artistic authentic wedding photography

artistic authentic wedding photography

2015 in review

I’m not sure if it's that we become more aware of the world as we get older or we really are in a time when things are much darker and uncertain on a global scale. With all the headline felonies, religious persecution, poverty and injustice in 2015 it’s hard not to grieve over the threatening darkness that covers the peace and freedom we all seek and expect. Yet, as I sit here looking out the window during this still, winter evening I rest as the snow so silently covers all things sitting peacefully. I look through these images of all the love we’ve seen this year and know that despite the darkness, there is nothing that can truly steal joy.

 Photographing weddings is quite satiating for curious observers like Matt and myself. We have front row seats to what is one of the most significant days of someone’s life. We’ve taken nearly a hundred thousand photographs in 2015 and have whittled the collection down to 136 moments to feature. It’s interesting to see which images we impulsively share in our year wrap up. We’ve never been the type to spend most of our time helping you remember posed images, trends, details or photos that only show what was happening on the outside. Emotion in its artistic expression has always been one of our favorite things to photograph. This year we've refined those skills and are proud to share a set of artistic, authentic wedding photography that is some of our best.

It's an honor to use all these wonderful people to tell you about happiness and authenticity. I’m featuring over thirty couples, mainly based or rooted in Denver. Most couples are similar in age, demographic and style. Though I can see many of them being friends with each other, every couple is so beautifully unique and their stories reflect their personhood and relationship so accurately.

A very special thank you to everyone we photographed this year for sharing so much of yourselves. The impact that you have on us is great. Despite the headlines and uncertainty, life is good.

Thanks for the significant reminder of that.

Destination wedding photographer in Colorado

Destination wedding photographer in Colorado

for Ryan and Alysha

Somewhere at the base of the Rocky Mountains between Aspen and Telluride is a small vineyard town with homegrown restaurants, struggling wifi, and a name that's difficult to spell. For some, the beauty may not be worth the distance you are from "the grid", but for Colorado natives, Ryan and Alysha, a small farmhouse in Paonia, Colorado was the perfect setting for their dream wedding. As a destination wedding photographer in Colorado, we've seen many unique weddings and venues -  but none quite like this.

Coming from Denver but each having a penchant for fine taste, Ryan and Alysha put together what was easily one of the best weddings we have ever experienced. With old books, straw bale benches, and fences struggling to retain their paint, the "FRESH AND WYLD"  farmhouse adorned simple and authentic all over the wedding itself; and for Ryan and Alysha, authenticity was important. Our love for wedding photojournalism relished thanks to this couple's personality and openness.

These two are the kind of people who greet everybody with hugs, who include their families in the ceremony, and who kiss each other and giggle between ever click of the camera. They are the kind of folks who are not afraid to show emotion as vows are being read, nor the kind who feels at all timid on the dance floor. For Ryan and Alysha, authenticity is natural and inevitable. They are two beautiful and fun people, and thus invited their families and friends of that ilk. Perhaps our opinion of their friends is biased because we had met several of them shooting another favorite wedding in Puerto Rico a couple years back. However, as the events of the day turned into toasts, videos, and campfires, our estimations of their coolness were continuously vindicated.

Apart from how enjoyable and friendly the bride and groom were, we also took some amazing pictures. Paonia is a beautiful place and has moved its way up into our "favorite locations of all time" list. Then again, our opinions may be biased here as well because we got to experience with such amazing people. Every smile was genuine. Ryan and Alysha's wedding was a victory for humanity. We were happy to be a part of it.

How do you get great wedding photos like these? 

Lessons from Ryan and Alysha

• Let there be nothing that can ruin your day
• Plan well, delegate and experience your wedding
• Lose track of the camera, be yourselves
• Express your feelings, laugh loudly
• Realize how beautiful this day is and experience it fully
• Be up for anything

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Would you like to see more? View Ryan and Alysha's extended wedding preview below.

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.

Wedding Photojournalists Vail

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Wedding Photojournalists Vail 

for Scott and Hilary

To visit a wedding in Vail, CO can only be a rewarding experience.  As wedding photojournalists Vail offers a mecca of opportunities to highlight the beauty of a wedding day story. With its assortment of fine hotels, high quality golfing, and majestic mountains in its perimeter, it's easy to get caught up and swept away in all the beauty. This is probably why Dallas couple, Scott and Hilary chose it as the location of what would be one of most superlative emotional days of their life. As wedding photojournalists, Vail offers one of the best backdrops Colorado has to offer. This combined with the great personalities of the family is why we at Selah were so thankful to be a part of it.

Despite the unexpected rainstorm and some last-minute accommodating, the day was a success from the get go. Their location for first look was on a private access peninsula near the golf course. A little overcast clouds, the surrounding foliage, and the sincerity on Scott and Hilary's faces made this a photographical daydream. We soon did a series of photos of the couple near their honeymoon getaway car, Hilary's father's Bentley. We have yet to see a car with better reflective properties.

Due to rain (which is considered good luck by the superstitious), the location of the ceremony was moved indoors. This was a happy accident in that everyone fit and everyone could see, and everyone got to stand in their wedding as they made their vows and had a traditional Christian wedding service.

The reception, of course, was the birth of many highlights and memories, starting with a large group flashmob dedicated to the bride and groom, and completely unbeknownst to them. There were tears of joy and much laughter, especially once we saw what an amazing dancer Hilary's mother, Merrole, was. It's people like this that make us love being photojournalists that document real moments. These photos don't make everyone look joyful, they show the joyful and genuine interactions...the things I hope that people never forget.

Our Sixth Man Award (our favorite person to photograph besides bride and groom) was a challenge this time. It came down to the MOH, Kelly, who had a wide assortment of faces and poses in her quiver and single-handedly made the success of the photo booth, or to her husband (Hilary's brother), Jonny, who came with handstands and lightning bolt socks. When your family this fun, your wedding is bound to be a momentous event, and in the case of Scott and Hilary, it certainly was, and we were happy to be there.

A big thank you to Christine of Soiree Studio for planning the day in a way that allowed us to photograph so well for Scott and Hilary. Weddings at the Sonnenalp are some of our favorite. It's a highly recommended Vail wedding venue for us.

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Destination Wedding Photojournalists

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Destination Wedding Photojournalists

for Jeff and Dede

In a place where the horses run free like iguanas and the rental cars are built wider than the roads are some of the loveliest beaches on which to wed. The place is , Puerto Rico, and the couple was Jeff with the genuine smile and Dede the adorably animated. They rented the place, they invited their friends, they booked Selah, and they booked the local wedding planner with an iron fist so as to ensure a seamless event. Little did know, however, that the "island life" would pay a visit.

A couple hours before the wedding was to take place, the power went out on the island, thereby making various things more difficult like ironing shirts and cooking the supper. Then came the rain. Just as the rain let up, all the guests set up on the beach thinking the storm had passed. Alas, it was just taking a break, so the rain came back with perfect timing to give all the guests, bridal party, and peeping neighbors a good soak. This would probably be the point where most brides would fall apart. Instead, this was the point where Jeff and Dede shrugged their shoulders and smiled through it with a "what the hell?" attitude. It was awesome. Their character flew.

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Afterwards, we took some bridal party photos in even thicker rain (see below) before sitting down to some speeches and supper. A day this memorable could only be topped with something that we as photographers always hope to see, but never actually do see - people jumping into the pool with their clothes on (bride included, see below). Alas, Jeff and Dede were not afraid to bring it. This also, was awesome.

The whole day seemed to work out perfectly as an analogy for marriage itself, in that you can plan and prepare all of which you are capable but the unforeseen will remain inevitable. Or, as Jeff's mom put it: "Life isn't about how you survived the storm, it's about how you danced in the rain. Enjoy life for the gift that it is!".

Jeff and Dede were two really great people with some really great families and we blessed to be a part of their important day.

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mexico destination wedding

Colorado to Cancun for a wedding on the beach | Justin and Stacey

When most young girls imagine what their wedding will be like one day, they rarely include the dream of "multiple swimming pools, several of which have a bar you can swim up to... oh, and you don't have to pay for the drinks". After experiencing the Okeson wedding however, this could soon change. Stacey's dress was white and wonderful just as Justin's suit was three piece and fitted, but the two of them definitely thought the whole ordeal through more than your average romantic dreamers.

As far as destination weddings go, on the coast of Riviera Maya, Mexico is as good as they get, and Justin and Stacey picked what could have been the best resort there to have it in - El Dorado Royale: the optimal place to unite your 52 closest friends and family members and celebrate a lifelong commitment.

Not only were Justin and Stacey two of the more dashing and beautiful people we have gotten the pleasure of photographing, but they were also incredibly amicable and inviting. It didn't take long for them to introduce us to the family and take us in as members of the celebration. Glasses were clinked in toasts of best wishes, and fine cigars were shared and enjoyed by the pool by Justin and his fellows. They even went so far as to especially order some wind for the ceremony to give the girls that "super model" touch, as well as some cloud cover for better photographic lighting. The charity shared by these two on the weekend of their own wedding was definitely approaching that extra mile and we were happy to be on the receiving end when it got there. With a Justin and Stacey party, it's easy to forget whether you were hired to dance or hired to photograph, because it feels like you weren't hired at all; you're another special guest invited to their special day, and we've got some beautiful photos to which to remember it.

...you're thinking something aren't you? Don't hold on to your thoughts - share away. Comment below.

Contemporary wedding photography

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Contemporary wedding photography

Looking for unique wedding photography? Sometimes different than the smiling photo in front of a church alter? Contemporary Wedding photographs are something the modern couples seeks out. With the availability of quality digital cameras, there are many photographers and photo enthusiast you can find who know how to press the shutter. However,  a contemporary wedding photographer is able to make a photo unlike any of your peers. Whether it's an artistic wedding photo or real, story-telling photography. It mixes authentic wedding photography with a photographers unique and high level of skill.

Mariel and Landon's story is a great example of this style of wedding photography. Their an Austin couple who was seeking unique, authentic photographs.

I'm not sure what the temperature was in Texas last weekend, but lets just say it was 120 degrees outside to enhance the drama. Regardless of the exact temperature, the wedding party an I were about ready to pass out after spending 45 minutes at Mount Bonnell overlooking Austin. I told them that it would be worth it, and believe me it was.

To all of you kind and friendly Texans, thank you for being so welcoming and hospitable. Mariel and Landon, I thoroughly enjoyed documenting your rich story. I learned some new things about Love last weekend.

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