Photo Location Guide

Scroll through to see all my favorite photo locations or click the categories below.

Breckenridge | Summit County Photo Locations

Officers Gulch

Small mountain side lake, located directly off the roadway so it’s easy access and has a reasonable area to park. Note: You can hear the road traffic slightly when close to the parking area. A permit is not required for smaller groups of people, portraits, video and elopements are allowed. Leave no trace must be followed - no arches, loose flower petals, chairs etc. About an hour and a half from Denver.

Lake Dillon

Base of the lake, and a pull off are available. Both easy to access. Base of the lake has a very basic trail restroom. A permit is not required for smaller groups of people, portraits, video and elopements are allowed. Leave no trace must be followed - no arches, loose flower petals, chairs etc. About an hour and a half from Denver.

Lake Dillon - Pull off Area

Sapphire point | must be reserved for elopements or weddings

A permit is not required for just portraits, however it’s often busy with hikers or other reserved events. You can reserve it online. About an hour and a half from Denver.

Boreas Pass

Driving pass from Breckenridge, great for fall leaf peeping but recommend a SUV or 4 wheel drive vehicle since it’s a high mountain pass road. Two hours from Denver.

Loveland Pass

Multiple pull of spots, this photo is from the top of the pass. No permit needed for small groups. Gets snow early in the year so it may be colder than usual even in late summer months or early spring. One hour from Denver.

Pass Lake

Pull off lake trail off of Loveland Pass. No permit needed for small groups of people. Gets snow early in the year so it may be colder than usual even in late summer months or early spring. Hour and fifteen minutes from Denver.

Bierstadt Trail

Located at the peak of Guanella Pass, cooler weather and can get snow earlier in the year. Hour and half from Denver.

Guanella Pass - Georgetown Side

Beautiful colors and drive through the pass either from the Grant side or Georgetown side. About an hour from Denver. You can enter from either side and there are multiple pull offs with tree, water or mountain views.

boulder

Lost Gulch

Very popular area, it is busy almost any time of day, especially at sunset. If you’d like to elope here I recommend a weekday/sunrise. Not accessible in the winter. Short walk to beautiful rocky views. Does require a permit from Boulder, limited to a few people (couple + photographer + helping hand friend etc). Parking fee for non Boulder registered vehicles. About 45 minutes from Denver.

South Mesa Trailhead

Also, very popular and busy. Has a great mix of trees, fence area, open fields and foothill views. Bring bug spray - there is a stream nearby so mosquitos are common in the summer months. Does require a permit from Boulder, limited to a few people (couple + photographer + helping hand friend etc). Parking fee for non Boulder registered vehicles. About 40 minutes from Denver.

Flatirons Vista

Open field trails and a large parking area, can be busy on the weekends. Views of the foothills. Does require a permit from Boulder, limited to a few people (family/couple + photographer + helping hand friend etc). Parking fee for non Boulder registered vehicles. About 40 minutes from Denver.

Betasso Preserve

Beautiful open space park, further out of town but a great option if you have the time to travel. No permit required for photo sessions. About an hour from Denver

Rocky Mountain National Park

The entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is about an hour and a half from Denver and these locations are between 15-30 minutes into the park but can be further (Trail ridge road for example).

Lake Sprague

Easy walk to the ceremony location, must be reserved for ceremonies through RMNP but portraits/wedding photos allowed as well. Large parking lot. Need timed entry with Bear Lake Corridor.

Pull off areas near Sprague

There are pull of areas / other spots on the way to Sprague such as Morraine.

Hidden Valley

Far into the park, one of the last stops prior to Trail Ridge Road. Great wildflower area in July but can get chilly as the summer/fall progresses. Large parking lot with restrooms and jr ranger programs occasionally.

3m Curve

Reservable ceremony location through RMNP, pull off on the side of the road parking - space for about 3 to 5 cars. Walk around large boulder located on the side of the road and you will see the area open up.

Little Horseshoe

Pull off parking area with large walkable boulder you can get this view from, easy to access but limited for walking around unless you hike down.

Pull off by 3m

Pull off parking area that will fit 2-3 cars. Great for first looks, engagements, families.

Trail Ridge Road

Only open a limited part of the year - it is windy and cold during the timeframe you can access it and the entire area is tundra so you must watch where you walk, you need to stick to trails and large rocks.

Permitting/Rules/Fees

Rocky Mountain National Park does not require a portrait permit however you do need a permit for any in the park ceremonies. You also need timed entry for each vehicle entering the park.

Other location in Estes you can do a ceremony without a permit: Knoll Willows Open Space, across from the Stanley Hotel

Denver + Cityscape Areas

Cheeseman Park

Featuring a large pavilion, this is an easy to walk around park with flowers in the summer since it backs up to the Botanic Gardens. Parking can be slightly difficult but you can just meet at the pavilion and walk around from there. Very popular during prom season and if the pavilion is reserved you cannot take photos there.

City Park (not pictured)

Easy parking and walking as it’s right next to the Denver Nature and Science Museum. Perfect spot for spring photos as there are rows and rows of blossoming flowers here. Small lake area and historical pavilion. See examples here (disclaimer this is an older session and is no longer my style of shooting).

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Downtown Denver area, no permit required but must be respectful of patrons and shows. Previous approval from Jody Jody.Grossman@denvergov.org

Wynkoop Bridge

Easy to access, street and paid parking close by. No Permit for more than 5 people total.

Union Station

Across the street no permit needed, in the direct area in front permit needed. Inside varies on availability - can contact for a permit.

Downtown Boulder

Great variety of buildings and easy to walk, need a permit / permission from the city - typically takes 30 days.

RINO - Downtown Denver

Park by Denver Central Market and meet there, great alleys full of art and unique buildings. No permit for 5 or less people. Inside Denver Central Market is usually ok too but limit to just 2-3 people if possible.

Denver Millennium Bridge

Downtown Denver, great views of the city buildings and across from a small park area that is easy to walk to as well. No permit for 5 people or less.

Nature areas near Denver

Mt Falcon - West Trailhead

Easy hike/walk around park, great mountain views, large parking area and has basic trail bathrooms. Elopements up to 14 people allowed. Permit for photography is required through Jefferson County.

Eastlake shores park

No permit needed, park at Hidden Playground/Lake Village Park and cross the street from there. Perfect for families and children, also good Thornton spot for fall colors.

Red Rocks

Must stay on the trail, looks great year round but especially in the fall and summer. No Permit for more than 5 people total.

Lookout Mountain

Located in Golden by the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Boettcher Mansion. 30 minutes from Denver.

Echo Lake

Large parking area along the road at Echo Lake. No permit needed for 5 or less people. One hour from Denver.

Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods

No permit required, you can elope here as well with small groups but it is quite popular and busy.

Red Rocks Open Space

Large parking area, easy to access. Up to 10 people, permit information pending.

The Broadmoor

Photography only available for overnight guests and wedding bookings. More info here.

Fall color locations

In no particular order, but this is a great guide of spots you can take photos in the fall that will have orange/yellow/red leaves.

Guanella Pass

Beautiful colors and drive through the pass either from the Grant side or Georgetown side.

Guanella Pass - Georgetown side

Beautiful colors and drive through the pass either from the Grant side or Georgetown side.

Guanella Pass continued

Beautiful colors and drive through the pass either from the Grant side or Georgetown side.

Bierstadt Trail

Located at the peak of Guanella Pass, cooler weather and can get snow earlier in the year. Hour and half from Denver.

Echo Lake

Large parking area along the road at Echo Lake. No permit needed for 5 or less people. One hour from Denver.

Red Rocks

Ground foliage changes color and large red rock background makes for great fall photos, this image is from trading post trail. 20 minutes from Denver

Downtown Denver

This example is at Wynkoop Bridge. Downtown Denver at 1401 Wynkoop.

Officers Gulch

Lake dillon pull off area

Breckenridge, Lake Dillon - Close to Sapphire Point. Hour and a half from Denver.

Brainard Lake

Wonderful fall colored ground foliage and small patches of trees that change colors as well. Hour and a half from Denver. Does require a timed entry.

Mt Falcon

There are no aspens here but there is ground foliage/small trees that change colors and the grasses get a great yellow/brown color. 40 minutes from Denver.

Eastlake park

Located in Thornton, no permit required - later leave changes from the mountains. Easy to access and great for families. 20 minutes from Denver.

South mesa trail - Boulder

Very popular and busy but you can always walk further out to get your own area. Has a great mix of trees, fence area, open fields and foothill views. Bring bug spray - there is a stream nearby so mosquitos are common in the summer months. 40 minutes from Denver.

Lookout Mountain

Located in Golden by the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Boettcher Mansion. 30 minutes from Denver.

Boreas Pass

Driving pass from Breckenridge, great for fall leaf peeping but recommend a SUV or 4 wheel drive vehicle since it’s a high mountain pass road. Two hours from Denver.

Studio + indoor locations

Pricing ranges from $75 per hour to $200+ per hour

Realm Denver

Denver area studio with a huge space - capable of doing large team photos and intimate events as well as headshots and neutral family sessions.

Sugarhill studio - Longmont

Longmont area studio with rotating themed set ups as well as neutral space, indoor and outdoor this studio is located on a working farm and is perfect for boudoir, formal engagements, family photos, headshots - anything!