Colorado Mountain Family Photography


Mountains x Teenagers x

Family Photos = Perfect Combo


Unpopular opinion, but I don't mind meshing family photos with senior portraits.  This 2026 grad requested a mountain backdrop for his senior portraits, which happened to also make for picture perfect family photos.   You can see his senior portraits here.  

 

Drone portrait of family with teenagers in Colorado mountains, surrounded by fall foliage in Colorado mountains.
Teen boy sitting in field in Colorado meadow.

Big Views & Seasonal Shift

This specific spot is on private property between Bailey and Fairplay, Colorado.  The best part is that we get the most stunning views, but without fighting the crowds (which can be intense in the Fall in Colorado 🫠).  


We caught the leaves right around mid-change this fall.  The aspens were a wide array of  vibrate greens, yellows and oranges.  This gave their gallery a ton of variation.

Family with teenagers in Colorado mountains, yellow aspens in background.
Family of four standing in front of blue skies in Colorado mountains.
Teen girl standing in front of pond in Colorado mountains with dramatic reflection in the lake.
Family with teenagers in Colorado mountains, standing on path, sun flare peaking through aspens.

The Case for Family Photos with Teens

For some reason, families seem to heavily prioritize family photos with newborns, toddlers and kids.  But what about the big kids?  The big-big kids?  The ones who are teetering between adolescence and adulthood?


Maybe you're looking at colleges, maybe you're figuring out what's next - either way, senior year goes by so fast.  It's worth slowing down and documenting this moment before they launch.

Teen daughter smiling with father.
Candid of family of fur standing in front of pond in Colorado mountains.
Close up of husband and wife standing closely together.

The Case for the Colorado Mountains

Let's be real, they kind of speak for themselves.  Evergreens, aspens, a mountain pond, an open meadow, blue skies?  The best part is that this location is pretty easy to access - it's about an hour outside of west Denver.  

Family with teenagers in Colorado mountains, evergreens, aspens, mountains and moody skies in background.
Dramatic full sun portrait of family of four, including two teenage children, walking in front of changing aspens near Pike national park.

Tapping into Teenage Energy

I like to let teenagers take the metaphorical wheel.  They want to pretend to punch each other?  Go for it.  They want to pretend to throw their sister in the lake?  Cool with me.  They want to make funny faces in between poses?  Do it.  


They get to call the shots.  The photos always look better that way.

Playful portrait of siblings in forest near Colorado national park.
Playful portrait of siblings in forest near Colorado national park.
Playful portrait of siblings in forest near Colorado national park.
Playful portrait of siblings in forest near Colorado national park.

Document this season before it changes.

The newborn stage is fleeting, the toddler years go by in a blink, but the teenage years are a different kind of busy.  They're becoming more independent, you're seeing pieces of their adult personality.  


These photos speak volumes when your house grows a bit emptier.  

Father and son standing together in Colorado mountains.
Black and white of mother gazing at teen son in Colorado mountains.
Mother and father standing with teenage children, all wrapping hands around each other.
Husband and wife posing in front of towering evergreen trees in Colorado mountain session.
Black and white of father with teenage children in Colorado Mountains.
Teen daughter smiling with father.
Family with teenagers in Colorado mountains, evergreens, aspens, mountains and moody skies in background.
Black and white of mother with teenage children in Colorado Mountains.
Black and white portrait of mother pushing daughter's hair out of her face.
Father and son standing together in Colorado mountains.
Black and white portrait of profiles of mother, father and their teenage children.

 

If your family is ready to capture your next adventure in the Colorado mountains, I’d love to document it for you.

 

Let’s create some magic together.

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