urban wedding

Urban Wedding | Colorado Athletic Club

For James and Jennaweh

It happened just like it does in the movies.

She’s in a place in life where she’s ready to meet someone. She’s accomplished with notable honors, he’s a gifted culinary artist - They’re in their own worlds, out spending a Saturday night with friends and walking amongst many eyes, he sees hers. He stops her, tells her how beautiful she is and the “I think I’m going to marry him” conversations start happening with the best friend that next day. Then the credits roll, we take a deep breath and remember that love never really happens that way.

Well, almost never. The busy street corner was 20th and Market. The stars of the movie were Jennaweh and James. One evening walking in downtown Denver, one of the most kind and joy-filled couples I’ve had the pleasure of photographing were randomly lead together and on a lovely evening the following September we met in the same urban setting to celebrate their union.

The wedding took place at one of the most beautiful and ornate Greek churches in Denver. The ceremony was rich with tradition and symbolism. The reception lead us downtown Denver near the location where the two met at the urban wedding venue, The Denver Athletic Club. Cultural dancing, fine eating, joy and gratitude were just a few of the things that highlighted the evening.

It’s the stories that draw us in to one another. Weddings are wrapped around stories of who you were, stories of wise people who wrote of love, our creator who dictates our story and hope and prayers for where the story will go. I think this small selection of James and Jennaweh’s documentary style wedding photography will encapsulate the pieces of life up until today. We’ve got the story of the city, the emotion, affection and feeling. The trailer to their next movie is said to be even better.

documentary wedding photographers

Documentary Wedding Photographers

for Alec and Megan

After I was through editing these images I felt kind of sad that this story was over, like you should when any good story ends. I think that Megan and Alec are a really good couple to explain why documentary style photography "storytelling" for weddings is so wonderful. Life, after all, is really just a collection of stories and moments and relationship. So we have weddings. Weddings are these once-in-a-lifetime days, centered around being with the people you love most in the world. Everyone is dressed their best and placed in the most beautiful setting to celebrate you. The people you choose to spend and share most of life’s moments around are all dressed in their best together in one place.

So you’ve got one day. After your wedding day ceases, the overly-asked question turns from "are you excited for the wedding?" to "how was the wedding?" You know, the day that you spent a year planning and a lifetime dreaming about. You know what the answer will be, "good" or "I'm sad (or glad) it's over." Your wedding story deserves such a better explanation than "good." The documentary style approach to photographing weddings tells the story as it should be told. The Alec and Megan wedding held at Peaceful Valley Ranch near Estes Park, Colorado is a story about a happy, joy filled and fun loving family. A story about a group of organized, non-traditional, meaningful and loving group. My words don't tell the story well. Let the images show you how "good" it was.

P.S. Occasionally there is a wedding where the MVP deserves a shout out. Shouting out to you, bridesmaid Maggie. Thanks for your assitance and for being so wonderfully expressive.

A non-traditional destination wedding photographer

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A non-traditional destination wedding photographer

for Bobby and Melissa -  at St. Thomas

Bobby and Melissa (based in Boulder) may just be among the coolest people we have ever met. Therefore, it is not surprising that the weekend wedding celebration they put together was also one of the coolest weddings we have ever attended. It was definitely one of the most unique, and probably one of the most fun as well. This is officially our first wedding where the pictures are worth one thousand adjectives, because we're falling short with words. By being a non-traditional destination wedding photographer we've been gifted to work allowed us to work with people like this and have so many stories to tell. We have not stopped telling the story of this wedding since returning, but the abbreviated version goes like this:

After a few hours on the airplane

We landed on the warm island of St. Thomas, of the US Virgin Islands. Quick nap, squeeze in a little snorkel, then we're off to the open-air bar by the sea, where Melissa's brother, Jesse, is playing live music with his friends. Mel's mom, Sue, was the gregarious host of that party, making everyone feel invited as well as keeping the dance floor vibrant. With around 50 wedding guests in attendance, there was a lot of emotion to capture; especially when Jesse forced his sister to accompany them in a surprise performance. The following day we I found myself in the downward facing dog photographing the Bride's Yoga Session as they practiced to the soundtrack of the sea.

"They wanted nothing to do with a traditional wedding"

I remember when I first talked with Melissa about her wedding upon inquiring. She told me they waited so long to get married because to be honest, they wanted nothing to do with the traditional wedding. They wanted their wedding to be about their love, friends, and nothing more. The theme for the wedding was "fun" and the attire was "reflecting light." The guests had been at St. Thomas all week prepping for the headlining event, Bobby and Melissa's vow exchange at sunset on a sailboat.

Late Saturday afternoon we found ourselves depositing our shoes into a barrel and signing the manifest of a local sailboat. As everyone enjoyed themselves on the ride, our captain drove us to the calm and beautiful waters of "Christmas Bay" (where Columbus once spent Christmas) in order to conduct the actual ceremony. The wedding officiant, once again Melissa's mother, did a wonderful job in leading the two through vows and various readings one would expect and hope for at a wedding. What nobody was expecting however, was for the parents of both bride and groom to break into an original song of blessing for the couple, sung to the tune of Leonard Cohen's "Alleluia", during which Melissa dropped the most endearing "F Bomb" ever heard in a wedding ceremony.

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The reception was nothing like a traditional reception.

The party afterwards was in the trees near the coastline. Featuring some great dance music, great food and libation, and an amazing hand-made disco ball by Jesse. It was a party so festive that local islanders ventured over to join in the fun.

This wedding did take place in an incredibly unique location, we love being wedding photographers that travel to unique weddings. But what really made it a wonderful experience was the people themselves. We find that amazing people tend to congregate with other amazing people, and it truly was our pleasure to take part in this group - with all the laughter, joy, pride, and love elicited from family and friends. We'll leave it up to you to read the faces and figure out which is which. We can't thank Bobby and Melissa enough for letting us into their lives and share their friendships during such a memorable event. Being a non-traditional destination wedding photographer, you allowed us to be in complete bliss at your wedding. People like you deeply remind us of how much we love our job.

Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House wedding

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Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House wedding

| For Matt and Rebecca

By looking at these photos of her, you can tell how fun and warming her personality is. The bride. She's one of those people you can meet for a second and feel like you've known forever. If you're like me, you want to be her friend and want her to take you shopping (and out to eat).

On July 12th, she was joined with her one. The groom that will likely be able to speak circles around you in the realm of science and with his wife, advise you on the most prestigious eateries and the best BSB moves to perform at your wedding (pictures below).

I'm not usually big on posting detail shots of weddings. I believe the photos should be more about the relationships and stories rather than the decor. But because I was tempted to take home all of their vintage glam decor, it was necessary to post a few images for inspiration.

Matt and Rebecca brought their New York Style for their downtown wedding at the Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House and showed that Colorado has style that can compete with any city. It was a stylish city wedding. As someone who adores the modern and unique elements of life - along with artistic wedding photography - we found a perfect match with these two.Their modern/vintage/glam decor was refreshing scenery for their stylish downtown Denver wedding at the Kevin Taylor's at the opera house. Thanks to Julia and her team at A Touch of Bliss who placed everything together beautifully.

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Photojournalists for weddings

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Photojournalists for weddings

Spruce Mountain Guest Ranch Wedding Photographers | for Jason and Lisa

On a warm Sunday afternoon in Larkspur, Colorado, the rain seemed to be timed perfectly with the events of Jason and Lisa's wedding; only falling during the indoor parts. The skies made for great photo lighting, and the people made for some really great photos. When dark clouds cover the sky on a July afternoon, the bride and groom get worried, and pray it doesn't rain. Meanwhile the photographer is secretly smiling, knowing we are in for some beautiful lighting.

As photojournalists for weddings, thee stories this couple gave us began like this:

Lisa was like one of those brides you see in magazines. She was a beautiful to photograph alone but aligned with Jason, her beauty multiplied and was even more photogenic. There wasn't a dry eye to exit this wedding day. Emotion was painted upon the face of every friend and family member in attendance. As photojournalists for weddings, there is nothing quite as delightful as a group of loving and expressive people. This set of images tells a lot more than simply what everyone looked like. The day was filled with joy and love - and the photojournalistic approach towards documenting it tells that story well.

Other highlights of the night were the various activities facilitated by their DJ, some serious talent on the dance floor by multiple people, and a quite funny yet sensitive speech by Lisa's dad. Great food, personality filled details, and a wonderful sparkling send-off made their memorable day extra memorable as Lisa say goodbye to her "Zucchini" past and started a new chapter of her life together with Jason. We had been anticipating hanging out with these two for over a year and they were even more fun than we expected.

A special thanks goes out to the coordinators Feather and Twig and the staff at Spruce Mountain Guest Ranch for making the so great. [/flo_one_third] [flo_two_third_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ]

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natural denver wedding photography

Natural Denver wedding photography for a non-traditional wedding

for Matt and Melissa

We walked away from this day thinking we may have just experienced the perfect wedding. If there were a national contest to create the most authentic, enjoyable, and meaningful Colorado wedding, looking to sum up the entire zeitgeist within a 5 hour period, even the top brains at etsy.com would find themselves in second place after the wedding that actually did happen by Matt and Melissa. These two highly-educated and fun-loving people brought guests from all over the country to experience a real one-of-a-kind wedding, that may actually have made itself an official world record. When planning the wedding, Matt and Melissa seemed to understand how to make happen what most weddings only hope to achieve: friends together having fun. Not only did they rent out the pavilion at Cheesman park, but they also planned a meal put together in picnic baskets for people to enjoy afterwards. When stomachs were full and but feet were itchy, they provided several yard games to take place in the surrounding grassy areas, and even built in the time to do it, where one could enjoy both a frisbee toss as well as a little cornhole, without feeling the pressure of "what do we have to do next?".  If "best cocktail party" weren't enough, the crown jewel of the day's events came in the transitioning of party at the park to reception party at the Mercury Cafe. In order to get all of the wedding guests to relocate one mile away, the plan was to rent a truckload of bicycles and wheel over as a well-dressed parade, with bride and groom at the head, and two relatives on motorcycles serving as escorts. Among the group (which included a few PhDs) it was the consensus that this was perhaps a world record of "highest percentage of wedding guests participating in post-ceremony bike parade"; a title worth tattooing for those involved. The enormity of the parade was unlike anything we've experienced in a wedding before and we really enjoyed photographing it.

Matt and Melissa's wedding was very cool, and all the people we got to hang out with and listen to were a big part of that, including Matt and Melissa. Their wedding truly will stand out in our memory as having some of the best ideas and most fun we've seen. The day was about Matt, Melissa and the people they loved - doing the things they loved to do. This was one of the gigs that reminds us how blessed we are to have the job we have. Also, their wedding cake was covered with fake ants. Very cool.

wedding at arrowhead golf course

Wedding at Arrowhead Golf course

A wise wedding coordinator once said that "the best venue decorator is God. He is arguably the cheapest too". These words ring truer with every visit to Arrowhead Country Club we make and after attending the recent wedding of Damian and Ashley, we considered changing our slogan to: "Selah Photography - where we make good-looking and fun people look good-looking and fun." In this wedding, perhaps the two best-looking were also having the most fun.

Damian and Ashley knew what they wanted their special day to be like and they got it. The ceremony was outdoors and with some cooperative weather and the amazing backdrops of rock, forest, water, and golf course it was easy to shoot the two of them and capture all the splendor the location. After that the party headed inside, where they were appetized for a while by what was perhaps the best macaroni and cheese bar we've ever seen, then transitioning to an awesome dance party, the star of which, was Damian himself who pulled out some surprise break-dance moves for all to enjoy. After a brief break for creative and comical speeches, the party entered its next stage, which included some dynamic karaoke performances. Within all the festivities, we did manage to pull the couple outside for a few great open-exposure night shots as well.

All in all, every stage of this event was well-planned and beautifully carried through. It was definitely our pleasure to get to hang out with Damian and Ashley and their guests for the day, as well as the night.

wedding photojournalism

Wedding Photojournalism | Denver Art Museum Wedding

for Judy and Anthony

Judy and Anthony's Pretty pink vintage meets modern art gallery wedding. Where we were continually forced to choose between things like "flowers floating in glass jar details" vs. "guy in bow tie dancing the robot". Anthony and Judy put all the pieces in place to have an amazing wedding, then they went along for the ride and had the time of their lives.  Their guests picked up on those cues and joined in the fun, thereby making it a real nonstop and unpredictable party.

Starting off at The Oxford Hotel downtown, we documented Judy getting ready in the luxurious vintage setting that only old hotels can provide. From there we loaded up the limousine and Rolls Royce and headed to one of our favorite new venues, the SPACE GALLERY, where the two of them had adorned the modern art gallery with some of the finest wedding details Denver can provide. Gretchen of Chairished Vintage Rentals decorated the event with every unique piece of eclectic furnishing one could ask for.  After the ceremony, the wedding party then returned to the reception and commenced with some of the most creative dancing we have ever shot. It was as if each person there had also been instructed to take dance classes before attending.

Many thanks to the lovely ladies at We Tie the Knots for orchestrating the event so masterfully and to Judy and Anthony for  being such joy to document.We also want to send our love to Intricate Icings (the most amazing cake designers), Cori Cook Floral Design (have you ever seen such beautiful flowers?) and one more to Gretchen of Chairished Rentals for always having the most amazing decor and design.

Modern Denver Wedding

Modern Denver Wedding

An old sagacious proverbs says that the difference between good and great is in the details. I'm not sure if it was luck or if perhaps Ryan and Katelin are just wise beyond their years but they did not hold back when it came to the details of their great wedding. The modern wedding venue, Palazzo Verdi was truly an artistic photographer's dream. A lesser known art museum in Denver that has paintings on walls, high ceilings, and an enormous chandelier really made for a perfect place to have the  Rolls Royce of weddings. With the help of wedding coordination of Mark Christopher Weddings and his team, every chair was straight, every table setting perfect, every flower appropriately placed, and every person was absolutely delighted to find themselves in this labyrinth (the floor was a labyrinth).

However, looking past all the amazing flowers, decorations, and tailored suits, what really made this wedding phenomenal were Ryan and Katelin. Even a smaller, hip art museum or even the most brilliant and exotic of flowers are only as enjoyable as the people you're with. Lucky for us, this couple had a lot more than just good taste in details and a Chihuly glass inspired hanging wedding cake from Rachael of Intricate Icings. They were kind, creative, and funny and we at Selah were felt blessed to get to know them and be a part of their special day.

seawell ballroom wedding denver

Seawell Grand Ballroom Wedding Photos

Denver performing arts center wedding | Bengali American fusion Wedding

When you attend one, and sometimes two weddings every week during the summer, it's hard not to assume yourself to be a wedding expert who has "seen it all". Though we never tell someone that their idea has been done before; it often has been. Imagine a live drummer walking a groom on a horse dressed in traditional Bengali wear - all this, riding through thousands of people at the Performing arts complex. By the reaction of the crowd, they probably thought he was a king. It was a Bengali American fusion wedding and the couple thought of every creative idea they could to make their wedding a real production. That, along with horses, henna, smoke machines, lighting technicians, and guitar solos, is probably what made Nafis and Katherine's "Bollywood Meets Broadway" wedding so amazing; we had never experienced anything like it before.

Since shooting their engagement photos in Denver (which was also one of my favorites), I have really come to love these two creative personalities. And even though they told me much of what I could expect, it was just too surreal to comprehend until the day of. Nafis and Katherine put an incredible amount of creativity, personality, and planning into making their wedding special and unforgettable. It really was like something out of a movie, and we were so blessed to have been a part of the show.

All of the colors, effects and genuine emotions really came together to make this event the photographer's dream gig. There was no one better to host it than the Seawell Grand Ballroom and the Performing Art Center Staff. Here at Selah, we have never been so selfishly unanimous in thinking strongly that a couple should renew their vows and do this again next year. Thus, if Nafis and Katherine are planning the event, we know where we'll want to be. We wish them all the success in their marriage that they had in their wedding and again, it was such an honor to be a part of this. A special thanks to Femke from Liefde Photography for helping me document this wedding.

CHOOSE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

[button font_size="15" color="#c79e8b" text_color="#ffffff" url="http://selah.dev/modern-denver-wedding/" target="_self"]modern wedding[/button]     or     [button font_size="15" color=#c79e8b" text_color="#ffffff" url="http://selah.dev/kevin-taylor-opera-house-wedding/" target="_self"]stylistic urban wedding[/button]

Wedding photojournalist in vail co

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WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST - VAIL, CO

Finn and Laura

View Finn and Laura's wedding story featured on Bridal Musings.

If Hollywood had been invited to Finn and Laura's Easter weekend Vail wedding, they could have taken some notes. The difference between a standard pleasant nuptial and a picturesque gala fit for a magazine is found in the colors or clothing styles, but in the details. Fortunately for the invites of Finn and Laura, these two are experts in details.

It isn't rare that a bride or groom have certain specific tastes for their wedding, but it is rare that the two of them execute said ideas without the hiring of a wedding planner. It is even more rare that the groom himself, designs the layout of the seats and altar for the Arrabelle Wedding Ceremony. Starbuck's hot chocolate was a nice added touch as well.

The reception at Donovan Pavilion afterwards, is where their real sense of aesthetics showed through. The room was decorated with an eclectic array of vintage chairs, books, and furniture pieces and flowers by Gretchen with Chairished Vintage. The food and drink spread were a variety and Finn and Laura's favorite local eateries. These additions set the stage perfectly for the events that would ensue. Laura's father, the original Dr. Butler, soon announced that he and his wife had choreographed a special dance surprise for the night in including of mix of some modern and classic hits. It was one of the best surprises we at Selah have ever seen at a wedding. The only suitable reaction after watching such a dance was a visit to the s'more station, designed by Laura's mother. It was truly a wonderful evening and we were blessed to be a part of it. We've got plenty of visual storytelling and artistic wedding photos to help the couple share the story forever. [/flo_one_third] [flo_two_third_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ]

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four seasons denver wedding

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Four Seasons Denver Wedding

Offering a world class service at one of Denver's most luxurious wedding venues. This is perfect for the modern bride and groom and is without a doubt, one of our favorite places to photograph at. The venue lends itself to photography that is artistic, contemporary and chic. This city wedding venue is by far one of our favorite hotels to photograph at.  [/flo_one_third] [flo_two_third_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] [/flo_two_third_last]

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Four Seasons in Denver Wedding photographs

Everyone you love and know gather in one room to celebrate you. We believe this experience is one of the best life has to offer and we want your wedding photojournalism to reflect that. Weddings are filled with countless facets, stories and interactions that reflect the bride and groom’s relationship.

At Selah, we specialize in a unique mixture of journalistic and artistic wedding photos will help you recall the strong emotions that fill wedding celebrations. Photos that will aid you in remembering how it felt on that day to be loved so dearly. As one of Denver's best wedding photojournalists, Jackie’s mastered  unique wedding storytelling and loves to do it at the Four Seasons, one of Denver's most luxurious wedding venues.

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Artistic Wedding Photos at the Four Seasons

As one of the most unique fine art photographers in Denver, Jackie of Selah looks to see the dynamic and interesting. The Four Seasons is filled with great lighting, dynamic colors, reflections and shapes. If you're interested in unique, contemporary city focused or urban wedding photography this is the venue for you. The wedding photography in our artistic wedding photo gallery highlights shots in which a couple’s color accentuates the story. This type of imagery that we specialize in is for the art lover. One who cherishes unique, meaningful artwork that acts as a family heirloom. [/flo_one_third] [flo_two_third_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ]

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Great wedding day flowers

I will not forget the expression on Rachel's face when she had her first glance at her wedding flowers. She talked about how much she loved them all day. It's easy to find a beautiful flower but it takes an artist to combine them in to a bouquet like Rachel's. The beautiful work was done by one of Denver's top floristis, Bareroot Flora

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An Anna Be dress

Rachel's venue, and bouquet were not the only things that we adored at her wedding. Her Anna Be dress highlighted her form, style and personality. The high quality dress, it's uniqueness and timeless fit was to be expected fromAnna Be . One of Denver's finest dress shops.

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Check out another one of our favorite downtown Denver weddings

[flo_button url="http://selah.dev/kevin-taylor-opera-house-wedding/" style="grey" size="large" type="round" target="_self"] Kevin Taylor's Opera House Wedding [/flo_button]

Winter wedding in Denver

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Winter wedding in Denver

Downtown Denver winter wedding photographs | Snowy wedding photos

for Brad & Jenna

Sixteen pictures. I'm limiting myself to sixteen different snapshots to tell Brad and Jenna's winter wedding story in this blog posting. It's easy to think that there needs to be a thousand photos and a lengthy set of words to accentuate each image. A thousand photos to show every detail and lengthy set of words to tell you what is happening between the images. I think having many great photos from your wedding is great and important, I just don't want to find myself devaluing the power that one (or nineteen) photos can have. Today, I hope my lack of verbiage and small selection of photos can be more. I hope you're able to really look at this wedding photojournalism and not need the words. Congrats Brad and Jenna. Thanks to you and your wedding party for standing outside in the snow to create these photos. It really was an honor to document your story. [/flo_one_third] [flo_two_third_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ]

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natural artistic wedding photographs

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Natural. Artistic Wedding Photographs . Colorado

"These people are so great." That's the thought thought continues to come to mind when I think of words to describe what this day was like. Paul, Sarah and their group of friends are world changers. Many of them live around the world teaching, peacemaking and studying to be serving and impacting people. They are some of the most kind, peaceful and intelligent group that I've had the pleasure of working with.

Sarah's home, Colorado Springs, welcomed this group to a quaint chapel and Garden of the Gods club for a natural, eclectic, meaningful and joy-filled wedding. You can tell by the reactions of their guests how loved the two are. As the images below highlight so well, the day was saturated with support and happiness.

These natural artistic wedding photographs blend a beautiful combination of photojournalism and fine art photography. This formula is the base for how I create meaningful artwork for couples looking for authentic, unique wedding photographs. It's best described as meaningful artwork. Photos that you'll be proud to hang on your walls for generations.

My favorite Denver photographer, AD came alongside me and captured some incredible images for the bride and groom. I am always thankful and impacted by the way he sees things.

Every wedding should be so happy.

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Another special thank you goes out to the staff at Garden of the Gods - for being great and mainly, for bringing us cheesecake after we were done photographing. Also, to Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design and her team for making the reception a flawless event.

And now - click this link and dance along. Finish looking through the photos and repeat.

artistic wedding photographs telling stories

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artistic wedding photographs telling stories

What I love about photography.

In July I had the privilege of second shooting for one of my favorite photographers Adonye Jaja at a Ranch in Colorado. After working with AD, second shooting is now my second favorite thing to do at a wedding, especially when it's for a couple as unique as these two. As you may have noticed, there are thousands of different wedding photographers. What makes us different from one another? I've pulled out a few of my favorite images and want to use them to highlight the type of imagery that I specialize in - the artistic, meaningful storytelling photographs that I love to capture.

Layered photojournalism. A story - within a story - within a story.

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[flo_one_fourth padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] Character Filled Details. Sentimental details that will bring you back to an era. "Remember that huge I-Phone I loved?" "I haven't seen that journal in years."[/flo_one_fourth] [flo_three_fourth_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] [/flo_three_fourth_last]

[flo_one_fourth padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] Dynamic Moments. The usage of interesting lighting can be a great source for depicting the emotion of a moment. [/flo_one_fourth] [flo_three_fourth_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] [/flo_three_fourth_last]

[flo_one_fourth padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] Color and people. The day is about more than just you. I love being about to photograph all your best friends and never want to miss an opportunity to capture a colorful scene.[/flo_one_fourth] [flo_three_fourth_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] [/flo_three_fourth_last]

[flo_one_fourth padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] Real. Raw. Moments. This was the one of the happiest days of his life. There is no faking an expression like that.[/flo_one_fourth] [flo_three_fourth_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] [/flo_three_fourth_last]

[flo_one_fourth padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] Fine Art Photographs. I want your images to hang on your wall forever.[/flo_one_fourth] [flo_three_fourth_last padding="20px 20px 20px 20px" class="" ] [/flo_three_fourth_last]

magnolia hotel wedding photography

Magnolia Hotel Wedding | Downtown Denver Wedding Photography | for Dan and Julie There are so many things I could mention about this wedding. I could go on about how great Julie's dress and wedding ring were or how fitting the Magnolia was for their style. I could share about the perfect weather and all the little details that made the day special. But really, all I can think about when I see these photos is the smile on Julie's face. I think about the innate kindness that Dan displayed when he interacted with his guests. I remember how vividly proud the couple's parents were. I remember how there was not a moment on the dance floor when everyone wasn't exerting every bit of energy they contained - and find myself still wondering how it's possible that every person at their wedding was such an awesome dancer.

Out of everything, my favorite part was learning the these two are incredible people. It truly was an honor to be a part of documenting this monuments day with them.

unposed wedding photographer | denver

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Unposed Wedding Photographer 

For Dan and Lili

The unposed wedding photo. "Eh?" One may think if they believe a photo is a photo is a photo. "We are all family," I heard repeated from many of the guests and family members. How would one accurately document that? The most important thing for this family was that the celebration be a true representation of the relationships and love within the wedding attendees.

The wedding day truly is an incredible experience. The bride and groom is surrounded by everyone they love most in the world while eating like kings and dancing like there isn't a worry to be found. The negative to this is that it happens in a really short amount of time and all of those loved ones fly back to their homes and its ended before we realize it had started. To me, it makes a lot of sense that in biblical times weddings lasted weeks, it really is too great of an experience to wrap up in one day. Which is why wedding photojournalist, the natural, un-posed photo is so important. Thanks to camera phones and social media, you can pull up hundreds posed image of your loved ones at any point but to have a set of photos that remember the way you were feeling on around all of your bests...a set of photos that don't offer a facade rather an accurate representation of of what it's like to be at one of the most significant days of your life...that is when a photo becomes more than a photo.

This wedding was great for many reasons, though one of the things I remember the most came from the toast of the father of the groom. The couple has a story-book worthy tale of how they met and fell in love while the groom was working in China. The father of the groom noted how when he was the Bride and Grooms age, it would have been near impossible for an American to marry a Chinese citizen. "We have come a long way," he noted. With all the turmoil that happens between countries I am honored to have documented a story of love and union that highlights the good that is going on.

A special thanks to the wonderful staff at Arrowhead Golf Course directed by one of our favorite coordinators, Kiersten.

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Photojournalism for weddings | Denver

Photojournalism for weddings | Boulder, CO | for Stephen, Libby & Wyatt As the average couple does, they excitingly plan out every detail of their wedding for over a year. Your typical bride and groom fill all their free time with sketching their wedding day to represent everything they love about life. As many experience however, no matter how well you organize and how well you delegate there is always something that doesn't go as planned. For most couples, it's something like "the florist is late". The problem of "the venue is inaccessible by land due to massive flash flooding" is far less common. The trauma of the 100 year flood lead to many of the couples wedding plans being displaced in the Northern Colorado area. Despite many of the plans going awry, the loss of the couple's "perfect venue" lead to better things.

This wedding was unintentionally set up to be wonderfully similar to that of Dwight Schrute's. The plan was for it to be held at Pastures of Plenty (kind of like a beet farm), for the groomsman to be wearing kilts with knives called Skindos which are worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress. Though the "beet farm" was unavailable due to the Colorado flooding, the couple was able to hold their wedding at the Courtyard Marriott in Boulder, and the hotel actually has never hosted a wedding. It was an incredible example of the generosity businesses displayed in the midst of all the displacement. As one of the groomsman noted, the most amazing thing about the whole celebration was how this didn't shake the bride and groom. The wedding was held in a hotel lobby and it couldn't have mattered less.

From a big picture perspective, it goes show that there is no perfect frill that can make the pieces of life fit together beautifully. Just as in life, having a wonderful wedding day doesn't have anything to do with the perfectly planned details. It's about the people and the experiences you have with them. These wedding images do not feature the bride and groom under a beautiful tree or show them frolicking in front of the sun-kissed mountains. It shows them wanting to be nowhere else than with the people they love most in the world and to me, those are the kinds of wedding photographs that are worth being treasured for life.

organic wedding photographers

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Organic wedding photography

 Vail, CO | for Eric and Sandy

Perspective. A photograph records a fraction of a second. It's an impulsive, intuitive reaction to a prediction of what will occur. As a wedding photojournalist, the photographer isn't necessarily documenting what is happening but what will happen and it can never really be done the same way by two different people. I think it's always fascinating to observe the difference between the way that people see things. Perspective.

This wedding shows us a really great example of the way that two different people see and react to thing. Matt and I strategically place ourselves throughout the day to try and cover as much of the wedding as possible. With a couple as expressive and emotional as Eric and Sandy, our different perspectives proved to be effective in documenting the unique facets of this story.

We were amazed by the unique and distinctive stories that were captured from the same fractions of time. Stories that reflect honest adoration, expressive connections and the true good-hearted nature of Eric, Sandy, and their families. Their wedding photographs feature some good and important documentation. Wedding photography that can only be done well when a couple is so willing to share themselves. Thank you Sandy and Eric for being so open. Thank you for being a great example of a couple who is there to experience the wedding day for love of relationship.

I am one to easily get lost in the eye candy that personality and joy taste like though I can't dismiss the beauty in all of the day's tangible details. The cupcakes were flown in from a chef featured on Cupcake Wars, the napkins were printed with fun facts about the couple, the margarita glasses were topped with sprinkles, the flowers, the dress and all of the decor were simply beautiful. Kerri and her A Touch of Bliss girls knit the mountain wedding venue together to perfectly reflect the simple, artistic, and intimate beauty of couple's style. The day was filled with all kinds of delicious things.

Enjoy.

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spruce mountain ranch weddings

Natural, nature filled wedding images | for Jeff and Gretchen I believe Gretchen's first words to Jeff were something along the lines of, "so I hear we are soul mates." Jeff said that he was freaked out, but I've got a hunch he was secretly excited that their mutual friends had already paired them as the perfect match before the two had even met. That was many years ago and as you've likely figured out, here we are today celebrating the commitment of two pegged soul mates.

Aside from the couple being awesome, there were many details that were perfect. Larkspurs Spruce Mountain Ranch is one of the more personal and unique venue's in Colorado which melded perfectly with this wedding. The whole celebration was laid back and felt more like a really well planned party than your typical wedding. Gretchen by trade is an accountant, but I've got a feeling she has a pile of hidden talent outside of her number skills. We were blown away when we heard that she was the crafter of a life sized jenga game, an incredible corn-hole set and a few other yard games. Every part of the wedding was done well and filled with the couple's personality. These natural wedding images highlight much of that.

If you're more of a picture skimmer, make sure you surf your way down to the bottom of the blog posting for a dare I say "epic" starlit night photo of the two towards the end of the evening.