This is always an interesting post to develop. On one end, it’s difficult as an artist to pour over the last year’s work and determine what I think is the best of what I have created. But on the other end, once I start digging into the galleries and reliving the time shared with couples, its difficult to narrow it all down.

It has been such a wild and busy year, that to include all of my favorite shots makes for a very, very long blog post. So for 2017, I have decided that instead of posting “the best,” I want to organize images based on a theme that resonates deepest with me as a wedding photographer. JOY. Pure gapping mouth smile, tear stained cheeks, belly laughing, JOY. 

As much as I wanted to showcase all the beautiful places I was fortunate enough to visit, I had to remind myself that my job isn’t to take pictures of people on top of mountains. Because lets be honest, that is not what makes me unique or different from the hundreds (thousands) of other traveling photographers on the planet. What I feel my greatest responsibility is as a wedding photographer is to preserve all of the emotion and expression of love. These may not be the best I have ever taken, but they are certainly the most meaningful.

While I hope to continue to follow couples all across the country and beyond, what I still want to leave them with are galleries heavy with connection. Moments that they can revisit for decades to follow. There is truth in Joy. Thank you to each and every person who invited me in to their most precious days. Much love and cheers to 2018. 

When Holly contacted me this summer about photographing her elopement in Rocky Mountain National Park I initially thought it was a scam. Even after speaking to her over the phone I still wasn’t sure if her and Terry were real people. It was just too good to be true. They were a REALLY cool couple, that wanted to have their wedding day all to themselves in one of the most beautiful places in the country. It wasn’t until a deposit was sent over that I actually accepted this was actually happening. 

The very best part of elopements is that the couple gets to spend the entire day just hanging out and enjoying each other and the environment that they choose to be in. We started the day and their insane Airbnb in Boulder, Colorado. They had breakfast together, read the newspaper, and then helped one another get ready for the festivities. From there we drove into Rocky Mountain National Park to hike out to Dream Lake. As we were searching for the perfect location for them to exchange their vows the sun was slowly dipping behind the mountains. We found a private field at about 9,000 ft up with breathtaking views where Terry + Holly stood and committed their lives together. Myself, the videographer, and the Caribou as the only witnesses. 

Post hike, we ventured into a candy shop in downtown Estes Park. Next door to the candy store was an outdoor empty bar playing live music. The band was starting to pack up for the evening, but we told them that Terry + Holly had just eloped on top of the mountains, so they were kind enough to stick around for one more song, where the newlyweds could share their first dance. 

It was a dream come true, a perfect wedding day, with an amazing pair. Thank you Terry + Holly for thinking I was cool enough to be apart of it.

I had been looking forward to Jake + Lauren’s wedding day for months. I knew that it was going to be cool, but honestly, not this cool. These guys genuinely just wanted their guests to have fun. Tents and RV’s sprawled across the front lawn of Lauren’s Aunt’s northern Michigan home, where both the ceremony and reception would take place. The bar was open all day, and their was no shortage of vibrant and unique details. 

After the ceremony, as I pulled Jake + Lauren aside for couple portraits in the trees, Jake holds his hand out to me showing off his wedding ring. He said, “Do you like my ring?” I replied, “Ya, its awesome, what do you think?” He then held it out in front of his own face, admiring the new addition and says, “I love it. I can’t wait to show everyone.” That excitement poured into every aspect of this day. Jake + Lauren share such a beautiful connection and this celebration was a perfect reflection of them both and the love that they share. 

Congratulations you guys, thank you for such an amazing day.