Your Story, Set Against the Rockies

Why Colorado Changes Everything

I moved to Boulder from Florida. On purpose. I traded flat highways and strip malls for mountain trails and 300 days of sunshine. I hike these trails every week. I know which ones get crowded and which ones feel like you have the whole mountain to yourself. I know where the light cuts through the trees at golden hour, where the wildflowers explode in July, and which ridge gives you that perfect Flatirons backdrop without a dozen other photographers standing next to you.

That local knowledge matters. Any photographer can stand in front of a mountain and take a pretty picture. But knowing exactly where to be at exactly the right time, knowing how the light shifts as the sun drops behind the Continental Divide, knowing which trail is muddy in spring and which one is perfect: that is the difference between a nice photo and one that stops you mid-scroll.

What I Shoot Outdoors

Engagement sessions are a big one. Couples who want their photos to feel like Colorado, not like a studio. Senior portraits for kids who would rather be on a trail than in front of a backdrop. Adventure couples who hike, climb, mountain bike, or ski together and want photos of them actually doing the things they love. I also work with individuals who just want a portrait session that feels alive, with real light and real scenery instead of something staged.

The common thread is people who want to be outside, doing something, in a place that means something to them. If that sounds like you, we are going to have a great session.

Favorite Locations

I keep a running list of spots I love, and I am always adding to it. A few favorites: Chautauqua Park for its iconic Flatirons views and open meadows. The NCAR trails for quieter, more intimate settings. Boulder Creek Path for that easy, relaxed riverside feel. Flagstaff Mountain for dramatic overlooks. Eldorado Canyon for rock and river. Rocky Mountain National Park for the full alpine experience.

But here is the thing: the best location is the one that fits your story. If you have a trail where you got engaged, a park where you take your dog every morning, or a spot that just feels like yours, that is where we should shoot. I will make it work wherever you feel most like yourself.

Beyond Boulder, I love shooting at Davidson Mesa near Louisville for its wide-open prairie views and dramatic Flatirons backdrop. The Coalton Trailhead in Superior offers rolling trails with mountain panoramas. Union Reservoir in Longmont is perfect for water-based sessions with the Rockies on the horizon. Walker Ranch in unincorporated Boulder County has forested trails and creek crossings that feel worlds away from town.

What to Expect

These sessions are active. We walk, we hike, we explore. I shoot along the way. There is no "stand here and smile at the camera." It is more like "keep walking, look at each other, that is perfect." The movement keeps things natural, and natural is where the good photos happen.

I give light direction throughout the session. Where to put your hands, how to angle your shoulders, when to look at each other versus looking at the camera. But I keep it conversational, not bossy. Most people tell me they forgot they were being photographed about ten minutes in. That is exactly the point.

Seasonal Guide

Spring brings green hillsides and wildflowers, plus longer evenings for golden hour sessions. Summer is peak adventure season, with warm light and late sunsets that stretch your session time. Fall is my favorite, hands down. September and October in Boulder are something else entirely. The aspens turn gold, the light goes soft and warm, and every trail looks like it was designed for photography. Winter sessions are for the adventurous, and if you are up for snow and cold air, the photos are worth it.

I shoot year-round, in every season. Each one brings something different, and I will help you choose the timing that fits the look and feel you are going for.

"The outdoor engagement shoot Jody did for us at Chautauqua Park was beyond anything we imagined. He knew exactly where the light would be perfect and captured moments we will treasure forever."

Emily & David R., Engagement Session