Abbie and Scott both work in the architecture and design world. They are truly a creative Colorado duo. We had talked with them about doing a “simple” engagement session somewhere in Colorado. During those conversations, I knew we were missing an opportunity to highlight their amazing taste for the best Colorado engagement photos.

I suggested engagement photos that would focus around their love for the outdoors. Highlighting their effortless style with their baby: a vintage teardrop trailer. Once I planted the seed, Abbie, an interior designer, ran with the concept. Abbie made sure we had all the styling props and details we would need. With all this in hand we were set up for the best possible engagement photos in the Colorado mountains.

Ending up in the river

Since we wanted to be near a river, we drove until we found a spot that was both private and lovely. We the search end near the Poudre River in Fort Collins, Colorado. It took us a while to find the right spot that was secluded, near a river, and close enough to pull up the camper. It’s always worth it to keep looking for the best possible engagement photo location. With so many options in Colorado, I knew we could find somewhere perfect.

Wardrobe and Prop Styling

Abbie did the wardrobe and prop styling of the engagement photoshoot to include several moments and outfits. We started with camping photos by the teardrop trailer and by cracking open some Coors Banquet. I mean, it is Colorado after all. Then we switched to taking classic engagement photos in various spots throughout the woods. Abbie and Scott changed outfits to a more formal look. Finally, we had ended the photos with some super and fun playful shots in the river. Putting on their swimsuits and boots as the ultimate troopers!

The final photos are quintessentially Abbie and Scott and the perfect hipster Colorado engagement photoshoot. These are the best type of photos when we can capture the couple in their natural habitat. They will get married back home in Nebraska, so it is nice to have some photos of them in their home Colorado.

These photos were our first engagement session photos here in Colorado. So they will always have a special place in our minds. For all future photoshoots, we will try to make them as personal as this one. It only takes a few conversations to figure out ways to incorporate details.

Studio Portraits get such a bad rap! Indoor and black and white studio portraits are perfect for this stylish couple. Our good friends Leila and Todd are in Denver by way of London and we want to capture that “London in Denver vibe” while our time here in Colorado overlaps.

We were able to capture Leila and Todd at our Denver photography studio in front of a simple white backdrop. For wardrobe when the couple was asking what to wear I told them their usual attire of all-black. The result was just perfect.

Of course I knew they would wear something chic and elegant in black. I can only imagine how great a dressy look would be. Our next guests will be a little more formal in attire. Just to see what that looks like. Having professional hair and makeup done also adds to the look.

The best part of this whole shoot is that it was after the sun went down. The beauty of having a studio is that it’s consistent. Climate or lighting is never a problem. The space is heated and secure. It’s literally a dream for me to have this studio! Be sure to see all the other posts that show off the types of shoots that we are doing here.

Bonnie Sen Studio Portraits

All the studio portraits are photographed in our studio within 10-15 minutes. We are so excited about having this studio space so we can open up to portrait sessions, commercial shoots, family photos, and anything else that can happen on a blank white canvas. There’s something about having a controlled space for photos that opens up lots of possibilities!

Keep an eye on the Bonnie Sen Studios Instagram for all the non-wedding related content. We are, however, looking forward to the return of weddings and large celebrations when they happen!

Meg and Zandy live in New York, but are getting married in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. To add another destination to their story, they decided to do their engagement session in Traverse City, Michigan! The couple has close personal ties to all these locations so they wanted to celebrate each of them in their wedding story. We were happy to hop on a plane and head up north to Michigan for their destination engagement session.

We started the shoot the same way we always like to start an engagement shoot, with a cocktail. With lots of industrial and beautiful buildings in downtown Traverse City, we had plenty of spots to choose from for a quick sip.

Following the drink and a walk down the local boardwalk, we headed to the main attraction – the beach of the great Lake Michigan. The shoot ended with a summer storm. But we were lucky enough to capture a variety of shots before the rain hit!

The bride wore a black and white dress with a classic silhouette for the photos downtown and we can’t forget her stunning strappy black heels. For the photos by the lake, Meg changed in to a beautiful long yellow dress and sandals. The contrast of the yellow against the gloomy skies before the rain hit are breathtaking.

As you know, destination engagement shoots always hold a special place in our hearts and we love that they allow us to explore new locations. Can’t wait to see where we go next!

New York City Engagement sessions will always be my favorite. Ever since I went to high school in upstate New York (Hyde Park to be exact) I have loved returning to the city whenever possible. Often we have couples who are getting married somewhere other than their current place of residence. And in this case, they will request for us to travel to their current location. This is a great way to celebrate both locations, where you live and where you’re from. Of course, it’s always exciting for us because we get to explore a new place. In great, great detail.

In the city that never sleeps, there are very few things worth waking up at dawn. Rachel and Jon’s NYC engagement shoot was one of them. New York City Engagement photos have so many opportunities for an active backdrop. Although Central Park and SoHo have been popular for us in the past few trips, I can think of many other places to shoot. I’d love to shoot in Chinatown, at the new Whitney, the Highline (again), and of course the MOMA or the Met, two of my favorite places.

We will be shooting Rachel and Jon’s wedding this November at the St. Regis in DC. The pair lives on the Upper West Side so we headed up for a NYC engagement shoot. We love capturing our couples in the cities where they have built a life together.

We started the day at sunrise with the classic Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. The gorgeous morning light and early hours free of tourists made for one of those magical NYC moments only true New Yorkers get to experience. After a quick outfit change to a second Rent the Runway look, we ventured to SoHo to finish off the day.

It is no secret that my husband Tom and I love all things architecture.So when we met this adorable couple, with an architect groom, we knew it was a match made on a blueprint. Hayley and John are getting married later this year in Annapolis but for their destination engagement shoot we headed north to Rhode Island.

Second only to architecture is our love for travel so we love a destination engagement shoot. We absolutely love visiting Newport, Rhode Island and will be back soon. It is impossible to not feel like you are in a Diane Keaton movie as you stroll along the beach and staring up at the stunning houses. If only I hadn’t left my perfect cream turtleneck at home!

Planning is important when planning a destination engagement photo shoot or session. Lots of research. We start with scouting the location via google maps. Then we look for any weather information available. Finally, we always look for places we can go sightseeing for context images. Read this blog post about planning a destination engagement session

We will be back near the water in September as these two tie the knot with the help of Strawberry Milk Events. And can’t wait to get these two behind the camera again.