The Best Maternity Photo Locations in Colorado
Where to shoot within an hour of Denver, and where to go when you want to earn the view. Sorted by season and walk.
The best maternity photo locations in Colorado are the ones you can still walk into at 33 weeks and have to yourself at golden hour. For most Denver-area moms that is the foothills, not the postcard: Lookout Mountain, Beaver Brook, the meadows above Evergreen, all under forty minutes from the studio and none of them more than a few hundred feet from the car.
Then there is the other list. Alpine lakes, high passes, the dunes, a summit. Places you earn on foot, in your third trimester, on purpose. That is a WanderBump session, and it gets its own half of this page, because the planning, the timing, and the mom it is for are all different.
I grew up here, and I have shot hundreds of sessions across every region and season of this state. The first half of this guide is where I would send you for a Tuesday-evening session. The second half is where I would take you if you told me you wanted more.
Garden of the Gods. Red Rocks. Some meadow with mountains. The articles are written by SEO writers who've never held a camera in this state.I have. Eight years. Hundreds of sessions. Every region, every season, every elevation. I've shot in dozens of locations across Colorado, and I can tell you which ones actually work, which ones get oversold, and which ones almost no one is using yet.
How to use this guide
Each location below gets the same treatment: what it looks like through a camera, when it peaks, how far the walk is from the car, and whether I would take you there at 36 weeks. The first half is drive-up. The second half is WanderBump, and I say so every time a location needs a doctor's OK and real shoes.
If you want a deep dive on the studio, the studio page covers the room itself. If you want to see what outdoor sessions actually look like, the outdoor portfolio is the proof.
If you want the short version, the Colorado Location Guide compresses all of this into 18 pages you can read on your phone. The download is at the bottom of this page.
Drive up, walk in: the Front Range and Foothills
This is where most of my outdoor sessions happen, and not because it is convenient. The Front Range runs from Colorado Springs through Denver and Boulder up to Fort Collins, and the foothills sit right behind it, and between the two you get red rock, open meadow, alpine views, water, and a city skyline if you insist, all within an hour of the studio.
Every location in this half shares one rule: the walk from the car is under ten minutes, and I have shot every one of them with a mom past 36 weeks. That is the point of the list. You get real Colorado in the frame without turning a portrait session into a hike.
If you are booking a Glow, Signature, or Goddess outdoor session, pick from here. Start with Lookout or Beaver Brook if you want mountains, Chautauqua or Red Rocks if you want something recognizable, and the studio if the forecast is doing what Colorado forecasts do.
The Signature Spot
There's a location I don't name publicly. I've shot some of my most popular maternity photos there. It's quiet, it's private in a way nothing public can be, and it's reserved for sessions that fit the look.
Intimate light. Sweeping foreground. A sense of being completely alone in the West.
If you book with me and the look fits, that's where we'll go. I won't tell you where it is until then, and I don't share it on social media. Some things stay between me and the mothers I shoot there. This is THE spot for private, intimate, outdoor maternity photos. If you want to bare more than the bump outdoors, this is one of the only places in Colorado I'd do it.
Denver and the studio
Denver is where I shoot most often, but not because I'm chasing urban backdrops. It's because the studio is here.
The studio sits in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe Drive. Tall ceilings, multiple backdrops, a curated client closet, professional lighting, and live tethered capture on a 42-inch monitor so you see every shot at scale. Most of my Signature and Goddess sessions happen here, and most of the time clients arrive thinking they want outdoor and leave realizing the studio gave them exactly what they were looking for.
For clients who do want urban backdrops, the Art District itself offers brick walls, weathered murals, and the kind of texture that contrasts beautifully with the softness of pregnancy. RiNo and LoDo offer similar palettes. I take these on when they fit the session, but the studio is the workhorse.
Denver shoots are year-round. No weather concerns, no permits, no parking logistics. If you want a session that doesn't require planning around Colorado's elements, this is where to start.
Lookout Mountain, Golden
Twenty minutes from my studio. Iconic Colorado view. Denver in the distance, foothills rolling out below, sky doing what Colorado sky does. Lookout is one of the most accessible "epic" locations in the metro area, and one of the easiest for late-pregnancy sessions because the parking lot is right at the overlook. Avoid weekends and summer evenings, the parking lot will fill and there’s no easy alternative parking.
The light here works best in late afternoon as the sun starts wrapping around the hills. Sunrise also works if you want no crowds and alpine glow.
This is a main location for me. Not flashy, not unique, but consistently produces strong images and easy on a 34-week mama. Best for moms who want mountains without the drive.
Red Rocks Park, Morrison
Most people know Red Rocks for the amphitheater. The surrounding park is what I shoot. Sandstone formations, juniper and prairie grass, a quality of light at golden hour that doesn't exist anywhere else in the metro area.
Crowds are real on weekends and concert nights, but a weekday morning at 7 a.m. is mostly empty. The red rock against a blue Colorado sky photographs in a way that feels distinctly Western without being overdone. Always double check the Red Rocks concert calendar to avoid concert evenings, it’s just not possible to try to get into the park and have any level of privacy.
Best in late spring through early fall, though the bare winter trees against the red rock have their own appeal. I generally avoid this location if moms want privacy, it’s rarely not crowded. If you want the iconic Red Rocks look, plan in advance to find a date without an event!
Lost Gulch Overlook Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder
Boulder's Flagstaff has multiple pullouts and accessible meadow areas. Lost Gulch Overlook is where I keep coming back. The front range sits dramatically in the background, the rock gives you foreground depth, and the western view means the sun is always setting into the frame.
Best in early summer after the CU students have left Boulder and crowds are thinner. Late summer also works for this reason. Don’t even attempt this spot in September when it’s flocking with starry-eyed CU Boulder Freshman looking to get their feet in the mountains. Permit required for commercial photography on Flagstaff during peak season, which I handle.
The light here is some of the most reliable in the Front Range. Lost Gulch in particular catches the kind of golden hour wraparound that makes outdoor maternity work look effortless. Bring stable shoes, as it requires a bit of scrambling over rocks to get to the best views without anyone in the background.
Chautauqua Park, Boulder
Lower elevation than Flagstaff, but the view of the Flatirons is the most recognizable in Boulder. Wide open meadow, established trails, good early morning light before the crowds arrive. There are only a few spots that are officially allowed for photography. And as much as I love to bend the rules, this is a spot where you get yelled at instantly. Expect other photographers. We will find a semi-private spot and get that iconic Boulder view.
This is one of the best late-pregnancy outdoor locations in the state. Flat, accessible, parking right at the meadow. If you're past 36 weeks and want a Boulder shoot, Chautauqua is where I'd start. Again, avoid graduation week in May unless you want 300 newly minted grads as your backdrop!
Boulder Creek and Clear Creek (for water)
Two water options worth mentioning because clients ask for them often.
Boulder Creek runs through the city of Boulder and offers easy access to flowing water, rounded rocks, and natural foreground depth. Best in late spring and summer when the flow is steady. The water is cold. Bring layers to warm up if you want to get wet!
Clear Creek runs through the heart of Golden and looks brilliant in the fall. It’s shallower, so envision more ankle deep shots than fully submerged.
For maternity sessions with water in the frame, both work well. Just plan on Colorado temperatures if you’re getting in.
Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins
The reservoir's signature rock formation, the namesake "horsetooth," sits behind one of the prettiest lakeside backdrops on the Front Range. Multiple pullouts and trails. Good water reflections at sunrise.
Fort Collins-based clients tend to default to Horsetooth and there's a good reason. The combination of water, rock, and mountain in one frame is rare in Colorado at lower elevation. Plan on evening for this location.
The Foothills: The Underrated Outdoor Spots
The Foothills sit in between the Front Range and the high country, both geographically and visually. They get ignored because they're not as dramatic as the high mountains and not as iconic as Red Rocks. But they're where some of my most consistently beautiful sessions happen.
The light in the Foothills is unique. The terrain rolls in a way that catches afternoon sun differently than flat meadows or high alpine basins. The result is golden, soft, painterly. The crowds are minimal because tourists default to either Boulder or Aspen. Most of the Foothills are between those two extremes, and most photographers skip them entirely.
Beaver Brook Watershed Trailhead
This is one of my absolute favorite locations in Colorado. Beaver Brook is a working watershed trailhead in the Foothills with sweeping views, low traffic, and a quality of light that hits differently than anywhere else nearby. Expect other family sessions in the meadow in the fall. No cell service means we need to plan ahead. If we are lucky, we might catch it after a storm rolls through and “golden hour” stops being a phrase and starts being the picture.
It peaks twice a year. Spring brings wildflowers across the meadows. Autumn brings golden leaves layered against the mountain backdrop. Both windows are short. Both are worth planning around. And both book up months in advance.
Less than 30 minutes from Denver. Easy parking. Accessible for late-pregnancy mamas. The kind of spot that doesn't show up on Pinterest because it’s a place only a Colorado photographer knows about.
Evergreen meadows
The high meadows around Evergreen turn gold in late summer and early fall. Aspen groves on the edges. Little crowds compared to the Front Range trails. A good choice for clients who want mountain backdrops without the high-altitude logistics.
Pullouts along the way put a meadow ten steps from the car, so this is the foothills feel without the foothills walk. The version of Evergreen where we hike in to find something nobody else has photographed lives in the second half of this page.
A little farther, still no hike
These are day trips, not expeditions. The drive is longer, the walk from the parking lot is still short, and every one of them is fine late in the third trimester if you can sit in a car for ninety minutes.
Sapphire Point Overlook, Summit County
One of the most photographed spots in Colorado for a reason. Lake Dillon spread out below, mountain ranges on every side, and a short walk from the parking lot to the overlook. Good for pregnancy because the trail is paved. It’s also very accessible in the winter. Just plan for ski traffic if you’re trying to shoot on a weekend.
Best at sunrise or just before sunset. Crowded in the middle of the day during summer. Off-season visits are nearly empty and the light is just as good. Winter it can be a snowy heaven or a windy peak. So plan for a backup location further down Swan Mountain Pass.
Loveland Pass
The pass itself sits at 11,990 feet. One of the highest paved passes in the country. The views are unbeatable. The thin air is real.
I'd avoid this location for anyone past 36 weeks unless you're already acclimated to elevation. Sessions here work best in early summer when the snow is melting and wildflowers begin to push through, or in early fall before the snow returns. It is positively gorgeous near Pass Lake. A great spot if you want to feel like you’re on top of a Colorado Peak without actually having to hike.
Also a great spot for some alpine lake views and snow capped peaks behind you. It’s snowed in in the winter so we will pivot to the actual top of Loveland Pass for winter sessions here.
Garden of the Gods area, Colorado Springs
The park itself can be tricky during peak hours, but the surrounding red rock formations offer plenty of less-trafficked alternatives. Best in early morning before the tourists arrive.
Great for clients who want red rock without driving to Moab. The combination of the formations and the Front Range view is distinctly Coloradan.
Paint Mines Interpretive Park, Calhan
About 30 minutes east of Colorado Springs. Hoodoos, eroded sandstone formations, a landscape that looks more like Utah than Colorado. The light here at sunrise is some of the best in the state. There’s also a hidden cave, pictured above, with soft bounced light and enough privacy for fine art work with nothing on. After the Signature Spot, it's the most private outdoor location I use.
The Paint Mines are unique in a way you'll see immediately when you scroll through portraits shot here. Other-planetary, almost. Worth the drive from anywhere on the Front Range. Requires no permit, which is a perk.
The plains east of Colorado Springs
Most photographers ignore the eastern plains. They're the unloved cousin of the mountains. But the wide-open prairie at golden hour, with grass in every direction and not a single building in sight, photographs like nowhere else in the state.
I've shot a handful of sessions out here. They're memorable.
Ready to plan a session?
Inquire with your due date and the location you're imagining. I'll respond within a few hours with availability, ideas, and any logistical notes for the location you have in mind.
Earn it on foot: WanderBump locations
Everything above this line, you can do in a sundress and sandals. Everything below it, you cannot.
These are the places where the view costs something: a trail, a pass, a pre-dawn start, an elevation your body has to agree to. I built WanderBump, my adventure maternity photography session, for exactly this list. It is one session, by application, planned around you and your provider, with the permits, the scouting, the wardrobe, and the pacing handled on my end. You lace up.
So read this half differently. I am not telling you where to go on a Tuesday evening. I am telling you where I would take you if you said you wanted the mountains to actually be in the mountains.
Some of these I will name. A few I will not, and the spot I only share with booked clients, back up in the first half, is the reason why.
Brainard Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness
Higher up than the rest. A subalpine lake at 10,000 feet with the Indian Peaks rising above it. Permit required during peak season. Snow lingers into June. Worth it for clients who want a real high-country backdrop without driving four hours into the mountains.
Brainard is a favorite for fall sessions. The aspens around the lake turn gold in mid-September and the reflection in the water is one of the most photographed scenes in Colorado for a reason. It’s also a very underrated spot in the winter. Its winter trailhead near Red Rock Lake means a short 5 minute walk gives you unmistakably Colorado alpine views. Bring layers. This is one of the windiest and coldest spots in the front range. Expect winter wind chill to be well below freezing.
This is not a 36-week-pregnancy location. The walk from the parking lot is short but the elevation is real. If you're not acclimated, give yourself a day or two before the shoot.
Alpine lakes
Various alpine lakes scattered across Summit and Eagle counties offer some of the most pristine backdrops I shoot. Most require some hiking. I assess each one based on accessibility for the client's stage of pregnancy and pace expectations.
A few favorites stay off the public list because the access is sensitive. If you book a high-country session and the conditions align, we can plan to hike there.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The hardest of the four to get into, and the one moms ask about by name. From late May to mid-October the park runs on timed entry, and the Bear Lake tickets often sell out within minutes of release, so this is a session we plan months ahead, not weeks. I book the window. You show up.
Two versions. Dream Lake is an easy hike, about two miles round trip from Bear Lake, with the Continental Divide standing straight up behind the water. It is also crowded, so getting a frame that feels like you have the place to yourself takes some creativity and an early alarm. Trail Ridge Road is the drive-up version: the highest continuous paved road in the country, topping out at 12,183 feet, tundra on both sides, no hiking at all. That elevation is real for you and for me. If you are flying in, give yourself two days first.
No commercial permit inside the park. The reservation is the part that takes planning, and it is mine to handle.
Lake Isabelle, Indian Peaks Wilderness
My favorite place on earth, probably. I got engaged here. So when I say I will happily hike it with you at seven months, I mean it.
It is the longest walk on this page: 4.4 miles round trip from the Long Lake trailhead, mostly gentle, ending at a lake at 10,908 feet with the Indian Peaks stacked behind it. Summer only for the lake itself; the wildflowers along the trail peak in July. In winter the road closes and the lake disappears under snow, but Red Rock Lake, just down the road, is the winter version, and it is worth the drive on its own.
No commercial permit. The trailhead sits inside the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, though, which means a timed parking reservation in summer, and I book that when you book me.
Chief Mountain
About an hour up from the studio and the highest spot on this page at 11,709 feet, which sounds like more than it is: three miles round trip and about 1,100 feet of gain, on a trail most of my moms handle without drama. No permit, which is a big part of why I love it.
Early summer is the show. The sun sets right behind Mount Blue Sky with the whole Front Range laid out below you, and you are standing above all of it with nothing between you and the sky. It is also the one alpine location I shoot year round, because the snow melts off between storms in winter and the summit stays reachable more often than not. Bring layers. Bring your partner. Bring a headlamp for the walk down.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
The tallest sand dunes on the continent, they are set against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside Alamosa, Colorado. The contrast of soft, sculpted dunes against jagged peaks produces some of the most distinctive maternity images in my portfolio. About four hours from Denver. Worth the drive for the right session. During spring, you can get surge flow, or waves of uneven snow melt gently swishing over the sandy basin. It’s ice cold most mornings and too hot to touch by noon. So if we are shooting here, plan on a mid morning shoot.
The light here is unlike anywhere else in Colorado. Sunrise turns the dunes pink. Sunset turns the mountains red. Between those windows, the sun is direct and unflattering.
I've shot Sand Dunes sessions for clients flying in from California, Florida, and the East Coast specifically because there's nowhere else in the country with this combination of dunes and mountains in one frame. It's a destination location even for Coloradans.
This is one of those locations that will require a travel fee on my end, so get in touch well in advance to see if I’m hosting minis there this year.
Destination Colorado: Available On Request
The locations above are the ones I shoot most often. They're not the full list of where I'll go. I also travel for sessions in:
Aspen.
White River National Forest, Maroon Bells, the iconic mountain town vibe. Premium destination, premium experience.
Vail.
Similar terrain to Aspen with a different visual character. Clients planning a Vail babymoon often add a session.
Crested Butte.
Wildflower capital of Colorado. The summer wildflower bloom in CB is world-class. Sessions here in late July are spectacular.
Telluride.
Box canyon dramatic. Smaller crowds than Aspen, similar visual impact. A favorite for editorial-leaning sessions.
Steamboat Springs.
Mountain town energy with a working ranch backdrop in places. Different feel from the rest of the high country.
These are all available on request. They're not on the main map because I don't shoot them frequently enough to claim deep expertise, but I've shot in all of them and the images hold up against anything on this page. If a destination matters to you, bring me there.
I also travel out of state. The Pregnant Athletes series included sessions in places that fit the editorial vision, regardless of geography.
Want the mountains to actually be in the mountains?
A handful of these each season, by application, because I do not do them every day. Tell me your due date and your wildest idea.
Seasons: When Each Location Actually Peaks
Colorado has four real seasons and each one transforms what these locations look like. Most maternity location guides ignore this. I won't.
Spring (April–May).
Everything is muddy and most high-country trails are still snowed in. Front Range and Foothills locations come alive. Wildflowers begin in the lower elevations and peak late May through early June. Best for studio sessions or early-evening Front Range outdoor sessions. April sessions can be gorgeous on a sunny week and a curveball on a snowy one. Plan with weather backup day. Again, Colorado weather is key here. Some years, April is sunny, green, and as spring-like as Ireland. Other years, we get buried with over a foot of snow in May. Don’t know what’s happening this year? Reach out to your Colorado Native photographer and I’ll make sure we work with the weather. Spring is a first-half season. Stay low.
Summer (June–August).
Peak season for high-country and alpine sessions. July is wildflower peak in the mountains: Brainard Lake, Loveland Pass, Crested Butte, the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Sand Dunes are spectacular at sunrise but brutal at midday. Studio is a great escape from afternoon heat. We have thunderstorms most afternoons and evenings, so don’t fall in love with your date. Plan early in case we need to push your outdoor maternity session a week to avoid hail and lightning. This is when the Colorado Alpine is most accessible, so reach out by spring to secure your adventure maternity session at your favorite trailhead. Summer is when the second half opens. If a WanderBump session is the plan, July is the month.
Fall (September–October).
The aspens turn gold mid-September through early October. Some of my best work is shot in this window. Limited timeframe. Books out fast, often by August. Do not wait on this one. These are my most popular sessions and for good reason. The aspens give you about five days of peak color. Five. So if you want these, get in touch with me no later than August to secure your fall maternity session. Fall works for both halves, and the drive-up aspens at Beaver Brook and Evergreen turn a week or two before the high country does.
Winter (November–March).
Yes, winter here in Colorado is close to half the year (I hate it too). Two things happen for winter maternity sessions: you get beautiful snow or you get brown. Colorado is fickle, so hope for winter wonderland, plan for brown and windy. Snow changes everything. Studio sessions dominate, but a snowy outdoor session at Brainard Lake, Sapphire Point, or in the foothills produces images that feel like fine art. Cold weather logistics are real. Late-pregnancy mamas need warm wardrobe layers and short shoot windows. Some days can reach 70+ along the front range, so embrace the warmth and rock the bare bump. Seeking out foothills with evergreen trees is key for contrast here. Want more than brown plains? Head west. Want guaranteed snow? Head above 8,000 ft. Winter is the studio, Sapphire Point, Chief Mountain, or the top of Loveland Pass. Nothing else in the second half is a winter trailhead.
Access and logistics: what to know before you go
Permits.
Most public lands in Colorado require a commercial photography permit for paid sessions. National parks surprisingly don’t require permits as of 2025. Some city parks require business licenses. I handle all of this. Clients don't need to think about permits.
Parking and access.
Some locations have limited parking, especially during peak season weekends. I scout each session's access ahead of time and arrive early to claim space. That said, during peak season, locations like Red Rocks, Lost Gulch Overlook, and Lookout Mountain are best avoided.
Late-pregnancy considerations.
If you're past 34 weeks, we lean toward locations with shorter walks, paved or smooth trails, and easy bathroom access. I've never had a client unable to access a location they wanted, but we plan for it. Everything in the first half of this page passes that test. Nothing in the second half does without a conversation with your provider first.
Weather.
Colorado weather is unpredictable. Outdoor sessions reschedule; the studio is sometimes the backup. We adapt.
Altitude.
If you're flying in from sea level, give yourself at least 24 to 48 hours to acclimate before a high-country shoot. Drink electrolytes, not just water. Move slow. The first day at altitude is rough for most pregnant women.
Temperature.
Colorado summers in the mountains can drop into the 40s at sunrise even in July. Always bring layers, especially if we are going west. I have seen and been in fresh snow every single month of the year in this state, yes even in June, July and August. Don’t underestimate our high-alpine environment.
Studio vs. outdoor: the decision most clients get wrong
I'd be doing you a disservice not to address this here, even though it's covered more deeply in the Maternity Style Guide.
Most clients come in already convinced they want one or the other. Plenty of them are right. The rest I gently point the other way, and they thank me later.
you want sculptural, editorial, fine art images. You want full control over lighting and backdrop. You're shooting in winter or shoulder season. You're planning intimate or implied nude work. You want the entire client closet at your fingertips. You don't want to deal with wind, mud, hiking, or weather.
Choose the studio if…
you want a sense of place in the frame. You're drawn to golden hour. You want movement, wind catching fabric, hair in motion. You have a connection to a specific landscape. You want the photos to feel like Colorado, not just maternity.
Choose the outdoor if…
I don't split a single session between studio and outdoor. The logistics break down and the session suffers. What I do offer is simpler: book any session and add a Glow for $600. You save $150 and get one studio shoot and one outdoor shoot. It's the perfect fit for a mama who wants outdoor and studio portraits to celebrate her pregnancy. Pro tip: shoot outdoors around 30 weeks and studio around 36 for contrast. Outside you get a more petite bump and an easier time exploring. In the studio you get a beautifully full-term belly, and we sculpt it into art.
Want both?
Common questions about locations
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It depends entirely on the session. The location that’s right for an editorial film session is different from the right location for an athletic session in motion or a couple’s intimate outdoor shoot. I have favorites for each kind of session, not one universal favorite. The spot I only share with booked clients might be the closest to a single answer, but I only bring moms there when the vision fits.
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Tell me the feeling you want and how far you're willing to drive, and I'll hand you two or three spots that fit the week you'll be 32. If you already have a place in mind, say so. Some of my favorite locations came from a mom who took me somewhere I'd never been.
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The walk. An outdoor session is any location in the first half of this page: under ten minutes from the car, any collection, any trimester. WanderBump is the second half: a planned hike or high-elevation location, one session by application, with the permits, wardrobe, and pacing handled so you can focus on the climb. If you are unsure which you are, you are an outdoor session, and I will tell you if I think otherwise.
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Yes, absolutely! The best sessions often come from clients who take me somewhere I've never been. A favorite trail. A meadow your family has been visiting for three generations. Bring me there.
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Outdoor reschedules are an option. Most clients with weather issues prefer to wait for a clear day rather than move indoors. The studio is also available as a backup if the schedule allows, but the studio sometimes books separately for other sessions, so a reschedule is the more reliable plan. Either way, we don't shoot in bad weather. We adapt.
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Six to eight weeks during peak season (May to October). Three to four weeks during off-season (November to April). Specific weekend dates and golden hour outdoor sessions book out faster. If you have a specific date in mind, get on the calendar early.
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No, I handle them. Most public land in Colorado wants a commercial photography permit; national parks currently don't. Where a trailhead needs a timed parking reservation, I book that too. You never think about it.
The location is the easiest decision to overthink.
Most spots in Colorado will hand you a gallery you love. The one you choose matters less than you think. What matters is that you show up, let the light do its thing, and trust the process.
Still planning? Read when to schedule and what to wear, or take this whole page with you and download my location guide.