Family Session at The Paint Mines in Colorado
Family Session at The Paint Mines Interpretive Park
Some families weave themselves into your story in a way that feels timeless. Katie is one of those people. I first met her when she booked me to photograph her son Felix as a baby, wide-eyed, full of spirit, the start of something new. Since then, it’s been just the three of them: Katie, Felix, and his little sister Ophelia. Together, they are the Three Amigos.
I’ve had the honor of photographing them through different seasons, last fall at a lovely body of water near Wilkerson Pass, surrounded by golden grass and crisp mountain air, and now at The Paint Mines Interpretive Park, where the earth itself seems painted in color. Each session adds another chapter to their story, each gallery a reflection of the love Katie pours into showing up fully for her kids, as herself and as their mother.
Exploring the Paint Mines
The Paint Mines are like no other place in Colorado. Winding paths cut through pale sand, twisting into hidden alcoves and caves. Towers of pink, white, and rust-colored stone rise like sculptures, catching every bit of shifting light.
Felix and Ophelia ran through it all with endless energy, their laughter bouncing off the canyon walls. Katie gathered them in with those big, anchoring hugs that only a mom can give, squeezing them close, grounding them in love even as they raced ahead.
It was less a photoshoot and more an adventure. The kind where you forget about the camera, and the photos become proof of something bigger: the wild joy of being together.
Why Permits Matter
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is carefully protected, and photography here requires a permit. Only one is issued per day, secured with proof of insurance and a $100 fee. It might feel like a hassle, but it ensures that the park stays preserved and that your session isn’t interrupted.
Too often, photographers try to bypass the system. But for families like Katie’s, whose time together is too precious to risk, following the rules matters. It keeps the space open, the experience seamless, and the memories intact.
The Three Amigos
Every time I photograph Katie with her kids, I’m reminded of what family photography is really about. It’s not perfect smiles or carefully arranged poses. It’s about noticing the details: Felix’s big squeezes, Ophelia’s giggles, the way Katie’s love spills over both of them like sunlight.
She shows up for them in every way she can, not just as their mom, but as her fullest self. And because of that, they get to show up as their fullest selves too.
That’s the gift of these photos: a record of their togetherness, a reminder that they’ve always been enough just as they are.
From Felix’s first year to Wilkerson Pass to The Paint Mines, the Three Amigos have carried their story forward in color, light, and love. Every time I step behind the lens with them, I don’t just see a family, but a bond that feels unshakable, the kind that grows stronger with every season.
I can’t imagine anything more beautiful to document.
