Danielle Makia, Photographer’s Best of 2025 | South Denver Senior and Family Photographer

Happy 2026! We are finally far enough into the new year, that I no longer have to catch myself writing 2025, so I’m essentially killing it in life. And because I’m clearly on a roll, I’m diving right into my “Best of 2025” recap… and it’s only the third week of January. I’ll take the win. This past season was such a meaningful one for me, especially because it was filled with so many high school seniors. Not only did I capture lots of high school seniors, but a few of them have been teammates with my oldest daughter and we’ve known them since elementary school. It almost seems surreal that we are celebrating them, and that my daughter is right behind them next year and my youngest daughter will be starting high school.

Celebrating the Class of 2025

This year’s seniors blew me away. They are scholars, athletes (baseball, basketball, cheer, dance and golf), artists, thespians, and business owners. They represent Arapahoe High School, Cherry Creek High School, Cherokee Trail High School, Douglas County High School, Eaglecrest High School, Grandview High School, Littleton High School, Mountain Vista High School, Thunderridge High School and Vista Peak High School! I listened to hopes and dreams, favorite high school memories, and their most memorable achievements. Every story reminded me why I do what I do. I am so grateful for these opportunities and hope my seniors will remember the amazing experience they had during their senior session.

Families: The Heart of my Business

Families are the heart of my business that is where my photography journey started. Even as my business has evolved, I still love serving families every year. Yes, even the toddlers that make me run for my life trying to capture them, haha! Two of my families even hold the record for the longest streak of fall sessions: the S family at seven years in a row, and the D family at six. I have seen their kids grow up right before my eyes and it has been a blessing.

A Beautiful Fall Wedding in the Mountains

I also had the privilege of photographing one wedding this year. In my past life, I photographed mountain elopements, second-shot often, and captured my fair share of big weddings. But as our girls have gotten busier, long wedding days have become harder to balance, so I’ve stepped back quite a bit.

This fall brought me the sweetest opportunity: an intimate wedding in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado—right as the leaves were beginning to turn. I had never been there before, but when a neighbor connected me with her sister, I knew I wanted to be part of their day.

There is absolutely nothing as beautiful as fall in Colorado and add in meeting a wonderful supportive family from all over the country, it was an amazing day, as you can see below.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for being here. Whether you were in front of my camera this year or cheering me on from afar, your support means the world. 2025 was full of connection, growth, and so many beautiful stories. I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings.

Warmly,

Danielle