salida colorado wedding photographer
Colorado Adventure Engagement Photos | Mountain Engagement Photography |
Colorado Wedding Photographer | Haley Allen Photography | Leah + Brock
Pop out of the car and I take a deep breath, stretching towards the sky. After being lulled into a trance by the vibrations of the improved road to the trailhead, a deep breath of the crisp mountain air brings my mind back to life. As I grapple with putting on my Solomon hiking shoes, finger muscles freezing up in the sudden chilly air, I do a mental check, “did I actually put that in my bag?” My mind often plays tricks on me, which had me doing a winter summit without gloves recently. It’s a 6 mile trek but we’re racing to find a certain window in the weather. Just the beginning to this Colorado adventure engagement session.
My muscles aren’t quite awake yet & I ask myself “why do I do this again?”
Oh right. Because I LOVE it.
It’s no secret the Rocky Mountains are my happy place. Before having kiddos, I hiked a decent bit. But it was once I came out of total survival mode from having twins that getting back out into the freedom of the wild quickly became one of my most sought out goals. It brings a peace & quiet that I seldom get anywhere else in any other place of my life. Especially now!
Diamond Lake Engagement Photos
When Leah & Brock reached out, it didn’t take long chatting with them to realize we had this spirit of adventure in common. As Leah brought up the expeditions she led in Alaska, 40 day canoe trip with friends, and trekking through Patagonia, I knew we needed to swap stories. I also knew they might be up for a hiking engagement session.
Once we checked the weather for the date we picked, we narrowed down our list of possible trails to the Diamond Lake. Having hiked it earlier in the week, I knew the wildflowers were insane & it would be beautiful. I loved how Leah & Brock cracked each other up the whole time.
As we approached the last half mile before lake, the cloudy & gray skies began to sprinkle on us. My heart sank as I worried we had not started early enough and missed the window. But I held onto hope we’d get another chance. The lake came into view and Leah & Brock found some trees to change behind.
Then the break in the clouds came, and this gorgeous light poured into the lake basin creating this perfect rainbow. Knowing how fleeting this type of event can be, I hurried Leah & Brock into the light & took my most favorite shot that day……
And just like that, it vanished. But there was plenty more to be captured! We had really kicked off the session in an killer way.
The streams that feed Diamond lake were rife with wildflowers & made a perfect spot for portraits.
As it does when the sun dips, the temperature dropped pretty rapidly & we needed to head back, with one planned stop at the waterfall we passed on the way up. I love candid moments like the ones below. Leah’s frozen fingers weren’t bending anymore to tie her shoes, so Brock helped her.
As we hiked back down, the sun set and the rain picked back up. We completed the last two miles in the dark with rain pelting our headlamps and iPhones as flashlights. I remember feeling exhilarated, in awe of the experience we just had. I’m grateful to Leah & Brock for chancing this experience with me! I absolutely CANNOT wait to photograph their wedding on Lake Superior in Duluth this summer!
Here’s a little behind the scenes fun courtesy of my partner in crime who came along – Savannah Chandler. Thanks friend!
Wanna see more? Follow my adventures on Instagram!