A lesson in connection : friends to be found in the most unlikely places.

For the last four days I have done something I thought that I would never do : I photographed a pet blogging convention.

You heard me right. Before I met Chloe, Yvonne and Tom (founders of BlogPaws), I didn’t even know such thing existed! I did not expect anything in particular, I walked in trying to figure out how on earth I was going to be working to cover a whole convention, by myself, for 3 and half days.

I am a wedding and portrait photographer. I photograph dancers, fine art, underwater. I photograph extreme people with extreme passions,  I spend hours editing to perfection, I only deliver completely perfect images. AND I TAKE MY TIME.

And then this :

BlogPaws expected me to cover a collection of events and products and candids and vendors and sponsors and signs and dogs, cats, ferrets, one rat, people, etc etc etc etc ad infinitum. Be at 4 places at once, capture, capture, capture.

Deliver all the selected images at the end of every. single. day. which for me was about 300 images a day. If you are a photographer you are probably starting to roll your eyes. Impossible eh?

By now, some of you know me well enough to guess that I am up for challenges in any shape or form. Challenges are what I live for, I put a little in my coffee every morning. A no challenge day is a bad day and several days of mundane life turns me into a restless evil monster (ask my husband!)

And so all I thought was : watch me. I shall kick ass.

What I knew was that it was super exciting to be traveling to Phoenix like a grown up without children, be with people, be challenged.

What I didn’t know at the time was what a BLAST I was going to have. Yes it was exhausting. Yes I was on my feet 12 hours a day, running from one side to another, with two cameras, hanging from my trusted HoldFast camera holster.

However I felt so pumped up for 4 days that I hardly slept, running on the electric energy I felt constantly run through the entire convention area. I never really felt the exhaustion until the day I left.

Most importantly I found a community of passionate people who’s business was far from what I do (Dance/wedding versus pet blogging? hello?) but no matter how different we were, we spoke the same language, the purposeful language of people who love what they do, are passionate about it, are dedicated to their craft.

And so I have found a very new and unlikely tribe : Animal advocates, bloggers, educators of the pet industry.

And so for four days I connected with most of the 500 attendees, their pets, their blogs, their passion. And it was EXCELLENT.

I am home now with all images delivered on time (yay!! mission accomplished!!!) a suitcase full of gifts from the sponsors, vendors and BlogPaws, a bunch of business cards and new friends.

And new ideas.

<3

 

BLogPaws Convention at the Sheraton at Wildhorse Pass
BlogPaws was hosted at the Sheraton at Wildhorse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona. A gorgeous area with golf courses, a casino and a beautiful hotel and convention center

 

Inside the Sheraton Convention center in Phoenix
Inside the convention center we were fed by attentive and friendly staff at the Sheraton

 

Bloggers and a Petsmart employee! with our four legged friends
Bloggers with their pets

 

Dogs and Cats fashion
Pet Fashion

 

Events and Classes at BlogPaws
Events and Classes at BlogPaws

 

The BlogPaws Nose to Nose Award dinner
The BlogPaws Nose to Nose Award dinner

Lyndsey + Jack’s Wedding at the Space Gallery

the wedding rings
the wedding rings
the dress, hanging in the Lobby
the dress, hanging in the Lobby
Lyndsey in her hotel room
Lyndsey in her hotel room
Portrait of the groom
Portrait of the groom
Jack in the hotel lobby
Jack in the hotel lobby
Lyndsey in her beautiful dress
Lyndsey in her beautiful dress
Lyndsey is waiting for Jack
Lyndsey is waiting for Jack
The first look
The first look
The first look
The first look
The first hug
The first hug
Lyndsey and Jack's first look at civic center park
Lyndsey and Jack’s first look at civic center park
Lyndsey and Jack
Lyndsey and Jack
Lyndsey and Jack's family at Civic Center Park
Lyndsey and Jack’s family at Civic Center Park
The siblings are crossing the street at the Art District
The siblings are crossing the street at the Art District
Lyndsey is led by her dad to the ceremony
Lyndsey is led by her dad to the ceremony
The space Gallery from above
The space Gallery from above
You may now kiss the bride
You may now kiss the bride

Table setup

the reception
the reception
The first dance
The first dance
Lyndsey dances with her dad
Lyndsey dances with her dad
Jack and his mom
Jack and his mom
The Party
The Party
the party
the party

Jill and Ross : Part two (The wedding)

Jill, Ross and the rest of their family arrived at Overlook Ranch a few days before the wedding. This beautiful venue is also a retreat where nature lovers go on hikes and take a break from their busy lives. The little cabins surround the main house, little dirt paths speckled with pine cones connect each of them .

On that day, inside one of the cottages, Jill, her sister, her mom and her closest friends were getting ready. The mood was quiet, meditational even. There was wholesome food on the table,wild flowers ready to be placed in the bridesmaid’s hair. There was sunshine sipping through the windows and Jill was doing her make up.  I grabbed Jill’s dress and headed outside, looking for the perfect place for the first shot of the day.

I have known Jill and her family for a few years and it was with my heart full that I witnessed my lovely bride get into her dress. I saw her hug her dad, her mom, and finally meet Ross in the woods outside the cabin. Everyone cried at that wedding, except for Jill. She laughed the joyous laughter of a child on a Christmas day. She danced and hugged and ate and danced some more. She was life itself, celebrating the beauty this very special day.

Jill and Ross’s wedding was a great big embrace of all the family and friends present. It was also in communion with the breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding them. It was a mix of traditions and shamanic rituals, of Jill and Ross walking in with their entire family, and leaving, dancing up the aisle as husband and wife.

I am grateful to have be present. I am grateful for this family.

A Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Overlook is a beautiful and casual venue located just a few minutes from Estes Park
 A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
The venue
A Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
The Dress and Ring
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Our Bride is getting ready in her cabin
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Jill received the help from her sister and her mom to get ready for her day
A mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Dad’s first look
A mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Ross getting ready in the main cabin
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Ross and Jill had a first look
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Ross
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
A candid portrait of the bride
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Bridal Portait
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
The rings were tied in a ribbon to be passed around the guest during the ceremony
A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
The groom and bride’s family walked with them to the ceremony site
A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
Love under a giant sky
A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
The ceremony
A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
The couple’s first Kiss as husband and wife!
A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
Love this one!!! totally in the spirit of the wedding
A Casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Ross did not want groomsmen, so everyone became a groomsman
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Lots of hugs, laughter and love came through during this wedding’s group pictures
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
The bridesmaids
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Jill and Ross and the mountain behind
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Jill and Ross, walking as husband and bride
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Golden hour portrait of this beautiful couple
A casual Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
We took the last bit of sun and captured some more images of Ross and jill
A casual mountain wedding in Estes Park
The Bride in golden hour
A casual Wedding in Estes Park
View from the reception
A casual Wedding in Estes Park
Sarah is tying a beautiful red apron around Jill’s waist, to spare her dress from splashes of bbq sauce
A casual mountain Wedding in Estes Park
Jill and and Ross had a sweetheart table…not for long!
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Jill and Ross’s first dance was epic!
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Jill and Ross and their parent dance. It is always a big deal, no matter what people say
A Mountain Wedding in Estes Park
The wedding reception turned into a dance floor
A mountain wedding in Estes Park
Jill and Ross posed for a light painting session

 

Vendors :

Photographer : Annabelle Denmark Photography 

Venue : The Overlook Ranch 

Catering : Smokin’ Dave’s

View of wedding highlights:

 

Jill and Ross : Part one (the engagement)

I met Jill through Art as Action. She is a gorgeous dancer, and a beautiful woman. I love the way she laughs, how her presence brightens any room. I was ecstatic when she asked me to photograph her wedding, and we started with her engagement session in Boulder.

Engagement Session in boulder
We started our session at Chautauqua, a public space near the Flatirons
A Boulder Engagement Session
The park has this open space with huge trees, we took advantage of the beautiful morning light to get some yummy booked backgrounds
A boulder Engagement Session
As we made our way toward Pearl Street we found this lovely garden on the west side. This led to some secluded images
An Engagement Session in Boulder
At the bank, cause that’s how we roll
A boulder Engagement Session
Jill and Ross didn’t need much directions to pose. Everything felt spontaneous and incredibly sexy
A Boulder engagement session
the classic couple walk turned into a dance and turned into another walk
Boulder Engagement Session
Jill’s dress revealed her back and tattoo so of course I have to focus on that for a while 🙂
Engagement Session in Boulder
Jill and Ross enjoying a bit of the almost dry grass at the place where everyone smokes pot any other day than on Sunday early morning. Sunday is for session 😉
Engagement session in boulder
Jill and Ross trying to get away from me
An Engagement Session in Boulder
The Boulder theater is an original 1920s theater. It is lovely inside, and gorgeous outside
A Boulder Engagement Session
If anyone can do the dip, it is this lovely couple.

 

Location : https://www.chautauqua.com

Boulder : https://bouldercolorado.gov

 

Brittany + Jacob : An urban wedding in Greenwood Village

Brittany and Jacob god married on a late summer day at the Curtis Ballroom. This very sweet couple crafted a colorful and warm atmosphere for their family and friends. I have known Brittany for a little while and love her laugh, sweet personality and artistry. Grateful for this beautiful wedding day <3

Special thanks to Hunter Odenthal who assisted Brian and I  on this wedding.

An urban Colorado Wedding
The dress, flowers and shoes in the yellow, white and black color scheme of the wedding
An urban Colorado Wedding
Brittany is getting ready at the Hyatt hotel 🙂
an urban Colorado Wedding
Brittany’s dress, hanging from the balcony. Do not try this at home!
Colorado urban wedding
Jacob is getting ready in his hotel room at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech
Denver urband wedding
Brittany and her bridesmaids overlooking the impressing hotel lobby
An urband Colorado Wedding
Timeless black and white images of the groom and his groomsmen, hanging out at the hotel’s balconies
Denver urban wedding
Brittany is in front of the Curtis, she hold her custom made bouquet of sunflowers
An urban Colorado Wedding
Jacob and his groomsmen in front of the Curtis Ballroom
An Urban Colorado Wedding
Brittany and her Bridesmaids are standing in front of the Curtis Ballroom
An urban Colorado Wedding
Brittany and her bridesmaids are crossing the street of Greenwood Village, Beatles style
an urband Colorado wedding
In any urban setting I like to find a road for my wedding party to walk on.
An urban Colorado Wedding
The weeding party gathered in the venue’s entrance for a formal. Small spaces sometimes allows for creative posing that create timeless images
An urban Colorado Wedding
Brittany and her dad walk down the aisle!
Colorado urban wedding
Brittany and Jacob’s ceremony was at 6 pm, which allowed for soft golden tones on their pictures
Urban Colorado Wedding
Jacob’s nephew had the rings, his dad is helping him untie them from the pillow
Colorado Urban Wedding
Brittany and Jacob poured paint on a canvas to symbolize their union
An urban wedding in Colorado
The Curtis Ballroom us a lovely venue, its modern architecture blends well with the views of Greenwood Village
An urban Colorado wedding : candy table
The yellow and black decorations and candy table match this colorful and happy wedding!
An urban Colorado Wedding
Jacob and Brittany during their first dance

 

Vendors :

Venue : Comedy Works, the Curtis Ballroom

http://www.comedyworksevents.com/curtis-ballroom/

Hair : Do the bang things

https://dothebangthingsalon.com

Flowers : Cathy Larson

Dress : David’s Bridal

http://www.davidsbridal.com

Alteration : The wedding Seamstress

http://www.theweddingseamstress.com

DJ : DJ Jack Jack

Check out this short video of the wedding highlights!

Abby + Brett : A Gorgeous golf course wedding in Golden, CO

Abby and Brett got married on a beautiful summer day on a golf course. This young and happy couple arranged a really gorgeous wedding of pink, gold and cream.

A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby’s dress, shoes and ring . The bridesmaids necklaces were Abby’s gifts.
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby and her bridesmaids wear matching robes to hang out by the poolside
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby is getting ready with the help of her mom and bridesmaids
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby is getting ready in her hotel room in Lakewood Colorado
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby is posing in her hotel hallway
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby and her bridesmaids walk around downtown Golden
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby and her bridesmaids walk on the streets of downtown Golden
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby and her bridesmaids downtown Golden, on the main bridge
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby and her Bridesmaids on a shoot around Golden, Colorado
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Brett is getting ready
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Brett getting ready
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Images taken in high noon on the golf course, we used the sunglasses and cold drink to help the groom and his groomsmen to feel more comfortable in the sun
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
The flowers and table decoration (pink, white and gold) reflected the wedding colors.
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
A gorgeous little flower girls
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
The ring bearer, flower girl, bridesmaids and Abby’s brother and of course the bride and her dad
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
Abby and Brett’s ceremony at Fossil Trace
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
View of the ceremony area and the wedding details
A gorgeous golf course wedding in Colorado
A unique group picture of the wedding party
A Gorgeous gold course wedding in Colorado
Abby and Brett on the Golf Course
A gorgeous golf course wedding
Abby and Brett’s flowers reflect the wedding colors of light pink and gold
A gorgeous golf course wedding
The groom and bride’s kiss on Fossil Trace golf course
A gorgeous gold course wedding
Abby and Brett’s first dance

Venue : Fossil Trace golf club, Golden CO

http://www.fossiltrace.com

Catering : Three Tomatoes

http://www.threetomatoesgrille.com

Wedding planning : Feather and Twig

http://www.featherandtwig.com

Flowers : The garden path co.

http://www.thegardenpathflorist.com

 

See video of this wedding  :

Amber and Jon, a “hat” Wedding in Colorado’s Foothills

Amber and Jon got married on a rainy day in May 2015. This beautiful, hand crafted, vintage wedding welcomed the guest in the tiny town of Lyons, Colorado.

A hat Wedding in Colorado's Foothills
Jon and Amber’s wedding venue, Stone Mountain lodge in Lyons Colorado
A hat wedding in Colorado's foothills
Hat, rings, dress and flowers, reflecting the wedding colors.
A hat Wedding in Colorado's foothills
Amber is getting ready in the little cottage adjacent to the venue
A hat Wedding in Colorado's Foothills
Jon is getting ready
A hat Wedding in Colorado's foothills
Amber and Her bridesmaids, show the wedding colors and variations in red.
Hat Wedding in Colorado's Foohills
The bridesmaid, wearing maroon are pursued by a friendly Dino named Tiny
A hat wedding in Colorado's Foothills
Jon and his groomsmen are hanging out before the wedding
A hat wedding in Colorado's foothills
Amber and Jon see each other for the first time
A hat wedding in Colorado's foothills
Amber and Jon’s first look. We found a wall of lilac that matched their wedding colors perfectly
A hat wedding in Colorado's foothills
Amber posed for her bridal portrait. Her vintage dress matches the beautiful lilac background perfectly
A hat wedding in Colorado's Foothills
Amber and Jon’s portraits at the venue
A hat wedding in Colorado's Foothills
The ring bearers are helping the bride with her flowers while holding on to huge umbrellas
A hat wedding in Colorado's foothills
Reception room
A hat wedding in Colorado's Foothills
Amber and Jon are tying the knot in this beautiful ceremony
Hat Wedding in Colorado's Foohills
Amber and Jon’s first dance
A hat wedding in Colorado's foothills
Reception -homemade- pies
A hat wedding in Colorado's Foothills
The reception tables and Jenga games
a Hat Wedding in Colorado's Foohills
Amber and Jon are enjoying a brief reprieve from the rain during their wedding reception

 

Venue : Stone Mountain Lodge, Lyons Colorado

Dress : Anthropology

http://www.bhldn.com

Catering : SmokeShack BBQ

http://smokeshackbbq.com

Pies : Whole Foods Bakery

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com

See wedding highlights :

Katie, Part II

Katie is a very versatile performer and we wanted her portfolio images to show it. When hiring for a show, venues not only look for skilled performers, but also for physical and personality attributes that will get the performer into a requested character. Having a portfolio that highlight the style and beauty of the dancer is as important as showing off their impressive skills. This is why, for this second part, we included some beautiful and romantic images.

Blog part II 6

Blog part II 7

Blog part II 3

Blog part II 1

Blog part II 2

Fine art images of Katie in a skirt designed by Erica Martin from High Fashion Flyers
Fine art images of Katie in a skirt designed by Erica Martin from High Fashion Flyers

 

Strength and feminism are Katie's two main quality as a dancer.
Strength and feminism are Katie’s two main quality as a dancer.

 

Blog part II 9

 

Fine art images of Katie in a skirt designed by Erica Martin from High Fashion Flyers
Fine art images of Katie in a skirt designed by Erica Martin from High Fashion Flyers

Aerial Dance Work with Mesmerie

Katie Mesmerie Brunner and I have worked together  for 3 years. We shot together for Art as Action (the unforgettable flour shoot), and for Iluminar Aerial (underwater!).  I also photographed her and her fiancé sitting on a bed on 16th Street Mall in Denver, and of course I photographed her beautiful wedding in Estes Park. Katie and I are used to working under challenging conditions and I knew that once again we would be creating incredible images when she asked me to shoot her portfolio.

Katie is an aerial dancer; she uses lyras, silks and straps to perform at different venues around the country. Her latest, month-long series of performance in Florida convinced her that as a professional dancer, a solid portfolio of her work was necessary.

I knew that I needed to use a solid color backdrop and model the lights perfectly to showcase Katie’s incredible strength and grace.  The challenge with aerial dancers is that they need a rigging point for their apparatus and enough space to move around. Using a large enough backdrop that covers the dancer and her apparatus is one of the greatest struggle that a photographer will have to deal with when working in studio.  Katie and I reviewed several locations before deciding to try shooting in my studio. I have an unfinished basement with nine feet high ceilings that I use to shoot all the studio images in my portfolio. This basement is huge and has been a wonderful creative space for the past 4 years. This basement would serve as an aerial dance studio for the first time!

In order to photograph Katie safely, I placed a heavy-duty clamp on a weight-bearing beam (a steel I-beam that runs the length of the house). Then Katie used a carabiner to hang her apparatus.  She used an anchor shaped device for her silks. We placed the backdrop (a 12 feet wide seamless) behind and under her and set up the strobes around.  By the time the studio was set up, Katie only had a 7.5 feet clearance to work with, which is very low for aerial dance. Thanks to the seamless backdrop and Katie’s skills, I could then recreate a sense of height in post processing.

The advantage of shooting in my studio is that we can use any color backdrop, plug my strobes and take our time to create a solid aerial dance image.  Katie quickly adapted to the lower height and we managed to get a series of images that showcase her incredible skills.

This blog shows the first part of the shoot, using a Tiffany Blue Backdrop and silks and a Lyra. The second part of the shoot was done two weeks later and will be the object of a second blog! Katie Katie 2 Katie 3 Katie 4 Katie 5 Katie 6 Katie 7 Katie 8 Katie 9 Katie 10

A Knight’s Tale : Courtney and Tony’s Epic Proposal

Courtney and Tony have known each other for two years and are the most unique couple I have ever met. Courtney is a permanent make up artist while Tony is a motorcycle riding, comic book loving electrician. When Tony decided that he was going to propose to Courtney, he poured his heart into it and it took him six months of secret planning to finally pop the question (and the black diamond ring). For six months Tony learned how to ride a horse and joust, sword fight in heavy armor and play the part of the “Black Knight”. Under the cover of helping his friend with dance lessons for his wedding (this friend was not going to get married, it was all pretend!), Tony spent every weekend practicing and had to show Courtney his new (made up) dance moves after long days of rolling in the dirt. Then the big day came and in the tiny town of Wellington a group of performers gathered for a jousting tournament. Courtney and Tony showed up along with 100 other friends and family members (Courtney was quite perplexed to see so many people she knew!!). As the fighting and jousting took place, Tony stayed in the audience until Courtney was selected to hold a box that would be the grand jousting prize. She was given the key to the box and was instructed to keep it locked until the remittance of the prize to the winner. Courtney sat with her box as the black knight walked right past her and proceeded to win the tournament. The knight had a very tough time winning as tears (of joy) started to stream down his face as soon as he put his helmet on! At the end, Courtney was led to the podium and opened the box while Tony took of his helmet. There were many more tears shed, both on Courtney’s side and by the audience. The rest, as we say, is history and Tony and Courtney are now happily engaged 🙂 Congratulations to the two of you!!

The tournament took place in the tiny town of Wellington
The tournament took place in the tiny town of Wellington
many performers : dancers, jugglers and a dressed up puppy entertained the crowd
Many performers : dancers, jugglers and a dressed up puppy entertained the crowd
There was a story about a mean queen and valiant knights (the red headed person was mean too, I think)
There was a story about a mean queen and valiant knights (the red headed person was mean too, I think)

 

Many members of the audience were Courtney and Tony's family and friends
Many members of the audience were Courtney and Tony’s family and friends
Bear Girl
See I told you she looked mean!
Tony is waiting to enter the scene. He looks pretty zen so far
Tony is waiting to enter the scene. He looks pretty zen so far
Here is the box! Hint : there is a ring inside
Here is the box!  Hint: there is a ring inside
To no one's surprise (except for her!!) , Courtney was selected to hold the box!
To no one’s surprise (except for her!!) , Courtney was selected to hold the box!
Here is the Black Knight! He look cool and ferocious.
Here is the Black Knight! He looks cool and ferocious.
Tony can Joust like a ....jouster :)
Tony can Joust like a ….jouster 🙂
And fight like a knight!
And fight like a knight!
And it's a win! Take that you   traitor ! and don't come back!
And it’s a win! Take that you traitor ! and don’t come back!
Now Tony the Knight is waiting for his future betrothed to present him with the box
Now Tony the Knight is waiting for his future betrothed to present him with the box
while Facebook's server is exploding with knight pictures
While Facebook’s server is exploding with knight pictures
Here is Courtney! That's when me and 100 other people starting crying our eyeballs out. There was a universal "AWWWWWWW"
Here is Courtney! That’s when me and 100 other people starting crying our eyeballs out. There was a universal “AWWWWWWW”
YAY!!!!!
YAY!!!!!
Everyone is so happy at that point, I wish I could box that happy up for them!
Everyone is so happy at that point! I wish I could box that happy up for them!
The and Knight and his Lady rode away, and lived happily ever after.
And the Knight and his Lady rode away, and lived happily ever after.

 

THE END <3