Salome and Andrew

Aspen and I usually have really good luck with the weather (knock on wood) but we had to reschedule this shoot twice! Salome wanted some shots with blue sky and yellow canola and Mother Nature was not having it. Our first shoot was hampered by a crazy thunder and lighting storm, the second time it rained and we even managed to get sprinkled on for this, our third, attempt! Luckily Salome and Andrew are the lovely, laid back that don't mind shrugging off a little rain (and maybe a spider or two) in order to get a great photo!

Tania and Shawn Engagement!

I feel honored to have Tania Gonzales as a friend. Not only is she radiantly beautiful inside and out, she lets me take her picture whenever I want. When Tania met Shawn I instantly knew he was different from the rest. Not only is he a rancher, who's family has a strong connection to the land he works, but he is kind, and sweet and a perfect character foil to my ultimately city-chick friend. It was hilarious to see a girl who wouldn't be out of place in a Sex and the City movie because of how much she loves good shoes and great clothes tromping around in a field swarmed with mosquitos patiently allowing me to get my shot. Petting a horse she's not too sure about, and letting her son wade in a puddle only because she loves me that much. I can't wait for their wedding, so here's a few shots to tide us all over until then.

I double checked everything on my list of equipment before I made the four hour drive to the ranch... I pulled it all out amidst the swarms of mosquitos and set it all up... and then realized I had forgotten one half of my transmitter. OOPS. So all of these are natural light, except the ones below, where I got creative and used the headlights from Shawn's truck to get my shot. I really like them, mostly because the memory of the trip resides in these the most for me.

I'm in love with this horse already. his name is Coors ( Shawn you should be embarrassed about that, btw) he comes when you call his name, and he seems pretty much the happiest horse ever.

That is a fierce look if I've ever seen one...

Tania is not looking at Gabriel while I'm taking this shot...

Now we're both laughing as I'm trying to get this one. it was so hard because I was almost doubled over.

What you don't see is when he tried to drink the puddle... that might be a little far even for me

We stripped him after the puddle incident because he reeked, and I got this shot in the garden, which I love because he's only quiet when he's getting into trouble... but it's beautiful nonetheless.

Kristin and Curtis' Wedding

I don't think I've ever cried joyfully so much in my life. I'm actually kind of embarrassed at how emotional I was during my best friend's wedding. it's a double curse/blessing when your friends ask you to shoot for them. Any photographer will tell you how much work goes into a wedding, and that you're so busy working you never have time to just chill. But then, when someone you love is in love it's a once in a lifetime chance to capture those moments, and it means twice as much. it wasn't easy to shoot my friend's wedding, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Although if Penny wasn't there doing the majority of the work while I cried between shots, I don't know if the pictures would've turned out as well as they did....

kristin and Curtis' engagement

When my best friend told me she was engaged I finally realized what the fuss was about. Our friendship has a long span, we actually met at a wedding about thirteen years ago. Over the years we've been close and not so close, but we bonded again when she was my support in a silk dress as I walked down the aisle last year. I whole-heartedly rejoiced at the chance to shoot for them and even though they were shy, their love for one another radiates when you're in their presence. Here's some of my favorites from their engagement shoot.

 I'm guilty of a lot of things in these photos.... soft focus, blur effects, lens flare... sunsets....reflections...cross processing.... wow even I'm ashamed of myself, but they look so pretty!