Denver Studio Family Photos

Every year, I offer a whole round of fall family mini sessions.  There are plenty of outdoor locations available — City Park, Golden, Jefferson Park, Cheesman Park, sometimes Union Station and RiNo.  Plenty of opportunities to get that gorgeous Colorado or Denver backdrop in your photos!

But this year I decided to mix it up a bit.  As always, I offered the usual suspects of outdoor locations.  In addition to those spots, I offered up a day of studio mini sessions at Realm Studio.  I figured it could be nice to offer my regular mini session clients (and new ones alike!) the option to have a different backdrop for their annual fall family photos.

I chose Realm for two reasons.  One, obviously, the light is perfection.  No matter what time of day you shoot at Realm, the light is going to be gorgeous.  We shot around 2-3p for these photos below and I love how soft and vivid the light is!

And secondly, I am a sucker for anything nostalgic.  The plain white backdrop reminded me of old family photos from JCPenney — or even pages from the JCPenney catalog from the 90s.  Some of these photos feel like they could be ads for the clothing my clients are wearing!

Thank you so much to my clients for trying something different for your annual fall family photos this year!  I love how they turned out.  Take a peek at a few of my faves below!

If you’re interested in a classic studio family photo shoot like these, feel free to contact me through my website here and we’ll chat more about your vision for your photos.  Can’t wait to hear from you!

Thank you for stopping by the blog today!

x Ash

See more Denver family photos like these: City Park family photos // RiNo family photos // Denver fall family photos

Which Denver courthouse should you elope at?

If you’re planning a Denver courthouse elopement, I’m here today with a quick and easy guide!  There are a few Denver courthouses where you can have your elopement, and of course, I’ve got opinions.  Here are my favorite Denver courthouses to elope at!

Byron J. White Federal Courthouse

While you can’t get married inside this courthouse, it’s absolutely stunning on the outside!  It provides shade for afternoon and evening ceremonies, and a covered area in case of inclement weather.  This is, in my opinion, the most photogenic courthouse in Denver.  I love shooting here!

The building faces east (ish) so you’ll almost always have some nice afternoon shade.  There is also an overhang for refuge in case of inclement weather.

Be careful about shooting here during homecoming and prom season on Friday and Saturday evenings.  The youths have found this photo spot and they come out in full force!

Elopement portraits in downtown Denver with vintage-inspired style

Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse

This is the perfect spot if you want an updated, modern look for your elopement photos!  The glass facade provides gorgeous natural light for indoor photos.  I also love shooting in/around the funky sculpture out front, and if you shoot in the springtime you can catch some lovely purple blossoms in the trees!

This courthouse is also a few blocks away from the City and County Building and Capitol Building, making it easy to bundle those locations together.  It is a bit of a walk, so plan on bringing comfy shoes to change into.

Lastly, you’ll want to check on the Civic Center construction plans to see if that’s been resolved before your event.  Sometimes areas of the park are inaccessible as a result.

Denver courthouse wedding photos

Brides walking together

Denver City and County Building

An iconic staple of Civic Center Park!  The City and County Building is the more traditional courthouse for your elopement photos.  The front steps are perfect for group photos if you have friends and family coming to join you.  The inside can be a bit dark and unassuming, but it’s a classic for a reason!  You can choose to have your ceremony in front of the building’s facade or inside in a traditional court room.

In the wintertime, make plans to shoot with a different facade in the background.  The City of Denver decks out the front steps and facade of this building with winter holiday decorations.  The steps won’t be accessible for photos at that time, but there might be a cute christkindlmarket you can visit after your elopement!

Denver courthouse elopement photographer captures bride and groom before courthouse ceremony

Denver courthouse elopement photographer captures bride and groom on courthouse steps

Colorado State Capitol Building

If you’re looking for ornate gold fixtures and stunning red marble, the Colorado State Capitol Building is what you want!  The main staircase looks like it was ripped from the Titanic.  Ceremonies are not available at this location, but it is open to the public for photos.

It can get a little toasty inside in the summertime, as the building doesn’t have the best AC.  Often, you might have to compete with tourists and other elopements and quinceañeras.  It’s best to make sure you have ample photo time at this location, especially if you want photos at the grand staircase.

Jefferson County Court

Lovingly known as the Taj Mahal to Denverites and Coloradans alike, the JeffCo Courthouse is a perfect location if you want to get away from the city and have the foothills in the background of your photos!  It’s also conveniently located at the end of the W light rail line and also has ample parking.

Many of my clients who choose this courthouse often have celebratory dinner in Boulder or Golden right after given their proximity.  You can choose to have your ceremony in front of the building’s facade or inside in a traditional court room.

There are a few spots nearby where you can get some trees or the foothills in the background.  You’ll need to walk a ways away from the main entrance to get there, so plan on bringing comfy shoes for the trek.

And that’s all that I have for you today!  Those are my top courthouse recommendations for your Denver courthouse elopement.  Which one would you choose?!

But before I go, this list wouldn’t be complete with recommendations if you need a judge or magistrate to officiate the ceremony!  You can self-solemnize in Colorado but sometimes it’s nice to have someone to run the show.  I’ve worked with Kerri Lombardi and Kathleen (Kate) Boland for multiple elopements in the past and they’re both wonderful!

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

x Ash 

Recent Award: Best Denver Photographer

I’m so excited to share that I’ve received a recent award from BusinessRate!  This popped up in my email the other day and I’m stoked to share it with you here today!

Screenshot of BusinessRate award for Best Photographer

The award is based off my past Google reviews, which I’m proud to have amassed over 275 of.  I am extremely proud of my customer service reputation as a family and portrait photographer in Denver, and it feels really cool to be honored and seen this way.

Thank you so much to BusinessRate for the award!

New Service Available: UGC Creation

Something new is happening over here, and I’m genuinely excited about it.

I just launched UGC photography as a service — and my first client was Colorado Smell Goods, a small-batch candle brand hand-poured at 10,700 feet in Leadville.  Coconut wax, crackling wood wicks, scents named High Desert and Trail Dust and Happy Camper.  Basically the most Colorado candles that exist.

What’s UGC Photography?

User-generated content (UGC for short) are brand photos styled to feel real and not overly-produced.  The kind of thing that stops your scroll because it looks like your friend posted it, not a company.  UGC is often used with whichever smartphone you happen to have (an iPhone for me).  Brands use it for paid ads, product pages, email, Amazon listings.  It works because it feels like a recommendation instead of an ad.

Why I’m Doing This

I’ve been making things feel real on camera for over 15 years — family photos, elopements, and boudoir.  That’s exactly the skill UGC demands.  Offering this service feels like a new way to use old skills.

The Shoot

I kept it grounded.  Morgan, the ingenue behind Colorado Smell Goods, wanted B-roll photos that aligned with her brand.  Some of the words I wrote in my notes during our planning call: earthy, neutrals, nature, sun-soaked, warm tones, being outdoors at sunset, Millennial green (this last note being my favorite).

So I set out with a backpack full of candles and my iPhone.  My Denver home was the first backdrop.  I shot on my reflective coffee table, in front of my white lace boudoir curtains, out in the patio garden, and — my personal favorite — in the bathtub.

I also ventured out to a neighbor’s apartment and a friend’s apartment to add a little variety to the shots.  My neighbor Dan and good friend Gabby allowed me to use a few nooks in their homes for photos.

Lastly, I also shot on location: a gorgeous public cactus garden I stumbled across on a morning coffee run.

Let’s get to the deliverables themselves!  Take a peek below at a few favorites from this shoot, all shot on iPhone.

I’m also working up a few videos with the B-roll I captured for Morgan.  Follow along on my Instagram or TikTok to see the results!

Work With Me

If you run a business in Colorado (or beyond!) and need content that actually converts — let’s talk.  Please feel free to reach out here and we can start planning our your project.  I’m especially interested in working with hotels, restaurants, resorts, and everything in between.  I can’t wait to hear from you!

And seriously, go buy a Colorado Smell Goods candle.  The Palo Santo candle was my absolute favorite from this batch!

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog!

x Ash

Boulder Lifestyle Brand Photos

When Lydia reached out about brand photos for her personal training business, I knew Boulder was the move — partly because the locations basically sell themselves, and partly because I already knew she was going to be a great subject.  Lydia and I met through Pearl Street Fitness, my old gym, so when she came to me needing photos for her personal training brand, it felt like a natural yes.

Lydia is a certified personal trainer — NASM-CPT, kinesiology degree, eight certifications currently in progress.  This is the kind of genuine investment in her clients that comes through the second you talk to her.

She needed photos that matched all of that: credible and driven, but warm and real.

Boulder was always going to be the answer.

We started at Chautauqua Park, which you know that I love.  The Flatirons sitting in the background, open meadows, that Colorado light doing exactly what you want it to do — for a trainer whose whole brand lives at the intersection of movement and vitality, it was the perfect fit.

Then we headed up to Lost Gulch Overlook (obviously), where the vibe shifted completely.  More elevation, bigger sky, a view that stretches out forever.  Those frames have a different quality to them.  They’re almost larger-than-life (cc: Backstreet Boys).  I love that Lost Gulch always brings that big Colorado energy.

And then there was the dog.  Lydia brought her dog, and I will die on the hill that every personal brand shoot should include your pet if you have one.  He brought a calm and grounding presence to her final photos.

That’s what Boulder lifestyle brand photos are really about: catching someone in moments that feel true, in a place that makes everything look a little more alive.

Please enjoy a few of my favorites from our session together below.  Thank you for stopping by the blog!

x Ash