What's the biggest change you've made this year? For me, it was moving my family, my dog, and my entire western wedding photography business across the country—from Florida back home to Colorado.
After graduating college in 2023, I chose to stay in Florida. It was easier, cheaper, and honestly, the path of least resistance. We told ourselves we'd never move back to Colorado, that Florida was our fresh start. But three years, one very spoiled dog, and a fledgling photography business later, we found ourselves packing up and heading west.
The Florida Struggle
Let me be honest: Florida was hard. We were isolated on a small property, and my days blurred together in a monotonous rhythm—my 9-to-5 job, the gym, walks through the pasture with my dog, and church on Sundays. If I was lucky, I'd book a photoshoot. We were happy, sure, but we weren't flourishing. There's a difference between surviving and thriving, and we were firmly planted in survival mode.
Creatively, I felt stuck as a Central Florida photographer. Florida doesn't exactly overflow with western lifestyle opportunities—no rolling ranchlands, no mountain backdrops, no authentic cowboy culture woven into everyday life. I had maybe one close friend, and we rarely saw each other. My confidence as a ranch photographer started to waver. Without word-of-mouth referrals or consistent bookings, I questioned whether I was even good enough. Was anyone seeing my work? Did it matter?
In March, I reached out to a western boutique in Florida, convinced this partnership would be the breakthrough my business needed. I poured energy into that connection, imagining styled shoots and ranch branding photography collaborations that would finally put me on the map. Then? Radio silence. Completely ghosted.
A few months later, feeling defeated, I started going back to church more regularly. One Sunday, I prayed something simple but vulnerable: "Bless my business and do with it as You see fit." I released control. And you know what happened? Even fewer inquiries came through. Crickets.
It felt like the opposite of a blessing.
But then, in September, we sat through a sermon about patience and God's timing. The message hit differently that day—about how waiting isn't wasted time, and how closed doors are often divine protection. That same week, we got an unexpected offer: a family house in Colorado for an amount we could actually afford.
We sat down, listed out every reason not to move. We came up empty. It was time to embrace my future as a Colorado wedding photographer.
The Pivot: Finding My True Passion
When I first started my photography business, my mission was to support young couples navigating all stages of life. I still do, and I always will. As someone who got married young, I heard it all: "You're missing out on life." "Don't get married, just live." "You're too young." I wanted to create a space where young love was celebrated, not questioned.
But then I met some incredible photographer friends who asked me a pointed question: "What are you really passionate about?"
The answer came quickly: western lifestyle photography.
I grew up in Colorado, surrounded by horses, ranches, wide-open landscapes, and the quiet strength of rural living. Even though I couldn't be with my own horse anymore or work seasonally in Estes Park like I used to, I realized I could still give back to that way of life through my lens. I could tell the stories of ranchers, cowboys, and families who live and breathe the western lifestyle. Whether it's a rustic ranch wedding in Colorado or cowboy couple photography sessions, I wanted to capture the authentic heart of the West.
This shift wasn't just emotional—it was technical, too. I upgraded to a Sony A7RIII (my baby), and my editing style transformed. Gone were the dark, moody, film-inspired tones I'd been clinging to. In their place? Bright, vibrant colors with soft greens and blues, creamy skin tones, and an emphasis on natural light.
Most western photographers lean heavily into desaturated, earthy palettes with lots of browns and oranges. I went the opposite direction. My images are bold, colorful, and unapologetically bright. It set me apart as a Colorado ranch lifestyle photographer, and more importantly, it felt like me.
2025 By the Numbers
This year, I photographed 42 sessions—almost one every single week. Let that sink in. For someone who started the year wondering if anyone would ever book me again, that feels like a miracle.
I launched two mini session events: spring minis (8 sessions) and Christmas minis (8 sessions). I also created a "Bingo Challenge" where clients could book specific themed sessions from a bingo card—things like "Sunset on a Ranch" or "Golden Hour Couples." Four clients took me up on it, and those western couple sessions were some of my favorites.
Beyond that, I photographed:
- 4 family sessions (including rustic country family photos)
- 2 maternity sessions (one gorgeous western maternity photoshoot at sunrise)
- 4 weddings
- 1 elopement
- 1 branding session
- 6 model shoots for portfolio building
My goal at the start of the year was to book one wedding or elopement. I hit that goal in May—and actually shot both a wedding and an elopement the same weekend.
The Sessions That Shaped Me
Every session taught me something, but a few stand out as defining moments of 2025.
T + K's Western Wedding
This Lakeland area barn wedding was western elegance at its finest. Red wine-colored bridesmaid dresses, cowboy hats, a stunning cake, and a reception that turned into an all-out party. As an Ocala wedding photographer covering this Central Florida venue, the sunset during portraits was absolutely breathtaking. The golden rays pierced through the clouds like heaven itself was watching over them. It was one of those moments where I felt so grateful to witness love like that—the kind of rustic ranch wedding that reminds you why you became a western wedding photographer in the first place.
E + C's Bingo Session Turned Proposal at Belmar Park, Colorado
Five days before their "Sunset on a Ranch" bingo session near Denver, C texted me: "I'm planning to propose during the shoot." We worked together to plan the surprise, choreographing the moment so E wouldn't suspect a thing. Here's the best part—I've known both of them since elementary school.
Capturing that proposal as a Denver western wedding photographer felt full-circle in the best way. These western engagement photos at Belmar Park became some of my most treasured images of the year—authentic, emotional, and completely unscripted. (Of course, she said yes!)
S + L's Sunrise Maternity Session at Flatirons Vista Trailhead, Colorado
This session started at an ungodly hour. Only one of us had coffee (me), and they had to keep watch behind me to make sure I didn't get ambushed by a prairie dog. But that sunrise? It was the most stunning I've ever seen near Boulder. Soft pinks and purples washed over the Flatirons, creating the perfect backdrop for this western maternity photoshoot.
Both S and I had been burned by the same wedding photographer in the past, so I wanted to make this experience extra special for her. As a Rocky Mountain elopement photographer and lifestyle photographer, moments like these remind me exactly why I love Colorado mountain sessions—and why I do this work.
New Beginnings in Colorado
By the time you're reading this, I've already moved. Early December, we packed up our life in Florida and drove back to the mountains, back to family, back to community. Colorado represents more than just a geographical shift—it's a fresh start for my business as a Colorado western wedding photographer and my soul.
I'm terrified, if I'm being honest. I'm totally different from the girl who left Colorado years ago. I'm still the same horse-crazy kid at heart, but now I'm channeling that passion into a professional business. I'm building something real as an Estes Park elopement photographer and Colorado ranch branding photographer. People in Colorado have watched me grow through social media, through occasional trips home—but they've never had the chance to book with me for their ranch wedding Colorado dreams or their Colorado mountain elopement. That changes now.
I have a good church here. Good hobbies. Seasons that actually change. Family dinners. Friends who check in. A community that feels like home. And access to incredible locations—from Rocky Mountain National Park to hidden ranch properties perfect for western lifestyle photography.
Looking Forward
2025 taught me that patience isn't passive—it's preparation. Those quiet months in Florida? They weren't wasted. They were shaping me, refining my vision, and building my confidence behind the camera. Every "no" was redirecting me toward a bigger "yes."
I'm stepping into 2026 with clarity, courage, and a whole lot of western heart. Whether you're planning a rustic barn wedding, dreaming of a Colorado mountain winter elopement, looking for western branding photography for your ranch, or wanting authentic cowboy and horse photos that capture your lifestyle—I'm here for it.
If you're reading this and you've been waiting to book that session—whether it's western engagement photos in the Rockies, country engagement photos with horses, a ranch life photoshoot, or a full-day ranch branding session—let's make it happen. From Denver to Estes Park, from intimate elopements to full western weddings, I want to tell your story the way it deserves to be told.
Here's to new beginnings, answered prayers, and a year full of wide-open spaces.
Ready to book your western wedding, elopement, or lifestyle session in Colorado? Let's chat about bringing your vision to life with authentic, colorful, western photography that celebrates who you are.
