an intimate engagement: jennie and randy

I am the type of person who, when a camera is put in front of my face, I either smile big, or I make a face. I can honestly tell you that I have no idea how my clients do it . . . they come into our first shoot together not knowing at all how I shoot, what to expect, and what I expect of them. And what I usually tell them is what I have heard several times from other photographers, but it's the truth, so I will say it here . . . the best moments in photographs happen after I've given you an instruction. They happen when, after I direct a certain pose, my couple looks at each other and laughs out loud. They happen when my wonderful, handsome groom is whispering to his bride that I have something in my tooth, she cracks up laughing, and while she is looking at me to see exactly what is in my teeth, he is adoring her in an intimate, loving way . . .

The most flattering, honoring comment I ever received from a bride was that I made them look sexy, and beautiful, in a way that nobody else would ever be able to capture in just a random, candid photograph. That is my goal. Please know I know the importance of safe, wonderful portraits for you, for mom and dad, for grandma and grandpa. But I also know the emotion behind a beautiful, intimate, sensual photograph that captures a moment between two people truly in love. No matter how much I may set up a moment, those moments don't happen unless the love is there, and strong, and they are simply given the opportunity to be reminded. Those are my favorite photos, and they are photographs I will take for the rest of my life, and will hang happily on my walls.

Jennie and Randy met me at the Gallatin Gateway Inn for an indoor shoot this weekend . . . they were here from Wyoming for one last weekend before their June wedding at the Story Mansion, and I took the opportunity to photograph them intimately as much as I could. It was a wonderful shoot for me because although I focused on these types of photos, their personalities together were joyous and fun, with a lot of laughter and big smiles. And on their wedding day, the sun will shine, and I am very excited to capture those types of moments for them as well. Jennie and Randy, thank you for being so fun, beautiful and kind to work with . . . enjoy!









We had about a 3-minute window to shoot outside . . .









And then we came back inside to warm up with some fake tea and a snuggle ;)





A very Happy Memorial Day, and a very Happy Monday! Stay warm and close :)

gone with the wind

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Here are my thoughts at the moment . . . 1) I just ate two pretty big slices of pizza; 2) I have two shoots to wrap up this week that I better get my hiney on pronto (coming up next after this blog post); and 3) I am missing some good, personal blog posts. :( I always love sharing that side of my life. I am planning on becoming One with my blog again, especially over this long weekend . . . the hard part is recovering from such a sleepy winter.

I honestly have not been up to much other than a few recent travels, one to Walla Walla, Washington, wine-tasting with Joe's parents and having one of the most lovely weekends in a very long time. Two weeks ago I traveled back to New York to photograph the wedding of one of my childhood best friends - those weddings mean so much not only because of the history, but because she was so grateful to have me there. Those personal elements make the day a marriage, not just a wedding. The shorties are still short and sweet, and Joe is still very tall and loving. : )

But life in Montana is freaking WINDY!!!!

The real purpose of this post is to seriously elaborate on this insane Montana weather that just seems to get more bizarre each year . . . right now, it is a constant flow of wind and rain, with a few bouts of sunshine and a lot of rescheduled photo shoots. It is also a guarantee that if a client and I reschedule a photo shoot because we have to travel, the clouds surrounding us are dark blue, and the forecast at the time of commencement is lightening and a tornado, it will end up an incredibly beautiful evening. Boo . . . but one day you can't reschedule is your wedding day. You are stuck with the light you get, and the breeze you get, and yet quite often, because you have no choice but to embrace it, it adds a beautiful element to a photograph . . .











Group portraits are the best right before a storm :)



Hopefully June brings some genuine warmth, good photo opportunities, and a few trees in our backyard. :)

sarah and chad are engaged!

This darling couple came back to Montana from Texas for the Easter holiday, and in a rare bout of weather luck in April, we only had to reschedule the shoot one time . . . the light in these photos is why I am so picky about holding off for a beautiful, sunlit evening if we can . . .

















And my favorite . . . :)



I can't wait to do this again wedding-style! Sarah and Chad, thank you for being so kind and wonderful to work with!

stefanie and kyle: april 30, 2011

One of my most favorite people, Stefanie, married quite a lovely young man, Kyle, just a couple of weeks ago here in Montana . . . the ceremony was held at Hope Lutheran Church, with a beautiful reception following at the Emerson Ballroom. It was a beautiful day, an emotional day, and a ridiculously CUTE day with Stefanie's nieces, Lilly and Anja, shining their sweet little light on Stef :) Enjoy!



First look between the bride and a bridesmaid ;)















Click HERE to view a slideshow of the day!

two little girls are 6 and 4!

Miss Thing and Miss Thang, otherwise known as Ava and Stella, turned the big 0-6 and the big 0-4 this week . . . May 3rd and May 4th, respectively. Everyone always tells me how precise I got it, and I will admit I do love their fun, coordinating little birthdays. They are such sweet girls . . . Ava is totally girlie at heart, and Stella is my little tomboy. Joe bought them a Barbie Jeep for their special day, which Stella jumps in and out of now without opening the door, and Ava holds onto the bar and shakes her hair in the wind. Good lord . . . Happy Birthday to the sweetest little shorties a mama could ask for!







Here's to many more bad hair days! :)