When searching for the best photography spots near Denver, it can be a little overwhelming, there are so many options! Well here are some of my favorite Denver photoshoot locations– written by a Denver wedding and portrait photographer!
Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for a little discount on your upcoming photoshoot!
The Best Photoshoot Locations in Denver
Cheeseman Park
Cheeseman Park is my favorite of all the inner city Denver parks. I love the cool white columns and all the gorgeous pine trees. In the Spring and Summer there is also tons of beautiful rose bushes providing a gorgeous pop of color.
Best time of day : sunrise or hour before sunset
Cost : free!
Parking : street parking
Accessibility: great. The terrain is quite flat.
Denver Botanic Garden
The Denver Botanic Garden is an awesome spot for photos because it looks gorgeous all year round! I love the variety of backdrops at this location, it’s such a great spot if you want a more manicured look.
Best time of day : the morning is best because the light is less harsh and it’s less busy!
Cost : $100 permit fee, my couples get in free!
Parking : plenty of large lots.
Accessibility: great. The terrain is quite flat super well kept.
Denver Rooftop
I love Roof16 at the Novel CoWorking site. It has such a great view of downtown Denver, the cutest little gondola, and an epic sunset.
Best time of day : the hours leading up to sunset
Cost : varies based on the day of the week!
Parking : large paid lot next door and street parking.
Accessibility: great. Completely flat and an elevator up to the roof.
Union Station
Downtown Denver is one of my favorite places to take engagement photos. I just love the architecture and feel of the area. It is even more magical at Christmastime.
Best time of day : early morning or 2 hours before sunset
Cost : free
Parking : free metered parking and paid lots
Accessibility: great. Everything is super flat and compact.
Red Rocks
The Red Rocks are some of the most iconic, Colorado backdrops. I love how unique this backdrop looks. It’s one of my favorite locations for family photos!
Best time of day : early morning or sunset
Cost : free
Parking : large parking lot, can fill up on weekends.
Accessibility: great. The trails are all super flat.
Best Photo Locations Near Denver
Matthew Winters Park
I love Matthew Winters Park! It is a relatively quiet location in Golden. It has some small mountain hills, a beautiful stream and a little bridge. It’s super accessible and is gorgeous at sunrise!
Best time of day : sunrise or hour before sunset.
Cost : free
Parking : big lot, can get a little full on the weekend.
Accessibility: great, super flat and accessible.
Mount Falcon
Mount Falcon is a fantastic spot if you want a stunning mountain view without a far commute. It is definitely one of the most popular spots around Denver, so I recommend scheduling your session on a weekday!
View more of this Mount Falcon engagement session
Best time of day : 2 hours before sunset. The sunset at Mount Falcon is gorgeous, but depending on the time of year can go behind the mountain sooner than you expect!
Cost : free
Parking : two big lots, but they can fill up quickly on the weekend.
Accessibility: medium, there are some trails that are quite easy to traverse, but some rocky terrain.
Boulder
There are lots of great photo locations in Boulder. If you’re wanting a mountain overlook or the iconic Flatirons, consider taking a 30-45 minute drive up to Boulder for your photos.
Best time of day : hour before sunset or sunrise.
Cost : $50 permit
Parking : one large lot near Flatirons, some street parking.
Accessibility: the Flatirons are pretty easy to traverse, the overlook is super rocky– no heels!
Best Photo Locations in Greater Colorado
Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs is super close to Denver (about 45 minutes) and has some gorgeous locations for photos. If you’re wanting mountains and lakes without the trek to RMNP or further down i70, this might be the spot for you!
Best time of day : sunrise or hour before sunset
Cost : free!
Parking : free lots off the side of the street.
Accessibility: medium. Most is flat and easily accessible but there are some locations that require more of a hike.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Yes, I realize this is super broad! There are so many epic spots in Rocky Mountain National Park, but as your photographer I know all the hidden gems! If you’re wanting lakes, mountains, valleys, forests– RMNP has it all!
View more info on how to have a session at Rocky Mountain National Park
Best time of day : sunrise! I love sunrise at the mountains because there’s less people and you have more light to work with.
Cost : $50 photography permit and $20/car.
Parking : totally depends!
Accessibility: medium to poor. Most mountain locations require some sort of hike or have some difficult to navigate terrain. Plan accordingly!
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is about 30 to 90 minutes from Denver, depending on where in the city you are and traffic. My favorite spot for photos in the Springs? Garden of the Gods! This gorgeous park is situated right in the city and has the most incredible red rock structures.
Learn more about engagement photos at Garden of the Gods
Best time of day : sunrise or hour before sunset. The lighting can be super harsh during the day.
Cost : $200 travel fee
Parking : parking can be difficult since some of the lots only have very few spots.
Accessibility: medium. Some rock formations are super close to the parking lot, but other require more walking and climbing.
Vail
Vail is an amazing location for photos! Vail Village is stunning and looks like a Hallmark movie. And the Gondola makes for such a fun, unique spot.
View more of this Vail engagement session here
Best time of day : sunrise or two hours before sunset. Keep in mind that the sun vanishes behind the mountain before sunset!
Cost : $200 travel fee
Parking : parking is rough, especially on the weekends. There is a big lot to park at in Vail village.
Accessibility: great. Vail Village is super flat and the mountains are easy to access.
If you’d like to see more of my favorite Denver photoshoot locations or if you have any questions, send me a message!
And since you’ve made it to the bottom of this post, I’d love to offer you 10% off on any Denver photoshoot! Use the code denver10 when booking online. You can book your session online here!
If you’re looking for more resources for planning your portrait session, here are some helpful posts to check out:
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