Why Fall Colors Make the Perfect Backdrop for Family Photos in Colorado

37 minutes ago

4 min read

There is something about fall in Colorado that just feels magical. The crisp air, golden leaves, mountain views, cozy outfits, and that warm evening light come together to create one of my absolute favorite times of year to photograph families. And after years of photographing families throughout Colorado, I can confidently say there is a reason fall sessions book up so quickly! Whether you live right here in Colorado or you're planning a fall trip to the Rocky Mountains, this season creates the kind of family photos that feel warm, colorful, and completely timeless.

Colorado Basically Shows Off in the Fall

If you've never experienced fall in Colorado, add it to your list.

For a few beautiful weeks, our landscapes completely transform. The aspens turn brilliant shades of yellow and gold, the grasses become warm and earthy, and those deep green pine trees give us the prettiest contrast. Then add the Colorado mountains in the background?! Come on.

One of the things I love most about photographing families here is that every location has its own personality. We can create a session surrounded by towering aspens, head into the foothills for mountain views, find a gorgeous open field, or venture farther into the mountains for that full Colorado experience.

The Colors Make Your Family POP

Fall gives us a naturally gorgeous color palette without needing to do much at all.

Golden yellow, burnt orange, deep green, warm brown, cream, burgundy and rust photograph beautifully against Colorado's fall scenery. And this is where choosing your outfits gets really fun!

I usually recommend coordinating rather than having everyone perfectly match. Think warm neutrals with a few deeper fall colors mixed in. Mom might wear a flowing cream or rust dress, while Dad and the kids pull complementary colors from her outfit. The goal isn't for everyone to look identical. We want your family to look like you, just beautifully pulled together.

Fall Light Is DREAMY

Can we talk about golden hour?

Because Colorado fall + golden hour is one of my favorite combinations.

As the sun starts getting lower behind the mountains, we get this beautiful soft light that makes everything feel warm and glowy. The golden grasses light up, the mountains soften in the distance, and suddenly your entire session looks like it belongs in a storybook. This is why I love scheduling many of my outdoor family sessions closer to sunset. Yes, it may mean adjusting dinner or bedtime a little bit, but when you see that light in your final gallery, you'll understand why.

Your Kids Don't Have to Be Perfect

Parents, this one is for you.

Please don't spend your entire session worrying about whether your kids are behaving perfectly.

They don't need to!

Some of my favorite photographs happen when kids are running, laughing, snuggling with Mom, sitting on Dad's shoulders, exploring, or being completely silly.

Your family session isn't supposed to feel like everyone is standing perfectly still saying, "Cheese!"

We're going to move.

We're going to play.

We're going to laugh.

And yes, we'll absolutely get the beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera photo for Grandma.

But we're also going to capture the little moments that actually tell the story of your family right now.

Because those are the photographs you're going to miss someday.

Colorado Gives Us SO Many Fall Photo Locations

This might be one of the hardest parts about booking a fall session with me—choosing where we should go! I have so many favorite Colorado photography locations.

Places like South Valley Park give us dramatic red rock formations and gorgeous open scenery. Mount Falcon has that beautiful foothills feeling. Pine Valley Ranch is amazing for families wanting trees, water and mountain scenery. Elk Meadow Park gives us that classic Evergreen look.

And if you're ready to head farther into the mountains, locations around Breckenridge and Summit County can be absolutely breathtaking in the fall.

The best part? You don't have to figure it out alone.

Tell me the look you're dreaming about, and I'll help you choose a location that works beautifully for your family.

Visiting Colorado? Make Family Photos Part of Your Trip!

You absolutely do not have to live in Colorado to book a session with me.

In fact, I LOVE photographing families who are visiting from other states.

If you're already planning a fall vacation to Denver, Breckenridge, Estes Park, Evergreen or another beautiful part of Colorado, this is such a fun opportunity to update your family photos.

Instead of going home with another souvenir, you go home with photographs of your family surrounded by the Colorado mountains. And don't worry if you've never been here before. I can help with locations and planning so you aren't Googling "Where do we take family pictures in Colorado?" at midnight before your trip.

These Aren't Just Your Christmas Card Photos

Of course, fall family pictures make AMAZING Christmas cards.

But they're so much more than that. Your kids are changing constantly.

Those little hands won't always be little. Your toddler won't always want Dad to carry them. Your kids won't always laugh at the same silly jokes. And someday, the season you're in right now is going to feel like it went by impossibly fast. That's why I want your session to capture more than what everyone looked like. I want to capture what your family felt like.

The belly laughs. The hugs. The chaos. The personalities. The way your kids look at you.

All of it.

Ready for Your Colorado Fall Family Photos?

Fall is one of the most beautiful and most popular times of the year for family photography in Colorado, which means my fall calendar tends to fill quickly.

If you've been thinking about updating your family photos, don't wait until every golden leaf is already on the ground! Whether you're local to the Denver area or traveling to Colorado from across the country, I would absolutely love to help you plan a beautiful fall session.

Come play in the mountains with me. Bring your family, embrace a little chaos, and let's create something beautiful together.