Epic engagement session at St Mary’s Glacier

Amy and Russ’ engagement session

“You guys, it is cold, we have a steep hike ahead of us, this is going to be a crazy adventure. Amy do you have hiking shoes? no? just ballerina shoes? that should work too”

St Mary’s glacier trail is a step and quick 20 minutes hike. I was carrying a heavy camera backpack, Amy sported her ballerina shoes, athlete hikers were glaring at her, torn between laughing and screaming in fear for her. You get the best conversation while trudging up an icy trail.  We laughed about the cold and we talked about life while I was sliding down a slope on my butt.  We had semi philosophical conversation while trying to keep ourselves from falling. It felt like we came straight out of a Calvin and Hobbes’ comic book (Amy is the bouncy tiger).

In the end, we saw the magic of light seeping through trees while the wind made the snow twirl. We discovered the breath-taking views of St Marys, the twisty trees and frozen lake. We saw the sky turn pink and drove down to share beer and pizza at Beau Jo’s in Idaho Springs. This was an adventure that taught me more about Amy and Russ than any hourlong conversations.

I  get to create the most beautiful connections while trudging on an icy trail with a bouncy ballerina and a future groom with the kindest eyes I have ever seen.

I can’t imagine how awesome this wedding is going to be at the Lakewood resort in Cable, WI!
Couple walking in Idaho Spring
Couple hugging in Idaho Springs, CO Couple at Fall River Road, CO Couple kissing in the Snow and forest Couple at St Mary's Glacier Couple at St Mary's Glacier, CO Couple at St Mary's Glacier, CO Couple at St Mary's Glacier, CO Couple at St Mary's Glacier, CO

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Cecilia and Tom : a Mountain Wedding in the land of Fall and Winter

Cecilia and Tom got married in Camp Hale, a 30 minutes drive from Vail. In order to get to this beautifully secluded valley you must drive through twisty roads lined with massive clusters of Aspen trees. The mountains looked painted from green to dark yellow, It was the most beautiful mountain road I have seen in this state.

Our couple wanted a wedding that mixed the rustic feel of the cabins, the mountains and trees with the delicate touch of dark blue and light pink and the result was glorious in spite of everything that happened that day!

Soon after we arrived it started raining and then snowing. The temperature dropped, the clouds lingered and everything was cold and wet. Cecilia’s flowers had frozen overnight and the bouquets were rearranged with what could be salvaged and aspen leaves.  The ceremony site was outside and the venue wasn’t sure about celebrating the wedding there because the path to it was slippery and the benches wet with snow. Finally the speaker stopped working so Cecilia didn’t get her song to walk down the aisle.

Any one of those event would have rattled a groom and a bride who wanted their  perfect day, but not Cecilia and Tom!  Those two were excited about the snow, they marveled over the newly made bouquets, let go of the speaker situation and stood outside, in the middle of a frozen land, surrounded by very cold and happy guests, and professed their love to one another with the kind of intensity that warmed everyone.

The guest cheered on and everyone amazed by the beauty of the place, wrapped in clouds with the yellow aspens poking their ways through the fog.

And so here are the three things I learned from that day :

  • Let go of the details and enjoy the unexpected
  • Remember why you are there and focus on all the love that surrounds you
  • No matter what happens, I will stand by you and help make this wedding the most kick ass wedding you will ever have!

Many congratulations to this fantastic, resilient and loving couple. You guys rock!

Venue :  Camp Hale, Redcliff CO

http://www.novaguides.com/camp-hale-lodge/weddings/


Wedding dress in the yellow Aspen trees
The bride is getting readythe bride at her cabinwedding rings and fishing baitBride and bridesmaids in matching robesfamily picture in cabinThe groom getting readyMaid of honor helps with bridal shoesfirst look in the rainfirst look in the rainromantic couple in rainBride looking back in the rainwedding ceremony on a lakewedding ceremony on a lakewedding ceremony on a lakeflower girls in pink and blueBride walks with her motherGrooms see bride walk down aisleWedding vowsWedding vowsWedding kissgroom and bride in the yellow aspensGroom and Bride dip with mountain backgroundGroom and Bride drinking champagneGroom and Bride in AspensBride in yellow AspensCamp Hale Venuewedding table decorations light pink goldwedding first dancewedding toastwedding dancingwedding sparklers

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A mountain wedding in Estes Park

Lauren and Katie’s mountain wedding at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau, Estes Park, Colorado

Lauren and Katie got married on a sunny day at the beautiful Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park, Colorado. Located near the entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park, this gorgeous wedding venue looks like a fairy tale with it’s gorgeous stone buildings and manicured grounds, all of it surrounded by majestic mountain and evergreen trees.

The wedding

Lauren and Katie had a traditional Jewish wedding. Every single detail of this event was carefully planned to incorporate the natural beauty of the mountains and the brides’ interest. Lauren and Katie’s invitation, for example, turn into wildflowers when you plant them (they have seeds embedded inside them). The mother of the bride created custom printed chocolate bars, playing on Lauren’s last name (Hershey). The brides’ dresses matched beautifully along with simple and gorgeous hairdos and flowers.

The power of the feminine

What makes this wedding truly unforgettable is the rabbi’s speech during the ceremony, where she talked about the power of the feminine. We could feel  this power all around us. It was the unstoppable power of two individuals who love and care about each other, two people who balance each other completely.  We also felt it in the love that each family brought to this wedding, it was felt during the dances and the toasts.

This wedding was truly a wonderful starting point to a loving and happy marriage, and I felt grateful and honored to be a part of it.

Lauren, Katie, thank you for this amazing day. I can’t wait to share the rest of those images with you!

Wedding venue: Della Terra, Estes Park, Colorado
Wedding venue: Della Terra, Estes Park, Colorado
Bridal make up
Lauren getting ready with the help of Jessica Padilla
Bridal dress in Della Terra's Moon Suite
Katie is getting into her dress
Off beat bridal glamour portrait in Della terra, Estes Park, Colorado
Katie in the tub
Portrait of the bride
Portrait of Lauren
candid moment bride and mom
Moment between Lauren and her mom
Bride's first look
Katie walking toward Lauren for the first look
Brides first look
The brides’ first look
The wedding party on the bridge of the Della terra
The wedding party on the bridge
bride's men jumping with blue suspenders
ready set jump!
offbeat bridal party pictures
The Bridal party
Offbeat portrait of Lauren and Katie kissing behind their comic book
Lauren and Katie behind their favorite comic book
Brides having fun, Sunflower bouquets
Lauren and Katie
brides kissing in the meadow, Della Terra, Estes Park
brides kissing in the meadow
brides walking toward ceremony site Della Terra
The brides walking towards the ceremony site
Jewish Lesbian Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony
Jewish Lesbian Wedding Ceremony Estes Park, CO
The ceremony and view
Jewish Lesbian Wedding Ceremony Estes Park, CO
The brides with the Rabbi
Jewish Lesbian Wedding Ceremony Estes Park, CO
the kiss
wedding ceremony exit, golf cart, just married
Just married
Bride kisses grandfather on cheek
Lauren and her grandfather
The wedding cake and little dolls of the brides
The Cake !
wedding invitation
The wedding invitation
``
Horah
Horah, jewish gay wedding
The Horah
Bride's bother toast
The toast

Venue : Della Terra Mountain Chateau http://www.dellaterramountainchateau.com

Event planning SeaAnna & Krista Curate Denver https://www.curateeventsanddesign.com

Catering : Jubilation Catering  http://www.jubilationscatering.com

Cake : Piece Love and Chocolate https://pieceloveandchocolate.com

DJ : Jay Kasick https://srodj.com

Videography : David Myers http://www.niceshotfilms.com

Flowers : Brigitte Ohler Floral design of Europe http://www.fdofeurope.com

Hair :Jolene, Bella Capelli Hair Studio http://www.bellacapellihairstudio.com

Make up : Jessica Padilla No guts no glamour http://nogutsnoglamour.com

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Carrie and Eric’s Wedding in Estes Park

Carrie and Eric’s wedding was an amazingly well planned event, in part due to Carrie’s beautiful sense of style and her very sharp and detail oriented mind. From the decorations to the bridesmaids shoes, this wedding was a delight to the eye.

It was a pleasure to photograph this beautiful event, hand crafted with all the love and attention that Carrie brings into everything she touches.

Congratulations to my lovely couple! Can’t wait to show you the rest of the pictures!

the bridal dress with all the fine details of a well orchestrated wedding
the bridal dress with all the fine details of a well orchestrated wedding
the bridal pearls : something old...
the bridal pearls : something old…
the wedding bands on lace
the wedding bands on lace
bridal bouquet
bridal bouquet
the flower girls
the flower girls
St Mary's Lake Lodge
St Mary’s Lake Lodge
The Boutonniere
The Boutonniere
The first look
The first look
The first look
The first look
The bridesmaids shoes
The bridesmaids shoes
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The marriage license
The marriage license
The wedding cake
The wedding cake
The reception
The reception
Carrie
Carrie
Eric
Eric
The first dance
The first dance

carrie-eric-22

The garter
The garter
The bouquet toss
The bouquet toss
Congratulations Carrie and Eric!
Congratulations Carrie and Eric!

Venue : Mary’s Lake Lodge http://maryslakelodge.com/

Cake  :Colorado Rose Cake http://www.coloradorosecakeco.com/

Officiant : Rev Brigette Weier

Flowers :  Kim and Company www.kimandcompany.org

DJ : Grant Marsik

Hair and Make up : The hair Ninja Studio https://www.facebook.com/NinjaofHair/

Ties : The Knotty Tie Co https://www.knottytie.com/

 

 

Megan and Brian wedding at the Westin!

Megan and Brian got married on a sunny afternoon in Westminster, Colorado. For this beautiful wedding, Megan chose purple and burned orange for her colors and everything from the dresses to the table centerpieces looked absolutely stunning. The highlight of the wedding was with the first dance, a breathtaking performance by the groom and bride followed by a medley of flash mob dancing that left everyone cheering!

Congratulations to my beautiful, fierce, charismatic Megan and my oh so funny groom, Brian, who by the way can dance like none’s business!

I can’t wait to share your wedding pictures with you!

The Wedding dress
The Wedding dress
Bridesmaids Getting Ready
Bridesmaids Getting Ready
Megan and her bridesmaids by the hot tub
Megan and her bridesmaids by the hot tub
The Groom
The Groom
The groom and his groomsmen in the Lobby
The groom and his groomsmen in the Lobby
The Bride
The Bride
The bride before her first look
The bride before her first look
First look
First look
Megan and Brian
Megan and Brian
The bridal Bouquet
The bridal Bouquet
The Bride
The Bride
The Veil
The Veil
Megan and her mom
Megan and her mom
First look of Megan and her dad
First look of Megan and her dad
Megan and the groomsmen
Megan and the groomsmen
Brian and the bridesmaids
Brian and the bridesmaids
The wedding party
The wedding party
The walk down the aisle
The walk down the aisle
The kiss
The kiss
The Wedding Cake
The Wedding Cake
Bustling of the dress
Bustling of the dress
Sunset by the lake
Sunset by the lake
The first dance
The first dance
Flash mob!
Flash mob!

Venue and catering : The Westin Hotel http://www.westindenverboulder.com

Wedding planning : Lauren Williamson http://www.gardnereffect.com

Florist : Kimball Floral Kimball Floral

Cake : Azucar http://www.azucarbakery.com

Linens :  Linen hero Linen Hero Wedding & Special Event Chair Covers & Table Linen …

Videography : Will Jones

DJ : ABC music

Make up  :http://www.makeupbysana.com

Hair : Salon Foushee  Salon Foushee & Spa – Hair Salon and Spa Denver, Littleton

 

Julia and Isaac : An intimate wedding at Bingham Hills

Julia and Isaac wanted their wedding to be bare footed, laid back, in a family friendly space.  It was an intimate wedding where children played on the little sandy beach on the lakefront, where adults ate on the patio, under strings of light, before heading the gazebo and dance the night away. Congratulations to this beautiful couple for a truly splendid day!

Rings on a Carabiner, hanging from a maple tree
Rings on a Carabiner, hanging from a maple tree
Bingham Hills Event Center
Bingham Hills Event Center
The ceremony site by the main building
The ceremony site by the main building
The Bride
The Bride
Bridal barefoot shoes
Bridal barefoot shoes
The Groom
The Groom
The First Look
The First Look
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The ceremony
The Groom and Bride by the apple tree
The Groom and Bride by the apple tree
The groom and bride walking into the sunset
The groom and bride walking into the sunset
Wedding Cake
Wedding Cake
The groom and bride <3
The groom and bride

 

Venue : Bingham Hill http://www.thepreserveatbinghamhill.com/index-2.html

Dress : David’s Bridal http://www.davidsbridal.com

Flowers : Palmer Flowers http://www.palmerflowers.com

Cake : Whole Foods https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/service/custom-cakes-special-events

Maya and Jordan’s Mountain Wedding in Evergreen

Jordan and Maya are mountain climbers, Kombucha drinkers, mushroom lovers (that would be Maya) who have recently moved to Colorado. Their laid back and happy personality made for a splendid wedding.

Brian and I felt honored to be part of their special day!

The Red Barn at Meadows at Marshdale
The Red Barn at Meadows at Marshdale
Maya's beautiful wedding dress hanging from a pine tree
Maya’s beautiful wedding dress hanging from a pine tree
Maya
Maya
Jordan
Jordan
The Bridal Flowers
The Bridal Flowers
The First Look
The First Look
Maya and Jordan
Maya and Jordan
Maya
Maya
Bedeken
Bedeken
Bedeken
Bedeken
The Wedding Ceremony at Meadows at Marshdale
The Wedding Ceremony at Meadows at Marshdale
The Wedding Ceremony at Meadows at Marshdale
The Wedding Ceremony at Meadows at Marshdale
Party at the Red Barn : The Hora
Party at the Red Barn : The Hora
PixelStick image of Maya and Jordan
PixelStick image of Maya and Jordan

Here is the list of all the wonderful vendors who made Maya’s day special:

Venue : http://www.meadowsatmarshdale.com/the-red-barn/weddings.html

Catering : http://www.laviecatering.com

Flowers : http://lovelettersfloral.com

Make up : Rachel Stern-Pasarel

Hair : Hilary Matthis

Dress : http://www.bhldn.com

 

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  :

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.

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
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