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Couples portraits, Valentine’s day

Valentine’s day portraits are great fun, especially when it’s totally spontaneous! I was hired to shoot for a corporate annual report and I needed a good assistant that was good with people and lighting. So, I called my friend Camden Miller a few days in advance and he was happy to jump in. Camden is a fine young videographer and image maker that I had met a wedding over a year ago. I knew his skills would be a perfect fit and he could add some video content if my client so desired. His only condition was that he could be free at 4 pm to meet his sweetheart for a Valentine’s day date and evening dinner. I said, ‘fine, no problem’, knowing that we would most likely be done by then. If not, I would just be left with the lighting take down and toting the gear to the car. As it turned out that was not the case.

The shoot came off without a hitch and when we were all loaded up, Camden asked if I would stick around a bit and make some images for he and Jessie. So… sure thing! Hence the impromptu mini session in Bozeman, the results of which I absolutely adore. It was 20 minutes exactly and Jesse and Camden were amazing to shoot with. Then when we were done, Jesse asked to take a picture of Camden and I. Nice shot Jessie!

‘bada bing bada boom’ Enjoy the view!

Camden and I hanging out in his brother’s vintage VW Vanagon

photos for a Friday 2020

A brief look back.

Today is somewhat of a reflective day. I thought it would be a good time to share more images that are meaningful to me as a photographer and a human being. ‘Moments Found’ which touched me, each it’s own uniquely beautiful and poignant way. Moments of life and death, beginnings and endings, joy and sorrow, togetherness and being apart, first steps and last rights, all of these experiences we call LIFE! So here goes. I hope these images move you in some very special and personal way.

And to start off, this first photo which I did not take. Thanks, gratitude and Credit goes to my good friend David Clumpner who masterfully captured my daughter Lauren’s wedding day. Thank you David!!!

And lastly, a picture of me with my VERY VERY dear companion Yeshe Ahni who I will not see again in this life.
I can’t wait to see what insights 2020 will bring to my eyes and my camera! LIFE IS SO GRAND…

Yellowstone Park proposal

Harsh Vedant Kumar contacted me on short notice to see if I could meet he and his ‘wife to be’ unbeknownst to her, in the Lamar Valley. They were traveling here from Atlanta to see Yellowstone Park in the winter and Harsh was planning a GRAND SURPRISE! So I made a plan and pinpointed some scenic places we could potentially meet, then spoke with Harsh upon his arrival in Bozeman to coordinate our location and timing.

At this time of year many of the visitors to the park are photographers that are hoping to capture images of the wolfs and other wildlife. That made me a fairly normal person to see hanging around with cameras around my neck, and etc.

When I arrived they had gotten to the designated location a bit earlier than planned. So I grabbed my cameras and wondered out onto the snow covered boardwalk taking in the view and made some friendly ‘stranger’ small talk. Then Harsh pull the ring box out of his heavy coat and knelt before his lovely companion. Niru was overcome with tears of joy and then quick and repetitive “Yes, yes, yes, yes!!!” filled the air. ANOTHER GREAT SURPRISE IN YELLOWSONE PARK!

As the sun appeared and disappeared from behind the low lying clouds we drove to a few scenic places and captured some magical memories.

And one more detail, Harsh was so thoughtful that he secreted a few dresses from Niru’s bag at the hotel knowing that she might want some images in other than winter coats and snow pants. Good work Harsh!!!

Enjoy the view!

And then I pulled some well chilled bubbly out of my trunk and toasted to their long and happy life together. In Mason jars… of course!

Bozeman Wedding, 320 Ranch

Last Saturday found me at the historic Soldiers Chapel and the beautiful 320 Guest Ranch for the wedding of Kathleen and Charles. The last time I saw this couple it was blowing snow in sub freezing temperatures… and too cold to be making images. But that is exactly what we did! We shot for about 17 minutes start to finish! This time it was a wonderful Montana summer day in a high mountain valley 1000 feet above Bozeman, Montana with delicious breezes and the warm sun poking in and out of puffy whites. Sublime!

I was pleased to be accompanied by my daughter Jennie Lynn as second shooter. She is a highly accomplished photographer in her own right and she makes the wedding day seem to glide by with such grace. Her photography speaks for itself.

From the early moments of getting ready, to the light stick send off and the dancing that went on and on after that… it was a grand event. Kudos to Lauren Schoenborn of Beautifully Born events of Bozeman for all the hard work and seamless coordination.

Congratulations to Kathleen and Charles! May your years be many and always filled with love!

Now, enjoy the wedding album… and then my favorite stills!

Portraits in Paradise

I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Just down the road from my home is the breathtaking Paradise Valley. I call it my studio… where miles and miles of the mighty Yellowstone River careens through the valley, surrounded by mountains and capped with the ever changing big Montana Sky. Add a sundown like none other and you get perhaps as close to heaven as you can without actually leaving this temporal place on earth.

Last summer I spent a couple of hours with a returning client that wanted to take advantage of a summer day making photos in a couple of locations including an sundown dip in the Yellowstone, a baptism of sorts.

It was breathtaking!

So, whether you are planning a wedding, a surprise proposal, an elopement or simply portraits in a place you will never forget, give me a call or contact me via this site. I’ve lived here over 30 years and I have access to many amazing vistas and ‘secret spots’ both public and private in which to photograph. Enjoy the view!

Senior portraits

What a great photo session with Toby! We hopscotched around around the calendar to find a date to make our schedules match with some decent weather. Winter has shown it’s frosty face earlier than usual, but at last… a window of opportunity. As it turned out, we landed on an afternoon that was pretty amazing. Toby has some serious modeling potential in front of the camera! This looks more like a magazine shoot than a senior portrait session.

Thanks to Toby’s mother Anne for carrying camera gear up the hill, holding a light stand against some serious wind and being such a great assistant. She was implemental in the success of this photo shoot.

And then right at sunset, their dogs got into the action and I grabbed the fleeting moment that you just can’t plan or pose. That is what I love to do!!!

Enjoy the view!