The 11 best family photographers in Denver

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The 11 best family photographers in Denver

The top family photographers in Denver range across a variety of styles and unique creative twists. They all strive to capture joyful moments amongst family members, whether it be new parents welcoming their infant or extended family reunions. Colorado is full of gorgeous outdoor locations and Denver is the perfect jumping-off point for many of them. Many of the best family photographers in Denver are familiar with the best spots that receive optimal light that creates soft contrast and even lighting.

Katie Todd Photography
Katie Todd is a full-service photographer based in the Denver Metro Area. She enjoys shooting in unique locations that speak to families and couples to ensure each session is individualized. She has a wide collection of suggestions if families aren’t sure where they want to shoot. The initial consultation will go over favorite types of scenery, such as mountains, greenery, or a more urban setting. Her natural lighting techniques allow her to capture all the landscape beauty that Colorado has to offer.

When booking with Katie Todd Photography, clients can expect a fun and professional session. She aims to exceed expectations and is experienced with shooting families, elopements, engagements, weddings, seniors, maternity sessions, and a range of special milestones. Katie Todd provides flexible payment options, including cash, online payments, and checks.

PRO Tip: Check out Katie Todd’s stunning portfolio that provides examples of her skillset of capturing special moments and cementing them into family albums for generations to come.

J Bell Visuals
Brett, the founder of J Bell Visuals, is a Denver native who is passionate about portrait photography. Nearly a decade into his photography career, Brett can pull from a diverse array of experiences to ensure that he’s able to capture special moments from each session. His extensive portfolio includes work from weddings, family portraits, as well as fashion and beauty sessions. When booking with J Bell Visuals, clients can rest assured that Brett is up to date on current technology and the most popular trends.

J Bell Visuals is currently a resident of one of Denver’s premier photography studios — RAW Photographic. The two-story studio allows for multiple shooting areas, including a penthouse that receives gorgeous natural light and a kitchenette. Brett’s portraiture sessions begin at $129. Clients can book him for senior portraits, wedding day photos, fine art portraiture, and of course, couples and family portraits.

PRO Tip: J Bell Visuals provides a convenient pricing breakdown, including what clients can expect to receive per package.

Alex Morris Design
Alex Morris specializes in using natural light to create stunning family portraits. She also does maternity and newborn sessions and serves the Denver Metro Area. She shoots in a variety of scenic outdoor spaces, usually near the foothills. She’s also familiar with shooting in an urban setting, such as downtown Denver. Most sessions begin one and a half hours before sunset when the light is soft and harsh shadows are eliminated. Studio space is available for an additional fee.

Photography packages with Alex Morris Design include a predesignated session time, edited digital image files, and a “what to wear” guide and styling assistance upon request. Clients will have the opportunity to peruse a proofing gallery and choose their final images. Alex will then edit these images and return the finished product. She also offers a “Fresh 48” session which takes place within the first two days of a newborn’s arrival, enabling loved ones and friends to receive professional images of the new member of the family.

PRO Tip: Those interested in booking a session with Alex Morris Design should start planning 2-3 months in advance. Last-minute sessions may be available but they can’t be guaranteed.

Tim Gillies
Tim Gillies is a Denver-based family photographer whose specialty is mountain, urban, home lifestyle, and studio sessions. Tim prides himself on being fun and easy to work with. Family portraits don’t have to be rigid and uncomfortable. Tim strives to keep the group laughing to capture the unique dynamic between members. Not only does this result in more natural photographs, families even find themselves having a blast during the session.

Some of Tim’s favorite outdoor locations for portraits include Mount Falcon, Breckenridge, Boulder, Red Rocks, and South Mesa Trailhead. For a more urban setting, Tim recommends the RiNo Arts District with its striking colors and textures and Union Station for its modern architecture. His gallery turnaround is between 7-10 days, enabling clients to receive their photos back in record time.

PRO Tip: Tim Gillies provides an online booking option that shows up to 90 days of availability. The pricing structure is provided as well, including standard, full, and MINI sessions.

Alicia Noelle Photography
Alicia Noelle is passionate about nostalgic storytelling and strives to turn photographs into timeless heirlooms that will have a place on the shelf decades after they were taken. She’s located near Denver and offers family sessions that include 35 hand-edited photos delivered via an online gallery. She will also offer styling assistance and wardrobe tips at the request of clients.

Turnaround time is around four to six weeks during the peak season. She requests a non-refundable 30% retainer fee due at the time of booking. A few days before the shoot, a location will be determined depending on the weather and the desired style of the photos. Sunset is the optimal time for a session as it provides families with a gorgeous backdrop and soft lighting.

PRO Tip: To request a booking with Alicia Noelle Photography, fill out the quick online form that discusses a vision for the session and who will be included.

April O’Hare Photography
April O’Hare is a Colorado-based photographer who serves the Denver Metro area and surrounding cities and towns such as Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Loveland, Frisco, and Breckenridge. She specializes in crafting individualized family photographs that show real moments and genuine emotions. She enjoys capturing silly moments, as well as traditionally posed shots. Sometimes, the candid and unposed photos end up being the favorites at the end of the session.

Session fees start at $595 for those living in the Denver area and go up the further away the location is. April has experience shooting in Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, both beautiful outdoor locations that make for stunning family portraits in front of a perfect Colorado backdrop.

PRO Tip: If you want to include your furry family member in your session, let April know ahead of time. Some locations aren’t dog-friendly but she can help you choose one that is.

Kara Pearson Photography
Kara Pearson Photography specializes in family and newborn sessions. These photos are intended to remind parents of their best days, with an emphasis on the authentic and tender moments that will be looked back on fondly decades from now. Kara believes that family photos don’t need to be a difficult occasion and this is why she offers her clients full service. This includes professional hair and makeup, access to a client wardrobe, styling guidance, location scouting, and in-home gallery viewing and ordering. All images and products are sold a la carte, with most clients investing between $850-$2500 on digital photos and framed artwork, and heirloom albums.

Clients can book a 1-hour session, which is standard, or opt for a simple session in the studio in 15-minute increments. She will also come to your home to help design a gallery wall and send a professional installer to hang your favorite photos for free.

PRO Tip: To stay up to date on Kara Pearson Photography, you can follow her on social media platforms such as Facebook.

J Amado Photography
J Amado Photography has been in business since 2008 and currently is made up of three experienced photographers based in Denver. Jermaine is the owner and Aly and Angela are the lead photographer and the wedding & family photographer, respectively. The team is willing to travel to nearby cities such as Boulder, Aurora, Golden, Lakewood, and Highlands Ranch. Their extensive experience enables them to provide clients with helpful tips for location scouting, based on previous shoots and the expected weather forecast and sunrise and sunset times.

The photography group offers on-location portraits, wedding shoots, and corporate headshots. They strive to allow personality to shine through photos, as this is often where the magic is created. Packages range from the “A-Stop” which includes an hour-long session and at least 50 images or a 30-minute mini-session with at least 30 images.

PRO Tip: No family is too big or too small for the J Amado Photography group. Feel free to reach out if you want images from your upcoming family reunion or if you want a session focusing on your newborn.

Van Buren Photography
Van Buren Photography is a family photography business, specializing in maternity and newborn sessions. The opportunity to share such an intimate time with families can result in some of the most precious photos. When booking a family experience session, Katie Van Buren can provide suggestions on the perfect location and what to wear, as well as how to select the best photos for your home. Being in the photography business for over two decades allows Katie to provide helpful posing tips and engage with younger children to get their personalities to shine through.

The best time to schedule a session is 4-6 weeks ahead of time. Katie’s schedule can fill up quickly, so reach out now if you’re considering hiring her to document your special moments. She only takes on a limited number of families each month to ensure that she can provide adequate attention and care to each client. Sessions run from Monday-Saturday. Most shoots last between 45 minutes to an hour, with the pace being determined by the children.

PRO Tip: Van Buren is happy to shoot at a location of your choice or she can offer examples from over a dozen locations across the Denver area.

Photography by Alyssum
Alyssum has lived in Castle Rock since 2017 and when she’s not taking photographs of families and newborns, she’s spending time with her own family either camping, off-roading, and exploring all that Colorado has to offer. Alyssum is passionate about documenting a specific time in a family’s life while creating images that will inevitably be passed down for years to come.

Alyssum offers clients single sessions or multi-session memberships. Memberships ensure that your important moments are documented, from maternity and newborn sessions, to your baby’s milestones during their first year. Studio sessions include a beautifully styled sunroom and plenty of toys and books to keep the little ones occupied. She strives to make families feel as comfortable as possible. After all, when you feel comfortable, you look comfortable and the resulting photos look as natural as possible.

PRO Tip: Photography by Alyssum is an award-winning Denver family and motherhood photographer serving Denver, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, and beyond. Let Alyssum know where you want to shoot and she can update you on her availability.

Hillary Wheat Photography
Hillary Wheat is a maternity, newborn, and family photographer that’s based in Denver. She was previously a photojournalist before embarking on her own business, so she has a knack for weaving storytelling into family sessions. When she’s not taking photos, she’s exploring new places, gardening, or skiing in the picturesque Colorado mountains.

Hillary Wheat Photography was voted one of the Best Newborn Photographers in Denver in 2021 by Expertise and she was listed as one of the Top 100 Photographers to Watch in 2018 by Click Magazine. Her sessions often take place in the foothills, where the little ones can run free, laugh, and explore. This allows Hillary to capture candid and joyful moments, as opposed to the sometimes rigid ones that result from being confined to a studio space. Hillary is happy to share a PDF of her favorite locations to shoot in, allowing families to choose the place that best suits them.

PRO Tip: Hillary offers a variety of package options, including silver and gold, that range from 30 minutes to 2 hours of shooting. Depending on the size of the family, more time may be needed.