Our weekend holiday mini sessions are over for 2024 due to a fully booked weekend calendar! Check in with us again in September of 2025 to see what we’re planning for the next holiday season!
North Star Gatherings located in Idaho Springs just outside of Denver is one of the newest venues to host a dream mountain wedding. It's a magical location with just the right kind of Colorado vibe and spectacular mountain views! We met Lexie & Nick at a wedding we had shot the year before and because they loved our work they hired us for photography and my husband's DJ company, Digital DJ for their musical entertainment. It was a beautiful fall event planned to perfection! I don't think a nicer couple could have had a better day!
The venue includes an amazing bridal suite in the loft that overlooks the reception hall and an extra igloo that works perfectly for the groomsmen getting ready area. A high alpine area offers lots of photo opportunities with a wrap around deck around the venue for seating the guests with an awesome mountain backdrop for your ceremony. The modern barn feel with high ceilings helps to keep you connected to the outdoors during the reception.
Check out some of our favorite photos from this event! It was so hard to choose just 20! And probably one of the reasons it took me so long to blog about it! Enjoy!
Vendors Who Made This Day Possible:
Venue: North Star Gathering
Planner: Every Little Detail
Catering: Rocky Mountain Catering
DJ/Music: Digital DJ
I just love late summer weddings at Willow Ridge Manor! The weather is always amazing and the couples always have a great time celebrating with friends and family! This couple just exude love on every level. They opted to share private vows with just their close friends and family before the official ceremony in front of the mansion and then officially tied the knot down on the red rocks with all of their guests. This was a little different than how it's usually done, but never the less provided a lot of extra emotional photo opportunities. Enjoy some of my favorite photos from this lovely wedding in Morrison, Colorado!
Vendors who made this day possible:
Venue: Willow Ridge Manor
Caterer: Roots Catering
DJ/MC: Digital DJ
Beverages: Molly's Spirits
Photography: Crystaline Photography and Video
Fall mini session examples from our 2024 Photo Shoot!
Each session we will include a couple different full family poses, separate groupings such as individual parents with children, children alone, parents alone and individual shots with a few different background options. Grasso Park offers a lot of options in a tight small park. There are no hills or stairs to climb, but if anyone has any disabilities or needs special accommodations please let us know.
One thing we can not guarantee is how much the trees will have changed or the weather! I try to set these sessions around the peak of the fall foliage season with weekend dates that we still have open, but it always varies from year to year. Unfortunately, we only had this one Saturday become available for hosting the photos! I cross my fingers for a beautiful day with abundant color and leaves still on the trees! But be aware that nature is going to do what nature does and we’re just at it’s mercy! If the forecast calls for cloudy and overcast, but not torrential downpours we will still be doing photos! So please dress accordingly.
One of my favorite family sessions that I offer is photographing the very start of a family during the mother's maternity. Nothing makes me happier than capturing the beauty that is motherhood. It's a very special time in a woman's life it's a time of contempaltion of both the life they've had before a child and the one coming afterwards. It's also a time of excitement along with worry of the uncertainty of it all and the perfect time to document all of these emotions before a baby comes into this world! We can do photos out in nature alone or with a partner or even in our studio if you want to show more skin and a naked baby bump.
Check out these glowing photos of Secil and the father of her child, Michael in the beautiful setting of South Valley Park near Littleton.
We don't do a ton of style photo-shoots anymore because we usually just don't have the time to do them, but when Pure Vida reached out and asked us to participate in their summer session at the St. Vrain in Longmont we couldn't resist. I absolutely adore this industrial venue with glam vibes. There's literally a photo opportunity around every corner making it an awesome venue for today's modern couples! Pure Vida's team put together a great group of vendors to pull off an amazing shoot with lovely models, rentals, floral designs and more! Creating a one of a kind wedding experience that was a joy to photograph. I even met some other photographers and a videographer that put their own spin on session too!
Check out some of my favorite photos from this awesome day below! I'm including the links for each vendor featured in the photos at the bottom of each set. We did a separate session with each set of models. The photos are broken up by the models featured:
Marina & Ron
Vendors -
Venue : St. Vrain
Planner, Triangle Arch, Cake Stand, & Lantern: Pure Vida
Marina's Hair: The Bridal Goddess
Marina's Make-up: CO Bridal Artistry
Officiant's Hair & Make-Up: The Bridal Goddess
Marina's Purple Dress & Black Gown: Boho Fluxx
Marina's White Dress & Ron's Floral Jacket: Dwell Attire
Jewelry: Nikki Nation
Florals for the Triangle Arch & Tables with the Patterned Dishware: Amore Fiori
Bouquet for the Bride & Circle Arch & Coffee Table & Amber Dishware: Hutson Floral Design
Barware, Glasses & China: Shindig Partyware
Loveseat Set (white couch, neon sign, coffee table etc.), Golden Hoop Arch, Champagne Wall & Cornhole Set: Wildflower Design
All Calligraphy Provided by: Dotting the I
Cake: Cak the Bakery
Videographer: Wedding Videos Colorado
Officiant: Nearlywed Coaching
Lizzie & Amanda
Vendors -
Venue : St. Vrain
Planner, Triangle Arch, Cake Stand & Rainbow Scarf: Pure Vida
Lizzie's Hair & Make-Up: CO Bridal Artistry
Amanda's Hair & Make-Up: The Bridal Goddess
Officiant's Hair & Make-Up: The Bridal Goddess
Orange & Teal Suits Provided by: The Suit Shop
White Outfits for the Second Look: Dwell Attire
Jewelry: Nikki Nation
Florals for the Boutonnieres & Triangle Arch: Amore Fiori
Florals for the Circle Arch & Coffee Table: Hutson Floral Design
Loveseat Set (white couch, coffee table & plant wall), Golden Hoop Arch, China, Glasses, Centerpieces & Candle Sticks: Wildflower Design
All Calligraphy Provided by: Dotting the I
Cake: Cak the Bakery
Videographer: Wedding Videos Colorado
Officiant: Nearlywed Coaching
A new school year is about to begin and so is the last year for a lot of high school seniors! It's time to schedule your senior portrait session and document your last year of non-college schooling! Senior photos have become a cherished tradition in the United States culture. It's a great opportunity to document your youth and activities before heading out into adulthood! We love capturing summer memories because it's a great time to schedule a session. The days are longer and warmer leaving lots of outdoor options, but as we get into fall the deadlines for yearbook photos loom closer and availability for sessions with us get less and less.
Like Braeden who took advantage of our senior bonus offers in July you still have a few more weeks to secure the August bonus items! We don't have much in the way of weekends open this month, but if you can swing an evening session during the week we'll still give you the 16 free wallets added on to any package as well as a 20 minute bonus cap and gown session next Spring! Hurry up and call us to book one of the few remaining dates on our calendar!
Check out this awesome mountain photo-shoot of Braeden!
I'm always looking for topics that would be important to everyone and data storage and back-up in this day and age is vital to almost everyone. Families no longer have a box a negatives sitting in a closet somewhere (at least the young ones) where they scrounge up to make additional prints of important family photos, now everyone has digital images. In some ways this is a superior format and in other ways it is not. We've all seen color photos printed in the 1960s & 1970s that are now fading. Digital files retain the same color from year to year, however the way we store data can become damaged leaving many people without their cherished memories. I'm adamant about backing up photos, especially because data loss has even happened to me! I've been super religious about always backing up my client's images, however not as good about backing up my own personal photos and that became my Achille's heel when I had a hard drive go down and lost all of the images I had been taking of my kids for over five years! Guess who became even more crazy about the back up process after that?! It's been an expensive and heartbreaking lesson to learn.
Here are the four main reasons you need to have a back-up plan in place:
1.) Protect Against Accidental Loss - Devices can fail and files can accidentally be deleted. Technology is not flawless and hard drives can fail without warning.
2.) Guard Against Theft & Disaster - Computers and hard drives can get stolen. Fires and floods are always a possibility no matter how small the likeliness of a loss like that would be.
3.) Preservation Over Time - As technologies change so do the ways we store and access our data. Having multiple formats and regularly updating your images on new formats will help preserve your memories for future generations.
4.) Access & Organization - Implementing a great back-up plan also leads to proper labeling and organization of your files which in turn leads to easier access of the images when you need them. Additionally if you use online storage you can access the images from anywhere.
We suggest two if not three back-ups of all your important photos because of the redundancy you are sure to not lose your important images. Your professional photographer will usually keep back-ups of all their work, but not always and usually not forever. Take the security of your family heirlooms into your own hands with these examples of data storage:
1.) Offline: Computer, External Hard drives, USBs, or burnable media such as CDs & DVDs (the last suggestion is quickly becoming an outdated format, but I still like it because once the images are burned they can not be easily erased)
2.) Online Cloud Storage: Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
Offline media. When you receive your professional images from your photographer or even the photographs you take yourself you should probably have a back-up hard drive that you store your images on. Suggestions would be to download the photos that you will want to view at the time on to your computer for quick usage, but always have a separate device that you store unaltered copies for yourself. For really important images (like the ones you just spent $3K+ on for your wedding) we suggest making extra copies of the photos on USB drives and giving duplicates to important people like your parents because not only will they thank you for their own copy of the images, but they will also have a back-up should anything happen to yours. If you don't have a trusted family member that you'd like to give a copy to then make a duplicate USB and place it in a fire proof safe with all your other valuables.
Online storage. Cloud/Online storage offers the advantage of remote access and protection against physical damage or loss. While you do have to have an internet connection to access your files at least you will be able to access them from anywhere in the world and should something happen to your physical storage devices.
I hope this article will get you thinking about ways to safeguard your memories!
Best Wishes,
Jamie
August in Colorado is absolutely stunning, especially for summer weddings. While other regions may be experiencing sweltering heat, the foothills of Denver offer perfect weather and occasional showers that often reveal beautiful rainbows, creating picturesque moments. Ashley & Issac decided to prepare for their big day at a charming air b n b in Wheat Ridge, providing a lovely backdrop for their pre-wedding photos.
The wedding party was then transported up the mountains to Genesee Mountain Park, where they were greeted with breathtaking views. Instead of having a traditional first look, the couple opted to have separate moments of anticipation during the processional. To capture these special moments, they chose to book our two-photographer package, allowing us to make the most of their limited time. I focused on photographing the bride and bridesmaids, while my colleague, Darren, captured pictures of the groom and his friends.
The ceremony, slightly delayed by a brief rain shower, took place on a patio overlooking the distant cityscape, with a stunning rainbow making an appearance during the formal portrait session. The night continued with dinner, dancing, and lots of laughter. The couple decided to end the festivities with a private dance under the stars, away from the hustle and bustle of the event. It truly was a flawless day!
Vendors that made this day possible:
Venue: Christies of Genesee
Photographer: Crystaline Photography & Video
Contemplating a weekday wedding? The rising costs of tying the knot have ignited a trend towards weekday celebrations, particularly since 2020. Here's some genuine insight into the advantages and disadvantages:
Benefits to think about:
1. Dream venues might become a reality with weekday discounts offered.
2. Weekday scheduling could lead to a smaller, more cost-effective guest list, though the party size could be impacted.
3. More sought after vendors are likely to be available during weekdays.
4. Weekday travel and accommodation often come with reduced costs which is great for guests attending.
5. Fewer guests at a weekday wedding can create a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere and allow you more time to spend with them.
6. More setup time might be offered by venues on weekdays as they may not have as many back to back events planned.
Potential drawbacks:
1. Some venues or vendors may not operate or host weddings during weekdays. Some of those are possibly churches, school halls, and recreation centers.
2. A smaller guest list might not suit those aiming for a big fun dance party.
3. The weekday hustle and bustle could affect the liveliness of your event because some guests will need to work the next day and they may leave earlier.
4. Events planned with short notice (2 months or less) might be tricky for guests to get time off work to attend.
5. A later start time might be necessary for guests arriving from work.
6. Unpredictable weekday schedules may lead to last-minute cancellations.
Asseseing these points will guide you in deciding if a weekday wedding matches your vision and what your guest list can manage. It's important to reach out to your VIP guests (close family and friends that you really want to attend) and asking them about potential conflicts that would keep them from attending your event before you put the deposit down on your venue. And if you're serious about doing a weekday event give your guests as much notice as possible doing "Save the Date" cards a year or more out if you can.
I love the sights and sounds of the city! And couples who like to explore all of the rich textures that a city engagement session provides. A downtown Denver photo session is great for couples who love the hustle and bustle of cities, that live or work downtown or are just looking for something different from your typical portraits with a natural backdrop. There's a lot of beautiful architecture, art and more in Denver and I just love using the city as our playground! Check out these fun early Spring photos of Bethany & Jeremy who will be celebrating their union in June!
Check out this amazing wedding held at an awesome venue with amazing deciduous trees around it that make it perfect for a fall wedding! Valentine & Devon hosted a lovely event surrounded by friends and family at Ralston's Crossings Event Center. I remember the air just having that crisp coolness that fall brings, but still being warm enough for an outdoor ceremony. We had a great time capturing all the love that this couple felt! Enjoy some photos and their highlight video in this post!
Venue: Ralston's Crossing Event Center
Wedding Planner: Angel in Disguise
Catering: Brother's BBQ
Photo & Video: Crystaline Photography and Video