Denver Engagement Photographer | Cara and Andres | Mt Falcon Engagement

Cara and Andres | Mt Falcon Engagement

Savannah Chandler Photography | Denver Engagement Photographer

 

When Cara and I first spoke on the phone about her vision for their Denver Engagement session, she let me know that they wanted to capture the Colorado feel without it feeling like the dead of winter.  Colorado is such a unique place, that we have SO many beautiful and sunny days year round.  Especially in the front range.  I knew that Mount Falcon in Indian Peaks would be the perfect location – it’s low enough in elevation not to always be covered in snow and has beautiful views of the rolling hills near the Mount Evans Wilderness area.

In the days leading up to our planned session date, I kept checking the weather (as we all know that Colorado weather changes super fast and a cat predicting the weather is about as accurate as a weatherman).  50* and sunny.  We had a FABULOUS day with some sun and basically no wind.

To begin our time together, we headed out to the old ruins along the Castle Trail.  The trail leads out to an old brick mansion that was destroyed by lightning in the 1900s.

Once the sun began to get closer to the horizon, we walked back towards the vista overlook facing Mount Evans.  The trail begins to turn and open up to a stunning view.

Congratulations your engagement, Cara and Andres!  I can’t wait to see the images from your Lionsgate wedding this upcoming September!

 

 

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Denver Engagement Photographer
Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for travel worldwide

Best Colorado Wedding Photographer | 2018 Year in Review | Savannah Chandler Photography

2018 Year in Review
Best Colorado Wedding Photographer | Savannah Chandler Photography

 

 

2018.  It’s been a year.  One of the best years, and quite possibly the worst year.

2018 started off fantastic.  I typically end my wedding season with a “bang”, traveling outside of Colorado and photographing somewhere amazing.  2014: Asheville. 2015: Iceland. 2016: Sedona. 2017: Virginia.  I did end 2018 off with a bang (more on that later), but I also began the year in some absolutely amazing locations.
In March, I headed to Belize with my good friend Lindsay Lack to photograph what I can only describe as the biggest, craziest party of a wedding I’ve ever been a part of.  Belizeans know how to throw one hell of a party.  We photographed until past 3am, and there were still a good 400 guests in attendance at that point.  Needless to say, laying on the beach drinking frozen mojitos was definitely in order the next day.
In April, I headed back to the land of Fire and Ice – Iceland – to photograph a fellow photographer’s elopement.  It was just the two of them, and me with my entourage of “assistants”, or better known as my siblings.  In all honesty, they were great assistants, sherpas, light holders, navigators… they really helped with everything.  Amanda and Justin’s wedding days was honestly one of my favorite adventures I’ve had – we spent 17 hours exploring Reykjavik, Vik, and the south of Iceland.  We even went spelunking for photos.  That was a first for me.
Once I got back from a personal trip to Ireland, Colorado wedding season came on with a vengeance.  I booked more weddings, elopements, and engagements than ever before this past season.
Photographing all over the great state of Colorado, I had the pleasure of celebrating with some pretty amazing people.  I will say, I’ve never been so reassured of how great the human spirit is as I have been this past year.

Come August 11, I was in Estes Park photographing with an amazing couple in Rocky Mountain National Park.  At home, I knew my son (4 years old) had a headache, but really didn’t think much of it.  The next day, he still had a headache so we brought him into the ER at Children’s Hospital.  That day, August 12, our lives changed forever.

We found out that our son had a brain tumor.  Medulloblastoma, grade 4 with extensive Nodularity.  Cancerous.

Our whole world flipped that day.  Brain surgery was set to be in 2 days.  Everything moved so fast.

Another first happened this year, after 7 years in business, I had to have two of my amazing friends cover 2 weddings for me the week our son had his tumor removed.  Thank you to Haley Allen and Erin Cady, I can’t begin to tell you the depth of my gratitude.  A few of the images in here were photographed by them and edited by myself.  Both couples – Mandy and Nick & Kendra and Nelson – were so gracious, patient, and understanding.  Thank you for that.

Once September 15 came, my husband and I decided that we were at a place that I could resume photographing the remainder of my weddings.  I’m sure that I sound redundant at this point, but I can’t stress enough how amazing the couple’s I’ve come to know and love are.  Everyone was so kind, patient, and just the best all around humans I’ve ever met.  <3   This is as close to a “rooftop” as I’ll ever come, so I want to shout it from the “Blogtop” – THANK YOU.  I LOVE YOU ALL.

In October, after the approval of our Oncology team, I did in fact end my season with a BANG once again.  Iceland for the second time in 6 months.  My brother and sister came once again to assist, and we ventured around Vik and Snafellsness with Kim and Scott for their elopement.  Iceland has always had a piece of my heart, but I really think that I’ve become quite attached with this lovely little island now.

To those of you wondering, my son is doing well and nearly finished with his Chemotherapy.  We end his regimen on February 15th.  That day will be one of celebration.

Here are some fun tidbits to cap off the 2018 Colorado Wedding photography season.

– 4 times out of the country
– Lowest altitude wedding ever photographed: Underground in a Cave in Iceland near Reykjavik.
– Highest altitude wedding photographed this year: 11,991 Feet at Loveland Pass
– Watched a pregnant badass bride outpace nearly everyone at Loveland Pass
– Coldest Wedding photographed this year: the top of Vail ski resort in February at -2*
– Hottest Wedding photographed this year: Allenspark in July at 95*
– Bought 2 new cars, one my dream Jeep to get to all the amazing mountain loations
– Bought a Cabin in the San Luis Valley (which we can host private elopements at, hint hint 😉 )
– Got in a decent amount of hiking (all things considered)
– Longest Wedding photographed: Belize just outdid Iceland at 18.5 hours vs. 17 hours
– Most weddings ever photographed in a week timespan to date: 6 weddings in 7 days (this past September)
– Number of Soft Boxes bought this year: 4
– Number of Flashes bought: 6
– Number of cameras that went Kaput mid-wedding: 1 (and this, ladies and gentleman, is why you only hire people who shoot with more than one camera 😬)
– Number of lenses lost, but never forgotten, due to dings, scratches, cracking, waterfall damage: 3
– First time ever photographing with Horses this year
– Second time ever photographing with Horses this year 😆
– Countless memories made with my fellow photographers
– Number of Amazing couples with the best hearts: 27
(that’s how many weddings/elopements I photographed this year 😍)

Here’s to an amazing 2019.  To HEALTH (for reals though, no more surprises universe… okay??), Happiness, and Photography.

Love to you all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Best Colorado Wedding Photographer | Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide

Photographing in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond
Telluride | Silverton | Ouray | Granby | Winterpark | Steamboat | Breckenridge | Keystone | Vail | Aspen | Crested Butte | Durango | Silverthorne

Photography Services Available Worldwide | Destination Wedding Photographer
Ireland | Iceland | Belize | Italy | France | Switzerland

 

 

Ready to Chat about Photography Services?
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Planning an International Elopement?  Available for travel Worldwide!
I’m looking to add the following locations to my 2019 Schedule.  Special pricing for the following countries:
Italy
Spain
Scotland
Greece
France

Rocky Mountain National Park Intimate Wedding | Val and Keith | Estes Park Wedding Photographer

Val and Keith | Rocky Mountain National Park Intimate Wedding and Loveland Dinner Party

Savannah Chandler Photography | Estes Park Wedding Photographer

 

 

In June of 2017, Ben and I headed to Manhattan for a couple’s vacation.  Just before we left, I got an inquiry asking about an August 2018 intimate wedding in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I let the couple know I would be able to chat once I got back from NYC… only to find out that Val and Keith LIVE just a few minutes on the train from where we were staying in Midtown!  We made a time to meet up near the 42nd Street Station for some wedding chat and macaroons.  I was over the moon when I heard about their intimate wedding plans – to get married in Rocky Mountain National Park then head over to Loveland for a dinner party with their closest family and friends.  The most important elements to their day were supporting our National Parks system and having good ol’ Colorado mountains in the background.

I met Val and Keith at their reception venue – a LOVELY home that was the perfect setting for both a place to stay for family as well as to celebrate with dinner later in the evening.  Val got ready in the Bridal suite while Keith got ready in the house.  My secondary photographer, Melissa, met up with Keith in the main house while I hung out with Val getting ready.  Something incredibly amazing about all of Val’s details is that she made them by hand.  Yes.  All of them.  HER WEDDING GOWN.  Made by hand.  I was beyond astounded when I saw her stunning gown, veil, shoes, crown – all of these items that she made in NYC and brought out to Colorado.

Once everyone was dressed, read their letters, and ready to go – we headed up Trail Ridge Road inside of Rocky Mountain National Park for their first look.  I love how up near the Lava Cliffs, you get jaw dropping views of the Never Summer mountains as well as Longs Peak.  On our winding way towards our meeting point, Val and I talked all about their amazing adventures – including how they got engaged at Machu Picchu!  Yeah… not jelly at all.  🙃

After we spend some (beautifully emotive) time up on Trail Ridge Road, we made our decent down towards their ceremony site.  Rocky Mountain National Park has a list of designated wedding sites that you can get a permit for – Val and Keith chose Upper Beaver Meadows.  Looking out into the meadow, Longs Peak looms over the stunning valley.  I think that they chose a fabulous ceremony site for their guests to experience all that Colorado and Estes Park has to offer.

To cap off the evening, Val changed into her other gown (handmade of course) with a Dolly-Parton inspired fringe vest.  We spent the evening listening to beautiful guitar music by Piatro and eating amazing food by Sugar Pine Catering.

Thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you and your loved ones, Val and Keith.  I’m so honored to have been a part of your stunning celebration.

Vendors:
Ceremony: Rocky Mountain National Park
Dinner Party: Private Residence
Day of Coordination: Amanda Bowers
Gown and Accessories: Bride
Floral: Bliss
Catering: Sugar Pine
Cake: Daddy Cakes Bakery
Musician: Piatro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Estes Park Wedding Photographer | Rocky Mountain National Park Intimate Wedding
Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide

Photographing in the Rocky Mountain Region and Beyond
Estes Park | Telluride | Granby | Grand Lake | Silverton | Winter Park | Vail | Keystone | Breckenridge | Ouray | Durango | Buena Vista

Estes Park Engagement Photographer | Sarah and Garrett | Rocky Mountain National Park

Sarah and Garrett | Estes Park Engagement | Rocky Mountain National Park 

 

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Savannah Chandler Photography | Colorado Engagement Photographer

 

 

Throughout the summer months, Trail Ridge Road inside Rocky Mountain National Park is an open thoroughfare that you can drive over with some of the most spectacular views.  The road begins near the park entrance, then rises up above the towns and mountains – topping out at nearly 12,000 feet in elevation.  There are meadows, overlooks, lava cliffs, and the most stunning Alpine Tundra.

Sarah and Garrett met while they were in school in Golden, attending the School of Mines.  They came from opposite areas of the country – Sarah from Alaska and Garrett from Louisiana – and met here in the middle in Colorado.  When they were deciding on a wedding location, Colorado made perfect sense.  They’ll be having a winter wedding in Allenspark at the Wild Basin Lodge (which is one of my favorite wedding venues in Colorado).  To compliment their love of outdoors and being in the mountains,  they decided on an adventure through Rocky Mountain National Park for their engagement session.  We began lower in the valley and made our way up the windy roads overlooking the foothills.

There’s a spot up near the summit of Trail Ridge Road that is one of my favorite places to bring couples to – the views are outstanding and it’s fairly accessible.  We ended our time up in this magical place – with one of the most fabulous sunsets of the season.  The sun popped out behind the clouds as a large ball of fire setting down into the horizon behind the alpine flowers.

Congratulations on your engagement, Sarah and Garrett, and I wish you a lifetime of happiness.  Thank you for adventuring through Estes Park with me!  Have a fabulous, and hopefully nice and snowy, winter wedding.

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Savannah Chandler Photography | Colorado Engagement Photographer | Rocky Mountain National Park Engagement | Estes Park, Colorado
Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for Travel Worldwide
Serving  the Rocky Mountain Region and Beyond
Estes Park | Telluride | Keystone | Breckenridge | Winter Park | Arapahoe Basin | Granby | Buena Vista | Ouray | Vail | Grand Lake

Sky View at Fall River Village Wedding Photographer | Cecily and Jimmy | Estes Park

Cecily and Jimmy | Sky View at Fall River Village | Estes Park
Love at 8200 Feet

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Savannah Chandler Photography | Estes Park Wedding Photographer

Estes Park has always had a special spot in my heart.  I can remember going “down” for family vacations growing up, and watching the taffy being pulled in a local taffy shop along mainstreet.  Estes is a quaint mountain town, sitting at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park, and boasts a busy main street with small shops, restaurants, and bars.  My very favorite coffee house – Kind Coffee – is along the main drag. <3

I’ve been to Fall River Village before, and was incredibly excited to see the new Sky View wedding venue that opened this past August.  I met Cecily and Jimmy at Sky View to get ready, where Cecily was in the bridal suite and Jimmy was in their rental property just across the way.  Coming out from Virginia for their Colorado destination wedding, the bride and groom decided to have their first look in the stunning Rocky Mountain National Park at Sheep’s Lakes.  Cecily headed up with myself and we met Jimmy (along with my secondary photographer, Melissa) right along the roadside.  Mountains and fall color were what we were in search for all afternoon – and we were able to get both despite the cold snap and fog descending over Estes Park the day of the wedding.

If you’re planning on having a first look and heading up into the mountains for couple’s portraits, I highly recommend leaving plenty of time and allowing for spontaneous decisions.  We originally thought about heading up Trail Ridge Road, but the weather had other plans for us.  The road closed for the day due to snow and wind – Colorado can have crazy weather and snow in Estes (even in September!).  We snaked our way up towards Bear Lake, but decided against any of the upper lakes due to low visibility and fog.  As we were heading back down the road, I found a small pull off with a dirt ledge and a stunning Aspen field behind that was in prime color.  I may have made the 😬 face and asked how up for adventuring up the side of a muddy/slick sidewall they were.  #BadAssBride

We snaked our way back down hwy 34 towards Sky View, and met all the family, friends, and most importantly THE DOGS(!!) for portraits.  I knew from our first conversation (where I skyped and “met” their older pup) that the doggies would be a very important part of Cecily and Jimmy’s Estes Park wedding day.  The “Ring Pups” were such good troopers, and really listened (for the most part) to their bridal party duties.

After their vows amongst the fog wall, we headed in to the venue for some dancing and reception fun.  There was even Cornhole in the reception area!!

Thank you again, Cecily and Jimmy, for inviting me to celebrate your Estes Park wedding with you.  I wish you (and the “kiddos”) all the love and happiness.

Vendors:
Venue: Sky View at Fall River Village
Florist: Previe Events
Hair and Makeup: Megan Kerry Events
Caterer: Comida 
Secondary Photographer: Melissa Miniker

 

Savannah Chandler Photography | Colorado Wedding Photographer | Estes Park Wedding
Based in Denver, Colorado | Available for travel worldwide

Servicing the Rocky Mountain Region and Beyond
Telluride | Dillon | Keystone | Vail | Breckenridge | Winter Park | Granby | Grand Lake | Estes | Buena Vista | Ouray

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