What a dream it was to photograph these two cuties for their Garden of the Gods engagement session this past month!!! Mariana and Jose were 100% down for adventure!! We had planned for an evening/ sunset session to capture some stunning shots right around that golden hour, but mother nature had other plans. The Colorado Springs area was engulfed in a freak snow storm that lasted most for the day into the afternoon. I reached out to the couple to see if they wanted to reschedule but they said no, and were THRILLED to possibly capture some photos with a snowy/ wintery vibe! I was stoked and had a great feeling about this session! It was still raining and snowing when I left the hotel so I threw a few extra blankets, a rain jacket and some plastic covers for my camera in my bag before heading out to location.

Braving The Rain, Snow, and Cold For These Epic Garden of The Gods Engagement Session Shots

I met Mariana and Jose at High Point Overlook just inside the park. We got to know each other a little bit, they told me how they met and of course how Jose popped the question. It didn’t take long for me to fall completely in love with the two! As we started hiking from the parking lot to location, the skies cleared a little and the snowing stopped. We took advantage of the beautiful light! Starting off with some gorgeous portrait shots, these two were no stranger to the camera. I quickly learned that Mariana was previously a dancer and absolutely loved being in front of the camera. The two of them had tons of unique ideas when it came to posing and backdrops. Let’s just say Mariana and Jose took the hard part out of my job. It was so easy to be creative together and I had the most amazing time photographing them!

The Surprise

After capturing a variety of moments at High Point Overlook, Jose had the idea of getting a few more shots in the heart of Garden of the Gods. We all drove to the new location which is typically overrun with other hikers and tourists due to the location’s stunning rock features. When we arrived, we realized we had the location all to ourselves because of the harsh weather only a few hours prior. It was INCREDIBLE!!! We were able to take our time, enjoy the moments, and be creative together to produce these stunning shots you’ll see throughout this post. We couldn’t help but smile the whole time and I don’t think any of us really wanted the sun to go down or the session to ever end.

Dinner With My Couple

As the sun started to set we captured the last few shots before we made the hike back to our cars. On the way back, Mariana and Jose asked if I would join them for dinner. My heart must have skipped a few beats. Not only did I get to spend my evening with the sweetest couple, I had the opportunity to share the evening with them as well. If you know anything about me, it’s that I love creating meaningful relationships with all of my couples, but having coffee or dinner together after a session is honestly the icing on the cake for me. We decided on La Cava Mexican Restaurant and spent the next few hours share a few more laughs, enjoying good food and relishing in each other’s company. I can honestly say I made some amazing new friends that day and I cannot wait for these to cuties to get married here in a few months!

Planning Your Engagement Session??

To plan your own session or if you are looking for any information on how to plan an adventurous engagement session, feel free to connect with me. I would love nothing more than to to capture the love between you and your fiancé! Reach out to connect with me and create your very own adventure!