Colorado Wedding Photography Brings Your Love Story to Life

Planning your wedding is thrilling, but choosing the right vendors can require a lot of research. Among the many talented wedding vendors you'll need, your wedding photographer is one of the most important. They'll capture your big day in all its glory and provide you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. If you're planning a wedding at Craftwood Peak, Colorado, we can help you find the best wedding photographer to match your style and personality.

Identify Your Photography Style Preferences

The first step to finding the right Colorado wedding photographer is identifying your style preferences. Browse real wedding photos and pay attention to the images that speak to you. Do you love classical poses, or are you drawn to fun, real-life shots? You may prefer artistic and experimental photography or do you prefer timeless black and white, traditional poses? Once you've identified your style, it's time to start your search.

Find the Right Wedding Photographer For You

We recommend getting recommendations to find trusted professional wedding photographers in your area. Look at their portfolios or social media feeds to get a sense of their style and see if it resonates with you. Narrow down your list and reach out to see if they're available for your wedding date and to get an idea of their pricing. When you contact photographers, tell them about yourself, your wedding venue, and your photography style preferences. Once you've received a response, set up a meeting to say hello and ask about their wedding packages, whether they offer engagement photoshoots, and the turnaround time for your images. Consider the photographer's talent, pricing, personality, and wedding photography packages before deciding. 

Shortcut Your Vender Search Process

We have great relationships with local vendors, including outstanding Manitou Springs wedding photographers. We're happy to introduce you to our recommended vendors or give you their price and package information so you can fast-track your search. 

Introducing New Concept Photography

Dan Bedell found photography at a young age and was fortunate to turn his passion into a successful business. His joy for photography has taken him around the world, capturing nature and wildlife images on all seven continents. A husband and father of two, Dan owns and operates New Concept Photography, a long-standing wedding photography business in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

New Concept Photography specializes in wedding and portrait photography in the Pikes Peak region. Dan loves being a wedding photographer because it allows him to capture meaningful moments and emotions, build personal connections with clients, and challenge himself creatively. Dan's friendly personality helps his clients to feel comfortable in front of the camera, resulting in natural, seemingly effortless photographs that capture the essence of the day. His well-trained professional eye is evident in his work. This venue, Craftwood Peak by Wedgewood Weddings, with its incredible mountain views and storybook setting, is one of Dan's favorite venues.

We asked Dan to share his top Colorado wedding photography recommendations to help you find the right wedding photographer for your event. 

I've always had an interest in photography. When I was a high school senior in New York, my guidance counselor asked me to be her wedding photographer. This set me on the path to discovering that my artistic talent had value in a professional sense. I enjoy working with people and love the human element found in weddings. With my camera in hand, I am capturing a moment in time that will become a treasured memory. People trust me because of my experience and passion for the job. 

My style is all-encompassing; romantic, candid, fun, elegant, and heartfelt. 

My photography approach varies throughout the wedding day. Each couple and every wedding day is unique. Candid photography involves capturing natural and unscripted moments. This can be exciting because it authentically catches genuine emotions and interactions. I love shooting candidly, as these moments are not staged and are different for everyone. It takes skill to capture them effectively. I also recognize that there is a time and place for posed photography. Most people love to have a collection of wedding photos that includes candid shots and posed pictures with the smiling faces of their family and friends. A good wedding photographer can provide both. 

I love shooting weddings because I'm preserving something that will last a lifetime for many generations of family to enjoy. My favorite moment to photograph has to be the ceremony. It is the truest part of the day, and I love the raw emotion. Weddings are emotional events, and capturing those moments can be incredibly rewarding as a photographer. It's often said that the wedding day passes in a blur, and the photographs remain the only tangible memories. I love that my job allows me to be creative and use a variety of wedding photography styles and techniques.

Initially, I started in this field by shooting film. The change to digital in the early 2000s let us shoot many more photos without the cost of film, look at the pictures as they are being taken, and change them on the fly where needed. Over the years, I've become better at capturing candid shots, looking in from the outside. Now, I'm constantly trying new things with different lighting and creativity. Having mastered the art, I have much more freedom to experiment now.  

Every couple should choose a photographer who makes you feel comfortable and at ease. I recommend scheduling an engagement photo session before the wedding day to help us get to know each other. The engagement photography session is practice for the wedding day, allowing us to get to know each other beforehand. I get to see how clients will react to being photographed, and it lets them get to know my shooting style. Engagement photos are often more casual and likely to hang in clients' homes. 

Its important for clients to feel able to relax in front of my camera. I tell couples to be themselves and to try to forget there is a person with a camera photographing them. They must focus on their love for each other and the real reason they are there together. You should be having fun! Weddings are joyful occasions. If you can laugh, smile, and enjoy the experience, it will shine through in your photographs. 

An happy client is ready to have fun on their wedding day. They aren't there to micromanage every second of the day but trust the professionals they've hired. That's why I say; make time to find your wedding vendors. I recommend finding a photographer shortly after securing the venue. Generally, we book most weddings six months to a year in advance. Photography is one of the most important things because when it is all said and done, your photos are what you have to remember the day by 

A lot of wedding photography is based around the ceremony time. Once we get that determined, we can discuss whether the couple want to see each other for a first look before the wedding ceremony. First looks are great for many reasons: if the lighting could be better after the ceremony or if the couple feels nervous and just wants to break the ice. It doesn't have to take long. Some couples are more traditional and like to wait until walking down the aisle. I always ask for a list of influential people they want to be sure are included ahead of time so that we don't have to interrupt the wedding day to gather the right people - we're already working from a list - often with introductions beforehand. 

It's essential to communicate well with your photographer before the big day. Speak about your preference for candid or posed photographs. Ask any questions you may have. The more you can share your vision for your wedding, the better it will give me an idea of what poses you would like.  

When you're planning your wedding, you'll get beautiful photos at all times. Still, my favorite timeline on the wedding day would be starting at about 2 PM and shooting well into the evening. This time frame lets us work with afternoon light and move into the golden hour of sunset and twilight. I love shooting into the sun as it creates unique lighting opportunities that we might not get otherwise. We are fortunate to usually have gorgeous skies with incredible sunsets for inspirational Colorado wedding photography. This timeline gives us a chance to capture the colors and atmosphere.

My typical post-production wedding photography turnaround time is four weeks after the wedding date. Post-production work is an essential part of wedding photography. It allows me to enhance and refine the images to create stunning and memorable photos. Post-production includes image culling and selection, taking time to sort through the thousands of photographs taken to find the best shots to edit and deliver. From there, I work on color correction, retouching, editing, and some black-and-white conversion. 

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Dan at New Concept Photography understands the significance of your wedding day. He is dedicated to creating stunning, memorable images reflecting your love story. Contact us today to schedule your venue tour and learn more about Dan Beddel and his photo skills.

The best tip to find a great wedding photographer in Colorado: Aside from price, pay attention to personality. Can you get along with this person on the day of your wedding? Choose a photographer that you feel comfortable with so that you can relax and be yourself. When you choose an experienced photographer, you can will feel confident knowing they'll capture the beautiful and timeless images you need.

The majority of the stunning photos on this website were taken by Dan Beddel. They perfectly capture the beauty and majesty of Craftwood Peak wedding venue. Dan has an exceptional eye for capturing the perfect moment and angle, whether it's a posed portrait or a candid shot of couples on their special day. His technical skills and mastery of diverse photography styles ensure that every photo is a work of art.

Working with Dan is always a pleasure. He is professional and friendly, and he works seamlessly with our staff to ensure that every couple receives the best service and attention from any Colorado wedding photographer. Choosing New Concept Photography as a recommended vendor has been an excellent decision, and we look forward to continuing our partnership for many more years to come. Thank you, Dan, for being vital part of our Craftwood Peak family.