Here and Now

Yam Family Fun.

gwen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:30:10 +0000

I was so excited to drive down to Monument for a casual evening family session a few weeks back. To me there is nothing better than sessions like this that are relaxed and organic: We hung out with their pup Windu, played some disc golf, and Tracey even made some delicious Fettuccine Alfredo and treated me to dinner! This little family lives on some gorgeous wooded property so we had plenty of spots to choose from. Thanks to the Yam’s for letting me come down and spend some time with you! Much love!! xo.

Life on the road.

gwen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:23:12 +0000

A brief glimpse in to life on the road. Denver, Colorado to Seward, Alaska. The Slow Roller treated us well and did not have a single problem during the nearly 4,000 mile drive.

Desi + Jordan. Brookside Gardens {Berthoud, CO}

gwen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:39:44 +0000

Desi and I go back several years, when we met slinging lattes at a local Starbucks. When she contacted me while I was down in Antarctica to see if I would be interested in photographing her wedding I was thrilled and so excited to hear the news that she was engaged! After I returned stateside Desi, Jordan and I met at Starbucks to discuss their wedding. Coincidentally, we were all wearing matching sweaters! Clearly we all have excellent fashion sense. I knew Jordan and Desi’s wedding was going to very stylish and it was. The ceremony was held at the lovely Brookside Gardens in Berthoud, Colorado. Desi and Jordan, thank you so, so much for letting me be a part of your beautiful day! It was such an honor.

Sweet Eloise. {Denver Birth Photography}

gwen — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:02:16 +0000

A few weeks ago I had the incredible experience in witnessing and documenting a live birth. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience and couple to work with. Being it was the first birth I had ever witnessed, I was a little nervous. The fear of passing out crossed by mind (which, by the way did not happen). I’ve experienced some pretty amazing things this last year – living in Antarctica, watching penguins dance in and out of the ocean, holding a koala, photographing a wedding in China (have been some of the highlights), but witnessing the miracle of life was absolutely one of the most moving experiences. After many hours little Eloise decided to make her grand entrance to this world at 12:18 p.m on June 28th. Such a precious gift she is. Much love to little Eloise and her loving family.

Kate + Brent. Larkspur {Vail Wedding}

gwen — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:32:49 +0000

Perfect weather. Perfect location. Perfect couple. To top it off they were surrounded by their friends and family who clearly love them both. The day was filled with smiles, laughter and love. Kate and Brent’s June wedding in Vail went off without a hitch. Kate looked stunning (Brent looked pretty sharp himself) and rocked her cowboy boots in style. Just days after their wedding Kate and Brent (and Garth) moved to New Hampshire so Brent could begin his Residency in Emergency Medicine. Congrats to the both of you and best of luck out East!

Published! Shanghai Wedding Photography

gwen — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:54:52 +0000

I am excited to have one of my photographs from Lindsey and Bryan’s Shanghai wedding published in That’s Shanghai magazine. Their story is beautiful!

Welcome Eloise June {birth photography}

gwen — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:21:23 +0000

Eloise June made her appearance to the world on Thursday! What a beautiful experience I was able to take part in. I can’t wait to finish editing and share more of Eloise’s story with you.

Brent + Kate – Rehearsal Dinner at the Lazy J {Wolcott, CO}

gwen — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:35:29 +0000

What could be better than spending a beautiful Colorado evening on a real western ranch, shooting shotguns, playing horseshoes while sipping lemonade or cold beer not to mention the fact that you are surrounded by your closest friends and family? Not much in my eyes. I was thrilled when Brent and Kate asked me to document part of their rehearsal dinner. It was such a relaxed evening filled with laughter and smiles all around, I knew that relaxed vibe would carry over to their wedding day.

Brides to be: Have you thought about having an unplugged wedding?

gwen — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:36:51 +0000

I just came across this article from the Off Beat Bride and I personally think it is brilliant. You can read the entire article by Ariel Meadow Stallings here: http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding-templates

Think of the last wedding you went to. Maybe you were in the wedding party or maybe just a guest but at any given time during the ceremony if you looked around I’m sure you would have seen at least 10 cameras – most of those being cell phones held in the air, either snapping shots or video clips. I love taking pictures with my cell phone (I heart Instagram) but if you think about it when you are holding a camera or cell phone you are focused on that – not what is fully going on around you. You are not fully present in the situation. I will note that I am not for this “No cameras during ceremony” because I am a wedding photographer but if I were the bride I would think about having these signs up. Granted not everyone will follow but I think technology is a great tool but it can also be a great tool of distraction. I am guilty of being distracted by my phone/camera as well.

Now from a wedding photographer’s stand point: One of my biggest pet peeves is after the ceremony when it is time for family/formal portraits and everyone and their mom’s are standing behind/beside/around me taking pictures usually with their cell phones of the exact same thing. Here’s the problem folks: When there are 15 plus people in one single image and at least ten cameras including my own – who are those 15 people looking at? Good question. Well, some will be looking at me. Others will be looking at the boyfriend’s camera and some may be looking at Uncle Bobby using his nice dslr. Are you seeing what’s happening here? Everyone is looking in all different directions -confused as to which camera to look at and now the nice portrait I was hired to take is sub par because everyone’s eyes are all over the place.

I’m sure people have lots to say about this topic. Would you have an “Unplugged Wedding”? Or how would you react to seeing a sign like this at a wedding you were attending? Thoughts?

Featured!

gwen — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:50:25 +0000

Featured! <—– Please click here to view the entire post on Couture Colorado.

Last summer I had the opportunity to photograph (along side Nate from J. Nelson Photography) Kristi and Dave’s wedding at the Vail wedding deck with the reception held at the Game Creek Club. Such a beautiful day – Beautiful details too! Check out the feature on Couture Colorado!

http://www.couturecolorado.com/wedding/2012/05/15/vail-wedding/