This time of year is always interesting. Though I meet with a lot of clients, I don't bring my camera. This is the big Wedding Season Booking Period. As much fun as I have behind my lens capturing life changing moments, I also love these face to face periods of the photography business. I love listening to couples plans for their big day and relish the chance to get to know them as people... when they don't have a camera shoved in their face. 

For those of you looking to book a photographer this year, make a point of going to meet the person. I always tell my clients: First and foremost you have to like ME. If you don't, no matter how great my photos are, it won't be the best experience for you. I never take it personally when I meet with someone that later books another photographer. I want YOU to be happy. I like to laugh, make jokes, get goofy and that isn't for everyone. 

This wedding season, while you race around to lock down your photographer before they are all booked up, make sure you take the time to relax, take a deep breath, and decide if the person really is for you. Your wedding is an experience and you want every aspect of it to be as positive as possible. You can't control if Uncle Ernie gets drunk and falls on the cake, but you can make sure the person behind the lens capturing the moment can make you smile about it, both at the time and later in print.

Most of the time as couples we get pictures taken for the big things: engagements, marriage, maternity, baby's first photos…etc. We often forget to celebrate the moments in-between, the one year anniversary, the five year anniversary and so on. Life just seems to pass us by sometimes. I just love it when couples a year or two later want to celebrate their love with another photo-shoot. Anniversary shots bring a different kind of energy to the table. When you take engagement shots you are anxious, nervous, excited. When couples take anniversary shots they are relaxed with each other and have little inside jokes and looks that they have developed since the day they said I DO. These moments are special to see as a photographer and are a constant reminder that the honeymoon period never has to be over for soul-mates. 

It takes a rare and beautiful girl to wear a dress and heels in 40 degree weather to go traipsing through the mountains. Rare and beautiful doesn't even begin to describe Alex. Though she credits her amazing mother for teaching her how to pose more naturally than the best paid models in front of a camera, I like to think it was really the camera's ability to capture the true essence of this stunning woman that made her the easiest person I've ever photographed. 

There was only one thing that shone more brightly than her radiant smile, the glow of true love that they naturally exude towards each other. Though these crazy love birds don't have kids, there is a quote from The Office that reminds me of them: 

Pam - "When you're a kid you assume your parents are soulmates. My kids are going to be right about that."

People who assume these two were destined to be… are right about that. 

Any guy willing to help curl his future wife's hair for their engagement shoot and spend a good chunk of it serenading her with Grandpa's banjo, is a keeper!

I was so honored to share this moment of their lives with them. It will be hard for every couple I work with after this to top how fun and relaxed this photo-session was!

Oh yea, and Kyle ...you did pretty good too =)

I got to shoot pictures of this beautiful baby today. I love taking photos in Evergreen, but I can't pass up the chance to photograph in beautiful backyards either. I love me some cute family at home photos! 

Back in the day… like way back in the day (think before refrigeration and sliced bread) a wedding was a community event. Entire towns would get together to help make the day as special as possible for the bride and groom. Often times this involved people building structures like a barn on the couple's new property where not only the wedding would be held, but where they would then store their horses and hay for the rest of their days. It was a beautiful concept, everyone join to help the loving union of two people. Sadly the tradition has faded for most. Weddings today mean people show up ten minutes before the ceremony starts and leave after they've worn a hole in their dancing shoes. 

That is why a wedding like Aleece and Kris' is all that much more special. The idea of community and togetherness was alive and bursting from every decoration, bouquet, and wedding facet. Every detail was hand made from the food (Mom let me come with her when she picked veggies for the wedding dinner) to the signs, chopped wood for the fire, wedding dress, wine…etc. Everyone chipped in. 

You couldn't have asked for a more picturesque day. The Bride and bridesmaids got ready in sewing room where her mother and Iris actually created the wedding dress. The Groom and groomsmen put themselves together in the machine shop that helped make the wooden decorations.  Friends brought in homemade photo-booth for people to play around in all day. 

If you weren't chopping, pinning, decorating, or cooking you were wrapping silver wear in napkins or helping to straighten the hay bales.  Or, in my case, photographing. 

Though it can be a lot of work to have a wedding on your family property, the love and friendship that blossoms when people step up to help you put together your special day can be magical. 

You might have started out as strangers, but when you left the Raw wedding you were family. Thank you to all the loving guests who made sure this photographer was getting enough water and sunscreen!

Thank you Aleece and Kris for letting me be part of your special day, it was truly amazing. I'm so glad you two found your better half =)

Abby is a Chef, and a beauty. With the fall leaves changing in Colorado we knew it was the perfect time to play around and take some fun portrait photos. The best thing about Abby... she goes with the flow. She didn't blink an eye when I suggested playing with leaves or laying down on the forest floor. She truly is a joy to take pictures of =)

I'm loving fall, how about you? 

I can't believe this week Haven turns one! It feels like it was only yesterday I was taking these shots for her parents, and now I'm gearing up to take her first birthday photos. 

My favorite thing about Reese and Eric's maternity shoot was how much love infused itself into every aspect of the day.  Starting with the Valentines day card that Reese used to tell Eric that he was going to be a father, all the way down to kisses they shared even when I didn't have my camera out. 

Most wives don't want their husbands to wear hats for photo-sessions. It's understandable, it can hide their face. Yet Reese let Eric do whatever made him feel comfortable. These photos were for both of them, a symbol of their love and the new life they were creating... and when Reese thinks of Eric, she often thinks of him in his hat. 

For Eric's part, he always had one hand close to the belly... already a protective father and Haven wasn't even born yet. 

They are amazing parents and I can't wait to do this again... with Haven this time, for baby #2

My senior photo-session with Robbert was pretty typical. Robbert wanted something more laid back, Mom wanted something more formal. To keep both happy we went with a traditional senior photo shoot but switched into Robbert's favorite clothes for half of them. 

Using typical Senior poses, Mom was happy about all the shots, and Robbert got to relax out of a suit and tie for most of the shoot. 

I always find it best to compromise in these situations. When you do half "formally" and half for "fun" you end up getting a good mix of photos that all of the family will like.