Colorado couldn’t be a more ideal place to capture western engagement photos, with the abundance of stunning mountain views and wide open spaces.

Colorado Western Engagement Photos

Colorado is made for engagement photos with a Western vibe. The amount of natural beauty here in Colorado is overwhelming, and nothing says western like the mountains meeting the wide open meadows. There’s such an abundance of locations to choose from that are all equally stunning, and perfect for capturing engagement photos with an effortlessly Western feel. Here’s what you need to know to plan your own session here in Colorado!

Where to Plan Colorado Western Engagement Pictures

Colorado couldn’t be a more ideal place to capture engagement photos with a western vibe. The Colorado mountains make the most perfect backdrop and your options are pretty endless when it comes to a location! Here are some of my most favorite spots to choose from.

• Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park): This is a favorite Colorado destination for a reason, with the stunning mountain views, wide open meadows to adventure in and bright alpine lakes.
• Boulder: The Flatirons are iconic for golden-hour portraits, while downtown Boulder adds a fun, laid-back city feel with coffee shops and mountain views in the background.
• Vail: Vail has the perfect mix of cozy mountain village charm and gorgeous mountain views. It’s a popular destination in the winter, but it’s truly stunning in the summer!
• Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs): Famous for its red rock formations and a desert feel that makes the mountains stand out, it’s gorgeous as a backdrop!
• Crested Butte: Nothing beats this location in the summertime when the wildflowers are in bloom, it’s so breathtaking!
• Loveland Pass: A higher-elevation here means you get some pretty incredible panoramic mountain views.
• Telluride: A bit farther out, but worth the trip for its stunning mountain peaks, waterfalls, and historic mountain town feel.

What to Wear for Colorado Western Engagement Photos

Engagement photos with a western vibe have such a unique and fun feel, and I always love the opportunity to capture them! Here are a few things to think about when planning what to wear for your engagement session.

Use neutral colors with a pop of color

Neutral colors are always going to photograph best, but I love adding a pop of color, especially with the type of backdrops we have in Colorado. Turquoise is a perfect color option to fit the western theme, and you can see how it was used in a few of the photos below!

Include a pattern or texture

You’ll see a lot of photographers suggesting against patterns, but I think it can really add a lot to photos. It should be a bit more of a subtle pattern, and it’s best if just one of you has a pattern, while the other wears a more neutral color.

Guys can keep it simple

The guys always will look good in boots, jeans, a hat and a button up. But if you did want to dress it up a little, he could always wear a blazer or a vest as well.

Bring outfit changes

I think it works really well for girls to do a few outfit changes to get different vibes for the photos. Typically, they’ll do one more casual outfit with jeans, a cute top and boots. And maybe their second outfit is a flowy dress and some tall boots. It’s a great way to try a few different western outfits!

Wear what makes you comfortable

No matter what you wear, be in something comfortable and choose an outfit that looks like “you.” Your photos turn out so much nicer when you feel confident and comfortable in what you’re wearing. So no matter what, choose what makes sense for you!

Ideas for Colorado Western Engagement Photos

There are so many ways that you can make your engagement photos truly unique to you and your partner. I love when couples incorporate something that’s special to just the two of them into their session. So here’s a few ideas of how you can do that for western engagement photos!

• Incorporate animals! Don’t be afraid to use animals like horses, dogs, or cattle. Whatever tells part of your story!
• Personalize the location. If you met at a roping or rodeo, have your session at the rodeo grounds! Such a perfect way to elevate your western-themed photos.
• Find a pasture! Take photos in a pasture, no matter what color the grass is, it’s going to be pretty! It’s a backdrop that always makes the couple stand out and fits the western vibe well.
• Bring drinks along. Don’t be afraid to bring your favorite beer or whiskey like Coors Lite and Pendleton.
• Have a trailer? Use the stock trailer in your photos if you’d like! Again, it’s a way to make your photos super personalized!
• Ride off into the sunset! Make your engagement session feel like something out of a movie by riding your horses off into the sunset.

Where to Shop for Colorado Western Engagement Photos

If you need a place to start shopping for your engagement photos, here are a few of the places I would recommend to start!

• Cactus Cowgirl
• The FRINGED Pineapple
• Boot Barn
• Western Vogue
• Heels n Spurs
• Savannah 7s
• La Loma + Co for Turquoise Jewelry

Want some extra inspiration?

Get some extra ideas for fun Western fashion from these accounts:

• Western Wedding Magazine
• West Desperado
• Marijka Hunsaker

Colorado Wedding Photographer

Hi, I’m Lo, a Colorado weddding photographer with a love for all things western! Your engagement and wedding photos should feel effortless and natural, and I’m here to capture all the moments that matter most. So if you’re looking for someone to help you plan your western engagement photos or Colorado wedding, I’d love to chat!