Meet Abby Shepard | Wedding and Elopement Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Shepard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, what matters most to you?
One of the principles I value most in my work is creating a truly client-centered experience. As a wedding and elopement photographer, my role goes far beyond simply taking photos. Yes, I take photos, but more than that, I do everything I can to help my couples have a meaningful, memorable, and genuinely fun wedding day.
I make an intentional effort to get to personally know my couples and build a relationship with them. Before a wedding or elopement day, I’m often providing location recommendations, planning when to be at each place for the best light, creating timelines, sharing advice on weather, giving couples a list of what to bring and how to prepare for their specific location/time of year, talking through photo lists and family dynamics, and creating detailed day-of docs with logistic information.

On the wedding day itself, I’m not just behind the camera. I’m fluffing dresses, organizing family photos, coordinating with vendors to keep everything on track, setting up meaningful moments like a first look, and ensuring every detail goes smoothly, all while capturing the day through photos that my couples can look back on for years to come.
I don’t want my couples to just look happy in their photos. I want them to genuinely feel happy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a wedding and elopement photographer based in Boulder, Colorado. However, I also do a few other things including content creation, commercial photography work, and blogging. I’ve worked with brands including Stio, Visit Longmont, Sanitas Brewery, Kuhl, AllTrails, The North Face, ONNO, and West Marine.

For wedding photography, I think what sets me apart is my focus on bright, natural colors and genuine emotion. Many of my couples say they booked me because the people in my photos look so genuinely happy, and the colors are rich and natural. I’ve been a full-time photographer for 3 years now, and I’m really proud of that.

It hasn’t exactly been an easy road to where I am now! Here’s the short version of how I got here –

I started photographing weddings in 2017 when I lived in Delaware. I did wedding photography part-time until I moved to Colorado at the end of 2021. I quit my full-time job in Delaware, moved to Colorado, and took a new full-time job in Colorado. That new job was not a good fit, so I quit after just 3 months and decided to pursue photography full-time. I had moved to Colorado to be with my boyfriend at the time, and after I quit that job, he broke up with me just a couple months later. So all of a sudden I had no job, no boyfriend, no friends, and nowhere to live. So to go from that version of worst-case-scenario to where I am now was quite the journey!

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that while photos are incredibly important, the overall experience my couples have with me is just as important, if not more so. I’ve worked hard to create a solid, client-centered experience where people feel safe, comfortable, and welcome from the moment they connect with me, whether it’s through my website or social media.

This year, I worked with a couple for their elopement, and it was a perfect example of what I mean. We hiked up to a stunning alpine lake where they exchanged private vows. We spent the day exploring the area, taking photos, and soaking in the moment before they shared a first dance and cupcakes together. As we hiked back down to the trailhead, they told me that the experience of working with me was already worth it. They didn’t even need to see the photos to know their day was amazing. That moment really reinforced why the experience matters just as much as the images themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m based in Boulder, so here’s what I would recommend for a week-long trip with Boulder as your base location!

Day 1: Spend the day in Boulder. Start with brunch at the Dushanbe Tea House. Then wander the shops on Pearl Street. Take a walk in the meadow at Chautauqua Park and watch the sunset at Lost Gulch Overlook. Get ice cream at Sweet Cow and dinner at Il Pastaio for Italian or The Post for some delicious fried chicken!

Day 2: Do a longer hike in Boulder. I’d recommend Walker Ranch.

Day 3: Visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. On your way into the park, stop at Kind Coffee in Estes Park to fuel up. Then head to the park and hike to Emerald Lake. Go back to Estes Park and spend some time wandering the shops and restaurants. My favorite restaurant is Himalayan Curry & Kebob!

Day 4: Spend a day in Denver. Visit the Botanic Gardens, Denver Zoo, Denver Art Museum, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, or Meow Wolf. If you’re into dancing, check out Grizzly Rose for some country swing dancing in the evening!

Day 5: Drive to Brainard Lake Recreation Area, one of my favorite areas for hiking! See Brainard Lake and hike to Lake Isabelle.

Day 6: Take a day trip to Colorado Springs and see Garden of the Gods. Walk around the old town of Manitou Springs or take a ride up Pikes Peak.

Day 7: Spend the last day of the trip relaxing! Go for a bike ride or take a picnic and a book to relax in Chautauqua Park. Alternatively, you can take a day trip to Breckenridge!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout out to my friend Rachel who has been a huge source of encouragement for me. And she recently started second shooting with me this year!

Website: https://abbyshepardphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abby.shepard.photography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbbyShepardPhoto/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbyshepardphotography

Image Credits
All photos by me!