Posts Tagged ‘Mountain Portrait’

Alan & Molly- A Mountain Wedding in Vail

09.17.2009 - By Peter
Categories: Weddings
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We had a great time photographing Alan and Molly’s Wedding last night in Vail. It was great to see so many familiar faces amongst the guests. Alan and Molly live in Hawaii currently but both lived in Colorado before trading the snow for sand.  Everything just went so well. We missed the short rain between the time I photographed Alan & Molly together alone and the ceremony. It was the perfect early fall day in the mountains, not hot, not cold but just right.

We started the day photographing in Vail Village at the covered bridge. All of Vail Village was buzzing with the weekly farmers market. We took this in stride and went to work to create uniquely vail images with Gore creek and the covered bridge. Then we were off to Donovan  Pavilion for the ceremony and reception. This is a great venue for a wedding, with a beautiful back patio for the outdoor ceremony and a spacious interior for the reception. During the ceremony surrounded by Aspen trees you could hear the trickle of Gore creek running in the background.

A really fun reception followed the ceremony with Alan’s Mom performing a Hula dance accompanied by  their friends playing Hawaiian slack key guitars. The night ended with Alan and Molly leaving with all the friends and family waiving sparklers as they left Donovan Pavilion.

Alan and Molly are off for two weeks honeymoon in Australia before returning to paradise in Hawaii.

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I really like this image for the glowing nature of the light. This was a real moment as she was finishing getting ready.

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Molly was a beautiful bride with a very natural and graceful presence. I was really drawn to the quality of the light coming in the window as she was getting ready. This is right before she went to meet Alan for the first encounter.

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This is the first Encounter (when they saw each other for the first time on the wedding day), They both were nervous (that is normal) as we brought them together with Alan turned facing away. Then 1-2-3 turnaround and this is what happened next. Love the energy!

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Vail is a great place to have a wedding. That is the covered bridge in the background.

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A quiet moment. They think I am messing with my camera but I didn’t want to interrupt this moment. I just captured it as is. Many times that is best.

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This is the classic covered bridge in Vail Village. Many thanks to the 40ish people waiting for us to get this image that were out of sight on both ends of the bridge. I love the depth and quality of light in this image.

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Each time I photograph I really try to do something new that I have never done before. In new and familiar locations this is my challenge to myself. This is where many of the images I am excited about come from. This is one of those images, I see the power of symbolism as they walk into there new life together going from the dark into the light.

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Alan getting the final word from Eugene C. Scott the officiant.

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Molly peeking out as she encourages on of the flower girls as she is about to walk down the aisle. See what I mean by being Beautiful and graceful?

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This was funny! I don't know if anyone noticed this but me. A flower girl getting a little gloss during the ceremony. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do...

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The patio at Donovan Pavilion.

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A happy couple taking in there guests during the ceremony. I thought this was a nice touch by having them turn around and let them and their guests see them. So many ceremonies all the guests see it the back of the couple. Nice touch Eugene!

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This might be my favorite image from the day. I LOVE brides that are willing to get in rivers barefoot in their wedding dresses. Classically colorado!

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Leaving in a sea of sparklers. This is a great touch!

Minter Family: An Estes Park Family Portrait.

08.21.2009 - By Peter
Categories: Portraits
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I had a great day photographing the Minter Family! This has been one of the best summers ever, and I fear that it is disappearing into fall way too soon! I started the day deciding to drive my Mazda Miata convertible up to Estes Park time to a shoot for the first time. I had to pack a little differently but eventually managed to fit all my cameras, lighting equipment and myself into this tiny car. Once up in the mountains and on location it proved to be a little challenging due to whipping cold wind. I always bring a few extra jackets to this location. A few for the clients and one for me. I learned this the hard way, or I should say the COLD way. This is entirely normal in the mountains but is something I have to overcome in the portrait process. Usually as the sun goes down and the light gets better in quality the wind calms as well but the temperature also drops fast. The Minters have had a busy summer traveling and it was great for me to spend this evening in the mountains with them.   At one point I asked them to climb up on this huge boulder positioned dramatically (it seemed) on the edge of the world. This is not for the faint of heart, but they did great balancing as the gusts of wind buffeted there backs trying to knock them off balance. We ended the day with three bull elk grazing on the succulent green tundra grasses just a 100 yards away. Summer is really a great time in Colorado.

2i0a7701-tThe Minter family portrait they selected from this shoot. I love the view of Longs Peak in the background. This is a classically Colorado family portrait. It will be finished on canvas in a Gallery presentation.

img_9950-head-swapThis is one of my favorites. I love the edge of the world look and the dramatic setting sun in the distance.

img_9922Dramatic and powerful. Do you really need to see a face to be a successful portrait?  I don’t think so. This is really fun and different. This might be a great approach to a family that feels self-conscience about having large portraits in their home.