Brandon, a dairy man from Texas and Liza, originally from Nepal, met up with Brian and I one perfect summer evening for a classic Colorado engagement session starring  a sexy motorcycle, a weimaraner, 2 people in love and of course, the Colorado sunshine.

 The bike was a bit uncooperative

What the heck happened to that month? Oh Colorado you are slurping up summer like a big gulp from 711.

Things have been running a million miles an hour around here. Wedding after wedding seemingly every weekend has caused me to wake up and not know what day it is, or even where I am, or what my name is, or where the burly bearded man lying next to me came from. I am delirous and only feel as though life is real if I am looking through a lens... without it I am now questioning the reality of life.

I saw Inception twice if you can't tell with all the reality talk. By the way, best movie in nearly 10 years. I have an acting crush on Joseph Gordon Levit... and Brian does too, we are ok with it.

In other summer news, Brian and I have been enjoying our little community garden we share with 5 other people in our back yard. We have 4 different kinds of tomatoes, basil, oregnao, sage, bell peppers, chiles, zucchini, cucumbers and a pumpkin brewing. The cucumbers have gotten a bit over confident in their growth patterns and are now just being plain rude.

We have refinished our kitchen countertops under the teaching guidance of my little brother, it was a wake up call to see him with a sander in hand and not leggos. He is now an adult and on his way to San Diego for school. It will be bittersweet knowing my family is now broken up across different states. Just more reasons to travel I guess.

We also took a week off the beginning of May and whisked ourselves off to Cabo using a fabulous timeshare. The weather was PERFECT. No rain, stunning sunsets, and lots of guacamole.

Overall I am enjoying life and learning to roll with the punches. I am constantly reminding my self to be patient and thankful for all that I have and all that I get to enjoy daily. Brian has been a strong pillar of support when I give in to anxiety or frustration which can often come with my job's territory. Sometimes I wonder if he is fully human or just some human looking deity... wouldn't surprise me or everyone who knows him, if he is.

 Our little community garden

Our little Getaway to Cabo

Hope you all are enjoying summer, staying healthy and staying happy!

She is so proper and very smart, reasoning with her mom and dad throughout the shoot as to why we should or shouldn't do something. There was rarely a moment of disobedience, just some flat out reasoning... which had me in utter amazement at the skills and brainpower of a mere 3 year old. 

She loves the camera and was flashing massive grins and little giggles throughout our time together. She even laughed on command. Allikaye has some outstanding parents and grandparents who clearly treasure her and this fascinating age she is at. 

If I don't want her to grow up, I can't imagine the thoughts of mom and dad!

She is truly an adorable sight...

a tea party with some furry friends

 and an Izze with dad

when the reasoning was not to her liking

whole family

dreaming in the grass- favorite shot of the day-

No music this morning, just the beeping of the garbage truck and the clicking of my typing. The quiet can be just as inspiring as a room full of music.

It has been a tough couple weeks, and Alaska couldn't have come at a better time. Why tough? Well, I made some silly mistakes that reaped a bounty of stress and anxiety. Mistakes are not easily weathered when you are a people pleaser.

In the midst of it all we headed out to Alaska on a family vacation with Brian's family that had been planned for over a year. It ended up being perfect timing to whisk me away from the problems I had no control over.

There is nothing like crisp unspoiled air and the wild of Alaska to help ease your mind.

All is now well, thanks to some relaxation and time with the people I love most in this word... family.

from my iphone 

dapper!

fly fishing

Brian's dad

intent on catching something!

I could go on and on about her larger than life personality. Not only is she outwardly lovely, but the beauty within just BEAMS out of her. She is quick to smile and made me feel so at ease... I felt like we had been friends for ages.

Amanda and her fiance live in Austin TX and planned the most memorable and spectacular wedding in Aspen CO that took place last weekend. I was lucky enough to have landed the job of photographing not only the wonderful wedding, but also her bridal portraits a few weeks earlier. 

I met her up in Aspen, and we drove all over town finding the perfect photo spots that reflected the beautiful scenes of Aspen as well as Amanda's joyful personality. 

I love bridal sessions. It is mainly a southern tradition that isn't requested much at all here in Colorado, but they are hands down my FAVORITE type of photo session.

And just a forewarning... the wedding Amanda planned in Aspen will BLOW YOUR MIND!

It. was. EPIC.

But until then, please enjoy the lovely, effervescent, one and only... AMANDA-

Starting off with her adorable get-a-way dress

and moving on to her elegant wedding gown

love this shot

you all MUST stay tuned for the GLAMOROUS Aspen wedding soon to come! 

I think they are: 1-awkward to look at or 2. unflattering or 3- incredibly cheesey and repetitive.

So in fear of only repeating that cycle I have turned them ALL down. So yes, I have been literally afraid of maternity sessions. Afraid. Afraid that I may become "that photographer".

When Sara asked me to come snap a few of her in all her pregnant glory she knew how hesitant I was. Sara being a photographer herself and a friend of mine knew from multiple conversations we have had about this very fact.

But, the thing is, Sara is classy. She knows cheese when she sees it.

We decided I would come over to her house and try my luck with no expectations as to what the turnout would be.

I was actually quite surprised at how much I liked the turnout. Classy, simple, and elegant.

I am not saying I will add this as a permanent addition to my services but I will be more open to the idea if the right client comes along.

Sara and her husband James welcomed their son Samuel into the world last week and I couldn't be happier for them! He is healthy, handsome and all around perfect. Be sure to stop by her photo blog and check him out!

Thanks Sara for being the most beautiful model/guinea pig. Enjoy this new adventure! We hope to see you and James soon!

LOVE YOU DAD! Looking forward to an afternoon enjoying coffee in the garden with you today! :)

I have known Britta for about 5 years now. She has been one of those people that for some reason has stayed a constant part of my life, whether we tried to or not, we always kept in touch even through tough situations, she and I have enjoyed pulling each other through. We have both delt with difficult family health situations and her encouragement and support has always meant so much to me. She is incredibly cultured and well traveled making way in conversation for some great stories of adventure and fun times had. She loves good music, art, coffee, wine, and most of all she loves to sit, chill out and be in the presence of friends. Her and I have been known to sit in coffee shops and just talk for hours about life, love, religion, music, travel... you name it. Britta is the queen of great conversation.

When Britta and Chris began dating I was so overjoyed that these two had found eachother, and incredibly honored and blessed when asked to stand beside Britta as a bridesmaid to support her on her wedding day. 

There are certain people that you just connect with effortlessly, as if you are just MEANT to be friends for a very long time... and with Chris and Britta, I hope a long time... lasts longer. :)

Congrats you two! Much love!

Thanks to Shuga's Restaurant in Colorado Springs for the stellar location (our favorite place to hang in the Springs)

Wedding Venue- Flying Horse Country Club

Floral- Beautiful Expressions

I just received the sweetest thank you card in the mail today from Melissa's parents thanking me for doing a great job with the wedding photography.

I really cannot stress just how much these notes mean to me. They are incredibly encouraging and I keep them to read on days where I ask myself what the heck I am doing this all for and if anyone really cares.

After sorting through my box of cards to read the kind expressions of gratitude from past clients, I realize that THEY care... quite a bit.

Maybe the wedding blogs, magazines, other photographers, industry professionals or artists don't always care... but my clients do.

And really, they are the heart of why I do what I do. I work 10+hours straight on weekends and many more late weekday hours because my heart truly wants to please and hopefully read or hear the words... WE LOVE THE PHOTOS!"

I admit it I am a people pleaser!!! And really... tell me, what is so wrong with that??

I have been told that being a people pleaser is a sign of weakness. In this industry where many of us couldn't care about anything but the people who could potentially advance our causes, so many times we forget about just making someone else happy outside of ourselves. Its not always about the bottom line. Its not always about the name dropping or the networking... it should mainly be about my client and pleasing them.

So after receiving the card from Melissa's mom, I felt more accomplished and proud of my business in the moment reading that little handwritten note than I ever have....

and I hope it stays that way.

Seriously.. so jealous of Melissa's fabulous freckles!!

and amazing eyes!

Melissa's sisters as her bridesmaids... all sharing the same striking eyes!

love this mother daughter moment

Their first look.. so wonderfully emotional!

The Flying Horse Country Club has a beautiful wedding terrace boasting a most spectacular view and on Melissa and Nicks wedding day mother nature decided to conjure up some wildly strong winds... so Melissa calmly came to grips with the situation (she is amazing) and agreed to move the wedding inside to the foyer of the Country Club... after all, weddings are about much more than a great view right? :)

and wouldn't you know, as soon as the wedding ended, the winds calmed and we were able to take advantage of the perfectly golden evening light without blowing away to oblivion

i like it... i like it aloh

but this is the winner of the day

RED AND GREEN!!

"If you like it than you shoulda put a ring on it!"... p.s.- I now know this entire song by heart. Thank you wedding DJ's.

THANK YOU Melissa and Nick and your incredibly genuine families! As always I am honored to have been a part of such a memorable day.

may you live happily ever after......

Wellll as you can see, I have been a bit of a blog slacker over the past few months. Not because I don't know what to blog or don't have anything to blog... but really.. its the opposite.. I have TOO MUCH to blog. I have potential blog posts coming out of my ears. I often go to bed thinking of spectacular posts for you all and how I am going to keep you all coming back for more!! The problem is the time thing.

Time. *sigh* time.

There has been WAY too much on my plate as of lately and much of it will end up on this blog if you stay tuned!

In a nutshell here is what is to come:

- 3 fantastic weddings with STUNNING brides (as always)

- 2 super fun engagement sessions, each with its own customized fit to the couple's personalities

- a swanky bridal shoot in ritsy Aspen CO

- one very in shape and sexy yoga instructor and her fab studio

- Brian and I have MOVED to an AMAZING city.... you will have to wait to find out where... as well as see the beautiful shots of our new place built around the late 1800's (p.s.- I am a HUGE decorator)

- one relaxing sunny vacation to beautiful Cabo San Lucas Mexico

- and yet another globe trotting adventure with Brian and I to a soon to be revealed location!!

so you see... much goodness comes to those who wait :)

Thanks for checking into the blog often! I am blessed by you ALL!!! 

Here's little 'ol me at a wedding last week!