Join the Block Party every Saturday to help the homeless at 14th + Broadway in Downtown Denver at Civic Center Park.
Read moreBrittany + Patrick - YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch
I moved to Colorado determined to meet someone who wore plaid and had a beard.
- Brittany
These two love each other more than I can express to you in a blog post about their wedding. Brittany is one of the sweetest humans I have ever met and she immediately welcomed me into her bridal suite with open arms. Patrick is smart, kind and madly in love with her. Together, they are simply perfect for each other. Their wedding took place at the YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch with their ceremony at Columbine Point. They wanted their first look to be amongst the Aspens across from the ceremony site where there was a nice path and small fence. Their wedding day can be described in one word - FUN! And for the reception, it was only 90’s pop for their guests to dance and excitedly sing along to.
Above is one of their couples portraits from behind the small fence. They were just happy to be with each other and couldn’t stop smiling. You could literally feel the love.
Brittany’s dress was elegant with such a gorgeous rhinestone detailed belt.
The belt of her dress.
Brittany wore flip-flops so she could be comfortable and dance the night away! I liked the sparkle of her shoes and ring together. She was surrounded by a great group of family and friends while she got dressed and finished her final touches.
This was a special moment where she received something blue and something old for her dress. A simple blue bead that was her grandmother’s pinned to the back of her dress.
Some of her details for the day photographed in her cabin.
I hadn’t met Patrick, until after his first look with Brittany - and let me tell you - he was overjoyed, excited, and smiling from ear to ear once he saw her. He could not stop telling her how much he loved her and it was where I was first able to see how in love these two are.
They didn’t have a wedding party because they have so many great friends, they couldn’t choose. And after witnessing the ceremony that they put together, it completely made sense that the ceremony just be the two of them. (And their adorable pup Denali)
It rained before their ceremony, but it was okay because I brought some clear umbrellas. I actually love this bridal portrait of Brittany with the umbrella. And she was still smiling rain or shine because she just wanted to marry Patrick - the weather didn’t matter one bit.
Brittany’s mom and dad laughed and cried throughout the ceremony and the reception. Her father’s speech was great and I learned that she was raised in Alaska (so awesome), but raised by some serious “free range” parents. They lived off the grid, hunted and grew their own food, and I think he also mentioned an outhouse, but don’t quote me on that.
Patrick’s brother officiated their ceremony at Columbine Point. There is a giant cross at the ceremony site with the mountains as the backdrop. I loved the personal touch of his brother marrying them, which fit with the entire day.
They wrote their entire ceremony together and planned the whole thing. So, of course they wrote their own vows to each other. I’m not sure who was more nervously excited to confess everything they loved about the other, Brittany or Patrick. Either way, they looked into one another’s eyes and listened to every word spoken.
Patrick was absolutely elated to stand in front of their family and friends, and have Brittany as his wife, partner, and friend. He promised to take her to every Hot Spring he could find while loving her unconditionally.
They are made for each other, which I know sounds cliche, but that’s okay. I was only around them for a few hours, and I can’t imagine them not spending the rest of their lives together.
Their first kiss was like a breath of fresh air for the two of them. They just wanted to hear those words “I know pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss.”
Their first dance was to You and I by Ingrid Michaelson and it was so cute to watch Brittany sing all of the words to Patrick. When we got to the reception, the party started! Their friends are such a fun group and danced the night away to N’Sync, SpiceGirls, Naughty by Nature, and the Backstreet Boys!
Had some photography competition by their niece.
They danced all night long! Not one of their friends or family left the reception early!
You know your in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.
- Dr. Suess
Why I Have Fallen in Love with Wedding Photography
Spending an evening in July at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado with two beautiful wedding couples and a couple of llamas.
Read moreRyan + Kim - July Wedding at Lionscrest Manor
“It’s always further than it looks. It’s always taller than it looks. And it’s always harder than it looks.”
- (the three rules of mountaineering)
I feel like the above quote is about the mountains, but can also be compared to marriage. Ryan + Kim became “happily ever after” this July near the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and the view from Lionscrest Manor was completely breathtaking! It offers every Colorado is known for - views, mountains, forest and beauty. Though I didn’t get to know Ryan + Kim closely, it was an honor to be a part of their wedding day!
This is my favorite photo of their day because it is simply about them, in their wedding attire, in a beautiful location, in the mountains. Every Colorado wedding dream!
An amazing view of the ceremony!
Give me all of the jewel tones for a July wedding! Purple was the color of the year for 2018 - and these florals proved it should be.
Colorado is one of the few places in the US where you can pretty much have anyone you know become your officiant after they are solemnized through the State. I love this because weddings here are even more personal to the couple - they always have someone special to them as their officiant. The ceremony is unique to you as a couple because there are personal stories sprinkled throughout the kisses and “I Do’s.”
Wedding Cornhole for the WIN! Lawngames have been a huge part of the outdoor wedding this year, so if you can personalize your corn hole set with your names and wedding date - you most definitely should.
The reception space of Lionscrest Manor has a ton of windows, string lights, and a balcony. The balcony was a great spot for all of the speeches that night as well as the wedding party introductions.
Candid photos are some of my absolute favorite moments of any wedding day. This is where personality comes through - especially with the kids! Funny faces, delicate moments, many moments that you wouldn’t know about without your photographer freezing it in time. I hope candid moments like these provide love and laughter for my couples when they are browsing their final image gallery.
Bustling the dress with your bridesmaids usually comes with tutorials, You Tube videos, or directions. It is NOT simple, but the photos make it look effortless.
The relationship between a bride and her bridesmaids are priceless. Whether they are your sisters, college friends, high school friends, cousins or friends from another time in your life - they are there to help you every step of the day.
Listen intently to the speeches that day. They are now one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because I get to know my couples a little bit more. Sometimes I even take some of the given advice to heart in my life. I know many of them are taken from our best friend “Google” or thrown together the night before; however, the bride and groom love every word spoken for them.
The father/daughter dance is usually the only time of the day when Daddy + Daddy’s little girl get to have a few moments to chat ALONE. I am sure those dance chats are full of compliments and advice that your dad has been saving up to tell you your entire life. So take this moment on your wedding day and remember what he says.
"It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?"
—L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gable
Jessi + Rickie - Engagement Session at Green Mountain Falls
"I swear I couldn't love you more than I do right now,
and yet I know I will tomorrow."
— Leo Christopher
There is so much I loved about photographing this beautiful couple - of course, the brightly colored hair, the cowboy hat, the fact that they could not stop showing how much they loved each other. An engagement session is all about expression and showing off the love you have for your fiancé. These photographs are the beginning of a story waiting to be told and I am ready to capture the beginning chapters.
Green Mountain Falls, Colorado has a ton of unique spots for photographs, whether it is the vintage car (see above) outside of a restaurant or the circular sculpture below - this town was made for photography.
And can we talk about how much Rickie reminds me of Kenny Chesney??? His outfit was complete with cowboy boots and southern charm. He was such a gentleman and had a "go with the flow" attitude that made photographing this couple easy as pecan pie.
Jessi's red hair was a huge inspiration for this session, but I didn't want it to overpower the photos. It was so important to find a place that would highlight the hair color while also highlighting their love for one another. The unique, but small town of Green Mountain Falls was perfect.
I used these dandelions to add some texture to these photographs and even asked my assistant to blow the petals directly in front of my lens. Nothing like a few wishes to add a bit more romance to their session.
Every photo from this session was magical and its easy to see this couple has a beautiful relationship. I changed the location of the session at the last minute and I am so glad that I did! Matching up a couple with their perfect location is what I aspire to do with each and every session. Location is so much about bringing out the best in your subject - here it has brought out the love Jessi + Rickie have for one another.
Don't forget the details during these engagement sessions. Focus on the way they hold hands. I offered to drive them back to their car at the end of the session, and they both responded "No, its beautiful here, we will walk." They strolled along the path, hand in hand.
Down the road a bit from Green Mountain Falls is Chipita Park (walking distance). There are a few bridges and a quiet stream, but the real beauty in this location is the stick sculpture "Footprint in Green" by Patrick Dougherty. It was an awesome backdrop for some unique photographs.
Just a simple touch of the chin is the sweetest gesture. Who doesn't want love like this?
They completely nailed every pose throughout their session. Whether it was a romantic glance, snuggling (not too tightly), or just being comfortable in each other's arms. They made the magic and I photographed it.
"At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet."
― Plato
Emily + Peter - May 20, 2018
"You are my sun, my moon and all of my stars."
- E.E. Cummings
I photographed my first wedding last weekend in Denver, and I absolutely LOVED it! It was perfect for my first wedding to capture and Emily + Peter could not have been more inviting or welcoming to me. Their wedding was a quaint backyard wedding in a vacation rental. I don't know much about their love story (I was shadowing the lead photographer for the day), but what I do know is that they are perfect for each other and love each other deeply. Their day was their own creation of decorations that were symbolic of their relationship, food that was made from the heart by their family, and a wonderful friend who accepted the role of officiant for his first time. It was a day to remember and a day to love. Emily was overwhelmed with appreciation toward her loved ones for putting together her perfect wedding day. She was so kind in the way she personally thanked everyone and tears of joy and gratefulness kept introducing themselves throughout the day. Peter was laid back and full of love for his beautiful bride - he was exactly where he belonged. After the ceremony I asked him if he felt different - "Yeah, I feel more connected to her."
It was a pleasure to photograph these two beautiful people and I hope to continue photographing weddings in the months to come.
Disclosure: The link below is an affiliate link, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Mother's Day at 14,000 feet
"Above the clouds, the sky is always blue."
- Therese of Lisieux
This has been on my Colorado bucket list since we arrived, but we couldn't go that high up right away, so I have been anxiously waiting to do this. Pike's Peak sits at over 14,114 feet and even though Colorado Springs is at 6,035 feet, we had to wait at least six months for our bodies to adjust. There was nothing more perfect than Mother's Day to finally go to the top of Pike's Peak since it is the only day of the year that my family is actually required to do exactly what I want to do! (Plus, mom's are free on Mother's Day!!!) The cost was $15 per adult, $5 per child ages 5-16yrs or $50 per vehicle to go to the summit. If you only want to do the North Slope without going all the way up it would be $5 per vehicle.
The 20 miles of highway is quite honestly, the most beautiful, peaceful, terrifying piece of road I have ever been on. The scenery is breathtaking around every switchback and I was so happy to be the passenger so I could mentally prepare for every photo I wanted to take on the way back down. (Pretty sure the family was happy I wasn't driving as well.) My recommendation is to drive all the way up and then make your stops on the way down so you can let your brakes cool off.
There was snow above the tree line and it was actively snowing when we got to the top! Oh, yes, and it was cold. The temperature at the summit was 26 degrees, but the "feels like" temp was 13 degrees. My children, of course, did not want to wear jackets, but don't think I didn't tell them to bring one before we left the house!
It is gorgeous up there above the trees and the clouds. The Cog Railway used to bring you to the top, but is closed until further notice, so you can freely walk along the tracks and around the entire peak. I recommend spending a few minutes alone up there to feel your own peace. You can also go to the gift shop and grab a shirt that says "I Like It on Top" or "Got Oxygen," and a hot chocolate or pretzel for part of the drive down.
The views are the best! They are worth the cost and facing your fear of heights, but beware of the altitude. You will most likely feel light headed and get a headache, especially if you live closer to sea level. Drink plenty of water on the way up and for the rest of the day. Altitude sickness can creep up on anyone, so do not think you are immune.
The random spots along the road are the best places for these beautiful, untouched natural wonders. Being up in the mountains among endless views of mountains is awesome!
This is the mandatory brake checkpoint where they measure the temperature of your car's brakes. If they are 300 degrees or above, they will politely ask you to pull over and wait until they cool down. There is another small gift shop here and hopefully you don't have to hang out too long.
I am so ready to do some photography sessions on this beautiful highway. If anyone wants to create a magical photo session in the mountains for your family portraits, engagement sessions or modeling portfolio - CALL ME!
The most beautiful part of the highway to me, was Crystal Lake Reservoir. You can reach the lake for the North Slope price of $5 per vehicle and I plan on going back many more times before we leave. There is another gift shop here and if you walk out back, you can feed the chipmunks. The shop employees will come out and give the kids sunflower seeds and the cute little rodents will come eat them right out of their hands. Now, I am ready to see this place in July!
"The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
Disclosure: The links in this post and below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Annie + Leah - Spruce Mountain
"If anybody can find someone to love them through this difficult thing that we call life, I support that in any shape or form."
- Will Smith
This entire session was not only about creating something beautiful, but about creating an environment where two people would feel that magical feeling of LOVE! Between the perfect chair from A Love Tale, a bit of thrift store shopping (of course), and their perfectly styled outfits (styled by themselves) - love was in the air! It was romantic, it was simple, it was a bot of boho chic with a mountain vibe and all together we created something absolutely stunning.
When photographing couples, I want them to feel comfortable with me as a photographer, but these photographs are about them and who they are. I have them whisper in each other's ear something they love about each other (and these two had a very long list) and I also ask them to make their partner laugh. Tell them something funny - and I don't need to hear any of this. THAT is where the love shows!
If you can't see how in love these two are by the above photos, I don't know what else to say. They lay together comfortably and smiling because it is home, it is where they belong.
Annie + Leah both have the most beautiful smiles, but their smiles light up even more when they are looking at each other.
And if there was a part of the day that I absolutely loved the most, it was all of the laughter! There are many times when I have to ask people to do a fake laugh, but during this session - allllll the laughter was genuine. As you will see in some of the other photos, the harder part of the day was trying to be serious.
True romance here with these two! And I could not have created these images without the perfect prop from A Love Tale. If you are looking to build a portfolio of the perfect images, express your creativity, or plan a styled shoot - they literally have everything! Moving to Colorado has forced me to improve my photography and my images in many different ways (which is AWESOME) and knowing there are resources here to help me do this, has been so wonderful.
That glance!!!! These details! I will be starting weddings in a week and I wanted to start practicing photographing the details, because let's face it, the details add everything to the big picture of an image, a setting, or a wedding. How can I photograph a moment and emotion through details?
And this is where we tried to be serious. Apparently, this is Leah's serious face - Leah is on the right.
Seriously beautiful eyes - both of them! I would normally say "if looks could kill" but I think the more appropriate term would be "if looks could love."
We finally nailed that serious moment, and I love this because they are some amazingly strong women, who love each other deeply, are proud of who they are, and live here in the mountains!
"If I know what love is, it is because of you."
- Herman Hesse
The O'Rear Family - Fox Run Regional Park
"The family is one of nature's masterpieces."
- George Santayana
Families have always been one of my favorite things to photograph because it is slightly chaotic and challenging, but the end result is always the most rewarding. AND, I absolutely adore kids! They always show up with their own ideas of what they want from the photo session and it usually involves jumping, gymnastics and a ton of silly faces. I met this sweet family through the Colorado Crepe Company at Pike's Peak Market and they are made up of mom, dad, triplet girls + an older brother. They could not be more adorable! When I show up to a session with children, I am always prepared with something fun to do during the session that the kids will look forward to and a small gift for them at the end. For this session at Fox Run Regional Park in the Black Forest, we used glitter and attempted to use light up balloons during the session. (yes, they popped! But, there were no tears.) When the session was over, I gave them a pack of 15 glow necklaces that they could play with at home. (The dollar spot at Target or the dollar store are your friend here.)
I brought pink, purple and blue glitter to the session, but nobody wanted to use the blue. I totally thought their son would prefer it, but he wanted to use the same colors as his sisters. What a sweet boy! My favorite part about the above pictures, is that mom + dad left his fingernails painted! This is exactly what childhood is about - playing freely, wearing whatever you want, and letting boys paint their fingernails blue and pink for their photo sessions.
Sometimes everyone in a photo isn't looking at me or is mid-blink, but someone else in the shot is perfect. Using some creative editing and cropping is perfectly acceptable because I don't think mom or dad would not want to see these perfect faces. I like the photos to completely capture our session together and let them see the moments they missed. Perfectly imperfect is perfect!
Candids are the real moments. The little sweetheart in the middle trying not to smile with her nose all scrunched up. Dad admiring his family. The connections and interactions that occur without posing or looking straight at the camera are the images that bring them back to the day. I bet mom remembers exactly what her son was saying here and why they were laughing.
And let them play! Run around and hug each other and tickle each other and wrestle. This is where the genuine smiles are hiding. :)
And these two parents, still very much in love after four children. I like to have them whisper to each other some reasons why they love one another (it can be anything because I can't hear.) I also have them whisper something that makes them laugh. These sessions don't have to be stressful or boring, I want them to be enjoyable and having people communicate to each other, always warms their hearts.
These triplet girls had no problem hugging throughout the entire session - it was so CUTE! Then their brother hugged them all and then it was time to hug mom + dad. Hug it out fam!
As the sun was setting through the trees, we had some incredible backlight for some shots with mom + dad. Just asking them to hug or kiss mom or dad always makes for a great shot! But, I personally always love the father and son moments because their height is so drastically different, it is fun to use that creatively. And kids at these ages look up to their parents (literally and figuratively) so much - parents are their heroes!
But every family starts with the love of two people - mom + dad. The beauty of this story is that they got married here at Fox Run, so doing their family photo session here was bringing them back to where the love story began.
Their love story has turned into a family story.
"A world of possibilities awaits you. Keep turning the page."
- Oprah Winfrey
What's in My Camera Bag
Before going into this post about what is in my camera bag, I want to make sure I say something to all of you - do not stress about gear! My photography journey started with a Sony a360 with two kit lenses; an 18-55mm zoom lens and a 70-200mm zoom lens. The best thing you can do to improve your photography is by the camera you can afford and learn how to use it. Learn about it's sweet spot and read the manual, take it step by step until you have mastered your tool. If you can take a beautiful photograph with an entry level DSLR, that is when you should begin to add things to your toolkit. I believe in baby steps for learning the camera because the more expensive the tool, the more overwhelming it feels to pick it up and master it.
The Nikon d7100 is my camera body and is not a full-frame camera, but I cannot afford one of those right now, so this camera works wonderfully for me and my budget. (And it gives me awesome images that I am proud of.) Some of the features I like most about this camera is that the ISO can go from 100-6400, it has 51 focus points which also helps with having sharp images, and it has video capability if I chose to use it for that later.
Now lets talk about lenses. I currently have four lenses for my Nikon - an 18-55mm zoom; a 55-300mm zoom, a 50mm prime, and a 35mm prime. I typically use my 18-55 for travel and landscape when I am in a new location because I don't want to risk losing a shot because I cannot zoom in or out. To be honest with you, I have not used my 55-300mm zoom very much because my preference is to be close with my subject. However, it does provide very good images if you prefer to photograph your subject from farther away. (Some people don't want people to know they are photographing them.) The 50mm prime lens, aka the nifty fifty, was my favorite lens. A prime lens is sharper and can provide a wider aperture for better bokeh or to let more light hit the sensor. Now, my 50mm lens is closer to a 75mm lens because the Nikon d7100 is what is known as a crop sensor. This hasn't had an effect on the images that I create because I am aware of the difference. Like I said in the beginning, it is most important to know your tool. The 35mm prime lens is now my favorite because on a crop sensor, it is closer to a 50mm lens and transitions easily between landscape/portrait/travel/food/lifestyle etc.
After lenses, my next favorite thing to play with and have on hand are filters. I have ND filters, CPL or Polarizing filters, and macro filters. Some of these I use almost daily and then others I only use when I am planning a shoot or plan on practicing something specific. Many photographers like to have a UV filter on their lenses which really only serves to protect the lens and keeps out some of the UV rays. However, I choose not to use one because it tends to collect dust particles and is just something else I have to clean later on. If you want to protect the lens, put the lens cap back on, simple as that.
The one filter I use often, is my CPL filter because it can really bring a lot into a shot and save you time on making colors pop in post processing. I have three of these for each of my main lenses because I don't want to have to bother screwing it on and off when switching out lenses. When shooting my outdoor travel photography or landscapes, this is a filter I ALWAYS use. It has saved me hours on editing because it makes colors, mainly blues and greens, more vibrant and closer to what the eye can see. The CPL filter typically comes in a set with a UV filter and a red filter. So, you get three for the price and have some new things to play with. The red filter, which I do not use very often, is great to use for black and white photography and also where there should be high contrast, such as red flowers, blue skies or white clouds.
After the CPL filter, I love playing around with ND, or Neutral Density, filters. These are a piece of glass that is darker and allows you to adjust your camera settings based off of the change in light. These are a must have if you like to shoot landscapes or if you want to capture movement during the day. In my photography, I use these when I am shooting waterfalls and I am able to get the water to show silky smooth.
After those filters, I like to play with some close-up and macro filters when photographing details. Those details could be in nature, such as flowers or petals; on a newborn baby to get close to their small features like their eyelashes or wrinkles; or possibly use them for the details on a wedding dress or shoes. Adding a nice macro filter to your box of tricks, can elevate those detailed shots from amateur to professional. You can either use one or stack them for more fun, just keep in mind, the more filters you stack - the smaller your frame will become. Either way, these are a great addition to a photographers toolbox, especially if you cannot afford a macro lens.
Memory cards, memory cards, memory cards! You can never have enough of them, so buy them, buy multiples, stock up when they go on sale, whatever you do, just have lots of them. I have some 8GB, 16GB and 32GB and my camera also has room for two cards, so I am never without at least two. I typically use an 8GB or 16GB for my family, seniors, newborn and headshot clients. The 32GB I save for my travel photography because they hold so many photos - they are great when you cannot unload to your computer. So, stock up!
The upgraded selfie stick if you want to be in a photo now and then without your arm sticking out of the corner of the frame. A remote is so easy to add to your bag and I have used it many times on a family trip so it looks like I was actually on the vacation and not just photographing my family on vacation. If you want to practice self portraits or help with posing a client, then a remote is great too. Additionally, I use my remote often for landscape photography to ensure the tripod is still when I am taking the photo. Pressing the shutter and releasing it can add camera shake to a beautiful landscape, so using a remote will prevent that. There are endless possibilities when you add a wireless remote to your bag because it allows you to walk away from the viewfinder.
A wide angle lens/filter is awesome for real estate photography or landscapes in order to have a wider frame of view. I don't use it too often, but I do enjoy bringing it to my landscape shoots in case I want to get more in my scene.
Telephoto lens/filter can be added to any lens in order to get closer to the subject. I would only recommend using this for landscape or travel photography. The nice thing about this, is that it does not add any weight to your lens. The large lens of the 70-300mm is great, but it is heavy on your neck. With this small addition, you can achieve beautiful telephoto quality images without the weight of the bulky glass.
Studio clips will be a life saver in many situations not related to studio photography. I keep these in all of my camera bags so I am not caught outside without them and if you don't want to buy studio clips, go to your local office supply store and grab a bag of large binder clips! Any and all of these can be used to fix a wardrobe malfunction or to help with properly fitting clothing onto your model. I have used them to clip back branches when outdoors or to move flowers/leaves in a setting. You can use them to hold back a curtain or hang up a backdrop. There are so many uses and so many times when I have pulled them out at a shoot.
If you are going to invest in anything, the first thing you should purchase is an additional battery. The life of a camera battery depends on so many factors like, if you remembered to charge it the night before, the weather, if you accidentally left it on or how long you plan on being out shooting for the day. Having an additional or back-up battery is so important, especially if you plan on taking your craft from fun to professional. You never know what situation is going to pop-up, and having the security of additional battery life can save you in so many situations.
Procrastinators, listen up because this next item is for you! (myself included) Battery charger for your car needs to be added to your toolkit and don't wait until you read the rest of this, just go purchase it now. I cannot live without this anymore because with three kids, a husband, a stay at home mom gig, cooking, cleaning, volunteering and a photography job, I will admit - I don't always remember or have time to charge my battery before a shoot or before we go for a hike or before we go on vacation. This little sucker is the best because I can charge it when driving to a location or between locations or on the way to whatever it is I want to photograph. It is the little tool I cannot live without and if you are like me as far as all of the duties or a procrastinator at heart - grab it as soon as you can. It will set your mind at ease and you will not stress over the possibility of your battery dying.
The three things below are a small addition to my bag that I love and depend on a lot. The mini tripod is compact, portable, and can literally go anywhere. If you don't feel like carrying your full size tripod when you are out location scouting or traveling for the day, this little guy can literally go in your back pocket and then stabilize your camera on a rock. The Vivitar anti-fog lens cleaner is so great to put on your lenses when preparing for any outdoor shoot because of the temperature changes. In Singapore, I used it because going from my air conditioned car outside into the humidity always caused my lens to fog up. So, I would clean my lens with the anti-fog and would be able to drive to my location, get out of the car and start photographing. (I also always keep cotton swabs in my bag for this.) The other item you need and need many of are microfiber cloths. You should always use them to clean your lenses because they do not have any lint; therefore, you won't have spots on your lens during post-processing. Plus, who knows when you will need to clean off an accidental fingerprint or water drop off during a shoot. It also has an added bonus of being able to clean you or your clients eyeglasses should you need to.
Below is the entire camera cleaning kit that you should have in order to keep all of your equipment spotless on the inside and the outside. The most important piece to this kit is the dust bulb. The dust bulb will help you clean the inside of your camera where the sensor and the mirror are because YOU DO NOT EVER TOUCH YOUR CAMERA SENSOR WITH ANYTHING! Cleaning your camera sensor is an important part of photography because you do not want to have to clone a ton of dust spots in Lightroom or Photoshop after a session. Not only is it annoying and time consuming, but it could possibly degrade your image and you do not want that. IMPORTANT: Before attempting to clean your camera sensor, watch a You Tube video about your specific camera and it will walk you through the exact steps of what to do. If you do not feel comfortable doing it, ask a professional. If you touch your camera sensor, you will damage your camera and could cost yourself a lot of money.
There are also a few other items I like to keep in my bag because you never know when you will need them. First thing is business cards, if you are out with your camera, doing what you love or loving what you do for a living, then you may run into a potential client. Always have a few good quality business cards on you and you will be ready when someone starts to chat you up. Second thing is a pen. You may need to write something down quickly or your client may need one or you could use it for a prop. Just keep one in your bag because someone always needs a pen. Third thing is a small first aid kit. I keep it in a small gray coin purse and it just has antibiotic ointment and band-aids in it because someone always gets injured. I actually used it the other day for one of the kids at my family shoot, and the tears went away quickly. Band-aids are like stickers for kids and it also shows your clients that are parents, that you thought ahead. You were not only prepared for the photo shoot, but you were prepared for the something that could go wrong. The final thing you should always, always, always have on you is your camera manual. I have owned my camera for two years and my manual goes with me anytime I have a session. Cameras can randomly lock up or not work for some reason, and you can easily fix that if you have your manual. Plus, if you have time, you can read up on something that maybe you want to practice with or something new you want to try.
And last, but not least, THE BAG! I love my camera bag and it has taken me years to find one that I am happy with. It is a backpack that can hold a laptop, my reflector, all my gear, my wallet, my tripod, and a book! It is the Mary Poppins bag for photographers. It has regular backpack straps and a waist strap so not to pull on your shoulders and tucked in the bottom is a rain cover, so you can protect your gear in less than perfect weather. It has plenty of pockets and padding to protect whatever you are bringing with you. I know as a woman, sometimes we want the cute bag with all the bells and whistles, but this little black bag is perfect for everything I need and still allows me room to grow my gear.
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10 Fun Facts About Me - Nicole
1. I am an only child.
Now, some of you may have guessed that already if you have met me, but yes I am a loner. I suppose I am pretty typical of an only child - I like my space and alone time; I prefer to lead than follow; I am extremely independent and was always mature for my age. Yes, additionally, I was slightly spoiled growing up, but I was the only kid. Not only was I the only kid, but my parents got divorced when I was eight, so then I was the only kid to each parent. So, I got ALLLL the attention.
2. I don't have a middle name.
We always talk about this in my house, saying how strange I am - an only child AND no middle name! I get to leave that space blank on forms and paperwork, so over an entire lifetime, I am saving a lot of ink. I don't get to have that thought of "maybe I will start going by my middle name." When my parents got angry with me as a little girl, they couldn't say Nicole (Insert Middle Name) for increased effect. In all honestly, it hasn't affected me much. BUT, its weird, I know. When we went to Australia, my VISA was actually held up because of the fact that I didn't have a middle name.
3. I was diagnosed with depression at 30
Talk about a life changing diagnosis! At 30 years old, I was exhausted from life. I couldn't stay awake at night, couldn't focus, wasn't overly interested in much and the daily activities of normal life would take all of the energy out of me. I started seeing a therapist and discovered that I was suffering from depression and most likely had been for most of my life. At first, I was not on board to start medication because I wanted to own my issues and fix them, but my doctor said to me, "What if you had high blood pressure? You would take medication." (Side note: I DO NOT think medication is for everyone, nor do I think if you are depressed, you should immediately start popping anti-depressants.)
What I can tell you about my situation is that once I started to take the medication, I found out what it was like to live a "normal" life. Daily activities weren't hard anymore like getting gas or going to the bank, I was able to focus on things and actually finish tasks instead of leaving the majority of my projects unfinished, I didn't get angry anymore, and most importantly, I could stay awake after we ate dinner. Now, don't get me wrong, there was a lot of work to do in order to function like the rest of the world, and I continued to see my therapist for a couple of years. However, without any of that, I would not be where I am today. My choice for me, is to take the medicine in order to maintain a normal lifestyle and be the best mom to my kids and the best wife to my husband. It works for me!
4. I have piercings and tattoos.
When I was 18, I went to Florida with some friends and had wanted to get a tattoo, so I did. It is on the small of my back and is a heart with the Chinese symbol for "love" in the middle of it (or at least that is what I think it is.) Then I got my second tattoo last year for my 38th birthday. It is a camera drawn by a single line with the words "FOCUS on what's important" underneath and is on my rib cage. Currently, I have my nose pierced and my ears, but I have had other piercings when I was younger. I have always loved these forms of expression, probably because they are and can be very creative. Will there be anymore in my future? Piercings - No Tattoos - Maybe
5. I LOVE to sing in the car - by myself - with the windows ALLLLLL the way UP!
Let me just be real, I am a horrible singer. I do not think there was ever any hope for me to become any type of singer, EVER. No American Idol auditions or The Voice auditions for me. Additionally, I am pretty sure I mess up the words to the songs I am singing all of the time. But, who cares, it makes me happy. So, if you are ever driving past me and think I am either talking to myself or hands free on the cell phone - you could not be more wrong. I am definitely singing - by myself - with the windows up!!!
6. I am afraid of heights
No, scratch that, I get pretty freaking terrified. I wasn't afraid of heights until I was in my 20's. My husband and I went to Europe and we were climbing up some rickety old staircase in one of the towers in Prague, and I froze. The staircase had been there for a bazillion years and I, for sure, thought it was going to crumble and send me falling to my death. (Oh the drama!) Ever since that day, I have been afraid of heights. Don't worry, I push through the fear and make sure I don't miss out on views or experiences because of it. On the other hand, I will not be bungee jumping or skydiving anytime soon.
7. I do not drink soda.
When I was living in Germany, I decided it was time to be healthier and make better food choices. I had only been drinking one soda a day - usually a mid-afternoon pick me up - but one day I stopped. In the past five or six years, I have only had one soda. The only reason I remember it is because I was away at Science Camp with my oldest as a chaperone and was craving sugar!!! During one of my breaks, I drank an entire 12 oz bottle of Pepsi and ate a bag of peanut M&M's. They were both delicious!
8. I am addicted to Thrift Stores.
There is nothing quite like an awesome thrift store discovery! They are a fantastic treasure chest of things that you probably didn't know you needed or didn't know actually existed. My house has a terrific selection of decorations that I found in thrift stores from all over. I have an antique stroller that I bought for $4, many of my flower pots have been purchased there for $1 or $2, and the best jeans I have are from thrift stores because they are already broken in. If anyone ever needs a buddy to go on a thrift store treasure hunt, let me know.
9. If you sit in the passenger seat when I am driving, you have to dance.
Not sure how this started, but my kids love it! They always make their friends sit up front with me because I will make them dance. Don't worry, I will dance with you. It is hysterical and silly and stupid, but it usually makes everyone laugh, so I will keep up with this tradition.
10. The abbreviated form of my birthday is also the year I was born.
This one flips my daughter out for some reason, so I decided to include it. My birthday is January 9, 1979. Which abbreviated is 1/9/79 - remove the slashes and BAM! 1979. I don't know if means anything, but it is a fun fact.
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The Seven Chicks - Update
We have had the chicks for about a month now - and unfortunately for them right now, they are slightly ugly. They have started to lose their fluffy down coat and are slowly growing in their first feathers. All they do is eat, sleep, poop, peck and poop some more. However, they are still super fun and they interact with us a lot. Their personalities are shining through, but they recognize our voices and love to hear us talk to them. They will each sit in my hand or on my finger for quite a long time without getting restless or jumping off. Below you will see their ugly progression in their side by side images. And, even though they are ugly ducklings right now, we love them all anyway.
In order of appearance below:
1. Cluck Norris - She is still leading the pack and quite often gets into pecking fights with his siblings.
2. Jim - Her feathers are growing in much darker and she has gotten less feisty.
3. Bubba - She still freaks out at everything, but will relax when I pick her up and talk to her.
4. Chirpers - She is one of the friendliest chicks! She will step into my hand and hang out with me for as long as possible.
5. Steven Bawkings - I think she has changed the most. Her feathers are growing in much darker and she loves to sit with us.
6. Chickney Spears - Well, she lives up to her name by being a show off! When anyone enters the room and says hello, she extends her neck to show she is listening.
7. Sal Monella - She reminds me of the penguin Ramon from Happy Feet! Heck, I'm just happy I can tell her apart from Chickney Spears now.
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Headshots @ Red Rocks - Carmen
Lately I have been trying out something new called Thumbtack - it is a website/app where you can send quotes out to people looking for a photographer or other services. I wasn't sure if it would gain me a ton of clients, but I thought it would at least give me some exposure in my new market of Colorado Springs. If you shoot weddings, there are a ton of requests that come through daily for those, so you may want to try it out. The only thing is, you have to pay to send a quote, so depending on the cost of the job, it may not be worth it.
I have a profile set-up for different portrait possibilities and received my first client through them last week for headshots! She is new to Colorado Springs and will be using these for her business cards and real estate profile pictures etc. She requested something outdoors (perfect!) and I wanted to show some sort of iconic symbol of Colorado through the portraits. I suggested Red Rocks Open Space outside of Manitou Springs because it has a great outdoor setting, but is never as crowded as Garden of the Gods. Being in front of the camera with a stranger (me, the photographer) can be extremely stressful and uncomfortable, so I like to remove other distractions. Hence, going to a location that is not very crowded; therefore, people will not be watching the entire time.
Some of the headshots are below and Carmen was so easy to work with, which always makes my job easier. Thankfully, the weather cooperated that day! They were calling for red flag warnings of wind and even though it was more than breezy at times, we were able to get great shots that look professional. When clients come to me for headshots, they are always worried about posing and say "I don't know what to do." Please do not worry about that, that is what I am there for. I will tell you where to put your hands, how to tilt your head, to smile or not to smile. Carmen rocked her headshots at Red Rocks and the results are below.
Simple headshot here with a beautiful smile. I asked Carmen to hold a reflector to bounce the light from behind her onto her face. Also, always pay attention to the details in these shots. Where is the jewelry falling? Are there any hairs across their face? Is the collar of their jacket laying properly? It is important to pay attention to these things while posing your client.
During headshot sessions, I still like to include some shots for my clients that are standing. It is a nice contrast to a seated position and there are times in your professional career, where a standing pose is better suited. I like to pose women off to one side for a nice "S" curve and then arms crossed, but no thumbs showing. It is powerful, yet feminine at the same time.
Always include a little laughter. This would be a great headshot when you want to seem welcoming and approachable.
This is a great shot and I stood on a bench to be slightly above her. It can be a more flattering angle on some people, but is also just an easy way to alternate the point of view.
Normally I wouldn't have hair blowing in the wind for a professional headshot, but I actually think this one is okay for her. She is young and with the suit jacket and pearls, it is a nice balance so she doesn't seem like she is trying to be too grown up.
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Cripple Creek + Victor, Colorado
Last weekend we went up into the mountains here in Colorado Springs to the two towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. They are both similar in architecture and layout, but are significantly different at the same time. Cripple Creek is a gambling town with casinos lining the main street, a small ghost town at the end of the line, and the Jail Museum (which was the highlight of our visit to this one.) Victor on the other hand, is a quiet town of 400 people where the miners live. (At the height of the Gold Rush, Victor had a population of 17,000 people - QUITE a difference.) After visiting these two towns, I realized that I can easily find beauty in the everyday life that exists just around the corner.
Most people head up to these towns to gamble, and then pass through Victor because it is so close. Myself, on the other hand, I could have stayed up there for the entire day appreciating the quiet and shabby surroundings. Cripple Creek grabs your attention with it's slot machines and roulette wheels (and donkeys that roam the streets in the spring and summer.) While Victor is proud of it's simplicity - "What we do not have - stoplights, chain stores, traffic or anything resembling the rat race." Both towns are well worth the visit for a day to experience what life was and currently is like up in the mountains. After viewing the pictures, I would love to hear which town you find more appealing.
The welcome sign at the beginning of town. Cripple Creek was established in 1892 and is at an elevation of 9494 feet.
I love the old time/old town feel of their buildings in Cripple Creek because it reminded me a bit of the shophouse style in Singapore.
All of the bus stops are designed to look like old trolley cars. Who wants to model for me up in Cripple Creek in one of them????
I absolutely LOVE this theatre! The Butte Theater in Cripple Creek is a beautiful architectural site on the street. It screams old America and is still open. As a matter of fact, they are celebrating 70 years open this year in 2018.
Above are just a few of the examples of the vintage murals on the buildings throughout the town.
The main street in Cripple Creek. It is lined mainly with a few empty buildings, some restaurants and a ton of casinos. BUT, that view is so pretty and even though it is over 9000 feet up, the mountains still feel huge.
The highlight of Cripple Creek for many is the Jail Museum. It is the selfie capital of the town and as soon as you enter, you can see why. The entrance fee is $3.00 for adults and there is a bunch of history about it, but we mostly enjoyed goofing off with photos in the cells and mug shots! They have a some black & white striped costumes for you to wear; however, they were lacking in the pants department. Their were about 15 shirts and two pairs of pants. Either way, it is a fun spot for the entire family and since we are not gamblers, it was our favorite part of our visit to Cripple Creek. model: my husband
If you like ghost towns, walk past the Jail Museum to the end of the street where you will see this sign. All of the windows are boarded up, but it is still a colorful spot to check out.
Above are some of the creative photos from Cripple Creek. My favorite thing to do in a town or city is get lost - get lost in thought, get lost throughout the streets and get lost in finding images that speak to people. It can be very difficult to create an emotional connection through photos without people, but I feel like I am able to do this very well.
"Photography is an austere and blazing poetry of the real." - Ansel Adams
Now we move on to Victor, which I personally enjoyed (from a photography perspective) more than Cripple Creek. We only saw two or three people while we were there walking the streets. It was quiet and secluded which, for me, is the perfect setting for great photography. Victor is only about a 15 minute drive from Cripple Creek, but its energy and climate are worlds apart.
This was the first thing I saw when we drove into town and after learning about Victor, I get it. It was a booming town during the gold rush where individuals lives were flourishing. They had gold, jobs, income, population growth and everything that brings with it. Now, the town is quiet and almost empty. There is a mine down the road where some of the residents work, but the booming town it used to be is gone. However, "we still love you" painted on the side is true. There is a lot of history and beauty in this small town to enjoy and people like me, will always appreciate places like this.
This is the closest vehicle I have seen to Mater from the movie Cars and I could not have been more in love with it. My creative mind explodes with ideas when I see something this old, rustic and colorful.
The garage doors at the Victor Firehouse are painted with vintage firetruck murals. There were so many beautiful pieces to this town and each piece gave birth to a new idea in my head.
GAH! I love this small town so much. I cannot say I would stay in the hotel, but I will photograph it. It has such a nostalgic feel and I just need to go back with some beautiful people and photograph them here. Who is in?
This is outside of the mechanic in town and this, to me, is beautiful. Colorful buildings with a gorgeous blue sky and random seating for people watching. My kind of town!
These old painted murals are what makes this town stand out more compared to Cripple Creek. The town is old and it shows through the architecture and signage around. There is also a WW1 Memorial with all of the names listed on a wall of people who fought in the war.
Just a few other details I found around a few corners that I thought were fun, colorful, and unique. I believe you can tell a lot about a town and its residents through the small things. What are they using to decorate? What colors are popular? Can you tell who lives behind each window or door? It is all about discovery and I find every town or city to be like a treasure hunt. Victor was definitely a diamond in the rough!
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Introducing "The Andre Chicks"
This April, we added seven new family members to our family - our adorable chicks! I honestly cannot tell you how exactly we decided to raise chickens at the exact time of the year they were available, but as luck will have it we did. (Maybe that is why we decided on getting seven.) We discovered that chicks are only available at Easter and I'm sure we all know why. They are delivered by the hundreds to the stores that sell them and run between $3.00 to $5.00 depending on where you get them and which type you get. We chose to go to Big R here in Colorado Springs where they sell everything you need for a sustainable lifestyle at home or on the farm. So, without further fowl discussion, here let me introduce you to them all...
Cluck Norris - He is the leader of the pack and is a serious bad ass chick. His current hobbies include pecking, keeping the rest of the chicks in order, and long walks around the pen.
Chippers- Not the sharpest chick out of all seven, but definitely one of the cutest. He is the only yellow chick, so he may feel singled out; however, he gets plenty of attention. Chippers is an Aries (like the rest of them) and his occupation will be to lay eggs for a living. Current hobbies include chirping, freaking out when someone reaches into the pen, and falling asleep immediately if you rub his belly.
Sal Monella + Chickney Spears - I cannot freaking tell these two apart, BUT all three of our children can!!! Their idea of a perfect day includes falling asleep standing up, digging random holes in the wood chips in the pen, and snuggling.
This is Jim - Jim is a little peeved because he is the only chick that has every color feather from the chick rainbow. His favorite cocktail is tap water, preferably with wood chips or feed it in. He has not seen any good movies or read any good books lately, but his crowning achievement so far is that he pooped on Bubba. (you will meet him shortly.)
Stephen Bawkings - In honor of the late Stephen Hawkings who dies a few days before we brought him home. If you are looking for him, he is usually asleep - beak first - in the bowl of feed. He does not enjoy exercise or working out, but he has traveled as far as the living room. His summer plans this year are moving into the backyard as soon as the weather gets nice.
Bubba - Bubba will most likely need anger management classes. Not only does he walk all over the rest of the chicks (literally), but he pecks at them often as well. He does not have any respect for personal chick space and likes to ruffle feathers. His typical day includes, sleeping, eating, pooping, walking around the pen and bothering the other chicks.
Karlova - Although she is a kitten, would really like to be the eighth chick. Her current hobbies are watching the chicks walk around in their pen, laying on top of their pen, and sleeping on top of their pen. All seven chicks are terrified of her and looking forward to the day when they are bigger, so they can all play.
***NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THESE PHOTOS***
Pikes Peak Market
If you have followed me on Instagram, and watched my stories on Instagram, you know I had a meeting a few weeks ago to display my art - and I officially have my photography on display and for sale at Pike's Peak Market in downtown Colorado Springs. I have to say, a few years ago, I was in awe of people who had enough great photographs to have a gallery opening or display them somewhere for the public to see. Looking at people's portfolios that had Europe, Asia ,US National Parks, people from all over the world - and I wanted that! I wanted to have a portfolio full of awesome places, some unique and some of those iconic places, a portfolio showing that I had been somewhere and seen something.
Well, I have certainly been places and seen so much (but there is more for me to see) and my photography portfolio is something I am proud of - something that makes me so happy! When I was asked to produce a body of work with 20/25 pieces, I didn't even flinch. I can do that and how would you like it? Would you like that body of work by country? Color? Black & White? Would you like it by continent? Do you want landscapes? waterfalls? people? I have it all - FINALLY. I have a travel portfolio from four continents, over 20 countries and over 10 US National Parks. The most difficult part was to narrow it down to find a cohesive theme. However, I was able to settle on something that I think highlights my style well - "Colorful Southeast Asia."
One of my photos from Thailand dangling from the beams above at Pike's Peak Market. The market space is unique + rustic with wood pallets, brick columns, fairy lights and a simple DIY vendor layout.
The pop-up was a great event last weekend for the premiere of my artwork and I was able to meet many great vendors. The entire collection of "Colorful Southeast Asia" will be on display at Pikes Peak Market for the next two months. Additionally, I will be there this Friday for the First Friday Artwalk in downtown Colorado Springs. Not only has this been a great opportunity for me to show off my portfolio, but I love seeing the photography printed, matted and framed. When framing my work, I stick to simple white mattes and black frames in order for the viewer to focus on the photograph. Not only can they focus on what is in the frame, but it also makes it easier for them to picture this art in their space. If you are in the mood for anything local, natural, organic or a sense of community - come visit Pike's Peak Market anytime Wednesday through Sunday.
The Move to Colorado Springs
Behind the scenes of the last few months of Nicole Andre Photography.
Read morecoming soon
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