Winter Park Engagement Photographer | Katie and Kerry | Winter Park Proposal and Loveland Pass Engagement

Katie and Kerry | Winter Park Proposal and Loveland Pass Engagement

 

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Savannah Chandler Photography | Winter Park Wedding Photographer

 

 

 

 

Not too long ago, I received a message from Katie’s mom – they had been asked by their daughter’s boyfriend for her hand in marriage.  Kerry was planning to propose to Katie as soon as her custom ring made it’s way to his house in Texas.  Over the course of a week or so, I was in incognito communication with Kerry via. Katie’s mom and planning to capture their proposal.  We decided on heading up the new gondola at Winter Park resort, where Kerry would propose at the top of the mountain.  A while ago, they had visited Winter Park and had photographs taken up on the top of Sunspot.

Finally, June 28th came.  I headed up the hills on what was a lovely afternoon.  I headed up the Zephyr express to 10,708 feet on Sunspot mountain.  Once I saw Kerry and Katie head to the Southern facing outlook on the Outhouse Ski Run – I knew it wouldn’t be long before he popped the question.  Hanging back as far as I could to stay out of sight – I waited for Kerry to drop to a knee in front of the Indian Peaks mountains in the background.

She said YES!  Once the shock and adrenaline began to wear off – we wandered around Sunspot for a few minutes to get some images.  Katie described how she had a dream that Kerry had proposed – but in the dream the ring was a literal rock and a paperclip.  When Kerry proposed, he first pulled out a homemade ring – a rock in a paperclip and proclaimed that Katie had always dreamed this was how he’d propose.  He spent that morning making a ring to fit the description of the “dream ring”, to be followed by her actual dream ring.

After we headed back down the Zephyr (and stopped by Starbucks to get “Fiancee” written on Katie’s cup), we parted ways for the evening.  Katie’s mom had also set up a full engagement session a few days later, just before Kerry was set to leave for a Military base.  On the following Tuesday, we met up at Pass Lake on Loveland Pass.  This year has been quite interesting with the snow pack – the lake was still 75% frozen on July 2.  Being the troopers that they are, Katie and Kerry ventured into the snow and muck to get good photos.

The whole evening, a thunderstorm was in the forecast.  Being totally above treeline at 11,991 feet, we made sure to keep our radar on all evening for any approaching lightening strikes.  To our advantage, the storms didn’t come but did bring some stunning clouds and light our way.  To end our evening, we were greeted with a stunning Alpenglow on the East Wall of Arapahoe Basin followed by colorful Colorado clouds over the Continental Divide.

I wish you all the best, Katie and Kerry.  Thank you for adventuring with me.  You are both such happy people – and so in love.

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Colorado Wedding Photographer | Colorado Proposal Photographer
Based in Denver, CO | Available for Travel Worldwide
Servicing the Rocky Mountains and Beyond
Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin, Crested Butte, Telluride, Ouray, Breckenridge, Vail, Granby, Estes Park, Alamosa

Dream Lake Engagement Photographer | Emily and Coty | Rocky Mountain National Park

Emily and Coty | Dream Lake Engagement | Rocky Mountain National Park

Savannah Chandler Photography | Estes Park Engagement Photographer

 

 

 

 

Last week, the 2:00am wake up call to head up the canyon and into Rocky Mountain National Park came a few times… twice to be exact.  On Friday, I left my house and hoped in my yellow jeep at 2:30 am to meet Emily and Coty at the Bear Lake Trailhead.  We started hiking around 4:30 to be sure that we made it to the lake before Alpenglow hit Hallett Peak.  2019 has been quite an interesting year here in Colorado – we still have a TON of snow in the high country this June.  I had read the trip reports for Dream Lake the night before, and knew we’d encounter some snow… but I was surprised at how much there truly was left.  Half of the lake was still frozen, and the trail up had a ton of icy snowpack on it.

Starting on the dirt/snow trail up to Dream Lake in the dark, we made great time and made it with more than enough time before Alpenglow hit.  As we were hiking up, you could see that the sky was incredibly clear – meaning we’d have an amazing red sky and mountain tops.  And amazing was indeed what we got.  Hallett and Flattop Peaks lit up an amazing pink and red – and stayed colored for quite some time.

While up at the lake, we walked around in the snow and climbed over rocks.  Towards the end of our time up at Dream, Emily and Coty got into the water – while I nearly fully submerged myself photographing them.  One of these days, I’ll remember to bring waders to a shoot.  One day.  Until then, I’ll continue freezing myself and getting soggy shoes 😉

Once we descended down the mountain and headed back toward Estes Park, we made a quick pit-stop at the Beaver Ponds near Moraine Valley for a few images.  Though the snow can be a pain in the rear to hike in, it sure looks majestic up on the peaks against a Blue Bird sky.

Thank you for adventuring with me, Emily and Coty, and for heading up the mountain in the dark.  I hope that you enjoyed your time here in Colorado!!

 


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Savannah Chandler Photography | Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide
Estes Park Engagement Photographer

Serving the Rocky Mountain Region and Beyond
Keystone | Estes Park | Granby | Rocky Mountain National Park | Telluride | Ouray | Durango | Vail | Steamboat | Breckenridge | Arapahoe Basin | Winter Park | Buena Vista

Lost Gulch Proposal Photographer | Michael and Rachel | Boulder Colorado

Michael and Rachel | Proposal on Lost Gulch Overlook

Savannah Chandler Photography | Boulder Engagement Photographer

 

Proposals are always full of adrenaline – the concept of blending in behind a rock and jumping out to catch “bending the knee” is one that makes my heart race.

I talked with Michael quite a few times in preparation for their Lost Gulch Overlook proposal and following engagement session.  I always be sure to get photos of the couple, as well as their vehicle.  I knew that they’d be pulling up in Michael’s white Honda at 2:30 pm.  My second photographer and myself traded taking photographs of each other up on the rocks, as well as the lovely view of the Never Summer range to the South West of Boulder and looking out into Rocky Mountain National Park.

We saw a white Honda pull up right on time, and knew it was go time.  As Michael and Rachel headed out towards the overlook, we kept a close eye on their location and followed them out the the Western most point on the rocks.  At roughly 2:35pm, Michael dropped down to one knee and proposed to Rachel.  These are the moments when you can feel your heart pounding out of your chest – my fingers were shaking for quite some time from the rush.

Once Michael pointed us out, we took some time to photograph at Lost Gulch overlook and spray some champagne in celebration.  One of the great things about late April on Flagstaff mountain is that it’s not too terribly hot yet.  We were able to outrun the coming storm system, and then head up the road to the Flatiron Vista Trailhead.  We originally thought of heading to Chautauqua park, however, on 4/20 in Boulder – the crowds are always massive.  Able to escape the city and crowds, we walked around the Vista Trailhead.  There were tons of beautiful yellow flowers on the ground.  Spring was certainly in bloom.

I wish you both the best of luck, and nothing but happiness.  Thank you for adventuring with me up near Boulder!!

denver-wedding-photographer

 


Second Photographer: Amanda Maughmer

 

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Boulder Engagement Photographer | Lost Gulch Proposal

Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for travel Worldwide

 

Boulder | Telluride | Ouray | Steamboat | Granby | Winter Park | Keystone | Breckenridge | Buena Vista | Vail | Alamosa

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Dillon Engagement Photographer | Emily and Jake | Summit County Engagement

Emily and Jake | Lake Dillon Engagement
lake-dillon-engagement-photographerSavannah Chandler Photography | Keystone Engagement Photographer

 

 

It’s finally almost summer, and all the ice is melting here in the Colorado high country.  Just the day before I met Emily and Jake for their Lake Dillon engagement session, IT SNOWED.  The Breckenridge area got almost a foot of snow in the higher elevations – on May 23.  Being a fifth generation Coloradan, I’ve never surprised by large spring snow storms.  I get a little perturbed that I can’t yet go 4×4’ing in the jeep yet and that all the high alpine lakes are still too cold to SUP in, but never surprised anymore.

Once we took a look at the weather report the week of their session, I’m so incredibly glad that we moved our session back by a day.  We got amazing sunlight, and no snow on the ground.  Down near Lake Dillon, the weather was quite pleasant.  A balmy 60* or so, with no winds.  We headed out towards where dock #3 used to be, only to be (not so pleasantly) surprised that they had torn out the dock with the addition of the new Dillon Amphitheater.  It looks like quite the amazing location for a concert, but the beautiful dock that I loved photographing on is no more.  Nevertheless, we headed out onto the sandy beaches of the Lake Dillon Marina and walked around in the sunlight for some portraits.

Jake has just moved to Colorado this past February (during one of our worst winters in recent memory of course) – and he wanted to visit a lovely “top down” mountain view.  We headed up to Swan Lake road, which has a stunning overlook at the summit.  As we walked towards the summit trail at Sapphire point, he made a comment that this was the most beautiful place he’d ever seen.  I love when couples have a moment during our time together that means something to them – and I hope that every time they look back at their photographs they are reminded of those special moments.

Although there was a lot of sun, once we were at 9,500 elevation, it was quite chilly.  The temps dropped into the low 40’s.  Just as the sun was dipping over the Ten Mile range in the background, we headed to the Mustang to get Jake and Emily warm.  I’m incredibly warm blooded, so it’s very easy for me to forget how cold out it really is ;).  As the clouds began to turn colors, I asked Emily and Jake to place my flash inside their vehicle so we could get some photographs in Jake’s coveted ‘Stang.  I’ve since been told that those are his favorite images.

Thank you, Emily and Jake, for adventuring around Summit County with me!  I can’t wait to work with Sweetly Paired Events for your wedding in Granby next January!

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Lake Dillon Engagement Photographer
Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide

Keystone | Granby | Telluride | Ouray | Breckenridge | Vail | Estes Park | Allenspark | Steamboat | Silverton | Buena Vista

Dream Lake Adventure Session | Ashley and TC | Rocky Mountain National Park elopement photographer

Ashley and TC | Dream Lake Adventure Session

Savannah Chandler Photography | Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Photographer

 

 

 

I have had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing couples during my time as a wedding photographer here in Colorado.  I’ve met people from all walks of life, most of whom agree that Colorado and the outdoors are pretty damn awesome.  Insert Ashley and Tc.  If you want to hear even more gushing about these two amazing humans – you can check out their proposal story HERE and their wedding day story HERE.  But for today – I will gush some more.  Side note – remember Gushers candy?  Yum.

I went to go meet Ashley and TC for dinner one night, just to catch up and say hello.  We met at a local brewery, and just talked about life.  TC brought up the question if Ashley should clean her gown – to which I replied HELL NO.  Let’s go hiking at 4:45 in the morning to an amazing frozen lake you can walk out onto and take photos.  They replied with the same amount of enthusiasm with a HELL YES.

So one lovely winter morning, we met in Estes Park and began hiking at just before 5:00am.  The hike to Dream Lake took 26 minutes (thanks, Garmin watch) – which isn’t too terrible for a winter hike.  When we got to the lake – the weather couldn’t have been better.  No wind.  No clouds.  Lots of sunshine coming up over the horizon.  Right as they walked out onto the frozen water – the entire mountain range turned bright pinkish red.  Pred we shall call the color.  This was the most glorious Alpenglow I’d seen up at Dream Lake at all my times visiting.

We basked in the pred glow of the sun rising, just long enough for Ashley not to freeze in her strapless Little White Dress gown.  #Badassbride.  Just as the sun hit the side of Bear mountain, we began to descend the 1.1 miles and 450 feet down to the parking lot.  One great thing about a sunrise session is that you still have the rest of the day!

Thank you, Ashley and TC for being some of the most incredible people – Inside and out.  I can’t wait to hear of your journeys in Charleston.  And I’m really REALLY looking forward to seeing the two of you in the South in the not too distant future when we come visit. <3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide
Colorado Wedding Photographer | Estes Park Elopement Photographer

Servicing the Rocky Mountains and Beyond
Keystone | Durango | Telluride | Dillon | Steamboat | Ouray | Breckenridge | Granby | Estes Park | Vail | Larkspur

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