A light gray background with white, minimalist, line-drawn branches and leaves pattern.
A woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, smiling, standing outdoors near a body of water with trees in the background, wearing a white blouse with puffed sleeves and jewelry.
Logo with the words 'Joyful Story Photography' in large font and a pink floral graphic.
Minimalist line drawing of a sprig with three flowers and leaves. 
Hello!

I’m Alissa.

Do you remember scrolling through old photos when you were supposed to be doing literally anything else… and suddenly you’re laughing, crying, or cringing at your middle-school braces phase? Yeah, me too.

That’s the magic of a great photograph; it doesn’t just freeze a moment, it holds the feelings, the personality, and the story of exactly who you were right then.

Hey, I’m Alissa, and I am a Highlands Ranch based photographer, specializing in senior and couple portraits all around the Denver area. I love capturing people exactly as they are: confident, goofy, dreamy, bold, a little nervous, and 100% themselves.

At Joyful Story Photography, I specialize in senior portraits that feel like YOU — not stiff, over-posed studio shots from 1995. Whether you’re into urban downtown vibes, golden fields at sunset, or bringing your guitar, letterman jacket, or dog along, we’ll create senior pictures that scream “Class of 2026” (or 2027!) and make your feed (and your mom’s photo wall) look amazing.

And, if you’re a couple looking to document your relationship or your engagement - these sessions bring me life! Making sure all you see is the love you have for one another is my goal. Let’s have fun and celebrate your story!

This is your moment. Your style. Your story. Let’s make your session unforgettable, one epic photo at a time.

Why I Founded Joyful Story.

My own love for photography started with the usual: baby photos, my wedding, and yes, plenty of awkward teenage evidence of my own kids. But everything changed when my husband deployed to Afghanistan over a decade ago. During those long months apart, photos became our lifeline. They let him watch our kids grow, feel close across oceans, and never miss the big (and small) moments. I realized then that the right image can hold a piece of your heart forever.

That experience drove me to study professionally at the New York Institute of Photography and turn my passion into a career. For years I’ve been chasing genuine smiles, wind-blown hair, and that perfect golden-hour glow — now I get to do it for high school seniors ready to celebrate one of the biggest milestones of their lives and couples celebrating their genuine love.

How I Can Help
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A young woman with long, wavy hair standing in a sunflower field at sunset, wearing a dark floral dress, with her hands raised to her head, looking at the camera.
Black and white photo of wildflowers in a field with a cloudy sky background.
A man and woman standing close together outdoors, smiling at each other, with a grassy field and hills in the background.
Black and white photograph of wildflowers in a field with a cloudy sky in the background.
A smiling baby girl wrapped in a white blanket, sleeping on a petal-shaped cushion, with a floral painting background.
Work With Me
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Get to know me

This or That?

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Pizza

Chinese

Mountains

Sunset

Weight-Training

Chocolate

Pasta

Mexican

Desert

Sunrise

Running

Vanilla

Where You've Seen Me

Got Questions?

I’m Happy To Help You!
REACH OUT