Fall Family Photos

Photography for Lakewood Families

Bear Creek Lake, Lakewood Colorado

 

Bear Creek Lake Park is this Lakewood Photographer's dream location.


I love Bear Creek Lake Park.  It might be Lakewood's best kept secret.  It's got everything.  Water, trees, foothills views, easily accessible, lots of space.  It's truly a photographer's dream.  I've had many, many sessions here.  It's a fall favorite because the trees are stunning and the grasses are golden.  (It's also lovely in the Spring and Summer, when everything is super green.)

Family of three on walking path at Bear Creek Lake in Lakewood, Colorado.
Family photography with Lakewood family photographer at Bear Creek Lake in Lakewood, CO.

Make family sessions playful.  Meaningfully.


I've said it before, I'll say it again.  Joy looks good on everyone.  I like to incorporate a lot of movement and play into family sessions.  In this case, that meant bringing along a football.  This is a sporty family, so tossing the ball is true to them.  Not just some random prop.  

Father and son playing catch with a football in an open field at Bear Creek Lake in Lakewood, Colorado.
Family of three playfully throwing football in the air, surrounded by dried sunflowers.

Why your photographer advocates for golden hour.


Colorado can be a tricky place because it is so dang sunny.  Cloud coverage?  Haven't met her.  So timing photos can be an interesting balancing act.  Bear Creek Lake in Lakewood is a great option for family photos because there is so much variety within the park.  I like to start down low in one of the meadows by the river.  This allows the tall trees to filter the sun a bit.  


I love the mountain top for right when the sun begins to hide behind those mountains.  Blue hour up top is stunning in the most moody ways.  

Son playfully squeezing mother, surrounded by tall grasses and autumnal trees in Lakewood, Colorado.
Adult couple smiling at one another at Bear Creek Lake Park with foothills in background.
Playful family of three in tall grasses in Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, foothills in the background.

Lakewood families

who want to add a little adventure to their family photos.

Things to know about Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood...


  • Unless you have their yearly pass, it's a $10 entrance fee.  
  • There are portable toilets.  Most of the time the toilets at the trailhead locations are pretty clean (can't say the same for the ones by the lake 😬).  Bring hand sanitizer just in case!
  • There are cactus up on the mountain top.  Something to keep an eye out for!  
  • There are *many* locations to choose from within Bear Creek Lake in Lakewood.  There are lakes, rivers, foothills views, fields.  During a full session, you can easily make it to two different locations which offers incredible variety for one session.
Portrait of boy during blue hour at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, foothills in the background.
Black and white portrait of mother embracing son, both with eyes closed.
Father playfully holding son, son laughing.

Family photography with a documentary lens.


I will sing my praises for documentary family photography from the mountain tops.  What exactly is documentary photography?  It's a lot of things.  Less posed, more candid.  Less smile and look at the camera and more let's play with your favorite humans.  It becomes a lot less about me, the photographer, and more about you.  It's the best way I can document your story, without superimposing my own.  


That doesn't mean I'll leave you high and dry.  You won't stand there awkwardly wondering what to do.  I'll provide prompts.  But the nice thing about these prompts, is they are open ended.  "Give mom a big squeeze" unexpectedly turns into a preteen trying to prove he's strong enough to lift mom off the ground.  Playing monkey-in-the-middle turns into a playful and cinematic family photo.  "Where would your family go if I wasn't here right now?" point us to the most lovely bridge, framed by the perfect fall colors.

Son playfully squeezing mother, surrounded by tall grasses and autumnal trees in Lakewood, Colorado.
Family of three playing monkey in the middle at Bear Creek Lake Park.
Family portrait on bridge looking down at river with Documentary Lakewood Family Photographer.
Father and son on walking path at Bear Creek Lake Park, in Lakewood.

 

Let's chat

 

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