colorado springs – Erin L Malcolm Creative

Colorado Springs Couple Photography Sunrise Sessions

A sunrise photo session is for you if:

1.) You want dreamy “golden hour” photos. I strategically schedule sessions during two specific parts of the day in order to take advantage of the most flattering light: sunrise (or the first two hours of daylight) and sunset (or the last two hours of daylight) are the best times of day in terms of lighting for photos.

2.) You want an intimate experience. Colorado Springs is touristy, y’all. Expect to work around lots of people and other photographers at popular locations during sunset times — especially during weekends in peak season (summer/fall). But if you want to almost guarantee a location all to yourselves so you can better stay in the moment or maybe calm some nerves, sunrise is the way to go. Trust me, nothing compares to a quiet, still morning in nature with the company of love of your life and the wildlife waking up with the sun.

3.) You can handle it being a little chilly. Colorado mornings are sometimes brisk, even in the summer and especially in the mountains. Prepare to wear layers, or at least bring a light jacket along to throw on in between shots just in case you get cold. I normally only suggest sunrise sessions during warmer months when the temps are mild, unless the couple requests a specific location in winter and the location is only suitable during sunrise.

4.) You are flexible about locations. Because of the orientation of the mountains to the west here in COS and the sunrise to the east, some locations only work well for sunset photo times. This means that location options are slightly limited for sunrise sessions. NO WORRIES, THOUGH. Because limited locations does NOT mean less beautiful locations. It just means we will try to only shoot at locations that are going to set you up for flattering light and great views.

*IF YOU ARE DEAD SET ON A SPECIFIC LOCATION, LET ME KNOW BEFORE SCHEDULING YOUR SESSION SO THAT I CAN TELL YOU IF IT’S BEST SUITED FOR SUNRISE, SUNSET, OR BOTH.

My top favorite locations for sunrise sessions in Colorado Springs are pictured below. One is a mountain location that feels like absolute MAGIC in the morning having the whole place dead quiet and empty as the sun gradually floods the valley. The other is Garden of the Gods, and I’m not even joking when I say that most mornings I’ve shot at GOTG there hasn’t been another person in sight the whole time (which if you’ve ever been to GOTG, you know is crazy because there’s always hundreds of people there anytime else).

Here are a handful of photos from sunrise sessions I’ve shot at those locations!

Colorado Springs Family Photography Tips

Family photos are an occasion that I know a lot of parents dread. I get it — finding the right photographer, aligning everyone’s schedules, coordinating outfits (and then keeping the kiddos’ clean and stain free on the way), making sure everyone gets their naps in, etc. can all be super overwhelming. I’m here to assure you that absolutely does not have to be the case, though. Here are some tips to make your family photo session as easy-breezy as possible.

1. Find a Photographer you TRUST.

SO much weight is lifted off of your shoulders when you can arrive to the session location knowing your photographer has everything under control. The key to finding the right photographer for you is doing your research to make sure they align with your values and priorities, chatting with them beforehand to ensure clear expectations are set, viewing a full family photo gallery to get a feel for what you’ll be receiving after all is said and done if you do decide to book with that photographer, and reading your contract thoroughly so you know you’re taken care of.

2. Pack ALLLL the Things

You can never be too prepared, especially when kiddos are involved. Pack an extra outfit for everyone just in case. And even better, don’t get the kids dressed in their outfit until you arrive to the session location to avoid spills or spit ups in the car. Also know that there’s a time and place for bribery and a family photo session is just that. Pack plenty of snacks that your kids love and take quick snack breaks if needed. Bringing one of their fave toys is also a great idea, that way they can take a little break to focus on something else if they’re not loving the camera in that moment.

3. Let Your Photographer Take the Lead

You might think you’re helping when you hold onto your toddler’s shirt and tell him to “stop squirming and smile for the camera”. But really you’re just making your photographer’s job 10x harder, not to mention taking the joy out of the experience for your whole fam. Trust me, if a pose/prompt isn’t working, I will tell you and we’ll switch things up. Keeping kiddos happy and engaged and having fun is the key to a memorable and successful photo session and I can only make that happen if you let go of the reigns and help me do my job.

4. Plan According to Your Family’s Lifestyle

This part is common sense, but so often overlooked. If you know your lil bub is crankiest around 5pm, DO NOT schedule your session for that time. If you know your husband will be stressed out because he had to rush home from work in traffic to make it to the session on time, maybe plan for a weekend date. If you know you hate hiking, DO NOT pick a hiking session just for the view. If you know your dog can’t handle himself in public, DO NOT bring him to your session. If you know your toddler is going to be hating life after 20 minutes, DO NOT book a full hour long session. Consider all the aspects of your day-to-day life that are unique to your fam, and then do what works best for YOU specifically with that in mind.

YOU GOT THIS, FAM. And if you start to feel overwhelmed, just remember that when those babies aren’t babies anymore, you’ll thank yourself for having the guts to get in front of the camera with them any chance you got.