Want a Perfect All-Season Boulder Flatiron Location for your Family Photos?
The Boulder Flatirons are an iconic backdrop that scream Boulder in family photos. There’s no denying that at least one family portrait, while you live in the Boulder area should be in front of those jaw-dropping rock formations. Many locations in front of the Flatirons though have fields that turn brown during the colder months. If your photo session is going to land during one of those months, it can be nice to find a location that has some greenery. This location is perfect for that. Filled with Ponderosa pines, this location stays green all year.
Why This Location Shines for Family Photos
Boulder Flatirons
The first benefit of this location is the Boulder Flatirons. They look surreal as we gaze at them through the pine trees. With the appropriate lens, which I always use =), it almost looks like you are standing in front of a painting. There are two amazing viewing points to capture the Flatirons as the backdrop to your portrait. One is towards the north in the direction of Chautauqua. The other is towards the South and a greener part of the Flatirons.
Greenery All Year
Filled with Ponderosa pine trees, this location is green all year. You can almost forget that Boulder is in a desert. Beautiful in both the summer sunshine and with a dusting of snow, these trees bring life to your photos that may not experience that injection of greenery elsewhere. This location is one of the few in the foothills that stays green year-round. For something similar, you’d have to drive into the mountains.
Easily Accessible
Especially when you’re working with kids, the proximity of this location to the parking lot and the lack of walking is a major plus. Every photography spot at this location is within a short walking distance from your car. It means not having to fight with kids to go very far and also being able to capitalize on your time at your portrait session by not wasting time walking in between spots.
Not a Busy Location
I will preface this section by saying that I shoot on the weekdays to avoid people and tons of traffic at these portrait locations. I find that it lends itself to a better portrait experience and better photos. It can still get busy on weekdays at some locations during the high portrait season though. This location though is rarely busy with other portraits and tons of hikers. This is surprising with how close it is to Boulder proper itself.
Why This Location Might Be For You
I’d recommend this location for you if you want any or all of the following:
You love the look of the Boulder Flatirons, but don’t want the crowds
You love the look of Ponderosa pines
You’re looking at a colder month session, want greenery, but don’t want the drive to the mountains
You want an earlier session time (maybe bedtime is a concern?)
You want something different than the meadow + mountains look that we typically confined to in the Foothills
You want a mountainy look without the drive
Quick Location Facts
Easy Access to portrait locations, with a flat pea gravel path
Toddler and child friendly. Rattlesnakes are a worry here though
OSMP permit required (for sessions with Sara Herkes Photo, the permit is covered)
Perfect for winter sessions or summer sessions at an earlier start time
Sessions at this location often need to start an hour before other locations due to the proximity of the Flatirons
40 minutes from Downtown Denver, 10 minutes from Downtown Boulder, 30 minutes from Longmont, 70 minutes from Greeley, 70 minutes from Fort Collins, 60 minutes from Estes Park, 60 minutes from Castle Rock, and 45 minutes from Aurora
Full Session Slideshows
To see what a full photo session looks like at this location, check out the below slideshows.
Sara Herkes is a maternity, newborn, family, and senior photographer based in Longmont, CO. She serves the the Denver Metro Area, the Colorado Rockies, and the Northern Front Range and captures your pregnancy amidst the Colorado wilderness. Learn more about her services here.
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