By Susannah Storch | Susannah Storch Photography | Serving Northern Colorado, Boulder, Denver, Broomfield, Golden & really all of the Front Range!
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to booking fall family photos “when things calm down,” here’s something worth knowing: fall books fast along the Colorado Front Range. By the time most families remember to reach out, the best dates are already gone.
I’ve been photographing families in Boulder, Denver, Longmont, Fort Collins, Berthoud, and the surrounding Front Range since 2006. And every year, the same thing happens — families who wanted October sessions find themselves scrambling in September. The good news is there’s a better way to approach this, and it starts with rethinking when fall family photo season actually begins.
The Fall Booking Rush Is Real
Every photographer in your area has a packed calendar from mid-September through early November. It’s not a coincidence — everyone wants those warm leaves and cozy sweaters at the same time. That means weekends fill up fast, your favorite outdoor spots get crowded, and the whole process starts to feel like one more thing to manage when you’re already stretched thin.
Whether you’re in Longmont, Boulder, Fort Collins, or Denver, the dynamic is the same. Peak fall dates go quickly, and waiting until September to reach out usually means settling for whatever’s left.
Why I Schedule My Own Family Photos in July or August
I book my own family session in the summer — usually July or August, before my boys head back to school and before soccer takes over our weekends. And honestly? It’s one of the best decisions I make every year.
Here’s why it works so well:
The light is just as beautiful. Summer evening sessions in Colorado have that warm, golden quality that everyone associates with fall. The Front Range in late July or early August — from the trails around Boulder to the parks in Longmont and the open spaces near Berthoud — is genuinely stunning and underrated for family photography.
Nobody is stressed yet. Kids are still in summer mode. There’s no back-to-school exhaustion, no homework pressure, no rushing from practice to practice. You actually get to enjoy the session instead of squeezing it in between activities.
There’s more flexibility. Summer scheduling is looser. You have more options for dates and times, and you’re not competing with every other family in your neighborhood for a Saturday slot.
Your photos are ready before the holiday rush. If you want prints, wall art, or holiday cards, getting your session done early means your images are back in your hands well before December chaos sets in.
A Quick Note on Location: Where We Photograph Matters
One thing that surprises a lot of families — especially first-timers — is that some of the best session locations aren’t the most obvious ones. The popular spots in Boulder and Denver fill up fast on weekends, and crowded parks mean distracted kids and strangers walking through your photos.
Some of my favorite summer and early fall locations across the Front Range:
- Longmont: McIntosh Lake, Golden Ponds, Thompson Park
- Boulder: Chautauqua, South Boulder Creek Trail, Coot Lake
- Fort Collins: Lee Martinez Park, Horsetooth Reservoir area, Old Town
- Berthoud & surrounding Larimer County: Open spaces, private properties, and spots most people don’t know about
Not sure where to shoot? That’s part of what I help with. Learn more about how I approach location planning here.
And if you’ve ever wondered whether an in-home session might be a better fit for your family — especially if you have little ones — this post walks through the honest pros and cons.
What to Expect: The Educational Part
If you’ve never booked a professional family session before, here’s what the process actually looks like:
1. Reach out and check availability. Fill out a quick contact form and I’ll follow up within 48 hours with available dates, location ideas, and next steps.
2. Plan your session. Once you’re booked, I send you everything you need — what to wear, how to prep your kids, what to expect on the day. I also offer access to a client wardrobe so outfit stress is off the table. More on outfit planning here.
3. Show up and enjoy it. Sessions are fully guided. You’ll never stand there wondering what to do — I’ll direct you through natural interactions and let the real moments happen in between. Most families are surprised by how relaxed it feels.
4. Receive your gallery. Your finished images arrive in a private online gallery, usually within two to three weeks. From there, you choose your collection of digital files and print credit toward wall art, albums, and prints. See how collections and investment work here.
What This Looks Like in Practice
If fall photos are on your list this year, here’s a simple way to think about timing:
- Book your session now — summer slots are available and flexible. Or, book now for a fall session!
- Hold your session in July or August — golden light, relaxed kids, no competition for your favorite spots
- Receive your finished images before the school year is in full swing and well ahead of holiday card season
- Display your artwork at home before the holidays, not after
This isn’t about rushing anything. It’s about giving yourself more breathing room so the whole experience feels easy rather than stressful.
Ready to get this on the calendar? Reach out here.
The Photographs You’ll Actually Live With
What I care about most — for my own family and for the families I photograph across Boulder, Denver, Longmont, Fort Collins, and Berthoud — is that the images end up somewhere meaningful. On your walls. In a book on your coffee table. Somewhere you actually see them every day.
That doesn’t happen when photos sit on a hard drive waiting for the “right time.” It happens when the session is planned thoughtfully, the timing works for your real life, and the finished artwork finds its place in your home before the year slips by.
Summer sessions make all of that easier. And the photographs? Honest, warm, and timeless — exactly what they should be.
About the Photographer
Susannah Storch is a professional photographer based in Berthoud, Colorado, specializing in senior portraits, family, and newborn photography across the Front Range. She has photographed Colorado families and high school seniors since 2006. Her senior sessions serve students from Longmont, Boulder, Loveland, Niwot, Erie, Broomfield, Golden, Fort Collins, and the surrounding Denver metro area.
