I'm so glad you are here to check out some recent work. I'm a Colorado wedding photographer that shoots all around the country. The blog is filled with full wedding and portrait sessions, and includes weddings planning tips and inspiration.
Liz and Randy were in town for Liz’s sister’s wedding in Breckenridge (more on that coming soon!!), and they decided it would be the perfect time to get some photos done! They decided to do a Great Sand Dunes engagement session with me and I’m SO glad we made the drive out there! We had such a great time I’m so obsessed with this shoot!
More info about Great Sand Dunes National Park photo sessions;
The Great Sand Dunes National Park is so unique. A few fun facts; did you know that these sand dunes are the tallest in the continent!? The park is also dog friendly! (One of the few in the country that allow dogs!) You can also sand board down the dunes. So much fun! Another fun fact is that you are allowed to camp overnight in the dunes. What an experience.
That being said, the conditions out in the dune can be harsh and will vary. In the summer months, expect hot sand and hot heat. In the winter time, you can even expect some snow! This is why I think that spring and fall are the best times to go. For time of day, mid-day will have the most people visiting the dunes. Sunrise will be the most empty, and sunset will still have a few strangler visitors. We opted for sunset this time, but I’d love to explore the dunes at sunrise! Also know that hiking and walking in sand is no joke! The starting elevation is just under 8,000 ft, and goes up to 13k!
Another factor to consider when thinking about doing a Great Sand Dunes engagement session is the wind. The wind can really make it hard to photograph and have an enjoyable experience, BUT, it doesn’t make for some epic drama in your photos! The wind makes sense, as that is how a lot of these dunes were formatted.
Just a heads up that a photo permit is required to shoot inside the park. You can get an annual photo permit for $200.
Since this National Park is OUT there, the drive can be a long one if coming from Denver (about 3.5-4 hours!). If staying until sunset, it might be worth getting a hotel for the night! I’d highly recommend checking out the cute town of Salida (1.5 hours from the dunes). My favorite place to stay there is the Amigo Motor Lodge!
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Thank you so much for the photos, Shelly. I am absolutely obsessed and couldn’t be happier with how our engagement photos turned out!