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Blog | Lucky Friday Studios

This is where I share my favorite images from maternity, newborn, motherhood and family photography sessions.  Sessions featured are located in my beautiful natural light studio in Centennial or on location throughout Denver, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Lone Tree, Englewood, Cherry Hills, Greenwood Village, Castle Rock and Parker, Colorado.

11 Denver Date Ideas For Pregnant Couples!
 

DATE IDEAS WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT IN DENVER

Being pregnant means we might have to give up some of our favorite things for a while like wine, sushi and big roller coasters. Fortunately for those of us in the Denver area, an amazing date night with our partner or friends isn’t on the chopping block! Denver offers some amazing opportunities for pregnant mamas to get out and have some fun before the only thing on our wish list is cozy clothes and Netflix while we gaze at our perfect newborns all day long! Here’s some of my favorite ideas for a fun day or night out when your expecting!

 
 
  1. A Concert At Red Rocks Amphitheater

This might not be everyone’s idea of a traditional date while expecting but being pregnant doesn’t instantly take away your love for music! Red Rocks Amphitheater is, in my opinion, one of the best concert venues in the world. And it’s located right here in Morrison, Colorado in the beautiful foothills just west of Denver. If you’ve never been - this is a must do. If you aren’t into the concert scene, you can always go during the day just to walk around and take in the view. Admission is free when there isn’t a special event taking place!

*Red Rocks Pro-Tip When You’re Pregnant!!! If you let the parking attendants know that you are pregnant, it’s very likely they’ll give you the VIP treatment and direct you to the top lot so you don’t have to hike or climb any stairs! Go a little early and grab a seat in the very top row and you’ll have a backrest!

 
 
 
 

3. Head to a fun bar - The Root Beer Bar! at Old Crows Antiques

Your favorite adult beverage might not be on the menu but who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned root beer float?! This secret little gem in Littleton is tucked away inside of Old Crows Antiques. Per their website, “It’s your one-stop shop for antiques, vintage finds, recycled and upcycled items, and the world’s largest root beer bar! The vision of Old Crows was to be a place where you could enjoy a diverse collection of antiques while having the option to take a break and enjoy some root beer and snacks. You can even get a frosty root beer float! Our root beer bar features a large selection of premium bottled root beers, beverages, pre-packaged snacks, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, and candies. They also have soft-serve ice cream in vanilla and root beer flavors. Come enjoy a root beer float! One of the things that makes the Old Crows Antique Mall so special is The Root Beer Bar located in the center of our building. It's the perfect place to take a break from browsing our selection of antiques and take a step back in time while you sip on an ice-cold root beer. When you're searching our 45,000-square-foot mall to find a new vintage or antique item to add to your collection, make sure you stop by The Root Beer Bar for a refreshing beverage and snack to make the most of your shopping experience.”

How fun is that?!

 
 

4. Take an easy hike!

We are lucky to live close to tons of easy and beautiful places to go for a little hike. This photo is of me and my husband at one of my favorite spots for an easy walk through nature - Mount Falcon West. If it’s easy enough to walk in a dress and heals, it’s easy enough for a pregnant mama! This spot is truly just a few minutes from the main parking lot. For more awesome options, Fox In The Forest wrote this ah-mazing blog post filled with easy hikes and tons of more resources too!

 
 

5. A Night at the Theatre

If you are into the performing arts, look no further than the Denver Center for Performing Arts. The website boasts that “We are one of the nation’s largest non-profit theatre organizations. We’re inspired every day to create, share, teach, excite and perform for our community. And as a not-for-profit organization, we owe our existence to the generous support and participation of every theatre enthusiast. We couldn’t do it without you.”

 
 

6. Go On A Picnic With A View

Time some time to take your meal somewhere beautiful for a little quality time together! In Denver, there is no shortage of beautiful spots for a picnic. Some of my favorites are Chatfield Reservior, City Park, Lair O’ The Bear and Clear Creek in Golden (I love being near the water!). For more ideas, check out this great little article that 5280 wrote on some of the best picnic spots in the Denver area.

 
 

7. Treat Yourself At Union Station

There is just something so special about Union Station. You can spend hours browsing the fun shops, enjoying a meal at the ever popular Snooze or grabbing a super yummy treat like ice cream or fresh waffles. Then grab a comfy seat and relax while people watching in this gorgeous historical landmark.

 
 

8. Binge Pregnancy Movies!

Sometimes the best dates don’t even require you leaving home! There are so many classic and funny pregnancy movies out there to choose from. If you’re wondering what to watch when you’re expecting, here’s a great list from IMDb to give you some inspiration: The Best Pregnancy Movies Of All Time.

 
 

9. Recharge With A Couples Massage

Preparing to become parents is no small task. Take care of yourself and your partner with a glorious couples/maternity massage at The Four Seasons Hotel Denver. Self-care is essential and spending time soaking, relaxing and working away the soreness that growing and carrying a new life brings with your partner will emphasize how much both of you matter and bring you closer to each other!

 
 

10. You Scream, I Scream - Go Get Some Ice Cream!

Denver has some incredible options for ice cream lovers. I’ve lived here for over 20 years and I’m actually embarrassed at how few I’ve actually visited after doing my research for this post. My very favorites are Little Man, Sweet Cooie’s (make sure to check out their brioche donut ice cream sandwich!) and Bonnie Brae’s. And although it’s not ice cream - I have to give a very special shout out to Slife’s Sweet Freeze Shave Ice/Slife’s Devil Dogs. This is the real deal - Hawaiian Shave Ice (none of the silly snow cone nonsense here). It’s the closest you can get to the real thing without being in Hawaii and it is really wonderful!!! If you want some more ice cream options or are even feeling up to a day long ice cream shop tour check out this fun article in Westword: The Ultimate Ice Cream Lovers Tour.

 
 

11. Have Your Maternity Portrait Session!

Taking the time to document your little family before the baby arrives is a really fun, meaningful way to spend some pre-baby time together. You’ll be all dolled up too so it’s the perfect excuse to head out afterwards for a romantic meal or special treat together!


6 Gorgeous Locations For Displaying Your Family Pictures

DESIGN IDEAS & GALLERY WALL INSPIRATION FOR 2024

I’m such a huge fan of displaying your family portraits around your home and there is nothing I love more than sharing some inspiration. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite design ideas for using the images from your maternity, newborn and family sessions with me. The living room is still the most popular choice for where families choose to hang images, but as you’ll see, there are so many rooms and spaces in your home where you can be enjoying your pictures every day. I hope this gives you some inspiration on how you can refresh the spaces in your home and find new ways to get the most out of your beautiful images by turning your portraits into true works of art!

If you’ve had a session with me in the past, only purchased digital files and still haven’t found the time to do anything with your images, it’s never too late to reach out! I’m always happy to design wall art and albums so that you can enjoy your images daily and have artwork to pass on to your children.

FRAMED PICTURES MAKE YOUR ENTRYWAY INVITING

Displaying special images in the entryway of your home is such a wonderful and unique way to welcome your guests and to put a smile on your face when you get home. I have special software to show you exactly what your own images will look like to scale on the walls in your home, right down to the frame color if you’d like to create a gorgeous wall display of your own. You can feel confident that you are choosing the sizes, colors and images that will look the best in your space before your order ever goes to production.

DISPLAYING FAMILY PICTURES IN YOUR BATHROOM

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The bathroom might feel like an unexpected choice for hanging your family pictures but I can’t think of a more beautiful view to enjoy while relaxing in this lovely porcelain bathtub. This large single framed image is a show stopper in this modern farmhouse bathroom.

FRAMED PICTURES CAN BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR LIVING ROOM

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A group of 3 framed fine art prints works so perfectly over a large sofa in your living room to bring beauty and balance to the space. I’m a huge fan of gold and have multiple gold framing options to lend a pop of luxury to your home.

DISPLAYING FRAMED PORTRAITS IN THE HALLWAY

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This peaceful newborn image is the perfect choice for the entryway into this lovely nursery suite and will be a timeless work of art long after baby’s crib is replaced by a big girl bed.

DISPLAYING ARTWORK IN THE NURSERY OR BEDROOM

I love the look of a single large piece of custom artwork hanging over the changing table. This precious portrait of a newborn with his family is from my studio in Centennial, Colorado.

FRAMED ARTWORK IN THE KIDS PLAYROOM

How sweet are these portraits hanging over the bench in this dream of a playroom?! The beautiful images pair perfectly with the light hardwood frame and matches the modern Scandinavian design of the room flawlessly. I use the highest quality acrylic in all of my frames so you don’t have to worry about broken glass or your family’s safety when a ball or toy is inevitably thrown inside the house.


MAKING THE MOST OUT OF UNEXPECTED AND UNUSED SPACES IN YOUR HOME

This once empty wall space has new meaning with a simple portrait. Adding beautiful artwork to simple unused spaces can bring new life to your home. You don’t need large walls or huge spaces to find a lovely spot to hang a family treausure.

If you have spaces in your home that you’d like to hang family photos, I’d love to help show you what your redesigned space could look like. I use images of the actual walls in your home and take all of the guesswork out of designing your very own gallery wall. I’ll create custom layouts using your images so you can see just how beautiful your finished artwork will be! If you’d like to learn more, let’s chat!


Thank you so much for being here! I’m Kami Vanous, founder of Lucky Friday Studios and a leading Colorado maternity, newborn and baby photographer. My beautiful natural light photography studio is located in Centennial, Colorado and I serve clients from all around Denver, Littleton, Ken Caryl Ranch, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Cherry Hills, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Englewood, Castle Rock, Parker and surrounding areas. I have more than 12 years of experience photographing motherhood, babies and young families, and I would love the opportunity to work with you to create something beautiful.

To see more of my work, please spend some time looking through my portfolio. If you are drawn to my art and are looking for a maternity, newborn and baby photographer, I would love to chat about how we can to begin planning your session together to create the images you’ve been dreaming of.

INQUIRE

xo - kami

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More Heart & Less Stress: Tips For Navigating The Holiday Season
 

MY FAVORITE TIPS FOR A HEARTFELT HOLIDAY SEASON

I’M SO VERY GRATEFUL

For you.  For your family.  Your friendship.  As the busiest time of year begins, I wanted to give you a little something that I hope helps you navigate these months in a way that brings you joy and peace.  The holidays have always been my favorite time of the year but they are also without a doubt the most stressful (much of it self-inflicted because I've always been an over-doer and a perfectionist).  As my little ones have grown, I'm learning to let go of some of that so that I can actually enjoy this time of the year and maybe even relax a little.  I've put together a list of my favorite ways to enjoy the holidays with a little more heart and a little less stress.  I hope that some of this resonates with you and helps you to have a beautiful year end…

MY FAVORITE TIPS FOR A HEARTFELT HOLIDAY SEASON

Don't Lose Sight Of What Really Counts

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Set Realistic Expectations

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Keep The Important Traditions Alive

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Realize It's Okay To Focus On Less

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Rethink Your Gifting

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Accept Imperfection

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Reach Out & Ask For Help When You Need It

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Remember That It's Okay To Say “No”

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Take Time To Talk About The Things Your Are Grateful For

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Make Time To Take Care Of Yourself

 

They say business isn't personal, but it's personal to me. Every time someone joins my list, I notice. When someone hires me, it’s makes my day. My clients make my world go around and become friends that I care deeply about.  I hope that this little list helps you have the most beautiful holiday season with the people you love the most.

my babies… Ellie, Claire, Jake and Braylon

 
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Holiday Petite Sessions | Centennial Studio

HOLIDAY PETITE SESSIONS

CENTENNIAL STUDIO


 

I’m so happy to be offering limited edition sessions again for the holidays. These sell out every year so please don't wait to reserve your session!  

Limited weekend and weekday sessions remaining.

My private studio is ready to go with 3 beautifully styled set options for you: The Holiday Pajama Set, The Nutcracker Set, and The Simplicity Set.  Choose one or use all three!

 

 
 
Kami Vanous Comments