New Beginnings – Big Things for 2016

Hello 2016!

Well it’s here! 2015 has come and gone and 2016 now reigns supreme.  I’m sure we will all be scratching out dates in our checkbooks (yep I still use one) and be dreading the political ads to come (ughhh a presidential election year) lol.  But first let me sum up quickly a few highlights of 2015.

A New Momma

The biggest thing this year was I had a full year as a new mom which to say the least is one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I was in the military, have rock climbed, ocean kayaked, scuba dived, beaten cancer and given birth to said child but apparently that was the easy part! I now have a new respect for my newborn clients and I’m sorry if I ever was not sympathetic.  Another HUGE change was my physical studio location in Palmer Lake, CO where now I can do indoor and outdoor sessions for my portrait clients.  All my newborn props and backdrops in one location to maximize cuteness! Plus, I LOVE being able to photograph the legacy and growth of my clients.  Being able to see how they have changed from engagement to wedding, to having children and a little family.  Each milestone for all of you is just as special to me! I  truly share the excitement and joy with you and look forward to seeing everyone every year.  This year I also did holiday mini sessions with an antique buggy decked out Santa style, only missing reindeer and the Jolly man himself.

So Many Weddings and Gorgeous Venues!

Weddings this year were in full swing as usual, but I was lucky to have enjoyed a rare Memorial Day off! Typically, this is the grand start of weddings in Colorado as well as the Air Force Academy graduation! Additionally, for most of them, wedding weekend! I was fortunate to photograph in many new locations and wedding venues and returning back to a  few favorites.  One local Colorado Springs venue I have never visited was the PRCA hall of fame! Although it is a smaller, low-cost option, it produced some lovely locations and photo opportunities for my western couple.  Several mountain wedding locations were also on my travel itinerary. Two grand wedding locations involving Gondolas and ski lifts offered amazing mountain and lake views at Keystone’s Timber Ridge and Arapahoe Basin’s Black Mountain Lodge. These venues are not for the faint of heart.  Another new mountain and lake location was Dillon’s Silverthorne Pavilion and Dillon Reservoir.  A little closer mountain location, just past Evergreen, CO was Deer Creek Valley Ranch. This amazing venue offers an old restored barn, a lush valley and evergreens mixed with aspens and mountain views.  Last we went south to Hatchet Ranch south of Pueblo to visit a former PBR party barn turned wedding venue.

Of course we can’t forget some venues that we can never get enough.  Crooked Willow topped this list! We got to see what it has to offer in July, September and October. With our warm fall, the colors lasted long into the winter season.  This venue has it all! Mountains, ponds, barn, beautiful horses, colorful gardens, a cinderella turret lush pastures and trees. If that wasn’t enough, sunsets here are spectacular!  I was even fortunate to get a milky way galaxy shot that will knock your socks off!  Next, we visited at least 3 times Piney River Ranch where epic views are in every direction.  So much so that many leave the decor to nature. However, I have to tell you a few candles and colorful bouquets only makes it sweeter. Although the ride there is a bit treacherous, at least for a wedding cake, it is completely worth it.  Oh! And the Manor House!  It was lovely to see the exquisite changes made to an already beautiful venue. Of course, I can’t forget a few other favorites from this year!  Cielo, Spruce Mountain Ranch, Denver Botanical Gardens at Chatfield, Chautauqua, Garden of the Gods Club, Blanc, downtown Denver, Grant Humphrey’s Mansion, The Inverness in Denver, The Broadmoor and the Edgewood Inn.

So excited for the New Year

For 2016, I am excited to see the visions that all of my brides have for their wedding day!  I already have many weddings already booked for 2016 and even quite a few in 2017! This year will be taking me all over the state of Colorado! I do still have some dates available in 2016 and  2017! so if you have recently gotten engaged, I would love to talk with you about your wedding day. And, seriously, congratulations! I am so happy you have found the love of your life!

This year I decided to expand my weddings past Colorado and add an amazing deal for couples.  If you are getting married in California, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Wyoming or just about anywhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I am WAIVING travel fees for these locations!  Meaning you can book me for your wedding photography, get full day of coverage AND a day before or day after shoot. For example, your wedding rehearsal or a see the sights session with you and your groom without the wedding day chaos, but pay NO travel fees!  Select other European locations are also available at heavily discounted travel rates.  If you or someone you know is planning a destination wedding or having a wedding in one of these locations, please have them contact me to see if I have their date available.  I will be in Las Vegas, Nevada as well as Los Angeles, California in March so if you would like a portrait session or are getting married, please contact me right away so we can stylize a session for you.

To all my clients and all of you that have followed my business, I sincerely appreciate you as friends and clients and I look forward to making each other’s 2016 the best year ever!