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Colorado Wedding Photography at Spruce Mountain Ranch: Blizzardly Bliss

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

When I first met with Karter and Steve last fall, we talked about a beautiful spring day with an outdoor ceremony on the tennis courts and all the scenic places around Spruce Mountain Ranch in Larkspur CO for photo ops.  Of course, in March in Colorado there is a very real possibility that the weather will surprise you.  And as March 9th drew closer the weather forecast became more and more ominous.  I began preparing myself mentally for an entirely different scenario as the weatherman was calling for up to two feet of snow, icy roads, and full blown blizzard conditions.  I left about three hours early that morning to ensure I wouldn’t have any issues getting there, and in addition to my camera bags and lighting gear, I also packed my heavy winter coat, snow pants, a hat, gloves, and snow boots.  It was a good thing too, because Karter and Steve weren’t going to let a little (ok, a LOT) of snow upset their wedding day!  :-) They were both in wonderful spirits and were even excited about going out in the blizzard to take their couples photos after the ceremony.  It was quite the adventure! Not only did we all get blasted by snow in the face (and the lens) taking photos outside, but the van we were driving around in got stuck in a huge snowdrift and had to be pushed out by a tractor.  Literally, a big green tractor!

I was lucky to have the amazingly talented Sarah Fischer by my side as my second shooter and we had a fantastic time together with Karter, Steve, and both of their loving and lovely families.  I believe that it speaks volumes about a couple and their families when, given the treacherous conditions we were dealing with and the location of the wedding, only two guests out of about 130 didn’t make it due to the weather.  I have always been a bit of a snow bunny myself, so I was thrilled that this sweet couple from California were up to facing the cold temperatures and blowing snow to take some of the most unique bride and groom portraits I have ever had the opportunity to take.  The day was filled with lots of laughter and happy tears of joy; beautiful decor; and some of the most heartfelt speeches by friends and family that I have ever heard.  And even though it was one of the more difficult scenarios that I have ever personally faced in my wedding photography career so far, I am thrilled with the images that Sarah and I were able to capture.  It just goes to show you that given the right attitude, nothing can dampen the excitement and joy of a wedding day.

Karter and Steve, thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing me to spend your wedding day with you documenting all of the serious and silly moments.  I know that it will be a day you will all remember forever and I hope that these images bring you right back to that extraordinary day every time you look at them.  I had an absolutely amazing time with you and want you to know that I believe you both deserve all the best life has to offer!  Congratulations again and thank you for your fantastic attitudes and adventurous spirits.  These images will certainly stand out in my portfolio for years and years to come.

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Fall Crooked Willow Wedding with Cloud 9 Bliss, Denver

December 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Amy and Travis’s October 5th Crooked Willow Wedding was another one of my favorites this year!  I absolutely loved working with this bride and groom and their love for each other was a plain as day.  Not only that, but Crooked Willow Farms is a favorite venue of mine in Colorado in the sense that there are so many ways to set it up ans so many awesome places to take photos.  And despite the near freezing temperatures that day, we were able to capture some gorgeous outdoor shots with the fall colors.  Ann Marlin and Jill Kull from Cloud 9 Bliss were the brilliant coordinators that pulled it all together and designed both the ceremony site and the reception room were both “firsts” for me at that venue.  I loved the way the long family style tables looked in that room.  It was also the first time I have photographed a ceremony in Lola’s loft, which is generally the dancing area, and thanks to the beautiful lighting efforts by LMD productions, it was actually a lot easier than I had originally anticipated.  The most difficult part about it was not being able to navigate around the edges like I normally do to get different angles.  But given the large number of guests, there was no other way to set it up.  When I realized I was going to be stuck in one spot (up front) I had to get creative and think on my feet.  It turned out the best spot to get the ceremony photos I love to take, was from behind the wedding party. up against the back wall. And because I had my favorite right hand gal (and studio manager) Julia Timmer, totally backing me up with the center aisle post, we were able to get all the important images regardless of the tight quarters and tricky lighting scenario.

My favorite hairstylist in Denver, Erin Ferris, did a gorgeous job on the brides hair and Keegan Steele did flawless airbrush foundation make-up on all the ladies.  Everyone looked stunning!  The perfect Petal did an outstanding job (as always!) on all the florals. Epicurean Catering served up a delicious meal, and Mulberris Cake shop made the delightfully simple and sweet wedding cake.  For the reception; Dueling Pianos!…just like on the couple’s first date at Sing Sing.  That was a first time I had seen that done at a reception and it was a blast.  The party was a huge success and everyone danced their butts off all night long.

I absolutely love working with such a talented and professional team of vendors.  It makes my job as a wedding photographer so much fun.  Great job everyone!!  It was an A-team effort for sure.  And to the lovely couple, Amy and Travis, thank you for being such good sports and braving the cold with me.  I wish you all the best in your life!  Please call me when it’s time to expand the family.  ;-)

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Breckenridge Wedding Extravaganza at Ten Mile Station

November 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I know, I know, it’s nearly December and I am just now sharing my Sept. 22nd wedding.  It’s been a crazy fall to put it mildly!  But, in my defense, after four days of photography & over 10,000 images between myself, my wonderful studio manager, Julia Timmer, and my fabulous second shooter, Sarah Fischer, we’ve been literally digging out from under them all for weeks.  And, it has been worth every minute.  This extraordinary wedding weekend was truly a one of a kind! In 11 years of wedding photography, I have never seen so many spectacular details all under one roof configured with such a colorful, contemporary & vivacious style.  Ten Mile station in Breckenridge was literally transformed from a rustic outdoorsy mountain venue into a wedding wonderland more daring than even Alice would have dreamed up.  It was gorgeous inside and out, from top to bottom and side to side.  Literally.  Take that a combine it with the most spectacular fall weekend of the year.  And poof, you have pure wedding magic.

Kelly Karli, along with her darling assistant Taylor, from Frosted Pink Weddings were the extracalfragalistic executors/engineers behind our mastermind bride, Cyndi, who communicated her vision for her wedding day down to the last thread.  Design Works and LMD Productions built her dream into a reality.  And I was the lucky girl who made an instant connection to the bride within about 10 seconds of meeting her.  It was a match made from “hello.” And with a cast of over 200 people working this event and managing all of the moving parts and pieces, it went off without a hitch…well almost.  Suffice it to say that I learned my lesson the hard way regarding a certain vendor with no regard for a very precise timeline thus creating the most intense 40 minutes of low light photography following a ceremony I have experienced in my entire career.  I think I may have lost a year or two of my life that day.  And while I have always worked best under pressure… apparently even I have my limits!  But no matter, who wants to live to be 100 anyway?  ;-)   And in all seriousness, at the end of the day, the images are gorgeous, if I do say so myself.  Cyndi and Mike are married for happily ever-after!  I have two new friends and clients till death-do-us part. And all of the vendors involved can be proud to have been a part of such an extraordinary affair.  There isn’t a single one of us that will ever forget Cyndi and Mike Morey!!  And to the beautiful newly wed couple, I wish you all the love & happiness you deserve now and forever!  And…I can’t wait for your next big adventure…

A giant thank you to everyone who helped make this wedding a reality.  You are all absolutely amazing to work with!

  • Wedding Planner: Frosted Pink Weddings
  • Hair: Kacee Picot
  • Videographer: Pure Cinematography
  • Venue: Ten Mile Station
  • Band: Phat Daddy
  • Floral, Decor, Linens, ect: Design Works
  • Lighting: LMD Productions
  • Cake: Elegant Bakery

 

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Beaver Creek Wedding: Megan & Darren oh-so-in-Love

August 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I had such a blast at this wedding with Megan and Darren and both of their incredibly sweet and gracious families.  From the moment I started communicating with Megan and her mother Mimi I knew I was going to love them!  They booked me with some of the nicest compliments on my work that I can remember getting.  And since they were planning the wedding from out of state/out of the country, we didn’t actually meet in person until a couple of months before hand.  But as soon as we were in the same room together I knew that all of my instincts about them were right!  From the moment I laid eyes on them, I could feel their genuine goodness and warmth of spirit just pouring off of them like light.  And as if they weren’t sweet enough all on their own, Mimi brought me the most delicious true Belgium dark chocolate I have ever tasted!  How she knew the way straight to my heart I’ll never know-ha!

Besides the wonderful couple and their great families, I also had the pleasure of working with one of my favorite coordinators in Colorado!  JoAnn Moore and her fabulous assistant, Mindy, from Mountains and Meadows are always an absolute joy to work with and so much fun to be around on a wedding day!  I was lucky enough to have my strong and steady second shooter and studio manager, Julia Timmer, shooting along next to me all day and after having an incredibly hard time narrowing it down, I think the images we took together are some of our best work to date.  More than anything, the credit goes to Megan and Darren for the look of love they had on their faces all day long.  It’s really easy to take gorgeous photos of beautiful people as in love with each other as Megan and Darren clearly are.  Take a look for yourself and see!

With a beautiful traditional ceremony at the Vail Chapel and a smashing reception for nearly 300 guests at the Park Hyatt, I was not at a disadvantage in location either.  Photographing around the Vail & Beaver Creek Villages is one of my favorite parts about the mountain weddings in Colorado!  Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who helped make this day so special including Rose Petals for the beautiful floral, and the Wyane Foster Band for such a rocking good dance party.  Megan, you will forever be my cute-as-a-button bride.  Julie and I couldn’t stop saying that about you all day long. :-) And Darren, you were as gracious and classy a groom as I’ve ever met.  You two truly deserve all the best the world has to offer.  Please don’t be strangers!  Congrats again and thank you so much for the honor.

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