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Events and Personal Photography

This is where I will include photographs from various events and photojournalism entries about events in my own life as a wedding photographer in Denver, Colorado and destination photographer around the world.

Ritz-Carlton Cakes: Pastry Chef

July 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It seems like weeks ago now (the summer is getting so busy!) that I met with the lovely ladies (and gentlemen) at the Denver Ritz-Carlton to photograph a special project for them.  Leslie Ann had designed some beautiful cakes so that the Ritz could get some portfolio images to show their clients the wonderful work she is capable of!  Brides and Grooms getting married at the Ritz may not know it, but there is an incredibly talented chef/artist creating the custom wedding cakes there.  I recommend trusting her completely!  We got to eat the cupcakes after the shoot and they were nothing short of heavenly. Delicious.  Thank you so much Angela, Leslie-Ann, Shannon, and everyone that helped me that day!  You are a wonderful team and I love every opportunity I have to work with you. 

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Flying to Sun Valley

July 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

One of my life goals is to someday get my pilots license.  Anytime I have an opportunity to fly with my parents and I’m available, I will take it!  I didn’t have a wedding over the 4th of July weekend this year so I was free to fly with them and my sister, Jesse, to visit our family in Sun Valley, Idaho.  My cousin, Marron, was visiting from New Zealand with her two adorable little boys, Josh and Rafe.  I hadn’t seen them since Josh was 8 mo. old.  It was so great to see her, my aunt and uncle, and getting to know those little kiwi second cousins of mine was a treat!

We started the trip at 6 am out of the Fort Morgan airport-Idaho bound. The flight was amazing.  We actually flew through a full rainbow circle near the continental divide.  It was crazy beautiful. (Sorry no photos, it happened too fast!)  We had brilliant, clear (and mostly smooth) skies all the way.  We took a short detour to fly over Jackson Hole and by the Grand Tetons.  I went to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone a couple of years ago on vacation, so the scenery was very familiar, but seeing it from the air gave me a whole new perspective!  This earth is truly an incredible place.

We went to the local Rodeo on the fourth and the little guys dressed up like cowboys to go mutton’ bustin’.  If you’ve never seen mutton bustin’ first hand, you are definitely missing out.  It’s hysterical!  And yes, it seems like a little bit of child abuse and animal abuse rolled into one- the kids get so scared. (Who can blame them?!!)  They mostly ALL cry.  The sheep almost certainly rolls over on them…. but I guess it probably feels like a big fluffy mattress rolling on you.  (At least that’s what the adults like to believe!)  But, it is so dang funny! And, if those little mutton busters are the same kiddos that become the bronco and bull riders, then I would say it definitely builds ones courage and strength (either that or it causes brain damage-it might be a toss up) because seeing the bucking broncos and bulls up close is INTENSE and scary.  I would honestly be terrified to be on the back of one of those massive animals!  And if you are wondering if they get hurt, the answer is YES.  Check out the series at the end of the guy getting his face stomped on by the bull. The whole rodeo experience was fascinating. And so fun to photograph!

Anyway, it was a short but great little trip.  Marron, I love and miss you guys.  I hope you move back to the states soon too!

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Doug Gordon’s Photography Workshop: NY

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s been two months since my last blog post and I am a little embarrassed that I have let myself get so far behind.  Traveling can have that effect on me and fortunately I’ve gotten to travel a lot in the recent weeks!  The first trip was for this incredible photo workshop with Doug Gordon (a posing and business genius) that was a week long in Lindenhurst, NY.  I met a bunch of great photographers from all over the country and world, learned a lot of new things from Doug and his awesome team, and had a really fun week in a new city!   It was my first time to New York and I was not disappointed.  And…I may or may not have ‘almost’ won a car bomb competition with Vinnie on our last night out together.  ;-)
We didn’t do a ton of shooting at this particular workshop, but we did have a few great opportunities to see Doug’s method of shooting, lighting, and flow posing at work.  It’s always hard for me to photograph in large groups, like in a photography workshop situation.  I usually end up feeling claustrophobic and I am not a fan of having to fight for a spot to shoot from.  (I would make a terrible paparazzi!!). But I managed to get a decent spot for a few seconds each time.  Here are a few of my favorites from the week.  If there are any photographers out there considering this workshop, I give it 5 stars, two thumbs up, and a definite high recommend- Great event!  :-)

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WPPI 2010 Las Vegas

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

WPPI 2010 Las Vegas I get to see and spend time with some of my best and most passionate friends. I get to learn, be inspired, see all the new products, and of course… party!  After all it IS Vegas!!  WPPI is different every year for me, in that some years I have gone there looking for information, some years I have gone there with products to research and seek out at the trade show, some years have been focused on the programs and education, but this year, my focus was on the photographic community that I am so entrenched in and that I hold so dear to me.  Seeing people from all over the country that I have gotten to know so well either virtually or in real life is always interesting, usually eye-opening, and ultimately a rewarding experience.  This year that seemed especially true.  Thank you to all of the wonderful friends I have for being so…well… wonderful.  You know who you are…

My favorite program of the event was the closing program, Photographers Ignite.: Ignite is a style of presentation where participants are given five minutes to speak on a subject accompanied by 20 slides. Each slide is displayed for 15 seconds, and slides are automatically advanced.  Some were moving, some were just plain funny, some more inspirational and motivational, and all mixed together it was a really FAST two hours! You can find the videos from the ignite speakers here.   Don’t miss Kevin Kubota, Jed Taufer, Doug Gordon, Joy and Jules aka the Bianchi twins,  Uncle “Bob”, or Gerry Gihonis!

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