The best-reviewed photographer in Durango is Ginger Moose Photography, with a 5.0 rating across 147 Google reviews. Its wedding collections begin at $4,200 and its elopements at $3,500. The lowest posted wedding price from a photographer with 25 or more reviews is $3,500, at Cassidy Cheyenne and for a traditional wedding at Colt & Hannah. For elopements, Southwest Durango posts $2,400 for four hours.
How we built this: durangocolorado.org is run by Animas Marketing, and no business on this page pays for placement. Prices, turnaround times and services come from each photographer's own website, read in October 2026. Google ratings come from the listings in our directory. Prices change, so confirm before you book. Planning the rest of the day? See our Durango wedding planning guide.
Who is the best Durango wedding photographer?
Our pick for most couples is Ginger Moose. It is the only wedding photographer here with more than 140 reviews that also posts a starting price, a wait time and elopement terms. Here is the full ranking of Durango wedding photographer and elopement options, in order:
- Ginger Moose: weddings from $4,200, elopements from $3,500, gallery within eight weeks.
- Kelly Miranda: posted packages for weddings, elopements, families and headshots, and 14 years of weddings by its own count.
- Colt & Hannah: elopements from $2,500, with permit guidance in its elopement packages.
- Southwest Durango: the lowest posted price per shooting hour for a full wedding day.
- Cassidy Cheyenne: weddings from $3,500 and the fastest posted gallery, one to two weeks.
- Wanderlust Elopements: adventure elopements in Colorado and Utah, from $4,800.
- Kara Cavalca: weddings from $4,000 with photo and video from one studio.
How did we rank them?
We ran four yes-or-no checks that you can repeat on each website:
- Is a starting price posted for weddings or elopements?
- Is a wait time for photos posted?
- Are elopement terms posted, such as hours shot or a package?
- Does the Google rating reach 4.8, with at least 25 reviews?
| Photographer | Checks passed | What was missing |
|---|---|---|
| Ginger Moose | 4 of 4 | Nothing |
| Kelly Miranda | 4 of 4 | Nothing |
| Colt & Hannah | 4 of 4 | Nothing |
| Southwest Durango | 3 of 4 | No wait time posted |
| Cassidy Cheyenne | 3 of 4 | Elopement prices say "inquire" |
| Wanderlust Elopements | 3 of 4 | No wait time on the pages we read |
| Kara Cavalca | 2 of 4 | No wait time, no elopement price |
Ties break on review count, then on the lower starting price. A lower score means less is published, not weaker photos. We did not judge portfolios, so look at a full gallery from a real wedding before you sign.
How do the Durango photographers compare at a glance?
| Photographer | Focus | Posted starting price | Travel or elopement terms | Wait for photos, as stated | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger Moose | Weddings, elopements | Weddings from $4,200 (most couples spend $6,000); elopements from $3,500 | Elopements run 2 to 8 hours; travels across Colorado and the U.S. | Wedding gallery within 8 weeks | 5.0 (147 reviews) |
| Kelly Miranda | Weddings, families, headshots | 8-hour wedding $4,250; 2-hour elopement $1,650 | Elopement packages of 2, 3 or 4 hours | Wedding photos in 6 to 8 weeks | 5.0 (128 reviews) |
| Kara Cavalca | Weddings, portraits, headshots | Weekend wedding from $4,000 (6 hours); portraits from $450 | Elopement price not listed; travel rates may apply | Not listed | 5.0 (92 reviews) |
| Southwest Durango | Weddings, elopements, real estate | Wedding $3,800 (8 hours); elopement $2,400 (4 hours) | Up to 3 hours of drive time included in elopements | Not listed | 5.0 (67 reviews) |
| Colt & Hannah | Elopements, weddings, families | Elopement from $2,500; intimate wedding from $3,000; wedding from $3,500 | Permit guidance in elopement packages | Full gallery in 4 to 6 weeks | 5.0 (30 reviews) |
| Cassidy Cheyenne | Weddings | 2026 wedding packages from $3,500 | Travel costs apply 50+ miles from Durango | Full gallery in 1 to 2 weeks | 5.0 (33 reviews) |
| Wanderlust Elopements | Elopements | From $4,800 | Up to 3 hours of travel included | Not listed | 5.0 (33 reviews) |
| The Blackbird Flies | Family, maternity, newborn | $695 per session | Travel fee beyond 45 miles | Not listed | 5.0 (91 reviews) |
| Cardwell Aukerman | Headshots, seniors, families | Individual headshot $200 | Not listed | Not listed | 5.0 (104 reviews) |
What does a Durango photographer cost, by package type?
Prices vary most by job. These are the posted figures, side by side. Rows marked "below floor" come from photographers with fewer than 25 reviews, so treat them with more care.
| Package | Photographer | Posted price | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elopement | Kelly Miranda | $1,650 / $2,350 / $2,950 | 2, 3 or 4 hours |
| Elopement | Southwest Durango | $2,400 | 4 hours, including up to 3 hours of drive time |
| Elopement | Colt & Hannah | From $2,500 | Up to 5 guests |
| Elopement | Ginger Moose | From $3,500 | 2 to 8 hours |
| Elopement | Abbi Pittman (below floor) | $3,500 | 4 hours |
| Elopement | Wanderlust Elopements | From $4,800 | 4 hours, 300 to 600 images |
| Wedding | Cassidy Cheyenne | From $3,500 | Starts at 6 hours |
| Wedding | Southwest Durango | $3,800 | 8 hours; second photographer $800 |
| Wedding | Kara Cavalca | From $4,000 | 6 hours on a weekend |
| Wedding | Ginger Moose | From $4,200 | Most couples spend $6,000 |
| Wedding | Kelly Miranda | $4,250 | 8 hours; second photographer $550 |
| Family session | Kelly Miranda | $450 up to 6 people; $550 for 7 or more | 1.5 or 2 hours |
| Family session | Abbi Pittman (below floor) | $600 | Session only |
| Family session | The Blackbird Flies | $695 | About 45 minutes, 40+ images |
| Headshot | Cardwell Aukerman | $200 | One person, usage rights included |
| Headshot | Kelly Miranda | $250 | 30 minutes, 2 retouched files |
| Headshot | Kara Cavalca | $250 | 5 digital images |
| Team headshots | Cardwell Aukerman | $150 to $175 per person | At your office, 3 to 9 people |
| Brand session | Kara Cavalca | $750 | 35 images |
| Brand session | Kelly Miranda | $695 | Brand Refresh package |
| Brand session | Cardwell Aukerman | $1,400 | 2 to 3 hour session |
Karla Wedding Photography lists three collections at $2,000, $3,000 and $3,600. Four Google reviews put it under our 25-review floor, so it sits outside the ranking.
Which Durango photographer is cheapest per hour?
For a full wedding day, Southwest Durango is the lowest at $475 an hour. We divided each posted price by its stated hours. Only packages that name their hours are included.
| Package | Photographer | Price | Hours | Cost an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding | Southwest Durango | $3,800 | 8 | $475 |
| Wedding | Kelly Miranda | $4,250 | 8 | $531 |
| Wedding | Abbi Pittman (below floor) | $4,500 | 8 | $563 |
| Wedding | Kara Cavalca | $4,000 | 6 | $667 |
| Elopement | Southwest Durango | $2,400 | 4 | $600 |
| Elopement | Kelly Miranda | $2,950 | 4 | $738 |
| Elopement | Abbi Pittman (below floor) | $3,500 | 4 | $875 |
| Elopement | Wanderlust Elopements | $4,800 | 4 | $1,200 |
Compare the pairs. Southwest Durango charges $475 an hour for a wedding and $600 for an elopement. Kelly Miranda goes from $531 to $738 or more. Abbi Pittman goes from $563 to $875. Southwest's $600 is softer than it looks, because up to three of its four hours can be drive time.
Which photographer fits which job?
| Job | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain elopement on a tight budget | Kelly Miranda or Southwest Durango | $1,650 for two hours, or $2,400 with drive time included |
| Elopement with permit help | Colt & Hannah | Permit guidance is listed in its elopement packages |
| Full-day wedding, lowest cost | Southwest Durango | $475 per posted hour |
| Wedding gallery in two weeks | Cassidy Cheyenne | Posts a 1 to 2 week delivery |
| Wedding with photo and video | Kara Cavalca | Lists a combined photo and video wedding service |
| Adventure elopement in Colorado or Utah | Wanderlust Elopements | Up to 3 hours of travel included |
| Family session | Kelly Miranda or The Blackbird Flies | $450 or $695 posted |
| Single headshot | Cardwell Aukerman | $200 posted |
| Team headshots at your office | Cardwell Aukerman or Kelly Miranda | $150 to $175 per person, or $100 on-location fee |
| Brand photos for a business | Kara Cavalca or Kelly Miranda | $750 or $695 posted |
| Real estate and rental listings | Southwest Durango or Aelpha Collective | Both list real estate work; no prices posted |
Who are the best family and portrait photographers in Durango?
Four photographers stand out for family and portrait work, ranked by posted prices and reviews:
- Kelly Miranda: family sessions at $450 and $550, with a location guide included.
- The Blackbird Flies: a $695 session for families, maternity and newborns, with a $250 booking deposit and digital files only.
- Cardwell Aukerman: family and senior photos, plus headshots at $200. Family prices are not listed.
- Allison Ragsdale: seniors, families, weddings and headshots, with a 7-step planning process. No prices listed.
Who takes headshots and brand photos in Durango?
Kelly Miranda has the most posted options: $250 for one person, $125 to $150 each for groups of three to six, a $695 Brand Refresh and a $1,995 Brand Launch. Cardwell Aukerman posts $200 for one person and a $1,400 branding suite. Kara Cavalca posts $250, $375 and $750 tiers.
Need a real estate or listing photographer? Southwest Durango offers real estate, Airbnb and VRBO photos with video and drone. Aelpha Collective lists real estate and FAA-licensed drone aerials. Neither posts prices. Wild Child Media Co. posts race galleries and lifestyle work. Browse our ranked list of the best photographers in Durango for live ratings.
Do you need a permit to elope on public land near Durango?
It depends on group size and impact, not on whether the photographer is paid. The Forest Service's filming and photography page says the EXPLORE Act changed the rules. Here is what it lists:
- No permit for five or fewer people who use hand-carried gear in public areas, do not take exclusive use of a site, and do not harm resources or other visitors.
- A free De Minimis authorization may cover six to eight people.
- A special use permit may be needed for nine or more people, or if the project could affect forest land. That brings a land use fee and a cost recovery fee.
- Wilderness areas get an extra review, and business drone flights must meet FAA rules.
The San Juan National Forest's own page adds a second layer. It lists weddings as an example of noncommercial group use, and that needs a permit at 75 or more people. Apply 45 to 60 days ahead and no sooner than 180 days ahead. The same page still lists commercial filming as a permit activity, which reads differently from the national page. We cannot settle that for you.
A couple, an officiant and a photographer is three people, but do not assume you are exempt. Call the Forest Service before you pick a spot. Travel Durango's San Juan National Forest guide lists the Durango office at (970) 247-4874. Town parks, BLM land and state parks have their own rules. Ask your photographer which places they have shot legally. Colt & Hannah lists permit guidance in its elopement and intimate wedding packages, and Wanderlust Elopements says it helps with permits.
When is the best time of year for photos in Durango?
Pick your season first, then your hour. Ginger Moose says high-mountain elopements work best from June through October, and snowy ones from December through April. It suggests planning three to nine months ahead and choosing a weekday for fewer crowds. Wanderlust Elopements points to July through September for high elevations and late September into early October for golden aspens.
For time of day, Ginger Moose names sunrise or sunset as the best light. Here are Durango's times on a flat horizon, from standard solar formulas and rounded. The San Juan Mountains block the sun sooner than these times, so plan to arrive early.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| March 20 | 7:16 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. |
| June 21 | 5:50 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. |
| September 22 | 6:58 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. |
| October 23 | 7:25 a.m. | 6:25 p.m. |
| December 21 | 7:21 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
Book the hour before sunset. In late October that means about 5:25 p.m.; by midsummer it slides to 7:34 p.m. Morning sessions count the hour after sunrise instead.
What should you ask before you book?
- How many hours do I get, and what does an extra hour cost?
- When will I get my full gallery, and when do I see a preview?
- Do I get print rights, and in what format?
- What is the booking deposit, and is it refundable?
- Which public lands have you shot on, and who handles the permit?
- What is the plan for rain, snow or smoke?
Where can you find more Durango photographers?
Our directory has the full field. Browse photographers, wedding photographers and photography services. Need a website or ads to go with the photos? See marketing agencies in Durango. Run a studio we missed? Claim your free listing and send us your prices.