The power of prints

I wanted to write a bit more than I usually do. If you don’t want to read, please scroll directly to the bottom of this page to see my albums. They look even better in person, so please schedule a consultation to have a look at them !

Pictures hold completely different meanings depending on what stage of life we are in when we look at them.

A new mom looking at her babies pictures while she is still not sleeping at night, while she is still recovering from the birth, will look at them with delight. The pictures will be shared and go somewhere on a hard drive. Or be stored somewhere on social media.

But an album will be stored in a bookshelf. No one was quite sure why this crazy photographer forced them to make an album, but hey, they just did it.

20 years later, when her little child is about to leave for college, she will look at those pictures with a completely new look. The pictures will bring back vivid memories of her time as a young mom and she will feel many wonderful emotions.

If she is lucky, the sleep deprived mom was organized enough to create backups of her digitals and had them readily available, on a new handheld (20 years from now) device.

But her album will be in her office, now that she has opened her own business. She will be glad to touch her baby’s face while her grown up child drives away.

Then one day she will be a grandmother. The pictures will be brought back up to compare features, new memories will be created and with it will come new images.

Hopefully someone will have remembered to transfer the pictures from the old drive. USB technology? What is that? Who know who saw the pictures last?

But the album is now in the family room with the other precious books. Ready to be opened again.

It is very likely that old prints are brought back up, old family albums are dug up. The pictures will  be touched. A little rip or stain adding texture to the times long gone.

I know that people love digital. I understand the need to possess and use what we have.  Most people, unfortunately do not print anymore.

This is why, in this era of digital images, I firmly believe in the power of prints.  And this is why, before my clients purchase the digitals, I convince them to get an album that I design with love. An album that is beautiful and solid enough to withstand time. With UV coated pages and seamless pages. Albums that are built like books.

Here are just a few samples of my albums. There will be more to come and I hope that more and more of my clients will understand and embrace the power of prints.

All my albums are lay flat so that I can use larger images that took both sides without interruption .
All my albums are “lay flat” so that I can use larger images that take both sides without interruption.
some of my books come in this beautiful, recycled wrap
Some come packaged in this beautiful wrap.
each book is unique, some people love heavy and thick pages . Others will want many pages and so prefer the thin paper *
Each is unique, some people love heavy and thick pages. Others will want many pages and so prefer the thin paper *
My album are built like books, with sounded or square corners *
My album are built like books, with rounded or square corners *
Example of cover material : brocade, silk, velour, leather
Example of cover materials : brocade, silk, velour, leather
Each album comes with a with array of cover material, sizes and design. Each album is a unique as my client
Albums come in a wide variety of cover materials, sizes and designs. Each is a unique as my clients.
other example of lay flat
Other examples of lay flat albums.

Talya and Capri

A fine art / Dance session with Talya and Capri Recce, dancers at  Levitate .

 

my beautiful and soulful little model
my beautiful and soulful little model
The sisters posed in this trust exercise.
The sisters posed in this trust exercise.
Capri, aka little miss spider
Capri, aka little miss spider
Tanya went digging through my props and came up with her own interpretation on "climbing ut he ladder"
Tanya went digging through my props and came up with her own interpretation on “climbing ut he ladder”
Capri came up with this delightful pose
Capri came up with this delightful pose
Capri let her sister place flowers all over her while I was working on her hair
Capri let her sister place flowers all over her while I was working on her hair
the split
the split
The nature of motion is ephemeral. Here it is captured twice with the help of a mirror
The nature of motion is ephemeral. Here it is captured twice with the help of a mirror
Jump performed by Talya
Jump performed by Talya
Stand up still split performed by Talya
Stand up still split performed by Talya

Heidi : a Film Noir Shoot

Make up : Kirsten Daly

We met at my studio for a film noir session. I used a one light set up that varied between a fresnel lens and a strobe with a beauty dish, and the wonderful Icelight.

For more information, please email me at : annabelle@annabelledenmark.com

Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot
Film Noir Style shoot

Courtney Queen of Hearts

Courtney is my hairdresser, she is also a make up artist with whom I have worked in the past.  Her and I love Alice in wonderland and started working on this series with her as the Queen of Hearts! Enjoy!

Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot
Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot

Kirsten and Damien : a beachside wedding under the Florida sun

H2O in Islamorada, Florida. The Perfect venue for a beachside wedding
H2O in Islamorada, Florida. The Perfect venue for a beachside wedding

 

 

I met Kirsten and Damien in January of 2013 on a very cold wintery day near Monument, CO,  for a creative engagement session. For this shoot Brian and I had created a bed that could be built under 5 minutes and could be transported in my Mazda 5. The pictures came out as beautiful, creative, and out worldly.

A year after this very cold session, I met Kirsten and Damien again, in an 85 degree perfect weather. On the menu: palm trees, blue ocean and white sandy beaches.  We were in Islamorada, FL.
This dream location was to be our playground for their destination wedding. My hotel was right across the street from their property and we traded our snow boots and hats for sunglasses and flip flops.
Damien and Kirsten’s wedding was laid back, sundrenched and beautiful. Kirsten’s colors where white, coral and gold! With the ocean and setting sun as they backdrop, the groom and bride exchanged their vows and the party moved on to the beautifully decorated tables, set outside under streams of lights.   Brian was second shooting the wedding and Sophie and Sarah stayed for the reception. We ate, danced and even made “snow angels” in the sand.
It was a memorable wedding in every way; it was both laid back and graceful, with the love of Kirsten and Damien’s family and friends surrounding them. We felt part of the family as well and couldn’t have hoped to spend this delightful December night in better company.
H2O, Islamorada
H2O, Islamorada

 

The bouquet
The bouquet

 

The bridesmaids, in their matching robes, taking it easy at the H2O's pool
The bridesmaids, in their matching robes, taking it easy at the H2O’s pool

 

Dress

Kirsten and her Bridesmaids

 

Kirsten and her Bridesmaids

 

 

Giant palm trees on H2O property
Giant palm trees on H2O property

 

The bridesmaids walking with the bride
The bridesmaids walking with the bride

 

 

Beautiful light at the ceremony
Beautiful light at the ceremony

 

Ceremony

 

 

 

groom + bride

 

Romantic couple under the palm trees
Romantic couple under the palm trees

 

Beautiful Wedding cake

 

Center piece
Center piece

 

Nothing better than having a party in the sand, under the stars!
Nothing better than having a party in the sand, under the stars!

 

Our couple in the moon light
Our couple in the moon light

Fallon + Fleetwood : A Parisian Wedding

Fallon and Fleetwood have become, over the year and through many shoots, one of our closest friends.  (Fallon is an aerial dancer with whom I have works for 3 years) . On the day that Fallon did her first shoot with me, she mentioned that she would love to live in Paris, and that it would be her dream place for her wedding.  On the day of her engagement (Fleetwood had planned a surprise dinner, cooked by a chef, in their own backyard), Fallon sent me a message that she was getting married in Paris and would I be her photographer?  I felt deeply honored to be taking Fallon and Fleetwood, this creative, classy and beautiful couple, to my home country and wanted to make sure that their wedding would be unforgettable.  And it was! we all (16 of us) met in Paris, had lovely diners, walked the gardens and the Galleries Lafayette, we had our rehearsal dinner at Le Reminet, a gastronomic restaurant walking distance from Notre Dame. On the day of her wedding, we met at the Georges V where I photographed her dress, ring and shoes, then a car picked us up to meet the wedding party at the Luxembourg Gardens, where we proceeded  to have a very intimate and emotional ceremony, officiated by Fleetwood’s mother Catherine.

After the ceremony Fallon, Fleetwood, my assistant and I drove to the Eiffel Tower, the Quais de la Seine and the Louvre for some amazing images.

We wrapped up the day at the Bel Canto restaurant, located in Neuilly.

My favorite part of this wedding is the precious time I got to spent with Fallon, Fleetwood and their family during our week in Paris. Every destination wedding brings me really close to the guests and I look back at our week fondly.

 

Fallon's Tiffany ring is sitting on macarons
Fallon’s Tiffany ring is sitting on macarons

 

Keighley, Fallon's sister, is doing Fallon's make up
Keighley, Fallon’s sister, is doing Fallon’s make up

 

Fallon's shoes, bouquet and headpiece. The shoes are on the balcony overlooking a Paris street
Fallon’s shoes, bouquet and headpiece. The shoes are on the balcony overlooking a Paris street

 

Fallon's mom is helping her get in her dress
Fallon’s mom is helping her get in her dress

 

Fallon is facing the window, showing off her amazing dress and tattoos
Fallon is facing the window, showing off her amazing dress and tattoos

 

 

close up of our beautiful bride
close up of our beautiful bride

 

 

Fallon is leaving the Georges V
Fallon is leaving the Georges V

 

Fallon walking toward the gardens
Fallon walking toward the gardens

 

First look
First look

 

The ceremony, the French Senate is in the background
The ceremony, the French Senate is in the background

 

Signature of the marriage license
Signature of the marriage license

 

Our happy couple walks away from the ceremony
Our happy couple walks away from the ceremony

 

Around the Eiffel Tower and Paris streets
Around the Eiffel Tower and Paris streets

 

Vintage style image with the Eiffel Tower in the background
Vintage style image with the Eiffel Tower in the background

 

Warm day, perfect blue sky and Eiffel Tower. the perfect recipe for a romantic wedding
Warm day, perfect blue sky and Eiffel Tower. the perfect recipe for a romantic wedding

 

Fleetwood had been practicing this pose for their dance.  I love how she dropped  her head piece in the process
Fleetwood had been practicing this pose for their dance. I love how she dropped her head piece in the process
A quick session by the Seine River
A quick session by the Seine River

 

Last stop : the Louvre
Last stop : the Louvre

 

They were very tired after this long day, sitting on the stairs of the Louvre
They were very tired after this long day, sitting on the stairs of the Louvre

 

A jump in front of the Louvre
A jump in front of the Louvre

 

This was the last image of the day and also my favorite.
This was the last image of the day and also my favorite.

Wedding Photography

One of the most rewarding things about my career is finding that perfect couple and helping them capture their special day. I not only love to find a couple that is perfect for each other, but also perfect for me as a photographer. I am always looking for couples who are creative, open, artistic and fun-loving, and want to capture their special day in a unique way that will stand out to them and their families forever.

Below are some of my favorites from the past year. I enjoy doing a mix of destination wedding photography and local wedding photography here in Colorado. There are so many different and beautiful locations to get married, and watching each couple plan a wedding based on their unique personality is a journey that is also fun to watch.

Fossil Ridge Wedding

Bride and Groom

Denver Bridal Photo

Golden Bridal Party

Paris Bride

If any of these photos pique your interest, please call me today! I am booking weddings for 2015, and I am always open to traveling to capture your special and unique wedding.

Please visit my site for more details on how to contact me at www.annabelledenmark.com.

Katie + David

The first time I met Katie was during a meeting for Art as Action’s show “Break Open” . The first thing she told me was, “I like to work with fire.  Can you photograph fire?”

I had no idea how, but went “Sure!”

Hey, why not…right?  So we did a fire session as practice for her engagement.

Engagement Fire Session
Engagement Fire Session

But on the day of the engagement session, it was so windy that we didn’t get to the fire.  Instead there was Katie and David, me, Brian (my trusty assistant), a bike, and a bed.

Katie (Mesmerie) is an aerialist, hula hooper, and fire breather artist.

David (aka The Fermentor) is a foodie who is completely fearless.  He rides his bike everywhere, loves passionate people and risky behaviors.  Katie loves to say that he is the dangerous one 🙂

DSC_4166-Edit

For this session I wanted to give them some classic, colorful, and timeless images.

DSC_4257

I also enjoy sneaking secret messages and dates in my images 🙂

DSC_4178-Edit

Because she is a performer and he is happily joining her on stage, I thought a bit of a cinematic feel was in order.

DSC_4214-Edit-Edit

DSC_4235-Edit

 

DSC_4280-Edit-2_HDR-Edit

DSC_4316-Edit

Denver can be very windy, which can also be a very lucky thing.

DSC_4281-Edit

David’s bike is very important to him. They told me that we had to find a way to have it in our shoot 🙂

DSC_4423-Edit

DSC_4425-Edit

I agreed to the bike and then thought: If we are going to have a couple, a photographer, an assistant, and a bike with a trailer, we might as well carry a bed!

So we did.

We walked two blocks with a headboard, footboard, side rails, bed slats, pieces of plywood, mattress, bedding and pillow. In the wind of course.

It was so worth it!

DSC_4432_HDR

The “bed” shoot was important to me as I wanted to add a fine art feel to the session, and after all, that is why they hired me!  (little did they know about carrying all that stuff,  but never mind..)

The bed was set by the Rialto.  We built it in 5 minutes, the shoot lasted 10. By that time, an uncomfortable amount of onlookers  started gathering on the side walk and it was time to move on.  We only had one homeless guy try to lie down.  Not too bad!

DSC_4470-Edit

After the bed episode, we were so tired that we stopped for a beer.  I convinced them to do one more shot (not of Tequila! ) and we settled down in the middle of Larimer street.

DSC_4499-Edit

This shoot was CRAZY.

I loved it because it was completely fearless.

I also loved it because Katie and David  understand that images  become art in the hands of passionate people. There is no way to create something awesome without a bit of hard work, but it was their priority to do whatever it took to turn this session into a series of unique, artistic images.   They also understood that this shoot was a collaborative work where every creative idea was welcome and tested. There was no right or wrong, no judgement, and the process was exactly the same as the one described in my fine art portraiture blog.

Needless to say,  I can’t wait for their wedding on August 9th!

Feminine – Fierce – Fantastic

I have always been on the other side, watching people, observing their little details, such as their ears that point slightly, their expressive hands, their long and graceful necks, their facial expressions.  I am the girl on the edge of the  dance floor who loves watching others dance.

DSC_2850-Edit

I have always read fiction books, from Steinbeck to Zola. I enjoy the elegant writing style, vivid description that have made me want to talk, act and eat like the characters (after I read Grapes of Wrath I could only think of eating beans and biscuits and gravy from bacon fat).

DSC_2752-Edit

It was no wonder then that when I first picked up a camera,  my instinct  was to take pictures of women, and tell stories that involved death and life and love.  And beauty.  I did it three years ago just for fun and got paid to do regular portraits. Today I do not want to do it for fun, I want to give it as a gift to women who need to translate their vision into timeless images.

DSC_2590-Edit

In my heart and soul I am not a photographer. I am not a person who will pose you for your fireplace picture (even though I have done it).

I am a person who thrives on passion.  I get my high from my vision.  I get my high from your passion, and your vision.

DSC_2611

And ultimately, I am happiest when my vision and your vision can blend  and create an image that brings tears of Joy to my eyes.

DSC_2909-Edit

If you want to work together on creating an image that you will love forever; an image that comes from the meeting of both our visions, then I am your photographer.

DSC_2905-Edit

I want to get to know you. So long before we start shooting, we will spend sometime knowing each other.

And to work together, I need you to understand who I am:

My name is Annabelle Denmark, and I am first and foremost, a fine art portrait photographer.  I craft Fantastic images for the Fierce and Feminine women.

DSC_2893-Edit

And so you know, I also have a French accent. And if you must know everything, I love to laugh and feed people.  And watch Grey’s Anatomy (that is a secret though).  And I can be very, very goofy and eat an entire chocolate bar, in one day.

If you would like to know more about what chocolate is the best, or what your vision might be, or if you want to have a crazy pattern on your naked body…..please call, email, message me.
Also…

The images on this post have been crafted to show examples of what I can do, but it is in no way representative of what you should do. You and I will craft YOUR images, whether they take place in the studio or outdoors, with fancy make up or swimming in a lake.  Fully clothed or totally naked.

 

fan·tas·tic
fanˈtastik/
adjective
  1. 1.
    imaginative or fanciful; remote from reality.
    “novels are capable of mixing fantastic and realistic elements”