Colorado and beyond
Today’s Adventure, Tomorrow’s Story.
Hi, I’m Jeff!
I’ve been taking photos of people I love since I was a kid with a point-and-shoot strapped to my wrist. Now my team and I get to do it for you – capturing weddings, elopements and proposals from Colorado to Minnesota and anywhere adventure takes you.
Every couple has a story and I can’t wait to hear yours!
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20+
Years behind the lens
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75+
Years of combined team experience
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∞
Prints and albums passed down through generations
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Tailored
Custom packages available
Your day, your story, your legacy
You’ve been dreaming of this day for a long time.
It’s finally here! Your head might be spinning a bit – that’s okay, we’ve got this!
You’re ready to start your next adventure with the love of your life, and this is your chance to design your whole day from scratch.
You’ll make a hundred decisions for your wedding. This is the one that lets you look back years from now and think, “Wow!”
You are ready for an exceptional wedding photography experience, and we are here for it!
The work
20+ years of weddings…
Together, my team and I have over 75 years of combined experience with all things weddings – from a barn on the plains, to an intimate seaside elopement, or an adventure hike to a summit at first light.
Why prints & albums matter
Flowers wilt. Cake gets eaten. Photos last for generations.
Even our most amazing memories fade…
Your photos are one of the only tangible things from your wedding you can actually hold on to and pass down.
Picture photos on your wall you’ll still love fifty years from now.
Rebecca and MarkLake Dillon, Colorado. June 11, 2022.
meet your photographer
We’ll be a great fit if…
You’d rather have a friend behind the camera than a stranger – someone who gets you, knows your vision, who’s in your corner and has your back through every twist and turn of the day.
Decades in and hundreds of weddings later, I still show up like it’s my first, because for you, it is. I make sure every member of my team shows up the same way. Each and every time.
Losing my brother unexpectedly in 2023 reshaped how I think about my work. I realized I didn’t have a single photo of just the two of us as adults. I want every couple I work with to have the photos they’ll cherish years from now.
“I don’t have that photo of my brother and me. That’s why I’m determined you’ll have yours.”
Jeff’s Mission
How it goes
Where we begin.
Wedding planning can feel daunting.
I love taking as much pressure off you as I can. The right prep can make all the difference. I’ve seen it all – from forgotten cakes (true story), to unexpected delays, to runaway groomsmen. So you can learn from everything I’ve seen go right and a few things that didn’t.
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One
Vision casting
We start with a conversation, not a contract. I thrive in asking questions that help you flesh out your vision, and get clear on what you want (and don’t want). Getting the right photo at the right time is is often about instinct in the moment. It also involves those intentional brainstorming sessions we do together ahead of time – and I’m here to guide you through it all! I’ll walk you through how to create a shot list to make sure we get those photos you just can’t live without.
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Two
Say yes to the photographer!
Might not have the same ring to it as “say yes to the dress” but you get the idea. Once we decide we’re a good fit, we lock in your date with a 25% retainer and sign a clear contract that spells out what to expect from each other.
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Three
The day itself
I show up early and give you my all. Rain or shine, indoors or outdoors, out in nature or in a gorgeous venue. We document every detail, we keep the timeline moving, and we handle the twists and turns so you can get lost in the moment and revel in your day with the love of your life!
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Four
Yours to keep
Professionally edited, color corrected files, and stunning professional prints and albums built to outlast all of us. This is the part that turns your day into an heirloom.
Questions couples ask us most
How far in advance should we book?
Honestly, fit matters more to me than timing. Not every couple is the right fit for me, and I don’t take every booking — but when it’s the right fit, I’ll move things around to make it work, even on shorter notice. If you feel like we’re a match, reach out and let’s talk.
What’s your plan if the weather doesn’t cooperate?
It depends on the day. For proposals, we build a Plan A, B, and C together in advance, since I can’t exactly call an audible mid-surprise — I’ve shot proposals through blizzards and near-total darkness and made it work. For elopements, we’ve got more flexibility to shift the time, location, or day. For weddings, rescheduling usually isn’t realistic with guests and other vendors locked in, so my approach is simple: I wait out the weather with you. (Ask me about the time I danced in the rain with a couple during their reception — one of my favorite wedding memories.)
When will we get our photos?
For proposals: a few images within 24 hours so you can share the news, and the rest within about 72 hours. For elopements: a sneak peek within a few days, and the full gallery in roughly 4 to 6 weeks. For weddings: sneak peeks right away, full gallery in about 10 to 12 weeks. These are conservative estimates — I’d always rather beat my own timeline than make you wait past it.
Do we get a second photographer?
For weddings, yes, a second photographer is included in every package. For elopements and proposals, it’s not automatic, but it’s an easy add-on if you’d like one.
How does payment work?
A 25% deposit is due with your signed contract to lock in your date; this is non-refundable. Unlike most photographers, I don’t collect final payment until after your event, the day after for proposals and elopements, and two weeks after for weddings. I know how many vendors are asking for money in the lead-up to a wedding, and I’d rather be one less thing on your mind beforehand. You’ll get your sneak peek photos right away, with the rest of your gallery delivered once final payment is received. If you need it spread out, I’m happy to arrange a payment plan.
Sample timelines
How a day unfolds.
Every day is unique, but here are sample timelines to give you an idea of what to expect.
Sample proposal timeline — a sunrise mountaintop proposal, assuming sunrise at 6:14 AM
| Time | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 5:14 AM | I arrive on location, an hour early, and get into position out of sight |
| 6:10 AM | You arrive; I capture your approach without giving myself away |
| 6:14 AM | The proposal, her yes, and that first intimate burst of celebration |
| 6:18 AM | You point me out, and I step in to say congratulations |
| 6:20 AM | A reenactment for closer, more creative shots, plus detail shots of the ring |
| 6:35 AM | Champagne, a toast, and some time just for the two of you |
| 7:00 AM | As we continue on the trail together, I capture candid moments along the way, mixed with a few more posed portraits |
| 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | We wrap, depending on the hike and how the morning unfolds |
Sample elopement timeline — a mountain elopement, assuming sunset at 8:34 PM
| Time | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | I arrive to capture getting-ready details and finishing touches, your dress hanging, the rings, and the other small details that make this day yours |
| 4:30 PM | Your first look together, plus any personal traditions or rituals you want captured |
| 5:00 PM | We head to your ceremony location |
| 6:30 PM | Your vows and ceremony, candid and unscripted |
| 7:00 PM | Portraits together, and with anyone else who’s part of your day |
| 7:30 PM | We move to a second location for golden hour portraits |
| 8:34 PM | Sunset photos |
| 8:45 PM | That last burst of color in the sky before the light fades completely, then I send you off to celebrate the rest of your evening together |
Sample full-day wedding timeline
| Time | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Getting-ready photos, both sides |
| 1:30 PM | First look and couple’s portraits |
| 2:30 PM | Wedding party and family portraits |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony |
| 4:30 PM | Cocktail hour, candid guest photos |
| 5:30 PM | Reception begins, toasts and first dance |
| 7:00 PM | Golden hour portraits |
| 9:00 PM | Wrap |
In their words
Couples who were there.
Word for word reviews from real clients
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I researched many photographers and JeffreyGrounds Photography was the absolute perfect choice to memorialize our wedding day. From the start, Jeff’s communication was quick, thoughtful and clear. … Jeff’s dedication to his craft allowed us to just relax and enjoy ourselves with no stress.
Terri T.
Wedding review, May 2024
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I went on Thumbtack to find a wedding photographer. I set the date wrong for my event. In fact I set the date for that very day! Jeff called me right away and asked if I needed him in an hour and a half. … I cleared up the mistake, but never forgot this kindness.
Kathryn F.
Indian Hills, Colorado
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When I was planning my wedding I contacted three different photographers. Jeff replied the same day I contacted him (the other two never got back to me). He took me out for coffee, and made sure he had a comprehensive list of exactly what I wanted for my wedding day.
Kinsley H.
San Francisco, California
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Jeff is a must use for your event! He is very organized, punctual (in fact always early to research his settings for new ideas or other shot options), fun to work with, and his photos are incredible! We had Jeff shoot our engagement photos and wedding, two separate mountain destinations, and he killed it!
Adam D.
Aurora, Colorado
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He really cares about his clients and ensures a wonderful experience through the process. The authenticity of his work is breathtaking. My experience was smooth and worry free and my wedding photos were so beautiful.
Breaya S.
Wedding
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Jeff is hands down the best photographer I could have ever chosen for my wedding day. … He went the extra 100 miles for me and my husband. My day would have been a lot more stressful if he wasn’t there. … Best vendor choice of my whole wedding.
Katelyn F.
Wedding
Real prices, published
Let’s talk numbers.
Every wedding is different, but here’s where most couples start.
Proposals
For the question itself.
Photos of the moment, then the celebration, caught as it happens.
Starting at$750
Elopements
Just the two of you.
Somewhere that means something. Colorado high country or the other side of the world.
Starting at$2,000
Weddings
The full day.
Strategy meetings before it, the photographer who fits you through it, and every color-corrected file after it.
Starting at$7,500
Not sure which one fits your day?
Every couple is different. The best weddings I shoot begin with a real connection, so reach out and we can build the coverage that matters most and is custom fit for you.
Let’s chat
Tell me about your day.
Don’t love contact forms? I don’t blame you. Text me, call me, or email me directly. I’d love to treat you to a coffee or beer and just talk it through.
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Call or text me
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Email
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Based
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CO, MN, and anywhere in the world your vision takes you.