This creative shoot with Amanda + Draesen will forever be a core memory for me, wandering through the grassy mountains of Telluride under the late summer sun. Couples like these two have always had my heart; couples whose souls crave this type of wild and free-spirited adventure and who want nothing more than to spend their time dancing around fields filled with wildflowers amidst majestic mountain peaks. And now, Colorado has stolen my heart just as completely—more Telluride adventure sessions like this, please.

Amanda + Draesen’s Telluride Adventure Session

A wild adventure through the mountains of Colorado

I normally scout locations beforehand, but this was my first time in Telluride—so a big thanks to my friend Carissa for taking me for this adventure + showing me her favorite spots in Colorado! We jeeped around the mountain together and drove back through the most wild rainstorm. Not gonna lie, it was so wild exploring the location for the first time while also taking photos there, and crossing my fingers that I was doing it justice. I felt so overwhelmed by every angle, with the mountain peaks towering so high overhead and the bright August sun lighting up every detail of the cliffs and crevices—but it was also such a freeing feeling to just capture what I felt in the moment. Truly grateful for this amazing, adventurous Telluride couples session with Amanda and her husband Draesen who were down to explore anywhere + everywhere, and embrace the crazy wild weather!

The magic of capturing your session on film

Part of this being a creative shoot meant that I was able to play around with different equipment, angles, and lighting—so I had to pull out my film camera, of course. I’m so glad that film is coming back because there’s truly nothing like it; the beauty of those classic film colors, the nostalgic grittiness and grain, the subtle blur and the fact that you won’t know what you captured until it’s developed. . . film just adds its own type of magic to a couples session that digital simply can’t. I’ve been telling all of my couples to add film to their session or elopement because of this—and put together a blog post breaking it down here

Frolicking through the wildflower meadows

How could you see these incredibly beautiful, rugged landscapes and want to do anything but frolic through each and every meadow, past every wildflower and along every winding trail? We went into this shoot with Amanda and Draesen with no expectations other than a desire to capture the free-spirited, laid-back mood that these awe-inspiring mountains encourage; to document the connections between two people in love and the stunning landscapes around them. Hand-in-hand walks down every trail in sight, heads peeking out the window to take in the views as you drive up, intimate snuggles in a field of bright pink and yellow wildflowers. . . aka what dreams are made of. Capturing Amanda and Draesen was effortless with the love they shared that was so easy to see, constantly searching for small touches and spontaneous kisses as they embraced the present moment and the breathtaking beauty around them.

Disclaimer: Leave No Trace principles were followed for all wildflower images.

Cozy campfire couples portraits

What better way to end a day in the mountains than with a cozy campfire under the stars? Amanda and Draesen set up a tent in the middle of the valley, perfectly placed for easy access to the firepit nearby. Snuggled up under thick blankets, they sipped on their favorite locally-made whiskey, shared murmured thoughts and quiet laughs, and admired the grandeur of the landscapes around them, making sure not to take any of it for granted. I was obsessed with the way they took it upon themselves to cuddle up in the tent and then come out in their cozy sleeping bags—the cutest and silliest photos!

Telluride, Colorado Couples Photographer

If this is how you and your partner love to spend your free time together, out exploring the wilderness and sleeping under the stars, then I hope you take inspiration from these two and plan a session that so wholly, authentically represents you. Whether your adventure session takes you to the mountains of Telluride, the beaches of Oregon, or anywhere in between, I’d love to join + help you celebrate your unique love through intentional, nostalgic storytelling imagery. Reach out now to get your adventure started—I can’t wait to bring all your wildest dreams to life. 

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For all kinds of adventurous elopement inspiration + planning tips, take a peek at a few of my favorite blog posts below.

All-Day Mountain Elopement Inspo: From Sunrise to Sunset

How to Plan a Meaningful Elopement: My Top 10 Tips

Mountain-Inspired Micro Wedding at Sparks Lake | Bend, Oregon