Hailey & Faith's Creative Cheer Photoshoot in Downtown Denver | Colorado Cheer Photographer

Some of my favorite photoshoots start with a simple conversation. When Rachel and Kayla first reached out about photographing Hailey and Faith, they had one request. They didn't want photos that looked like every other cheer session. They wanted something different.

As a photographer, those are some of my favorite words to hear.

Creating Something Beyond Traditional Cheer Photos

Traditional cheer portraits certainly have their place.

Clean backgrounds.

Perfect smiles.

Classic poses.

But every once in a while, it's fun to push creative boundaries and build something completely unique. After tossing around a few ideas, we landed on a concept that combined everything we were looking for—an urban downtown setting, dramatic lighting, reflections, and a water splash finale to end the evening. It was definitely different from the typical cheer photos you see. That's exactly what we were hoping for.

Downtown Denver Was the Perfect Backdrop

Rather than photographing the session on a football field or inside a gym, we headed into downtown Denver. The city gave us endless opportunities to create different looks throughout the evening. Glass buildings reflected beautiful light. Concrete, brick, and steel created an incredible contrast against their cheer uniforms.

As the sun began to set, the city transformed once again. The darker skies and city lights created a dramatic atmosphere that fit the creative direction perfectly. Every time we turned a corner, we found another backdrop that inspired a new idea.

Two Athletes Who Trusted the Process

Creative sessions only work when clients are willing to trust the vision. Thankfully, Hailey and Faith were all in. Neither one hesitated when I suggested climbing to the edge of a seven-story rooftop for photos overlooking downtown Denver. They simply smiled, trusted me, and climbed up. Those ended up becoming some of my favorite images from the entire session. Throughout the evening, both of them brought incredible energy, confidence, and a willingness to try every idea I threw their way. As a photographer, that's all you can ask for.

Incorporating Water Splash Photography

Of course, we had to trying something a little different, so we pulled out the water.

Water splash photography has been an idea I've wanted to incorporate into more athlete sessions because every single splash creates something unique. I got to do a water-splash session last summer with a group of cheerleaders at lake, and I knew then I wanted to do more of this kind of session. No two images are ever exactly alike. The movement, the light, and the water all combine to create moments you simply can't recreate.

Some of my favorite images from the evening happened at the end where we got to create some high-contrast, colorful images with water-splashing behind them.

Why I Love Creating Custom Athlete Sessions

One of the things I enjoy most about photographing athletes is creating something that feels personal to them. Every athlete has a different personality. Every sport has its own energy. Every session should reflect that. Sometimes that means smoke and fire.

Sometimes it means color powder. Sometimes it's dramatic lighting inside the studio.

And sometimes it means exploring downtown Denver before finishing the night with water flying through the air. There's no single formula. That's what makes these creative sessions so much fun.

Final Thoughts

This photoshoot reminded me why I love collaborating with athletes and families who are willing to think outside the box. Rachel and Kayla trusted me to create something different.

Hailey and Faith embraced every idea—from rooftop portraits to getting completely soaked during the water splash finale. Together, we created a gallery that feels bold, energetic, and unlike anything you'd normally expect from a cheer photoshoot.

To Rachel and Kayla, thank you for trusting me with your vision.

To Hailey and Faith, thank you for being adventurous, fearless, and willing to jump into every creative idea we came up with.

I had an absolute blast creating these images with you both, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for each of you.