Destination Weddings

Surprise proposal in Yellowstone Park

June 21st found me once again in Yellowstone Park meeting up with a couple from Atlanta that had just arrived for a week of touring. Anthony had contacted me weeks in advance and we plotted and planned the surprise proposal to take place in front of the lower falls of the Yellowstone river. As I drove into the park the temperature was very low for this time of year and snow showers were moving through the area. I had been watching the weather radar and I was hoping for a clearing for our 6 pm meeting. And sure enough the sky slowly brightened as I waited patiently for the couple to arrive.

I will leave it to my photos to tell the rest of the story! And… how sweet a story it is! Cheers to Caroline and Anthony!

In the end I pulled some Montana bubbly… also known as ‘IPA’ out of my trunk and I made a toast to the couple at 8300 feet ASL overlooking Yellowstone lake.

Yellowstone Spring Wedding

Finally winter has given way to spring and… How Sweet It Is!!! I was in our nation’s first national park last Saturday for the wedding of Jamie and Josh. Yellowstone National Park was in amazing form. We had no idea what the weather might do on the first day of June. We were hoping for sun, a few clouds and perhaps a nice sunset. This couple was in for much, much more.

As the wedding day flew by in a blur, I consulted with the bride and groom about the plans to drive out to another location in the park for the sunset. They made the sound decision to stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to spend time with their friends and family instead. That was the right decision! Just awhile later someone came in from outside excitedly pronouncing RAINBOW! Out the door we went to capture a beautiful glowing rainbow to honor this couple and their love. See for yourself.

A sincere Thank You to my friend and accomplished photographer Lindsey Mulcare for shooting with me on this momentous occasion.

The ground was covered with small cactus so one of the powerful groomsman took matters into his own hands and carried the bride to the location of the photos.

These three have traveled to visit nearly all of America’s great Nation Parks!

The evening was consumed with hours of dancing… and these young people can dance!!! And that’s the subject of yet another upcoming blog post. Cheers to Josh and Jamie!

Chico Hot Springs wedding – Michael and Stephanie

On July 1st Stephanie and Michael joined their lives together at Chico Hot Springs Resort in the ever beautiful Paradise Valley. Coming all the way from England, they chose to make Montana their destination wedding. Friends and family came from near and far to join them on their wedding day, and a grand day it was!

Cheers to a long life together, full of joy and happiness! Enjoy a few highlights from the day’s events.

Many thanks to my extremely talented friend and professional photographer, David Clumpner for second shooting with me. Here, I caught him being his exuberant and funny self during our sunset photo shoot! Several of these images were his work! Thanks David!

Hybrid Engagement session

Here’s the latest in engagement session photography. We call it Hybrid Wedding Imagery. Camden Miller Productions and Larry Stanley Photography are working together in this endeavor and I must say we’re having a great time with it.

Here is a short clip that Camden created with his video and my stills. Oh and the Bald Eagle launching from the tree below his drone was something you just can’t script! AMAZING moments of nature caught by the intuitive eye and reflexes of Camden Miller, just minutes after our brief and COLD photo session with Kathleen and Charles.

Visit us this Saturday at the Yellowstone Wild Gallery in Bozeman during the annual Bozeman Bridal Walk. Please come say hello and see more of our work.

Montana Heli Wedding

I love mountain tops and helicopters! Aside from the experience of an exhilarating day hike, there is no better means for getting on top of mountain peaks in Montana than a flight in a helicopter. Last November I had the opportunity to shoot with my clients Katelyn and Tyler up above the Madison River overlooking what is known as the Bear Trap in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness area. It was a quick flight over to pick up Katelyn on her family’s farm and then off to the mountains we went! On the way we saw herds of bison and elk as the view of the lands and river were captivating. Upon arrival, Mark Taylor our pilot from Rocky Mountain Rotors put us down on a little spot on top of the high ridge. We hopped out and walked about 25 yards to a rock out cropping above this phenomenal view.

It was such a grand experience, it has inspired me to put together a photo/video package for couples that have the desire for this type of experience and imagery. I’m sure there are couples that would want to add this to your Montana wedding photography experience. Maybe you want to take your officiant along and be married in this location or perhaps have your engagement session in this mountain top world of bliss!

The sky is the limit, enjoy the view and check out the video that Camden Miller Productions created!

destination wedding in New Hampshire

The last week of June took me to the east coast to a town by the name of Meredith, New Hampshire. This beautiful place sits on Lake Winnipesaukee. The wedding took place in a charming 200 year old chapel on a nearby school campus. The parents of the bride hosted the wedding reception on their historic family farm. Heather and Matt were surrounded by an intimate group of family, friends and loved ones. Summer weather had set in with temperatures in the 90’s which nearly wilted a couple of photographers!

I was so pleased to have an old friend of mine join me for the photography. I met Katherine Van Acker in Calabasa, California and mentored her for a brief time some 30 years ago! She has since gone on to become an acclaimed professional photographer in New York, professor of photography at University in Albany, and herself a fine mentor to many students of photography. I have included a number of her wonderful images in my post. Thank you Katherine!!!

Congratulations Heather and Matt!

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE WEDDING ALBUM!