The Flatirons in Boulder

The Flatirons in Boulder are one of my go-to locations as a Colorado wedding photographer since they are close to downtown Denver. By taking a short 30-minute drive, you will get the most spectacular mountain views just a short distance from the city! The Flatirons consist of five primary rock formations. They are accessible year-round and look beautiful in every season—a definite plus when considering locations for your Colorado engagement session!

Ali and Josh chose to take their engagement images during the fall. Since they were getting married in November, they wanted the look of their engagement portraits to reflect the season. The Flatirons offer a variety of landscape backdrops—grass fields, mountain views, city views, and lots of pine trees. I suggest wearing comfortable shoes as a 10-15 minute trail hike is required to reach the first Flatirons location with pretty city views and dramatic mountain scenery.

Vail mountain top

Thanks to its gorgeous mountain views, Vail is one of the most popular destinations in Colorado for engagement pictures! Vail is a two-hour car ride away from downtown Denver—a bit closer than Maroon Bells, which is four hours outside of Denver. You can plan a day trip to Vail from Denver or book an entire engagement weekend at one of the many pretty Vail hotels. Some of my favorite Vail hotels are The Sonnenalp and the Four Seasons in Vail, where I have photographed several weddings as a Vail wedding photographer!

If you plan on taking Colorado engagement portraits on top of Vail mountain, you will have to take the gondola. I suggest taking the Eagle Bahn gondola in Lionshead Village which will take you up to the Vail wedding deck. Once you are up there, you will understand why so many people decide to get married here! The deck offers mountain views your guests won’t soon forget.

Once again, you will need to plan in advance if you wish to take engagement portraits in Vail. First, you will have to purchase gondola tickets (about $40 per person). Also, keep in mind that the weather can always change! It rained the entire morning of Ivy and Michael’s Vail mountain top engagement session, but the weather cleared up in the early afternoon. We were lucky to capture amazing mountain views with misty clouds in between the ranges. Vail mountain is a winner for any Colorado engagement session!

Paint Mines 

When you think of Colorado engagement portraits, you probably immediately think of mountains. But don’t forget that Colorado has more to offer than just mountains and lakes! Named for the colorful clays that were used by American Indians to create paint, The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is a truly unique open space in El Paso County. The park features fantastic geological formations that are a dream to photograph.

Kate and Alex chose this special location for their summer Colorado engagement session. If you are interested in an engagement session at the Paint Mines, I suggest booking an evening session in the summer since it’s very hot during the day time. Staying hydrated is important, and don’t forget to bring some comfy shoes to walk in before you get into your high heels. Walking down the trails to reach the mines can be a hike! But where else in the US will you get such one-of-a-kind engagement images?

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

The Sand Dunes are another unforgettable engagement session location! Positioned in front of a mountain range, they seem to appear out of thin air—a unique sight that’s ideal for creating impeccable images. And did you know that these Colorado Sand Dunes are the tallest dunes in North America? Since the Great Sand Dunes National Park is located about four hours from Denver, it’s wise to stay the night in Alamosa County and enjoy a weekend in the area. I know that Ghita and Ashraf will cherish their Colorado engagement portraits at the Great Sand Dunes forever!