Great Sand Dunes National Park Engagement Session
I have a radar for glowing bride-to-be’s. While I was working my side gig at the local Salida brewery, these two sit down at the bar. Maybe it was the sweet smile that was glued to her face or the constant staring at her left hand but I could tell these two just got engaged. Genuinely excited for them, I ask how he proposed. Sarah tells me that he planned them a romantic get away from Denver to the Sand Dunes. They hiked hours to the top when he pulled out the ring and sweetly asked if she would marry him. With that smile still painted widely on her face and her eyes glimmering in ooey-gooey love, I congratulate them both and tell them how much I love the Sand Dunes. This is how smooth I am, I pull out my phone and tell them I’ve shot a elopement there before, check it out! Fate. We immediately clicked and they decided that they really wanted their engagement session to be where Matt proposed. Of course I’m down!
It was important to these two to incorporate the kiddos in their session. Sarah is their lovely new step-mother and it was so heartwarming to see the boys welcoming her with open arms. What sports they were too because dang, we did not anticipate the wind being 30mph! We cuddled into a spot where the sun was shining and the wind couldn’t reach us, and played race around Dad and Sarah while they smooch and hold hands, we also played swing the kiddos and pile up on Dad and Sarah and start a tickle fight. By the time I had all the family pictures the Grandma’s were there to bundle up the boys and bring them back to the car for a late nap. Then we got on our hiking shoes, coats and began the trek up the Sand Dunes. They are nothing to scoff at, let me tell you, it’s exhausting, especially for poor Sarah in her gorgeous gown. But she wanted it to blow in the wind so I guess she got it! We did not end up making it to the top, not because we’re tired little babies, but because that wind was literally pelting our eyeballs. Just check those blooper images I added to the end of the gallery. Number one tip of the day if you’re going to have your photo’s taken at the Sand Dunes, make sure it’s not windy. I could fill buckets with the amount of sand that was in my coat pockets.
The most memorable moments from this engagement session with Sarah and Matt was how often I reassured Sarah that her dress and hair looked amazing. Wind blown can be super hard to control, let me rephrase that, you can’t control anything in high wind conditions, so don’t. I’d rather shoot on a rainy day than a windy day, but, this was her vision and damn did we make it happen. In the beginning, Matt was wearing a tie and nice dress socks and shoes… it had to go. I made the call that one, the tie was literally flying all over the place and whipping him in the face, can't have that. But he has these incredible tattoos on his chest, I may have suggested to undo a couple of buttons and let that chest hair fly in the wind, he wasn’t as siked when I requested the pant leg roll up, but as you can see, he looks incredible.
My favorite pose that I had them do was the one that wrapped up the session. This one right down here in the middle. Laying in the sand face to face and tickle each others fingers. I did this at the end because they were COVERED in sand. They told me they were finding it for the rest of the week! What I love about it was how smooth the sand was behind them. I guided them to carefully walk to this spot and not disturb the beautiful pattern that the wind had created. Art is messy folks and I would apologize but I can’t resist making you and the love of your life an art piece to cherish forever.
Location: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Dress: Davids Bridal
Season: Fall
