Some love stories take a little longer to find their footing. Amber and Kelsey's started when they were just 15 years old. They dated briefly as teenagers, and in 2018, they decided they were in it for the long haul.
Fast forward to October 2026, and these two traveled from Georgia to Colorado Springs for a little mountain magic, a 31st birthday celebration, and their very first professional couples photography session.
Their plans included something particularly exciting: using their Garden of the Gods photographs for an elopement announcement.
And what better place to celebrate their story than among Colorado's famous red rocks, with Pikes Peak showing off in the background?
A Love Story Years in the Making
Before our session, I asked Amber and Kelsey what they hoped to remember when looking back at these photographs 20 years from now.
Amber's answer was wonderfully simple: she wanted the photographs to capture them as their "young yet mature selves."
There wasn't a request for elaborate poses or perfectly choreographed romance. They wanted photographs that felt like them, right now, at this particular point in their lives together.
They were drawn to the crisp, vibrant colors in my photography, along with the combination of playful and romantic images. Fortunately, Garden of the Gods gave us plenty of opportunities for both.
You Don't Have to Know How to Pose for Beautiful Couples Photos
Here's something I wish more couples knew before their session: you don't need to arrive knowing what to do in front of a camera.
Amber and Kelsey had never had professional couples portraits taken before, and they admitted to feeling a little awkward when we started.
Completely normal. In fact, I'd be more surprised if someone who had never done this before showed up ready to work the camera like a seasoned professional.
I reassured them that there was no particular way they needed to act. My job was to offer a little direction, find beautiful light, and give them room to interact naturally.
As we moved through the session, they gradually relaxed. Their playful banter and inside jokes started coming out, and pretty soon, they were making each other laugh without much help from me.
Those are some of my favorite photographs from the evening.
Not because everything was perfectly arranged, but because their personalities were coming through. They have the kind of easy familiarity that comes from knowing someone for years, and it was a pleasure to photograph.
Why I Love High Point Overlook for Garden of the Gods Couples Photography
High Point Overlook is one of those Colorado Springs locations that manages to offer a little bit of everything.
You have sweeping views toward Pikes Peak, warm red sandstone, beautiful greenery, and plenty of opportunities to create variety without traveling across the entire park. For Amber and Kelsey's October session, we met during golden hour. The evening started with bright, glowing sunlight that illuminated their hair and brought out the warmth of the surrounding rocks.
Then, about halfway through, the sun slipped behind a cloud. Instead of fighting the changing light, we used it. The softer, more diffused conditions gave us beautiful, even illumination for closer portraits and some of their more intimate photographs.
If you're visiting Colorado Springs for your own session, the official Garden of the Gods park information is a helpful resource for planning your visit, including park hours and amenities.
What About the Crowds?
Garden of the Gods is popular for good reason, and golden hour can be particularly busy. Our evening was no exception. There were several other photography sessions happening around High Point Overlook.
Rather than competing for the same obvious backdrops, I guided Amber and Kelsey toward different compositions and less crowded spots within the area. That gave us more variety in their gallery and helped them feel a little less like they were performing for an audience.
If you're visiting from out of town, I recommend reviewing the park's directions and parking information ahead of time and allowing a little extra time to arrive.
One of the advantages of working with a local Colorado Springs photographer is having someone who knows how to adapt when the light, weather, or crowds have other plans.
LGBTQ+ Friendly Photography in Colorado Springs: Come As You Are
Something that matters deeply to me as a photographer is making sure every couple feels genuinely welcome.
Whether you're planning an intimate elopement, celebrating an engagement, or simply want photographs together somewhere beautiful, your relationship deserves to be documented with the same care, creativity, and respect as anyone else's.
Love is love. It's really that simple.
I want LGBTQ+ couples to know that when they book with Sarah K Dunn Photography, they don't need to wonder whether they'll be accepted, whether their relationship will be respected, or whether they'll have to fit themselves into someone else's idea of romance.
You get to be yourselves.
That means laughing at your own jokes, holding hands, stealing a kiss, being affectionate in whatever way feels natural, and occasionally admitting that having a camera pointed at you feels a little weird.
I'll take care of the light and the photographs. You take care of being you.
Planning Your Own Colorado Springs Elopement or Couples Session?
Amber and Kelsey's photographs are a lovely reminder that meaningful couples photography doesn't require a complicated production.
A beautiful location, thoughtful guidance, a little patience, and two people who genuinely enjoy being together can make for a pretty wonderful evening.
If you're considering an actual ceremony at Garden of the Gods, the City of Colorado Springs has a helpful guide to weddings in city parks, including designated ceremony locations, guest capacities, and park guidelines.
And if you're simply looking for beautiful photographs together, that's reason enough to celebrate, too.
Whether you're planning an elopement, engagement, anniversary, or another celebration of your relationship, I'd love to help you create a photography experience that feels right for you.
You can explore my Colorado Springs elopement and couples photography services to learn more about my approach.
I'm Sarah, a Colorado Springs native and photographer specializing in relaxed, colorful, connection-focused photography for couples and intimate elopements throughout Colorado and the Front Range.
Fun, not forced. Casual, not curated. And always, always welcome.
Ready to plan something together? Get in touch and tell me your story. I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.
