Three-hundred-and-fifteen miles… that’s how far Mandy and Conor drove from Durango, CO, to Colorado Springs, CO, this past weekend just to have their engagement session with me! I was super excited and flattered! In fact, they were even planning to drive all the way to Denver for it, but when I suggested I’d be willing to drive a bit in their direction to the springs to do the shoot at Garden of the Gods, the just loved the idea.

One thing we discovered that Many, Conor, Sean and myself have in common is a really remote location called Treasure Falls in the San Luis Valley. This was the first place that Conor took Mandy for a date, and also happens to be where Sean and I took our wedding photos! For anyone who knows anything about how small or remote the San Luis Valley is; you’ll understand the irony.

Anyway, I just thought that was a cute little factoid to share, but I know you’re all waiting for THE PICTURES!

I have to say, I had NO IDEA how big or CROWDED the park would be, especially on Memorial Day weekend! Most of the main attractions were swarmed with other guests, which definitely caused some challenges. It would also appear that I need to learn that Yucca plants are tougher than they look, and cacti like to hide underneath of them. Owe, owe, owe! Even wearing long jeans, I came home with bloody legs. I guess that’s why they suggest you stay on the trails, but at least Mandy came away unscathed!

Working with these two was a pleasure, and they had such a unique engagement story to share. Mandy is a 5th grade teacher, and Conor wanted the engagement to be a surprise and involve some of her students. Conor ended up getting together seven kids at Mandy’s school on a workday and had them each randomly come up to her and give her a rose. At the end of the line was Conor, rose in his hand and heart on his sleeve. The rest is history!

To the lovely couple; I thoroughly enjoyed our day together! Now, I’m no Jay Lo in the movie, The Wedding Planner, and I don’t use wedding colors to make guesses about who is right for each other and who isn’t, but I certainly don’t need them to see you guys are perfect together! Thanks again for driving so far out to meet me and shoot together! It’s been a blast!