Chieko and I decided that we would wear our wedding dress and prom dress and here are some silly photos we took on our computer. I love the wig!



Life is hard being a model.

Maggie Mcguane: Family Photos.....

Maggie Mcguane and I met because of our sons. They were in the same class last year and quickly became the best of friends. Maggie Mcguane is a writer and lives in Livingtson, Montana. Yesterday my son, Cole, and I went out with Maggie Mcguane and her two children, Maisy and Charlie, to take some family photos. Here are some of my favorites.

We started the shoot IN Fleshman Creek and the FREEZING cold water got in the way of some relaxed espressions. Here is one that has everyone in their most relaxed espression.


I love the shadows of the bicycle photos....

and Charlie looking up on me...

Maisy was so cute...she was shuffling her feet to stay facing me while Cole and Charlie were spinning her around.

I stole Keegan's idea for this photo of the kids...

I LOVE this photo of Maggie Mcguane and the two kids.

Carrie's Thank You Card

A few months ago I photographed Carrie and Randi's wedding. Here is the thank you card she made. So sweet.

SOME PORTRAITS IN MISSOULA

I just came by from Missoula on Monday and here are some of the photos that I took that I love. I have been going to Missoula over the past few years and photographing some families. Marian introduced me to some of her friends and they introduced me to some of their friends and now photographed 8 families on the trip. Thank you Marian and Susan for all of your hospitality and recommendatiosn. Marian, I loved staying with you and the girls. Jeffrey, thank you for dinner.

This is the third year in a row that I have photographed Jeanne and Paul's family. I love this shot of the two of them an their dog.


And then these shots of Paul and Bee. I thought the kids would be so excited to drive the old car, Bee was interested towards that end of the shoot.
I love the expression on Paul's face and how Bee has the same one that you can see in the mirror.

And then this one of Austin and his missing tooth. It is my favorite shot to take of children!
I photographed Whytney and Jim's wedding several years ago and this is the first time that I have met their family. The twins are so cute and so completely different from each other but so similar to Whytney and Jim.



And then lovely Ruth. Susan, Carter and Oliver were so much FUN. We did all kinds of crazy things together including putting Oliver on the sheep. This is one of my all time favorite portraits of a sheep!

I love the 'love' in this photo,

and the colors in this one.
Oliver is such a happy boy. Even after he fell he regrouped and was in happy spirits within minutes.
An this picture of Susan and Oliver trusting Carter to lead them around bareback!

Mark and Susan and their three boys.


I love this shot, he is concentrating so hard!


Susan and Carter let a few of us wander on their property for photos. The colors are amazing!


I love the peace sign...


Hannah's great smile and BEAUTIFUL smile light this photo up.

Elizabeth and I met while we were getting our master's degree at Vermont College. She and her husband, Bill moved to Missoula several years ago and I got to spend a few hours with them before coming home.

I had this idea of shoting some portraits in a pile of leaves and as I was driving up Bill was raking the leaves into tis perfect pile for photos....


Jack is so sweet....and Clair being adorable in the pile...

Make a smart CHOICE

Election day is quickly approaching and I have to write a small blog to encourage each and every one of you to make an informed decision when you cast your vote for the next president of the United States. Recently I was asked to make calls to support a particular candidate, I declined because although I have definitive ideas on who I would like to see as the next President of the US I don't think anyone should tell another person what they should believe in in regards to politics or religion. However, I do feel that there are a lot of resources out there that will allow us all to become more educated about what the politicians really stand for. In our society that is harried and full of sound bites it is IMPOSSIBLE to know what someone stands for unless you do your homework. Unfortunately we are inundated with half truths and lies from various parts of the media and from the candidates themselves. It is a sad state of affairs when you listen to a debate and you have to ask who is telling the truth? One candidate says one thing and the other fervently says the complete opposite. (I wish there was a Truth-O-Meter on the bottom of the TV screen every time there is a debate. That would definitely bring honesty back as a priority!)

I have to admit that up until recently I wasn't particularly informed about either of the candidates and now I am making a concerted effort to try and understand the issues that are important to me. I am writing this in hopes that each of you will take the time to read through the procon.org site to decide what issues are important to you and to see what each candidate believes and what actions they have taken to support that belief. As my mother has said actions speak louder than words.

Although there are many things wrong with our country I still believe that it is the best place to live in the world. Why else would I live here and raise my children in this country? It has given me and my family the opportunity to work hard and be successful in what we have all chosen to do. I also believe that our country is at a critical point in it's history. We need a leader who can turn around our economic crisis, rebuild our relationships with other nations, take care of our own people, and to maintain a decent standard of living and health care for each of us who is willing to participate in the well being of our country. Please take the time to read about who you will cast your vote for. Please don't let party lines, emotions or any type of prejudice guide your decision. This is not a popularity contest, this is the most important job in the world and you owe it to yourself and your country to make a decision that is informed and based on your values. Here are two sites that I have found to be very helpful. I hope you do too.

http://2008election.procon.org/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/

Hoffman Album

This past summer I photographed the Hoffman/Hoffman wedding in St. Helena, CA. Cami's mom asked us to design an artistic wedding album and we are just sending it to the printer. I love the feeling of the images playing off of each other. It is full of emotion and really depicts the feeling of the day.

Meg and Jeff's Belly photo shoot.....

Several years ago I photographed Meg and Jeff's wedding up at the Springhill Pavillion. Over the last several years I have seen them at many weddings, most of the time because they had recommended me. I say it over and over again that I am so lucky to do something that I love and to be able to meet so many wonderful people. Meg and Jeff are genuine, happy, and have a commitment to each other that is just apparent when you are with them.

Meg is 8 months pregnant and their aunt Karen gave them the photo shoot as a gift. What a thoughtful way to commemorate someones pregnancy. When I was pregnant the first time I did some self portraits when I was VERY pregnant, the second time I asked my daughter Keegan to take some photos and there are several that I like and one I just love! If you are pregnant or have a close friend who is consider having some pregnancy shots. It really is amazing to document such an unusual and exceptional part of life.

Here are some of my favorites from our shoot this morning. I just used the wall in my office. The light that came in through the window was just perfect. The vignetting happened naturally.


I love these two photos because their tenderness towards each other is so touching.
Meg and Jeff, congratulations again. I will be thinking of you over the next couple of months and look forward to photographing you with your baby sometime in December.

Rebecca and Mark.....Their engagement session.

Rebecca and Mark drove over from Spokane to the Bozeman area to work on their wedding plans and to take some engagement portraits. Fortunately, and unfortunately it was about to rain when they arrived at the ranch to do the photo shoot. The fortunate thing was the light was perfect in my mind. No harsh shadows to deal with, even tones.....the unfortunate part was the wind was picking up and we literally had to run ahead of the rain. We shot in a few different locations and I think the photos really look beautiful.

Taking photographs of people interests me on so many different levels. Perhaps the most important is that I am helping to create a family history for the people in front of the camera but also for the people who love them. Secondly it is a study of human nature and interaction. I love seeing the non verbal communication people share with each other. When I am scrolling through 25 photos that I snapped within half a minute you get to see subtle changes that people make in their facial expressions and body language that I believe shares a lot of information about their personalities and their relationship with each other.

So here are a few of my favorites. If you follow the blog you will notice that I stole Keegan's idea in this first photo. I loved what she did last week with Kristi and Craig that I had to do it. (Now I have to ask her to do it with a photo of me and my husband.!)


I just got scolded by Barbel again about my inability to color correct properly. THIS IS WHY I HAVE BARBEL AND CINDY DO ALL OF MY COLOR CORRECTING for me except for the blogging that I do at weird hours of the day and night. Here is the same photo above but how Barbel thinks it should look. I hate to admit it but she is right.

Right beside the calving shed we took these shots. I love the red and the sequence of these shots. We drove down to the Yellowstone River. Within a matter of a few seconds you can be on the river bank. I love our little town!


Since it was raining I suggested that we go to the Coffee Xing to take some photos inside. I love the reflection of the post office in the photo.


Mark wanted to do some photos with his cowboy hat and I love this spot on the bench in front of the Owl.

Rebecca and Mark, taking your photos was so easy and fun! I can't wait to take your wedding photographs next year, just about this same time!

Beth and Cooper

Sometimes weddings are just easy. Beth and Cooper were so in love and comfortable in fron of the camera that it was simple to capture some great mmoments that i think are indicative of their personalities.

I came across Beth getting ready to put her boots on in the tent and asked her to sit on the seat of the truck instead.

As I was walking around the truck to take some photos from the other side I saw this. Like I said it was all too easy.

There aer several shots of them in the mirror. I love the moment right before she was going to kiss his nose.

This was the first wedding that I shot at the 320 Ranch out in this field. The converging mountains are a perfect backdrop for this great truck and the two of them.

And one of my favorite group shots. Very simple. Very beautiful too.

The Maxwell Portraits

Marian and Matt are two of my favorite clients ever. I photographed
their wedding in Carmel in 2001 and have been photographing their
family ever since. This was an interesting photo shoot for a couple of
reasons, primarily because Avery, their eldest, just started opening up
and being herself in front of the camera. When we would walk from one
location to another she would hold my hand or want to walk with Barbel
who was assisting me. Eden was full of spunk and anxious to always keep
up with her older sister.

Here are a few of my favorite photos. We took them while we were both in Whitefish Montana for separate weddings.

Barbel was doing crazy things behind me to make the girls laugh. I just love all of the joy that is in their facial expressions.



A


This was so sweet. We didn't have the girls' goggles and little Eden wanted a pair. So instead she asks Matt, "Daddy can you cover your eyes with your hands?' He does and she dunks her head under water as if his hand will protect her eyes. Evidenlty his hand did because she came out all smiles.



Towards the end of our photo session
Matt took my camera and took this photo of me. Now I get to help him on
one of his heart surgeries!!