I was very excited when Danny and Nicole contacted me with a plan to take their engagement photos on Kebler Pass outside of Crested Butte!  We were hoping to snowmobile to some stunning landscape views; however, the weather had a different plan for us..

A storm blew in the evening before our photography shoot and dropped a quick foot of snow on the ground.  We were hoping that it might clear out during the day, but the snow continued to fall so we were forced to go into the forest for our photo session.  Luckily the storm let up enough for us to take photos without snow clothes on!

The Crested Butte area is a great place for wedding and engagements all year long, as long as you are adequately prepared.  Getting to and from CB in the winter can be a challenge depending on the weather.  Most people drive 4-5 hours from Denver and the route requires vehicles to summit Monarch Pass which tends to be snowy and icy in the winter time so I recommend 4-wheel or all wheel drive if headed that way!

For booking please feel free to contact me via my website at:
https://www.swdurangophotography.com/contact.html
​For more information on the Crested Butte area check out:
​gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/
​To view more photography from me click here:
​Wedding / Elopement Gallery

There is a place near Silverton, Colorado, that is absolutely stunning and breathtakingly beautiful.  A photography haven.  If you are reading this post you are probably already aware of it's existence.  This place is known as Ice Lake Basin.  If you are looking to elope this is one heck of a place to do it.  

My long time friend Justin "Lucky" Lavender contacted me a few years ago and told me about his epic plan to elope in this beautiful basin.  I was honored to be his photographer and couldn't think of a more beautiful spot in the Southwest region to plan an elopement.  We met at the trailhead early on a Saturday morning, Lucky and his fiancee packed their dress clothes and champagne into their packs, and we started hoofing it up the trail.  After about two hours we arrived at the basin, around 10am, and began the lovely event.  Luckily we had tied up the whole elopement around noon because the storm clouds were already brewing.  Summer monsoonal thunderstorms tend to frequent this basin most afternoons so photos and visiting is best done in the morning hours.  Be warned, this is not a roadside attraction and you will need to procure a permit before hiking over 2,000 vertical feet and 3 miles to this locale.  From Silverton drive North on Highway 550 and take your first left onto South Mineral Creek road.  The trailhead is about 10 minutes up this road on the right.  Be adequately prepared!  Weather and elevation can drastically affect hikers at this location.  Check the weather and make sure you are acclimated as you will be hiking to 12,000 feet.  
     I have spent many days in this basin since moving to the area in 2006 and I absolutely love taking photos up there!  Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to schedule a session.
Contact
More info:
​sjma.org/explore/ice-lakes-basin-trip-planning/

Durango is an amazing place to take portrait photography.  Make sure you are dressed appropriately depending on the time of year as the temperatures can range drastically.  Whether you are looking for photos on the river side, downtown, scenic vistas, fall colors, winter scenes, meadows, or woods; Durango has it all.  I love taking photos in and around the Durango area, but especially in the fall!  Will you be in Southwest Colorado looking for photography work this summer?  Your photographer is right here!  I shoot elopement, wedding, family portrait, event, and landscape photography in the Durango area (Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Hesperus, and Pagosa Springs)!  
Relevant Links: 
www.swdurangophotography.com/wedding--elopement-gallery.html
​www.durango.org
​www.swdurangophotography.com/contact.html
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There is an argument for saving money at your wedding or post elopement party by supplying your own alcohol via kegs and letting the guests struggle to pour their own beverages, but is it worth it?  Only if you do it right.  Kegs are always a pain unless you have a CO2 setup of some sort that you are confident with.  If you aren't doing kegs you will be creating a lot of trash from bottles and cans, and good luck leaving guests unattended with liquor to self-pour; sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.  Let's face it.  It is worth it to at least have someone to dole out the drinks and make sure Uncle Dwayne isn't over doing it.  Personally, for a wedding in or around the Durango, Silverton, or Telluride areas, I would hire the The Thirsty Rooster.  These two will not disappoint.
Relevant Links:
www.thirstyrooster.com
https://www.swdurangophotography.com/contact.html
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Personally I think the fall, or autumn if you prefer, is definitely the best time to get hitched!  The temperatures have started to decline so you don't have sweaty guests or bride/grooms,   nature's colors are absolutely unreal, and the lower sun makes for less aggressive lighting.  In Silverton, Ouray, or Telluride I would recommend mid to late September, and in Durango, Hesperus, Hermosa, Purgatory, or Pagosa Springs I would recommend weddings and photography be done in early to mid October!  There are many amazing venues in all of these areas and an almost infinite supply of Engagement locations.
https://www.swdurangophotography.com/contact.html

If you plan on getting hitched in or around the Durango area you will likely have invited some folks that tend to get thirsty.  It would sure be helpful to know where to send them to find the finest Durango libations!  Here is a list of my favorite Durango haunts:

Best Craft Beer: Animas Brewing Company.  Situated right next to Rotary Park and the River Trail that winds all the way through town, ABC is a great spot to sit on the patio and enjoy some fine beers.

Best Bar: Check out the Balcony Bar if the weather is nice and head in to El Rancho if the weather turns or your party members want to turn it up to 11.

Best Cocktails: El Moro has an amazing selection of libations and a great food menu as well.

Best Bistro: Ken and Su's has a great menu with great prices and a delicious drink menu.

Eating with Everyone: Steamworks is one of the only places in town that is big enough to accommodate all of your wedding guests. 

https://www.steamworksbrewing.com
https://www.swdurangophotography.com/contact.html​

Elopements are becoming more and more popular these days, especially after covid has changed how many consider large gatherings.  Elopements are my favorite kind of photography because I absolutely love shooting landscapes and love.  When considering a great place for an elopement, and the corresponding photography, it is most important to consider location!  The Southwest region and the areas outside of Durango, Colorado, are not just great for weddings, they are also amazing for elopements!  If you aren't going to have a full blown wedding why not elope in a beautiful location and get some amazing photos?  The 4x4 roads criss-crossing the San Juan Mountains give ample access to amazing locales all over the Silverton, Telluride, and Ouray areas.  Unfortunately, I am not able to disclose exact locations as it would potentially add more traffic to these beautiful places.. Please contact me! 2022-2023 dates are booking fast!
https://www.swdurangophotography.com/contact.html
Check out my landscapes gallery to see where I like to shoot:
https://www.swdurangophotography.com/landscapes-gallery.html
Great ideas for spots:
​www.telluride.com/activity/hiking/

https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-a-wedding-fun-for-guests-2018-11This is the conundrum: should wedding photography attempt to create the most serious imagery during someone's special day, or do people prefer more lighthearted imagery?  I am of the opinion that good wedding photography requires a mix of both.  A wedding gallery devoid of lighthearted imagery just doesn't tend to accurately portrait the exciting and fun atmosphere which most wedding attendants tend to experience.  When you look back on the limited imagery from your special day you will obviously want to see some photos of you and your lover in a serious embrace, but wouldn't you also like to smile because of the silly, lighthearted behavior of the other people that you wanted to include on your special day?  Food for thought... Here in the Southwest and Durango areas I have found that most people are keen on letting loose on their wedding day.
Wedding / Elopement Gallery
Contact Me
https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-a-wedding-fun-for-guests-2018-11​www.insider.com/how-to-make-a-wedding-fun-for-guests-2018-11
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Southwest Durango Photography is now booking weddings for the fall of 2022!  If you still haven't booked a photographer for this year contact me ASAP!  Dates are filling up fast.  Whether you are getting married in Silverton, Ouray, Telluride or elsewhere we can make it happen!

Whether you are in Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Hermosa, Hesperus, Pagosa Springs, or Dolores, you are likely to run into some fairly poorly-garbed individuals!  Telluride would probably be the one exception to the rule in this region; however, not necessarily. Thankfully, when it comes to weddings and elopements everybody really seems to pull it together!  Photography of these events over the years has proved this fact true and it is fairly impressive that the citizens of areas once voted the "worst dressed population in America" are able to clean up for one day of the year.