It isn’t easy to get to Steamboat Springs from out of town.  Sarre and Steve, and most of their guests, live in New York or along the east coast.  To get to this wedding, most of them had to fly into Denver and drive 3.5 hours into the mountains.  That’s not an easy feat if you aren’t used to driving in Colorado.  But once they arrived in Steamboat Springs, I suspect every one of Steve and Sarre’s guests were blown away by the backdrop of this gorgeous wedding.  Throw in delicious food, an awesome band, and a truly sweet couple, and this wedding was well worth traveling for.

I second shot this wedding with Laura Dombrowski, whom I used to shoot weddings with when I worked in Denver back in 2005.  Oddly enough, the last wedding we shot together was at this same exact venue atop Mt. Werner :)  I had a great time working with Laura again – and getting to meet this couple.  Congrats Sarre and Steve!

I had a number of corporate headshot appointments this week, and decided just to roll them into one blog post to keep it simple.  It’s so important to have your photo on your business website.  It builds an instant connection between you and your client, and makes you identifiable.  I think having a portrait also makes you seem more friendly, but maybe that’s just me.  Whatever the reason, I’m glad these four people now have new images for their websites and social media tools -and that they thought of me to take them!

Engagement photos are not about pictures.  Well, they are, but to me that’s almost a secondary function.  The primary function of an engagement shoot is to serve as a testing ground for you to work with your wedding photographer.  This is SO important, and really shouldn’t be skipped.  What are the benefits of working with your photographer for engagement portraits?  Here are just a few:

Learn how to be photographed Were your last professional photos your senior pictures?  I suspected as much.  Since it’s been a while since you’ve been in front of the camera with a professional, you can take this session as an opportunity to learn how to be photographed.  You’ll learn how to pose with your fiance and how to relax in front of the lens.

Trust your photographer As a subject, it’s hard to visualize what the photographer is doing when they take certain shots (particularly if they’re laying on the ground, standing up high, or posing you in what seems like an odd spot.)  You’ll experience this during your engagement shoot, and get to see the results.  When you see how amazing that shot turned out, you’ll have no reservations about what your photographer does at your wedding – you’ll trust that everything will turn out great.

Get a sense for her working style Shooting style is an extension of personality.  You’ll see how your photographer works with you to get you to smile, how well they direct you for posed shots, and how they think on their feet.  You’ll leave feeling more comfortable with who will be showing up at your wedding and how they’ll work. » Continue reading “Why you shouldn’t skip engagement photos”

Denise and I share a high school alma mater.  Well, we will, once she graduates from Highland Ranch High School next year.  Oddly enough, I went to school in Highlands Ranch with Denise’s English teacher, Brian (or Mr. D to her), whom I’ve been friends with since the seventh grade.  Personally I couldn’t wait to get out of high school, but it seems Brian didn’t quite get enough :)

Brian has been teaching Denise since her freshman year, and he told me a bit about her before her photo shoot.  From the sound of it, she’s very hard-working, involved in all kinds of activities, and just overall a good egg.  Turns out she’s also a lot of fun to photograph – it doesn’t take much to get her to laugh, which I always love.

Denise also gave me a little scoop on Brian as a teacher – apparently he is, in fact, one of the funny teachers at school.  And he doesn’t allow texting during class.  Good work Brian :)

Restaurants make awesome venues for smaller wedding receptions.  They have great ambiance, delicious food, and are perfect for the couple that wants something a little more low key.  The bonus is that they require little to no decor, and they include all the service staff and rentals you might need at a more traditional venue.  The following restaurants would be great for a less formal reception, a brunch reception following a morning ceremony, or even just a rehearsal dinner.

Baur’s Ristorante Excellent ambiance, and the food presentation is top notch.

Firenze a Tavola A smaller venue, this restaurant is best suited for smaller parties or rehearsal dinners.

Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House Hardwood floors, a starlight ceiling, and a gorgeous bar.  This place also has space for a small ceremony. » Continue reading “Venue Hunt: Restaurant Weddings”