Mountain maternity session | Evergreen Colorado Maternity Photographer

I’m excited to finally share images from one of my favorite recent maternity sessions! I met Sasha in the maternity group that I offer each year for local expecting women. Myself and a couple of other local business owners who work with new moms create and moderate a Facebook group every year for expecting mothers to get to know each other and find support form others in a similar place in life. If you are expecting check out this years group here:

Sasha received the full luxury experience starting with hair and makeup by Francesca Nicole, and she looked like an absolute QUEEN for her session. She was so excited about wearing the gold Blair gown from my collection which made me happy since the gown had been recently added to my client closet and not yet worn. She excitedly told me when she saw this image that she looked like Pocahantas! I have to admit with the wind in her hair and am getting some Pocahantas “colors of the wind” vibes!

We met at one of my favorite Evergreen, Colorado locations along Squaw pass. I love this area because it is beautiful in every season! Fall at this spot did not disappoint. The yellow aspen leaves against the evergreen trees were just stunning and the gold gown just echoed their beautify.

The baby’s dad and big brother joined us for the shoot and I could definitely see how excited they both were for a new baby boy to join the family! I love when other children are involved in a maternity shoot and seeing how excited they are!

Sasha also selected a second gown for her session, this beautiful wine-colored Kiara gown. The Gold was definitely my favorite on her but the wine was beautiful too!

If you are expecting a baby this year make sure to contact me ASAP to set up your maternity and newborn sessions! Click the link below and fill out the form to be contacted with more information.

“We did family maternity pictures. I got hair and make-up included in my pricing I love the artist who did my hair and make-up. I felt like a princess is an understatement. She was amazing during our session. Jennifer the photographer was great with my special needs 8 year old. I love how they came out and we had a great experience I highly recommend and I would use her again anytime.
”

— Sasha

Jennifer Tavera is a Luxury family, maternity and newborn photographer in Denver Colorado who specializes in creating an experience that will make mom feel confortable, papered and beautiful so she will be excited to turn her portraits into art for her home. Sessions are available outdoors all over the Denver and Boulder area and studio sessions in the studio space in Arvada. Ready to start planning your dream session? Click below to schedule a call.

Squaw Pass, Evergreen Colorado | Colorado Family Photographer

Part of creating a luxury experience for my clients is knowing and recommending the best locations to them for their photoshoots. Choosing a location for your portrait session here in Colorado can get complicated. There are hundreds of beautiful spots all with their own rules, perks, and often fees for use. Luckily I navigate this for my clients. Your session fee includes not only your hair and makeup so you can look amazing, but also travel fees and location permit fees for any location listed on my blog. When we sit down for your consultation you can tell me what you envisioned for your session, and I can give you a few suggested locations that match your vision. After that I’ll take care of the rest. Or if you see a location here that you love, mention it when you contact me! Here is another mountain location on my favorites list!

Best time of year for this location: 

This mountain location Is beautiful all year round, not only do you have beautiful mountains any time of year but also the evergreen and aspen trees are beautiful even after the leaves drop. In this post I show images of both my favorite trailhead along Squaw pass and also some spots higher up along the road that are just spots you can pull off on the side of the road. While the spots higher up are not going to change much for views in summer vs. winter the roads may be icy and harder to navigate in the winter. For the open space, it features beautiful yellow flowers covering the field around June and gorgeous changing aspens in the fall.

Best time of day for this location: 

This location would be beautiful for sunrise or sunset sessions however since my sessions come with hair and makeup I only shoot here in the evening to allow time for hair and makeup to be done.

Drive time: 

This location is just under an hour drive from the Denver metro area.

Parking: 

The main open space where I typically start my sessions up here has a large dirt parking lot. The last few images shown are taken further up the road where there are only small areas to pull off the road.

Family friendliness:

The open space is a great spot for family sessions with many beautiful spots close to the parking lot and no dangerous areas. There isn’t a restroom at this location, however. I would not recommend the spots used in the last few images for small children since they are close to cliffs and right next to the busy road.

I would love to set up a session for you here or at any of the many beautiful Colorado locations that I offer my clients. To get more information on a session please click the link below and fill out my contact form.

Jennifer Tavera is a Luxury family, maternity and newborn photographer in Denver Colorado who specializes in creating an experience that will make mom feel confortable, papered and beautiful so she will be excited to turn her portraits into art for her home. Sessions are available outdoors all over the Denver and Boulder area and studio sessions in the studio space in Arvada. Ready to start planning your dream session? Click below to schedule a call.

Jennifer

Studio Christmas sessions | Arvada Colorado Portrait Studio

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Truth Photography!

I was so honored to be able to celebrate with families in a new way this year with studio sessions in the Arvada photo studio located off of 80th and Wadsworth. The studio was beautifully decorated for the Holidays including this beautiful bed set. This was one of a couple of holiday sets that were available. I am so excited to be sharing this gorgeous space with two other photographers over the next few months and hopefully beyond!

Here are some of my favorite images from family and milestone baby sessions in the studio last month. I will be offering this space for newborn, baby, kids and cake smash sessions as well as the occasional family or maternity shoot. Each season there will be a limited edition holiday set as well as staples like the bed and couch areas perfect for newborn family shots, milestone sessions and kids portraits. To see more of the studio visit my last blog post using the button below.

This bed has already been redecorated for spring and summer sessions! We also have the Valentines set ready for sessions in January and February so contact me today to book you spot!

Jennifer Tavera is a Luxury family, maternity and newborn photographer in Denver Colorado who specializes in creating an experience that will make mom feel confortable, papered and beautiful so she will be excited to turn her portraits into art for her home. Sessions are available outdoors all over the Denver and Boulder area and studio sessions in the studio space in Arvada. Ready to start planning your dream session? Click below to schedule a call

Jennifer

Welcome to the studio space | Truth Photography Arvada Colorado Photographer

I am so excited to announce that I now have a studio space available for winter sessions!

Introducing the Arvada Studio! The Studio is located off of 80th and Wadsworth in Arvada and is perfect for newborn sessions, baby milestones, cake smash sessions, and even family and maternity shoots.

The Arvada studio, which I am currently sharing with two other local photographers, offers a lounge area with a changing table and hair and makeup station. A fully equipped newborn room with a newborn posing bag and additional props, wraps and outfits beyond those in my own collection. A seasonal room for limited edition seasonal sessions, cake smash sessions and baby milestones sessions. The final room, the “bedroom” features a bed for newborn family shots or baby milestone sessions, and two couch areas perfect for families, maternity or kids!

Now booking!

I am now booking for the following types of sessions, space on all sessions is limited.

Studio newborn shoots. January-April ONE slot available per month. Newborn only and Newborn family sessions available up to 3 hours time as needed.

Cake smash session. January-April TWO slots per month. Choose from dozens of ideas from my inspiration board or previous sessions or choose your own theme and I will design you a custom set. Cake smash includes the cake, outfit, and decorations, before cake images, the cake smash, and an after cake milk bath shoot. Please book a minimum of 3 weeks in advance to ensure that I can order your cake, décor, and outfit on time.

Limited edition Valentine’s sessions. Ages 3 months to 10 years. 3 dates Monday, January 17, 9 am to noon, Monday, January 31st noon to 2 pm, or Sunday, January 23rd, 1 pm-4 pm.

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Jennifer Tavera is a Luxury family, maternity and newborn photographer in Denver Colorado who specializes in creating an experience that will make mom feel confortable, papered and beautiful so she will be excited to turn her portraits into art for her home. Sessions are available outdoors all over the Denver and Boulder area and studio sessions in the studio space in Arvada. Ready to start planning your dream session? Click below to schedule a call.

Jennifer

Echo lake, Evergreen Colorado | Colorado Photoshoot Locations

Part of creating a luxury experience for my clients is knowing and recommending the best locations to them for their photoshoots. Choosing a location for your portrait session here in Colorado can get complicated. There are hundreds of beautiful spots all with their own rules, perks, and often fees for use. Luckily I navigate this for my clients. Your session fee includes not only your hair and makeup so you can look amazing, but also travel fees and location permit fees for any location listed on my blog. When we sit down for your consultation you can tell me what you envisioned for your session, and I can give you a few suggested locations that match your vision. After that I’ll take care of the rest. Or if you see a location here that you love, mention it when you contact me! Here is another mountain location on my favorites list!

Best time of year for this location: 

This mountain location Is beautiful all year round. Due to the high altitude, the roads may be icy during the snowy months.

Best time of day for this location: 

This location would be beautiful for sunrise or sunset sessions however since my sessions come with hair and makeup I only shoot here in the evening to allow time for hair and makeup to be done.

Drive time: 

This location is one of the further locations on my list, normally I include locations that are around an hour drive from the north Denver area. This location is just over an hour from Denver metro however it is so beautiful I have decided to make it one that I regularly offer.

Parking: 

There is a small parking lot on the same side as the lake however it fills up quickly. More parking can be found across the street.

Family friendliness:

This is a great spot for family sessions with many beautiful spots close to the parking lots. It is also a very safe location if you are looking for mountain views. There are no cliffs or sudden drop-offs near the areas where I shoot.

I'm Jennifer Tavera.

A family photographer and portrait gallery designer in the North Denver Colorado area.

I help moms look and feel their best so we can capture the family moments that matter and turn then into beautiful art to hang in their home.

Learn more about a session with Truth Photography below.

Betasso Preserve, Boulder {Colorado Photography Locations}

I fell in love with this park immediately with its stunning mountain views, beautiful evergreen trees, and stacked split rail fences. I believe that this will be a new favorite on my locations list!

Best time of year for this location: 

This mountain location Is beautiful all year round and was easy to access even in the winter. In the case of a large amount of snow like the 2 feet we had recently the parking, lots may be closed as was the case the day I first went to scout the location however, they were able to get them back open the week after the storm.

Day of the week restrictions: 

This location is only available for shoots on Wednesday or Saturday evening. It is a big mountain biking spot and on other days of the week, it is often overly crowded however the park does not allow bikes on those two days each week.

Best time of day for this location: 

Sunset, I actually shot earlier in the day the first session I shot there and while there was some shade it was not enough to produce the even lighting that I prefer so I would highly recommend sticking to a sunset session for the best light.

Parking: 

There are a few parking lots up at the preserve. I have my clients meet in the first lot which you will take a left turn into and follow the road, it then splits into a lower lot and upper “picnic area” please park in the lower of those two lots if possible.

Family friendliness:

This is a great spot for family sessions with many beautiful spots close to the parking lots. It is also a very safe location if you are looking for mountain views. There are no cliffs or sudden drop-offs near the areas where I shoot.

I would love to help you plan your session with a free no-obligation consultation. I will answer all of your questions about sessions and wall art and help you plan the session of your dreams. To request more information click the link below and tell me a little about the session you would like to plan. I will get back to you to schedule a consultation.

I'm Jennifer Tavera.

A family photographer and portrait gallery designer in the North Denver Colorado area.

I help moms capture the moments and milestones that matter and turn then into beautiful art to hang in their home.

Learn more about me and a session with Truth Photography below.

Lair O'the Bear, Morrison {Denver Photography Locations}

Lair O’the Bear is a great spot for sessions for those who want the feel of being in the mountains without traveling up steep winding roads. It is also a great spot for those who would like that mountain feel as well as a river. It is located west of Morrison CO only about a 10 minute drive into the mountains.

Best time of year for this location: 

This mountain location Is beautiful all year round and was easy to access even in the winter. The mountain views and evergreen trees make it a perfect winter location when most trees in the Denver area are dead.

Best time of day for this location: 

I book sessions at this location for 2-3 hours before Denver’s sunset time since the mountains block the sun a little earlier.

Parking: 

There is one large parking lot for this park. It is typically best to park at the far side away from the road since I normally start the session on the path at that end of the parking lot. If however, you need to use the restrooms (outhouse) they are located closer to the start of the parking lot.

Family friendliness:

This is a great spot for family sessions with many beautiful spots close to the parking lots.

I would love to help you plan your session with a free no-obligation consultation. I will answer all of your questions about sessions and wall art and help you plan the session of your dreams. To schedule your consultation click “contact me” below.

I'm Jennifer Tavera.

A family photographer and portrait gallery designer in the North Denver Colorado area.

I help moms capture the moments and milestones that matter and turn then into beautiful art to hang in their home.

Learn more about me and a session with Truth Photography below.

Alderfer/Three Sisters Park {Evergreen Colorado Photography}

Alderfer/Three sisters park

Evergreen is an amazing place for portraits, less than an hour from Denver with all the beautiful mountain views it is the perfect place to plan your next photo shoot! Alderfer/Three sisters park offers beautiful mountain views, shady forested areas with evergreen trees for all year color and a beautiful barn!

Best time of year for this location: 

This mountain location Is beautiful all year round and was easy to access even in the winter. The mountain views, evergreen trees, and barn make it a perfect winter location when most trees in the Denver area are dead.

Best time of day for this location: 

I book sessions at this location for 2 hours before Denver’s sunset time since the mountains block the sun a little earlier and this allows time to use both areas of the park. We will start in the shady forested area and then move to the more open views of the mountains and barn.

Parking: 

There are 2 parking lots for this location located a few minutes drive apart. During your consultation, we will discuss the best place to start your shoot and we will likely move from one lot to the other partway through the shoot.

Family friendliness:

This is a great spot for family sessions with many beautiful spots close to the parking lots and no dangerous cliffs in this area.

I would love to help you plan your session with a free no-obligation consultation. I will answer all of your questions about sessions and wall art and help you plan the session of your dreams. To schedule your consultation click “contact me” below.

More images from the location.

I'm Jennifer Tavera.

A family photographer and portrait gallery designer in the North Denver Colorado area.

I help moms capture the moments and milestones that matter and turn then into beautiful art to hang in their home.

Learn more about me and a session with Truth Photography below.

Sandstone Ranch {Longmont Family Photographer}

Sandstone Ranch

I am always in search of new locations to use in order to offer my regular clients who book year after year the best variety of locations. Last week I checked out a new location with one of my favorite clients and it did not disappoint!  

Best time of year for this location: 

Most of this location’s best features like the barn, ponds, bridge, old buildings, rock formations, and mountain views will not change much from season to season making this a great location any time of year! I first used this location in the fall so it had the added beauty of the fall leaves however this location has so much going for it it would be beautiful even in the dead of winter.

Best time of day for this location: 

I always recommend sunset to my clients for the best light however this location do have the barn and some trees that would provide shade earlier in the day so it could be used other times if needed.  

Parking: 

There is a small parking lot near the barn where I will meet clients at this location however it can fill up quickly so if needed there is a larger parking lot just up the hill that can be used.

Family friendliness:

This is a great spot for family sessions, with open fields it is a safe fun place for kids to roam. There is also the added benefit of a playground at the other end of the park, easy to get to after the session but out of sight while we are taking photos!

More images of the location!

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My name is Jennifer Tavera, I am one of North Denver's premier high end photographers. In 2020 I celebrated 13 years as a professional portrait photographer. I got my start back in 2007 working at a children's portrait studio, that, combine with 10 years experience raising my own 5 children means I am ready for just about anything when photographing your kids and I know how to make even the most stubborn kids laugh. I am often told by my clients that I am the only one who has ever taken a photo of them that they love. I attribute this to my superpower of knowing how to get you to relax in front of the camera.

I am passionate about capturing motherhood in all of it's stages and helping you celebrate your life through ready to hang heirloom portraits wall art. I want to take your favorite family photo. Contact me to book a free no-obligation consultation to plan your perfect portrait session.

Davidson Mesa, Louisville {Colorado family photographer}

Davidson Mesa

Davidson Mesa is a beautiful location with a mountain view in Louisville Colorado. It's a great spot of family, maternity and kids sessions. 

Best time of year for this location: 

While this location is great any time of year because of it's mountain views, I really love this location for winter shoots. The tall brown grass and snow-covered mountains make it a beautiful spot during the winter when everything else looks dull and dead. 

Best time of day for this location: 

I only shoot at this location at sunset because of the lack of shade and because it's beauty is the mountain view. Sessions earlier in the day would put the sun in your eyes resulting in squinty unevenly light portraits. 

Parking: 

Parking at this location is very limited. The lot next to the park is often full however just on the other side of the road is a lake with additional parking and a path that goes under the road. 

Ready to book your session at this location or just want to get more information about my sessions? Fill out the form below to get instant access to my session planning and pricing guide.

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 12 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!

Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder {Boulder photoshoot locations}

Flagstaff mountain is a beautiful location for portraits with its evergreen trees and mountain views. The mountain has a variety of small parks all along the road and some are better than others for shoots with smaller children so please make sure to let me know how old your children are when booking this location so I can recommend the best spot.

Best time of year for this location:

This location is beautiful all year-round and can be a great place if you are looking for some color for a winter session however if you choose this location for winter please make sure you have proper snow tires and are comfortable driving on snow-packed mountain roads if necessary.

Best time of day for this location:

This location can be a bit bright if you schedule for too early in the day so I always schedule here for the session to end around 10 minutes after sunset. those few minutes after the sun goes down are gorgeous here.

Parking:

This location does require you to pay cash for parking so make sure to bring a $5 bill along to pay the parking fees. Lots also fill up quickly on warm weekend days so make sure to arrive early to get a spot.

Other info for this location:

This location does require me to purchase a permit for commercial photography. I have included these costs in my session fee so it is no additional cost to you however I do need a 1-week notice to purchase the permit before the session so please plan ahead.

Ready to book a session at this location or just get more information? Fill out the form below for instant access to my session guide and I will contact you to answer any questions you have or help you reserve your session time.

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 12 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!

Client Spotlight:The Stone family's winter session {Boulder Family Photographer}

I had the honor of first meeting Jackie and her family just over a year ago. They found out about me through an awesome local organization called Love for Lily. Love for Lily is a support group for parents with children in the NICU and also offers grants to a few NICU families in need each year (learn more at https://www.lflnicu.org/). To raise money each year they do a fundraiser and a friend of mine who worked with the organization asked me if I would be willing to donate a session to their silent auction. The Stone family where the lucky bidders to receive the gift certificate that I donated and I have since had the honor of photographing their son twice and now the whole family!

I was so excited to finally get to photograph the whole family in November at one of my favorite spots out in Boulder and while we had hoped for warm weather for their session the little bit of lingering snow the day of their session wound up being so perfect! The old Doran barn, tall grass, mountains, and snow all worked together for the perfect look for the portraits and the colors Jackie chose for their clothing were perfect with the colors of the barn!

Their son Jackson was so excited to play in the snow and throw snowballs at his parents! Isn’t he just the cutest!! (I may have a bit of a soft spot for toddler aged boys!)

Here are some of my favorite images from their session. If you are interested in a session at this spot or any other Denver or Boulder location scroll down and fill out my contact form for more information.

Get more information on a session:

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 12 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!

Standley Lake Regional Park, Westminster Colorado {Westminster Maternity Photographer}

Standley lake is a beautiful location with the mountain views, gorgeous lake and occasional wildflowers. It is a great spot for mountain views if you are not up for a trip into the mountains. Here is a little more information about a session at this location.

Best time of year for this location:

This location is beautiful year-round however the winds here can get very chilly in the winter. If you are choosing this location for a winter shoot it is a good idea to have a backup location. Because of the open fields and lake the winds tend to be worse at this location than at other spots, but if you can catch it on a day with low winds this location is gorgeous for photos!

Best time of day for this location:

Sunset!! I know what you are thinking, that seems to be my answer for every location. Yes it is but with this location because of the lack of shade I shoot here exclusively at sunset.

Parking:

There are several spots to park around the lake to park, some paid and some free, I typically use one of the two free parking lots which are a little further from the lake but both have some great spots near the parking as well as access to the lake if we want to get closer. If you select this location we will agree on a spot to park before your session date.

Other info for this location:

On hazy of cloudy days the mountains are not always visible. If you have your heart set on a mountain backdrop I recommend getting a little closer to the mountains for better visibility however this spot does have more than the mountains going for it so either way I can capture beautiful portraits here.

Get more information on a session at this location or any of the beautiful locations in Denver, Boulder or the surrounding mountains by downloading my session planning guide! Fill out the form below for instant access to the guide!

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 13 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!

The Old Barn, Boulder CO {Denver Photoshoot Locations}

The old barn in Boulder has been one of my most requested locations for a long time. The barn, mountains, tall grass, nearby river and sunflowers in the fall make it a beautiful location for family, children’s and maternity sessions. This is one location I would not recommend for outdoor newborn sessions.

Best time of year for this location:

This location is beautiful year-round however I do not recommend this location right after it rains or snows or any time of year that the mosquito population is high. Because of the tall grass and nearby river I have on occasion been to this location when it was wet and mushy or when the mosquitos where completely out of control. I prefer this as a fall location personally but have used it in every season!

Best time of day for this location:

Sunset!! There is little shade except right up against the barn and you can’t really use this location to get the best looks shooting other times of the day so I highly recommend an evening/sunset session for this location.

Parking:

Parking is a little complicated at this location, there really isn’t any, but there is plenty of room to park cars on the dirt shoulder off of the road.

Other info for this location:

While this location is a little more off the beaten path than most Boulder spots it can still get crowded in the fall so expect to work around other photographers and families that time of year. I highly recommend you bring bug spray just in case for this location as noted above the bugs sometimes get bad here.

Get more information about a session at this location:

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 12 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!

How to prepare for a family photo session {Northglenn Colorado Photographer}

Last weekend my family had our family photos taken, let me tell you photos with a family of 5 kids and a husband who doesn’t really love picture day can be a huge headache but we made it through and with my own session fresh in my mind I have decided I need to create a checklist for all of you to help make your session run more smoothly. Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your family photo session will go off without a hitch

Setting up your session:

• Choose a photographer. Make sure you love their style of images including types of photos you see in their portfolio, editing style and the products they offer (canvases or other wall art products). Hopefully, your photographer is me and you already have that part covered!

• Set up a date, time and location. make sure to think about where you are going to hang the images when you choose the location. For me I really wanted them hanging in my dining room and was picturing a mountain backdrop. When you book with me, I will send you location suggestions based on your vision so tell me a little bit about what you have in mind. You can also check out my favorite locations on my locations Pinterest board.

Planning your wardrobe

I’ve done several blog posts just on this subject so if you want more details than I give here, check out this recent blog post just on choosing clothing for families.

• Choose colors for your family photos. You will want to choose at least two colors to mix and match throughout the group, even if one of them is a neutral. I knew I wanted royal blue to match the walls in my dining room so I started with blue and white. Later I added khaki pants on all of the boys so it was 3 colors total.

• Add accessories. When planning our session I chose a blue and white checkered shirt for my middle son but I know he couldn’t be the only one with white in his outfit so I added a white sweater on my oldest daughter and a blue sweater with white “fur” on my younger daughter, then I found a white shawl

for me and added pearl necklaces on all 3 girls. Next, I wanted to make sure that my husband’s shirt that was a slightly lighter blue didn’t look out of place so I added flower crowns for my girls in the same color blue. The accessories really tied together all of the outfits so no one person stood out in the group.

• Check their shoes!!! The easiest thing to forget when planning a session is to make sure everyone has shoes that are going to look good in the photos (no cartoon characters or bright colors that will draw your eye to the shoes instead f your faces) and make sure they fit! Don’t wait until the day before or day of the session to do this. If your child hasn’t worn their dress shoes in months and you plan to have them wear them for the session have them try them on to make sure they still fit and look great.

• Make sure you will be warm enough. As I write this it is fall and the weather is quickly getting colder. In a few weeks it will be November and warm clothing options for your session will be a MUST. For our session I planned sweaters for my girls, long sleeve shirts WITH UNDERSHIRTS for my boys, a shawl for myself since my dress was off the shoulder and I even brought a white blanket for the baby so that I could wrap him in it when it got chilly and still have it match our clothing colors. You will want something your small kids can wear in the session to keep them warm in case it’s a cold day. Look for cute sweaters, jackets, layered clothing or even cute matching winter hats!

Pack a bag before the session day with things you might need

My bag might look a little different than yours based on the age of your kids but this was what went in my photo session bag.

• Extra diapers, underwear and pants (that would still match our colors) for my 2 year and 2 month old.

• A toy that I didn’t mind being in the photo. Make a favorite stuffed animal, a favorite book you could read your little one, a vintage-looking toy (I love toy airplanes, rag dolls etc).

• Safety pins, bobby pins, hair clips. Just in case.

• A quilt and a blanket that matched our session colors. I will typically bring a quilt and some stools to most of my family sessions and try to match them to your clothing however it is also a great idea to bring your own, especially if it has any sentimental value, for fun shots of the family hanging out on the quilt or wrapping themselves in it.

• A brush and a lint roller.

• Baby wipes and/or a wet rag.

• A spray bottle with water or detangler.

• Clean snacks (I avoid bringing these out of the car during the session, often once kids see them they just want more and more and then they have food in their mouth in all of the images, however it is great to have them on hand just in case.

Arrive early to the session.

Now that you have everything you need for the session itself plan to arrive early, especially if you have little ones. We planned to be there 45 minutes early so that we could dress my 5-year-old, 2-year-old and 2-month-old there as well as feed the baby a bit before we started. Even when we were running a little late this still got us there in time for a quick feeding and to be ALMOST ready by the time our photographer arrived. Let’s face it as moms it’s sometimes hard to get anywhere on time with the whole family so do yourself a favor and plan to be early.

A few things you shouldn’t do to prep for your session

• Don’t practice smiling with your kids. You will make your kids overthink their smile and they will be less likely to e natural and relaxed for the session.

• Don’t Bring messy snacks to give them before or during the session. This seems like a no brainer but it happens all the time so it is worth saying.

• Don’t Bribe your children Ok sometimes a bribe might be necessary, but it also tells the kids that this may not be fun, why else would mom and dad need to bribe us? My goal is to just make the session as fun as possible and use the brides as a last resort. Also, keep in mind that small children will not wait a long time for a bribe. If they are promised something after the session they typically start to get frustrated that they have not received the bride within the first 15 minutes of the session. After that, it can be hard to get them to cooperate because often they start to believe that the promised bribe is not really coming. So save the brides for getting those last few poses after your kids have started to tire of the session. Instead tell them “we are going to go to the part and a photographer is going to take pictures of us while we play together”.

My Family

Photo by: Reflection Photography, edited by me :)

I hope this helps make planning your session easier for your next family photos! If you would like more advice on preparing and information about the session process and pricing please download my session guide below!

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 12 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!

Clear Creek History Park, Golden CO {Denver Photoshoot Locations}

Part of the planning process for your photo session is of course picking the perfect location. There are so many amazing locations in the Denver and Boulder areas that it can be hard to choose which is best and I find myself often emailing or texting images back and forth to clients. So in an effort to make my job and your choice easier I am starting a series of blogs featuring all of my favorite locations with a variety of images and details on each location. I hope this will give you as my clients a better look at what a session at each of these locations looks like and help you choose the one that is right for your session! So here is the first of many locations I love for sessions!

I chose this location as my first to feature because it has so many different looks within a short walk from each other. Believe it or not all of the spots shown below are within a 5-minute walk from one another.

Best time of year for this location:

Year-round, with the great old buildings and beautiful spots along the river this location has some great spot even in the winter when the trees are dead.

Best time of day for this location:

Honestly, the answer to this for almost all of my locations is sunset, if you would like the mountains behind you or the shot with the white schoolhouse you are going to want a sunset session however this location does have some spots where shade can be found for morning sessions.

Parking:

This location free parking for the park and additional parking on the river side at the library. When we plan your session I will tell you which side to meet me on based on where I plan to start your session.

Other info for this location:

The biggest conflict for this location is local festivals. Make sure to check Golden’s festival schedule to see if anything is scheduled near the park. I do not book this location during the weekend of Buffalo Bill Days or other large festivals in the area. Check the festival schedule here: https://www.visitgolden.com/events/festivals-of-golden/

Get more information on a session at this location:

My name is Jennifer Tavera, owner, photographer and gallery designer for Truth Photography LLC. I have created beautiful custom portraiture for my clients here in the Denver and Boulder Colorado areas for the past 12 years! I specialize in growing families including children, maternity, and newborn. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share my passion with all of you.

As a busy mom myself, I understand that you need a photographer who will go the extra mile to help you with every aspect of creating cherished imagery of your family.

I would love to become YOUR family photographer and can't wait for us to get to know each other better!