Carolyn’s extended family traveled to Colorado Springs for her grandson’s wedding but gathered in Cheyenne Canyon to honor something deeper: the quiet, beautiful bonds of love that hold them together. Despite rainy weather and muddy trails, their session overflowed with tenderness and connection.

Amidst her journey through breast cancer treatment, Carolyn chose to create images that celebrate how much her family loves, laughs, and supports one another. This blog shares a glimpse into their story and the gentle, resilient spirit they radiate.

Kris and her family met with me in Cheyenne Canyon for their family session. Kris and I hit it off straight away when we had our video call and I just knew that I was going to enjoy her company during our time together. I was right. Plenty of laughter and exploration was had the evening we got to meet up. This was the first time Kris and Mike had taken photos since Lachlan was born so it was extra special that they traveled down to see me from Wyoming.

Getting ready for a family session with me involves a few things that I feel are imperative to us having the best time possible. One of those things is completing a questionnaire that I have curated to get to know you and your family a bit better. In this questionnaire, Kris expressed to me that she wanted their gallery to focus on authentic interactions and she was worried about looking “off” in photos. I am so glad when a client shares with me their doubts and worries, this gives us space to talk about them before it’s too late. Kris and I visited about her worries and concerns during our video call and I was able to pay extra attention to those specific things for her and deliver a gallery that she is in love with. I will call that win.

Lisa, oh Lisa. Mama, you waited so long to have your family session with me. Your kiddos are another year older and you finally got to take that Colorado trip to see me! Lisa had scheduled her family session with me last year, but as all things, COVID threw a wrench into her plans and we had to postpone. It was certainly worth the wait.

These kids are firecrackers and lovers to their core, you can just feel it. Smiling and full of happy. I know I talk about it a lot but I really do wish I could perpetually be a kid. The world seemed so much bigger and overall, the problems felt smaller. I can imagine that allows for more of the happy to shine through. Kiddos radiate unfiltered love and curiosity. I. Am. Jealous. I’m not too proud to admit it. Being an adult does have its perks though. Being able to eat whatever you want is my favorite one, haha.

This family traveled to Colorado Springs on vacation and met with me to have an extended family session. To get everyone together and document was so lovely and important. They take a vacation each year and decided that Colorado Springs would be perfect for them this time around.

I wish that when I was a kid and my family and I got together, that we did an extended family session like this. My mom has five sisters and I have 14 cousins. Each year when I was a little girl, most of us would travel to my aunt’s home in Ohio each year for Thanksgiving. I have a bunch of home photos but I can’t remember a time when we ever did a professional session like this.

Maria wanted to adventure with her sweet girl Charli and have me document their mother/daughter relationship. We met in Cheyenne Canyon and let Charli lead our time together. She is an adventurous little girl and I had so much fun following her lead as we journeyed through the area.

Sessions that focus on motherhood are special to me. I have five children in this blended family of mine. Each one of them is special in their own unique way and they all whole my heart. Maria wanted our session to focus on the love she has for Charli and the love Charli has for her. I wanted their clothing to be simple so we could really allow their connection to shine through. Charli is wearing a sweet little dress from my client closet and Maria was able to find the perfect dress for her using my online styling service.

This Colorado mountain session was created as an act of self-love and personal branding, a non-traditional portrait experience rooted in identity, culture, and reflection. Designed for a woman stepping into a new season, this session honors story, presence, and the courage it takes to be seen as you are.

This project began as an early brand film experiment for Wild Prairie Photography in Colorado Springs, created to explore movement, connection, and visual storytelling beyond still imagery. While the final video itself was not ultimately used, the experience and imagery from this session played an important role in shaping the visual direction of the brand. This post offers a behind-the-scenes look at that process, a reminder that creative growth often comes from experimentation, discernment, and the lessons learned along the way.