Help Portrait :: Reflections ::

Lately I’ve been reflecting on things, a lot of things. Which is good, I should probably do it more often. I think being a photographer (or anything creative) makes you more observant of everything.

This past weekend I was part of an amazing organization called Help Portrait. A group of local photographers, videographers, hair/make-up artists, computer wizards, and all around talented people came together to love on our community. I. AM. FOREVER. CHANGED. My heart is so full- I can’t even find the words to express how I feel. We reached people on a whole new level and it was amazing. It honestly took me a day for it to sink in completely at what had happened. I had a lady come to my station named Carol. We were instant friends, talking up a storm and laughing like we had known each other for years. She had just been dolled up and wearing a beautiful green sweater. She felt like a Super Model as she posed for my camera and I told her I would never forget her and her green sweater. Her daughter later came up to me to show me how great the pictures turned out and to thank me. She told me her mother’s husband had just passed away a month before, and she hadn’t seen her mother so happy in a long time.
That right there was all I needed. That was why this whole thing happened- to see someone treated like the Royalty they really are, and to see their spirits lifted. Each person left holding something they could be proud of, a portrait of themselves.

Kelli, Seth and I were talking towards the end of the day about a man who had come in with the biggest heart. Here was a man who barely had anything to call his own, yet all he wanted to do was help everyone else. He was giving out of pure love- not an abundance. Made me take a real good look at myself. Feeling completely blessed with the life God has given me. I so don’t deserve the life I have. I have an amazing huge, loving family, a beautiful home, dinner on the table, and I’m witnessing my dreams come to life everyday. I’ve opened a new part of my soul. I feel so tender towards the people we photographed and I’m going to do everything in my power to keep LOVING.

Here’s a couple of pictures of the day I snagged from Noah Couser!! Thanks for taking pictures of the day!

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Jacob + Lisa :: Wedding

Awww Jacob and Lisa. It was destiny, it really was. Lisa and her friend were out and about when Lisa all the sudden Lisa had a craving for an apple. No particular reason, an apple just sounded good, like apples do sometimes. She walked in, took one look at Jacob working the produce section and told her friend “there’s my future husband!” Who would’ve known that a year and half later, here they are, declaring their love and devotion in front of God and their family. Jacob and Lisa had a beautiful sweet wedding last Saturday 10/23/10 at Lakeside, MT LDS church. I seriously have the most amazing job in the world!! Jacob and Lisa found me through a mutual friend, Brianna, and I’m so glad they did! I loved them instantly and knew their day was going to be something special! They opted to see each other before the ceremony for a First Look, and I can’t stress enough how much I love when bride and groom’s do that!!! We had time to kill taking a ton of pictures with just the two of them, and we got right to partying after the ceremony was over! I think they had about 20 little kids following them around all day saying “where’s my Jakey?!” They even shared their First Dance with the flower girls. They’re going to be amazing parents….and make cute babies! hehe….Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me capture the most important day in your life! Have a fabulous honeymoon

I just have to say, I love me some fun shoes and GORGEOUS flowers!!!! Dolli Righetti did an amazing job

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bigfork-MT/Dolli-Righetti-Florist/135822686445463

Nathan :: Whitefish HS Senior

Holllllaaaa! Yeah, I can’t really pull that off….haha. Anywho, I’m gearing up this morning to photography a fabulous wedding, but first, NATHAN!! YAY! I love his quirky personality and I feel like it really showed through in his pictures. This guy is a stud. Really, I’m so blessed my clients are awesome He’s the son of my pastor, 3rd year Varsity Football Player (even if it’s for the wrong team…hehe, sorry, I graduated from C Falls kid), and all around amazing! I love hearing the funny stories his dad will tell on Sunday mornings…makes me glad my dad isn’t a pastor (KIDDING), just goes to show his awesome attitude! Thanks Nathan~

Erik :: Whitefish HS Senior

I’m obviously on a blogging roll!! YAY! My bro is a computer GENIUS and custom built me an amazing computer for about half the price I would’ve paid for it! So work is going fast and blogging isn’t such a pain! Haha, annnnnyway, enough about me, this is ERIK! My lovely friend Sami (I did her pictures with her friend Sierra earlier) recommend me to her super charming boyfriend and TA-DA! We had a ton of fun, and it was such a gorgeous night! Holy Guacamole, Batman, the sunset was incredible. Add in a handsome young fella and a skate park. Yeah, I love my job. Thanks Erik for being cool, lol!

SAMI!! You’re adorable!

Shawna & Kate :: Whitefish HS Seniors

Um, yeah, could these girls be any more gorgeous!!!? I seriously could have have photographed them all day if the sun never went down! They’re so stylish, artistic, beautiful and practically super models….it’s a photographers dream! Shawna just came back to Montana after finishing her foreign exchange student time in ITALY! So we bonded instantly over that and the fact that she loves photography! The pictures of her with her dad’s vintage Canon make me happy beyond all belief…but what makes me even more happy are the ballet shots we got! I’ve been wanting to photograph a ballerina forever and I think I squealed when she told me she brought her pointe shoes! They’re so dreamy and I swear I have a new FAVORITE PICTURE from every session, but f’reals, these are my favorite. Kate said she was nervous and that she had never done anything like this before…I’d like to think she’s been modeling her entire life! I mean, hello…look at her! Her beautiful creamy skin and dark hair, ahhh, I LOVE IT! Oh and she brought her old prom dress, YESSSS! Another one of those things I’ve been dreaming about photographing and she surprised me with! The whole afternoon was delicate and dreamy and made for the prettiest images I think I’ve ever got, I’m so excited to show you all! Thank you girls for letting me capture YOU, I had a ton of fun with you!!!!

Anderson Family

This family is so sweet and adorable!! I shot Samantha’s senior pictures a few weeks before (her pictures are a couple posts ago), and we had so much fun again this time around! Their property is so pretty and gives me so much to work with. They’re so photogenic and natural in front of the camera, I could’ve shot all day if we didn’t freeze our butts off out there! I hope you enjoy your pictures guys, thanks for letting me capture you!

Hmmmm, I really don’t know why pictures are uploading not-so-good-looking…..bugger.

Kristen + Justin :: Engaged

Um, hello GORGEOUS!! Kristen and Justin are getting married next Summer, and I’m wishing it was next Summer already because I’m SO EXCITED for their wedding!!!! I’ve know Kristen for years, YEARS I tell ya. She was one of the first kids I met when I moved to Columbia Falls way back in the day. I was 8, so oh goodness, FOURTEEN years ago!!! Wow. We sat on bus 8 together with our friend Joe and ate Swedish Fish, I don’t know why I still remember that, lol.
Kristen and Justin met at college in Missoula, when they were least expecting it and not really in the mood for it. “I was in my sweats and not looking so cute…” Kristen said when Justin walked through her dorm room door. They decided the bond that happened then was stronger than they thought possible, so let’s do something about it. Flash forward to now, they’ve graduated college, deeply in love and busy planning what I know is going to be a spectacular wedding!!
I hope you enjoy your pictures guys, you were SO MUCH FUN to hang out with and freeze our butts off! I’m so glad we waited for a sunny day, cause the light in these are so yummy! Yes, light is yummy for a photographer

Morgan Family

Alright, so there’s more than just Morgan’s here, but that’s the original name, lol! How can I express in words how wonderful this family is?! Ashley is one of my best friends, I love her to pieces and her entire family is so caring and warm. I love hanging out with them, they make everyone feel like part of the gang, and with that gorgeous blond boy, they might as well adopt me cause he could be mine! You guys did soooo great at our shoot, I know it can get a little stressful with 15 people in one picture, but you were born to be photographed. I couldn’t ask for a better family to photograph, geez, they’re ALL so photogenic and GORGEOUS! I love the colors they put together and the love pouring out of each and everyone of them. They wanted to get these pictures done before their grandson, Joey went off to the Air Force. He leaves today We all know he’ll do amazing things, but everyone is sad to see him go. We love you Joey! I hope you all enjoy the pictures and thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me document your life!!

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalms 37:4

Hmmmmmmm, I don’t know why pictures are uploading gritty looking…they don’t normally look like that!!

Megan :: Columbia Falls HS Senior

YAY!! Megan! I finally got your pictures!! Oh boy, so many stupid computer issues aside, and waa-laa! I love how Megan’s portraits turned out, and it’s another senior session that makes me want to dye my hair dark….I must resist! I think we rescheduled her shoot like three times waiting for some sun, and we finally got some, kinda! It was overcast, but that always makes for amazing diffused light, and I can put her anywhere I’d like without having to worry about shadows and stuff. We wandered around Woodland park with all the million other people taking pictures and all the duckies Her friend joined us and it really helped put Megan at eased and she totally rocked it! She does this thing with her eyes, when I try I just look really angry, so I called it her look and then she would crack up, haha! Well anyway, I hope you enjoy your pictures Megan, and just in time for the yearbook deadline!

Samantha :: Columbia Falls HS Senior

Ok, isn’t she the cutest thing EVER?! Seriously Sammi, you’re cute, really cute. I love your hair and I’m so tempted to dye mine reddish now….it’s so fall like, lol. We had such a gorgeous day when we shot her pictures. Montana doesn’t fail in Fall We wandered around her pretty property out in the boondocks known as Blankenship. So peaceful with the sunset streaming in through the trees, I wanted to curl up in a hammock and take a snooze, but then again we were having too much fun taking pictures, so I didn’t. As we talked about her Senior year she said she was in Art…I knew I liked her! Art was definitely my favorite class in High School. I’m taking her family portraits this weekend and I’m super excited for them, I’m sure they’ll be just as adorable as her