Scenic Montana

Paradise Valley in Gold

In the course of a year there is rarely a day when the Paradise Valley is not spectacular! Whether it’s the freezing temperatures of the dead of winter, a rainy day in spring or even when the smoke of a fire far away puts a golden filter on everything. On this day it was a bit smokey with a late afternoon sun.

This couple brought their own brightness to the valley and nature shown kindly upon them. The wedding is coming right up in August in a high mountain valley near Big Sky. I can’t wait!

And… after we had said goodbye and I started my drive up the valley, the entire sky began to light up! I pulled over immediately, grabbed my camera and trotted out to the highway in hopes that my clients were following the same route. Soon they came rolling up and I waved them over to capture this most amazing sunset! SWEET! I love it when that happens! Magic!!! I can’t wait to see what their wedding day will bring!!!

Auspicious moment

This may or may not have anything to do with weddings this summer. However… the solar eclipse today was amazing and I think… perhaps auspicious in a large, earthly scale. Check out my back yard view of this planetary moment captured through early spring rain clouds!

Here’s to a fabulous year of meaningful and beautiful events!

Fall engagement in Montana

Alanna and Brent took a break from their busy and demanding schedule in residency in California to fly up to Montana for their engagement shoot. They said they flew all that way to Montana just for the photoshoot… that’s very kind, but I also know that they were visiting Alanna’s mother in Bozeman! Well, they struck it rich with the weather and golden trees from one end of Paradise Valley to the other. It was phenomenal! Everywhere we went there were these incredible WIDE vistas. So, I shot ‘wide’ every where we went.

We ended up against the mountains with nearly a 360 degree view of the valley. We hiked up the hill and I popped out my portable studio light and giggled with delight as I extracted the last bit of beauty of this awesome day!

Alanna and Brent… what a joyous day! I can’t wait to witness and capture the arisings of your wedding day!

enjoy the view!

marriage and maternity photos

Recently I was speaking with an old friend that I have photographed with over the years and the subject of maternity photos came up. She was all about it! So we put our heads together and agreed to plan something SOON. Well you know how that goes! We all three are busy people, and the ‘soon’ kept creeping away from us. Finally, we stopped our busy lives and made it happen. Sean and Brett met me at my studio for a jam packed hour of photography, and then we switched gears and headed to the river to catch the late evening light on the Yellowstone. Walking out over the rocky shore line, into the water on slippery rocks, with camera in hand was a bit tricky. I know the same was true for my young pregnant friend. Sean was a huge help in the studio and in the water! The experience inspired the desire for more shoots like this, and the images are breath taking! Thank you Brett and Sean… and ‘happy baby’! Enjoy the view.

Springtime Montana weddings

Well… it’s finally happening! I’m off to a running start into some visually delightful springtime Montana weddings, surprise proposals in Yellowstone Park and many elopements throughout the weeks to come. The covid hex has changed things slightly but the great news is that HOPE is REAL in our world today. Take heart!

This couple came from across the country to marry in Paradise Valley, Montana and it was a splendid occasion. The one and only Chico Hot Springs Resort graciously offered their hospitality on the breathtaking property and later the wedding couple bathed their feet in the miracle waters of the Yellowstone River! And… I’m not exaggerating a bit by saying that the sunset was one of the most amazing displays that I have seen for awhile. See for yourself.

Rachel caught me getting firmly into my work… butt to the ground tripod position!

Thanks to Rachel Olsen Mascari for her excellent assistance and second shooting! Look for more beautiful images from this young talent!

Yellowstone National Park Wedding

There is nothing like photographing a Yellowstone National Park Wedding during the celebration of the National Park Service Centennial! The traffic was wild! The sky was painted with plumes of smoke from a few nearby fires and Emily, Sean, their immediate family and a few close friends were wonderful!

We drove around for a few hours making images in just a few of the scenic wonders of Yellowstone National Park. Everywhere we went dozens of people form all over the world were stopping to take a picture of the couple and conveying their congratulations and well wishes. It was very cool!

The Ceremony took place at one of the colorful pools for an intimate and moving ceremony officiated by the brides father. And then after Old Faithful performed on time, Emily and Sean slipped into their sleek Tesla Model S for some photos!
Enjoy the view!