thrown in too. ;-)
I actually had a hard time narrowing down the photos for this post because there were SO many that I love! I hope that you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them! Brittanie, Nicole, and Heather: I love and appreciate you ladies so much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me as your photographer for so many years - I can't wait to see what we will come up with in 2018!
I remember talking to Christy about our mutual love of photography when I visited them in Atlanta in 2001, and not too long after that I watched from afar as she worked tirelessly to learn and grow a photography business. Up until that point, the only successful photographers I knew were older men, and I was completely in awe as I watched Christy succeed at turning our mutual hobby into a business. She wasn't good - she was great! I was blown away by her talent and she was a real-life hero to me. I would have given anything to possess an ounce of her talent!
Fast forward a few years, and I was a new mom with an entry level DSLR. I very quickly realized that a fancy camera wasn't going to make me a great photographer (or even a half-decent one), and I wanted nothing more than to take better photos of my own daughter. I knew that the journey wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that it was possible because I watched Christy do it. She put in the time and work and she succeeded, and I wanted to do it the same.
Now that we have established that Christy has been my greatest inspiration as a photographer (go see her work here - you won't be sorry!), you may understand how I felt when I received a message from her asking if I would be interested in trading family photo sessions when we were together at our family reunion. I was a mess of excitement, humility, and a little bit of terror, haha. This brings me to the second reason that this session was so special to me: it isn't every day that you get to photograph your photography idol!
I will be honest and say that I was nervous going in to this session - Christy had a specific vision in mind, and I didn't want to be the one to mess that up! Thankfully (for me) Matthew, Christy, and their kids are absolutely GORGEOUS and we were blessed with a picture-perfect location and golden hour light. Our family reunion was in Hutchinson, Kansas, so neither Christy or I was familiar with any good session locations. Luckily, we hit the jackpot when we happened upon the Dillon Nature Center because it was perfect!
Christy: Thank you for being you, and for being such an incredible role model in photography and in life. I am forever thankful for you, Matthew, and your entire family!
When my girls were old enough, I excitedly enrolled them at Waterstone Preschool also! My 3 girls attended school there for four years until we moved over an hour away to Kiowa and I transferred them to a local school out here. I will be forever thankful for the time that my children spent at Waterstone, and to every teacher and administrator who loved them while they were there!
When we were at registration in 2015, my friend Marla (the preschool director) asked if I would be interested in taking over for the school photographer who wouldn't be returning and I told her, "NO thank you!" I offered to help her find a different photographer, because the idea of photographing 160 children (give or take a dozen) and figuring out an ordering system that was efficient was overwhelming, especially as a parent with 3 preschool-aged kiddos myself. Thankfully, she had more faith in me than I did, and she asked me to meet with her to find a way to make it work. We ultimately decided to forego print packages and create a streamlined digital purchasing option for parents, and the feedback that we received was amazing! The parents that we talked to were thrilled to be able to view their children's photos online and easily purchase and download them in minutes instead of waiting weeks for a CD or prints.
The rest, as they say, is history. I have had the privilege of photographing these awesome students for 3 years, and I absolutely LOVE watching them grow each year! Waterstone Preschool enrolls children from 12 months through Jr Kindergarten, so I hope to see some of these kiddos for all 5 of their years at the school!
I wish that I could share a giant collage with all 170+ smiling faces, but as a school photographer I have an obligation to protect the privacy of the children and their parents. I will never share photos online in any capacity unless I have permission from my clients, so I will only be sharing the photos of four little girls whose moms happen to be teachers at the school (and friends of mine) because they have given me the green light to share. You will just have to trust me when I say that the other 166(ish) boys and girls were just as cute! ;-)
I first met the Kohl family when our oldest girls became friends at school, and it was clear very quickly that we were meant to be friends! They are our "twin family" because we both have 4 children (3 girls and a boy) and they are similar ages as well! There is something so incredible about getting our two families together because every single child has a buddy, which is super hard to come by when you have as many kids as we do. ;-)
They also live on a gorgeous farm here in Kiowa that blooms into fields of wild sunflowers in August, so of course we had to document that with a family session! This was literally a dream location to photograph, and we had so much fun! I included a lot of "outtakes" because to be honest they are my favorite! They are honest, candid, and so much more true to reality than the photos where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera (although I love those photos too!)
The second half of our session took place by their chicken coop, because why not!? There were animals and children running wild and we had a blast including the feathered family members in some photos! This family LOVES their chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other animals and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to document that for them (and make some new friends in the process!)
There is something so special about taking photos at my clients' homes! I love incorporating pieces of their everyday lives and surroundings into the photos because I feel like it adds another level of importance to the photos. I would LOVE to photograph your family at your home too - shoot me an email at [email protected] to set it up! (My apologies for the shameless plug!) ;-)
Kohl family: thank you so much for allowing me to photograph your life on the farm! I loved every single second of it and I absolutely LOVE the resulting photos! I hope we can make these sunflower photos an annual thing because they are some of my favorites!
I can't wait to share some of my favorite moments from 2017, but there were SO many that I had to break it down a bit. ;-)
(Quick side note: I was a really terrible blogger in 2017, so most of these sessions have yet to be shared. I am hoping to get all caught up this winter and finally share all of these in full with you all!)
I want to start off with some of my favorite FAMILY PORTRAITS from 2017! Seriously...could these families be any more adorable!?
I also took photos of a LOT OF KIDS last year! At the beginning of October, I spent a week at Waterstone Preschool in Littleton as their school photographer which is always one of my favorite jobs! In total, I photographed 160 little ones between the ages of 12 months and 5 years old. It was exhilarating, fun, and completely exhausting, haha! I can't share most of those photos because they are kept private for the students, but I do have permission to share a few! How cute are these littles!??
I also photographed a bunch of sweet kids during my fall and winter portrait sessions!
I had the honor of meeting and photographing a couple of really awesome SENIORS this year! I missed most of senior season in 2017 because I was still on my maternity break, but thankfully I still snuck these two in because they were both such incredible people!
I also photographed a couple of in-home lifestyle newborn sessions this year! These were extra special because I have had the pleasure of photographing both of these families as they have grown over the years. I photographed engagements, weddings, and first babies for both of these families, so photographing each of their second babies this year was such an honor. <3
I don't photograph very many weddings anymore (I did one this year!) but I still LOVE photographing COUPLES! Seriously it is one of my very favorite things! I had the pleasure of photographing a couple of engagement sessions this year, and I also tried to take some "couple's photos" during my family sessions this year because I believe so strongly in married couples getting in front of the camera together.
Last, but not least! I photographed so many families this year, and I included some of my favorite "formal" portraits at the top of this post, but my FAVORITE photos from family sessions are the candid and real moments. I couldn't end this post without including MY PERSONAL FAVORITES!
To every single one of my clients: Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I wouldn't be sitting here without your support and trust, and I am so so thankful for you all! Happy New Year and I hope to see you all again in 2018!
Cheers!
Laura
]]>This session made all of my snowy session dreams come true, and these kids were troopers despite the freezing cold temperatures! Our main objective was to get adorable photos of the children (which I think we did!) but we also took some time to update family photos! We started with Mike, Jennifer, Declan, and Colbie all snuggled up in the snow! Could this brother-sister duo be any cuter!?
Next up was Trevor, Brittany and baby Penelope and I don't think I have EVER seen a happier baby considering that we were taking photos in the snow!
When it was time to put the 3 kids together for photos, they were cold and probably ready to go home and get warm, but they rallied and did a fantastic job! Declan was so sweet and protective of the two girls, and the three of them together were completely adorable!
Tolibas Family: Thank you for allowing me to help you with your Christmas photo gifts! I loved every second of our freezing cold session! :-)
I always gush on and on about how much I love them and it is true! I have been friends with Brittanie for almost 10 years, and in that time she has become one of my most loyal clients, but more importantly, one of my great friends! In 2012 I photographed Marcus and Brittanie's engagement and wedding and since that time I have had the honor of photographing their maternity sessions, newborn sessions, and a couple of family sessions. I also had the incredible job of photographing her amazing jewelry business, and those 3 sessions were some of my all-time favorites! Seriously, the talent and creativity of Brittanie and her partners Nicole and Heather is insane! (See them here, here, and here.)
Anyway! This year's session was perfect! Brittanie, Marcus, and their boys Colt and Jax came out to my farm in Kiowa and we had a blast! It was the perfect evening for a fall family photo session in Colorado!
Babies and toddlers are unpredictable, which sometimes leads to hilariously awesome photos (see below!) and I probably love those "outtakes" more than the photos where everyone is smiling at the camera. We had a lot of excitement the night of their session: plenty of airplanes flying by to distract/entertain one adorable toddler boy, and a hay fire at a nearby farm (you may notice smoke from that fire in the background of a few photos.) We also had plenty of toddler hugs, baby kisses, and gorgeous family photo perfection!
Brittanie and Marcus: Thank you. Thank you for your friendship and your loyalty to my business. I love you guys and I hope you love these photos as much as I do!!
I was fully prepared for snow and cold at my session with Ashley, Chance, and Cora, but instead we had a warm and sunny day with no snow in sight! When we started planning their session location, Ashley mentioned that we could use their property in Elizabeth and it ended up being perfect! Ashley and Chance were married there several years ago, and now we were able to use the exact location for family photos with their beautiful daughter Cora!
Going into any session with a toddler means that I may have to work to get smiles, but not this time! Cora was a champ for their entire session and was more than happy to give hugs, kisses, and smiles! I was in photographer-heaven! Honestly, I could go on and on about how adorable she is, but instead I am just going to jump into the photos and let you see for yourself!
Siegele family: Thank you for allowing me to visit your beautiful home to photograph your sweet family! I hope you love the photos as much as I do!
On the night of our session, we lucked out with the PERFECT evening for photos! McCabe Meadows in Parker was GLOWING in golds and yellows with the changing fall colors, and the golden hour sun was absolutely magical! Sparkle styled herself and the kids beautifully (seriously -- could these kids be anymore stylish!??) and we had a blast exploring the park and taking photos together!
Sparkle: Thank you for always trusting me with your family photos! I am so thankful for you and your beautiful children and I loved every second of our time together! I hope that you love these photos as much as I do and I can't wait for our next session!
The aforementioned photo from our family session in 2011. Look at these cuties!!
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I love that he chose two completely different outfits to use during his session. Baden is on the debate team at his high school, so he chose to wear his formal debate suit first, followed by a casual everyday outfit for the remainder of the session. Both looks were completely reflective of him, which I think is so so important! He also chose to wear his glasses for some photos as well as some without which I thought was so smart.
Normally when people ask to take photos in their backyard it doesn't look quite like this, so when I saw the area that we would be photographing I did a little happy dance! Their property was surrounded by gorgeous red rock formations, open fields, and even some rustic buildings - and we timed Baden's session for golden hour which was absolutely spectacular!
I was thrilled to have time to sneak in a few family photos at the end of his session also, because it is SO important to update those whenever possible - especially when there are kids heading off to college soon!
Baden: The best is yet to come and I wish you all the best as you finish your senior year! Thank you so much for trusting me with your senior photo session! :-)
It was such a treat to update their family photos and get to know Blake, since the last time I saw him he was only a few days old! I was so impressed by this little man - he was adorably sweet and polite and so much fun to hang out with during our session! Truthfully, our time together felt more like a playdate than work! We ran, played, and laughed, and in between I took a few photos. ;-)
As we were getting ready to leave, Lindsay told me that she and Ryan hadn't had any couple's photos taken since their wedding and asked me if I would take a few photos of them together and my answer was an enthusiastic "YES!!" I may not be a wedding photographer anymore, but I still love photographing couples and I am absolutely thrilled with the photos that we took together!
Lindsay and Ryan: Thank you so much for your friendship and loyalty! I loved every second of our session together and I can't wait for our next one!! Enjoy your photos! :-)
As soon as I met Grant in person, I understood what an incredible match they are! These two are the real deal, and it was an honor to be able to document that for them in photos! As you will see, their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS and they are insanely gorgeous together! They made my job easy and were such a joy to photograph!
Not only did they just get engaged, but they just purchased their first home together, and now they are planning their dream wedding in Mexico next spring! Heather and Grant are just getting started and have an incredible future to walk through together, and I can't wait to see where it takes them!
We met at the McCabe Meadows trailhead in Parker, Colorado for their engagement session, and as per usual it didn't disappoint! The fall colors were changing and the golden leaves and wild grass made the perfect backdrop for their photos!
Heather and Grant: Thank you for allowing me to witness your love and excitement during your engagement session! I loved every second of it and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you both! Congratulations on your engagement and I can't wait to see photos from your wedding next year!!
We planned their session during the peak of fall colors, and Colorado didn't disappoint! The golden leaves in Parker were absolutely gorgeous and made a perfect backdrop for their photos! Fall is my busiest time of the year with family sessions and my job as preschool photographer, and it is super busy for them too because of the Great American Beer Festival. They own River North Brewery in Denver, so the GABF is kind of a huge deal. And if you are a fan of craft beer you need to check them out stat! Seriously go - you won't be sorry!
Anyway, fall is a busy time for all of us, but I am SO happy that we were able to sneak in our annual session when the colors were at their peak! Dash just turned two and kept all of us entertained and on our toes and Berkeley was sweet and adorable as always.
Matt and Jess: Thanks for trusting me with your photos again this year! I love them and hope you do too! See you soon! :-)
I feel like I need to give an extra huge shoutout to their sweet dog Molly. FOR REAL. I have never in my life seen a dog who was more willing to smile for the camera! She was a freaking rockstar and the candid photos of the family with Molly are some of my absolute favorites!
Let's move on to the photos, because you won't want to miss out on this gorgeous and insanely photogenic family's session!
Paola, Erik, Bella, Cooper, and Molly: Thank you so much for making the trip out to the farm for your fall photo session! It was so much fun to catch up and take some beautiful photos! I hope you love them as much as I do!!
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a wee bit obsessed with my backyard (or any other wild grassy field) at sunset! The way that the golden light hits the grass and makes it glow is breathtakingly beautiful. Our session started off with an overcast sky, and just when I was starting to think that the sun would never come out it did, and it was magical!
We photographed this session on my farm in Kiowa and I am obsessed with everything about it: from the beautiful girls, to the stunning jewelry, to the light and the golden fields! And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, we ended the night with one of the most colorful sunsets I have ever seen, so make sure to scroll all the way to the end to see that!
I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do! (If you haven't checked out Lucky Lou Designs' jewelry yet you are missing out - go see it here!)
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Brittanie and Marcus ventured out to my farm in Kiowa for this session and I may be am biased, but I think it was a perfect location choice! Jason brought out our two antique tractors because what one year old boy doesn't love tractors!? (Spoiler: little Colt LOVED the tractors!) We let him run around the farm and play while I took photos, and we lucked out with a gorgeous golden hour sunset at the end!
McCoy family: Thank you for making the trip out to Kiowa, letting my girls smother Colt with love, and once again trusting me with your photos! I love you guys! :-)
After my son was born in the summer of 2016, I had a little bit of a "photographer identity crisis" and wasn't sure if I would work again. He was a high needs baby and I went months without being able to leave the house for more than an hour or two at a time, so when the 2016 fall portrait season hit I figured I'd sit it out and consider trying again in 2017. Then my incredible clients started reaching out and offering to drive all the way to Kiowa for their annual photo sessions so that I wouldn't have to leave the baby for very long. I was FLOORED! I didn't do a huge amount of sessions that season, but the photos that I took here on my farm were some of my all-time favorites. It was exactly what I needed to get over my photo funk (for lack of a better phrase, haha) and re-discover my love of portrait photography.
I have been photographing Matt, Jess, and the kids for years, but this was my first ever family session on the farm and it was absolute magic! We were blessed with gorgeous weather and the fields were glowing perfection at golden hour (if you have been following me for any length of time you know what a big deal that is to me!) These adorable kids couldn't have been any sweeter, and the mule and ponies even stopped by to make an appearance in a few photos!
Matt and Jess: Thank you for your support and for trusting me as your photographer for so many years! I love you guys!
We chose Casey Jones Park in Elizabeth, Colorado for their session because it has gorgeous pine trees as a backdrop. It was a freezing cold and snowy December day, but luckily we were both pregnant and hot so it didn't matter, haha.
Lauren planned the adorable tricycle and bike props as part of their reveal, and we all loved the way that it turned out! She printed one of these photos out and used it on their Christmas card to announce their pregnancy, and it was so sweet and special!
Our boys were born a couple of weeks apart over the summer, so I didn't have a chance to photograph sweet Maverick when he was born. Now I will have to wait for baby #2 to be born (whenever that may be) so I can photograph him or her. ;-) Until then, enjoy a few of these pregnancy announcement photos!
Joshua is a talented violinist and composer and he asked for an urban vibe with a focus on his music. I think that we achieved that and I absolutely love the resulting photos! (Check out Joshua's website here)
Joshua - Thank you for trusting me with your musician headshots! Your session was a blast and I hope you love your photos as much as I do!
I normally post blog photos in color, but something about this session just screams black and white to me so that is mostly what I am sharing here...enjoy! :-)
I couldn't love the colors, textures, and gorgeousness of Old Littleton anymore if I tried! I am so excited to share a few of my favorites from the McGraw family's session!
This was my second time photographing Angie, Don, and their girls and we had so much fun (again!) I can't wait to share a few of my favorites from their session with you!
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Ladies: I am so beyond thankful for you and our friendship over the past few years! Thank you for trusting me with your branding photography and for always being so much fun to work with!! :-)
Brittany and I went to high school together, but we didn't really get to know each other until last year when we teamed up for a styled wedding photoshoot. She owns Privé Events and is a ridiculously talented wedding planner and florist and I love every single beautiful thing that she creates! As soon as I met Trevor I immediately understood what makes them such a great couple! They have such an effortless chemistry and can we be real for a sec? They are FREAKING GORGEOUS together! They were so much fun to photograph and were up for anything! We explored back alleys and adorable shops and were blessed with an insanely perfect golden hour sunset! Once the sun went down, we headed out for some nighttime photos which I absolutely LOVE!
Brittany and Trevor: Congratulations, and thank you for allowing me to photograph your engagement session! I enjoyed every second and I hope that you love these photos as much as I do!
When we started brainstorming for their maternity session, we quickly decided that we wanted gorgeous mountain views and Colorado landscapes, so Mt. Falcon in Indian Hills did not disappoint! We spent our session exploring and photographing in several beautiful locations, but my favorite part of the night was watching their sweetness together. I recognized their love for each other as soon as I saw them together for the first time several years ago, but watching them as they move toward parenthood has brought out a new and beautiful love between them. Marcus was so attentive to Brittanie the entire session, and I even snuck a couple of photos of him as he watched her because it was so sweet.
Brittanie and Marcus: I love you both and I am SO excited to watch your journey to parenthood! You will be incredible parents to your baby boy, and I can't wait to see his face in a couple of months!
