When I was going to college at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, my friends and I spent a lot of time hiking and climbing around in the Garden of the Gods area, but it’s been years since I’ve been back. When it was suggested as the location for an engagement session with one of my adorable couples for this year, I was ecstatic! Perhaps my memory isn’t as sharp as I would like to think it is, or perhaps I’ve been in Colorado for so long that I take our state’s amazing landscapes for granted, but as I circled around the Garden of the Gods looking for ideal spots to shoot, I was flooded with a deep appreciation for this extraordinarily beautiful state that I live. It was almost like seeing it all for the first time again. After a quick loop in my car, I was feeling pretty confident that it wouldn’t matter where we went, because there didn’t appear to be an angle in any direction that wouldn’t work. Once I met up with Alison and Mike and their adorable puppies, Sadie and Guy, I couldn’t wait to get started. They were wearing their love for each other on their sleeves and needed very little to no direction from me! 
We had a gorgeous day to work with and despite it being a popular tourist spot, I was able to crop and frame them to make it look like we were there all by ourselves. Alison and Mike had their first date at the Garden of the Gods, so it was a perfect place to photograph them before their wedding this summer in Beaver Creek.
I always love photographing in new locations because it forces me to consider everything all at once- the light, the angle of the sun, the backgrounds, the lenses, etc. etc. There is a lot to think about when I’m doing an engagement session and sometimes I default to locations I know well so that I can focus all of my attention on the couple. But, there is something to be said about stretching myself to consider all of the photographic technicalities AND engage with my clients. Talk about practicing my multitasking! Ha! Alison and Mike, I can’t WAIT for your wedding! Thank you for being so much fun to work with too. We are going to have a blast together this summer… 2 months and counting!
