candid photography Archives – Focus: the From the Hip Photo blog

Destination Wedding | Cala Luna in Tamarindo

February 13, 2019 From the Hip Photo

This gorgeous destination wedding took place at the Cala Luna Hotel in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Gretchen and Zach shared the moment with their family and friends for an unforgettable wedding celebration. Their special day showcased personalized DIY touches and tropical, beach vibes. Costa Rica Between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, you'll find Costa Rica. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Costa Rica contains 5 percent of the world’s species of animals along its 800 miles of coastline. The landscape is teeming with towering volcanoes, mountains, and lush rainforests. Costa Rica's long stretches of spatial tropical beaches and hundreds of crystal-clear lakes and rivers are the embodiment of paradise. It is a flawless blend of relaxation, culture, fine cuisine, and wildlife. Not to mention, Costa Rica holds an average temperature of 70 degrees year round! Located within the Central Pacific coast is the picturesque Manuel Antonio, National Park. The park was created in 1972 to protect the delicate habitats and enrich biodiversity within the area. Manuel Antonio has plenty of activities for all ages! Whether you want to get in touch with nature, or have a superb dining experience by the beautiful white sand beaches, Manuel Antonio is the place to be! Neighboring

Venues Weddings

Wedding at Blackstone Rivers Ranch

February 12, 2019 From the Hip Photo

Laura and Justin’s idyllic Blackstone Rivers Ranch wedding, just a stone’s throw from Downtown Denver, had all the elements of a magical wedding. An Idaho Springs, CO Wedding Shoot Idaho Springs, CO is a perfect stop off I-70. A walk around downtown shows many well-preserved historic buildings, as well as plenty of quality restaurants. In town, you can find the 125-year-old Argo Gold Mine and Mill and even try panning for gold! Not far from town, is a working mine, the Phoenix Gold Mine. There you can learn about modern and historical mining techniques. As with Argo, at Phoenix Gold Mine you can do a little gold panning yourself! While you're there, enjoy the hot mineral waters of the springs after which the town is named. The Indian Springs Resort offers overnight accommodations, or visit the geothermal springs and caves for a fitting cap to your day. Idaho Springs is a wonderland of aspen and evergreen trees that provide an ideal backdrop to any memorable event. It is not often you find a locale that rivals the beauty and remote-feel of Idaho Springs, while maintaining its accessibility. Located just 40 minutes from Denver, make Idaho Springs your next wedding destination! We would like to give a big thank you and big

Family Stanley Family

A Colorful Day at Stanley Marketplace

January 26, 2019 From the Hip Photo

Have we mentioned how much we love family photoshoots? Oh, we have? Well, it wouldn't hurt to mention it again... We love family sessions! Seeing those bright smiles, big laughs, and even the occasional furry friend brings so much joy to all of us at From the Hip Photo! With amazing people like Erik and Brianne, it's almost too easy! This fun family of four didn't skip a beat during their session in the vibrant Stanley Marketplace! The Wonderful Stanley Marketplace For those unfamiliar, The Stanley Marketplace is located in Aurora, Colorado and is a tight-knit community of over 50 independently owned Colorado businesses. All these businesses aim to create a unique place for you to eat, drink, shop, exercise, work, and so much more! We are proud to be a part of the community here at The Stanley Marketplace! Want to grab a bite at Comida and then grab a beer at Cheluna? You can do that! Want to grab a cup of coffee at Logan House and go sit at one of the many outdoor patios or community areas around Stanley? You can do that too! The world is what you make it at The Stanley Marketplace and

Hints & Tips

Photo Tips | Fun Family Photo Ideas

December 7, 2018 From the Hip Photo

A family photo shoot can be a great way to capture a special moment in time with your loved ones. Of course, getting a bunch of people together for a photo shoot can be an intimidating process, especially if you're getting kids involved. We've certainly had our fair share of family photo shoots, so we'd like to offer you a few fun family photo ideas! Show Off Your Hobbies Here at From the Hip Photo, love trying to capture the perfect candid moment! A great way to add fun to your family photos is by concentrating on your hobbies, interests, and daily activities. This allows your family to express themselves more by letting the pictures do the talking. In other words, less looking (or trying your hardest to get the kids to look!) and more action. Highlight Your City Think about where you live. Is there an area or location that means something to you and your loved ones? This could be where the family home is, like Denver, or where you and the rest of the crew (pets included, of course!) love to go on vacation. Creating photographic memories in places that mean the most to you and your

Newborn

Anna & Brad’s Lovely Afternoon | Bear Creek Greenbelt Newborn Photos

November 26, 2018 From the Hip Photo

With summer and autumn long behind us now, why not have a little throwback to this absolutely adorable newborn shoot back in September? Anna and Brad joined us for a cute photoshoot with their newborn babygirl, as well as their trusty canine friend! We ventured down the Bear Creek Greenbelt, located to in Lakewood, for this session and it was such a pretty spot. So, please enjoy these Bear Creek Greenbelt newborn photos! Bear Creek Greenbelt The Bear Creek Greenbelt is a 3.5 miles walking trail that is located in Lakewood. It offers a nice and leisurely stroll for the whole family! The greenbelt also trails down towards a beautiful creek to see. Not to mention there are a lot of other trails nearby as well, for those who'd prefer something slightly longer or more difficult. You can check out a great guide to the whole area near Bear Creek Greenbelt here! Peas in a Pod You can just feel the love when looking at this family -- they couldn't be more perfect! Both Anna and Brad sported some very nice casual clothes for their stroll, and both their daughter and dog look delightful together! Adding character to a photoshoot is

Weddings

A Sunny Day with Emily & Drew | Crooked Willow Farms Wedding Photos

November 21, 2018 From the Hip Photo

Colorado seems to never be lacking in smiles, views, and overall good times. Our session with Emily & Drew on their wedding day was no different! Taking place at the Crooked Willow Farms back in September, the beautiful landscape and ceremony that the venue had to offer were both spectacular. Emily and Drew had a fantastic time celebrating and dancing with their friends! So, please enjoy these Crooked Willow Farms wedding photos! Crooked Willow Farms Located between Denver and Colorado Springs, Crooked Willow Farms offers a fantastic natural venue that is easily accessible from both cities. The farm has beautiful open fields, a pretty view of the mountains, and cute buildings that can easily fit a reception -- or a dance party! One of the buildings -- called 'Lola's Loft -- is in a barn house from the 1920s. With about 90 acres of land, there are no shortages of opportunity at Crooked Willow Farms. Check out some more info here -- including a full virtual tour! A Dance Party to Remember After getting ready and looking their best, Emily and Drew hung out with all their friends! Drew and his gang look dapper, while Emily and her friends look stunning

Engagements

A Sprague Lake Engagement Shoot | Ashleigh & Tim

November 19, 2018 From the Hip Photo

The weather here in Colorado tends to shift from hot to cold and back again over the course of a single day. If often feels like Colorado's weather doesn't have seasons so much as it does mood swings. At their Sprague Lake engagement shoot earlier this fall, Ashleigh and Tim showed us their secret technique for conquering the confusing Colorado climate: blankets! Love & Order We're willing to bet that most people don't enroll in mock trial class expecting to find love. But that's exactly how Ashleigh and Tim met! As the two teammates grew closer, Ashleigh proposed a trip for the two of them to Iceland. As it turns out, Tim had a proposal of his own in mind. He surprised Ashleigh by popping the question on the last day of their trip. We happen to think an Icelandic proposal sounds pretty romantic, but we'll let the jury decide this one. Sprague Lake So why a Sprague Lake engagement shoot? Well, it's no Iceland, but we happen to think it's pretty cool. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, Sprague Lake is named after Abner Sprague. Sprague (the guy, not the lake) moved to the area in the late 19th

Engagements

The Warmth of Love | Luke & Brian Rocky Mountain National Park Engagement Photos

November 16, 2018 From the Hip Photo

Although wintertime is still a little ways away, it's already starting to get nice and snowy here in Colorado. In fact, the Rocky Mountain National Park has a bunch of snow already! Luke and Brian sure knew how to keep each other warm for this shoot. In fact, we're not sure how they didn't freeze! Check out these lovely Rocky Mountain National Park engagement photos! Rocky Mountain National Park The Rocky Mountain National Park is one of our favorite places to shoot photos because it's just so damn beautiful! No matter the season, this park never fails to amaze us. Although this was taken only the second week of October, the whole park has turned into a winter wonderland. Encompassing about 415 square miles, the Rocky Mountain National Park spans the Continental Divide and its surrounding ecosystems and mountains. From camping, to fishing, to scenic drives, there really is no shortage of activities! It is also home to over 350 miles of walking and hiking trails. You can even get a tour from a park ranger who can show you there very best spots the park has to offer. Of course, exploring the unknown is also highly recommended! The Key to

Weddings

A Night to Remember | Jesse & Ken Wedding Photos

November 14, 2018 From the Hip Photo

When it comes to a lovestruck evening between two people, it should be one that will last lifetimes. In the case of Jesse and Ken, they went all out with a special night at the Lionsgate Event Center! Many laughs and good times were shared on this lovely summer night! We hope you enjoy these storybook wedding photos! The Lionsgate Event Center The Lionsgate Event Center is a top-tier wedding location that prides themselves on being a fantastically unique space, "At Lionsgate, we are determined to break the same old wedding mold. No two love stories are the same so why should your weddings be?". Located in Lafayette, Lionsgate offers not only a charming indoor space for receptions but is accompanied by a church for ceremonies. If the indoors aren't your thing they also have a spacious outdoor area too! If you're interested, you can always contact them and schedule a tour here! Got the moves? One of the things that Jesse and Ken said they were looking forward to the most was being able to hang out and dance with all of their friends. Safe to say that everyone busted a move! The bride and groom brought the whole entourage

Newborn

Sara & Jenna | City Park Newborn Photos

November 12, 2018 From the Hip Photo

City Park is always a favorite location for us and the fox fam at From the Hip Photo. Not only does it have both the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, but it has a spacious park for plenty of activities! With Autumn being right around the corner, it was the perfect time to catch the lasting sun rays of the warm weather. Sara, Jenna, and Logan took advantage of the beautiful September weather as we all headed out to Denver City Park. A fantastic location for some joyful newborn and family photos! Buckets of sunshine and smiles from ear to ear are all over this session. We hope you enjoy these City Park newborn photos as much as we do! City Park Built back in 1880, City Park covers 330 acres of land and is home to many businesses ranging from small cafes to the Denver Zoo. It’s easily the perfect place for a family afternoon picnic or an outing with a basket of toys and your favorite furry friend! As with most Septembers here in the Mile High City, the weather is positively sunny for our session with Sara, Jenna and Logan. Even though it's technically