Colorado Mountain Lake Senior Portraits | Ciara | Horizon High School

There is something so special about senior sessions in the Colorado mountains. The views feel endless. The air feels fresh. And the photos always feel timeless. Ciara’s Colorado mountain lake senior portrait session checked every single box.

colorado mountain lake senior picture

Ciara is a senior at Horizon High School, and from the very start, her session felt relaxed, organic, and fun. We arrived for this senior picture session on a sunny summer day, and Colorado showed off in the best way possible. Blue skies. Warm light. And that perfect summer glow that photographers dream about.

This session is part one of a three-part Colorado senior portrait series, and we started in one of my favorite ways—by exploring.

Waterfall Trail Senior Photos in the Colorado Mountains

First, we found a trail that led us straight to a hidden waterfall. This location set the tone for the entire shoot. We were immediately immersed in nature, and it felt peaceful. It felt adventurous. And it felt very “Colorado.”

Ciara’s first outfit was the perfect fit for the setting. She wore classic jeans paired with a white, summery top that matched the Colorado summer aesthetic beautifully. The light colors popped against the greenery, while the textures of the trail and rocks added depth to every image.

As a Colorado senior photographer, I love starting sessions like this. Walking a trail helps seniors relax. It also creates natural moments in between posed shots. 

Creative Senior Portraits Using a Mountain Road and Yellow Lines

Next, we switched things up and headed to the road for something more playful and bold. This part of the session focused on movement. We used the yellow lines to guide posing and composition, which added a fun editorial feel to her senior portraits.

Movement shots are always fun . They feel youthful and carefree, which is exactly what senior photos should feel like. Ciara absolutely crushed this section, and the contrast between the open road and the mountains made the images stand out.

We also got some senior pictures with the lake and mountains in the background. The outline of the high peaks at this Colorado mountain lake location is absolutely stunning. Because of the intense sun, it is almost just a suggestion of a dramatic backdrop that you don’t notice in the images right away, (and also because Ciara is so striking that you are drawn to her as the subject), making the images feel a bit dream-like.

Forest Boardwalk Senior Photos with Colorado Mountain Backdrops

Finally, we wrapped up part one of the session on a boardwalk that wound through a forest of evergreen trees. This location gave us the best of both worlds. We had tall trees surrounding us while still capturing the mountain backdrop in the distance.

I guided Ciara to walk towards me on the boardwalk. It almost felt like a fashion show in the mountains. I love the fun, candid shots with genuine, big smiles that we got at this spot. The layers of green, wood textures, and mountains created a timeless look that will never go out of style.

Stay tuned for more of Ciara's Colorado Mountain Senior Portraits

This wraps up part one of Ciara’s epic summer senior photoshoot in the Colorado mountains. Part two will feature her second outfit, a floral dress, and more of the lake and forest.

If you want to plan an adventurous Colorado senior portrait experience like Ciara’s, contact me here to get the process started.