Sunrise Anniversary Session in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

I first met Kara & Ben volunteering at a food pantry in Texas. Their energy was uplighting and encouraging to every single person (no joke, everyone loved to be around them.) Summer vacation + anniversary trip looks like hiking multiple 14ers for a week, and with that kind of energy, we decided that a gorgeous sunrise anniversary session in the beautiful mountain town of Woodland Park, CO would be the best rest day for them.

This location in Woodland Park is at the trailhead of one of our favorite summer hikes, Rainbow Gulch. It was the first hike we did in Colorado when we moved here, and though the elevation is roughly 9,200 ft, the hike is more of a glorified walk. The trail is lined with aspens and evergreens, weaving over and around a river that leads to the reservoir. This hike is great for beginner hikers or for people not use to higher elevations.

Sunrise in Colorado is very different at 9,200 feet vs. sea level in Texas - there doesn’t appear to be a traditional “golden hour/soft morning light” in CO. The sun is brighter and harsher, and yet, I loved the experience of adjusting my camera settings to soften the light on their skins + grab the mountains in the background. I’m so pleased with this session, as it was my first sunrise session of hopefully many more!

Cheers to many more years of marriage to Kara & Ben!