Great Sand Dunes National Park Engagement Session
Sunrise Session at Great Sand Dunes National Park
LOVE, LORRAINE ADVENTURE WEDDING and ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
If you have been following our work for some time, you may have seen Sarah and Noah’s elopement at Garden of the Gods. These guys are full-send adventurers. Not only were they willing to adventure all the way out to the Great Sand Dunes for their adventure session, but they were game to get up at 3am to catch the sunrise!
It’s purely our opinion, but sunrise is the absolute best time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park. We have always wanted to photograph a couple here, but it is a pretty far drive from the Denver area and there aren’t many places to stay close to the park! Sarah & Noah were certainly down to go on an adventure.
When we arrived at the park, stars as far as the eye can see captivated us. It was still pitch dark out, the perfect time to arrive at the park. We had scouted this location once before and had a spot saved, so we punched it into our GPS and walked blindly in the pitch dark to find the spot we wanted to shoot first light. Their dog, Blu, loved every second of running in the sand. He was the hype man of this adventure session.
Going on an epic adventure (like this one!) with our couples is the best part of our jobs.
Why Sunrise is great for Adventure Sessions and Elopements
During sunrise shoots, we often start in the complete dark. This is a great time to look up and enjoy the stars, especially in locations with limited light pollution. Locations that are typically a bit busy during the day or for sunset are nice and quiet, so sunrise is a great time to avoid the crowds and have some peace and quiet. Seclusion is important for some of you!
Sunrise also offers a show as part of your adventure session or elopement. When have you ever seen a bad sunrise? Even on cloudy mornings, first light is a special thing to experience. It symbolizes the beginning of a new day! And starting your day with a sunrise can mean all day adventures with lots of daylight left, or an afternoon nap in preparation for a sunset portrait adventure.
First light comes quickly, but then you’ll get a show of multiple lighting situations as the sun continues to rise into view. Sunrise offers a very diverse array of lighting situations that make for beautiful, striking photos. Dawn light will be soft and colorful, which can be dreamlike in person and in camera. Then, as the sun gets higher, we can shoot into the light, giving you some sun flare shots. As the sun gets higher in the sky, we can use the light's low direction to our advantage to get some awesome photos.
Remember, whether you’re planning for an elopement or an adventure session, the experience is just as important as the photographs. Sunrise presents many pros, so long as you are willing to get up for the adventure!
Should I bring my dog to my adventure session or elopement?
Of course you should! We can’t wait to meet your pup. However, there are many things to consider before making concrete plans to have your pet with you along your adventure.
As Leave No Trace Aware Photographers, it is important that before bringing your dog with you on an outdoor adventure in the wilderness that you better understand these principles. For dogs, 5 of the 7 principles apply!
Leave No Trace Principle #1: Plan & Prepare
First and foremost, understand that location you have chosen and know if dogs are allowed on trails. Most National Parks have strict rules against dogs on trails to protect wildlife. PRO TIP: You can typically find a hike right on the edge of a National Park that dogs are allowed on! And this option may also get you access to quieter, less visited locations.
Once you understand the rules about having your pet with you on trail, make sure that your pet is fully prepared for the adventure ahead. If you plan on hiking for miles on end, ensure that you have lots of extra water packed for them (and YOU!) as well as snacks and treats! You’ll want to have hiked with your dog prior to tackling a hike for the first time with them. Be sure that they are good on leash, have a decent recall, and can pay attention to you when it is needed. We are often in wild places where wildlife, people, and other dogs are present. Take the time to do some simple training with your pup ahead of time to have confidence in your ability to keep them safe and calm while on the trail.
Leave No Trace Principle #2: Travel on Durable Surfaces
Always hike on trail! There are fragile and non-durable surfaces all around traveled trails, and even the slightest steps off the trail and be catastrophic to plant life and other organisms (depending on your location!). Be sure to use every conscious effort to stay on the trail, and this goes for your pup, too! This is the reason that leashes are almost always required on wilderness trails. :-)
Leave No Trace Principle #3: Dispose of Waste Properly
Dog waste can be harmful to the environment. That’s why everywhere we go, there are signs asking us to clean up after our dogs. Please ensure that you have dog waste bags handy (LNT Principle #1!) and clean up after them!
Leave No Trace Principle #6: Respect Wildlife
For the safety of your pet and the protection and respect of wildlife, it is important to have your dog on a leash at all times so as to not disturb them. If your dog is wildly running off leash, they may have their own encounter with wildlife. Avoid that circumstance with good leash training and teaching them that staying close to you is just as fun as rampaging around the trails freely. We aren’t against allowing dogs to run free, and to “be a dog”, but in certain areas we have to respect the rules and the wildlife around us!
Leave No Trace Principle #7: Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Last but not least, it is important to consider other visitors and their pets when we have our dogs with us on our adventures. Some dogs on trail will not be friendly with other dogs, or other people for that matter. To keep your dog safe, it is important to consider others. Also, not everyone loves dogs, and it is important that we don’t allow our dogs to completely disrupt (or ruin) other visitors and their experience with nature. We are all in this together!
So, is your pup ready for their next adventure?! With the information above, you have taken the first steps to becoming an outdoor conscious dog owner. With this knowledge, you can help leave places better than we found them for more people and pups to enjoy for a lifetime.
