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Personal Brand

How to choose the perfect location for your personal brand photo session | Colorado Springs & Denver

One of the questions I’m asked the most during the initial planning stage for personal brand photo sessions is, “Do you have any suggestions for a great location?”

Now, there is no cookie cutter answer to this question, because the whole idea behind personal brand sessions is to make them uniquely personal to YOU, your personality, and your brand. So depending on what you do and who you are, a very different location from someone else may be just the right fit!

However, I love to share some places that I’ve used and loved, am always on the lookout for new spots, and am always up for trying something new!

Here are some categories of locations to think through what might be best for you, as well as some specific location ideas in the Colorado Springs & Denver areas. Keep in mind that for my full personal brand sessions, you can do 2-3 locations for maximum variety!

1) You in action in your physical space

If you have a physical shop or venue or office, this can often be one of the very best options for your personal brand session, because what is more uniquely you than that?!

2) You in action on location if you typically travel to clients

Behind the scenes can be some of the most powerful images for authentic connection with your audience. People love to get a glimpse into the process that leads up to the final result and it’s easier for potential clients to envision themselves in the scene and get more comfortable booking with you when they can see more of the big picture! Combine this with raving reviews from clients in your marketing strategy and your results will soar!

Do you work in the wedding industry? Let’s plan a small scale styled shoot to capture you doing your thing! Are you a coach that teaches in person or do you lead workshops of any kind? Grab some friends to pose as your students and let’s set it up! As you can see, the options are limitless!

3) Your home for cozy lifestyle shots

This is another great option for anyone whose brand is personal enough to let people into your home and your daily life. Like this idea, but don’t feel like your home is styled well enough? Ask a friend whose home you love! I’m sure they would take it as such a compliment and be so thrilled to let you borrow the space for a bit.

There are also some modern homes available for rent hourly at homestudiolist.com, although most of the options available in our area are in Denver rather than Colorado Springs.

4) In nature for outdoorsy images

Are you an outdoor lover? Count me in for a hike to a mountain overlook or for splashing  around in a stream. These are best right around sunrise or sunset to get the softest lighting, especially if you are going for a mountain view. Thankfully, the options are limitless in our beautiful state, but here are just a few of many options (travel fees may apply):

  • Ute Valley Park
  • Palmer Park
  • Garden of the Gods – gorgeous red rocks and mountain views although very very popular so the images may not be quite as unique (I’d also suggest avoiding Friday & Saturday afternoon/evenings as it tends to be incredibly busy with limited parking)
  • Bear Creek Park
  • North Cheyenne Canyon
  • Pikes Peak overlooks, aspen tree groves or streams in Woodland Park
  • Waterfall in Green Mountain Falls
  • Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater in Denver
  • Lost Gulch Lookout in Boulder
  • Sapphire Point Overlook in Dillon
  • Rocky Mountain National Park

5) A studio space

Okay, think more lifestyle, modern, minimal/clean than JC Penney when you think about shooting in a studio with me. I adore this option because we have all the space to ourselves and we can just create without the inconveniences of finding parking or trying to avoid other people being in the background of the images. Images inside a studio can also really up-level both your website and your social media accounts by brightening and decluttering them for a cleaner, more modern feel. The studios I love to use are mostly naturally lit and I just add a very small pop of flash as needed to fill in the shadows, while maintaining a natural look.

Of course, this option does cost a bit more because of having to rent a studio, but it’s often well worth it because of the kind of images we are able to create and the more comfortable experience of having the place to ourselves! You can expect most studios to be $75-100 per hour with a 2 hour minimum.

Here are a couple examples of full personal brand sessions that took place at least partially in a studio, although many of the best studios for this are in Denver rather than CO Springs: 

Example 1 (half outdoors, half at Realm Denver Studio), 

Example 2 (all at Denver Photo Collective Studio)

Studio options:

  • KINDLE Photo Studio & Event Space (Colorado Springs) – I happen to own this natural light studio downtown on Tejon street so I might have a little biased towards it 😉 While I rent it out to other photographers as well, ask about the discount my own clients get on the usual hourly rate! And be sure to follow along on Instagram for more examples and images of the space.
  • The Lofthouse (Black Forest) – this may look familiar because I’ve done brand mini sessions there before, but I’ve rented the Air BnB in the bottom half of the building for those, while the studio space up top is available for rent hourly!
  • Cultivate Studios (Old Colorado City)
  • Realm Denver
  • Denver Photo Collective
  • Studio ONE Denver  
  • Sugar Hill Photo Studio – Longmont (North Denver)

6) Coffee shops

Do you ever work remotely or value time spent supporting local businesses? There are quite a few coffee shops in the Colorado Springs area that lend themselves so well for modern portraits and even small product shoots because of how well-lit and inviting they are! Here are a few of my favorites:

7) Hotel Lobbies

  1. Hotel lobbies for a bright, modern feel

I haven’t had a chance to explore as many as I’d like to yet, but here are the two I’ve gotten to use so far! If there is one you’re interested in, just let me know and I’d be happy to reach out to see if they allow photography in their common spaces!

8) Downtown streets for a more urban look

If you’re a city lover or the hustle and bustle of downtown life best portrays your day to day rhythm and the feel you’re aiming for with your brand, this may be a great option for you! 

  • Downtown Colorado Springs
  • Manitou Springs
  • Old Colorado City
  • Downtown Denver
  • Downtown Golden

Have an idea for another location type or specific place that isn’t listed here? I’m always up for trying something new!

Ready to learn more about personal brand sessions? INQUIRE HERE for details!

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