search the blog

SEARCH

browse by category

CLOSE FILTERS

browse by category

search

I’m Stephanie, a wedding + lifestyle photographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Warrenton, Virginia. Whether I’m by the mountains of Colorado or Virginia, my soul feels at home, surrounded by rural living and the raw beauty of nature. I genuinely love what I do, and feel so passionate to share the enthusiasm and joy of these celebrations with you!

DOCUMENTING LOVE'S UNSCRIPTED CHAPTERS FROM COUPLES & FAMILIES IN COLORADO + VIRGINIA

@stephaniemessickphoto

find inspiration

Gallery images

Happy Heavenly Birthday | Pregnancy Loss Story

This Sunday, February 11th, is a day that will be honored in our household, for the baby we only met through the ultrasound monitors. I didn’t think I was going to share this pregnancy loss story on the blog, but it felt fitting for this weekend would’ve been his/her birthday. The steps to healing are […]

A Skyline Drive Fall Virginia Mountain Engagement

What a romantic evening! The sky showed off for Olivia and Marshall’s Skyline Drive Virginia mountain engagement session! And their sweet laughs/smiles lit up the photos more. <3 I appreciated them driving from the DC metro area for these portraits in the mountains. Shenandoah Mountain photos are some of my favorite sessions in Virginia! Talk […]

Miles, Elizabeth, and I met one morning in Washington DC to document this sweet engagement season that seems to fly by. They were excited to have their portraits taken in a meaningful place to them! I love it when couples incorporate their favorite sports team too (as you’ll see at the end of this blog […]

Christmas Mini Session Photographer at Forest Bend Farm, Colorado Springs

Typically, I organize a full afternoon of Christmas mini-sessions every year. In fact, I don’t think I’ve missed one year (minus the year my son was born in 2020) since the second year of my business in 2013. But this year was a little different due to the busy season (I’m definitely counting on it […]

Fall Mini Sessions at Bear Creek Park, Colorado Springs

I met five families this fall for their mini sessions at Bear Creek Regional Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I loved that one family was one of my past couples who married back in 2014 (hey, Justin and Lauren!!!)! They just moved to Colorado Springs this year, and I loved reconnecting with them, along with […]

Megan & Benny | Part II: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Canada Family Portraits

Yesterday, I featured Day 1 of Megan and Benny’s Banff travels! If you missed it, read all about it HERE! Today, I’m sharing their family portraits at the iconic Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and the Lake Agnes Tea House! This has to be my favorite day of the weekend trip! It was crammed from sunrise […]

Megan & Benny | Banff, Canada Family Photographer

It has been three months since this incredible trip with Megan, Benny, and Palmer. Megan reached out to me asking if I offered any travel family photography. I wasn’t sure if logistically it would come together with our schedules, but we made it happen! šŸ™‚ They flew me to Banff National Park for a quick […]

Michelle & Peter | Burke Lake Park, Virginia Family Portraits

Michelle and Peter reached out with the exciting news that they were expecting baby number three! The last time I photographed them, they were expecting their sweet little girl, Lauren! That was back in 2018… Time flies. šŸ™‚ So this was my first time meeting Lauren and seeing how much their son, Jorden, has grown! […]

Amanda Extended Family | Colorado Springs, Colorado Portraits

On our way to the session, storms came to our surprise from the mountains. *Typical Colorado.* HA! We called each other to strategize and see if we could make this work because I was driving through heavy rain. It was Amanda’s promotion that brought everyone in from out of town, so this was a very […]

Catherine & Robert | The Great Marsh Estate, Virginia Family Portraits

Catherine reached out to me with the vision to document her family portraits at the Great Marsh Estate. When she’s not working, her passion is competitive horseback riding. Despite not having horses at this venue, it reminded her of a Ralph Lauren ad. Catherine and Robert wanted to achieve the look of attending a polo […]

I’m Stephanie, a wedding + lifestyle photographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Warrenton, Virginia. Whether I’m by the mountains of Colorado or Virginia, my soul feels at home, surrounded by rural living and the raw beauty of nature. I genuinely love what I do, and feel so passionate to share the enthusiasm and joy of these celebrations with you!

DOCUMENTING LOVE'S UNSCRIPTED CHAPTERS FROM COUPLES & FAMILIES IN COLORADO + VIRGINIA

@stephaniemessickphoto

find inspiration

Gallery images