We have been wanting to post this shoot for a very long time! It’s the new year now, so why not add “catching up on blogging” to our New Year’s resolutions list? It’s only January 2nd, so I will say that I am off to a good start! I photographed this family in the fall and it was one of those perfect fall evenings up in Big Sky, Montana. The Hayek family rented a vacation rental right on the beautiful Gallatin River. We did have some mosquitos to fight with, but other than that the surroundings and evening light were certainly in our favor. I love love love every chance I can get to escape to the mountains for a Big Sky family session. If you’re looking for what it would look like to have us as your Big Sky family photographers in the winter, click here.

To the Hayek family- thank you! It was so nice to meet you all and come back to visit Montana again soon!

Bozeman’s weather was really nice to us this year and gave us a really nice long fall! It made us all really ready for the snow to fall, which is a good thing. I never like the snow to come too early! One of my favorite places for a Bozeman Engagement Session in the fall is up at Bridger Bowl Ski Area– just about 20 minutes up the road from Bozeman. The colors up there are beautiful, the sky is huge, and the air is just becoming crisp. Molley and Sterling were on board right away to do their session on the slopes so we went for it. Turns out they bomb down these trails on their skis in the winter, so it all made complete sense! As you can see in the images below, they are absolutely thrilled to be marrying each other! Seriously though, Molley did not stop giggling the entire shoot. They are getting married next spring at the Hart Ranch and we can not wait for their big day. Thanks again you two- & enjoy!

To view more from their Bozeman Engagement Session, click here.

The beauty of my job is that I really get to know my couples and their story- what makes them laugh, what they like to do together, how they fell in love, details of the proposal, etc.  Every couple of ours is SO different and I love that! We get to know so many different people during such a fun part of their lives. The relationship starts with the first call or email and lasts (at least) until our final package is delivered. Sometimes that can be a 12-18 month period! Engagement sessions can be so important because we get to know what a couple is like in front of the camera and they get to know what we are like behind the camera! It’s a really good ice breaker prior to the high emotion wedding days.

I love these two! Right away Rachel knew for sure they wanted to do their shoot on the banks of a river. Jordan loves to fish, and maybe doesn’t like taking pictures all that much (I don’t blame him!). Rachel knew he’d be game for a fly-fishing session so we went to the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley, put on some highly stylish (ahem, Rachel!) waders and went for it. Although there weren’t any trouts on the line at the end of the evening, Jordan knew he caught the most beautiful one he could ever imagine. ;) Then we found a glorious lookout onto the valley for sunset.  Rachel and Jordan’s Livingston engagement session could not have been better! I can’t wait for your wedding in Red Lodge next June. Thanks you two, enjoy your images!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To view more from Rachel & Jordan’s Livingston engagement session, click here.

 

 

We were blessed with the most unbelievable April evening in Bozeman for our shoot with Stacey and Taner. All of the surrounding days were pouring buckets, but Friday delivered for us with a cool, sunny evening. Stacey and Taner are getting married this fall (on another gorgeous evening we’re hoping :) ) in Billings, but decided to come up to Bozeman to meet me for their engagement session.  I have to say, these two completely rocked their photoshoot.  It’s definitely not an everyday activity to meet someone in person for the first time and be all natural and comfortable as they proceed to take pictures of you.  I always try to put myself in my clients shoes while I’m photographing them, and I could tell that Stacey was a little nervous (completely normal) but that wore off within 10 camera clicks!  These two were so much fun to hang with for a couple hours- I wouldn’t have wanted my Friday night spent any differently!  Getting to know these two better makes us so excited for their wedding day.

Thanks so much Stacey & Taner.  Enjoy your engagement photos in Bozeman!

 

To view more from their engagement photos in Bozeman, click here.

Have you ever been up Hyalite Canyon?  It’s a great place to recreate in the summer and in the winter, from paddle boarding to back country skiing, they pretty much have it all.  It’s also a very photogenic area. :) Stephanie contacted me just a couple weeks before Christmas seeing if I had any spots open for a last minute shoot for her Christmas card.  I am so glad I did, because it was wonderful meeting these two!  It was a chilly day to be out and the wet snow just kept coming down and so I was very thankful for Stephanie and John’s positive and cheery attitudes.  I think they ended up getting a pretty suitable Christmas card photo too. Thanks Stephanie & John for picking us to be your Bozeman Portrait Photographers – we hope you are enjoying your images!

To view more from this Hyalite family session, click here.