Stellar Propeller Studio

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

2012-01-25T00:06:00.001-07:00

Now I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Eagle Lake is beautiful at all times. This photo shoot took place at Eagle Lake Camp, which is the main reason I moved to Colorado in the first place. Although, I'm used to seeing it with piercing blue skies, killer sunshine, green aspens that sound like they're clapping when the wind rolls through, and kids in shorts running around everywhere having the time of their lives. But I like this Eagle Lake, too...

Peaceful. Serene. Quiet. Magical. Not to mention the family I was asked to photograph are some of the most hardcore people I know! Lynn and Sharon live up at camp year round and keep the place running. Lynn can operate backhoes, chainsaws, and tractors, not to mention he can kill bears (and probably even fictional wild animals) with only a bow & arrow. Some say he was born with it; most say he's actually Chuck Norris. But at any rate, it was a special day (snowstorm ensuing and all!) with a very special family, and I was honored to be part of this special day! Thanks to Sharon for supplying the hot cider during this event :)

The couple that started it all!

Did someone say Narnia?


David, my fearless (and cold!) new intern and a glimpse at how deep that snow was.

If you're a champ and you know it shout YAY!

2011-12-13T01:39:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things is a repeat photo shoot. By that I don't mean a shoot that I have to do-over due to weather or anything else (don't love those!), but instead I mean shoots that I get to do year after year, season after season. I love photographing the Manitou Springs High School cheerleaders! I love 'em. All that energy, all those smiles and pep, and all that TALENT. And by talent, I mean that my girls are COLORADO STATE CHAMPIONS for cheerleading, and I'm proud to say I'm their official photographer :) In fact, I get to do their state champion photo shoot this week, and I'm a) honored b) so pumped 'cause these girls are so fun and work so hard and c) ecstatic because I'm gonna have one of my photos blown up HUGE on the gym wall at MSHS! Everyone wins... but a special shout-out to my Mustang Cheerleading squad for making it all the way to the top. 5-6-7-8!

I'm especially fond of this one... she's been in my Bible study this year and I love her so much!

This is what state champions look like!!

This girl gets insanely high on these tosses!

Now that's what I call a toe-touch!

Love the hair in this one :)

Beer, Brides, & Bicycles {a fort collins love story}

2011-11-07T12:40:00.001-07:00

I was so pumped to shoot this wedding, and for so many reasons. One, Seth has been a dear friend of mine for a long time now, and, as I've said before I just LOVE shooting people's weddings that I know. It's what I call extra special. Two, Seth and Mackensie are both super hip and creative, so it put a little pep in my step to know that they chose me to capture this glorious day. Third, I bought the camera of my dreams and some a-MAZ-ing lighting equipment just before this wedding (which means that I was like a kid on Christmas morning shooting this wedding). And fourth, I LOVE Fort Collins and am always looking for an excuse to go there. Win, win, win, win :)

You can tell how special this couple is by how great all the people at the wedding were and how much they love them! The excitement that day was pretty contagious, and the wedding party was a blast (all 18 of them!). Shooting with my new camera was just ... ... ahhhhh. It's nice to finally have equipment that matches and can execute the ideas in my head exactly how I want them! I want to kiss it, and I wish I had bought it sooner. Anyways, Seth and Mackensie, it was a treat to share this day with you; thanks for choosing me!

Seth–always entertaining.

The train was pretty dang loud!

Seth & siblings

Boy prayer time.

PHOTOPALOOZA!

2011-10-25T22:54:00.000-06:00

Brenna & I at Prom in 2010 (I pretended to chaperone)

Once in a blue moon, your passions can combine... and there is much rejoicing!

I have been leading a Bible study with some local high school students for almost 3 years now. We started meeting when they were 15, and now they are about to graduate! We have walked through so much the past few years(as you can imagine), and I have seen them become a real community to each other. I feel so honored to have been able to be an innocent bystander, getting to watch all the growth and discomfort and growing pains and beauty. I love these girls! One of them had this hair-brained idea to take a mission trip together after they graduated... and now here we are... making it happen :)

I smile from ear to ear thinking about the possibility of this, about how much fun we're going to have raising money and making plans and learning a new culture together. Doors opened up for us to go to Kenya, and we are just bursting with fruit flavor about that. I have been wanting to go to Africa ever since I saw the film Invisible Children in 2006, so this has been a long time coming! I can't think of anyone I'd rather experience this with.

But on to the part where the dreams come together... We need money! We need plane tickets and immunizations and passports and lodging and lots of other things I may have not thought of yet! So, I thought about a friend I have in Nashville who does these PhotoFunDays and how much fun she seems to have with them. The idea is that you just set up photo shop for one whole day and book appointments all day long in 20-30 minute increments. It's a flat rate for the sitting fee + disc of 5-12 photos, and it's a great deal for the photographer and the client! What better way to combine my favorite things than a PhotoPalooza of my very own?!? :) So, it's happening. November 19th from 10-5. The photo below should give a good idea of what to expect and how to sign up, but you can email Hannah at photopalooza13@gmail.com for more info as well. Here's to the best of both worlds!

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Me & Andrea – she is the main reason we were able to start this bible study 3 years ago!

Being their crazy selves... :)

my favorite picture of Lynnae. You gotta lift up holy hands for Journey!

Winter Retreat last year

NOW I BELIEVE IN THE BOOTH!

2011-10-06T01:52:00.001-06:00

What a wonderful solution to having to take photos at wedding receptions of people putting food in their mouths or dancing uncomfortably! I'm so glad I gave the photo booth a chance because I had a TON of fun with it, and it gave me a chance to actually interact with guests (which can be difficult to find time for, usually)! I loved it. I just got some new lighting that I desperately needed– Elinchrom BRX for those who care about that kinda thing– and it worked like a dream. A dream, I tell ya. I will most definitely be offering this service in the future because it is a heap of laughter, creativity, and a very unique way to remember who was at your wedding!

And before I forget, I need YOUR HELP! That's right. You there, with the face. Can you help me? It's pretty important to come up with some clever name for my lil' photo booth. I used the name Stellar Booth at Seth + Mackensie's wedding, but I'm really open to suggestions! Please comment with any ideas you may have. (note: "The Cockpit" has already been ruled out) :)

**The entire album of "Stellar Booth" shots can be seen here (click here). Seth + Mackensie wanted these photos to be a gift to you, so you are free to download and use these on facebook and such.

LOVE these 2!

This was probably the most clever one I saw all night.

This guy was pretty much a professional photo booth model.

Do you Havasupai?

2011-10-05T23:39:00.003-06:00

Words fail me often. There are so many experiences in life that are just beyond explanation because of their magnitude and meaning to me that I can never do justice in describing them. Good thing I'm a photographer and not a writer :) So, instead of blabbering on and trying to make beautiful words about this trip I was able to take to the Grand Canyon recently (my FIRST TIME!), I'll just include an excerpt from a letter a wrote to the friend who went with me:

I went to church this morning, and until the worship started, I don't think I had stopped yet to really think about all that our little trip meant to me. But once that music began and I was able to pause and think of all the reasons I had to praise God this morning, I started crying uncontrollably. That trip, and especially that time with you, was an absolute gift, Claire. The more time I spend thinking about it, the less I'm able to put into words what it meant to me. I'm starting to think there just aren't words for that kinda thing. Words to describe the raw beauty, the gift of an oasis in the desert, the redemption of Arizona, the rescue of a Perfect Father, the joy of prayer with a sweet friend, the freedom of skinnydipping in water that's clear blue, the purity of baptism under a waterfall, the satisfaction of trudging through a desert to arrive in paradise, the peace of knowing that the very God who made that canyon cares deeply for us and has our best interest in mind, the euphoria of swimming in waterfalls and sleeping under stars, and most of all... the joy it is to share all of this with a friend, especially a friend who has come to mean so much to me over the years.

Oh, and of course I'm including photos to capture the journey (since I'm better at that anyways!):

My 1st time on Route 66!

Ain't she lovely?

They are the only place that still use the Pony Express! No joke!

Entering the Reservation: Hooray for Maize :)

SUCH beautiful water down there

Claire in Mooney Falls

Easily one of the BEST swims we've ever had

Ha. Don't we look so cool?

Last picture I took before we left the canyon

Christopher Cross lied to me. (dedicated to my mom)

2011-09-22T18:48:00.004-06:00

"Oh the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see... Believe me... Sailing takes me away to where I always heard it could... Just a dream and the wind to carry me... and soon I will be free."

Christopher Cross lied to me. His song "Sailing" is, as my Uncle Cam puts it, "The most serene song ever recorded." This can lead one to believe that sailing is a purely serene experience. Ha. I wanted to believe it, but now... I know the truth. You can call off the hoax, Chris Cross. I know what really goes on out there. Or, perhaps he wrote about sailing while he was on a pond. The ocean + sailing, I have learned, is not quite like I was led to believe through this amazing song I have listened to on repeat for hours at a time.

In May, I got an email from my friend Brianna, saying that she wanted me to road trip to FL with her, go sailing with her fiance and his friend for a few days, and buy me a plane ticket home. Now Brianna is fun enough without all these bells and whistles, but this was definitely an offer I couldn't refuse (especially since I've been wanting to go sailing for a couple of years now and had never been!) In fact, my response to her invitation was probably something like "Duh." I have to say, the first few days of sailing were incredible (I mean, except for the dern engine). In fact, all of it–except for the last few hours and then the few hours in between when my neck went out– was incredible. I was lovin' it. Then, our faulty engine + lack of radio response for help + 8 ft swells of waves + terrible winds + the fact that it was nighttime... well... it 'turned the tide' for us a bit. Our glorious sailing-into-the-sunset-freedom-ride turned into a 4-hour Disney water ride from hell. BUT, before that, I was able to shoot some engagement pics for Bri + Josiah, which was... trickier than I thought! Taking pics while the waves are ... waving (?) ... is a bit of a daunting task! But they turned out okay, and we all came out of the trip alive, and below you can see pics of us having fun before we figured out CC was a liar.

Hope you enjoy :)

tying the knot! (couldn't resist that one)


Oh Captain, my captain

left, hakuna mata in all her glory right, me learning how to drop anchor

Kleenex, anyone?

2011-09-04T00:09:00.002-06:00

I stopped crying at weddings a while back... I think. I could be wrong, though, because if crying was an Olympic sport, let's just say I would bring great honor to my country! All I know is that when sweet Ally stepped out of that limo in her beautiful dress with her beautiful self, there was no stopping it. I had to cry all over myself. And I wasn't the only one! Her Dad, who's kept it all "together" during wedding planning, rehearsals, and everything, finally broke down in the middle of the ceremony ... which only made it harder for everyone else to keep composure! This wedding, like many, is bittersweet. Everything about Ally & Greg is lovely and perfect, except that they moved to Georgia the next day and will be moving to MN after that. Where is the justice? :) They are truly an incredible couple, though, with hearts to live their lives for something bigger than themselves and a desire to do that as a team. Pretty rare for a couple of 20-year-olds! We raise our glasses to them, though... glasses of sparkling apple cider, of course :)

[ally + greg, i love you!]


Daddy's last embrace of his baby girl before giving her away

This was one of the MOST fun wedding parties of all time.

2 Generations of looooove.

Love ALL these girls! Didn't even have to tell them jokes for this!

I had to squeeze in a picture with my surrogate sisters :)

University Prep

2011-08-31T00:51:00.001-06:00

I can't even express HOW MUCH I ENJOY shoots just like this one. Enthusiastic people who want to make a difference. Kids who are super cute (most of the time!) and whose lives will be changed forever. Justin Beiber backpacks. Little black shoes and khakis. Raised hands. Freshly sharpened pencils. The smell of people making a difference! And me – just creeping in the background as a photojournalist. I love it! I love just capturing moments as they happen instead of having to create them. I love getting a pass into places that are otherwise off limits for your average citizen. Heck, even the board members and parents weren't allowed inside these school walls this first week! And there I was, camera in hand like a VIP pass.

These photos are all from the historic first days of school at University Prep in Denver, a school that believes in taking minority/underprivileged children and believing in & educating them all the way to college. In fact, if a child speaks softly in the Kindergarten class to answer a question, they will be told "Use your college voice." And the principal stands out front to greet and shake hands with each student every morning. I love it. I love what they're doing here at U Prep. A big thanks to them for letting me be a part of this, and a big shout out to Katie Skattebo for putting in a good word for me :)

full slideshow of the highlight reel can be seen here. (i'm kinda proud of this one) :)

Double Trouble.

2011-08-25T15:53:00.001-06:00

Well, actually it was less like double trouble and more like a doublemint gum commercial. You know, double your fun? Taking senior pictures with 2 best friends is something I would like to do more of! These 2 crazy, beautiful, spontaneous, loving, unique, and FUN girls are very dear to my heart. I met them both before they were going into 9th grade, so it's hard to believe they're already about to graduate and move on to bigger and better things! I loved getting to photograph them together on this shoot because they have this wild, untamed energy around each other (which isn't great for trying to get "serious" photos!) that made it possible to bring out all kinds of personality in the shoot. I hope I get to do more Doublemint shoots in the future, because it was a blast. And just look at them?! Aren't they beautiful?? I'm going to have to bring a box of tissues to this graduation...

Love is a Battlefield? No, ma'am. It's a party.

2011-07-19T23:05:00.001-06:00

I have been to a LOT of weddings by now, and I can honestly say that I've never been to one quite like this. Celebration is an understatement! Ann & Larry told me at our initial meeting that they simply wanted to have one big party with their best friends, and all I have to say is: Mission accomplished! Pre-wedding cocktail hour, post-wedding cocktail hour, dancing, delicious dinner, and a Star Wars theme to boot! I could shoot weddings like this all day long :) There were a few things I had never seen before: broach boquet (SO cool), Princess Leia & Luke Skywalker cake topper (which were actually Larry's childhood toys), and an absolutely stress-free bride and groom! I was honored to be part of this celebration, and I hope more couples will consider the pre-wedding cocktail hour ;) Congratulations, Ann & Larry– I really wish you all the best!

** This wedding and reception all took place at Springs Orleans restaurant downtown, and I'm happy to report that the food was DELICIOUS and the staff was very kind and helpful! It's worth a visit.

LOVE this!

SO many cute kiddos at this celebration

The Tuesday Night Club! (they've been going to happy hour every Tues for the last 15 years or so)

Happy Berfday, 'Merica!

2011-07-16T18:10:00.001-06:00

Being the photographer for COPPeR is a thing that I love. They do so many wonderful things in our community by keeping arts organizations connected and by hosting PeakRadar.com, which is a website that will tell you all things artsy going on in Colorado Springs. They are awesome! But what I also love are the events I am privvy to because of my relationship with them. They are always so fun to shoot!

This 4th of July, they asked me to photograph the COS Philharmonic performing at the US Air Force Academy before the big fireworks show. I was not aware before the event that I would need some sort of special pass to get onto the field, so luckily I ran into Roslyn Block of the Philharmonic who graciously gave me her extra performers' pass. Next thing I knew I was down on the football field and climbing onto the side of the stage getting to play with my new 85 mm lens (that I'm in love with)! My wonderful roommates tagged along for this event, which was SO fun, so I'll have to include some shots of them enjoying the fireworks :) If you're looking for something to do next 4th, I highly recommend this event– great music, a little dancing, kids painted red, white, & blue, and a breathtaking fireworks display! (just don't try to bring in a water bottle that's already been opened... or your own cooler... or snacks... or weapons... or fireworks... or puppies... *sigh*)

I Shot Another Family :)

2011-07-13T18:57:00.001-06:00

Clever people are hard to find. You know why? Because this family has almost all of them! I have known one of the couples from this shoot for a long time and find them to be some of the funniest people I know. It turns out that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Everyone did such a good job hanging out in the heat for a couple of hours– even baby Piper, who's still weighing in at under a year old. Speaking of Piper, she got to taste her very first lollipop on this shoot, and it's pretty clear that she's a fan of sugar! (she cried when they took it away from her; at least we documented her enjoyment first) Anyways, everyone was such a good sport and we fought the direct sunlight as best we could. All in all, a fun shoot with some even fun-er people :)

Cheese Curds, Kayaks, and Nuptials.

2011-06-17T14:52:00.000-06:00

There's nothing like a good road trip to get you in anticipation mode for a great event. My dear friend Mariah joined me on this wedding adventure–2 days in the car to get to Wisconsin for the wedding of our friends, Katie and Max, 2 days in Wisconsin for the wedding, and 2 days in the car driving home! (good thing we get along well and both like audiobooks!)

If you've never been to Wisconsin, I recommend it! And if you've never driven there, Mariah recommends it! (she's likes those wide reaching plains and farms and cows). We stopped at the REAL Field of Dreams where they filmed the movie, which I found to be really amazing. We saw some wonderful old friends along the way. And once we arrived in Wisconsin, we had 1 whole day to relax before the wedding! We of course, filled that day with reading by the lake, kayaking, tennis, and (guilty pleasure alert) The Bachelorette. I had never watched that show until I was in TN a few weeks ago, and I just had to know what happened to the guy wearing the mask!

Anyways, then wedding day rolled around, and it was p-e-r-f-e-c-t. The weather did exactly what it needed to (though impending clouds of doom hung overhead most of the day), the farm where the ceremony & reception were held was beautiful, Katie looked like Barbie, Max's face when she came down the aisle was priceless, the wedding party and I got a tractor ride after the ceremony, and there was cherry pie for dessert! Does it get much better?? I submit that it cannot :) And on top of that, the brother of the bride taught me how to polka! It was a fantastic celebration of a fantastic couple, and I was so honored to be a part of this day!


Finishing touches.

Praying with the bride

Praying with the groom

Most creative way I've ever seen a groom go for the garter!

Flower girls!

3rd Wheels and Bicycles.

2011-05-10T22:26:00.001-06:00

I should start this blog by saying that I am a professional third wheel. And I have to say... at this point I'm kinda proud of it. I've been practicing since high school since I was friends with Amber Perkins (who was super hot and had new boyfriends all the time), and I feel like a pro. Ally, Greg, Cory, and I had planned to tour around Italy and Ireland together. That's 4 people, for all you non-math types. But, Cory called in March and said he couldn't make it anymore. "That's fine," I thought, "cause Ally and Greg seem pretty fun and easy to be around." Plus, they were just dating, so that seemed pretty non-threatening. And then there were 3.

5 days before I'm planning to meet up with them in Italy. The morning after Lani's "Hen Party" (British bachelorette sha-bang) in London, I called Ally to touch base. "I have something to tell you..." in that voice where you know that either a) someone is pregnant b) someone is getting married or c) someone is dead. Honestly, I had no idea which one it would be (although I was pretty sure that a) was not the answer. ha.)!

"We got engaged last night in Rome."

My first thought was a flashback to that little girl in Father of the Bride at the dinner table: "Daddy, I met a man in Rome and we're getting married."

I was totally shocked! I mean, they're only 20 and have only been dating about 8 months... definitely not the "normal" timeline for these kinds of things. But "normal" isn't always best and I have to say that, I love being with Ally and Greg. Being able to travel with people is a pretty big deal, and we all rode ferries and tour buses and trains and planes and bikes together for over a week with no meltdowns or Jerry Springer-worthy fights. In fact, it was pretty full of laughter and perfect. And I'm glad, because Ally deserves perfect. I have mentored Ally since she was in high school, and she's a little sister to me. I'm so glad I got to be the first one to see her after she made this major life decision to marry Greg, so glad I got to be around the 2 of them because I love how they complement each other and laugh so much, so glad I got to experience Europe with them ('cause I LOVE Europe) and so glad I get to photograph their wedding and document their love!

Bittersweet, with the emphasis on sweet.

2011-05-10T00:11:00.000-06:00

My dear friend Molly told me recently that there are 4 stages of happiness. She told this to me over the phone just before I boarded a plane to London, and I quickly pulled out my journal and jotted them down. Stage 1- Anticipation. Stage 2- Savoring. Stage 3- Remembering. Stage 4- Telling others. When it comes to this wedding, and this entire trip to Europe as a whole, I'm hoping that Stage 4 will truly bring some happiness (cause right now I'm just in withdrawal!).

Lani is dear to me. She and I have known each other since 2004, when she flew across the Atlantic Ocean to come to Eagle Lake Camp and ended up in my tent: I the counselor and she, the camper. That summer was very life-changing for her, and we've stayed in touch ever since. We have even gotten face-to-face time 3 times since then– once I was in London and twice she came to Colorado to visit. Lani is amazing, so it should've been no surprise to me that she is surrounded by a group of amazing people as well. But onto the happiness:

Stage 1: It's my first international wedding. It's the first time I've been back to Western Europe since my parents lived there in 2005. I. LOVE. EUROPE. I'm all about anticipation.

Stage 2: I savored this experience so much I thought I might burst. Not only was the wedding itself just beautiful–full of loud worship to God and live instruments and vows that had some real history behind them– but the whole week leading up to that blessed event was also incredible! I met some of the most amazing people, had some of the most meaningful conversations, and performed more impressively at Mario Kart than I ever had before (the key, of course, is to be Baby Peach and ride a bike). But then wedding day... what a true celebration. I teared up several times during the ceremony (don't hire me if you're against misty-eyed photographers), I sang at the top of my lungs with everyone else in a grand worship celebration, and I danced as hard as I could at the reception later... as hard as was necessary to celebrate the union of such a lovely couple. I like British people. They aren't afraid to dance. (somewhat surprising)

Stage 3: I've had some plane, bus, train, taxi, ferry, and bicycle rides since then to ponder and process through all that this time in England meant, and I have to say, experiences like that are hard to let go of. Hard to leave behind. I'm generally not so sad when leaving places, as Colorado is pretty much the greatest place on earth and I'm always excited to come home to it. But London gets to me... in the best way possible, I suppose.

Stage 4: So far, the telling people part just brings up the pit-in-the-stomach-I-miss-UK feelings, but perhaps I'll just keep plugging away at it, which is what I'm doing right now. I do like telling travel stories, so if you're one who doesn't mind hearing them, please call me and pull up a chair :)

And if you're across the pond and it's Pimm's O'Clock, then raise your glasses to our dear friends Lani and Charlie and to the bright future ahead of them. Cheers!

Read that sign if you can. Pretty awesome.

Sisterly love.

Tea time before the wedding. Brilliant. I love these people.

Sees his baby girl for the first time!

Rolls Royce! I got to sit in it...

Phew. Carla, you can wail.

Charlie, this one's for you :)

A Toast To Love.

2011-04-18T10:12:00.000-06:00

Well, I already exhausted some of my most meaningful thoughts and feelings about Andy & Lauren a couple of posts below in their engagement photo blog, so I suppose I can just dedicate this one to actually talking about their BIG day! In a word: incredible. A great couple, a great collection of people, lovely weather, loads of cupcakes and cookies (Lauren's totally addicted) and one rockin' dance party at the reception. Highlights: photographing in the CUTEST candy shop, Lola's (if you're in downtown Littleton you must stop in for some handmade treats), using lots of fun props like pink balloons, hand knives, and Izze sodas, sitting on the balcony with the wedding party after the ceremony just hangin' out (I'd never had a beer in church before... Ssshh), watching Lauren & Andy be hoisted up in chairs as if they were Jewish, and getting to dance like it was the last night of our lives with an awesome group of people at an awesome reception! Cheers to these 2 and cheers to everyone who made that day and night so wonderful!

Post-Ceremony hangout. I love everything about this photo...

Andy sees his bride for the first time (and had to take a seat)

the morning texts :)

Lauren's dream come true: Synchronized Dance!

Fishin' & Horsin' Around

2011-03-02T21:11:00.003-07:00

Max and Katie are a treat to be around. This photo shoot was one of my longest and most fun (!) ones to date. We had a rocky start and, sadly, some broken fishing gear, but once we got in the groove it was no holds barred! Max is probably one of the most fun guys I've ever photographed, always full of pose ideas and always "on." ("Katie, let's do a pounce face!") They can laugh and snuggle with the best of them, but one thing you may not be able to tell just by the photos is that this couple will probably help change the world. They have some of the most beautiful hearts and one of the most beautiful relationships I know.

*Sidenote: they're not kissing til they say "I do," so we had a lot of fun dancing towards the line this day :) There were a few times where I thought, "This is gonna happen right now! Right here on my camera!" But alas, they held strong.

This was my first photo shoot up at Eagle Lake Camp, which is very near and dear to my heart. The lake was frozen over... as were our faces, by the end of this shoot, but it was SO FUN! Max and Katie were such great sports, willing to take risks (the lake started to make cracking sounds while we were standing on it at one point, but they stayed and let me shoot!), and so ready to laugh and love on each other. I'm so excited to shoot their wedding in May!

Is This Burning An Eternal Flame?

2011-02-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Once again, I'm faced with having to boil down in a bite size paragraph or 2 something funny and meaningful about 2 of my favorite people on the planet. *sigh* Lauren & Andy, here's to you: You Rule. This is hands down one of my favorite couples in my life right now, and I'm so blessed to get to run around and take pictures of them. This was my very first Library Shoot! And, this is one of the few couples I have been around for their getting together, their figuring out how to be a couple, their fights, their hilarity, and best of all... watching them work as a team. Andy and Lauren probably love people better together than almost everyone I know. They are so inclusive, so ready to play a game (Ticket To Ride, anyone?) or share a pizza with anyone who's willing, so excited to get to know people ... together.

I would love to tell a story or 2 or 346, but there's just no way to boil down to an anecdote what these people mean to me and the excitement I feel about their upcoming marriage. Ok, ok, I think I may have one. Ha.

Lauren and Andy had just gone on their first date before Lauren's apartment (which is right next to mine) went up in flames. We sat all afternoon and watched it burn, except for my solo field trip to go buy Lauren some underwear and a phone charger, watched everything burned to ashes right before our very eyes. Her clothes, her bed, her movies, Ling Ling (her famous panda bear), everything! Somewhere in the middle of all that, she called Andy and let him in on everything. He said he'd come down and visit the next day and told her "I'm excited to come there and be your friend." WHAT??! "I know he didn't say the F word to you, Lauren," I said when she told me. "I can't believe he'd say 'friend' after everything." (they had had a small fiasco with figuring out whether they were more than friends or not, and we thought they were past that part!) And that night, talking to Lauren in my room was when I realized just how crazy we women are. I always had my suspicions, but this conversation confirmed it all. Here lies Lauren, after the burning of her house and her losing all her worldly goods. Who will have to deal with insurance companies and going through incinerated belongings in the next few days. Who is homeless. Who has 1 pack of underwear to her name. But what came out of her mouth to me that night? "Why did he call me friend!???!!" And all of us women know exactly what that's like!

Ha. And while that fire was big enough to demolish Lauren's entire apartment and all her possessions, it was a mere spark in the relationship between her and Andy. He did come down to visit. He was a good friend. And then he asked her to be his girlfriend, which is ... another funny story :) And the rest, as they say, is history.

p.s. - the 2 photos at the end are part of an homage to AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. Check it out and be amazed :)

Skattewhat?

2010-12-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

I can't say enough wonderful & hilarious things about this family. I think the pictures tell you exactly what kind of family they are, and I leaped for joy in my heart when they agreed to let me dress them in charlie chaplin moustaches and drag a couch up to Garden of the Gods for a fun-filled photo shoot. One thing I hope doesn't come through the photographs is the temperature... cause I couldn't feel my fingers and my props were being blown about by ice cold gusts of hurricane. And I couldn't blog this without giving a shout-out to one of my best pals, David Rau, who single-handedly hauled that couch up the huge rock next to Balanced Rock. I did indeed bust out in choruses of "Whatta Man" while he made the trek up with a sofa on his back.

Long story short: this family rules. Each one so unique. Each one so beautiful. Each one SO FUNNY. We should all wanna be Skattebos.

What's Wrong? (inspired by Highlights Magazine)

2010-12-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Photographing bed & breakfasts has its upsides, for sure - staying in beautiful inns for free, getting to sample their delicious menus, shooting in my sweatpants... the list could go on! But, since one of my favorite magazines as a child was Highlights (y'all remember that one?), which featured an illustration on the back called "What's Wrong?" where you were supposed to spot the weird things going on... fish with sunglasses, mohawks on chimpmunks, birds swimming... you know, the usual. The not-so-upside of b&b photography are the mishaps, but I just realized they would be great material for the "What's Wrong?" game, so I've included a few here to show the not-so-polished side of the work. Who knows? Maybe you'll get a toy if you can find them all...

I Fancy This Inn!

2010-11-29T00:48:00.000-07:00

The town of Greeley has never conjured up images of class or elegance for me. When it comes to mind, I tend to think of the lovely people I know who live there and... well... the cow poop (I had to say it). But the Sod Buster Inn (website under construction by Acorn) has really turned me around! Now, when I think of Greeley, I think fond thoughts of one lovely couple from Britain who is changing my mind and bringing an uptown feel to one of Colorado's more blue collar towns. This couple is a TREAT to be around and their inn is beautiful - with 10 rooms to share! The shoot was a bit long – 11 hours – but I never got bored and never bruised myself :)

Here's what I wrote in my journal the day after the shoot:

I love this place! I love Derek & Stephanie; they're just lovely. This inn is beautiful, they are beautiful, and I had a beautiful time. I hope this one succeeds! They just moved here 12 weeks ago from England to start this inn, but they've lived all over – Japan, Nigeria, Greece, Indiana, and England. I've never been treated so graciously and like "part of the family" by any innkeeper before. Stephanie bought lunch for me yesterday, she helped me behind the scenes as my "flunkie," and after the shoot was over the poured a glass of wine for the 3 of us to sit down and toast to celebrate! Then, they insisted on me having dinner with them! So lovely...

And here's what I had to say in their guestbook upon checking out from my (11 hour!) photo shoot:

WOW. I have stayed in a lot of B&B's and taken lots of pictures. And I may take the pictures, but you, Derek & Stephanie, take the cake. Your hospitality was above and beyond. I can tell you really care about the people who come through the Sod Buster, and that makes me know that people really will leave as your friends. I know I am! Much love to you both. If kindness and hospitality make a business successful, this should be a Fortune 500 Company :)

Long story short: go visit these people. You won't be sorry!

Look Out For #4!

2010-11-06T18:22:00.000-06:00

I don't even know where to begin with this precious family... they are wonderful and giving and hilarious and creative and inappropriate (in the best ways possibly) and snarky and share their food with me and let me stop by whenever I feel like it and just flat out A+ The scene begins with Clay, Krista, and their 3 beautiful children–Noah, Sadie, and Seth.

And then there was Piper.

I first found out about Piper when sitting down to watch 500 days of Summer with Krista near Christmas last year. "I hope I'm not pregnant," she said, as she took another sip of wine. "Could you be?" "Well, yeah..." (I only questioned it because I knew that her husband had gotten the old "snip-snip" just a few DAYS before) I told her to call him and tell him to pick up a pregnancy test on his way home. "No... I will just wait."

The next day I got a text from her that read "Ummm, can you say 4?" :) And she surprised everyone on Christmas by putting a note about little unborn Piper in Clay's stocking. Then came summer, and then came Piper. I am so excited for them to have a 4th because a) they are really special to me, b) the more Enochs in the world the better, and c) Krista really wanted another girl before they were done with the childbearing years! I'm so glad to see how God has blessed this wonderful family, and I'm so glad they got a baby so well behaved and CUUUUUUTE.

Shooting Babies Is Fun! :)

2010-11-02T22:12:00.000-06:00

Sweet little Ella is the daughter of my good friend, Jayme Mac (as we called her), who was a fellow counselor with me at Eagle Lake Camp in 2003, '04, and '05! It's always a little weird when your friends start having their own offspring, but it really is a beautiful thing! It was a fun shoot because Jayme and I were able to hang out and catch up in between shots... especially when Ella felt like she needed to get some screams out :) There were definitely some funny outtakes that I'll have to include, because babies just make the most awesome faces when they're screaming bloody murder. But Ella did so great overall and was a really good sport, as we changed her outfits and locations multiple times, made her lay naked on the floor, and tried to stick wedding rings on her toes. Here's some of my faves.

Business & Arts Luncheon - Colorado Springs

2010-10-14T13:32:00.000-06:00

I really love my job. Well, both of them. But there are some days I come home from a shoot and just think "No, I REALLY REALLY love my job today!" Being at this luncheon was one of these days. Not only was it a collection of some really amazing, trailblazing, artistic, and brilliant people who have made big things happen in our community, but I also got to photograph breakdancers and acrobats! And, for those of you who don't know me that well, if I could snap my fingers and be really amazing at one style of dancing, I'd be a b-girl in a heartbeat :) So, of course I asked if they taught lessons and picked up a business card from one of them before I left. In addition, I had the privilege of photographing a breathtaking opera singer, who indeed received a full standing ovation after only 1 song. To say that she gave me chills would be an understatement. I could have photographed and listened to her all day, as her beauty was not limited to her voice alone.

The Business & Arts Luncheon was designed to bring together people who are making a creative difference in our community, via having creative workspaces, giving big money to the arts, or thinking of innovative ways to combine creativity and business. I hope this is an event I get to capture with my camera every year, and many thanks to COPPeR for making it happen.

Look out for the Goats!

2010-10-12T13:58:00.000-06:00

I have seen a lot of B&B's the past few years, as I've been the staff photographer for Acorn Internet Services, and the more you see of something the less it excites you. But this was not the case with the Mountain Goat Lodge (dba CO Crossroads B&B)! From the moment I walked in, I felt at home! I also was really impressed with the way my fabulous hostess, Gina Marcell, decorated in a modern rustic fashion and was able to combine the woodsy, outdoor feel of a cabin with the more modern feel of Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel. It was wonderful!

My room had view that rivals the ending scene in The Sound of Music, and to top that – there were chickens and mountain goats! Gina is actually quite the MGL (mountain goat lady), and she raises them, milks them, and even uses the milk to make her own cheese and to put in lattes (that she's happy to make for all her guests!). I was pretty impressed. And I remained impressed throughout the shoot... until we got out to the pasture with the goats. Then I got scared :) You see, Samson, the "man of the house" (if you know what I mean), was kinda eager to rub his scent on me. And you may think "Why be scared of a goat?" But this was no ordinary goat. No. This was a small buffalo! But Gina was awesome, as is normal for her, and I got back out the gate without a trace of smelly goat scent. All in all, it was such a splendid time, a great photo shoot, a wonderful hostess. Point being, if you are ever the Salida/Buena Vista area, visit Gina at her Mountain Goat Lodge. You won't be sorry!

ps - The reason I photographed Gina's inn is because she's having her website redesigned, so just know that the one you see linked above is NOT her heart's desire :)

1,2, down, UP!

2010-09-20T22:39:00.000-06:00

It was time once again for one of my favorite recurring photo shoots - the Manitou Springs High School Cheerleaders! They are so FUN and enjoyable to photograph. The bright sun made it tricky for some of the top of the rock shoots, but we made it work somehow. Building & doing stunts at Garden of the Gods is always a crowd pleaser, too, with plenty of people stopping to watch (which the girls don't mind. ha). At any rate, I love photographing this group every year cause they are not scared to ham it up and be awesome. Go Mustangs :)

Linds & Matt!

2010-09-19T23:06:00.000-06:00

Two cheers for photo shoots with best friends! And three cheers for shooting at the county fair! I would do this again in a heartbeat, although I wish I'd brought some external lights of some sort. This was my first session with the new d300S, and it was a blast... but I'm pretty sure my subjects had a lot to do with that. Lindsay and I have been friends since the summer before 9th grade, when we bonded at cheerleading camp over a love for the rap tune "Big Poppa" :) We've been tight ever since, but this was our first photo shoot together!

Lindsay and Matt went the non-traditional route and decided to elope our senior year of college (well, my senior year, since I had 2 of them). It was crazy and secret and such a big deal (at the time), but because of that they never had any fun couple pictures taken. Which is where I come in... And I will let the pictures speak for themselves. It was a b.l.a.s.t.

Amara

2010-08-06T15:58:00.000-06:00

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

:: Coco Chanel ::

And that is how I would describe this wonderful TCA Senior, Amara.
I was initially excited just to photograph her bright red, wondrous hair, but was even more excited to find out she was a cowgirl and wanted some cowgirl country shots. I love it! We had a great time photographing in their friend's garden/backyard where Amara used to play growing up. With the country, though, come the country animals. I expected we'd have interference from a horse or rooster, but we actually had the darndest time with the cat! I had to crop cat tails out of a chunk of the pictures since the cat seemed pretty smitten with her. At any rate, a good time was had by all (cat included), and here are some of the favorites.

Latigo!

2010-08-05T13:22:00.000-06:00

I love shooting for COPPeR! This organization does SO much for our community, specifically for the arts community, and I'm proud to work as their official photographer. They run a website called Peak Radar that is chock full of exciting (and sometimes f-r-e-e) cultural events happening in Colorado Springs.

Having said that, now I am glad to tell you about this concert COPPeR had me photograph for them the other day. Latigo. According to Wikipedia, latigo has 4 definitions:

Latigo has four meanings: Latigo Is a type of leather used on saddles to help them stay in place. It is part of the girth. For a definition on girth please refer to the folllowing lnk:

Part of a girth (tack)

Latigo is also an automobile

Fisker Latigo CS, an automobile

Latigo can also refer to a newpaper comic strip by Stan Lynde.

Latigo (comic strip)

Latigo can also refer to a Mexican-American Surname and/or Last Name. It also came from Spain and expanded to Mexico Throughout The U.S. Ex. Pancho A. Latigo.

Those sound pretty nice and all (especially the name Pancho Latigo), but they failed to mention the up and coming country band from here in Colorado! Now, I really don't like country music, which I feel shameful about sometimes seeing as that I'm from Nashville. But, I just can't get into it. This band was really fun, though, and I was surprised at the number of people up north who came out to 1st & Main off Powers & Carefree to sit in the grassy field in front of a movie theater and rock out for a few hours. It was so fun! There were cute kids playing, teenage boys dancing, older people flapping fans, and the lead singer ... well, he was either flirting with me or the camera. But the camera sure did love him, so I guess that's better than nothing :)

Windee + Kyle

2010-06-18T22:02:00.001-06:00

True confession: I got a bit misty-eyed and moved to tears at this ceremony, which is funny because I had barely talked to Kyle or Windee before we started talking about shooting their wedding. But, there are just some people that you instantly care about and know are going to be a powerful team for the Kingdom, and those people are worth getting emotional over :)

Kyle and Windee are those people. They are so kind, so caring (they must have thanked me at least 10 times for being at their wedding), and were so loved by everyone at that wedding. One of my favorite parts of the ceremony was post-kiss, when the officiant does the whole "I now present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. ...." thing. The audience went nuts. I mean, it's normal to have some clapping and a little bit of whoop-whoop, but this audience clapped and clapped and clapped. I actually wondered how long Kyle and Windee were going to have to stand there being celebrated before they got to do their celebratory exit. These are the weddings that make me glad to do what I'm doing. Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Fabatz. (and the crowd goes wiiiiiiild)

QUAD CAM!

2010-06-18T13:17:00.001-06:00

I love new toys.
And no one knows this better than my best pal, Shea, who was like my Santa Claus this year! In addition to lots of other fun presents, she got me a quad cam! It takes 4 pictures at once (about a 2-second time span), so it can capture some motions in a single frame. Plus, it's just plain fun! I do love shooting with film. I love that mystery– the anticipation, the waiting, the curiousity of what will develop! Here are some fun shots I got on rolls #1 & 2:

Publicity is Weird. (but I kinda like it)

2010-06-18T12:20:00.000-06:00

It's been a year of firsts so far - first shot on the cover of a newspaper, of a magazine, for a film festival guide and poster... it's exciting! I've been so honored to be a part of these projects. Various Magazine has the potential to unite our community and bring attention to some deserving folks and the Indie Spirit Film Festival is in a class all its own, bringing quality indie films from around the world to our small conservative world in Colorado Springs. It's such a treat to work alongside these people who are doing great things for our great city. Anyways, here's a sampling of my most "high(er) profile" work as of late:

Indie Spirit Film Festival!

2010-05-09T23:16:00.000-06:00

I was honored this year to be the official photographer of the Indie Spirit Film Festival! In its 3rd year, the festival has continued to grow exponentially. There were over 60 filmmakers who made the trek to Colorado Springs to see their films on the big screen. All films were shown in downtown Colorado Springs at Kimball's Twin Peak, our only indie theater. Two of my favorite filmmakers were from Colombia and living in New York City for school. They had been best friends since 3rd grade. One was the actual filmmaker/director and the other was her "PR agent" and well... I can't think of anything specific to share but they were just so cute and so happy to be in Colorado for the first time.

In exchange for my photography services, I was given my first official ad (seen above) and VIP passes. I have to say the VIP passes were pretty incredible; I've never been treated with such respect in my life! There would be a line out the door to see a movie, and I could walk right up to the door and be greeted with a "OH! Right this way, ma'am." Not to mention free Chipotle, free swag, and a super fun opening night party at the Red Martini! I could get used to this! Unfortunately, it's only an annual event...

As for movies, though - Do Elephants Pray? was a favorite. Turns out it won the whole festival as well, which boosts my ego in my movie tastes :) The shorts on the lighter side were also incredibly fun! There was one about a boy who was watching a dancer in the town square from above and had the unfortunate chance of getting his head stuck in the bars on his balcony. So, he grew up with his head in the balcony, until he met a beautiful girl who kissed him so good he plunged right out! And another short film (animated) about a mouse who could fly because he was raised by birds. Or the one about the morgue employee who started taking corpses home with him so he could take the carpool lane to work and avoid tardiness. People are so creative!!! It blows my mind! I was just glad to be a part of it and was glad to spend some time with some lovely friends and assistants, Adam & Brenna. Also, thanks to Matthew Stevens, the visionary behind the festival and a dear friend. Vive la Indie Spirit!

Suz + Wes Greer

2010-05-03T00:48:00.000-06:00

How can one begin to blog and actually do justice to being allowed to capture all the moments from a best friend's BIG DAY? They can't! (which is why it's taken me 5 months to get this up) I deserve a few slaps on the wrist for that. Even now, though this was 5 months ago, this wedding is still so fresh in my mind and remains so special and monumental.

First things first: more people should get married on New Year's Eve! Everyone is looking for something cooler to do than party with Dick Clark, so why not give them a celebration to remember? And why not let me capture it, now that I have New Year's experience? :)

Anyways, I have been a part of this couple's coupledom (?) since it was in its infancy. I was there for the flirting - the games of Sharpie tag and passing the chapstick back & forth (Wes got the last laugh by having his dad, the minister, give the chapstick to Suz right before their nuptial kiss!). I was there for the DTR, for the first dates, the letters to and from in their long distance dating, and the first kisses. Suz is one of those girls that few men were good enough for, but Wes proved himself through and through. "I'm going to be her first kiss and her last kiss," he said to another friend of ours before they were even official. He had his eyes and heart set on her from their first summer at Eagle Lake, and he didn't give up til he got her down the aisle :)

I love them together. I love the celebration that was their wedding. I love that they let me be a part of it. 'Twas truly a great honor ... and a great testimony to the Lord's faithfulness!

Ashley

2009-09-18T23:18:00.000-06:00

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.
It's the life in your years.
~ Abraham Lincoln

If anyone has life in their years, it's this beautiful girl. So sassy, so classy, so full of life - what a FUN photo shoot. She laughs so much it was difficult to get her to pose with a plain smile, much less a nice serious face! But thinking about dead puppies seemed to help with that :)

I have actually known Ashley since January and think she's one of the sweetest, coolest, most unique high schoolers I've ever met, as you can see from the pictures. She has a depth about her that's pretty rare at 17. Ashley really is one of a kind and a delight to be around. If laughter is the best medicine, I'm hoping for a lot more big doses of her this year~

Melanie + Bryan

2009-09-18T22:37:00.000-06:00

"When you are in Love you can't fall asleep because reality is

better than your dreams."

Dr Seuss

Melanie and Bryan live like this quote is true. It was a joy and honor to share this special day with them, to watch them laugh together, work together and cry together (ok ... maybe the crying was only Bryan). They are so easy to be around, probably because they are so at ease with one another. I loved taking their pictures because I didn't have to direct them at ALL! They are just naturally beautiful people who knew how to kiss and hold each other ... on and off camera, i'm sure :)

It's always nice when you overhear guests on both sides talking about "what a catch" the other had landed. I'd have to agree. I'd also have to say I'm thankful for the tall grass and playground outside the church! Congratulations, Bryan and Melanie!

New York, New York

2009-09-03T00:50:00.000-06:00

Start Spreadin' The News...

What do you get when you get when you have 2 best friends+2 fancy cameras+6 or more modes of transportation+1 BIG Apple?? A blast of a good time and some pictures for the masses!

My best friend invited me to the wedding featured below, but of course we had to get some fun pics in for ourselves while we were serving the bride and groom all weekend! So, here are some shots from our time in the Adirondacks. The nighttime shot of us laughing is definitely a favorite. The funniest part is that I showed that picture to Erin, our fave bridesmaid, after we took it and she said "I want one too!" (hence the similar pic of the 3 of us... plus the guitar boy who refused to let me take pictures of him after 5 snapshots or so)

Also, I want to share that we were on a train between NYC and Utica, NY when we heard about Michael Jackson's death! (can't keep away from the information these days, i tell ya) There was a guy with an iPhone 2 rows in front of me who sort of let the cat out of the bag by saying, "I don't give a s*#t about Farrah Fawcett; this is the King of Pop!!"

At any rate, I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures as much as we enjoyed making them. There's nothing like sharing creativity with a dear friend.

Shea has balance :)

Dirty Dancing?

2009-07-04T23:12:00.000-06:00

Glory be. Mine and Shea's inaugural professional collaboration. (how's that for big vocab?)

I went to NY with Shea (my best friend from college) to help shoot this wedding, and her sister Lindsey (who was my fave biking buddy when I lived with them in the summer of '02) did hair and makeup. Talk about a dream team! The wedding was super fun - more of a weekend event than a 5-hour one. We went to the Adirondack League Club, which is like that camp in Dirty Dancing where the society elites go to "rough it."

Alan and Lyndsay met in college in Wilmington (where Dawson's Creek was filmed...ha) and have been together for 4 years. The weekend was a blast - definitely 72 hours of celebration! here's a few sneak peeks.

This Apple's not BIG enough for us!

2009-07-04T14:29:00.000-06:00

This was quite possibly the best 24 hours I've had this year.

Broadway show (9-5), revolving rooftop restaurant, hotel room that barely fit the bed, fruit stands, hot dog stands, NY pizza, Ground Zero, Central Park, B&H photo supply (woot!), and of course... a good old fashioned NY Chipotle burrito :) (Lindsey's FIRST one EVER)

Even though Shea and lil' sis Lindsey live multiple states away, we still got to participate in our favorite pasttimes (traveling and laughing) and work professionally together for the first time ever! What a good deal. Thanks to Shea for inviting me on this "job" and thanks to Linds for opening me up to the world of makeup again. This was absolutely awesome, but I'll let the pictures do the talking.

[there was construction in Times Square, so people just took the blocked lanes as opportunity for a block party]

(iphone - checks out to be pretty handy, much to my Verizon dismay)

Brett & Kate ... are. so. great.

2009-07-04T14:10:00.000-06:00

And they say Navigators are Never-daters...

Thank you, Brett and Kate, for breaking that rule :) This travel-loving, beautiful couple met through mutual friends, but started dating because of a random rendezvous in the airport baggage claim! Guess they found more than just their suitcases on those metal conveyor belts...

This wedding was very special. It's always a beautiful thing when 2 people who love the Lord decide to team up, live life together, and love both each other and the people around them - that's exactly what Kate and Brett are out to do. From the moving ceremony to the hilarious and meaningful speeches (esp. the stories about Kate striking out: "What is a strike anyways?") to the bumpin' dance floor, this wedding was a celebration! Thanks so much, Fugates, for letting me be part of your big day.

2009-02-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

OH Glory BE! What a fun wedding to be a part of! The 2-becoming-1 of Mike and Bekah, who are just as full of energy, life, and good old fashioned romance as a couple of high schoolers ... so it should come at no surprise that they've been dating since then - since their good ole days at Rampart High School. They have been together for the better part of about 7 years!!! Mike and Bekah are so fun to photograph and to be with; they just ooze life everywhere they go. They must attract others who do the same because this was one of the most fun wedding parties I've gotten to photograph thus far, too. It's obvious that they have been through so much together -- the way they laugh, the way they know each other, the way they care for each other. It's inspiring! A regular Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski, they are :) Some highlights: (too many to mention them all, first off) Mike seeing Bekah for the first time, under the bridge at Colorado Ave. His face is absolutely priceless, and I limited myself to just putting 2 of these in here. In the middle of the shoot, this kind woman from the Bridge Gallery invited us in to take pictures with the art! The art made a great backdrop, and the wedding party liked me again because they didn't have to stand out in the freezing cold anymore, taking turns on who gets to stand in the sunshine! I also LOVED the ceremony. I joked with M & B afterwards that in almost all the pictures I have of them, they're either laughing or kissing. Mike's response: "Those are our 2 favorite things!" The ceremony was just another chance for them to do their favorite things; in fact, they actually sneaked a kiss during communion, long before the pastor had given 'em permission. And we all got to laugh heartily along with them as they read their vows to each other. Bekah: "I promise to stay well read, so you can read vicariously through me." Mike: "I promise to always order dessert, even if I'm full." And those are the funny vows, but these 2 gems love God even more than they love each other and that is the real beauty in this relationship and in what they promised to each other. Thanks for letting me join in the fun, Difelices! Good luck in GA and AZ!!!

Sean & Rachel

2009-02-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

This was the first time I got to brave the snow in a wedding photo shoot, and what a glorious day it was! I feel that I've had the privilege to work
with such kind, caring, and thoughtful brides in my career thus far, and Rachel was no exception. She and Sean met in high school here in Colorado and started dating shortly after. I've also photographed her brother for his senior pictures and her parents' bed & breakfast for their website (www.rockymountainlodge.com). Their inn is perfect; it's exactly what comes to your mind when you think of COLORADO! Chunky snow on the trees, real log cabin, mountains in the background ... Ahhhh. Glory. One tradition Rachel's dad has is that he doesn't like to see his daughters until he's about to walk them down the aisle. He didn't even let them show him their dresses! So, of course, he loses it a little and their weddings can turn into a big tear fest for everyone! This time, he budged a little and decided to see Rachel a few minutes in her dressing room a few minutes before the ceremony began. One thing I love about my job is that's not awkward for me be around to witness these precious, timeless moments between family and friends -- if I was just a normal guest I would get kicked out when these moments come and go! But my camera is my ticket into all kinds of intimate moments reserved for the closest of friends. I love it! And I loved getting to work with Sean and Rachel ... best of luck to you 2 out in your new South Carolina adventure!

Manitou Cheerleaders!

2008-08-25T23:05:00.000-06:00

Let the good times roll!

I'm pretty sure I smiled for about 2 hours straight during this photo shoot at Garden of the Gods. What a fun group of girls from Manitou High School here in CO! And I had fun just watching them be girls -- giggling incessantly, making witty comments, yelling at strapping young lads who would drive by going through the Garden. It was hilarious! It was a jolly good time, and actually reminded me of my own days spent in a cheer uniform (Sshhh, don't tell). All in all, I think everyone had a good time -- Go Mustangs!

Juneteenth!

2008-07-01T21:25:00.000-06:00

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the US. This year's celebration marks the 20th Annual NAACP Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom and was full of gospel music, ethnic food (mmm...), moonwalks, and lots of dancing and celebrating! It was a blast! I was hired to shoot this event by COPPeR (Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region), which is the premier organization serving the arts here in Colorado Springs. At any rate, the kids were precious, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was full of celebration! Highly recommended :)

Claire

2008-06-20T23:46:00.000-06:00

One of the coolest high schoolers I've had the privilege of meeting. Claire grew up in a pretty unique family - born in the Philippines, raised in Colorado, a middle child of 5 (2 older sisters and 2 younger brothers). Their father died before Claire hit double digits, and her mother has raised the 5 kids (with the help of lots of friends and neighbors!). Each child in this family is so unique and gifted, and Claire is no exception. Artistic, aesthetic, musical, beautiful, and both socially and spiritually aware -- she's pretty exceptional in a lot of arenas of life.

We had a great time on this shoot! We actually had to do it in 2 parts, waiting for a nice cloud cover to come around and give us premium lighting for the afternoon. The clouds are actually pretty good to us out in Colorado, at least in that way. We shot everything at Glen Eyrie, which is a place that's quite special to Claire's family. She's off to Arizona in the fall for college, and then probably off to change the world ;)

Sweet 16

2008-06-19T21:59:00.000-06:00

This photo shoot happens to star one of my favorite high schoolers in the youth group - Mikayla, a bubbly, loving cheerleader with bright red hair to match her fiery, passionate personality. But I probably didn't even need to type that; you can just look at these pictures and see! Kudos to Mikayla and her fam for coming up with a really fun and unique way to celebrate a 16th. They hired a friend who's a chef to come and prepare a 4-course meal for Mikayla and several of her friends. All the friends showed up in cute cocktail dresses (can you call them that when 16-year-olds are wearing them??!) and took their seats at the dining room table by their own personal name card. After dinner, we went downstairs and did a photo shoot with Mikayla and all her friends for about an hour with all kinds of fun props, and these girls were HYSTERICAL -- so hammy and wonderful. I barely had to tell them what to do! After the shoot, they come back upstairs for some chocolate fountain action and stayed for a slumber party. In the end, a good time was had by all, and Mikayla had a whole photo shoot worth of images to remember her
special night by.

San Antonio's Best

2008-06-19T21:39:00.000-06:00

This bed and breakfast is a getaway of getaways. The view is lovely (overlooks a lake), the food is divine, the decor is like something out of Real Simple magazine, and the hosts are so gracious! Not to mention it's just down the road from San Antonio, which is one of the most fun cities in the country of Texas. I went there to work, but left feeling like I'd had a vacation --- complete with my first ever viewing of Casablanca.

Sweet, Crazy Seth

2008-06-18T22:48:00.001-06:00

This little lad makes me wanna have babies! (and i don't say that lightly or very often) Seth is the son of 2 super creatives named Clay and Krista who go to church with me. Clay makes a living as a bronze sculptor (www.clayenoch.com) and designer of various and sundry things, and Krista is getting into interior design. I love how they love on their kiddos! Krista cracks me up how nostalgic she is about her children's short lives and how bitter-sweet it is for her to watch them grow up so fast. "He's SO BIG" --- phrase used constantly as she looked at these pictures. But enough about the people who made Seth, let's talk about him! He's adorable -- that light blonde hair and dark brown eyes -- and he is a hammy little class clown in the making! He loves to "crazy laugh" and entertain his older brother and sister by making jokes and running around the house in his birthday suit.

I took Seth by myself on this photo shoot, which was a brave move, but I'm glad I did! You never know how something's gonna work until you try, after all. He was very good for the first 20 min. or so, and then I really wanted him to take his shirt off for some of the shots (he has a cute, cute big belly). He wouldn't have any of that. Not even for candy treats! In the end, though, the pictures in his clothes turned out pretty great. And his mother was glad to hear that he wouldn't take off his shirt on the first date... even for chocolate :)