I think I may have been just as excited for this boho backyard wedding as Kelly and Dan were. Kelly is just like me- planning and organizing are her forte. So, from before their engagement session up until days before the wedding, we’d go back and forth on their wedding plans and I’d get updates on all the pretty details they were arranging and continually get more and more excited for September 8th. To say I was stoked for this boho backyard wedding was an understatement.
Pikes Peak Mountain Elopement | Melissa & Luke
The smaller the better in my books. Melissa and Luke had a tiny Pikes Peak mountain elopement at the summit of Colorado Springs’ highest peak, and although little, it was not lacking in love. The love these two share is amazing and it’s so exciting when out of town couples come to this gorgeous state to get married. I had so much fun riding up the Pikes Peak highway riding shotgun with Melissa, her dad, and niece. I felt like I was part of their family by the time we reached the top! The whole way up, the skies were dark and there were sprinkles threatening a storm up up. But as soon as the ceremony started and Melissa walked down to Luke, the sun broke through the clouds and shined bright on the two of them as they said their vows together. It really couldn’t have been more perfect.
Intimate YMCA Overlook Chapel Wedding | Julie & Stephen
Tell me you value photography and I’ll love you forever. During our back and forth conversations before Julie booked their wedding with me, she mentioned that despite not having a large wedding budget, they valued photography and wanted to hire an amazing photographer to capture their intimate YMCA Overlook Chapel wedding. I may have blushed a little when she told me that. Photography on your wedding day is so important, and I LOVE that these two valued it so much.
David & Erika | A Fox Run Park Engagement Session
A golden hour, foresty Fox Run Park Engagement Session
Who would think that a Fox Run Park engagement session would lead you to a great friend?! You know when you meet people and nearly instantly click? Yeah, that was David & Erika. I LOVE it when I meet people who are just like me. People who get my quirks, think my jokes are funny, and love to laugh. This was them to a T. I mean, Erika and I may have agreed that while your fiance is on a 9 month deployment, it’s okay to move some of his clothes out of the closet to make more room for yours. See? We’re a perfect fit, and I’m so excited for Erika to move to Colorado Springs in May to move in with David.
2017 Favorite Images | A Year for the Books
WOW. I can’t believe 2017 is just about over. It was a year for the books, for sure. I feel like everyone says that as the new year approaches, but thinking back to this time last year feels SO long ago. It was a pretty bittersweet time as Cam had just proposed, but was getting ready to leave on a nine-month deployment to Europe. Despite him being gone, I more than enjoyed my time getting acquainted to living in the west. I hung out with friends every second I could, and hiked until I couldn’t hike any more. I was blessed to work with so many wonderful clients, not only in Colorado, but also in my home state of New York. Taking pictures of my amazing clients helped me finally find my niche style of photography. There’s nothing I love more than capturing purely raw and candid moments between people genuinely and wholeheartedly in love. I love love, and I’m sure you’ll notice that from the pictures you’ll see below. Enjoy my 3 favorite images from each 2017 session:
Abby & Trent | Steamboat Springs Wedding
A snowy Steamboat Springs wedding at Bella Vista Estate | November 11th, 2017
My two very favorite people GOT MARRIED. And it was absolutely spectacular. Trent and Abby are my cousins. Well, Abby is Cam’s cousin, so by logic, that makes both of them MY cousins, too! I’m so very thankful to have such great friends as these, and have them so close to us in Colorado. This was a special wedding to photograph, not only because it was gorgeous, but because these two make such a gorgeous pair. They rented an estate in Steamboat Springs and invited their closest family and friends to spend a long weekend there celebrating their love. We had lots of good food, great drinks, and a wonderful time. Oh, and one of the best parts about this wedding, THE DOGS WERE IN IT TOO. They were SO flippin’ handsome with their bowties, and you’ll see below, that Boone wanted to be a part of the festivities so many times. In all, a gorgeous weekend at a gorgeous venue with a gorgeous husband and wife pair. I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I do. You’re bound to smile!
Colorado Springs Engagement Session | Garden of the Gods
Engagement session inquiries are some of my favorite to get. But to make one even better, is when you get one from a friend from college. I went to Penn State with Jess and was so excited when she told me she and her brand spankin’ new fiancé would be traveling to Colorado for Thanksgiving and wanted a Colorado Springs engagement session at Garden of the Gods. They were so freshly engaged, that she hadn’t even announced the proposal yet outside of close friends and family, and wanted to wait so she could use the engagement photos to let the cat out of the bag. I was HONORED. It was a perfect, and pretty typical, actually, November day in Colorado with the sun brightly shining and showing off our gorgeous mountain landscape. Their Colorado Springs engagement session at Garden of the Gods was just stunning. I’ll never get sick of the bright orange rocks. Jess and Matt surely make a great pair and I’m so excited that they’ll be getting married next next June in Pennsylvania. What lucky people these two are to have found each other!
Lauren & Justin | Garden of the Gods Couples Session
A Garden of the Gods couples session
My tactics are working! The Instagram stars have aligned. Lauren was looking for a photographer in Colorado Springs for her and her husband, and found me via an Instagram hashtag search. See, all those 30 hashtags are actually useful! I met Lauren and her husband, Justin at the iconic Garden of the Gods overlook, and boy was it great. I can never get sick of those views. A mix of Pikes Peak and the red rocks of Garden of the Gods- so perfect. Can you believe they’re both in The Army? Talk about a tough life, but they make it work. Aren’t they just the sweetest? They just bought at house at the foothills of the mountains and are in the market for a new pug puppy. Lots of joy and happiness in their lives and I was so happy I could capture a little snippet of it.
Lauren & Nolan | Garden of the Gods Couples Session
A mountainous fall Garden of the Gods couples session
I was so happy when Nolan and Lauren wanted pictures taken at Garden of the Gods. I had originally suggested a spot at a park that wasn’t quite to “Colorado” with striking mountain views, but this was so much better. They’ve lived here in the Springs for SIX years and NEVER had pictures taken there- it was about time! It was a gorgeous evening in my new favorite spot in the Springs. You can’t beat mountain views that are easily accessible with a 5 second walk from a parking lot. Also, as you know, I LOVE DOGS. And they brought Ginger with them (I mean, why wouldn’t they, she’s a part of the family). But I’m always so happy when dogs can be included in the session. Love it! And them! Enjoy their gorgeous Garden of the Gods couples session!
Kelly & Dan | Engaged
A golden sunrise engagement session at Mendon Ponds Park
What a dream session! I suggested an early morning session with Kelly and Dan and was SO happy when they were game to get there around sunrise. We got there a little early, and I was worried there wouldn’t be enough light and we’d have to wait around, but the lighting was AMAZING. Seriously. The best light to shoot in, hands down. Plus, they brought their gorgeous golden and he was so handsome in the pictures. To top it off, we even went on a canoe ride, and Kelly’s dad chauffered me around in his fishing boat while I snapped pictures of them in the canoe- talk about service! So much fun and lots of laughs during this gorgeous morning session. I cannot wait for their wedding next fall in Rochester, NY. It can’t come soon enough. Enjoy these pictures of a gorgeous couple, and even some behind the scenes of myself thanks to Kelly’s mom for capturing!