Aspen Family Photography
The moments that matter most captured forever
Relaxed, natural family sessions in Aspen's most beautiful mountain locations. No stiff poses. No forced smiles. Just your family, the mountains, and twenty years of knowing exactly where the light falls.
Winter
Snow-dusted peaks & cozy mountain light
Spring
Wildflowers & dramatic snowmelt scenes
Summer
Long golden days at altitude
Fall
Aspen gold at peak — the most sought season
My Approach
Photography that feels like
your family, not a photo shoot
There's always a point in a session where it stops feeling like a photoshoot. The kids forget I'm there. Parents stop thinking about their expressions. Someone laughs at something genuinely funny. That's the moment I'm waiting for.
I spent ten years photographing Aspen's mountains as a landscape photographer before I ever put a family in the frame. That means I know this valley's light and locations better than almost anyone — exactly when the alpenglow hits Pyramid Peak, which meadow catches the last warm light, which trails the crowds never find.
"Twenty years in Aspen's mountains. Ten years photographing its people."
Your session is guided gently from start to finish — location, timing, what to wear, how to move. You show up. I take care of the rest.
Book Your SessionSession Locations
Aspen's most
beautiful backdrops
Not sure where to shoot? I'll recommend the perfect location based on your family, the season, and the light. These are some of my favourites.
Ashcroft
A hidden ghost town surrounded by dramatic peaks — one of Aspen's best kept secrets
Summer · Fall
Maroon Bells
Colorado's most iconic peaks, mirror lake reflections
Summer · Fall
Roaring Fork Valley
Hidden meadows, river access, and golden aspen groves at peak colour
Summer · FallPortfolio
Recent Family Sessions
How It Works
Effortless from
start to finish
You're on vacation. The last thing you need is stress. Here's how I make it easy.
Book & plan
Tell me your dates and family. I recommend the perfect location based on the season, the light, and what works best for your kids' ages.
Style guidance
I send a simple guide on what to wear and how to prepare. Nothing complicated — just a few tips that make a big difference in the images.
Relaxed session
We meet at the location. I guide you gently through movement and connection. Kids run around. You enjoy the mountains. I capture it all.
Gallery delivered
Your fully edited gallery is delivered within 7 days — ready to download, share, and order prints from anywhere in the world.
Aspen in summer & fall —
two of the world's great backdrops
Summer brings long golden days, wildflower meadows, and crisp mountain air at altitude — light that photographers dream about. Then fall arrives and the aspen trees turn a deep, luminous gold, with a quality of October light that is simply unlike anywhere else on earth. Both seasons produce extraordinary family portraits. If you're visiting Aspen between June and October, there is no better time to book a session. Dates go quickly — reach out now to secure yours.
Check Summer & Fall AvailabilityClient Stories
What Aspen families say
We've done family photos before and they always feel stiff and forced. Darren was completely different — he had our kids laughing within minutes and the images look like us, not like a Christmas card.
Aspen Family Session · Fall 2024
We visit Aspen every October and we've now booked Darren three years in a row. He knows exactly where to take us, exactly when the light is right. These photos are the best thing we bring home every year.
Repeat Client · New York · October 2024
Our kids are 3 and 6 — I was nervous it would be a disaster. Darren kept the whole session moving and fun, and the images we got are honestly some of the best photos of our family we've ever had.
Family Portrait Session · Summer 2024
Investment
Family Session Experiences
Every session is conducted in a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere with very little posing — designed to draw out the most natural, genuine moments of you and your family. I am committed to delivering a photography experience that feels as beautiful as the images it produces.
The Signature Family Session
$1,750
For families who believe their story deserves to be preserved beautifully. The ultimate portrait experience — unhurried, intentional, and crafted to produce images you will treasure for generations.
✦ 48-Hour Booking Bonus
Book within 48 hours and receive a complimentary 12×18 mounted fine art print — a $250 value.
- ✓1.5-hour private session at a location of your choice
- ✓Up to 2 elegant outfit changes
- ✓Complete collection of high-resolution, fully retouched digital images
- ✓$300 artwork credit toward fine art prints or wall art
- ✓Private online gallery for viewing, sharing & downloading
The Classic Session
$1,150
Timeless. Refined. Just right. My most sought-after experience — the perfect balance between depth and ease, leaving you with a stunning collection of images to display beautifully in your home.
✦ 48-Hour Booking Bonus
Book within 48 hours and enjoy an exclusive 10% saving — just $1,035.
- ✓Up to 1-hour session at a location of your choice or one of my hand-selected signature locations
- ✓Full collection of edited, high-resolution digital images
- ✓Private online gallery for viewing, downloading & ordering
- ✓$300 print credit toward fine art prints, canvases, or an album
- ✓Professional prints and canvases available for purchase
The Little Legacy Session
$850
An intimate portrait experience, beautifully done. Understated yet exceptional — designed for those who want a refined, effortless experience with stunning results. Relaxed in pace, elevated in quality.
Reserve This Session- ✓30-minute private session
- ✓1 curated location
- ✓1 signature look
- ✓Edited high-resolution digital images delivered with care
- ✓Private online gallery for viewing, downloading & ordering
- ✓Professional fine art prints and canvases available for purchase
Travel Policy
Travel within 25 miles of Aspen, CO is always complimentary. For sessions beyond that, a travel fee of $0.70 per mile (round trip) will be added to your investment — so there are never any surprises.
Book Your Session
Let's create something
your family
will treasure forever
Fill in the form and I'll be back in touch within 24 hours with availability and everything you need to know. No obligation — just a conversation.