Our Top Five Shooting locations in the Denver Metro Area from 2020

Ever wonder what separates the professionals photographers from being just a person with a camera?

Location scouting is one of the most underrated things a photographer can do to separate themselves from the pack and make their photos stand out. Early in 2020, I was mistakenly setting my sights primarily on an indoor studio (setup in my home garage) and failed to realize I was leaving out one of nature’s prettiest and easiest to use backdrop… itself.

Finding locations that not only met COVID guidelines, but also a location that was naturally beautiful and somewhat unknown, was one of my key challenges of 2020. Luckily, throughout the year I was able to successfully do this and I found some amazing locations that are great for portrait photography and stand out on their own for their wonderful Colorado colors and incredible backdrops.

Here are our Top Five Shooting locations in the Denver Metro Area from 2020:

RiNo (River North Art District). Denver, Colorado

Easily the best overall location on the list. This now trendy area is completely revitalized through its contemporary art galleries, popular concert venues, and revamped industrial buildings.

The graffiti covered alleyways are just the start of this incredible location. There is something new to see every time and if you’re lucky you may find someone working on their next masterpiece. The booming colors of the graffiti can add some incredible color contrast to your photos. It is also a well-lit area and the surrounding buildings and tall old churches make some great shade (and backdrops) for you next shoot.

Best Season to schedule a shoot: Summer & Fall.

Best Time of Day to schedule a shoot: Golden Hour (before/during sunset).

Best Type of Photos: Any Portrait (Headshots even work here as well)

Pros: Large area to cover with plenty of places to explore and ton’s of hidden gems. There’s something for everyone.

Cons: Can be busy and crowded.

 

Pearl Street Mall. Boulder, Colorado

A little busier than RiNo, The Pearl Street Mall has some of the same feel as RiNo but it embodies the heart of boulder better than any other location. The outdoor mall spans a total of four blocks and makes the number of simple portrait ‘shot spots’ easy to work with.

The natural shade given to the town from the mountain side, the wide sidewalks (with plenty of room to pull off to the side for a quick portrait) and the city’s architecture makes this outdoor mall the perfect location for a high fashion photoshoot, or for some Senior photos that are guaranteed to stand out.

Best Season to schedule a shoot: Spring & Summer.

Best Time of Day to schedule a shoot: Any really, but I always recommend Golden Hour.

Best type of photos: High Fashion, Senior Photos, Induvial Portraits

Pros: The colors and environment of a large mountain town without having to drive through the mountains.

Cons: It’s close to the university, which creates overcrowding. Can be hard to keep unwanted people out of your image backgrounds.

 

Waneka Lake Park. Lafayette, Colorado

Waneka Lake is one of the most popular outdoor spots in Lafayette, Colorado. Its 147 acres have everything a family needs to enjoy a great outing: a park, a lake, a large trail, several outdoor workout circuits, basketball court, baseball field, BBQ grills, and so much more!

I grew up around the lake and always feel a little nostalgic whenever I shoot there, but nostalgia aside this is one of my favorite places to shoot with families because of its diversity. There’s literally something to do for everyone and that not only makes families comfortable, but it makes for some great photos as well.

Best Season to schedule a shoot: Fall, Winter, Spring.

Best Time of Day to schedule a shoot: Early Morning & Late Afternoon

Best type of photos: Family Pictures and Child Portraits.

Pros: Lots of Open space with an amazing boathouse & a great park for the kids.

Cons: It’s a family park and an open space trail which the community often uses.

 

McKay Lake Park. Broomfield, Colorado

Located near the Orchard Town Center Mall, this 1.6 mile lake trail has some of the best spots for photography I’ve seen. Along the trail there are several camp spot-like areas, naturally canopied by tall trees, for you to explore and get photos. It seems as if this location was made for a photographer, but its mainly know for fishing.

The natural colors of the nature filled lake is stunning and at times can be a distraction for any one present. This trail is heavily traveled, and is often used by other photographers, but I’ve had no problems finding the spot I need to get my images.

Best Season to schedule a shoot: Fall

Best Time of Day to schedule a shoot: Any. The canopy of trees makes some of the best natural light you can find.

Best type of photos: Family Portraits.

Pros: Large area with plenty of room and spots for photography

Cons: Busy & Overused

 

Margaret’s Pond. Westminster, Colorado

Shhhh.. This ones a secret…

This is my all-time favorite location to shoot. It may be Westminster’s best kept secret photography location that I’ve found. It’s so good, I kind of don’t want to give this location away. Its like ‘my precious’… which, I think is why it has to go on this list.

I’ve been shooting here since I started photography sessions, and I will use this spot until I either retire or move from Colorado. It’s a smaller trail that thrives on its simplicity. The lake itself it rather small and the trail around it has phenomenal foliage and wildflowers, that make your photos stand out with those recognizable Colorado colors. I often find myself using the fallen trees and sun-glistened pond as my go to shot whenever I’m there. I can’t recommend this spot enough and every client I’ve taken there has been blown away by its beauty.

Best Season to schedule a shoot: ALL.

Best Time of Day to schedule a shoot: ANY (an hour after sunrise OR an hour before sunset for best results from the pond).

Best type of photos: ANY (Best for smaller groups or induvial sessions)

Pros: Mostly an unknown location. Even though its smaller there are plenty of spots for photos.

Cons: It’s a smaller area which the residents use to relax. Can have limited variety.

 

With these locations you’re sure to get the best photos you can. I recommend keeping an eye on the sunrise and sunset times before you schedule your next session. The sun gives off some of the most beautiful natural light, but if you’re using it at the wrong times or the wrong way it can easily ruin your photos or washout colors. Also don’t forget to watch the weather and dress weather appropriate for your outdoor photo sessions. For more on outfits for a photoshoot check out our blog about it.

Thanks for reading! Stay safe.