That Time I Almost Became a Mountain Woman
Since I live in Colorado, there are endless locations with mountain views I can choose for my photography sessions. But girl, let me be honest - I’m not from Colorado, and driving in the mountains is not something I’m ready to tackle.
I learned that the hard way when I tried to meet Aaron (we were just friends at the time) at a hiking trail in Boulder, and I got SO lost. I spiraled and genuinely thought, “Well, I guess I’m a mountain woman now. This is my new life.” But before I fully committed to my new mountain life, I saw someone walking along the side of the road. I pulled over and asked him for directions. I eventually made it to where I needed to go, but I haven’t tried to drive in the mountains by myself since.
So you can imagine my relief when Aaron and I ended up at this spot one night just driving around. We pulled over to check out the view, and I remember sitting there thinking, “This would be such a good place to take photos someday.” The best part? No terrifying mountain roads required.
When I started my photography journey, that thought stuck with me.
I immediately remembered this pull-off - mountain vibes without the fear of getting lost? Perfect. Three years later, it’s still one of my favorite family photo locations with mountain views. You get the best of both worlds - you don’t have to travel far, you can park right there, step out, and start shooting.
Why This Is One of My Favorite Family Photo Locations with Mountain Views
I’ve used this location mostly in summer, but when I shot here in December with Connor and Megan, it honestly changed how I see this spot. The light in December is just different. It’s softer, warmer. The sun was going down and everything had this glow to it. The mountains had little patches of snow that caught the light, and all the grass had turned golden-brown. In summer everything is green and bright, but in December you get these warm, cozy colors that just felt so right.
The Perfect Family for the Perfect Light
This was extra special for me because I’ve been taking Connor and Megan’s photos since 2023. I’ve gotten to see them go from just the two of them to being parents, and they’re genuinely fun people to hang out with. Their cream and yellow sweaters looked so good against the December landscape - like everything just fit together without even trying.
And like always, they wanted to do the awkward family poses, which I love because it makes the whole session feel easy and relaxed. We did this one where Megan stood behind Connor while he held Jude, and then we tried another pose where they all stacked up. Jude kept moving his head side to side because he didn’t like the way Connor was holding his face, and we were all cracking up. Those ended up being some of my favorite shots because they’re so real - not just posing, but actually capturing their family.
That’s what made this my favorite - the perfect December light at a spot I already loved, plus getting to hang out with people who just make it fun.
Still Getting Butterflies
I’ll keep using this location as long as families want to shoot here, because honestly, it never disappoints. When people ask me about family photo locations with mountain views in Colorado, this spot is always at the top of my list. It’s wild to think that three years ago, this was just a random pull-off where Aaron and I ended up one night
. Now it’s become such a big part of my photography journey. I’ve done maternity photos here, couple sessions, birthday shoots, family photos. I’ve gotten to capture so many special moments against these mountains, and somehow this spot still gives me butterflies every single time.
If you're looking for a photographer in Colorado who knows the best spots with mountain views (and won't get you lost in the process), I'd love to work with you—head to my contact page!
And if you’re not already following me on Instagram, head on over and keep up on if I ever venture out into the mountains by myself.
