This post is a little different. For starters Jennifer and Mitch were married on Saturday at The JW Marriott Cherry Creek which is an absolutely beautiful venue. Usually every wedding has its same routine where I end up with about a 1/2 hour of time with just the Bride and Groom for some creative type of portraits which I try to make as informal as possible. However, Jennifer really didn't care for many pictures of just her, and Mitch was totally not into pictures at all, which I think is just like me when it comes to being on the other side of the camera. Anyhow, this made me pretty much exclusively a photojournalist for the day. Which is totally fine with me! After editing this wedding, I realized that most of my favorite pictures were not only unposed real shots, but also all happened to be black and white. I of course make them this way, but just kind of do it as I'm editing, and not paying attention to how many b&w I produce compared to color. Several photographers talk about the "moment" and how it is what makes the picture. Joe Buissink who is one of my favorite photographers is a huge believer in this and does an awesome job at doing so. If you get a chance to click on his portfolio, it almost gives me chills watching it. It is usually one of my several motivation portfolios I look at before a wedding. Anyhow, here are just a few moments from Saturday. Thanks to Jennifer and Mitch for allowing me to document your day in a such a unique way.

Well, this is the second time I have photographed this wedding. I never thought I would ever be saying that. Julie Harris had asked me back in December of last year if I could help her shoot Sara and Gregg's wedding in January. It was an EXTREMELY emotional and intimate evening back in January with only about 15 people and Julie and I. Thankfully, Julie invited me to their bigger event in Keystone. Even though they are not my clients, I feel like they are family. Even the guys that I have hung out with at the bar on both occasions know me on a first name basis. It is truly a great circle of friends. Their are a ton of photos I would love to share but I will keep it simple. On a side note, second shooting allows me so much freedom! All these photos I posted were strictly as it happened. No poses of any sort. PJ all the way!!! A big thank you to Julie for inviting me on this one, and a huge congratulations to Sara and Gregg. You two are so special and I am so happy for you........

Allison and Ryan are so much fun when you put them together. They had a super cool wedding in Loveland that started out at Good Shepherd Church and ended up at the Sunset Event Center. Usually there are plenty of places to do photos at most weddings in Colorado since it is so beautiful here. However, churches sometimes take some of that away. So when Allison told me that we were going to go to her neighbors backyard to do some pictures, I was thinking this might not be such a good idea. However, I would have to say her neighbor's back yard was quite amazing. It was a little tight for big formals, but was covered with lush landscaping, and just enough SHADE that is a must in mid day with no clouds. Also, as a side-note, this was one of the most technically difficult weddings I have ever shot. Churches, especially dark ones are very difficult to photograph in. When you combine bright sunlight pouring in from behind your subject, along with tungsten stage lighting on top, with a ceiling and a wall so far away you can barely bounce a ball off of it let alone a light, it makes for a difficult situation. I think I was mostly on about 6400 ISO and over exposing the heck out of everything to try to capture what was going on. Luckily it really made for some rough looking grainy black and white images, which I love. Then at the reception, high black ceilings with a disco ball that bounced freckles of light everywhere. Needless to say, I made it happen, and learned a little while doing it. I love what I do, but every now and then, it can be a little tough... Anyhow, sorry for the rant, just wanted to vent!!!!! Thank you so much Allison and Ryan for everything, it was truly a very beautiful day and filled with such fun and joy!!!!!

Dawn and Mike were married on a beautiful day at the Denver Botanical Gardens a couple weeks ago. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and filled with emotion and a even a couple tears. Later on, the party really got started at Il Fornaio, a great little Italian restaurant where I think both Dawn and Mike at one time worked together. In Chinese tradition, games are often incorporated into the reception, so thats exactly what happened. One of the highlights was when Dawn had to wear oven mitts, and walk down a line of men in the reception, and feel their "rear end" and try to identify Mike. She actually did it! In Mike's case, he got to sit in a chair, and allow about 15 different men and women kiss his cheek and try to identify Dawn. He also nailed it right in the head. I think that is a sign of all the good things yet to come for this great couple. Thank you so much for allowing me to be there.