September 2009 -

Monthly Archives: September 2009

September 28, 2009

Megan and Ben at Elk Ridge Ranch

Ahhhhh! I love my job so freaking much!!! I have really honed in on my “ideal client” over the 7 years that I’ve have been doing this and have certainly found my niche clientele. Megan and Ben are those ideal clients to a “t”. I had so much fun at their wedding—from enjoying the amazing views at the Elk Ridge Ranch, to the tear-jerking vows, and of course meeting, and hanging out with all their hipster friends… The entire day was a delight. And to top it off, I got to celebrate with Megan and Ben and their friends again, the other night at their premier . We went through a handle of Makers and three bottles of wine and had a hoot re-living their ridiculously perfect day. I’m going to say this again… but I’ve had such amazing couples this year! Megan and Ben—Can we be friends??

September 22, 2009

Michelle and Paul in NYC—a fairy tale love…

I am so lucky to have clients who love my work enough to fly me across the country or world to shoot their wedding. I really can’t think of a bigger honor–especially when that place is NYC, and I happen to know that there are some super talented photographers out there! In fact, Michelle and Paul and I were all joking about how confused their familes were when they said that they were flying in a photographer from Colorado of all places, to photograph their East Coast wedding! I mean, really—Colorado? Could there be superior talent in “middle America?” Ha ha! But I am thanking my lucky stars that I get to work with Michelle and Paul–not to do a destination wedding, but because I adore these two! They are an incredible couple who have the most wonderful, fairy tale love story … You see, Paul was Michelle’s 8th grade algebra teacher… Of course they didn’t get together back then, but fell in love a few years back–both now teachers (actually, Paul is a principal). It sounds scandalous, which is one of the reasons I love their story so much–it sounds scandalous, but it isn’t at all—it’s actually true love and a perfect match if I’ve ever seen one. They have one of those stories that gives me hope that love can be found in the most unexpected places and can still surprise us at any moment in life….

Michelle and Paul are big Mets fans… they had two shirts made with the date of their wedding on the backs (7/18) I thought it was an adorable idea—and it somehow fits them so perfect! They are so much fun!

September 21, 2009

The Thorntons in NYC

I was back East a couple weeks ago to shoot a wedding in Boston and ended up taking on a couple shoots while I was visiting NYC. Sarah Thornton is one of my best friend’s sisters and I actually stayed with her, her husband Wes and their beautiful baby boy, Brayden for a few days while I was out there. Sarah and Wes were over the top hospitable, so I thought I’d try to pay them back with a fun little family shoot at the South Street Sea Port in NYC. It was great to be able to photograph a family and work in a totally new place–South street seaport is screaming with backgrounds and fun ideas for unconventional family portraits!

September 18, 2009

Sarah and Sean married in Crested Butte

I am ashamed to say that it has been exactly two months since Sarah and Sean’s wedding…. I’ve been slacking with the blogging this season. I know awhile back I promised three posts a week, and since then, I’ve been good to get two out a week. But the good news is, the wedding season is winding down and I only have three weddings left—which will give me a plethora of time to blog, blog, blog. So all of you patient clients of mine—-thank you, and know that you’re wedding post is right around the corner!

Sarah and Sean were married at noon on Crested butte mountain. This posed for some interesting lighting, but Sarah grew up in Gunnison, just outside of Crested butte and knew that the wind and rain come in during the afternoon. She was right–it did get windy and rainy later in the afternoon, and Sarah and Sean dodged all that and had a beautiful ceremony and jaunt up to the top of the mountain for an hour of alone time and some portraits. It was a small, intimate wedding with only about 20 guests and the time allotted for photographs was a photographer’s dream. After coming back down from the mountain, Sarah and Sean were greeted by their friends and family at the Saucy Noodle in Crested Butte with bubbles and cheers. It was a perfect, July wedding…

September 13, 2009

Erica and Matt are engaged

I spent a lovely afternoon with Erica and Matt while taking their engagement photos and had such a good time! We started out at the Chautauqua dining hall for a beer (and for Matt, a beer and a shot of tequila) and then went on a little jaunt through the park. I’m pretty sure that what Erica and Matt thought would be an uncomfortable, awkward hour of public display of affection, turned out to be a pretty darn good time! They really seemed to enjoy themselves and I hope it shows in the images. I know I had a riot!

September 8, 2009

shante and Bella—and a technical snit bit.

My parents live to help single mothers out. In fact, our family actually did foster “cradle care” when I was growing up. It seemed we always had a baby in the house. Over the years, I think we had something like 33 babies come through—something that I didn’t always love when I was a teenager. However looking back, I am so proud that I have such amazing, caring parents who give, give, give and never take. Shante, a single teenage mother, and her daughter Bella are currently living with my parents in Boulder My mom called and asked if she could pay me to shoot Shante’s senior pictures. I of couse said yes and wouldn’t accept a dime from her, but these are Shante’s senior portraits with her beautiful baby, Bella!

On a completely different note, I wanted to touch and go on the technical aspects of my work. I was a die hard film shooter until the last three years, so I shoot and edit my digital photography to look like film. I am overwhelmed and amused by the “tack-sharp obsession” that a lot of new digital photographers are striving for. I do love that with digital technology we can get tack sharp images, and there certainly is a time for this, but sometimes I think it’s become an obsession that has taken away from the true art of photography. Film was different. I personally prefer creamy, softer, shallow depth of fields. I almost always open my aperature all the way up–even if I know the image will be soft and out of focus in places. I actually think there is something impacting about an image that isn’t “perfect”. Humanity isn’t perfect. Art is imperfect. But both humanity and art are perfect is their imperfection. This approach to wedding and portrait photography isn’t very conventional, but it has always worked for me. I shot this series of images below, completely open with a 50mm 1.4. Some of you might love this, some of you might be uncomfortable with the “softeness” of some of these images. But this is one of the “tricks” to my work and a snit bit about the way that I shoot…

September 3, 2009

Elissa and Eric’s wedding and a tribute to their family

It was almost exactly a year earlier that I had one of the best experiences as a photographer, ever! Eric proposed to Elissa at Chautauqua park and actually asked me to document it! It was such an honor and I was seriously so elated, that I felt as though I were getting engaged! Tons of tears! Needless to say, Eric and Elissa are very dear to me and their wedding was an event I was looking forward to all season. And it was a perfect day. Simply perfect! Tons of tears again…. and many beautiful details including the stunning miss Elissa herself!

Unfortunately, just a couple weeks after this wedding Elissa’s grandmother passed away. Many of the images that I chose to blog here are portraits of friends and family members. My hope is that some of these images can help the Kay’s through the grieving process of losing a loved one and can be a trigger to memories of pure joy and life. My heart goes out to the Kay family and I am so sad for their loss. Please keep them in your prayers….

Hottie, Elissa!

I love this moment between Elissa and her father—he barely held it together all day.

Elissa and Eric had walkie talkies so that they would be able to roam about before their wedding and not run into each other—I thought this was pretty hilarious! But not a bad idea!

Elissa kicked her shoes off and took some time “sweatin’ it out” before she walked down the aisle. I love this image of her.

This is a photograph of Elissa’s grandmother. She was so beautiful and so full of life. When Elissa told me of the news and asked that I send her some photos for the funeral, I was in total shock. I remember thinking—-that gorgeous smiling woman that I couldn’t take my lens off? She clearly lived life to the end.

Not sure why I love this photo—but I do. Something about all the different expressions and layers to the image.

Here she is again—walking down the aisle, none the less! What a lady!

Awwwww……

…and awwwww

I love the Jewish tradition of the bride circling the groom seven times—-It always lends itself to a few moments of reflection. Eric’s face is priceless.

It may have been the brightest day of the summer thus far—-seriously.

Elissa’s sister—doesn’t she look just like a brunette version of Elissa?!

September 2, 2009

A shameless plea for votes!

I was so honored when my good friend and amazing photographer, Paige Elizabeth asked me to collaborate on this crazy project with her. In all honesty, I did the shoot for Paige, and of course for the sheer adventure of photographing her, surrounded by 20 dogs! The image is based loosely on two classic photos (One of which was this shot of Jim Henson and the Muppets.) The shoot this was a riot–completely hilarious and total mayhem. Getting 20 dogs to sit still and “smile for the camera” was not easy task and I had no idea if we would actually make the finals, however I am excited to announce that this photo, and Paige’s studio has been selected as a finalist for the “We are Miller’s” contest.

The photo we entered is below. And here’s the link to the contest. (You can vote every day this week! And the voting closes Friday September 4th.) Please do take a look and vote. Thanks!