Blog – Page 2 of 7 – Allison Ranslow Photography- Colorado Wedding Photographer

Things to Consider When Searching for the Perfect Wedding Venue

February 4, 2018 ·

How to pick the perfect wedding venue, how to pick the best wedding venue, pretty colorado wedding venues

If you’re anything like me, you have been dreaming of the perfect wedding day for years, and now the time to plan that day is finally here. Wooohoo! This is where the fun begins. Planning a perfect day starts with deciding on the perfect venue. So many factors go into this, and it’s all completely dependent on YOU as the couple and what you two like. There are so many things to consider, choosing can be overwhelming. But don’t fret; I’m here to help! I’ve been in your very same shoes (currently comfy moccasins), and have some insight in things to consider when choosing the perfect venue.

Snowy Mountain Gender Reveal | Kristine & Alex

February 1, 2018 ·

After their snowy mountain gender reveal, Kristine & Alex are so excited to welcome a new baby girl into their adorable family! What better way to reveal the baby’s gender than in the snowy mountains of Colorado Springs. The pink smoke just POPs against the bright white snow. I’m so excited for this growing family and to see all the wonderful things they do together as a family of six. God bless you two! This snowy mountain gender reveal shows the perfect fun & crazy personality of the whole Santana family. I love them!

A New Year | A New Blogging Me

January 21, 2018 ·

This is it. Get ready to meet the new me- a regularly blogging me. Starting now, I’ll regularly blog something other than sessions. And Sundays are the days to keep your eye out for them.

These posts will be all for you. “You” meaning past clients, prospective clients, future clients, my new best friend, someone who wants to learn about running a business, someone who wants to get into photography, other photographers, or even just a stranger who likes hearing me ramble. If you like what I’m posting, let me know! I love getting feedback- both positive and negative. If you’d rather me talk about other things, let me know as well! I’m always open for new ideas on topics you’d like to hear about. I’m always happy to answer any questions these blog posts spark- I’ve learned a lot about photography, Colorado adventuring, and running a business and have so much info I’m just dying to share.

To get things rolling, I’ll share a few facts about myself:

Adventuring is my absolute favorite. I can’t sit still and am always dying to get outside and explore. It’s been a newfound love of mine since moving to Colorado last summer, but it’s a love I can’t really complain about. My favorite adventures so far have been a weeklong roadtrip to Utah with my mom, camping out and hiking 14ers, and learning to cross country ski with my cousin in Leadville.

Flowers, I always used to think they were dumb because they die, but now, I just love ‘em, despite them only lasting a week. I’m getting so excited planning out our wedding flowers that I cannot wait to see them come to life on the big day. June can’t come soon enough!

I want a puppy. Badly, Like really badly. Cam says, “now isn’t the right time… blah blah blah”, and the more he says it the more I’m tempted to bring home one of the cute dogs that I see at the shelter I volunteer at. One day, my friends. Until then, I’ll keep snapchatting all the cute ones.

Cam and I are high school sweethearts. We’ve been dating for just over 8 years and are FINALLY tying the knot this summer. We can’t wait to celebrate with all our family and friends who also have been anxiously awaiting the big day.

I’m 5’ 1” on a good day. I’ve always been tiny, and never quite grew out of it. On wedding days and at all my sessions, you’ll always find me standing on a stool. Gotta get those good angles!

Well, there we have it, friends. The first blog post of the year, and the first of many regularly scheduled ones to come. I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Lots of interesting content is planned ahead! Get ready for the next blog post- wedding planning tips for the newly engaged!

2017 Favorite Images | A Year for the Books

December 27, 2017 ·

WOW. I can’t believe 2017 is just about over. It was a year for the books, for sure. I feel like everyone says that as the new year approaches, but thinking back to this time last year feels SO long ago. It was a pretty bittersweet time as Cam had just proposed, but was getting ready to leave on a nine-month deployment to Europe. Despite him being gone, I more than enjoyed my time getting acquainted to living in the west. I hung out with friends every second I could, and hiked until I couldn’t hike any more. I was blessed to work with so many wonderful clients, not only in Colorado, but also in my home state of New York. Taking pictures of my amazing clients helped me finally find my niche style of photography. There’s nothing I love more than capturing purely raw and candid moments between people genuinely and wholeheartedly in love. I love love, and I’m sure you’ll notice that from the pictures you’ll see below. Enjoy my 3 favorite images from each 2017 session:

Abby & Trent | Steamboat Springs Wedding

December 15, 2017 ·

A snowy Steamboat Springs wedding at Bella Vista Estate | November 11th, 2017

My two very favorite people GOT MARRIED. And it was absolutely spectacular. Trent and Abby are my cousins. Well, Abby is Cam’s cousin, so by logic, that makes both of them MY cousins, too! I’m so very thankful to have such great friends as these, and have them so close to us in Colorado. This was a special wedding to photograph, not only because it was gorgeous, but because these two make such a gorgeous pair. They rented an estate in Steamboat Springs and invited their closest family and friends to spend a long weekend there celebrating their love. We had lots of good food, great drinks, and a wonderful time. Oh, and one of the best parts about this wedding, THE DOGS WERE IN IT TOO. They were SO flippin’ handsome with their bowties, and you’ll see below, that Boone wanted to be a part of the festivities so many times. In all, a gorgeous weekend at a gorgeous venue with a gorgeous husband and wife pair. I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I do. You’re bound to smile!

Colorado Springs Engagement Session | Garden of the Gods

November 29, 2017 ·

Engagement session inquiries are some of my favorite to get. But to make one even better, is when you get one from a friend from college. I went to Penn State with Jess and was so excited when she told me she and her brand spankin’ new fiancé would be traveling to Colorado for Thanksgiving and wanted a Colorado Springs engagement session at Garden of the Gods. They were so freshly engaged, that she hadn’t even announced the proposal yet outside of close friends and family, and wanted to wait so she could use the engagement photos to let the cat out of the bag. I was HONORED. It was a perfect, and pretty typical, actually, November day in Colorado with the sun brightly shining and showing off our gorgeous mountain landscape. Their Colorado Springs engagement session at Garden of the Gods was just stunning. I’ll never get sick of the bright orange rocks. Jess and Matt surely make a great pair and I’m so excited that they’ll be getting married next next June in Pennsylvania. What lucky people these two are to have found each other!

Lauren & Justin | Garden of the Gods Couples Session

November 27, 2017 ·

A Garden of the Gods couples session

My tactics are working! The Instagram stars have aligned. Lauren was looking for a photographer in Colorado Springs for her and her husband, and found me via an Instagram hashtag search. See, all those 30 hashtags are actually useful! I met Lauren and her husband, Justin at the iconic Garden of the Gods overlook, and boy was it great. I can never get sick of those views. A mix of Pikes Peak and the red rocks of Garden of the Gods- so perfect. Can you believe they’re both in The Army? Talk about a tough life, but they make it work. Aren’t they just the sweetest? They just bought at house at the foothills of the mountains and are in the market for a new pug puppy. Lots of joy and happiness in their lives and I was so happy I could capture a little snippet of it.

Lauren & Nolan | Garden of the Gods Couples Session

November 21, 2017 ·

A mountainous fall Garden of the Gods couples session

I was so happy when Nolan and Lauren wanted pictures taken at Garden of the Gods. I had originally suggested a spot at a park that wasn’t quite to “Colorado” with striking mountain views, but this was so much better. They’ve lived here in the Springs for SIX years and NEVER had pictures taken there- it was about time! It was a gorgeous evening in my new favorite spot in the Springs. You can’t beat mountain views that are easily accessible with a 5 second walk from a parking lot. Also, as you know, I LOVE DOGS. And they brought Ginger with them (I mean, why wouldn’t they, she’s a part of the family). But I’m always so happy when dogs can be included in the session. Love it! And them! Enjoy their gorgeous Garden of the Gods couples session!

Kelly & Dan | Engaged

November 18, 2017 ·

A golden sunrise engagement session at Mendon Ponds Park

What a dream session! I suggested an early morning session with Kelly and Dan and was SO happy when they were game to get there around sunrise. We got there a little early, and I was worried there wouldn’t be enough light and we’d have to wait around, but the lighting was AMAZING. Seriously. The best light to shoot in, hands down. Plus, they brought their gorgeous golden and he was so handsome in the pictures. To top it off, we even went on a canoe ride, and Kelly’s dad chauffered me around in his fishing boat while I snapped pictures of them in the canoe- talk about service! So much fun and lots of laughs during this gorgeous morning session. I cannot wait for their wedding next fall in Rochester, NY. It can’t come soon enough. Enjoy these pictures of a gorgeous couple, and even some behind the scenes of myself thanks to Kelly’s mom for capturing!

CJ & Richie | Married

October 26, 2017 ·

A Glam Oak Hill Country Club Wedding | September 23rd, 2017

Joyful. Radiant. And so sweet. Three words to describe CJ and Richie on their gorgeous wedding day in Rochester, NY. They were the kind of people that make you smile the whole darn day and cry tears of joy as they say “I do”.

The entire day was spectacular. From all the meticulously thought out details to the ear-to-ear grins on all the guests’ faces- it truly was a dream. Not to mention, the weather was absolutely perfect. Not a cloud in the sky to rain on their parade. Just like the sun, their love beamed the entire day. So much love to be had on this day celebrating their story that began all the way back in high school. CJ shared with me that almost ten years ago to the day, they shared their first kiss at the homecoming dance- HOW CUTE. I’m so lucky to have been able to work with a couple as light hearted and joyful as this, and value the true meaning of love just as I do. Enjoy their fab Rochester, NY wedding!