Great Sand Dunes Family Photography, Jessica & Mitchell
Family photography at Great Sand Dunes National Park feels like stepping into another world. The dunes rise out of the San Luis Valley like something that shouldn't be there, golden and massive and constantly shifting under the wind. It's not a backdrop. It's an experience. And for families willing to make the drive, it becomes part of the story itself.
Jessica and Mitchell brought their whole crew to the dunes for a session that felt less like a photo shoot and more like an adventure. Their daughter Leia, their baby boy Quinton (not yet one), grandparents Bob and Sandra, and Moose, their Newfoundland, who was every bit as majestic as the landscape. They came to celebrate something worth celebrating: a new chapter, a steady love, and a little family that was finding its rhythm in the best possible way.
But before I tell you about their evening, let me tell you about this place. Because if you've never considered Great Sand Dunes for your family photos, I think you should.
Why Great Sand Dunes is worth the drive for family photos
Most of the families I work with are based in or around Colorado Springs. We have beautiful locations here, and I love photographing in them. But there's something that happens when a family travels somewhere extraordinary together. The session stops being just about the photos. It becomes an experience your kids talk about on the drive home, a place they ask to go back to, a memory that lives in the images and beyond them.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is that kind of place.
The dunes themselves are the tallest in North America, rising over 700 feet against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The light here is unlike anything I've seen anywhere else in Colorado. In the evening, the sand turns gold, then amber, then pink as the sun drops behind the mountains. The wind shapes the ridgelines in real time. Everything feels vast and open and quietly humbling.
And here's the practical piece: you don't need a photography permit for sessions here. You just need a park entrance pass, or an annual pass, which is honestly a great deal if your family loves exploring Colorado's national parks. That's it. No permit applications, no extra fees, no hoops to jump through.
This location falls under my Wild collection, which is designed for families who want to go somewhere extraordinary. Mountain and destination sessions outside El Paso, Douglas, and Teller Counties. Travel is included, which means you don't have to worry about mileage fees or logistics. I handle the scouting, the timing, and the planning so you can just show up and be together.
If you're curious about what that looks like, you can learn more about how I work with families here.
Make it an adventure, not just a session
One of my favorite things about Great Sand Dunes sessions is that the photos can be part of a bigger family trip. I always encourage families to come early and actually enjoy the dunes before we start shooting.
You can rent sand boards or snowboard-style boards and ride the dunes. It's exactly as fun as it sounds, and kids absolutely love it. There's also camping nearby if you want to make a weekend of it, a family-friendly hot springs that's perfect for tired legs after a day on the sand, and the Colorado Gators Reptile Park if your kids are the kind who need to see an alligator on every vacation (no judgment, mine are the same).
The point is, this doesn't have to be a “drive there, take photos, drive home" situation. It can be a whole thing. And honestly, families that arrive relaxed and a little sunburned from playing on the dunes all afternoon? They photograph beautifully. Because they're already in it.
They're already having fun.
You can see what another adventure session looked like at Brainard Lake if you want a sense of what The Wild Collection can feel like.
How to prepare your family for a Sand Dunes session
A little preparation goes a long way out here. The dunes are stunning, but they're also a real outdoor environment, and knowing what to expect makes everything smoother.
What to pack for the dunes
Snacks and water. The walk from the parking area to the dunes is a bit of a hike, especially with little ones. Kids get hungry and thirsty fast, and a well-timed snack can be the difference between giggles and meltdowns. Pack more than you think you'll need.
Towels and wipes. Sand gets everywhere. I mean everywhere. Bring towels to brush off before getting back in the car, and wipes for little hands and faces.
A change of clothes. After the session, your kids (and probably you) will want to change out of sandy clothes for the drive home. Throw a bag of comfy clothes in the car and thank yourself later.
Warm layers. This one surprises people. Even in summer, the temperature drops quickly once the sun starts going down. The wind on the dunes can be cool and persistent, which makes sense when you think about it: wind is what built this place and continues to shape it every single day. Layers are your friend. Blankets too.
Jessica and Mitchell brought a cozy one to their session, which ended up being one of the sweetest details of the evening. I also bring a variety of blanket options for my clients that coordinate with their wardrobe and the location, so you're covered either way.
Setting expectations with your kids
If you have young kids, let them know ahead of time that there will be sand (a lot of it), wind, and some walking. Frame it as an adventure, not a chore. Most kids rise to the occasion when they feel like they're part of something exciting rather than being dragged to something boring.
Jessica and Mitchell's evening at the dunes
I've worked with Jessica before. The first time I photographed her, her life looked different. Different partner, different season. When she reached out again, it was with a steadiness in her voice that I recognized immediately. She was settled. She was happy. And she wanted to document what that feels like.
Mitchell is her rock. You can see it in the way Jessica's shoulders drop when he's close, in the way Leia gravitates toward him, in the quiet confidence he carries without making a show of it. And Quinton, their baby boy, is the newest piece of a family that fits together like it was always supposed to be this way.
Bob and Sandra, Jessica's parents, came along to help wrangle Moose and the kids. There's something beautiful about grandparents showing up for a family session, not as the focus, but as the steady presence in the background. Extra arms when someone needs to be held. Familiar faces when a toddler needs a break. Love that just shows up without being asked.
I brought my partner John with me, and we arrived early to scout. I'd actually been to the dunes just a month or two before, so I already had a sense of where the light would land. It didn't take long to find the spots I wanted.
We started in the trees. The shade was soft and the light filtered through in that golden, dappled way that makes everything feel quiet. Jessica and Mitchell were relaxed. Leia was curious and brave. Quinton was wide-eyed and content in the way that babies are when they can feel that the people holding them are at ease.
And then we chased the sun.
We moved from the trees out onto the dunes and followed the light as it spilled across the sand. The wind picked up. The kids laughed. Moose did whatever Moose wanted to do (which is the Newfoundland way). And the light just kept giving.
At some point, Quinton was ready to eat. There was no waiting to it, no fussing about where or when. Jessica settled right there on the dunes and nursed her son while the wind moved across the sand and the sun kept sinking lower. It was one of the most natural, unhurried moments of the evening. While she and Quinton were wrapped up in each other, Mitchell and Leia wandered off together, exploring the ridgeline, just the two of them. That kind of moment doesn't get planned. It just happens when there's enough space and time built into the session for a family to actually live inside of it.
Gold to amber to pink, the kind of sunset that makes you stop talking and just watch.
We followed it until it disappeared below the horizon.
It was a sight in and of itself to behold, and I'm thankful I got to share it with them.
What to know before you book a Sand Dunes session
Great Sand Dunes National Park is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Colorado Springs. It's not close, and that's part of what makes it special. You won't run into families from your neighborhood. You won't see the same backdrop on ten other photographers' feeds. You'll be somewhere that feels genuinely wild and rare, and your photos will reflect that.
Here's what to know:
No photography permit is required. You just need a park entrance pass.
The best time for photos is golden hour into sunset. The light on the dunes in the evening is extraordinary.
Wind is a factor. It's part of the landscape and part of the beauty. Embrace it.
The Wild Collection
This session falls under my Wild collection: 75-90 minutes on location, 65-75 hand-edited images, a complimentary planning call, custom location scouting, styling guidance and client closet access, and an heirloom wooden box with curated prints. Travel is included.
I handle the scouting and planning so you can focus on your family. You just show up.
Other Wild collection locations include Rocky Mountain National Park, Brainard Lake, Cottonwood Pass, Maroon Bells, and more.
Ready to take your family somewhere extraordinary?
If you've been thinking about a family session that feels like more than a photo shoot, something your kids will actually remember, I'd love to talk about it. Great Sand Dunes is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado, and it's waiting for you.
