Jen Henningsen and her family off Happy Canyon Road (left to right): Kyle, Bryce, Jen, Kevin, and Zoe.

There are many moments throughout life that capture our hearts, and Jen Henningsen has spent the last 21 years photographing these precious moments and milestones. Jen operates her business, Keepsake Photography, out of her home studio in The Canyons.

Jen did not plan to become a photographer. At Portsmouth High School in Rhode Island, Jen was a star athlete. She competed in cross country, gymnastics, softball, basketball and soccer – earning 12 varsity letters. At the University of New Hampshire, she ran cross country and met Kevin, a star football player. The two married in New York and moved to Highlands Ranch in 1997, making it their first Colorado home.

Before motherhood, Jen began a career in occupational therapy (OT), but soon her priorities changed when her first son, Kyle, was born with autism and severe special needs. Jen decided to stay home  to care for Kyle. In her spare time, Jen developed her creative passion for photography, taking pictures of neighborhood children.

As Kyle improved by leaps and bounds, she found time to coach soccer and softball and photograph the little leaguers she coached. Combining her two passions, sports and photography, proved to be destiny and Jen’s business bloomed.

“I love when people smile back at me,” said Jen with a grin. “I have the best job because I get to see families together. You really build relationships with people when they let you into their life to capture it.”

In 2019, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) made Jen their preferred photographer, photographing some 200 kids each year for the yearbook. But newborn photos are also a specialty at Keepsake. As a former OT, Jen knows which positions and movements are safe for newborns.

Jen and her family moved to the City of Castle Pines in 2020, and they also have a house in Fraser, Colorado. Even though her kids are older – Kyle (24) graduated from Arapahoe Community College, Bryce (23) graduated from the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, and Zoe (20) studies business at Colorado State University – they all gather in Fraser for winter and summer sports.

Jen shared two milestones that she is particularly proud of: when Kyle played football at RCHS and scored a touchdown and the whole stadium stood and cheered; and in 2019, when Portsmouth High School inducted Jen into its athletic hall of fame.

After 26 years of marriage, raising three well-adjusted children, and experiencing defining career achievements both in sports and photography, Jen credits her achievements to character.

“I think my success has truly been from being authentic and doing what I say I am going to do. One of my mantras is ‘always keep learning,’” concluded Jen. “You can always improve or be inspired.”

Newborn Nathanial Teague photographed at Jen’s home studio, Keepsake Photography, in The Canyons neighborhood of Castle Pines.

By Grace Caroline Roubidoux; photos courtesy of Jen Henningsen