Springtime in the Rockies

Paradise Valley with Jess and John Paul

Another great afternoon shooting in my favorite place in the whole wide world... the Paradise Valley just south of Livingston, Montana. Oh God I love this place. You never know what the heck the weather will do and today it did just about everything.

But that didn't stop Jessica and John Paul from making the most of their "Spring" visit to Montana. They flew in from Delaware on Friday to put together the final details of their July wedding in Red Lodge and we got together to make some fun photos for their engagement. As Montana springtime weather would have it, we had snow, and blow, and sun, and sleet and... well it's springtime in the Rockies!

I've got a dozen more amazing photos to share but it's late and tomorrow's Monday. Here's a sneak peak. I'll post more tomorrow.

skate'n East River Road.


make'n out in a phone booth (retro!)


on the banks of the Yellowstone in blizzard.


Jess and John Paul... you two rock. Thanks for stick'n with the plan and having fun with me today. I loved it. Hope you warmed up quickly. Safe travels, see you again soon.


UPDATE!
Ok, so here's the rest of the story. We started in the warmth of Chadz Coffee Shop in Livingston, then some brisk sunny moments down to valley.








Then we played around in Pine Creek before we got into the weather.












We took a mountain road up to a turn-out so we could be amongst the amazing peaks of Paradise Valley. John Paul played mountain lama.


Then, back in Livingston...the blizzard struck!

Engagement session

at the foot of the Bridgers

Ok, so today, did I have some fun!!! Amber and David came by with their new little puppy Trixy and we jumped in their pickup and headed for the hills to make some fun photos for their engagement. Love is an amazing thing... and these two are connected at the hip.

Smoke Jumper with a pre-med education (+) a 3rd grade school teacher with Bachelor(ette) of Fine Arts and a ballarina! = LOVE. Whoa. What a cool couple. I had the most fun shooting today.

And many thanks to Chum and Sally Howe of the Springhill Pavilion, one of the finest historic wedding venues in the region and a really fantastic spread of land right at the foot of the Bridger Mountians.

Here's the works, get ready to smile.

Trixy pretty much stole the show and I loved it! Everytime I'd lay down to get a low angle she was all over me, loads of puppy kisses.




Some sweet moments.






Then the coats came off and the romping began.













In the end we all had wet butts and big smiles and I think Trixy was ready for a puppy nap on the way home.

Hey Amber and David, it was a real pleasure to spend some time with you today. Thanks for coming all the way over to Bozeman for the shoot. See you again soon!

Birthday Party

for The Flower Bomb

Why is Lauren Brown the Flower Bomb. Well the answer is that when it comes to photographing flowers... she is the BOMB. Hence the nickname "Flower Bomb". If you haven't seen her floral detail images from weddings, you should. Try her BLOG on starters. She just put a new album slideshow up that you'll love.

Ok, sooo with that introduction, yesterday was Lauren's birthday and we threw her a little party. Here are some fun photos of the partying along with a cute little card that I made for her.

Thanks to everyone that came over and joined in the fun.

It's all about photoshop!


Henry and Jackie came with their Mom and had a great time. They fit right in because at Peach Street Studios, we're all just big kids. This Henry and Lauren.


And this is Jackie and Jennie Lynn.


My dog Yeshe eyeing the beer.


Elsa and Chuck of the Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon.


Molly Freeze who doesn't really live up to her last name... to the contrary.


Royce Gersuch, aka: Royce "the Rolls" of film. Royce made promo videos for both Lauren and I.


Lovely Angela and Lauren.


The kids danced up a storm.




Yarrow and the guys from ChiselIndustries.com screened an underground video about Lauren that will never be released!


Her reaction!

Looking for seamstress

in Bozeman

I've got just about every other resource for weddings... but a seamtress. So, if you're out there, please contact me. I'd love to put you on my Montana Wedding Resource page.

Spring has sprung!!!

Latest Montana adventure

Benefis Hospital

Well, as you know life is not all about sunny bluebird days with ribbons and bouquets. There is the substance of life and love in every place and every experience. And I think it's important to share the fact that I shoot all sorts of interesting projects. I always have fun working with great folks and discovering all facets of life.

In my last life (in LA) I shot advertising for about 10 years. It seems to keep coming back around. This time I ventured off to Great Falls for a week and shot for the Benefis Hospital. They're in the process of completing a brand new wing of their hospital.

I nabbed my fab business partner and friend, Lauren Brown to assist me for a week. And here are a few snaps.
Enjoy.


The high tech and up to date Operating Room. whoa!



This is one of the fine ladies that I work with. She does allllll the foot work for days of shooting, and coordinates our time with the Doc's schedule... a job that I don't envy. Great work Vicki!



Lauren standing in.




Doctors Brown and Stanley



Shooting with no hands.



and the result.


Here are some grabs from an Ad shoot we did with a fine guy up in Conrad that had his back fixed. Now he's out in the field again, keeping the American black gold going into the reserve.



The cute and funny Tianna came along on Friday to help me in the oil fields. Thanks T!








Oh and last but not least Lauren and I took a picture of ourselves in front of El Comedor. Great food and.... the largest selection of Tequila in the state. 50 different brands!!! That's why Lauren is smiling and I'm looking quizzically into the lens of my own camera. ha ha ha

A close look at my albums

by Leather Craftsmen

I like to talk about my work in terms of "Remarkable Images and Books". The reason I put "books" in this descriptive phrase is that my work is all about story telling. What better way to tell a photo story than in a gorgeously bound book.

About 3 years ago, Gary Fong encouraged me to include an album in every package that I offer. I said... well OK, so who's got the best books? After a lot of shopping around, I landed on the folks from Leather Craftsmen. I wish I could just hand you one. You would know by the feel of it just how amazing they are. But, in lieu of that, here are some pictures of just a few samples that I have here in the studio.


They offer a wide selection of fine leathers as well as other materials with the option of inset photos and custom imprinting, even branding!


I like the square format that gives you a wide panaramic view 10 inches tall and 20 inches wide. So fabulous for the big Montana scenery. The photographic prints are lightly textured and laquered for life long protection.


Here's a simple black leather with and inset photo on the front. Very sweet!




Fonts! Yeah, they have plenty. Personalize your book with custom stamping, monograms, symbols... whatever.


And when you get inside, that's where the "Remarkable Images" are... those are personal to you. The sky's the limit.

Talented Montana wedding photographer

Lauren Brown

I just got home from a shoot in Great Falls. Lauren Brown and I shot for the Benefis Hospital all week long and it was very productive. I'll share some images in the near future. Advertising work is tedious at times and requires a lot of focus. I was lucky to have my business partner and good friend Lauren with me. Lauren is such a vivid young talent in our region. If you haven't seen her work... you should!

LaurenBrownPhoto.com

By the way, Great Falls is a gas... but oh was it cold during the first of the week. Highs of -9. ouch! The Sip and Dip is a must experience bar and The Breaks is a fabulous place for a fine dinner.

But all that aside, after many days with long hours of ad work, I stuck my camera in my tired assistant's face for some very low key, low light portraits of my friend. I think these are among some of my favorite photos that I've made lately.

Montana Winter Wedding

Chico in February

Who would have expected such a brilliant day in the first week of February. DeeDee and Scott have become good friends of mine over the months since we met, and I just had a feeling that the day would be amazing. And it was!

Here's the first of the many album designs of 2009. Enjoy.

DeeDee and Scott