They had another great idea when it came to the photography. Instead of the traditional pre-wedding engagement shoot, they opted to do a couples’ portrait session after. Once they were back from the honeymoon, we met up again and headed to a few great spots around Boulder. I have to say, I LOVE the images from this shoot. Polly & Aaron are fun and easy going, and quite comfortable in front of the camera. Throw in some cooperative weather, and you can’t help but get some great images! I also love the idea, because it allowed us to take our time with their couples’ portraits, as well as leaving them more time with their guests & families at the reception. Everybody wins! Plus, she got to wear the dress more than once.

If you’re planning your wedding right now, take a page from their book. Break a few rules. Do things “your way”. Your wedding will be more fun, and your guests (and your photographer) will thank you.

I just wanted to share a quick post with a couple of shots from the MS Walk in Denver a couple of weeks ago.  A great cause, obviously, but I know that I and at least 20 other people were there for one specific reason- to support TEAM WALK 4 SHEELA!

Sheela is one of my brides this summer, but more importantly, her and her fiance Aaron are good friends of mine.  Sheela was diagnosed with MS earlier this year, though I haven’t noticed much change in her uncommonly sunny disposition!  It was really great seeing how many people attended the walk, and even better seeing the crowd there specifically to support Sheela!

For more information about MS, please visit  www.nationalmssociety.org

I also got a chance to shoot in a new and novel environment- The Cheyenne Old West Museum!  The reception floor was ringed by vintage stagecoaches, fire wagons and lots of other cool vehicles.  I LOVE it when my clients do something a little different like this!

Despite the intermittent downpours, the days was beautiful and we got tons of great shots.  It’s hard to go wrong with a big church wedding and a lively reception.  The couple and I snuck out of the reception to swing by a local park and get some shots of the couple in front of a fountain in a nearby park.  My favorites of the wedding!

Jerrica & Nathan’s wedding was extra fun because I knew a handful of people in attendance, including two couples I’d shot before and quite a few familiar-looking bridesmaids and groomsmen. Referrals and word of mouth are huge in the wedding photography business, and I’m lucky enough to have made my way into the good graces of Jerrica and Nathan, and their friends and family. I shot Nate’s brother Nolen’s wedding last year, as well as those of a few of their friends. You couldn’t ask for a nicer group of people to work with! I love referrals like these. It’s a huge compliment for a former client to be so happy with their wedding pictures that they’re glad to vouch for you to their friends & family!

The whole day was a bit of a blur, and the reception was (slightly) marred by some light rain, but overall it was a great wedding. Of course, the rain let up just as the reception was wrapping up. Since it was still early in the evening, we decided to find a nice spot and shoot with the sunset. We hiked out in the yellow sagebrush behind their church for my (and their) favorite images of the wedding.

Some people make it so easy! Whitney & Zach’s wedding was one of my favorites all season. They and their families were super nice, their wedding was tasteful and fun, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re a very photogenic couple!  I really loved the formals we got, both in the church and outdoors.  The reception was also a blast to photograph.  A packed house and a lively crowd make it easy to get great candids, which are always a favorite!

If you want to have your wedding on the 4th of July, it had better be awesome if you want to compete with the food, fun and fireworks we all expect. Coventry and Rick’s Wheatland, Wyoming wedding more than met this challenge. From the start, their easy-going, fun loving, hey-this-is-supposed-to-be-a-party attitude made their wedding and reception a blast to shoot. Coventry’s horseback entrance was dramatic but fun, and the whole event was topped off by a great fireworks display! All in all a great wedding!

Also, be sure to note the shot of Coventry’s dress, freshly splashed with red wine. Someone accidentally dropped their glass right down her back. In a situation where most brides might have gone into full meltdown, Coventry just laughed it off. She knew the ceremony was over, she’d never need to wear it again, so no point in worrying about it the one time she had it on. What a great lesson on living in the moment!

Nicki & Brendan were a pleasure to work with anyway, but I have to say I was really just glad to have a reason to visit their corner of Wyoming again. Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone are just beautiful, and I was happy to have the opportunity to take another working vacation there this summer. The wedding itself was beautiful, too, with its mountain valley setting on a guest ranch in Wilson, just outside of Jackson. The weather was perfect, the food was great, and as far as I could tell, the whole event went off without the slightest hitch. Also, I know I say this about pretty much every couple I work with, but Nicki & Brendan were wonderful to work with, as were their families and guests. I’m also very happy to have their beautiful wedding in my portfolio.

Keely & Ames’ Hotchkiss, Colorado wedding was one of my very favorite of the year.  It was obvious from the first time I met Keely that she was looking for something a little different for her wedding, and the photography was no exception.  I loved her & Ames’ “Be as creative as you want, as long as it’s awesome” attitude throughout working together.  Their wedding had a very unique look and feel, both intimate and still very festive.  And, perhaps above all, the food was amazing.  Misabo catering had several stations with deliciousness from all over the world.  Check out their blog post from the same event.

With so much thought obvious in every detail, and such great quality from the other vendors, I was happy that such a discerning couple would choose me as their photographer.

Thanks Keely & Ames!

My girlfriend Julia’s wonderful grandmother Melba passed away recently.  She was a quintessential sweet old grandma, but was also a very interesting woman.  For example:

Larry widowed Melba 16 years ago, but Melba was still quick to speak of him, and always in an loving tone. It was never “Larry”,  it was only “My Larry”.   She spoke often of their travels together and his charm.  She clearly adored him in memory as much as she did when they were together.   I never met Larry, but I have a feeling he felt much the same way.

Julia brought this home from her house after the funeral:

She also brought home beautiful love letters from Larry to Melba.

Even years after her Larry’s death, these words reminded Melba that he loved her, too. I think he knew something most young couples would benefit from.  If you love someone, remind them every so often.