Loveland Pass & Silver Plume Engagement Photography

Madison reached out to me before a fall trip to Colorado with her fiancé, Trevor, and their dog, Sammie. The two had originally hoped to elope, but with family wanting to be part of their wedding day, they decided to celebrate in Southern California next year instead.

Still, they wanted something just for themselves. A road trip from their home in Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, away from the planning, expectations, and attention that often come with a wedding. Just some quality time together, exploring Colorado with Sammie along for the adventure.

We met at sunrise at Dillon Reservoir, where the ongoing drought had left parts of the lakebed exposed. After spending some time where the lake usually is, we headed higher into the mountains toward Pass Lake and Kaz Lake near Loveland Pass. Fresh snow covered the surrounding peaks, giving us a beautiful alpine backdrop for their engagement photos.

From there, we made our way down to Silver Plume, one of my favorite little mountain towns in Colorado. We stopped at a local coffee shop, wandered the old streets, and captured some relaxed, candid moments together. By the end of the morning, Sammie was thoroughly worn out from all the exploring.

What I loved about this session was the variety. The wide-open mountain landscapes, the quiet moments over coffee, the character of an old Colorado mining town, and all the little interactions in between.

The mountains are incredible, of course, but I think there's something special about going beyond the sweeping views and documenting the smaller moments that make a trip memorable.

If you're planning an engagement session or elopement in Colorado, I'd love to be considered. The mountains are hard to beat, but I think there's something to be said for mixing those big views with the smaller moments along the way. Grabbing coffee, wandering through an old mountain town, or just spending a morning together without much of a plan allowing time and space for soaking in all of the in between moments as well.

Here’s What Madison has to say about her experience working with me:

"We had the absolute best experience working with Ryan for our engagement photos! From start to finish, he was professional, friendly, and incredibly talented. Ryan has an amazing eye for locations and offered fantastic recommendations that really enhanced the beauty of our pictures. He has a true gift for capturing the perfect moment & every photo turned out absolutely gorgeous!

We felt so comfortable during the entire shoot, and Ryan’s warm, easygoing personality made it a truly enjoyable experience. He was even wonderful with our dog, which meant so much to us. The results speak for themselves; our photos are breathtaking and perfectly capture this special time in our lives.

I could not recommend Ryan more—he was, without a doubt, the best decision we made for our engagement. If you’re looking for a photographer who will go above and beyond to make your memories unforgettable, Ryan is the one!"

— Madison