Denver Boutique Photographer: Judith & Joe

If you’ve ever walked into a boutique and immediately felt like everything in it was chosen with intention — that’s Jupiter & Jo.

I spent several years photographing for this Denver gem back when it was known as Judith & Joe, and it remains some of my favorite commercial work to date.  The boutique is locally owned and woman-owned, and the buying philosophy behind every item on the floor is genuinely thoughtful: ethically made, sustainably sourced, USA-made whenever possible, small batch, or with a charitable component woven in. It’s the kind of place where you can feel good about spending your money, which makes photographing their pieces that much more fun.

As their photographer, my job was to bring that intentionality to life visually.  These weren’t fast fashion pieces that needed a quick catalog shot.  They were carefully sourced garments that deserved images with some personality behind them.  We shot on location around Denver, leaning into natural light and real environments to let the clothing speak for itself.

This is exactly the kind of work I love doing on the commercial and brand side of my photography business.  If you own a boutique or small business in Denver and you’ve been putting off investing in professional photos, I’d love to make a case for why now is the time.  Your products, your ethos, and your brand story deserve visuals that actually do them justice — not iPhone shots under fluorescent lighting.

Jupiter & Jo is still going strong and doing beautiful things. Go check them out in the heart of RiNo at 30th and Blake and show them some love.

And if you’re a Denver small business owner looking for a brand photographer, let’s chat.  I’d love to work with you!

Chautauqua and Lost Gulch: My Favorite Colorado Locations for Portraits

I get asked all the time where my favorite outdoor locations to shoot in Colorado are, and honestly, I could rattle off a dozen locations without thinking twice.  This state is a stunner.  But if you’re asking where I’d take every single couple if I could?  Without having to sit on I-70?  Well that’s a different story.

The answer:

Lost Gulch and Chautauqua Park.  Every time.  No contest.

Lost Gulch Overlook up in Boulder is the kind of location that makes you feel like you’re standing at the edge of the world.  The sweeping views of the Flatirons, the rocky outcroppings, the way the light gets golden and dramatic right before sunset — it’s almost unfair how good it photographs.  It’s not a secret spot by any means, but when you time it right and you’ve got the right couple in front of your camera, it never gets old.

Chautauqua is a different energy entirely, and that’s exactly why I love having both in my back pocket.  Where Lost Gulch is dramatic and expansive, Chautauqua is lush and grounded.  It’s romantic without being precious about it.  It’s the kind of place that makes even the most camera-shy person relax, and that matters more than people realize.

Both locations are about 45 minutes from Denver down Highway 36.  I’ll do anything to avoid I-70.  And Boulder in general just has this energy that photographs beautifully — it’s laid-back but striking, which is pretty much my favorite combination.

If you’re considering either of these for your engagement session, elopement, or family session, I will enthusiastically cosign that decision.  Let’s go!

Take a peek at a few faves from this couple’s session last summer.  Thanks for stopping by the blog!

x Ash

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Denver Courthouse Elopement Photographers

If you’re searching for Denver courthouse elopement photographers, look no further — this one’s going to show you exactly why I love this work.

This sweet couple traveled all the way from out of state to say their vows downtown, and honestly?  That kind of intentionality sets the tone for everything.  They knew what they wanted: simple, meaningful, and photographed well.  Done and done.

We met at my absolute favorite courthouse in the city — the Byron J. White Courthouse downtown — and the whole afternoon was just chef’s kiss from start to finish.  The groom showed up in the richest forest green suit I’ve seen in a long time.  I love gem tones for wedding suits!

The bride balanced it perfectly in a romantic blue floral dress that felt effortless without trying too hard.  I love that she put a spin on the traditional wedding dress with a floral print.  These two clearly have an eye for the good stuff.

And then there was the third member of the wedding party: their dog, who showed up in a little bowtie and completely stole the show.  I will never, ever complain about a dog at an elopement or wedding.  Bring them all.  Always!

The Byron J. White Courthouse is one of those locations that just does the work for you — the Greek columns, the grand scale of it, the way the light hits in the afternoon.  It’s dramatic without being over the top, which is exactly what an intimate elopement calls for.

Thank you to this lovely couple for making the trip to Denver and trusting me with your day.  You didn’t need a big production to make it feel significant — you just needed each other, a great courthouse, and a dog in a bowtie.

That’s the good stuff.

Take a peek at a few of my faves from their Denver courthouse elopement session below.  Thank you for stopping by the blog!

x Ash

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Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse Elopement Photos

Time for a throwback today — Lindsey Flanigan courthouse elopement photos from nine years ago!

Recently, I’ve been enjoying going back through my hard drives and digging up old photo shoots that never properly saw the light of day on my blog.  Today I’m reliving this sweet elopement at the Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse in Denver!

We had perfect springtime blossoms for our session.  The purple on the trees outside of the courthouse paired perfectly with the vibrant colors the bride chose for her shoes and bouquet.

I love shooting elopements at the Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse.  It provides a newer, more modern backdrop for photos that contrasts with the older style of the City + County Building at Civic Center.  While both locations are perfect for a courthouse elopement, Lindsey Flanigan has a slightly sleeker vibe with its glass facade and clean architectural lines.

The images below are some of my favorites from this Lindsey Flanigan courthouse elopement.  Thank you for stopping by the blog today!

x Ash

Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse Elopement Photos | Ashley Kidder Photo 

Follow me on Instagram to see the latest from my cameras!  Please get in touch here if you’d like to chat more about timeless courthouse elopement photos like these.  Can’t wait to hear from you!

Boulder Vow Renewal Photos

I’ve been meaning to share these Boulder vow renewal photos for a hot minute!

Currently, I’m sitting on hold trying to get through to the IRS hotline to verify my identity (woooohoooo).  I figured I’d update the blog while I’m waiting!

Ashleigh + Seth traveled to Denver from Texas last fall to get a quintessential Colorado backdrop for their vow renewal.  We decided on Chautauqua and Lost Gulch for their session.

These two locations are my favorite Colorado “mountain” locations for photo shoots.  Boulder is only a short drive from the city and still provides the same stunning backdrop that you would see down I-70 — just minus the heavy traffic!

I’ve shot at Chautauqua and Lost Gulch more times than I can count, though mostly in the summer and springtime.  For our fall shoot at these same locations, we had a bit of a variation from the normal, sunny Colorado weather.

Instead, both locations were draped in these moody, misty, low-hanging clouds that I’ve never seen before in this area.  It almost felt like we were in the Pacific Northwest — straight out of one of the Twilight books!

Take a peek at a few of my favorite frames from Ashleigh + Seth’s Boulder vow renewal.  Thank you again to the lovely couple, and congratulations on ten years of marriage!

x Ash

Boulder Vow Renewal Photos | Ashley Kidder Photo

A few kind words from a review from the bride: “Ashley was AMAZING!  My husband and I were traveling to Colorado and wanted to do pictures for a 10 year vow renewal.  I found Ashley online, and I loved her work.  She was quick to respond, professional, and she maintained communication leading up to and after our session.  We paid a reasonable amount for an hour of pictures for two locations (just the two of us for the renewal).  And we got our photos in a reasonable amount of time (I would say about 2-ish weeks).”