The Wild Prairie Journal

Stories from the hearts I’ve photographed, planning guidance for the seasons you’re in, and honest moments worth holding onto.

From Colorado Springs family sessions to mountain elopements, weddings, and couples’ adventures across Colorado, this is where inspiration and real life meet.

Couples Sandy Patterson Couples Sandy Patterson

Couples Photography Session in Frisco, Colorado

Kara, how are you so pretty? I swear, each time we see each other, your smile and warmth just capture me. I can still remember waking up that cold morning in my tent to photography your elopement with Tyler by your side. The night before, sitting around the campfire eating yummy things and talking the evening away. Here you two are now, loving, laughing, and LIVING OUT OF A VAN! I think that is ridiculously cool.

When Kara reached out to me, she told me they wanted photos of them in the van they were now living in with their two pups. I jumped at the chance to hang out with them. Location was key as we wanted to be sure the van was situated in a space that reflected the beauty of nature. I had shot in Frisco at this location the month prior and I was excited to be going back.

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

Fall Family Photography Session at Lake George, Colorado

I have been waiting to deliver this session for what seems like ages. I met Sarah at a Tuesday Together networking meeting. During this meeting, she said she really wished she could meet other local photographers who would actually be her friend and have it be genuinely real. I look at her, gave her my card, and said, “I’ll be your friend!”. The rest is history and what has really only been a few months but has seemed like a lifetime.

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

Family Photography Session at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

A mohawk, a bolo tie, the cutest pigtails, a man bun, and one barefooted mama, was this beautiful family session with Amanda Zoe and her crew. From the moment she and I talked, I was smitten with the love she had for her children. The grace and kindness. The genuine love and caring she exudes from her heart.

This family traveled down from Denver to hang out with me at the base of Pikes Peak in our breathtaking Garden of the Gods. This space allowed her family to explore and play. Connected. In love. Can I also say, her session clothing choices were on point! Like, really really. The whimsical boho style and feel of it all together were perfect for the setting and their personalities.

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Newborn, Families Sandy Patterson Newborn, Families Sandy Patterson

Fort Collins In-Home Newborn Photography Session

Being a twin mama is special. I know because I am also a twin mama. Though I didn’t birth my two beautiful babies myself, I thank their mama for doing that hard work for me. With the marriage to my wonderful husband, brought three bonus kiddos into my life, Ethan, Emma, and Jack.

Like Emma and Jack, Clara and Henry get to grow up together. Built-in best friends from the start. Growing together in their mother’s womb, they have known and will continue to know each other as no one else can. Mallory, you are a rock star. Brian, you are that hands-on dad that women need in their lives after the birth of their babe, and in this case, babes. Give yourselves both a huge hug and pat on the back for me. Twins are double the trouble, diapers, feeding, waking up, and just everything. You are doing it with grace and love.

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Wedding, Love Stories Sandy Patterson Wedding, Love Stories Sandy Patterson

Woodland Park Colorado Wedding at Edgewood Inn

Carly & Corey’s wedding at Edgewood Inn in Woodland Park was nothing short of magical. Like many 2020 couples, they had to change their plans, but this mountain venue turned out to be the perfect backdrop for their day. With breathtaking Pikes Peak views and the warmest, most welcoming friends and family, their celebration was filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments that had me holding back tears more than once.

As the rain poured down, it only made the day feel more intimate and cinematic. We caught a break in the storm just in time for portraits, and the moody skies, misty mountains, and golden light peeking through made for the dreamiest wedding photos. Carly & Corey trusted me completely to capture their love, and that trust made all the difference. See their stunning Edgewood Inn wedding and get inspired for your own Colorado mountain wedding!

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Newborn, Families Sandy Patterson Newborn, Families Sandy Patterson

In-Home Lifestyle Newborn Session in Colorado Springs

There is something special about being second-born. You have a built-in playmate. A friend for life. That is what Rhett can provide, even at such a young age. Someone for Ray to always look up to, his big brother. To get into trouble with, to pick flowers with for mama. To hatch secret plans and complete crazy antics with.

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

North Cheyenne Canyon Family Session in Colorado Springs

I want to let you in on a little secret of mine. I want to be a kid. Perpetually. I want to dress crazy and make goofy faces. I want to talk gibberish and eat all the candy. I want to dance until the sun comes up and sleep all day only to wake up and watch cartoons and eat pizza and ice cream. I know that as an adult I can’t do these things on a regular basis, but believe you me, I DO DO THEM SOMETIMES!! Honestly, I wish that I could all the time. That is my why for shooting families and especially kiddos.

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

Dillon Reservoir Family Session in Frisco, Colorado

Often times, we meet people that change our lives when we least expect it. I was a wreck when I arrived at that hostel in Denver. Over the next few days, my faith in people being kind was renewed. Somehow, it helped. Jocelyn was one of those people. When you go through something hard and there are people around to lift you up, you tend to hang on to those people with all your heart, even if they don’t really know the full reasons why.

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Couples Sandy Patterson Couples Sandy Patterson

Colorado Prairie Anniversary Couples Session at the Paint Mines

Now, I am not telling you this story so you know my life history. I am telling it because it deserves to be told. If you are reading this you are either friends or family of Stephanie and Chase or you are a future (or past) client that is looking to book or book again. I want you to know just how much I adore, cherish, and am thankful that you allow me to be the one there with you on your adventure. That you are thinking of choosing me to tag along on that journey. Let me tell you when I say my clients often become my friends, I mean it. Here we go!

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Elopement, Love Stories Sandy Patterson Elopement, Love Stories Sandy Patterson

Summer Elopement in Garden of the Gods

The choice to elope versus having a traditional wedding is a personal one. Maybe it’s for financial reasons, maybe you want to just have a smaller crowd, maybe you want to exchange vows in an area where having a large ceremony just isn’t feasible. Maybe it’s none of those reasons. Maybe it’s all of them.

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Art Sandy Patterson Art Sandy Patterson

Colorado Springs Climate School Strike at Palmer High School

Students from Palmer High School and others gathered in downtown Colorado Springs on Friday September 20th, 2019 to participate in a climate strike march. This march is just one of many marches happening across the country led by young people who want to change and bring voice to the environmental injustices happening on our earth.

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Maternity, Families Sandy Patterson Maternity, Families Sandy Patterson

Pikes Peak View Maternity Session in Woodland Park

Ten years. That is a long time to wait for something you want so badly. Their time is finally here though and it is the best damn thing in this world. Lauran and Colt have waited so long for this. Ready to be parents. Arms open and warm. The thing is, when you have to wait so long for something, when it finally happens, you cherish it. I mean really cherish it. Every moment. Every feeling. Every thought. I am here for it friends. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with me. I cannot say enough how honored I am to be the one who sets these moments in stone.

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Maternity, Families Sandy Patterson Maternity, Families Sandy Patterson

Sunset Maternity Session for Expecting Twins in Colorado Springs

Mallory and Brian decided they would book me for both their maternity and newborn session. I offer a bundle for parents who want to stick with the same photographer for both sessions. My maternity sessions are like what you see here. Natural light, outdoors, and full of that Colorado beauty. For my newborn sessions, I offer in-home lifestyle sessions. This means nearly no posing of you or baby and documenting you in your space right now. New mama. Loving on that sweet babe with your tired arms and eyes but your heart so full of love you almost didn’t know you could love that much. I’ll be there for it. Let me journey with you?

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

Colorado Family Session at Sunset Near the Mountains

I want to also take a quick moment to thank you all for filling up my fall calendar so quickly. My family and I truly appreciate your patronage to my small business. Truly. Each one of you that book with me helps me pay my monthly expenses and do things with my family that I would otherwise not have the option to do. From the bottom of my heart. Truly. Thank you. You keep the adventure in my soul and my heart in the clouds.

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

Colorado Springs Family Photography Session for Vacationing Families

I think that things like this happen for a reason. Session postponements almost allow me to really understand and soak up who a family is, who their kids are. It was such a treat to finally meet them in person and adventure with them in the soulful Colorado Mountains. It did rain a tiny bit during our time together but their family session was everything I had envisioned when she first reached out to me. I call that a success.

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Families, Family Sandy Patterson Families, Family Sandy Patterson

Summer Family Photography Session at Garden of the Gods

Then COVID, oh COVID, why did you have to ruin their newborn session? I kind of look at it as a blessing in disguise because if we had gone ahead with their newborn session, I wouldn’t have been able to photograph them in this amazing location and I also would have missed out on Miss Magnolia’s spunky self! I mean, look at this babe, all smiles and snuggles. I know it sounds weird but I am glad that COVID made this session what it was. Thankful for something that changed us all. Always look on the bright side, right?

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Maternity, Families Sandy Patterson Maternity, Families Sandy Patterson

Colorado Springs Family Maternity Session in Cheyenne Canyon

If you are sitting there reading through this post, I am guessing that you either know Steph or you have thought about having a session with me. If you know Steph, welcome, isn’t she and her broad gorgeous? If you are here because you have been thinking about working with me, what is stopping you? Let’s make this magic happen and document your family’s love story.

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