Montana Weddings

Wedding Photojournalist Association

WPJA Award winning image.

Wow, just got the news. I feel so honored to have one of my images chosen in the 4th Quarter WPJA photo contest. This was an image that I grabbed while one of my clients was putting on her pearls. I was watching carefully during the preparation and I remember that I sensed something special. I had my camera to my eye. The light in the room was quite low and I was shooting without a flash at a really slow shutter speed. My anticipation payed off. Click. Bingo! I saw the moment in somewhat disbelief and wondered if I actually caught it. As usual, I was too busy at the moment to view it. Besides, if I’m staring down at my preview screen, I’m missing what is happening in the present. Later when I was going through the evening of images, there it was. phew! I love this image.

Thanks WPJA! Thanks Barbara!

If you’d like to see the album from this wedding. Here’s a link. Enjoy!

Barbara and Dave
320 Ranch

Lost in the line of duty

A Tribute to those that give… everything.

I was going through some of my work from the past year and I revisited an amazing image. I was shooting for the Benefis Hospital in Great Falls in September. It was late in the evening. I was up about 30 feet in the air on a swaying scissor lift, trying to stay perfectly still while making long exposures of their new hospital addition. A noise caught my ear. It was the sound of helicopter blades in the wind. One of the hospital’s Mercy Flight aircraft rising from behind the building. I picked up my camera, still attached to the tripod and followed it through the air. I got one exposure! “A lucky grab” I thought. Then my mind went back several years when I read the heart saddening story of the crash of one of their Mercy Flights. Pilot, nurse and paramedic, they all died enroute to pickup a patient in Bozeman.

So this is my small way to pay tribute to these folks that didn’t even give it a second thought to put their life on the line for another. They go about their selfless work and nobody really pays much attention except those that have had the benefit of their fine service.

For this I am grateful. I say THANK YOU to these three that gave everything, and many others out there, still hard at work. You’re amazing!

Montana Wedding on top of the world

It’s not always that I have the opportunity to hop into a helicopter and fly off to a high mountain ridge overlooking the wilderness to shoot with my clients.  Well that’s exactly what I did last Saturday!

Tyler (the groom), myself and Camden (the videographer) boarded this amazing Bell 407GX at Bozeman Airport lifted off to pick up his bride-to-be Katelyn at her family’s farm.  When we put down in the field Katelyn and her family faced a helicopter blizzard of sorts created from the rotor wash.  Tyler jumped out to greet them all and returned to the helicopter.  One of the most exciting ‘first looks’ I’ve seen.  Then up, up and away across Bozeman and southwest over Four Corners towards the Lee Metcalf Wilderness.   This entire adventure was the wedding gift from Tyler’s uncle Mark of Rocky Mountain Rotors.  Certainly, a gift that will never go forgotten!

Mark took us up unto a high mountain ridge which revealed the Madison River about a thousand feet below in what is known as Bear Trap Canyon.   He sat it down on a clear area and we walked a brief way to the over look.  Spectacular!!!  The entire day was a real treat to photograph.  Cheer’s to Katelyn, Tyler and Jackson!

Enjoy the view!




























A Montana bride’s photo session

Two weeks before the wedding

Ok, so… let’s take a step back two weeks before Ms. Marta’s September 4th wedding. Now, let me tell you, Marta is a southern Belle and she had her heart set on a bridal portrait session that would drop the jaws of her family and friends. Soooooo, ‘Bride to be’ Marta and her good friend Brianna met me at the Yellowstone Valley Lodge for an evening bridal portrait session… sans ‘husband to be’. It was a gorgeous evening. The bouquet had been forgotten back in Livingston and we had precious little time to fetch the bouquet. While the btb readied her self, I drove up and down Hwy 89 until I spotted some nice looking wildflowers, grabbed a handful and raced back. Brianna fashioned them into a fitting bouquet.

All that to say, sit back and check out these amazing moments in Paradise Valley. I love these images. Oh yeah… and I forgot to mention that she found this antique slip for some really special photos.

Marta, you rocked that little silk slip.

Foster Creek Farm, Sarajane and Dan

Most Amazing Sunset

Well, you’ve probably noticed how fascinated I am with the sky, rainbows and vast, amazing arrays of light in our big Montana Sky.  Well, Sarajane and Dan picked a winner when they selected July 7th for their wedding at the Foster Creek Farm on the outskirts of Bozeman.  I was watching the sky throughout the day and I could see that there was a very strong possibility that the sunset would be grand.  And… it was!

I had the unique pleasure of second shooting this wedding with my visually astute daughter Jennie Lynn.  Sarajane and Jennie Lynn attended college together for a few years in New York and have maintained their friendship over the years.  When Sarajane and Dan decided to marry, they put the call out to Jen and she happily accepted.

It has been a bit of a blur since we were shooting in New Hampshire and then flew back just a few days before this wedding and a few more after that.  BUT, what a great blur it is!  I totally loved Sarajane and Dan’s wedding.  Foster Creek Farm is a gorgeous venue and we were well received by their professional staff.

One sweet detail that I must share. Sarajane’s engagement ring was Dan’s Great Grandmother’s! The last wedding image in this collection is the ring I placed in front of a picture of that beautiful woman on her wedding day. Wow!

Congratulations married people!!!   More soon…

Enjoy the view!






















‘your’ real Montana wedding

My photography is about YOU, not about the photographer!

I offer an alternative to the highly altered reality, cookie cutter type of wedding photography in Montana.  SEE for yourself.  BE yourself.  It’s YOUR day.

My work is authentic to who YOU are.
My shooting style is unobtrusive.
My images are full of the naturally occurring beauty of each moment.

I love Montana!  I am most fond of the spectacular scenic wedding surroundings here in Montana, from Glacier to Yellowstone with occasional destination weddings around the country.

Here are a collection of links to several Real Montana Weddings I have captured in the recent past.

Audrey and Micah

Antonia and Rance

Melissa and Jarrod

Anna and Chris

And then, take a walk through my Portfolio and see for yourself.

Paradise Valley wedding by Larry Stanley

I am now booking for 2018 and 2019, so contact me soon to reserve your date!