You scheduled the shoot. You selected the date. You can’t wait.
But when you went into your wardrobe to select something, you found yourself completely blank.
Believe me, I feel your pain. I hear it from nearly all my clients. And I want to help. Because what you wear makes more of a difference than you probably think. Not because style is everything, but because the right clothes complement rather than fight the natural environment around you. In Colorado’s southern regions, that means a great deal.
Let me tell you how to do it successfully.
Southern Colorado is not an anonymous background for your pictures. Instead, it’s an amazing combination of terracotta, sage, dark rock formations, and an endless sky. Red Rock Canyon. Palmer Park. Arkansas Riverwalk in Pueblo. This kind of setting speaks to you.
Your clothes need to speak back.
Jewel tones look amazing for photoshoots in Colorado Springs that take place near locations such as Cheyenne Mountain or Palmer Park. Emerald green, navy blue, burgundy, mustard yellow. These colors look spectacular when contrasted with scrub oak and pine but don’t scream for attention.
On the other hand, if we’re photographing in the vicinity of the Pueblo Reservoir or on the Arkansas Riverwalk, we should go with the desert color palette. Dusty rose, burnt orange, cream. They work here because they belong here.
There is one thing I would never suggest: neon and super bright white. High-altitude sunlight is brutal and harsh. Overly bright colors might wash out in pictures, making fabric look flat and uninteresting. You will appreciate the difference between a good and a great photo when you see it in your gallery.
Colorado weather is not predictable. We could have a warm and sunny day at two o’clock only to be cold and windy at four. Multiple layers keep us comfortable and also add interest to pictures.
Cardigan in chunky knit with boots and jeans. A loose-fitting flannel belt. These elements provide depth within the frame, something that a singular flat surface layer can never do.
The use of texture is similar in nature. Linen, chunky knit, worn leather, and flowy cotton fabrics all reflect light differently than smooth or artificial materials, creating small areas of shadow and light within the frame that elevate the entire look.
And for you beautiful ladies, if you are thinking of a flowy, long dress, then bring it. The wind here in southern Colorado is my favorite element to photograph. The moment when that breeze catches the fabric and moves with it, that’s when the image becomes breathtaking and cinematic.
One that makes me chuckle just a bit, as I have seen it gone wrong.
If you are hiking out to a Section 16 location or trekking out to the trails around Beulah, stilettos will be your downfall. That is my number one recommendation – wear your hiking boots or sneakers for the walk to the location, then switch into your photo shoes after we get there. And, yes, I always allocate time during sessions for just that!
As far as which types of shoes are most flattering when you photograph them out here – anything made of leather will be right on point. Chelsea boots, Doc Martens, traditional cowboy boots – all look rugged, timeless, and perfectly at place wherever you find us – on a dusty trail or a historical front porch in Pueblo. Basically, they are the footwear you’ll find everywhere during senior portraits or couples shoots in Cañon City and Colorado Springs, and I will never argue against their perfection.
It is always best to come with two or three options for outfits. Not only do they allow you to change the style depending on the location, but they give you more versatility and a way out if your idea doesn’t work as planned!
But one thing I hope above all is that you will wear what makes you feel great about yourself. In other words, outfit ideas for photo sessions in Pueblo and Colorado Springs should be about looking like the greatest, most conscious version of yourself in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
And you call it home. So let’s show it.
Portrait photography services for senior photos, couples, and family photos available in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Manitou Springs, and Canon City.
