Planning for a family portrait session in Colorado?
Planning for a family portrait session in Colorado? One of the first things to tackle is choosing outfits that will complement both the natural beauty of the outdoors and each family member’s personality. Start with a color palette inspired by nature—think soft neutrals, muted earth tones, or rich jewel hues. Avoid everyone wearing the exact same outfit; instead, aim for coordinated, not matching. Layering is key, especially in Colorado where the weather can change quickly. Think denim jackets, cozy cardigans, or flannel shirts that can be added or removed as needed. Most importantly, wear clothes that are comfortable and allow you to move freely.
Preparing for an outdoor shoot in Colorado also means being ready for the elements. Check the weather forecast the night before and again the morning of your session. Bring along extras like blankets, snacks for the kids, and water—especially if you're heading to a location like Red Rocks, Garden of the Gods, or a mountain overlook. For footwear, go for something practical yet stylish. Trails and rocky terrain call for supportive shoes, but you can always slip on a different pair just before the camera starts clicking.
Lastly, keep your vibe relaxed and positive. Outdoor shoots are all about capturing natural moments, so don’t stress about every hair being perfect. Give yourself extra time to get ready, and try to arrive early so no one feels rushed. A short walk before the shoot can help kids burn off nervous energy, and parents can use that time to soak in the scenery. When everyone feels good, it shows. With the right outfits, a little prep, and an easygoing mindset, your Colorado family portraits will be full of warmth and personality.
Why Great Photographs Matter for Your Business Website
Why Great Photographs Matter for Your Business Website — And Why Hedrick Photography Is the Perfect Partner
In the digital age, your website is often the very first impression potential customers get of your business. And just like in real life, first impressions matter. One of the most powerful tools you have to capture attention and build trust instantly? Professional photographs.
The Power of a Picture
Studies show that people process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. That means the images on your website speak volumes—before a single word is read. Whether it’s your products, your team, your workspace, or your services in action, high-quality, authentic photography can set you apart from the competition.
Here’s how great photography can elevate your business website:
Builds Instant Credibility: Sharp, professional images show that your business is polished and trustworthy.
Boosts Engagement: Beautiful visuals keep visitors on your site longer, increasing the chances they’ll explore what you offer.
Enhances Branding: Custom imagery lets you showcase your brand's personality and values better than stock photos ever could.
Improves SEO: Optimized images can drive traffic to your site through image search and improve your page load speed.
Why Hedrick Photography?
If you’re looking for a photographer who truly understands the value of stunning imagery without breaking the bank, Hedrick Photography is the partner you need.
Here’s what sets Hedrick Photography apart:
Professional Quality: From composition to lighting to editing, every detail is handled with expert care. Your photos will look polished, modern, and on-brand.
Affordable Services: Great photography shouldn’t be out of reach. Hedrick Photography offers competitive pricing that delivers exceptional value.
Business-Focused: We understand what business owners need—photos that tell your story, represent your brand, and ultimately convert viewers into customers.
Versatile Shoots: Whether you're after headshots, team photos, product shots, office space imagery, or lifestyle branding content, Hedrick Photography has the experience to deliver.
Invest in Your Image
In a crowded online space, standing out means putting your best face forward—literally. Don’t settle for blurry phone pics or generic stock images. Investing in professional photography is investing in your brand’s success.
Ready to elevate your website and make a lasting impression?
Contact Hedrick Photography today—and let’s create something amazing together.
Best Color Choices and Outfits for Outdoor Senior Portraits
No matter what you wear, confidence is key! Choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and reflect your personal style.
Choosing the perfect outfit for your outdoor senior portraits is just as important as picking the right location. The right colors and clothing can complement your natural features, blend beautifully with the scenery, and ensure your photos stand the test of time. Whether you want a classic, elegant look or something fun and trendy, here are some key outfit tips to help you shine in your senior portraits.
Best Colors for Outdoor Portraits
When selecting colors, consider the season and setting. Earthy tones like olive green, rust, and mustard work beautifully in natural outdoor settings, while soft pastels like blush, lavender, and sky blue create a dreamy, light-filled look. Neutral shades such as beige, cream, gray, and navy are always a safe bet, as they enhance your features without overwhelming the photo. Try to avoid overly bright neons or super dark colors, as they can either reflect too much or absorb too much light, impacting the final image quality.
Outfit Ideas for a Flattering Look
For a timeless and polished appearance, stick to well-fitted clothing that highlights your personality. Flowy dresses, maxi skirts, and light blouses work well for a feminine look, while fitted jeans or dress pants paired with a structured top offer a more casual but put-together feel. Layering with jackets, cardigans, or scarves can add depth and interest to your photos. For guys, a button-up shirt with chinos or a simple sweater with jeans creates a classic, stylish look. Don't forget to accessorize subtly—delicate jewelry, a hat, or even a flower crown can add a touch of personality without being distracting.
Final Tips for Picture-Perfect Senior Portraits
No matter what you wear, confidence is key! Choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and reflect your personal style. Make sure your clothing is wrinkle-free and fits well to avoid any distractions in your photos. Lastly, coordinate your outfit with the natural environment—lighter colors work best for beach or garden settings, while richer tones complement autumn foliage or urban backdrops. With the right outfit choices, your senior portraits will turn out stunning and uniquely you!
Reach out to us today and let’s chat about your Senior Portraits and vision for your day!
Why Nikon's Mirrorless Camera System Might Be Better Than Traditional DSLRs
Performance-wise, Nikon's mirrorless systems are catching—and even surpassing—DSLRs in many areas.
In recent years, Nikon has shifted its focus toward mirrorless camera systems, like the Z series, and for good reason. One of the biggest advantages mirrorless cameras offer over DSLRs is size and weight. By removing the bulky mirror and optical viewfinder, Nikon has created lighter, more compact bodies that are easier to carry without compromising on image quality. This is a huge win for travel photographers, vloggers, and anyone who appreciates portability without losing pro-level performance.
Performance-wise, Nikon's mirrorless systems are catching—and even surpassing—DSLRs in many areas. Faster and more accurate autofocus, especially with eye-tracking, has made mirrorless cameras ideal for portrait and wildlife photography. The electronic viewfinder gives a real-time preview of exposure and color, taking the guesswork out of getting the perfect shot. Additionally, features like in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which isn't found in many Nikon DSLRs, helps deliver sharper images handheld and in low light.
Lastly, Nikon is investing heavily in new Z-mount lenses that offer sharper optics and wider apertures than many of their F-mount counterparts. While traditional DSLR users have access to a huge library of legacy glass, Nikon’s mirrorless system is clearly the direction forward, offering future-proofing for both hobbyists and professionals. With powerful tools packed into a smaller body, Nikon's mirrorless cameras make a compelling case for being better than their DSLR ancestors.
And still…I shoot with my trustworthy D7200’s. I’m looking to upgrade my camera body in the near future and I’m having a hard time deciding on a newer model DSLR because of the lenses I’ve amassed and the amount of lenses Nikon has available for the N mount.
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-z5ii-initial-review-entry-level-full-frame
Newport, Oregon - “Dungeness Crab Capital of the World”
We had the opportunity to take a family vacation to the central coast and spend a little over a week in Newport, Oregon. Our room was right on the beach and sunsets were spectacular. Newport is known as the Dungeness Crab Capital of the World and although I didn’t myself have any Dungeness Crab, I can confirm that Newport has some of the best seafood I’ve ever had and a ton of great restaurants that will make it hard to choose where to eat, because you’ll want to go back to many of them over and over, they are that good!
Georgie’s Beachside Grill, Clearwater, Pacific Kitchen at Nye Beach, Nana’s Irish Pub, and the Sea Hag in Depoe Bay were some that we ate at and I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone.
Fall Colors in Castlewood Canyon State Park
Hedrick Photography Castlewood Canyon State Park
My wife and I had the opportunity to escape on our own for a few hours and drove out to Castlewood Canyon State Park to do a little late season leaf peeping. The Fall Colors were still outstanding, but the time together was more than enough. Here are a couple shots from our hike.
Senior Portraits
Class of 2023 Senior Portraits!
Class of 2023! Here are a few shots from some recent Senior Portrait sessions with Hedrick Photography. Still need Senior Pictures taken? Reach out!
Happy New Year!
The Hedrick Photography Part Time Crew
2021 is gone and I hope that you all have a very prosperous and happy 2022! Our team here at Hedrick Photography looks forward to the new year and to providing our clients with professional and affordable options for family photos, senior portraits, weddings, and visual marketing content. Thanks to each and every one of you that have put your trust in us over the years, we look forward to working with you all again in the future! Thanks for making us the preferred Senior Portrait photographer for so many in the Castle Rock, Parker, and Highlands Ranch area.
Death of the DSLR?
Death of the DSLR?
Death of the DSLR? I think not!
We all know that the DSLR is dying a slow death, but if you’re like me, you’re certainly not ready to give up your DSLR and stockpile of lenses anytime soon. I love my Nikon D7200 bodies and the many lenses I’ve invested in, but the shift to mirrorless is happening my friends, it’s happening…
Follow the link below and see what Sony has decided to do. BOLD move.
https://www.dpreview.com/news/6728421375/sony-s-removal-of-its-remaining-dslrs-suggest-the-a-mount-is-all-but-dead?utm_source=self-desktop&utm_medium=marquee&utm_campaign=traffic_source
Wedding Photography 2021
Are you in need of a Colorado professional wedding photographer? We have two packages to accommodate our customers needs, a small wedding package that is geared towards shorter and smaller wedding events, and a full wedding package that includes multiple photographers and is designed more around large wedding events.
We also offer photo booths for our weddings as well as videography packages if someone is in need of either of those services. We utilize our drones when the location and venue allow for it and capture unique shots that were impossible to capture not too long ago.
To find out more about our wedding packages and services click on the link below. We are based out of Castle Rock Colorado but travel all across Colorado for weddings. Reach out with any questions you might have!
https://www.hedrickphotography.com/wedding-pricing
Senior Portraits!
If you’re looking for professional and affordable options for your senior portraits this year make sure to check out what our team has to offer!
We make the process comfortable, fun, and most importantly, memorable for your senior. Let us help take the stress out of the day. We love hanging out with the kids and getting to know a little about their personality and we truly enjoy being such an important part of their day.
If you’re within 50 miles of Castle Rock Colorado there is no extra charge for travel time, so reach out today!
“Ryan Hedrick Photography for the win!! He did an amazing job for my daughter’s senior pictures. He caught her at her most natural so she didn’t look stiff and posed. He also recommended the location that turned out to be perfect with multiple nature and rustic backdrops. I won’t hesitate to use him again.”
New Website for Hedrick Photography!
We are excited to be launching a new website after over 10 years on the old platform…we were long overdue.
Hopefully the new website will be much faster and easier to navigate for our users. Please reach out if you have any issues or run into any problems with the site and as always, reach out to us with any photography or visual marketing needs you might have! We are your trusted professional and affordable Colorado photographer for any occasion!
If you are looking for you past client gallery and can’t find it, shoot us over an email and I’ll get you access to it as those galleries are not going to be a function of the new website, they have been revamped moving forward.
New Services for 2021!
Hedrick Photography is excited to bring you new services for 2021 including videography packages and drone photography and video packages. We will be offering both commercial and wedding videography packages to our customers as well as offering full aerial photography and video options utilizing our drones.
Right now we are running a professional headshot special! If you’re in need of new or refreshed headshots, reach out and ask about our special!
We will be running specials for senior portraits and family photos as well as local specials for residents of Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, and Lone Tree. Keep checking our website, Facebook page, and blog for updates!
Columbine Open Space, Castle Rock Colorado.
Columbine Open Space - Castle Rock, Colorado
One of my favorite local spots in Castle Rock to photograph any type of portraits in Columbine Open Space, a few miles south of downtown Castle Rock. I’ve been snapping mainly family and senior portraits at this location for well over 10 years and it has remained one of my favorite spots to take clients for their pictures in the Castle Rock area. This is a favorite spot for people from Parker and Highlands Ranch as well as many of my clients have had pictures taken at their local parks and want something different, with Columbine Open Space being a short half hour drive.
Below are some pictures Hedrick Photography has taken at Columbine Open Space. There are a few really cool structures to utilize in our shots, complete with a large red barn that brings most people to this spot. If you take a small walk there is also a pond to use for pictures as well. There is a lot of open space and it really is a great local spot for anyone looking for an outdoor, Colorado style photo shoot.
If you are looking for a photographer in Castle Rock and want someone that has experience shooting at this location, reach out to me and we can talk about your needs and get something scheduled. This is a great spot for family portraits and senior pictures for 2021!
https://www.douglas.co.us/dcoutdoors/trails/open-space-trails/columbine-open-space-trail/
17-Mile House Farm Park, Parker Colorado
17-Mile House Farm - Parker, Colorado
If you haven’t had photos taken at 17-Mile House Farm in Parker, you need to hire a professional photographer and get to this park for some pictures. This is easily my personal favorite place in Parker, Colorado to take families and individuals for portraits and headshots.
A large red barn, an old white house, trees, open space, bridges, windmill, fences, rocks, and a running creek to name a few of the things that make this area stand out for photographers. Speaking of photographers, this is not an off the beaten path park and there are always professional photographers shooting portraits here so plan your time accordingly as you might have to wait for certain shots to open up depending on how busy it is.
For senior portraits I bring seniors from all over the area to this park for their session, not just the local Parker High Schools. This site is an old 19th Century Farmhouse and is a special place that many enjoy, including people walking and riding bikes. Don’t travel off the designated trails and if the park is shut down for repairs or upcoming events, don’t compromise our ability to use this awesome park and stay off the property.
https://www.arapahoegov.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/17-Mile-House-Farm-Park-23
