Garrett & Laurie

I am so fortunate to have been chosen by this couple to photograph their wedding. They are an amazing couple and I felt a connection with them the moment we met. From engagements to bridals and all the way through their entire wedding weekend, I felt like part of the family.

I consider it an honor and privilege to share their special day with them but I am most thankful to call them my friends. Congrats Garrett and Laurie, may your honeymoon never end!

Colorado Wedding

Weddings in Colorado have been such a wonderful experience.  Being able to combine the beauty of a new life together with majestic scenery is something I have fallen in love with.  

I recently had the privilege of photographing Hollis and Rebecca's wedding in Woodland Park.  On the way to the reception we made a quick stop at garden of the gods, in between a passing shower, to take some photos.  The results were well worth risking a few rain drops and I'm thankful for our timing.  

Congratulations Hollis and Rebecca, may your marriage be filled with many other beautiful moments.

Moments that caught my eye

I have not had a huge interest in landscape photography, because of that, I rarely pull out my camera to take photos of landscapes or still life.  However, there are some things which fascinate me enough that I will break down and grab my gear.

A sunset in Hawaii with colors combined in a way that I haven't seen, a passing thunderstorm in Colorado with enough lightning to keep me busy for a while, these are things that I felt compelled to try and capture.  After seeing the results, I think I might try this more often.

Sleepy Time

The joy of photographing newborns is that you never know what you are going to get.  Sometimes they are happy, sometimes they are sad, and other times you just catch the right moment.

Little Katelyn must have been bored with all of the photos we were taking and showed me exactly what she thought about the whole thing.  From a sleepy yawn to a slight smile during an apparently good dream, I had a great time with this little angel.

Sunshine

One of the things I love most about senior portraits is scouting for locations.  Sometimes there are obvious locations that everyone likes to use, but the real joy is getting out there and making use of what you have.

I have to admit this particular location was suggested to me but I wasn't given any real advice on what works well and what doesn't.  I basically showed up and started working it out.  I love the challenge of having an idea of how I want the photograph to look then making it happen.

LaKirsten was a lot of fun to work with and I absolutely loved her "serious" look.  It was nice to have the sun shining again and to be able to get some great shots for this sassy senior.

It's snowing...

What do you do when it snows on the day your are scheduled to have your senior photos taken?  You have lots of fun in the studio, what else?!

Despite the gloomy weather, we were able to put together a fun shoot with some great results.  LaKirsten was a lot of fun and she was definitely prepared to show her "serious" side when needed.  Now we just a need some nice weather to roll back in so we can have some fun with outdoor photos too.

How do you want your wedding remembered?

With so many photographers to choose from, how do you really know you are selecting the right one?  There really is no right or wrong answer to this question, but there are some insights that can make the process easier.  

1. You will never know if you are making the right decision for yourself unless you know what you really want.  Narrowing down a style of photography that you prefer will save you from interviewing everyone in the phonebook.  Beware some people also us the term alone to denote their specific style regardless of how they create images.  Compare their "style" with the industry standard for the term they are using.
2. Go with your gut!  A lot of times, brides haven't considered the fact that they will be spending more time than they expect with their photographer on the wedding day.  Pick someone you like and that you feel safe with, otherwise you could be stuck with a grouch all day.
3. Know your budget!  Don't shop for the most expensive photographer if you are unable to afford it.  Most of the time, photographers will work with you to price a package that will accommodate your interests and your budget.
4. Lastly, know who you are getting.  Some busy wedding photographers will sub-contract weddings to other associates.  You will want to know who will be at your wedding and have seen some samples of their work.  This will avoid any confusion on your already busy day. 

This is by no means an all-inclusive list but it should help steer you in the right direction.  Now get out there and start shopping around.

Good vs. Evil

This year we decided to take a different approach with Caylee's Valentine photos.  We decided to have a Cupid with Attitude and a Sweet Cupid portrait.  Of course she absolutely loved the photo sessions, especially the ones with attitude.  

If you look closely, you can just see Pikes Peak in the background.  Despite the very windy day during the Sweet Cupid session, we had a gorgeous view of the mountains.  Living in Colorado does have its benefits.

Thin Ice

While living in Louisiana I became very fond of the local, minor-league hockey team the Mudbugs.  We would often go watch games as a family, booing the opposing team's goalie and chanting "LETS GO MUDBUGS"!!

Yet another benefit of moving to the Air Force Academy is all-access to basically every sport, including hockey.  I'm learning that all-access doesn't automatically guarantee success with photographs though.  The glass is very unforgiving and the pace definitely keeps you searching for the puck.

I am always able to salvage a handful of shots and I enjoy the challenge of trying to catch that perfect shot.  If nothing else, I get to enjoy some great games while continuing to hone my skills.  

By the way, Air Force won beating the Army 3-2...GO AIR FORCE - BEAT THE ARMY!!!!

Photographers vs. Camera owners