Cottonwood + Video:
When everything comes together to make a perfect day… the couple, crew, dress, day and vendor team were all perfection! Samantha & David got married at The Landing at Estes Park on THE peak Fall day in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park. If you are still looking for a venue, make sure to check out this hidden gem in Estes Park. It is SO close to the National Park that we made it in and out on an extremely busy Fall weekend day, even though we were considerably behind on time (the bride’s gorgeous outfit took awhile to get on). I love working at The Landing, and every couple I’ve worked with who got married here absolutely loved their choice.
Almost the whole vendor crew are members of the Estes Park Wedding Association (EPWA). EPWA is a highly vetted group of vendors who work primarily in Estes Park and when you choose a vendor from EPWA you are in good hands! The planner was one of my all-time favorites Carver Coordination, the DJ was the all-around great guy Ron Michaels, and the florist was my favorite, Linda with Finishing Touches. Not a member of EPWA, but needing a shout-out as well was Savory Cuisines. They made some delicious Indian food and killer tiny tacos for appetizers. If you want food that is a little different, but made to please everyone check them out.
What to say of this whirlwind of a day… Let’s start with the ray of joy that Sam the bride is! She was gorgeous in her beautiful Indian wedding dress in red!. She twirled and swooped her way throughout the day. The next star of the day was the day itself. Every Fall the aspens reach peak Fall color at different times. It’s really hard to know when it’s going to happen, but this wedding on September 25th, 2025 nailed it. I’m so glad when couples build time in to get wedding day portraits in Park! The Park offers truly world-class views. It’s my specialty to get you a full landscape photo of that day’s beauty in the Park with you lit perfectly in front of it. Even though we had like 15 minutes in the Park, once we navigated all the traffic, we still got one of my favorite photos of the year with Sam & David frolicking down the road in front of the aspens and mountains.
After we got back to The Landing they had a unique ceremony, with everyone standing up in a circle around them while they read each other their vows. The sun was brutal that day, so afterwards we slipped into the shade for some lovely moments during the extended family photo session. The reception was full of life. The couple had set up unique games, bubbles, fantastic appetizers and all with views of the mountains from the deck. Both Samantha & David’s friends from college were all boisterously in attendance cheering the couple on and dancing throughout the night.
At the end of the night Sam & David thankfully trusted me to walk into the dark by the river so that I could give them a one-of-a-kind shot by the river. Something to always remember their wedding day with.
Highlight Reel
GT Photo Reviews
Gretchen is one of a kind!!! She is an amazing photographer. We hired Gretchen for both engagement and wedding photos and they surpassed our expectations. Thank you so much for being there on our most special day. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a true professional.
Gretchen has photographed our events and programs for the past several years and does a stellar job. Her photography is fantastic and really helps capture the atmosphere and impact of our events. She is a pleasure to work with and a wonderful ally in our work. We would definitely recommend Gretchen for all your photography needs!
Gretchen shot our wedding in May, and also did some engagement shots for us in the previous fall. We were really happy with all the shots we got, and were proud to share images of the wedding with our friends and loved ones. It also helped that she was very familiar with all the venues around Boulder and was able to give us good advice on locations for photography.
I cannot express enough, how amazing working with Gretchen has been. She is a phenomenal photographer, a fun person to be around, and makes the photography sessions so natural and enjoyable! My fiance and I bonded with her instantly, and have so much respect for how kind and fun she is. You will not have to worry at all about feeling comfortable with Gretchen, as it is nothing but laughs and fun!! I would recommend Gretchen a thousand times over.
I cannot rate Gretchen and her team high enough. They made our amazing day unforgettable!
Luxe Llama Productions has had the pleasure of working with Gretchen on multiple occasions for live performances of our production, Yachty Got Back, and we couldn't be more impressed. Gretchen is incredibly professional—always punctual, prepared, and seamlessly blending into the event to capture amazing moments without being intrusive.
Her friendly and approachable demeanor makes working with her an absolute joy. She has a remarkable talent for capturing the small details, the emotions of the audience, and the magic of music through her lens. Each photo perfectly reflects the energy and essence of our performances, helping us tell our story and connect with our fans.
The amount of high-quality content we receive for our investment is exceptional, making her work an incredible value and a key part of our marketing efforts. We highly recommend Gretchen to anyone looking for a skilled and dependable photographer. We’ll definitely continue working with her for our future productions. Thank you, Gretchen, for your talent and dedication—you help us shine!
Her friendly and approachable demeanor makes working with her an absolute joy. She has a remarkable talent for capturing the small details, the emotions of the audience, and the magic of music through her lens. Each photo perfectly reflects the energy and essence of our performances, helping us tell our story and connect with our fans.
The amount of high-quality content we receive for our investment is exceptional, making her work an incredible value and a key part of our marketing efforts. We highly recommend Gretchen to anyone looking for a skilled and dependable photographer. We’ll definitely continue working with her for our future productions. Thank you, Gretchen, for your talent and dedication—you help us shine!
This photographer did an incredible job with our photoshoot. She guided us to the perfect spots and helped us capture amazing shots. We highly, highly recommend her!
The moment I saw Gretchen's work, I knew she would be our photographer.. we waited until pretty close up to our (very small) wedding to decide to hire one, which added an additional layer of stress with everything coming up so quickly. We also live in Texas, our wedding was in Boulder, CO. She is so friendly and so professional, which made the process very smooth as she helped me identify what I wanted out of this experience, amidst all of the chaos.
There's a little button that says that I can add photos and so I went through our album again looking to select a few that could capture our experience but A. THERE ARE SO MANY. She is not kidding when she tells you this, even for an elopement style wedding! B. They are so personal. I cry every time I look at them, with joy. She gave me everything I wanted and more - moments, emotions, scenery, candids of my guests, stills of a time that I can never recreate or get back.
So I'll leave you with my rainbow picture. It was my one bridal ask, that my guests wear solid colors, since we weren't going to have decoration at our venue. They could be the decoration. I got the idea online and maybe someone else can use it too!
There are many talented photographers out there. There are few where talent, professionalism, kindness, decades of experience and success can all be packaged with that feel that they still love what they do. Gretchen has not gotten stale over time in her work, where instead her work and the experience she brings have become priceless.
There's a little button that says that I can add photos and so I went through our album again looking to select a few that could capture our experience but A. THERE ARE SO MANY. She is not kidding when she tells you this, even for an elopement style wedding! B. They are so personal. I cry every time I look at them, with joy. She gave me everything I wanted and more - moments, emotions, scenery, candids of my guests, stills of a time that I can never recreate or get back.
So I'll leave you with my rainbow picture. It was my one bridal ask, that my guests wear solid colors, since we weren't going to have decoration at our venue. They could be the decoration. I got the idea online and maybe someone else can use it too!
There are many talented photographers out there. There are few where talent, professionalism, kindness, decades of experience and success can all be packaged with that feel that they still love what they do. Gretchen has not gotten stale over time in her work, where instead her work and the experience she brings have become priceless.
Gretchen is so fun to work with on the wedding day! She has a wonderful personality, always smiling, and really brings out the best in her couples. Gretchen's communication with me as a venue coordinator and / or as a wedding planner is just want I want. We all work together as a team with a goal to have the couples BEST DAY! She has a creative portfolio and captures some wonderful candid shots! Gretchen also knows how to capture nature and the beauty of Colorado.
Gretchen did an amazing job of not just capturing our day, but capturing who we are. The photos themselves are gorgeous. I cannot praise her work enough. She is wonderful to work with. If you need a photographer, Gretchen is who you want.
We were hoping for Gretchen to go all out with candidness. The Composites are bleh. They awards are always are in my family… listen when someone says NO GO / Shine where you are, Gretchen! You take the best candid, unexpected, pics ever!
We worked with Gretchen for our engagement shoot and our wedding. Not only is she incredibly organized and professional, working with her is downright FUN. She keeps the energy and gives really constructive feedback moment-to-moment about posing, natural lighting, location. We knew each time she flipped the tiny camera screen around to show us that our photos were looking great, but the final edited product is truly art.
Our wedding day at Wild Basin Lodge was truly everything we dreamed of, and Gretchen Troop captured it more beautifully than we ever could have imagined.
From the beginning, Gretchen made us feel comfortable, supported, and genuinely excited about our wedding photos. On the day of the wedding, she was professional, organized, patient, and incredibly kind. She knew exactly how to guide us while still allowing every moment to feel natural and personal. We never felt rushed or overly posed, and she made it easy for us to relax, enjoy ourselves, and stay fully present.
Gretchen captured every meaningful detail—from the beautiful mountain setting and ceremony to the orchids, décor, reception, first dance, and all the candid moments with our closest friends and family. She didn’t just photograph how our wedding looked; she captured how it felt. Every image reflects the love, joy, elegance, and emotion of the day.
Looking through our photos allows us to relive those memories all over again. We are so grateful to Gretchen for giving us something we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Her talent, attention to detail, warmth, and ability to capture genuine emotion are truly exceptional.
We could not recommend Gretchen Troop more highly to any couple looking for an amazing wedding photographer. Thank you, Gretchen, for preserving the perfect beginning to our married life so beautifully!
—Brandi & Mike Crawford
From the beginning, Gretchen made us feel comfortable, supported, and genuinely excited about our wedding photos. On the day of the wedding, she was professional, organized, patient, and incredibly kind. She knew exactly how to guide us while still allowing every moment to feel natural and personal. We never felt rushed or overly posed, and she made it easy for us to relax, enjoy ourselves, and stay fully present.
Gretchen captured every meaningful detail—from the beautiful mountain setting and ceremony to the orchids, décor, reception, first dance, and all the candid moments with our closest friends and family. She didn’t just photograph how our wedding looked; she captured how it felt. Every image reflects the love, joy, elegance, and emotion of the day.
Looking through our photos allows us to relive those memories all over again. We are so grateful to Gretchen for giving us something we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Her talent, attention to detail, warmth, and ability to capture genuine emotion are truly exceptional.
We could not recommend Gretchen Troop more highly to any couple looking for an amazing wedding photographer. Thank you, Gretchen, for preserving the perfect beginning to our married life so beautifully!
—Brandi & Mike Crawford
We were hoping for Gretchen to go all out with candids. Our family was too ridiculous and poorly behaved for traditional composites. So Gretchen and her team rocked the characters and spontaneity.
Gretchen is beyond exceptional at her work. Each photo captures the emotion of our wedding, showcasing all of the love that was shared. Her attention to lighting, details, and creativity sets her apart from so many other photographers. Working with Gretchen was effortless, and she made the entire experience perfect. Her joy for the craft, professionalism, and humor made our wedding amazing. She went above and beyond her duties and worked with all the vendors, making sure everything was ready. I highly recommend GT Photography to any new bride. You will be astonished at the results!
Gretchen has shot several events for us and does an amazing job every time! She beautiful captures a perfect mix of intimate moments, posed groups, larger room/space, vibes and works well in all lighting. I will continue to hire her again and again!
Gretchen photographed our family during our family vacation in Fraser. She was very accommodating! I love the documentary photos that she took of us gathered in our airbnb and the group photos we took down the street with a beautiful mountain backdrop!! We were a large group (15 including four very young children!) but she captured some precious moments! I am very grateful for her skills and her efficiency!
Our family had a wonderful experience with Gretchen Troop Photography. Gretchen and her videographer- Chris made the day a breeze with a fun and relaxed attitude. Except for the easy directions during family group photos we barley new they were there. The results are spectacular! Gretchen has the eye of a true artist. Even though the weather wasn't great she was able to capture the wedding couple with a stunning cloud formation and a rainbow. These are once in a lifetime moments that are priceless to us. I am glad I chose Gretchen and Chis for something so important. I think you will be pleased too.
Words can’t describe how phenomenal Gretchen did on our wedding photos! My husband and I can’t thank her enough for how amazing she did. She truly captured our wedding day so that we will be able to look back and remember it always!!!
Gretchen's experience and expertise were apparent from our first discussion. She was easy to work with and extremely helpful in ensuring our wedding day went smoothly while still getting the photos we wanted. And the photos are excellent - she's unbelievably good at capturing moments from throughout the wedding day.
Working with Gretchen was a streamlined experience. I appreciated the professional website, questionnaire and interface she had to provide photos to us! She was a delight to work with, and I appreciated how she accommodated my short timeline!
Gretchen was great every step of the way, she responded quickly from day one and I was coming from out of state please wanting a special wedding/anniversary photo session and she gave us exactly what we wanted! Quick return also with amazing pictures! Thanks again Gretchen!
Gretchen was an absolute pleasure to work with! She was really fun to work with on the day, professional, and she really seemed to love the job and shooting for us.
She delivered the photos for us on time, and we are ecstatic with how almost all of them came out.
We'd recommend Gretchen to anyone!
She delivered the photos for us on time, and we are ecstatic with how almost all of them came out.
We'd recommend Gretchen to anyone!
Gretchen was our photographer of choice for our wedding at A-Basin last summer. She did a fantastic job keeping us on schedule with the photos, capturing the venue and guests, and of course - taking fantastic photos of us. Thanks Gretchen.
Gretchen is a true artist, and we loved the photos she took for our wedding and portraits. We absolutely recommend her for anyone looking to get married around Estes Park.
My husband and I can’t thank her enough for how amazing she did. She truly captured our wedding day so that we will be able to look back and remember it always!!!
Gretchen is a true professional. She was very helpful in creating a business portrait for me, and I am thrilled to have contacted her! Linda Kozloff-Turner
Gretchen is amazing and we can't recommend her enough. She and her team went above and beyond to ensure we were happy, comfortable, and getting what we wanted. From engagement photos to the wedding day to putting together a gorgeous book of our favorite photos, she made it all feel easy and kept us laughing every step of the way. She's super communicative and creative and really listened to our vision while bringing in her own ideas. She also brought an awesome team along with her to make sure everything ran smoothly. Her team managed our uncomfortable family dynamics and giant wedding parties with ease. We LOVE our photos, and everyone we show them to is so impressed. I would absolutely work with Gretchen again, and highly recommend that you hire her for your wedding!
We had an amazing experience working with Gretchen and Chris for our Fall 2024 wedding at Wild Basin. From start to finish, she was incredibly professional, responsive, and proactive with communication—whether it was during our hiring process, engagement session, or on the wedding day itself. She delivered quick edits, and was open to trying something new, which made the entire process stress-free. To top it all off, Gretchen and Chris were a joy to work with—they brought such great energy, made us feel at ease, and added to the fun of our day. Highly recommend!"
Gretchen did AMAZING job as our photographer! We are from Texas and had no idea what our elopement day would look like but she gave us the run-through a week before and we couldn't be happier with our wedding day. We spend a whole evening at Rocky Mountain NP and her knowledge around the park and as an experienced photographer made our wedding so much more meaningful. We have received so many compliments on our photos and her packages/prices are extremely affordable and well worth it!
Wow. Gretchen did an INCREDIBLE job photographing my huge extended family in Estes Park. We had 5 little ones, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and parents. Somehow she was able to take the most beautiful pictures with everyone looking at the camera. I love how natural the pictures came out. Everyone's personality came through. Gretchen made sure she got all of the picture combinations we wanted. She was also great at selecting the location to take the pictures.
I highly recommend her for anything - especially family photos. She was prompt and very easy to communicate with as well.
She gave our family a treasure we will always have and will continue to share with generations to come of our family in our favorite place.
I highly recommend her for anything - especially family photos. She was prompt and very easy to communicate with as well.
She gave our family a treasure we will always have and will continue to share with generations to come of our family in our favorite place.
Incredible job. She was fabulous. Pictures were excellent! I can't say enough nice things about our experience.
We hired Gretchen for our engagement shoot and wedding. based on reviews and pricing, she was easily the best bang for our buck. Working with her was a breeze. She was very professional yet fun, and not afraid to take charge of the situation on wedding day on our behalf.