I love my job! I have been photographing weddings for over 15 years now and can honestly say I wouldn't do any other job. I love being at weddings and documenting the most important day of people's lives in a way that is unique and beautiful. Many of my clients thank me for creating images that will help them remember their wedding. The people who don't get thanked are the people who work behind the scenes in my office. Cindy does all of the post production work on every event I shoot. (Sometimes Barbel does some portraits for me.) Cindy works tirelessly on each and every image I send to her. I usually ask her to work on about 300 photos for a local wedding. She opens each and every image in photoshop, fine tunes them, and converts some to black and white or sepia. She makes sure that each and every image is as beautiful as it can be. She then sets the images in a Quicktime slideshow with music and burns three copies so that both sides of the family can see all of the photographs we printed. Her son Ricky then methodically uploads SOME of the photographs onto our web hosting page. In order to make sure all of the reprints are correct he must upload them in the exact order that Cindy processed them or we will have mistakes during reprints. This is no small job as it can be rather monotonous uploading 150-200 images one at a time. Finally, in order to keep everything organized for our clients we have an extensive backup system that Cindy follows for each and every event. Without her attention to detail and commitment to doing a wonderful job my images would not look as beautiful and my customers would not be as happy with our customer service. So I thank you Cindy, and Ricky for all of your consistent work day after day. Cindy your post production work is beautiful!
Barbel has been shooting a lot of portraits lately. Here is a beautiful senior portrait that she photographed this past weekend. She is so great, our clients love working with her and she processes events so quickly. Barbel does all of her post production work on her portrait images. She loves taking the RAW images and following her vision through the post production process to create unique images that are lovely. Her photographs from yesterday's senior session are already on the web on our hosting page. You can look at them by clicking on the link below.
James photographed the Schnee/Crane wedding a few months ago and I just received their evaluation. Andrea had wonderful things to say about working with James and a few hints that I think will be helpful to prospective clients.
•Plan ahead so you're not stressed out that week. •Schedule time to see your family and friends who make the trip out. Don't expect to chat with them at the wedding. •Be yourself and have fun! •During the ceremony take a second and look out to see everyone who is there for you - what an amazing feeling!
I had photographed Tiffany and Trevor's wedding a few years ago. Tiffany called me a few weeks ago to do some family portraits of them. As it turned out Nancy, Trevor's mom, was giving the photographs to her kids for their birthday present. I love some of the photos that we got during the photo shoot. Reece, Tiffany's niece, looked adorable in her green coat against the corragated metal. There were some really cute photos of Sy, but I love this one of him crying! Katie wanted a fun photograph of her and her husband so after several takes of them on the piggy back ride we got a few shots that show their playfullness.
I love the portrait of all of the family members. I was lucky to get everyone looking good at once!
Theresa and Keith hada strong connection that was evident throughout the day. I love the way they looked at each other shile they walked toward me.
The church they chose to get married at had a HUGE window behind them which was beautiful to look at but difficult to photograph. I played around a little bit and came up with this lovely photo. We went down by the Gallatin River and took some photos and this is one of my favorites.
Finally, While they were dancing I took some normal photos and decided to do a panoramic photo of them. I like the way it shows motion and the lines seem to seperate the momets that make up the photo.
This past weekend I photographed a wedding in Miami on Friday, and flew back to Bozeman on Saturday morning to photograph Theresa and Keith's wedding. They knew of my schedule and were comfortable knowing that if I didn't make it back Barbel, one of my associates, would photograph the wedding. I had photographed Keith's two sisters' weddings and they asked me to take their photos also. It is the first time that I have done three out of the four siblings' photographs. I am touched that a family would want me to document all of their children's weddings. It is great to form a relationship with a family and to be a part of such imortant aspects of their children's lives.
When I walked in and saw Theresa's wedding gown I realized that Barbel and I had photographed two other weddings at which the bride wore the same dress. I think all three of the brides look fantastic. The dress is made out of an exquisite lace and wrapped with a luxurious sash.
Theresa and Keith had several things planned for the wedding day that I thought were very thoughtful and smart. Keith walked down the aisle holding hands with his mother and father. In hindsight it is such an obvious thing to do. Why should the bride be the only one escorted down the aisle with her parents? The more I think of the tradition of the bride being escorted by only her father the more I question it. I got married 17 years ago and had both of my parents walk me down the aisle because I wanted to honor both of them.
Theresa and Keith planned to sit with their parents and granmothers instead of their friends because they knew that they probably wouldn't see much of them otherwise. They also chose to cut the cake while the band was having their first break. This ensured that everyone stayed at the reception longer and had something fun to do during the first break.
I am constantly moved by the kindness that my clients show to me. Theresa and Keith thanked me for making the effort to get back to Bozeman to photograph their wedding. I feel very grateful that they chose me to photograph their beautiful wedding. Melanie
Barbel photographed a few portrait sessions recently and here is a thank you note that one of the parent's sent her:
Dear Barbel, Just wanted you to know how pleased we all were with the pictures! And how much I appreciated the time you took to photograph all 3 girls. Thank you! They are priceless to me!
It is hard to pick my favorites of natalie. She felt very comfortable with you and I feel your pictures show that. She was able to be herself. Thank you!! Nancy
Hi, This is the last entry for today I promise! Jill from Montana Party Rentals, http://montanapartyrentals.com/ , in Bozeman, now rents teepee's. They are one of my favorite structures in the northwest. At Meghan and Will's wedding they used the teepee to house the portable toilets. They add a beautiful architectural element to the design of a wedding and they are a great way to hide the necessary eyesores. Here is my favorite photo of their teepee.
Hello Everyone, Sorry the blog has been ignored and now is being updated feverishly. Here is one more recipe from Zac from Meghan and Will's wedding. The sauce is delicious!! I too have a freind who brings us fresh Alaskan Salmon and I can't wait to try this sauce with some of it.
GRILLED ALASKAN SALMON WITH ARTICHOKE TARTER SAUCE Zac's Montana Kitchen
I am very fortunate to have access to these wild salmon from Alaska. A friend of mine is a commercial fisherman and is, like myself, a resident of Livingston, Montana. These are sockeye salmon and are harvested in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
Because these salmon are so flavorful I do not do much to manipulate their natural flavor. With just a quick brushing of olive oil and a light sprinkling of kosher salt they are ready for the grill. However, the following recipe for the artichoke tarter sauce certainly makes for a tasty accompaniment.
Brush however many salmon filets with some olive oil and lightly season them with some kosher salt. Make sure the grill surface is very hot, clean, and has just been brushed with a small amount of olive oil as well. Place the salmon filet on the grill with its skin side up. Allow the flesh side of the filet to sear and do not attempt to move it until it can be easily picked up using a spatula. This should be about 4-5 minutes. Turn the filet over on its skin side and allow to cook an additional 3-5 minutes. At this point the filet should be at a nice medium internal temperature.
ARTICHOKE TARTER SAUCE 1 cup mayonaise 4 artichoke hearts (chopped) 2 pepperocini peppers (minced) 1 small shallot (minced) 1 teaspoon parsley leaves (chopped) 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning juice of 1/2 lemon
In a small mixing bowl combine all of the above ingredients and mix well. Serve as a condiment with the grilled salmon.
About a year ago, Jewel Redmon, sold her catering company to one of her long-time employees, Zac Kellerman, who was also a great chef. Zac changed the name to Zac's Montana Kitchen and i have had the good fortune to work on several jobs that they have been catering. (Great food, and not having to do the dishes, are some of the many reasons why I love my job!) Anyway, Zac has generously agreed to offer some of his recipes that he has prepared for some of the weddings we have worked on together. This was a delicious appetizer that they passed at Carol and Mark's wedding. Thank you Zac!
SEARED SHRIMP WITH ENGLISH PEA PUREE ON A RUSSET CRISP Zac's Montana Kitchen http://www.cookingontherange.com/
This appetizer was served at the wedding reception of two very close friends of mine, Carol and Mark Bolton. With Mark being English and Carol being a wonderful cook herself, I knew this appetizer would appeal to both of them with its clean flavors, its crunchy texture, and its British flair. The following recipe will yield 24 pieces.
2 large russet potatoes (peeled and sliced paper thin using a mandolin) 12 large shrimp (peeled, de-veined, and cut in half length-wise) 2 cups of fresh English peas 1 shallot (minced) 1 clove of garlic (minced) 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (chopped) 2 teaspoons curry powder 1/2 cup chicken stock juice of 1/2 lemon Kosher salt Canola oil Olive oil
Place the russet slices on a cookie sheet and use just enough canola oil to cover them. Bake in a 400 degree oven until they just begin to brown and are crisp. In a large skillet over medium-high heat sear the shrimp that have been seasoned with some salt in about 1 ounce of olive oil. Cook them through and remove from heat. In a medium skillet heat 1 ounce of olive oil and add the minced shallot and garlic and allow them to “sweat”. Add thyme, peas, curry powder, and chicken stock and stir. Allow chicken stock to reduce by 3/4 while continuing to stir. Transfer all of this to a food processor and puree. Finish this pea puree with lemon juice and adjust seasoning with a final addition of salt. Assemble by placing about 3/4 teaspoon of the pea puree on a russet crisp and topping that with a piece of seared shrimp. Arrange on a large platter and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and lemon wedges.
A little over a week ago, Leslie Lukas from Paradise Custom Weddings, http://www.paradisecustomweddings.com/ , called me to see if one of us could photograph a wedding for her. She was doing the flowers for a friend's wedding and wanted a photographer to focus primarily on the flowers. Fortunately all of us were already photographing weddings and I mentioned that my daughter, Keegan might be interested in doing the job. Leslie and I are long-time friends and she has known Keegan since she was very young. Leslie immediately said she would love to have her do the job.
Keegan just turned 13 and has been coming to weddings with me ever since she was 7. She was completely comfortable with the job opportunity and wanted to do it. While I was driving her to the Springhill Pavilion I was going over things she should be thinking of. As I rambled on I realized I was nervous and she was not. She was composed and ready to work. Leslie made her feel at ease and encouraged her to shoot the wedding however she would like. She came home with about 90 images that were really lovely.
Shannon and Shad chose to have their wedding at a church camp called Luccock Park. Shad’s family owns a small cabin on the property and has been coming to visit Montana for many years from the lone star state. It had been over 12 years since the last time I photographed a wedding there and I had forgotten the enormity of the mountains that sat behind the wedding site. It is beautiful!
Shannon wanted a photograph of her looking out the window of the cabin while she was getting ready at. I was a little hesitant as I thought it might be corny. I was wrong, I love the photograph primarily because of the anticipation that you can see in her face. Shannon looked beautiful. She and Connie, her attendant, had their hair and make-up done at Grace Studio in Livingston. I also love the portrait of Shannon on one of the bunk beds that was in the cabin she was getting ready in. The wood shed made the perfect backdrop for the posed photos because the lighting was perfect. It was open shade that made everyone comfortable. Nobody was squinting or getting too hot while waiting for their turn to take photos. I try my best to get all of the photos done in about half an hour. We were able to do some photos down by Pine Creek and by the woodshed in a little bit less time.
Shad wanted to take some photos of the two of them overlooking Paradise Valley, a spot that is sentimental to the family and that has breathtaking views. Usually you can see the valley much more clearly but we have been having some forest fires that account for the haze in the distance.
Last weekend I photographed two weddings. Erin and Derek got married at The Woodlands in Bozeman, Montana. They wanted to go for a drive and so some photos on a paved road. Portraits always come out beautifully when the subjects show emotion and have fun. I love these photos!! I think they are simply composed and show their personality. The rest of the photos will be up on the internet in a couple of weeks.
