Best Denver Photoshoot Locations

As a top-rated Denver Photographer, I’ve traveled all over the state looking for the best spots to photograph various photos. Here are my top and most popular and best Denver photoshoot locations.

Best Denver Photoshoot Locations

Locations That Guarantee Amazing Photos

South Mesa | Boulder

Senior girls posing for their yearbook photos at one of the best Denver Photoshoot Locations This is one of the best denver photoshoot locations for fall family photos- various families with red fall leaves

This location is my top favorite and most popular choice by clients. I love that I can shoot at every single angle and make every single session look different. A lot of times people will ask, “Where is this photo taken?” and are surprised when I answer with, “South Mesa”, they’re shocked! It really does have great 360 views. It offers mountain views, tall grasses, trees, boulders, water, fences, a bridge- literally everything you could want. This is one of the best Denver photoshoot locations because once that sun sets just behind the mountains, it’s an incredible view that you can’t not love.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evenings, Golden Hour
PARKING: There is a decent sized lot. It does become full quickly during seasonal times, but there is another lot across the road that I often use. Parking costs $5 unless you have the annual parking pass or your vehicle is registered in Boulder County
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: From the parking lot, the little areas of the park/trail that I love to use are just a short three minute walk. The entire area is dirt/gravel.

Mt. Falcon | Morrison

Maternity photos in Mt. Falcon is one of the best denver photoshoot locations Senior girl posing for yearbook photos at Mt. Falcon at one of the best denver photoshoot locations

Mt. Falcon is best known for the vast mountain views. Not so much for a ton of mountains behind you, but more of the appearance that you’re on top of the mountain. I love this area because it offers the true Colorado feel- mountains, trees, boulders. The photo options are endless. This area is great for small families, extended families, and senior photos.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour
PARKING: There are two good sized lots to use, an upper and lower.
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: The paths are dirt/gravel and all of the “good spots” to use are just a short walk from the parking lot.

CU Boulder Campus

Senior girl posing for yearbook photos at CU in Boulder is one of the best Denver photoshoot locations

This is one of my favorite locations to take high school senior photos and small families. While the campus is large, the little photo spots I love to use are small and quaint. It is absolutely beautiful late summer and early fall with various flowers, and trees changing colors. The bridge and old buildings are stunning. It’s best to use this spot before classes start up again and the campus becomes busy.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour
PARKING: There’s diagonal street parking right that costs $5. Some days of the week are free!
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: All paved and everything is super easy to get to.

South Valley | Littleton

Family of three posing for family photos at South Valley at one of the best Denver Photoshoot Locations

If you’re looking for the red rock formations, but don’t want to deal with the crowds and calendar of events at Red Rocks, this is the spot for you. It’s nearly identical! I love shooting here because it offers amazing filtered light once the sun goes behind the foothills. My most favorite thing about is spot, though, are the deer! I’ve never been here and not seen a deer. They’re often incorporated into photos and that’s very “Colorado-y” if you ask me. The one downside with this location are…snakes. I like to call them “nope-ropes”. They love the warm dirt and this is a very popular spot for them. As long as we keep our distance, all should be good though.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour
PARKING: There is a good sized dirt lot at the bottom of the trail that is free!
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: The entire path is dirt/gravel.

Westminster

If you’re looking to stay in the suburbs of Denver, this is the place to be. I love this little location for Summer and Fall sessions. It’s just a tad too bare for Spring and Winter, making it too easy to see the surrounding houses. However, when the trees and bushes are in full bloom, this spot is incredible. My favorite little area is the broken tree stump that overhangs a small pond. It just adds something special that a lot of other spots can’t offer. Bridges, fence lines, tall grasses, weeping trees- this Denver photoshoot location has it all.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour
PARKING: The parking lot is very very small. However, it’s next to a neighborhood that has a lot of street parking right next to it.
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: Everything is very very close by and just seconds away from the parking lot.

Botanic Gardens | Denver

Senior girl posing at Botanic Gardens which is one of the best denver photoshoot locations

There aren’t a ton of locations in Denver that are full of vibrant colors. However, Denver Botanic Gardens obviously has that going on. There are so so many amazing nooks within the entire park that will make your photos pop. My favorite parts of the park are in the International Inspired Gardens– I love the look of these areas. There are a lot of fun walls, gates, and bridges to use. A downside to this park is obviously having to stay on the paved path. I desperately wish we could frolic in the flowers, but I understand the importance in preserving the plant life. This location does have a $100 photography permit fee that you’ll pay directly to Denver Botanic Gardens. It’s absolutely worth it in my opinion.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour
PARKING: The designated parking lot is technically across the street from the entrance, but it is free.
FEES:$100 for a photography permit
ACCESSIBILITY: Very easy to access a ton of beautiful spots, but must stay on the paved path at all times.

RiNo Arts District | Denver

River North Arts District (RiNo) offers an aesthetic and vibe that nowhere else in Colorado can do. It gives off an edgy and artistic vibe throughout the entire area. Some common areas that we shoot at are murals along the alley ways, any set of cool stairs, storefronts, and plants trying to hide out in obscure places. RiNo often has neat edison lighting popping off in the background, and ever-changing art from local artists. This place is always bustling with a ton of people that to enjoy the same scenery, so getting creative to exclude them in your photo is my specialty! If you’re wanting just a little bit of a different type of photoshoot, this is one of the best Denver photoshoot locations to use.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Late afternoon
PARKING: Street parking lining the various streets
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY:A lot of murals, stairwells are easy to access and just short little walks between each other

Downtown Denver

Girl posing for her senior yearbook photos at one of the best denver photoshoot locations which is downtown denver

I’ll never not love shooting in Downtown Denver. The is one of the best Denver photoshoot locations simply because of the Millennium Bridge, and rooftops! Th Bridge has several different corners that all offer different looks. In one corner, you can get tall buildings in the background along with the busyness of the street. Another corners has really neat wood paneling and also offers a view of Confluence Park. The last area are the popular white metal grates/fence surrounding the entire bridge. In front of the white metal are really cool flower beds that keep pretty well throughout the summer. It’s fun to play with the stairs here, too!

Once we are done with the Millennium Bridge, we always go to a building rooftop. This is where I love shooting at blue hour. Sometimes, golden hour is still too bright. If we time it just right, we shoot at the Millennium Bridge during golden hour and the rooftop during blue hour. Just before it gets too dark to work my camera is when we are moving fast and doing a ton of fun poses.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour, Blue Hour
PARKING: There are a lot of lots and street parking- prices vary. I usually suggest to park in the DaVita lot.
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: There are large sets of stairs to use, but an elevator is generally working too if needed.

Officers Gulch | Frisco

Did you even know places like this exist right off the shoulder of a highway?! Just past Frisco and in heading into Copper Mountain is a cute little gem called Officers Gulch. There’s a tiny free parking lot, too. No parking stress or worries of pulling off the side of the road. At this location, there’s a gorgeous lake, pine trees, boulders and giant mountains. If we time it just right, we can get what’s called alpenglow. This is when the mountains on the opposite side of where the sun sets get a gorgeous red glow. I suggest this location for small families, large families, small weddings, and senior photos. It’s about a two hour drive from Denver, but it’s honestly worth it.

Large family posing for fall family photos in Vail which is one of Denver's best photoshoot locations

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening
PARKING: There’s a very small free lot just off the highway
FEES: $50
ACCESSIBILITY: The most beautiful spots are literally just steps off the parking lot.

Greenhouse | Windsor

Not many places like this exist, and definitely not in Colorado. This is a sweet little spot on another photographer’s property. She is sweet enough to rent it out to other photographers like me! The most popular and requested area to use is the greenhouse. As it should be! It’s darling and she has it decorated so beautifully year round. The lighting is generally great in here all day long, so an evening session isn’t required.

Just outside of the greenhouse is an entire plot of land that is available for us to use too. This includes a clothesline with vintage blankets, pumpkin patches, sunflower fields, flower beds, a farm with animal stables, and a chicken coop. If we decide to book a session and utilize the outdoor space, I suggest booking an evening time slot to allow for the most complimentary lighting. A literal dream! I never want to leave when I arrive here!

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: If we are just using the greenhouse, any time of day is gorgeous. If we use the outside farmland, evening is best.
PARKING: Right out front and you can’t miss it!
FEES: An average of $75-100 per hour
ACCESSIBILITY: Everything is super super easy to get to. Literally just steps from your car!

Farm | Parker

Family taking photos out on a farm with chickens and sheep at one of Denver's best photo shoot locations

Much like the greenhouse, another photographer generously rents out her farm property for other photographers. At this location in Parker, she allows you to get in with the sheep, ducks, and chickens. I really love using this space if you’re looking to get true candid photographs. There are definitely spaces to use within the property lines to get traditional posed photos, but the candid photos is what makes this spot amazing. Because we aim for a more lifestyle approach, meaning more candids than posed images, anytime of day works. Does this mean you might have harsher light and more shadows? Sure, that could happen. But it’s just a different kind of photography that truly captures what was happening at that very moment.

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Whenever!
PARKING: There is just enough parking for you and I=)
FEES: Depends on if you want to include the animals or not. An average of $75-$100
ACCESSIBILITY: Generally easy to get to all of the good little spots. Grass and dirt terrain.

NCAR | Boulder

This is an incredible spot to use just as the sun dips down. Can we go there during the day and still get amazing photos? Of course! But when the sun barely sets is when the true magic happens. There’s honestly not much to this location other than tall grasses and the Flat Irons in the background-and that’s okay! This is a time for you or your family to be the main character against a gorgeous background. I love using this location just as the fall leaves change color. There aren’t many trees though. Just a few strong lil trees that make a bold statements when they’re bright yellow. ]

BEST TIME TO SHOOT: Evening, Golden Hour
PARKING: Street parking available in the neighborhood
FEES: None
ACCESSIBILITY: Quick walk from your car on a dirt path

I think you have a ton of amazing options for the best Denver photoshoot locations. Go ahead and check out my Instagram because I post a lot of inspo photos on there! Let’s talk about your vision and get a date on the calendar!