Mother and Daughter Photos at Goose Island Bridge, Lake City
I’ve photographed Karissa and Saylor so many times, I’ve lost count. It’s always the two of them, Karissa and her daughter, Saylor, whose hair is beautiful and wild and whose expressions change in an instant from serious to goofy to pure joy.
They’re one of those families who pour so much care into the experience of photos. It’s not just about pretty pictures for them, it’s about carving out time together and making memories that feel special.
A Trip to Lake City
This time, Karissa sent me a video she’d found online, a bridge stretching across a lake in the middle of the mountains. Goose Island Bridge on Lake San Cristobal, tucked away near Lake City, Colorado. It’s become a bit of a hidden gem on TikTok, and Karissa wanted to go there for her birthday week.
She rented a little cabin for the two of them, planning a whole weekend around the session. Originally, we’d hoped to go earlier, but the bridge was closed. Up there, the lake can still be frozen into June, and geese nest out on the island until the snow melts off the peaks.
So we shifted plans and waited an extra week. Which was absolutely perfect timing.
Wandering Lake City
Lake City is about four and a half hours from Colorado Springs (where I live near the base of Pikes Peak). I hit the road early that day because I wanted time to explore before the shoot.
I ended up at Southern Vittles, sitting on the porch under a row of flags, eating catfish that was honestly way better than I’d expected. I wandered into a few shops downtown, grabbed buttery shortbread and the best toffee from Kennedy Dry Goods, and got an amazing chai at Cafe 98.
It’s one of my favorite things about traveling for sessions, getting to discover new little pockets of Colorado I’d never otherwise see. Taking it all in. The people. The tastes, smells, and all the sights. Being in the mountains is a gift, and I am learning each day to hold it tighter and tighter.
Scouting the Bridge
After lunch, I made my way to Goose Island Bridge.
I walked the trail over and over, working out where I’d start the session and how I’d move us around to keep the light right as the sun dropped. It’s one of the tasks of being a photographer I thoroughly enjoy and it feels like a quiet ritual after all these years.
Even though I’d never shot there before, the light danced the way I’d hoped it would. Dipping down at just the right time, spilling onto the mountains behind but giving us plenty of that lovely even light that I love so much. The perfect lighting was another gift that I got to give myself. I knew the light and it’s from spending a decade learning how to read landscapes and skies.
The Session
Karissa and Saylor arrived later that evening. Karissa borrowed a dress I’d brought along, a soft, flowing piece that looked incredible on her. Saylor gave it her stamp of approval almost immediately and we were off!
We spent the first half of our time together chasing the light over a chunk of land that connected to Goose Island via the bridge. We made our way towards the bridge, which was the highlight, especially for Saylor. The bridge itself felt solid but had a gentle sway underfoot, the lake below catching streaks of soft evening color.
Saylor was full of energy, bouncing lightly as she walked, her hair shifting with every step, eyes lighting up each time she looked back at her mom or me.
We wandered along the bridge and the small island, pausing to skip stones and explore little pockets of trees and open sky. There was laughter, a few quiet moments where Karissa pulled Saylor in close, and a sense that they were completely present there together, away from everything else.
Sessions like this are why I keep doing what I do. It’s the long drives, the new places, the people who trust me enough to go on an adventure, and the tiny in-between moments that feel like real life distilled into something tangible.
Why I’d Go Back
Karissa and Saylor stayed in Lake City that night to keep soaking up their little getaway. I drove home under a darkening sky, tired but full.
Goose Island Bridge and Lake San Cristobal are places I’d return to without question. The views are unreal, the colors shift by the minute, and there’s this quiet hush that makes you feel small in the best way. Not to mention the folks that live there and the businesses they run. Yummy food and treats for days, friends.
If you’re dreaming of photos somewhere that feels wild, remote, and full of possibility, I’d be back there in a heartbeat.
