Why You Should Hire Local Colorado Wedding Photographers (and other Vendors)

Lately I’ve been joining a lot of luxury networking events in the wedding space – something new for me that really pushes me out of my comfort zone. Mingling amongst peers at events with WIPA and Société Privée has been a highlight of my year! Something to look forward to every month or quarter. At the most recent event that I attended, the topic came up about why higher end planners might find it appealing to hire out of state vendors instead of from our local market. It was a heated debate and made me realize a few things about Colorado vendors (where I live), specifically photographers.

1. We know the state best. It’s traffic. It’s weather. The wildlife
2. We know the colors best. More on that later.
3. We have the best experience for the above- so why not hire local!?

Local Colorado Traffic

One thing many out of staters might not know about Colorado is our specific traffic. I70 is not to be messed with! This highway even has its own instagram account documenting all the wild things that will happen on this main vein through the state. Winter? Snowstorms, ski traffic, blackouts, closed roads. Spring? Mudslides. Summer? Construction, backed up weekend traffic of visitors heading to the mountains, and wildlife in the road. Fall? You guessed it- traffic again with leaf peepers! Holiday weekends? Forget about it. Even if your navigation says your destination is 2 hours away, the locals know to expect about 3-4 hours. It’s why many locals know to book a hotel closer to their wedding venue destination rather than trying to drive to the wedding the morning of. We also know which roads are closed for winter seasons or are notorious for ongoing construction.

Local Colorado Weather

I can speak on this topic personally, as a photographer that moved to Colorado from California. I photographed weddings in Southern California for 7 years, and it only rained at ONE of the weddings I attended. We never had to check the weather, and it was always sunny and golden. Very consistent. Once I moved to Colorado, I had to make a habit of checking my weather app multiple times a week, if not multiple times a day! We can get all four seasons on one wedding day. I know to pack see-through rain umbrellas for my couples, as well as rain gear, sunscreen, and winter gloves in my car to work with. All. Year. Long. We are experienced in driving in snow, HAIL, and can also withstand the 95 degree dry heat that summer brings on top of a mountain at 10k feet elevation.

Colorado Elevation

If you are not used to working, living, and even just breathing at 10k feet elevation or above, it will definitely be a challenge for you! Most of the luxury destination wedding venues in Colorado are up in the Rocky mountains. The average venue in these places might be at around 8k-12k feet elevation! Not only may you get winded from walking around, but dehydrating is a major issue. To acclimate to these conditions can take a few days. Some people are more prone to altitude sickness than others as well. Locals will be much more used to working at higher elevations.

Colorado Wildlife

While not a major issue, it can still be something to consider. Wild moose, bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and wildcats do live in the mountains. While uncommon to come across one at a wedding, it’s still possible, especially in the more remote destinations and venues. Moose are not animals to mess with! They will charge when feeling threatened. Small towns like Estes Park are flooded with wild Elk during certain seasons, and its not uncommon to come across them on a shoot, or even while driving to venues.

Colorado “Colors”

This might be the most important reason to hire a local Colorado wedding photographer. As noted before, I moved my business from California to Colorado. When photographing in California, it was almost as if….I didn’t need to try? What I mean by that is- the colors were literal gold. There is an ever present ocean layer of mist on the coast that constantly diffuses the sun in the most perfect way for photography. The sunset can last for hours, creating insane hues of gold, orange, and pink. All colors that compliment skin tones wonderfully. The sky is a different blue, the grass is a hydrated green, the dirt is a sand taupe. In Colorado, we have some of the clearest, cleanest air. Being so close to the sun has its perks, but also makes it extra difficult for photos and editing. The harshness of the sun can not be missed. The colors are very unique here in the mountains. The greens of the pines, the blues of the sky, and the browns of the dry dirt are all very specifically “Colorado”. When I moved my business here, I had to completely change my editing style. I found that instead of the warm California tones that I was used to, I had to really cool down my Colorado tones. There is no “golden hour” in Colorado, as the sun dips behind the mountains sometimes HOURS before the true sunset time. We have an amazing alpenglow and blue hour though!

Long story short, photographers really have to fine tune and rework their Colorado ‘colors’ in wedding photos here. It’s something we’ve perfected over time that I find out-of-staters usually have a hard time with!

Why hire other vendors from Colorado;

And these points made do just apply to photographers, they can also apply to other vendors such as florists and bands! When talking to local florists, they had similar comments. They know what flowers will survive the dry summer Colorado heat and which won’t make it. The harsh winters are a task to work around as well. Knowing how to keep florals alive in Colorado is a learned skill! And imagine if you have a 10 person live band trekking their way to a mountain venue for the first time. All of that breathing and singing live will really do them in if they are not acclimated to the altitude. If you’re looking for other Colorado wedding vendors, I have a whole list of people I enjoy working with!

All in all there are some huge benefits to hiring local. I like to think that us Colorado vendors are a tough breed! We’ve figured out our very unique elements here in the mountains. The same can be said for any market to be honest. There are usually always benefits to knowing your local areas. Knowing the weather, the permit systems, the roads, and so much more will help you in the long run.