Truly, I walk away from each and every shoot feeling honored to have been the one chosen to capture the memories and moments of my clients. Please know that the following words and sentiments are very dear to my heart.
With their approval, I am more than happy to supply anyone with past customer contact information for further or more detailed references.
Melanie & Mark
Ridgway, CO
“Thank you, Denise, for capturing our special day so perfectly! We are so thankful to have our video to watch and relive the joy, tears, and laughter that filled the day. For those considering using Willow Ridge Photography, whether it be for photography or videography, we are incredibly satisfied with Denise and her team’s work. She was able to capture the details and interactions that make a wedding so special and beautiful. Denise and her team captured gorgeous aerial shots using a drone. Combined with the footage of the ceremony and reception, her video told the complete story of our wedding, reminding us of details that we had missed in the excitement of the celebration. Most importantly, Denise was able to highlight the joy and love between bride and groom and the two families coming together. Aside from her technical skill, Denise was a pleasure to work with! She has a calm presence, worked well with our photographer, and was flexible throughout the day. Denise is also discreet and unobtrusive, getting the shots she needed without blocking guests. We really appreciate her thoughtful intentionality behind the song choices in the video. Watching the video brought back all the emotions of our wedding day, and we couldn’t love it more! We highly recommend Denise and Willow Ridge Photography! ”
-Mark and Melanie
Watch their video here: https://vimeo.com/465821610
“We recently used Denise Engelbert from Willow Ridge Photography to video our daughter’s outdoor wedding near Ridgway, Colorado. We wanted the video in order to complement previously arranged still wedding photos by another photographer, and are so glad we did this. Denise did a fantastic job from start to finish and we couldn’t be happier with her work. She met with us beforehand to get an idea of the setting and to go over our thoughts and expectations. She was also able to arrange drone shots that really added to the perspective of the setting. On the day of the wedding Denise was there for the preparations, the ceremony, and reception afterwards so got lots of great footage from beginning to end. She was unobtrusive during the ceremony but still got great shots. The lighting could have been a challenge as the ceremony was in the afternoon in bright sunlight, and the reception was in the evening under tent lighting but she handled that all very well. She captured the joy of the day, the love of the bride and groom, and their interactions with family and guests in a beautiful way with some wonderful videography. The video editing was also done in a masterful way that showed a real flow to the day, and not just a hodge podge of different shots or attempted glamor shots, as we had seen on some other wedding photography sites. She also took time to match a soundtrack that really fit the bride and groom and the footage in a beautiful way. It has been a lot of fun for us to watch this wedding video as it adds so much that is difficult to convey just from still photos alone. Denise also does still wedding photography and from the examples on the Willow Ridge Photography website, looks like she does a wonderful job there as well. We recommend her work highly and she has been a pleasure to work with through the whole process! ”
-Mark and Marcie (Mel’s parents)
Cynthia & Hollis
Dunton Hot Springs, CO
“Denise and Willow Ridge Photography were an incredible addition to our special day. Not only are we absolutely IN LOVE with our photos and will cherish them for the rest of our lives, but her presence at our wedding was something that added to the experience. She was fun, had a go-with-the-flow attitude, reminded us that it was our special day and what we wanted was most important, was always around but never noticed, got all the shots we wanted and more, and really made us feel comfortable with the shooting process. As a business owner and event planner we have worked with many photographers before, and can confidently say that in every aspect, Denise was the best photographer we have ever worked with. We highly, highly recommend her services, and could not be happier with her, and with our photos. Thank you Denise, we truly appreciate your time and effort, and would absolutely work with you again. Thank you!”
Matt & Jess
Palisade, CO
” Denise did an impeccable job with both our video and all of our photos. She was so patient with us and helped us every step of the way. During our video reveal we cried the entire time, she did such a beautiful job capturing every moment of the day. For being one woman and doing hybrid shooting, we could not have had a better outcome. So thankful we went with Willow Ridge Photography. If you’re reading this review to get a better insight, take this as a sign to do it, I promise you she will exceed your expectations like she did ours. It was an amazing deal for the price as well for getting the video and photos. You will not find anything better on the western slope.”
Melinda & Dale
Dunton Hot Springs, CO
“Willow Ridge Photography was simply amazing! We eloped so we wanted to capture the moment to share with our family and friends. Denise did that and more. Since it was an intimate ceremony, it was important to us that our videographer connected with us. Denise exceeded our expectations. She was fun, sweet and confident in what she was doing. I can’t express enough how happy we were with the whole process and we were blown away when we saw our video. If we had to do it all over again, we would pick Denise over and over. Our video is something we will always treasure. Thank you, Denise!”
See the highlight video here: https://vimeo.com/371306672
Mackenzie & Jack
Durango, CO
“When my husband and I decided we were going to get married, the thought of having to find a videographer in Colorado when we lived in Arizona was a huge worry for us. After contacting Denise and talking to her over the phone, she made us feel completely at ease and I knew I didn’t have to look any further. She took the time to explain everything regarding her work and our options to us, while not making us feel pressured, and also asked questions about our special day to educate herself about how she could best serve us. Leading up the the wedding she kept us updated, shared valuable advice, and communicated with us (and our photographer) to make sure we were all on the same page. The day of the wedding she was flexible with last minute time changes and worked so seamlessly with our photographer, whom she had never met before. It was such a blessing to have a team documenting our special day that was so respectful of each other and their work, allowing them both to turn out amazing. Denise was able to capture so many priceless moments perfectly, even catching little details we were unable to appreciate ourselves on such a hectic day. She had no problem moving to get angles she needed for footage, but at the same time was extremely discrete, making us and our guests feel comfortable and free to be ourselves around her. Throughout the day multiple guests came up to me and complemented how kind and professional Denise was. Being able to relive our wedding day while watching our video has been the most amazing experience. Not only is it great to see ourselves in the happiest moment of our lives, but to be able to share it with our many friends and family that weren’t able to be there, it’s irreplaceable. From the drone footage, to the vow overlay matching our actions, to the flawless music complementing each section, I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect video. I know having a videographer is an investment. However, after looking at the footage we now have forever, it’s not even a question. I would hire Denise again in a heartbeat, and would recommend her to anyone. I couldn’t have asked for a more ideal videographer for our wedding. She truly went above and beyond our expectations, which we will be forever grateful for.”
-Mackenzie Florence
Watch their highlight video by clicking here
Jeremy & Elise
Ouray, CO
“We hired Willow Ridge for our wedding day. Denise was not only professional but her artistic vision is beautiful! She delivered on every level. She was was to work with and her videography and photos are worth every penny. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!”
Alexis & Dylan
Vail, CO
“Hiring Denise as our videographer was one of the best decisions that we made for our wedding. She was organized and on top of it from the get go. On the day of, she was there early already gathering landscape footage. Throughout the day, I hardly noticed she was there, she just sort of sneakily captured all the right moments without making them feel forced or posed – she really just captured the most beautiful moments of our day. I turn super awkward as soon as I know a camera is pointed at me, so I loved that I barely noticed her there filming. Even my bridesmaids commented on how well she filmed without us really noticing. She caught all the right moments, and she turned those real and beautiful moments into the most perfect highlight video of our day. This video truly is my favorite keepsake of our wedding and something we will treasure forever. Everyone I have shared it with has been absolutely blown away by how great it is. During the ceremony, she had literally every obstacle thrown at her possible – cold rain, loud wind, umbrellas blocking her view, but NONE of those things compromised the quality of our ceremony video. You could tell she was a true professional who knew exactly what she was doing. Denise is organized, easy to work with, and most importantly really really good at what she does. We could not be happier with our videos and are so grateful to have found her to capture our wedding day”
-Alexis Neibert
“Denise was extremely prompt with all of her follow up and provided me with clear information around the video. Both the wedding and highlight video were high quality. I would highly recommend Willow Ridge for any future video needs.”
-Traci Neibert, Lexis’ mom
See their highlight video here:
Lindsey & Luke
Ridgway, CO
“When I first started looking for an engagement photographer, I came across Denise with Willow Ridge Photography and I fell in love with her work. When booking her, I didn’t realize how much more we would get than just a photographer. Denise was very responsive to all of my messages and kept an open line of communication leading up to and since our engagement shoot. During our shoot, Denise made the moments exciting and so much fun. She made us feel so comfortable and I really appreciated how good about ourselves she made us feel. I could tell right away how passionate about her photography she is and she captured our love better than we ever could have expected. We received a sneak peek of our photos on the same night, which made us feel so excited about seeing the rest and receiving our gallery from Denise felt like Christmas morning. I couldn’t believe how beautiful our photos came out. She did an amazing job capturing our personalities and was such joy to work with. We created such great memories with Denise at our engagement shoot that it was a must to have her photograph our upcoming wedding. We can’t wait to work with her again!”
Vanessa & Christian
Grand Junction, CO
“Denise was an absolute joy to work with and captured our special day beautifully. She jumped in on (super) short notice but still managed to provide us with everything we were looking for and even built a custom package for us. We couldn’t be more grateful for the quality of the photos and service. She was extremely knowledgable and professional but still made it a fun experience. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Denise. We are so happy to have found her.”
Courtney & Johnathan
Ridgway, CO
“Denise is an AMAZING photographer, we loved our entire engagement session! She had been a pleasure to work with, very professional and responsive. Denise kept us updated weeks before our session, if the weather or something was going to affect our shoot and she would let us know. We never had to worry about anything, she made us feel completely comfortable throughout the entire process. She cares a lot about the people she works with! She has been a pleasure to be around, can’t wait to see what she does on our wedding day!”
Julia & Luke
Delta, CO
“Let me just say that Denise is the MOST AMAZING photographer ever! My fiancé and I are largely into Fly fishing and wanted to take some photos in the River. She not only got every shot we could imagine and more. Denise got in the cold River barefoot in jeans just to get our photos. We couldn’t believe it. She is absolutely passionate for what she does and you can tell. Denise is incredible and easy to work with. We can’t wait until our Videography next year at our wedding!”
Marissa & Daniel
Palisade, CO
“Denise with Willow Ridge Photography was everything and more for what we were looking for on our wedding day! From the first time we spoke, she was clear and concise with what she offers for photography and video services – we opted to go with everything that was presented to us for our destination wedding. Denise made the entire process as easy as possible; she let us know exactly what we should be prepared with for our wedding day. This organization was greatly appreciated and really helped us as, overall, we may not have been the best planners. On our wedding day, she arrived promptly and was ready to dive right into the action (despite being several months pregnant at this point). Her natural talent really shone through and she knew exactly what shots to take and where to take them – from the landscape, to the rings and jewelry, candid shots, family shots, and of course us! After the wedding, she gave us her anticipated time frame for when we should receive our photos and videos and was 100% spot on with her estimation. Watching the highlight video for the first (and second and third) time brought me to tears; it couldn’t have been more perfect! There are so many shots and clips that I wasn’t even aware that she was capturing and she was in no way distracting to us throughout the day as we got ready. We couldn’t have asked for better quality and would choose Willow Ridge Photography one hundred times over – we highly recommend Denise and the services that she provides!”
Jodi & Miguel
Montrose, CO
“Denise with Willow Ridge Photography was so wonderful to work with. She and Joy who was there helping her were so fun, welcoming, and kind. The pictures and video turned out so wonderful. We could not have imagined anything better than the results we were given. It felt so incredible to look at these pictures and relive our very special day. We would 100% recommend Willow Ridge Photography. We are so grateful. Thanks again!! :)”
Kyauna & Trevin
Grand Junction, CO
“They were amazing with communication and making sure every step of the way was easy and stress free. Our photos and video were more than we ever expected. The video brings me back to that day and happy tears always flow like crazy. We can never thank them enough for everything. Our heart are so full and will be forever.”
– The Jaszkowiak’s
Shayne & Jayde
Montrose, CO
“Denise was amazing to work with! From day 1 we knew she was very passionate about providing us everlasting memories of our wedding and she more than delivered! Having her at our wedding gave us the piece of mind that we could enjoy ourselves and know that she was capturing every special moment. Thank you for everything you did! We couldn’t have been happier to have the photos you captured in your unique way.”
Alyssa & Jordan
Grand Junction, CO
“I can’t say enough good things about Denise at Willow Ridge Photography. We just received the digital photos from our son’s wedding, and she has captured the beauty and happiness of our families in her photos. She was very easy to work with, and would listen/incorporate our ideas and thoughts. She spent the day with us, and easily fit in with all of the happenings! The bride and groom are so pleased with the pictures, and the quality and variety of scenes have completely laid out the story of their beautiful wedding day. I would recommend Denise without exception!”
John & Sumaiya
Kirstin & Brian
“Denise at Willow Ridge Photography did an amazing job not only on our engagement photos, but also our wedding photos. They are stunning and make us feel like we are living our special day over and over again. Denise is very easy to communicate with, and made everything as smooth as possible on the day of the wedding. She stayed in touch up until the wedding to make sure everything was perfect. She went above and beyond and we cannot thank her enough. I highly recommend doing the videography as an add-on! The quality is amazing, and takes you right back to that special day and that moment of time.”
-Kirstin Totten
“Hands down the easiest to work with. Denise is very thorough and professional. She truly has an eye and passion for capturing your special moments. You will not be disappointed.”
-Brian Sharp
Chelsey and Jason
“As we were planning our daughter Chelsey’s October wedding, we were drawn to Willow Ridge Photography. It was a true pleasure to work with Denise. She is amazingly artistic and creative and we couldn’t be happier with our photographs and video of a very special day. Denise was prompt, professional and worked so well with adults and children alike, beautifully capturing formal and candid moments we will cherish for years to come. Thank you so very much, Denise!” – Cheri and Dennis Mittleider
Anson & Natalie
“Not only did Willow Ridge Photography produce an amazing result, but Denise is amazing and I recommend her services highly.
Denise was absolutely informative, wonderful, and a delight to work with through the wedding process. Whenever I needed her, she was readily available and willing to help. Denise also had wonderful, professional advice that she shared throughout the process.
I think my favorite part of the wedding was when my husband and I had our B&G photos. Despite the weather being terrible due to rain, Denise saved the day and still produced amazing pictures; she was ready with a clear umbrella in hand. Literally! Our B&G photos are my favorite!
Denise, on behalf of Willow Ridge Photography, is an expert at her craft. She is wonderful to work with, informative, and produces wonderful photos. She comes highly recommended by myself and my husband.
My wedding guests even mentioned how she was running her booty off at our wedding in order to capture great shots. If you’re looking for a photographer, wedding related or not, look no further. Willow Ridge Photography is who to use!”
-Natalie D’Mello
Joe & Jacki
“From our original discussions all the way through receiving our photos, Denise has been nothing but professional, extremely responsive, and a pleasure to work with. She went above and beyond to capture our wedding day by recommending different shots and poses, which came out PERFECT, while also being very personable and genuine. We didn’t have a clue how we wanted to do our ‘first look’ and Denise recommended a perfect idea that we couldn’t have been happier with. You can definitely tell she genuinely cares about her job as the photographer and capturing special moments. We absolutely will be asking Denise to cover our maternity pictures and family pictures for years to come. Thank you again Denise!”
-Joe Wiford
Ashley & Corey
Alma, CO
“She was very professional, kinda and generous. She had amazing ideas to make our photosturn out so beautiful. She had a great attitude and was so kind and gracious. She did an amazing job and we absolutely love how they turned out. I would highly recommend her amazing work.”
Kristin & Lewis
“Denise is an amazing photographer. She has been such a pleasure to work with. We had bad weather predicted for the day of our engagement photos and she did everything in her power to make it happen and to deliver the most beautiful pictures. I cannot wait for our wedding day and to see what beautiful moments she captures! We honestly couldn’t have chosen a better person to photograph the most important day of our lives!”
-Kristin Spaulding
Faith
“Look no more -Willow Ridge Photography is the only place for beautiful pictures and a beautiful experience. Denise made my 17 year old daughter feel at ease with herself as well as feel beautiful! Denise does her homework prior to her shoots. She scouts to find beautiful natural settings, natural lighting and poses. It was difficult to narrow down great pictures into a package! I was blessed by choosing Willow Ridge Photography! Can’t praise her enough.”
-Vanessa Rowles
Josh & Lex
“Denise was an incredible photographer and beautiful moment capturer! She was so wonderful and kind and was really focused on capturing our genuine moment of love and commitment. You can tell that she’s really passionate about the love that two people share and is dedicated to capturing that! She really helped to make our special moment all the more memorable and provided us with beautiful photos and a video for us to cherish forever! She captured all components of our engagement moment (laughter, tears, kisses, and all) in a lovely, natural and effortless way. She was wonderful in making us (especially me, being on the vulnerable end of a surprise engagement shoot!) not feel pressured or rushed about such a quick surprise-engagement-turned-photoshoot-moment and really helped us to feel at ease and to just EMBRACE our moment together that was our first step toward forever. Such a lovely woman to work with, I’d recommend Denise to anyone and everyone lookin to capture such perfect moment in time. She goes above and beyond!”
-Lex Houpt
“We had the best time working with Denise! She went above and beyond my expectations to help me capture surprise photos of our engagement! We will treasure the beautiful pictures she has given us for a lifetime! Thank you so much!”
-Josh Brubaker
Kaylee
“So happy with Willow Ridge!!! I’d choose her again in a heartbeat for future projects! Thank you again!”
-Jessica (Kaylee’s mom!)
The Flanagan Family
“We recently hired Denise for our family photo session and she was amazing, professionally and personally. It was a very special occasion because all 8 of our children were together for the first time in 8 years, it was an investment so I wanted the best. When selecting a photographer, I was very particular because it was such an important day. I interviewed several photographers and researched before deciding. After seeing the photos in Denise’s portfolio online, her style and the very natural sense of each picture, I knew she would capture this day perfectly. She did not disappoint! She had an eye for where the pictures would be best, the lighting and arrangement of a huge group. We spoke several times so she could understand our group and exactly what I was looking for. Through the whole process, she communicated promptly answering all my questions and made the day so relaxed for everyone. With this many people and of town traveling Denise was also flexible and accommodating to fit our family schedules. We are thrilled with the beautiful photos of our day.
Thank you for sharing your incredible gift of photography, your kindness and for our photos that truly capture the moment.”
-Mary Flanagan
Bailey’s Senior Shoot
“We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Denise! She tailored my daughter’s senior picture session to accommodate her wishes, and she captured my daughter’s personality perfectly. Denise made the experience fun as well as professional, and I would definitely recommend her to anyone seeking beautiful photography in a laid back setting!”
-Angie Gentile/Bailey’s mother
Hollie & Greg
“Amazing! Denise was absolutely fantastic. She was engaging, and a genuinely lovely person. The photos are absolutely beautiful!! Thank you so much for everything Denise. Our family was also very impressed with your work so have passed on your details to them. I wouldn’t hesitate on recommending Denise or using her services in the future.”
-Hollie
Jessica & Frank
“Amazing photographer. She is a real pro. The photos are beautiful, and we had a great experience working with her. We feel so lucky that we had her to capture the special moments on our wedding day!”
Tobi & Miranda
“We could not have chosen a better photographer for our wedding. Denise was amazing in every way. She was so sweet, very attentive to what we wanted out of our wedding photos, and went above and beyond what was expected of her. I have nothing but good things to say about her. It was an honor to have her photograph our special day, and we look forward to working with her again for maternity shoots, family portraits, whatever life may bring us. Denise and Willow Ridge Photography come highly recommended.”
-Miranda
The Maning Family
“Denise was great! She did wonderful with our not always cooperative two year old and really engaged all of our children through the whole process. I was also very pleased with her communication and how quickly she got our pictures back to us! We will definitely be using her again!”
-Kara Maning
Matt & Sadie
“My fiancé and I had such an amazing and wonderful time with Denise. Matt and I are both camera shy and were so nervous that it was going to be the most awkward hour of our lives. It was completely the opposite of what we feared. After the first few shots, we immediately started to become more comfortable. We didn’t feel posed or fake. Denise was so personable and an absolute joy to work with. Matt and I both sat in anticipation the rest of the weekend for our finalized pictures. When they came, we were beyond happy with how they turned out. We both love being outdoors, and our pictures really captured that side of us in a natural, soft, and beautiful way. Thank you, Denise, for an incredible day and stunning pictures.”
-Sadie Sheahan
Molly & Family
“Having our family photos done with Denise was a fantastic experience. Her professionalism and friendliness made it a fun and easy photo shoot, and even though our son tends to be shy, she did a great job of drawing him out and engaging him. The photos came out beautifully and are a wonderful addition to our home – we’re so glad she was able capture this age with our son so well. I would definitely recommend Denise for any family photo experience, and I hope to work with her again in the future.”
-Molly Cronin
Marvin & Vanessa
“Denise exceeded my expectations for my birth photography. Being my first delivery I was nervous but she made me comfortable! My pictures are perfect and nothing was left out! She definitely captured the emotion! Worth every penny!”
Kim Barrows & Family
“Denise was hired by friends to photograph a gender reveal shower as a gift to our family. The pictures were lovely. She was adept at capturing the big moments while being very unobtrusive. The candid photos of our friends and family as well as the photos she took of special details showed an artistic eye and empathy for the day and the celebration. She also had the photos posted to the website the next evening.
We were impressed by her skill and artistry and would definitely hire her again/recommend her!”
-Kim Barrows
Real Estate
“Denise is an awesome photographer. She has a sweet and wonderful way with my listing clients. She is easy to work with, fast and conscientious. I heartily endorse her.”
-Liz Maule, Athens Real Estate Company
The Gale Family
“My family’s experience with Denise as a photographer was exceptional. She arrived early and spent ample time helping us decide the type of pictures we wanted to take. She was positive and energetic and her attention to detail was amazing. She allowed us to pick and choose a variety of settings and locations for our family photos – making our session that much more memorable. She spent more than adequate time walking up hills, through wooded areas, and driving around, and she made us feel that she genuinely cared about our family. Pictures were delivered promptly – much earlier than expected – and the quality of the photos were outstanding. I would definitely recommend Denise to anyone looking for a gifted photographer to capture all of life’s big and little moments!”
– Emily Gale
The Hayes Family
“We received our photo shoot and print package as a recent wedding gift and feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to work with Willow Ridge Photography. Denise met up with us at our local park and quickly assessed the surroundings in order to find the most picture perfect spots to capture each different image. During the hour long session, Denise listened to our ideas and allowed us to express our creative thoughts but also added her expert touch and creativity to capture things we hadn’t even thought of and quite frankly turned out to be some of my favorites! Our pictures were mailed right to our home and arrived very well packaged and even earlier than anticipated! Denise was a pleasure to work with and we couldn’t be more pleased with the beautiful images she was able to capture of our newly blended family!”
-Jeanette Hayes
“I was looking to give a photography gift and wasn’t sure about how to do it. Denise was so helpful and always there when I had questions, even after hours. She seemed to know exactly what I was looking for and made me feel very comfortable expressing any concerns and desires that I had. Photo shoot has not been used yet, as it is a future gift, but I have no doubt that the recipients will be pleased, based on the amount of patience, time and information she gave me before I even knew if I wanted to purchase anything from her.”
-MaryEtta Hayes
Hocking Hills Family Reunion
“Denise-
Thank you for taking our family photos.
Not only are you prompt, professional, and extremely organized, but you have a keen eye for detail and a very creative side to your work.
You came and took photos of a very large group. You were kind, and could handle many different personalities. This is a task that very few people could do with ease. Not only did you give us lovely photos of our family of nearly 30 people and an age range of very young to elderly, but you took the photos promptly and with no stress! You were able to capture the personalities of all of the grandchildren. These photos will be treasured for years to come. You’ve given us a priceless gift. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Sincerely,
Jessica Octernaud
Marissa & James
Grand Junction, CO
Colorado National Monument
“Denise was absolutely awesome to work with. My photos are beautiful and I recieved them very quickly. Definitely would recommend for friends and family.”
Ally Rapp
“Our team has used Denise’s photography services quite a few times and have been very happy with her work and professionalism. She has the equipment and the skills to take excellent listing photos. She will edit and return the finished pictures to us very quickly too. We will definitely use her services again!”
-Ally Rapp/Athens Real Estate Company
More reviews and contact information for past clients available upon request.