hey hey

Last year Alysha asked me to photograph her & Jake’s engagement session. We had worked together several times as she’s a hair stylist so I was STOKED she wanted me out of everyone she works with to photograph them. During that shoot we actually discovered that we are indeed cousins! More on that HERE!

Her and Jake started chatting with me about going to Daytona Beach, FL to photograph their elopement and no question I was in. She kept telling me it’s so chill & relaxed, they’re going to mostly figure it out when they get there. Just an evening ceremony on the beach somewhere with their family and few friends and then dinner at a restaurant on the beach. And the day before they figured it all out. I loved it. The carefree nature of it. That they just wanted to get married, that was all that mattered.

They decided on this little spot outside their hotel between two palm trees to say I do. From a distance one might think…… Really? Right there? But as creatives we just saw the most beautiful little nook with great light. Even with it being spring break and tons of people in the area, there was just this small group together celebrating love and life. Everything worked out amazingly.

I’m so so so in love with these images. It was such a blast photographing them. I had forgotten some of the images we had taken until I imported them to my hard drive and got excited all over again! After dinner in the dark we decided to go out onto the beach and take a few photos. Try a couple things without flash, see what would happen. They pushed me to try some things I’ve never done before and I loved it. So grateful to them for pushing me out of the comfort zone to create more. I’m so excited to share all of these with you!!

These two are so rad!

XOXO

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“Being in love is temporary madness. It erupts like volcanoes and then it subsides. Love, is what is left behind.”

These were some of the words the priest spoke to Brooklyn & Austin in this tiny little church in a lava field on the west side of Iceland. Reminding us of not just what really matters, but the courage it takes to continue on as our relationships evolved.

This somehow just happened. Brooklyn & Austin were planning this wedding with my best friend Meg to photograph it. At some point they decided to go to this magical place, turns out her father is Icelandic anyway, and invite their closest people and promise forever to each other. Simple but yet so impactful. Kept only to the basics of which really matter in their life and this love they share. They told Meg of this idea and it turns out Meg and I had already had a trip to Iceland on the agenda and somehow we coincided on working schedules and magic really happened.

This was truly the windiest experience I’ve ever had. At times on the inside we’d freak about how to make this all work, where and how to get the most epic photos in the middle of a hurricane. We’re in Iceland we have to make this the best ever. But after their vows our mentality shifted and even when we’d catch ourselves later freaking we were reminded that that wasn’t what this was about at all. We were here to preserve the love and emotion of that day. Those are really the most epic moments anyway. These two inspired us. The wind RAGED and it poured rain but because we focused on their love the images are amazing. Such an honor to have been invited to witness it.

Looking back I’m laughing at all the places we went in that afternoon in such conditions and the extra effort needed to help Meg as it often required 2 of us just to keep gear in one spot, but gosh it was so much fun. Take me back.

Here are a few of my images when I wasn’t running around holding things down or keeping them dry or rushing in and out with blankets and jackets.

Definitely check out Meg’s blog post of their images, it’s unreal!!!

I’m ready to go back to Iceland now!

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Britta & Luke are the happiest married couple EVER. Two minutes into photographing them I realized how easy that day was going to be cause they’re so in love and so giddy happy there was no direction needed from me. Do your thang you two and I promise the photos will be so good!

Elopements are quickly becoming one of my favorite things. They’re always focused on the right things and so incredibly carefree. There aren’t any details to worry about or distract you. Just you two and sometimes a handful of other people who might join in, in a beautiful location, and a dress. Britta & Luke had thought for a moment about just the two of them running off somewhere beautiful to promise themselves to each other, but realized it just wouldn’t be right without those who had been the best examples of love for them. So their parents joined them at Suncadia Resort as they said I do. Luke’s father even officiating. It was absolutely perfect!!! The wind might have really whipped through the canyon but the sun was out and nothing could get in the way of these two.

Britta wore this stunning dress from BHLDN and paired it up with some Frye snow boots. Totally my kinda girl! And Luke in a grey suit with dress shoes. No one could talk him into snow boots no matter how much snow and ice was out there. That man was gonna marry the love of his life in dress shoes!

When they’re together it’s as if no one else is around. Their love is mesmerizing. They don’t hold back, no matter who is watching. Britta with her permanent smile and constant giggles and Luke always pulling her in tighter and kissing her neck. Exactly how I think it ought to be. All in with love. It was a great privilege to witness it and and honor to photograph it. And I’m so excited to share it with you!!!

Congrats, Britta & Luke!!!!

XOXO

This photo is so crazy imperfect but I’m still just so in love with it. Totally unprompted in the moment Luke swooped Britta off her feet. I didn’t get it in focus but I like it this way. It makes me feel carefree and lost in their fairytale. Able to let go the way she does.

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Quinn dreamt of a wedding with snow. Last fall I sat for coffee with Quinn, Jake and Quinn’s mom talking about their wedding venue ideas. They were just trying to find the right place for their family and guests but a place they could be outside and if not guarantee snow (winter can be so unpredictable) that there would definitely be snow nearby for photos. Ultimately they decided on The Lodge at Whitefish Lake but this winter in Montana snow accumulation anywhere was not an issue! Quinn would have her dream of getting married in the snow.

Winter light can be tough. It’s either super bright with sun or dark and gloomy with cloud cover. But more importantly there’s little of it. Quinn & Jake didn’t want to see each other before the ceremony. We talked about timing out the day just right so they didn’t get married too early in the day but also didn’t spend much time away from family and guests and still have enough light. Ultimately they decided to shorten portraits on the day of and have a day after session a couple days later. Honestly I LOVE when couples do this. We still capture the wedding day but we don’t have a pressure to do anything and everything on the day of. It’s super chill and relaxed. And Quinn and Jake were able to time an afternoon wedding, not see each other before the wedding, and spend a smaller amount of time away from their guests after the ceremony. All done during daylight on days where there’s little of it.

Speaking of them not seeing each other until the ceremony…. OHMYGOSH you guys, not a dry eye there. As everyone stood for Quinn to walk down the aisle Jake was unable to see her until she turned right into the aisle and the surprise and amazement on his face followed by an overflow of tears of joy had all of us tearing up. It was so beautiful.

Everything was simple, classic, and timeless. Which fits Quinn and Jake, and their love, just perfectly. And her dress… I die. Check it out!

XOXO

Seriously this moment melted all of our hearts. Jake’s reaction is just THE BEST!

And how about the best super tall younger brothers, slash ushers, slash umbrella holders here to save the day!!!

Quinn’s dress was dirty from the moment she set it on the ground to walk down the aisle. Truthfully, I love the look of a dirty dress! Just live it up in that gown, girl!

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This morning I pulled up Paige & Russ’ photo gallery. And appeared these baby faces from a session we did back in 2013. I’ve been photographing them for 4 years and it’s always a highlight of the year. First of all their friends, which just makes it a blast to run around locations being idiots together. Russ really enjoyed the one time I played Taylor Swift the entire session 😉 Also, they’re so damn good looking. And Russ actually doesn’t hate photos or dread them like most guys. Sometimes it’s even his idea that we do them!

They are so madly in love. And clearly best friends. The way they relax and let loose in front of the camera is a photographer’s dream. They try ever stupid idea and the dumber the idea the more they laugh and believe it…. Those are the best photos!

A couple weeks ago we wandered a field together. Running through it, dodging dog shit, and my kiddo, Caterina, was there yelling about what time it was randomly, making us all laugh. I say this everytime but I mean it every time, this was my favorite session with them! Haha!

Hope we do anniversary and couples sessions forever!!!

XOXO!!!

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I photograph my best friend and her man and her twin girls several times a year. Early this summer Amanda & Ryan said I do and Amanda had this vision of beautiful images of the two of them on the tables and around the wedding. But she wanted photos that no one had ever seen of them. So a few weeks before their wedding we ran out one night at sunset and took some photos of them around Missoula MT, at Linda Vista Golf Course and then escaped into a field at Blue Mountain just before the sun set for the night.

We usually don’t take photos for long because these two are so ridiculous and can barely keep it together. Constantly doing weird stuff, making faces, being idiots. And usually shortly after starting someone has either got hurt or we’re laughing so hard that Amanda has messed up her makeup from the laughing cry and it’s over. This time things were the same, full of shenanigans. But at some point we broke through the ridiculousness and pure magic happened with them. We’ve now learned they need a solid warm up period and then they’re the most amazing couple to photograph. But then mix it with the lighting we got that night it was pure simple magic.

She let me share one photo at the time and then they had to be put into the vault til after their wedding. Which the summer was so full with so many couples I’m just now getting back to sharing these! But they’re a treat and so worth the wait!

Happy Friday!!!!!!

Sidenote – if you wanna see the photos from their wedding check out Justine Russo’s blog! I did not take on the duties of photographer and maid of honor. Just made of honor. Sorry Justine left out most of my ridiculous drunk dancing… we’ll keep those in the vault 😉

XOXO

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The world really is a small place. Quinn emailed me about photographing her winter wedding in Montana and an engagement session in Seattle and as soon as I saw her last name I thought what are the chances this girl is from little Dillon, Montana. Sure enough she is. Her younger sister and I went to school for a while and her younger bro and my younger sister were in the same grade.  It’s so fun having crazy connections with couples.

Jake and Quinn are planning this amazing winter wedding. I can’t wait, it’s gonna be awesome. We started talking about their engagement photos in Seattle and I threw out the idea of hiking in to Franklin Falls near Snoqualmie Pass. Just an idea. And a couple weeks later I asked them what they wanted to do and their hearts were set on this little adventure to the waterfall. I was so pumped and this last weekend headed over to Seattle for it.

Pacific northwest forests are enchanted. It’s so beautiful how green and fresh it always is. The sun shined down after days of rain giving us the most amazing light. It was a photographer’s dream! And then we reached the roaring waterfall. It’s so much taller in person. All of us took a moment to just stand in awe. The mist sprayed so far back and with the sun in the background looks like glitter in the air. I can’t make this stuff up you guys! It was perfect! Then adding in Quinn and Jake, ohmygosh! Jake smiled and laughed the whole time. Also a photographer’s dream to have a guy just having fun and loving it instead of just getting through a shoot haha. I was excited about their wedding before but I’m even more so now!!!

And what the heck I need to explore the Pac Northwest a whole lot more. It’s stunning!

XOXO

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I can’t come up with any better way to end an amazing wedding season than photographing Amber & David’s wedding at the Oceano Hotel & Spa in Half Moon Bay, California. I’ve known Amber and most of the bridesmaids since I was 13 years old. Their day felt like a big reunion with childhood friends. And although we’re all 30 now…. none of us have really changed 😉

These two picked such a beautiful place to get married. First of all I’ve always thought Cali has the most perfect dreamy light but mix it with an incredible venue, location, and kickass couple and it’s a wedding photographer’s dream weekend. This was really a dream, I swear. From trails off the beach to cliffs overlooking the ocean and then sunset on the beach…. What on earth! I knew it was going to be good as I visited the location with Amber this spring when I flew out to photograph their engagement photos but, I didn’t expect it to be as incredible as it was.

It was a privilege to just witness these two committing to each other in front of their friends and family members from all over the world but even more so to witness their love in subtle ways. From the way she adoringly looks at him to the way he holds her hand ever so gently.

I am so so so excited to share all of these photos. They’re stunning. I was having a hard time focusing on just editing these few as I wanted to jump around editing them in a crazy order! I was just so excited! They are so beautiful!

Amber and David, thank you. Thank you so much for including us in your best day ever. It was an honor. And SO much fun getting to see and connect with all of our friends again. It’s clear how much you are loved, which in turn must show how much you two love those around you!

Enjoy the heck out of your European honeymoon!!!!

XOXO!

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Anna found me on Instagram. Of all places. It’s not that uncommon for photographers to be found on instagram but, I’m by no means one of those insta-famous photographers. Not even close. Like no one in hell even slightly close or even approaching. But somehow she found me there. She messaged and asked if there was any chance I’d go to Jackson Hole for her and John’s wedding. There isn’t a chance that I wouldn’t go!

The morning of the wedding Ashley and I drove from northern Wyoming down to Jackson and somewhere along the way it instantly turned into fall. The leaves had changed. The weather was undecided on whether the wind should blow, should it be sunny, should the clouds come out. But overall it was SO beautiful down there. And I was in awe by the time I made it to Turpin Meadow Ranch… which they booked as their venue without ever being there!

The day was perfect. The details were flawless. Anna was stunning with a constant smile on her face. John was so overexcited that it was contagious yelling to the masses this was the best day of his life more times than anyone can count. And there were a lot of fist pumps and high fives. Which I greatly appreciate!

Most of my couples try to carve out as much time as they can all throughout the day and night to get portrait photos in. Anna & John on the other hand wanted to limit photo time. Not because photos weren’t important, they were, but their guests were more important. Anna is from Idaho, John is from Colorado, they live in Montana and everyone came to Wyoming for the day. It was a top priority for them to spend as much time hanging out with their guests as they could. Even though we spent less time doing photos in comparison to my other weddings I have so much respect for their requests and prioritizing their friends and family. And I’m stoked on the collection of images we came up with.

And at the end of the night the harvest moon came up over the mountain blanketed by the clouds but we ran out for a few last photos with the moon as they specifically picked their date because of it. A love under the Harvest Moon.

XOXO

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Stoked to share Katelynn & Anton’s Rock Creek Resort wedding in Red Lodge MT. This all started by Anton noticing Katelynn sitting on a bench and he sat down and got to know her. And eventually he took her back to that bench to propose to her. And, at their wedding, it only seemed fitting, they had a beautiful bench made for everyone to sign. These two are so cute together. Anton can make Katelynn laugh on a dime. And she looks at him like no one else exists.

The started their day by meeting each other at an overlook in the Beartooth mountains. So beautiful. Then started charging up rock faces, Katelynn didn’t even take of her heels. Proud of you, girl! I loved their bridal party… just their siblings and best friends. The people who will always stand beside them in life. Katelynn even had her brother stand on her side and Anton had his sister standing on his. Just as Katelynn took her dad’s arm to walk down the aisle to Anton the rain starting coming down. And they continued on. Just before their vows the rain turned into a slushy hail and Anton instantly looked at the crowd and said “We’re going in. Everybody go inside.” And on impulse they finished their vows and had their first kiss inside on the dance floor with all of their friends and family standing around them. Something special that I’m sure they’ll laugh about for years.

The clouds loomed around and I looked out thinking we wouldn’t have any sunset but we should probably still take 10 minutes or so for some extra portraits. We walked through tall wet grass making comments about how pretty the sagebrush was on the other side of the fence that said NO TRESPASSING. Katelynn commented they had thought about that last night and going over there. Katelynn and Anton are ultra sweet and generous people. I was kind of thrown off guard. I looked at her and said are you serious? Wanna trespass? YUP! So we made our way through the barb wired fence.

It wasn’t greener on the other side… just a little prettier 😉 And then the sun hit the top of the mountain and lit up the clouded sky. MAGIC!

We returned to a night with an epic dance party that we had to join in on at some point and Katelynn and Anton ended the night running through a tunnel of glow stick and took off to their cabin with a quick look back and a wave bye! Totally perfect!!!

XOXO