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Dramatic proposal on the Yellowstone

I found myself hiking in to my favorite studio along the banks of the Yellowstone river with a foreboding storm front moving quickly in from the south. I had made firm plans with Mitchell for his surprise proposal and now… I’m thinking we’re going to get drenched a half mile from the highway!

Fortunately, the storm stayed a little ways south of the planned location. Soon I noticed the couple approaching the river quite a ways down stream. Fortunately he caught a glimpse of me on the shore and made his course correction quickly.

Mitchell and Madison approached and I made friendly conversation about the storm, the weather and the birds I was photographing! Then went on about my business as they approached the shoreline. And then the lightening and thunder commenced as Mitchell knelt before his companion and asked her to marry him! OMG! It was Shock and Awe! Lot’s of laughs, hugs and kisses.

After that we hustled around, made more photos and took a quick path to our cars. Then up we went into the mountains to enjoy the valley view and a little shower.

Congratulations to Madison and Mitchell. Enjoy the view!

secretly removing the ring box from under his belt!

Madison seemed to be gathering herself from the surprise!

And then, the ring went on her finger very quickly!

Cowgirl Yogatography 2022

This was the 10th anniversary of Cowgirl Yogatography, the brain child of Margaret Burns Vap and myself. Annually, we have gathered a handful of voginis that are students of photography for this amazing retreat that combines yoga with photography studies and time on this beautiful ranch. My daughter Jennie Lynn co teaches this retreat with me and I could not do it without her!

Here are just a few images that I pulled off my camera card this morning. Enjoy the view!

Larry Stanley

JL, off to work to photograph in the meadow

My fine companion Heather, taking time with one of our dear equine subjects during a photo shoot!

Margaret, off to take care of the horses!

Loving large

It is always pleasant to meet a couple in person for the first time on their wedding day and feel like I’ve known them for some time! Such was the case last Saturday at the 320 Guest Ranch. I have always had an affinity with this place. I have had the honor of photographing many fine weddings here for years.

This marriage brought a lot of lives together. Now they are one big happy family! I’ll let my photos tell you the story.

Thanks to my fine young friend Rachel Mascari for second shooting with me again this week and contributing to this blog post. ENJOY THE VIEW!

Sarah’s sons walked her down the aisle and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place!

I love my job! Capturing the experiences of life and making new friends!

Thanks to Sarah and Steve for finding me!

Alanna and Brent

It was a warm and pleasant day in the hills above Bozeman at the Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon. It seems just weeks ago, that I had met and photographed with Brent and Allana in preparation for their wedding. And now here we are!

Enjoy the view!

This is not exactly what you might think. Brent’s back muscles were cramping after the wedding. The officiant also happens to be a trainer and good friend. So after all the family photos were done, he came to Brent’s aid. It’s one of those special moments during a wedding day of photos!

At sunset we hit the dusty road up to a friend’s property for some sunset beauty! It was breath taking! Thanks very much… you know who you are.

Thanks to all of the talented wedding professionals that made this day a very special occasion for Brent and Allana!

Beauty and the Belief
Just a Taste
Wildwood Events, Elsa Campbell
Sweet Pea Bakery

Special thanks to my talented young friend and second photographer, Rachel Mascari.

Miranda and Richy

What a fabulous day at Chico Hot Springs Resort! Miranda and Richy tied the knot in the presence of family and friends. The weather was ‘Paradise Valley perfect’ and everyone enjoyed the sun, the warmth and yes… the breeze (aka ‘the wind’)! Here is a glimpse of this beautiful wedding day in Paradise.

Thanks to my friend and second shooter, Rachel Mascari for her fine work and the way she always keeps things fun, interesting and ‘melodic’!

**Richy ‘the groom’ a photographer himself, captured us at work in the beautiful Paradise Valley! Thanks Richy !**

Proposing in Paradise

I got an email from Michael a couple of months ago and began the process of setting up the photography of his surprise proposal to Sarah in Yellowstone National Park. Little did we know that all the precise planning was going to be ‘awash’, so to speak in the challenges of a disastrous flooding of the Yellowstone River starting in Yellowstone park and continuing south though many towns down river.

Well, it’s quite a story which I’ll make time for later in the week. The bottom line is that Michael and I for the last week, carried on daily secret conversations to bring us all together without blowing the secret. Amazingly, we did it… and yesterday Michael proposed marriage to Sarah on the banks of the mighty and still swollen Yellowstone River.

I posed as a hobbyist photographing birds near a pre-planned location and the rest is history!!! Here’s a beautiful image I grabbed right as the couple was walking by me to the planned spot. Then the real event began!