Boulder Sweethearts: Karensa and Elliott’s Engagement

One of the best things about being a wedding photographer in a city like Denver with a fairly tight knit wedding industry is that (for better or worse) a lot of times your professional reputation can precede you.  In the case of wedding planner, Jessica Adler, of JA Special Events, I have heard nothing but rainbows and roses. I have had lots of industry people tell me fantastic things about her over the past several years, but for one reason or another, our paths never actually crossed in real time.  Then one day several months back I got an email from her out of the blue saying basically the same thing from her to me.  I was thrilled when she told me she was interested in working with me and getting to know me better!  And when I met with her bride, Karensa, I instantly knew that Jessica and I were overdue to get on each other’s professional radars.  I tend to believe that the kinds of brides a planner attracts is indicative of who they are and what they are all about.  It’s certainly not always the case, and their have been some pretty stark exceptions, but generally, I find it to be fairly consistent.

Karensa is exactly the kind of easy-going, sweet & lovely bride that I can instantly relate too.  Within minutes of meeting her it became clear to me that not only was Karensa going to book me as her wedding photographer, but that I was about to have a new client (and friend) for life.  We talked about some of the other kinds of photography I do, including baby and family, and I could tell she liked the fact that my clients, once mine, stick with me.

That being the case, of course I wasn’t shocked to find that her fiance, Elliott, was equally charming and friendly.  The three of us (plus their dapper pooch) had a great time together wandering around the mountains behind his parents home in North Boulder and took advantage of the magic hour of evening light for their engagement session.  And when we were finishing up, Karensa asked if I would take a few photos of Elliot playing piano for her.  Of course I was more than happy to!  Not only is Elliott a warm and wonderful man whose love for Karensa practically vibrates off of his being, but he is an EXTREMELY talented pianist as well!  I just wanted to keep taking photos of them so he wouldn’t stop.  :-)   Karensa and Elliott, thank you again for choosing me and I can’t wait to create beautiful wedding art with you and your families in just a few short months.  Jessica, thank you so much for recommending this darling couple to me and I can’t wait to work with you!

Colorado Springs Engagement Photography: Alison and Mike

When I was going to college at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, my friends and I spent a lot of time hiking and climbing around in the Garden of the Gods area, but it’s been years since I’ve been back.  When it was suggested as the location for an engagement session with one of my adorable couples for this year, I was ecstatic!  Perhaps my memory isn’t as sharp as I would like to think it is, or perhaps I’ve been in Colorado for so long that I take our state’s amazing landscapes for granted, but as I circled around the Garden of the Gods looking for ideal spots to shoot, I was flooded with a deep appreciation for this extraordinarily beautiful state that I live.  It was almost like seeing it all for the first time again.  After a quick loop in my car, I was feeling pretty confident that it wouldn’t matter where we went, because there didn’t appear to be an angle in any direction that wouldn’t work.  Once I met up with Alison and Mike and their adorable puppies, Sadie and Guy, I couldn’t wait to get started.  They were wearing their love for each other on their sleeves and needed very little to no direction from me!  :-)   We had a gorgeous day to work with and despite it being a popular tourist spot, I was able to crop and frame them to make it look like we were there all by ourselves.  Alison and Mike had their first date at the Garden of the Gods, so it was a perfect place to photograph them before their wedding this summer in Beaver Creek.

I always love photographing in new locations because it forces me to consider everything all at once- the light, the angle of the sun, the backgrounds, the lenses, etc. etc.  There is a lot to think about when I’m doing an engagement session and sometimes I default to locations I know well so that I can focus all of my attention on the couple.  But, there is something to be said about stretching myself to consider all of the photographic technicalities AND engage with my clients.   Talk about practicing my multitasking! Ha!  Alison and Mike, I can’t WAIT for your wedding!  Thank you for being so much fun to work with too.  We are going to have a blast together this summer…  2 months and counting!

Flying with Katie and Ben: Denver Engagement Photography

Have I mentioned that I love to fly??  Oh good, so I don’t have to repeat myself.  Except, oh…  oh I just want to!!!  Hot diggity dog, I LOVE to fly!  I was surely a bird (or maybe a flying dragon) in one of my past lives because the thrill of it never gets old. Flying always makes me happy… Unless of course we happen to be talking about a commercial flight with a middle seat in row that doesn’t recline surrounded by small children…  Hmm, perhaps I should clarify, I love flying in SMALL PRIVATE airplanes. Yes, much better.  :-) Our handsome groom-to-be, Ben, is a seasoned pilot and Katie loves to fly with him (I can’t blame her- that’s so hot!).  When we met, the three of us made all sorts of plans to fly east to an old abandoned barn to do some special engagement pics with the airplane out on the plains…but the weather was determined to stop us that day. We met at Rocky Mountain Metro airport just north of my house at about 6 am and had a beautiful (albeit short) flight around boulder.  Turns out that we were blocked to both the east by low thick cloud cover, and to the west by snow-storms.  We made the most of what time we had anyway and have rescheduled the ‘big idea’, which is lucky for me because it means I get to go flying again AND complete my photographic vision with this gorgeous couple at the old barn out in the middle of nowhere.  Hurray!!  Have I mentioned I love to fly? ;-)

Flying Engagement Photographs with Katie and Ben in Boulder, CO

Have I mentioned that I love to fly?? Oh good, so I don’t have to repeat myself. Except, oh… oh I just want to!!! Hot diggity dog, I LOVE to fly! I was surely a bird (or maybe a flying dragon) in one of my past lives because the thrill of it never gets old. Flying always makes me happy… Unless of course we happen to be talking about a commercial flight with a middle seat in row that doesn’t recline surrounded by small children… Hmm, perhaps I should clarify, I love flying in SMALL PRIVATE airplanes. Yes, much better. :-) Our handsome groom-to-be, Ben, is a seasoned pilot and Katie loves to fly with him (I can’t blame her- that’s so hot!). When we met, the three of us made all sorts of plans to fly east to an old abandoned barn to do some special engagement pics with the airplane out on the plains…but the weather was determined to stop us that day. We met at Rocky Mountain Metro airport just north of my house at about 6 am and had a beautiful (albeit short) flight around Boulder and surrounding mountains. Turns out that we were blocked to the east by low thick cloud cover, and to the west by snow-storms. We made the most of what time we had anyway and have rescheduled the ‘big idea’, which is lucky for me because it means I get to go flying again AND complete my photographic vision with this gorgeous couple at the old barn out in the middle of nowhere. Hurray!! Have I mentioned I love to fly? ;-)