Vista Bella Photography {The Blog}

a new year, a new name.

2010-12-30T11:14:00.001-07:00

with a new year, change always presents itself.

2011 brings about a new name for my company. i am now operating under jess apostle photography instead of vista bella. all blog posts can now be found by checking out my brand new photography blog.

thank you for following, loving and supporting vista bella photography. i'm so excited to launch jess apostle photography!!

christmas cheer.

2010-12-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

'tis the season around here! christmas is almost upon us and today, december 1, we kicked off the celebrations & decorations around the apostle house. poor sarge was subjected to the decorating as well...but isn't he handsome with his christmas cheer!

"maybe a little tight around the ears, mom..."

resigning himself to a life of humiliation.

happy december to you all!

the green family.

2010-11-11T17:13:00.001-07:00

the sun filtered through the trees and gave us the last bits of fall warmth, and i took in all the beauty of their family. like the way they quietly love on each other, or how they laugh about the little things, or the way they goof off and cheese for the camera. we had a great time hiking all over the park, climbing over fences, sitting in the tall grasses, and wrangling their newest furry addition. they are perfect in the way they are fully together. their affection for each other is obvious and their loyalty to each other fierce, obvious in the way they throw their arms around each other. not all siblings do that, ryan & bryn ;)

it was so neat to document a family that i've known for awhile but never had on the other side of my camera. as expected, i was treated to a whole new side of them and was so blessed by what i was able to capture. it was such a sweet experience. meet the greens...

misha & jason, i adore your sweet family. ryan & bryn, you're the most precious kiddos and i hope by playing around with my camera you two have been inspired to become lifelong picture-takers ;)

thank you guys so much for spending the afternoon with me & i can't wait to see y'all again soon!!

xoxo, jess

sarah & ryan {married}

2010-11-04T23:05:00.001-06:00

"I almost didn't meet him," Sarah explained to me as she touched up her mascara & pressed her lips together in the mirror. "My friends had to talk me into going out that night, and then he showed up at the party." And the rest is simple: they never left each others' side after that first night. Soon Ryan was down on one knee asking for her hand and the rest is history. Theirs is a love overflowing with raw emotion and commitment and the solidarity of becoming a family of three this year. It is so real to watch, so powerful and so moving. They love each other simply and they love each other profoundly, and bearing witness to the start of their marriage a couple weeks ago was a brilliant blessing.

Sarah donned the most gorgeous gown I think I've ever seen...

And could she possibly BE any cuter?!

I had the privilege of having the fabulous Courtney Tompson as my second shooter, and she captured these details perfectly.

Love their bling...and I love the personalization.

The wedding was held at the Overland Park Marriott and the girls got ready in a gorgeous suite with wonderful light despite the drizzle outside.

It wasn't til her dress was on that the tears flowed. Sarah looked up as the finishing buttons were clasped, smiled as her eyes welled up, and exclaimed "now I'm a bride!" What a beautiful moment as it all started becoming real to her.

And then her little man came for a visit....sweet boy! He was super happy to see his momma and only fussed (here) when she set him down:)

Courtney & I headed over to hang with the guys upstairs for a few shots....of course they had out the beer & the football game. And we all laughed really hard together as they teased each other, told stories, and shared our common Colorado ground (Ryan is a native even though they live in KC right now!)....

A toast before heading to the ceremony...

Seriously, Sarah - your girls are the BEST. You are so fortunate to have such wonderful, close friendships with these three! They love the heck out of you!

The next three images are my favorites of Courtney's from the entire day. She stayed with Sarah & her dad just before they walked down to the ceremony and I am just amazed at how beautiful these moments between them were. There's something so intimate & peaceful about those last few minutes before her dad gave her away, looking out at the rain and soaking it all in quietly.

Little man made his arrival to the ceremony via the Radio Flyer. He just took it all in:)

Ryan's reaction when the doors opened and his bride walked down the aisle towards him. He literally caught his breath. I love that.

Their ceremony was beautiful and intimate, and the way they looked at each other throughout their vows and the way they teared up a hundred times was incredibly moving. They are overwhelmingly in love with each other and committed truly, to a lifetime together of adventure & challenge & abundant blessing.

I almost chucked this photo when I was going through them all because it's not technically perfect, but then noticed something really moving about it. The joy on their faces when they were pronounced man and wife was just contagious and exciting, and I love the moment that's captured here. The little second in time where only each other existed.

Checking out the new jewels...

The rain and wind were wreaking havoc on any attempts for outdoor portraits, but we were so fortunate to have an amazing foyer at the Marriott to use! And seriously, Sarah & Ryan - I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your positive attitudes, your willingness to try anything, and for how laid back and beautiful your personalities are!!

Captured by Courtney, bringing their funk.

LOVE!! Totally my fave ;)

Soon it was time to head into their cozy fall reception and I fell in love with the details!!

Oh, and fell in love with them again during their first dance when they were just SO sweet together.

Super fun cake and the cake-feeding was a blast as well ;)

We were ALL treated to some really great toasts by their best friends & Sarah's dad. We all laughed so hard, but no one more than Sarah!

And there were tears again....maybe by me too. Y'all know I have a thing for the father/bride connection...

Then the dj got the party started!

I'll end with their sweet family portrait.
Sarah & Ryan, I'm disappointed that your day went so fast because it was so much fun. From the second I first walked into that Starbucks in Ft Collins last spring, I knew we would be lifelong friends. You both are such warm, genuine, joyful people - and it was more than a blessing to get to document your day. I can't wait to watch your family grow in love & happiness. Y'all deserve the best.

Let's grab a drink next time we're in each others' town ;)

click {HERE} for their full online gallery in 4-6 weeks!!

laney loo {toddler}

2010-10-27T21:01:00.001-06:00

just taking a few minutes for a tribute to my favorite toddler. had the sweet pleasure of being home in missouri with my family this past weekend & seeing my two nieces is always a highlight:) miss laney is three rambunctious years old now and keeps us all on our toes. over the weekend i was informed by her, "don't talk with food in your mouth," along with, "don't scream" and, "we don't call people stinky butts" (for the record i was carrying her baby sister to change a poopy diaper!). i guess being around a toddler is like having a mirror held up in front of your face. she was quick to keep me in line!

my aunt & i got a wild hair to venture out to a restaurant alone with the two girls which was an adventure in and of itself and oh my goodness, it took me 30 minutes to just get out of the house after losing my iPhone, the bottle, pacifier, and breast-milk bag twice!!! i reckon mommy-brain is a real phenomenon! anyway, over lunch we (and the rest of the restaurant as well) were informed that "i wasn't burping, i was trying to puke a little." the waitress had to bend over she was laughing so hard.

elena, you are something else. you are making me laugh now just thinking about you and although you'll probably never read this, i want you to know that i love you to the moon. i love you when you're being a little stink-pot and trying to navigate your independence, when you say "two and fifty and be-non!" ("two infinity and beyond!"), when you're laughing so hard it makes me laugh, and when you say "cheese" for the camera with your eyes squinted closed. you're the best thing ever, peanut.

me with both girls....the photo on the right is after i was tickling baby sister and squealing and elena informed me, "don't scream jessie." roger that, princess.

melanie & gardell {married}

2010-10-21T19:54:00.001-06:00

melanie & gardell got married on a perfect fall day in missouri, with golden light and love overflowing. i was so honored to be part of their day, and their story. they're a columbia couple, and cheer for the tigers, which obviously holds a special place in my heart:) but besides that, they are just seriously beautiful people. they're warm and kind and gentle with each other and with their family & friends. their day was amazing.

soon to be mrs.powell :)

with seriously rockin' shoes. LOVE. THEM.

many thanks to layne haley who shot with me and captured their rings beautifully.

melanie, you are gorgeous!!

i love her mom's expression here...

the beautiful, rich flowers were perfect for fall.

and oh my goodness, their first look was the sweetest one i think i've seen yet! i always love when a couple chooses to see each other before their ceremony because of the emotion; the tears, relief, calming factor. it's all just beautiful. when gardell first turned and saw melanie, he teared up. and that right there is reason to have that moment to yourselves, not in front of the crowd. they were able to hug and hold hands and share a private moment just the two of them (with me at a distance!) and it was awesome.

then we snuck off to shoot a few portraits in the beautiful afternoon light while we waited for their guests to arrive...
the wind did amazing things with her veil!

LOVE this!

before we knew it, their moment had arrived, and the ceremony began. loved how proud melanie's men looked; her father to be escorting her down the aisle, and gardell to be waiting at the end for her. she is well loved!

powell gardens is BEAUTIFUL and their chapel was seriously breathtaking.

yay! married! love how happy they both look:)

checking out the new bling...

and then we headed out for some evening portraits while their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour. i love that they left plenty of room in their day for portraits...so we wandered around the gardens outside the chapel and it was simply beautiful...

love layne's capture here:

{sigh}

seriously, these are some of my favorites ever!

and then it was time to head into their super fun reception with great details....

LOVED their wedding party entrances, using props from the photo booth!!

and gardell takes his new wife for a twirl...

we heard some amazing toasts by melanie's dad, maid of honor and gardell's best man...

then they shared some sweet moments dancing together for the first time as husband & wife.

and they took their parents for a spin on the floor:

i think a photo booth is SUCH a fun idea and i loved how they created their own guest book this way as well. and we got some serious laughs at the props their guests used!

okay, i had no idea gardell had these dance moves in him. we were so impressed!!

and i loved how their friends & family took to the floor to celebrate and let loose alongside them. such a great party!!

melanie and gardell, thank you thank you thank you. for letting layne and i into your day (and your lives). we had such a good time and i'm so honored you would trust us with such a momentous occasion. everything about your vows, your time together that day and your families was simply amazing. i hope hawaii was just what you needed & deserved after all the planning......and i can't wait to see y'all again in the future!

**click {HERE} to see a full online gallery in 4-6 weeks.

california love.

2010-10-05T10:42:00.002-06:00

just back from an amazing wedding in northern california.....i had the joy of second-shooting with a dear friend & fabulous photographer erika jackson and we were blessed with possibly the sweetest couple on earth! congrats to katie & mike. more photos to come soon! xoxo

hilary & josh {married}

2010-09-29T14:29:00.002-06:00

the first time i met hilary was when i walked into her dressing room the afternoon of her wedding, but it instantly felt like i'd known her for years. even though she was buzzing around doing make-up and dressing and toasting with her nearest & dearest, she bounded over to hug me! she and josh are just such warm, genuine people with huge hearts for their family and friends, and they made my job really fantastic that day:) their wedding was held on a perfect missouri day: bright, sunny, always a chance of rain (which held off til the reception! yahoo!), and greener than green. i loved being a part of their beautiful celebration, where they laughed and cried and teased each other endlessly....and promised forever.

thank you, thank you guys for welcoming me in and for being SO MUCH FUN! xoxo

** and special thanks to the lovely, most awesome shawn haley for shooting with me!!

possibly my most fave ring shots ever:

and okay, y'all KNOW i loved the pink shoes!! fab dress shot by shawn on the right...

hilary was surrounded all day by her mom and her girls, who were such amazing bridesmaids i just wanted to take them home with me ;)

i totally laughed outloud at her cute mimosa-holder on the left...and hilary works the mary kay biz so she was all about doing fabulous make-up for herself and her girls! i paid close attention to gather any tips for myself ;)

cute emily helped josh with his hair before the first look ;)

always love the moment they first see each other...

fave!!

these two were something else...totally up for anything and so at ease with each other. they just laugh constantly, and josh teases hilary relentlessly, and it's SO cute to watch! the grounds at alpine gardens are amazing...and the light was gorgeous as we wandered around.

beautiful background music provided by one of the groomsmen:

even with a first look, that moment a groom first sees his bride walking down the aisle is so powerful and the emotion was palpable.

i was so moved by how tenderly they look at each other...

and how much they make each other laugh:)

great shot, shawn!

hilary & josh chose a different location for their ceremony than the usual at alpine gardens...in fact, i think they said they were the first to get married by this waterfall. i don't think they'll be the last though, because it's GORGEOUS and the trickling water provides such beautiful background noise!

after the ceremony the guests headed up for cocktail hour while we snuck away for a few more portraits in the awesome early evening light...

and oh my, the reception was amazing! i loved the little white lights everywhere, the exposed wood beams and the billowing white fabric. so pretty and romantic.

some great toasts were had...

and then the dancing began!

beautiful, quiet moment...

you know i love the father-daughter stuff ;) i love how her dad is looking at her here.

and how hilary looks up to him.

then it was josh's turn with his sweet mom:

okay and then, the best part of the evening! right as it started to lightly sprinkle, the alpine gardens staff presented an amazing fireworks show over the lake and everyone gathered outside to watch. it was SO COOL!

back inside for more fun with the girls...

and some super-sweet moments with the bridesmaids & their men. swoon!

LOVED that grandpa got out on the floor a few times!

and the floor stayed packed as everyone had a blast!

i'll end with one of my favorites from the reception. i love how in the midst of loud music and dancing and friends & family surrounding them, hilary & josh took a moment to breath it all in. that this was their day, and they could not be happier to have found each other to share life with.

**check back to see a full online gallery in 4-6 weeks {HERE}!

there's just something about it.

2010-09-23T21:41:00.003-06:00

there's something about a dad with his daughter on her wedding day. it gets me every time. the only time i cried on my own wedding day was when i saw my pops for the first time as a bride and not just as jess. and the times i tear up most often at weddings i shoot have to do with the dad in some way...first sight of her, giving her away, the father/daughter dance. there's just something about the pride, the emotion, their gentle smiles. and always, always, the way a girl looks up towards her dad on her wedding day with the same pride and with great emotion towards the first man she loved. it moves me.

i am the luckiest girl in the world to get to share these kinds of moments with families.

and perhaps my favorite image from my own wedding seven years ago... love you, pops!

amanda & craig {married}

2010-09-15T15:11:00.001-06:00

i'm quite sure i've never met a bride more relaxed than amanda. despite gale-force winds "rearranging" her backyard tents an hour before the ceremony (and breaking them into a million pieces, no less!) she just smiled and took a deep breath and continued with her day. girl, i am totally impressed by your graceful outlook on life! :) she was just ready to marry her man. and craig showed up looking handsome and confident, ready himself for the next chapter in their lives together. it was otherwise a gorgeous, sunny colorado day and their wedding went off without another hitch. thank you guys for allowing us the treasure of sharing in your excitement, your intimate ceremony, and celebrating big with y'all at your quaint reception.

the beauty of their day was in the details...

i loved this beautiful ring shot by jen!

and oh my, these BOYS! cutest ring bearers ever, hands down:)

amanda goes down in our books as having THE most helpful, doting wedding party ever. ever. she literally mentioned a need and it was done. i was so impressed and i just kept laughing every time they hopped up to help her in even the tiniest ways. seriously, that is such a gift to a bride!!

her man-of-honor was a total gem and was completely devoted to making her day flawless.

amanda, you are just gorgeous. i loved your classic hair & red lipstick!

walking downstairs to see her mom for the first time (who sadly broke her foot just before the wedding!)...

and then it was time for the ceremony! great angle by jen...

as usual, i am a sucker for the bride & her dad moment....i can't help it!

another favorite expression:

seriously could the day be any more beautiful (albeit a bit breezy)?

their ceremony was moving & intimate and i was so glad to be able to document so many moments throughout it for them!

yay! married at last!

a quick check of the new jewelry before slipping away for some formal portraits...

we headed across the street to a beautiful park for a few minutes...and loved the beautiful late afternoon light streaming through the trees. i think amanda & craig were grateful to have a few minutes alone, too. well alone with the photographers ;)

looooooove. seriously, you guys.

craig, amanda is so lucky to have you! it's obvious how much you just adore her.

rawr!

and then it was time to PARTY! the new mr & mrs...

their reception was at a great little italian restaurant in the sleepy town of frederick. it was so quaint & intimate with their family and friends all surrounding them...

their best men gave great toasts...and amanda's first tears of the day were shed. so sweet to see how much they mean to their friends and vice versa.

the dances with husband & father...

we all laughed SO hard at the garter & bouquet tosses, as her bestie & grandma caught them.

showing off the new bling to her mom.

and i'll end with one of my favorites from the night, near the end of our time there...i just loved how they look at each other with such tenderness. it's obvious that theirs is a marriage made for a lifetime.

congrats amanda & craig!! thank you again for inviting us into your most special day. we are so blessed to have such trusting clients & we had an absolute BLAST at your day. i'm pretty sure i haven't laughed that much in a long time ;) best wishes!!

check back {HERE} for their full online gallery in 4-6 weeks.

alissa & brett {married}

2010-09-10T20:30:00.003-06:00

"you should move out here, i've got a guy you need to meet," alissa's best friend told her. so she took a chance, packed everything she owned and moved to colorado from california. and it paid off. she and brett fell in love fast and deeply. on august 28, they promised their lives to each other and promised to love each other through all the ups & downs of life. their commitment is authentic, romantic, and powerful - and it was an absolute joy getting to bear witness to it.

here is the best of their day!

i loved their fall theme with sunflowers galore...

their wedding & reception was held at the gorgeous osborn farm in loveland. i don't think i've ever photographed such a beautiful, serene location.

while we were photographing details pre-ceremony, we happened to look up to see this guy strolling through...AMAZING!

alissa, you are seriously stunning.

alissa laughed more than any bride i've met yet. she is just overflowing with joy and has the ability to brighten everything & everyone around her.

oh my goodness, i was such a huge fan of her cowgirl bling! rockin' it out all the way.

the guys waiting for the ceremony to begin. you can tell alissa & brett form really genuine friendships in their lives - their wedding party was hilarious, tight-knit & incredibly warm.

the moment a groom sees his bride come down the aisle gets me every time. there's so much emotion in the way brett watches his girl.

their ceremony was really moving and i laughed & cried alongside them and their families. it was beautiful to watch them together!

gorgeous backdrop for their first married kiss:)

this makes me laugh so hard! to say they were excited to be MARRIED is an understatement!!

we snuck away while their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour for some formal portraits...

and the evening light was unbelievable!

brett, you need this next photo in a huge frame in your office:) you got a good one!

LOVED this old truck on the osborn property, i think she said it was a '59? such a find!

and alissa & her bestie, laurel, climbed up on the ole john deere for a few shots...

the fun wedding party makes their reception entrance...

SO FUN to see alyssa & phil, whose wedding we photographed a couple years ago (can y'all believe it's been almost TWO years!). they referred alissa & brett to me and i am so grateful!! i have the best clients:)

their awesome cakes...

we all laughed alongside some great toasts by their besties...

and then they brought their a-game to the dance floor. so sweet & fun!

and i'll end with one of my favorites of the night; near the end of our time there we snuck away into the barn for a really sweet, romantic shot. i love the quiet of their moment here, so peaceful. theirs was a perfect day.

alissa & brett: THANK YOU for trusting us with your most important day. we were so honored to celebrate alongside y'all and your wonderful family & friends. you make our job so rewarding. many congrats & hope the honeymoon was amazing!! xoxo

{check out their full online gallery in a few more weeks}

stacy & brian {newlywed}

2010-08-29T18:13:00.002-06:00

we had the privilege of shooting brian & stacy's wedding last november (check them out {HERE} in all their gorgeousness!) and they decided to do a newlywed session this summer for some more "normal" portraits not in suit & gown:) i met them down in boulder early in july and found some amazing light and i just love how these turned out! stacy & brian, you guys are sooo sweet together. thank you for hanging out and having fun with the shoot, and for making my job so easy!!

we started our shoot off wandering around some alleyways...

and found this great blue wall near pearl street. love how much you laugh stacy:) and how brian adores you.

then we headed over to a nearby park along the river & were able to relax a little more without all the people around. the afternoon light was AMAZING!

i love real emotion like this! this picture makes me laugh.

hello beautiful boulder! such a great location for their shoot. they picked it because they spent a ton of time in boulder when they were dating and so it was a great place to go back to for post-wedding photos years later:)

i'll end with one of my faves from the day: love the light, the water, and their great smiles.

thank you guys!! hope you're loving married life. can't wait to see you again soon!

megan & chuck {married}

2010-08-07T07:29:00.002-06:00

the first time he saw her was at camp. and she was wearing pink heels, amidst of sea of chacos. and when they went their separate ways at the end of that first summer, they knew they would never be the same. a few years later they met their families in gunnison, just a few hours north of their camp, and promised their lives to each other. in chacos this time ;)

megan & chuck, thank you. for letting us into your day and your story and your families. we loved getting to know you and bearing witness to your most important day. you are beautiful, kind souls and we could not be more grateful for your trust. i know God is going to do mighty things with your lives! hope you had a fantastic honeymoon and we can't wait to see you again soon!

we started the day at an adorable salon in crested butte. which by the way is the most gorgeous little mountain town and i wish we had time to spend about 7 hours photographing there :) megan sipped her drink while getting all prettied up. there was no nervousness in sight, only excitement and anticipation to see her man!

gorgeous!

loved the space they had to get ready in there, and how sweet the stylists were. i love me an aveda salon and this one was particularly great! megan and her girls floated throughout the room laughing and squeezing hands and celebrating a really great day & a really great couple.

then it was time to head over to the phelps ranch. and listen, i wish i were getting married again because i would be booking the ranch! it was a-mazing. beautiful views in 360 degrees of wide open farm land tucked into the foothills. totally worth the commute from kansas & texas (and more i'm sure!) for their families. it was just picturesque.

we popped into chuck's getting-ready room and visited with the boys for awhile until it was time for the first-look...

and then hung out with the girls again while megan got ready in THE most beautiful dress i've ever seen! the detail was so unique and so perfect for her.

megan's mom helped her into her dress...and she instantly went from an adorable girl in shorts & chacos to bride.

i love how she's looking at her mama. being their only child, it was an emotional day for rod & patti for sure!

megan: you are STUNNING. you made a perfect bride.

her girls gave her a book with notes and encouragement written inside and a few more tears were shed.

and then they surrounded her for a quick prayer before she went out to see her man for the first time.

and this right here is reason to choose a first-look: you have a chance during your busy wedding day to take five minutes and speak tenderly and privately to each other. theirs was a beautiful moment as megan walked down the aisle to chuck. the same one her father would lead her down a couple hours later. he turned and saw her for the first time and his grin stretched from ear to ear. as soon as she reached him, megan buried her head in his chest and let out some emotion from the day. and then they held hands and whispered and he kissed her forehead, and they experienced the rest of their day together.

LOVED their details...the wildflowers were perfectly paired with the mountain setting.

and before they knew it, their wedding began. chuck was full of joy and contentedness as he watched his father-in-law walk megan down the aisle.

and i loved how proud her parents were. they beamed all day.

the afternoon shower hardly effected them, and they just grinned to each other as umbrellas popped up and someone offered her a jacket...

thankfully the shower was short and as the thunder rumbled in the distance, they pledged their lives to each other. their joy was impossible to contain.

and emotion exploded as they turned and headed back up that same aisle, this time MARRIED!! we all laughed out loud as megan in all her cuteness jumped up and down a few times!

while the finishing touches were put on the reception, we grabbed a few portraits in the afternoon light. this one that jen grabbed is my fave.

LOVE the afternoon winds catching her veil.

then it was time for their party!!

could their cake topper be ANY cuter! i loved how much colorado means to megan & chuck. even though they still live in the kansas city area, they are actively pursuing their dream to live out here as soon as they can. so their little mountaineering couple on the cake was such a perfect nod to their dreams...

and hello, their grooms cake was divine.

the white reception tent set up in a field was perfect. i loved the fresh light, the grass "floor", and the cool breezes through it.

their best friends toasted to a great future, after sharing all about their first impressions at camp. in pink heels. and we all laughed!

and as they shared their first dance, it was obvious how perfect they are together. they are tender and sweet to each other, and have prepared for not just a great wedding but marriage for a lifetime.

megan and her dad opened up their dance busting a move with air guitar, and finished up sweetly with overflowing pride and a few tears. something always gets me about a dad dancing with his daughter, and they were particularly moving.

and then it was chuck's turn to take his mom for a spin...and let me tell you, a mother has never beamed more proudly towards her son. becky, you raised a great man who loves his girl with his whole being.

and then we danced. my personal fave of the whole night ;) i've been known to shake it a little too while photographing! (p.s. don't you just love the grass floor?? such neat texture, like a plush carpet.)

we headed outside for the flower toss atop a hill!

and sealed the deal with a kiss in front of the phelps cabin...perfect end to a perfect day.

dear mr & mrs hodges: your day was nothing short of perfect. congrats and hope you are already relishing your wedded bliss!!

*to see their full online gallery in 4-6 weeks, click {HERE}

life on the other side.

2010-08-06T09:31:00.005-06:00

as you might suspect, i'm rarely without my camera. especially since starting the today project, it pretty much goes everywhere with me.

however, i've found that some days photographing keeps me from seeing the other side of the camera. i'm too worried about iso and white balance and shutter speed to just take life in. so the other day as i left the house at 5:40am, i experienced a little taste of freedom. i witnessed the most beautiful sunrise i think i've ever seen here. and you know what i did? i just watched it. i didn't grab my camera, i just took it in. the red, orange and leftover grays....the way the clouds changed so quickly...the way it left me thanking God for newness every morning.

and somehow, it's okay that i just have that in my memory and that i couldn't possibly have captured its full radiance through my nikon. life on the other side of the lens is pretty sweet, too.

babies, babies, babies.

2010-08-01T18:55:00.006-06:00

i was so busy shooting weddings the month of july that i nearly overlooked some VIPs on the bloggy:) these little girls and one boy have totally stolen my heart. mostly because their mamas are so dear to me! meet riley, charlotte, ella, noah, laney, audrey & kayla.

these two sisters are absolutely precious. how cute are their hair-flair pieces!? even more amazing that they actually left them in ;)

baby riley was not so sure at first of my camera being all up in her face....just moments after naptime.

but she got over it quickly and played along:) those eyes!

charlotte is more than used to me now so she just took right to grinning and hamming it up.

charlotte, you are beautiful already. i can't wait to watch your life unfold.

and oh, my. their mama liz is a friend of mine from waaaay back. to watch her parent is truly awesome. she's loving, firm, and teaching constantly. i love watching her interact with her girls and learn so much from her already (even pre-babies myself!).

sweet sisterly love!

later in the week i got to meet up with my bff from college, april, and her babies. the first time i held ella three years ago she was just a few days old, and i loved her instantly like i'd birthed her myself. she was my first friend-baby to love and the first to call me aunt jess. and yes, her eyes have always been that big & blue. have you seen her mama!?

hi sweet girl. miss your face!

ella got a baby brother this winter and he is something else. with a mind of his own to boot:) noah defines boyhood already and i love every bit of him!

april is so darling with her babies. she approaches parenting them with such humor and makes me laugh til my stomach hurts just talking to them. a, i can just hear you saying, "no ma'am" to ella ;) thank you for the inspiration to love my own babies someday with such abandon.

see where they get those baby blues?

and of course my shutter clicked a thousand times for these two! my own family. audrey & laney hold a grip on my heart tighter than any human being i think i've ever known. from the moment i heard elena had arrived (on my anniversary no less - thank you peanut!) i loved her like she was my own. when her sister audrey came along a couple years later that feeling was no different....and she certainly washed our family in joy, coming into the world just hours after my grandpa passed. to spend a week in columbia hanging out with my peanuts was so great! and p.s. see the cute expression on laney's face? this was seconds before she "gently" laid audrey back on the carpet and said, "now can you take her?" ;)

nothing like baby smiles for the first time!! i love you little sister!

this was the best part of my visit:

of course we had to beat the missouri heat with pool time and splashing. i love you peanut...even though everytime i call you that you tell me, "jessie my name isn't peanut" ;)

snuggles with aunt jess...

and torture with uncle charlie :)

my beautiful sister liz with her babies...i love a mama with her kiddos piled on her lap. audrey doesn't look so sure about the whole photo shoot thing! liz, you are such a good mama to those girls - the best i've seen yet! you are so patient with them but you're the mama and they know that. i love to watch you and learn from you.

lots of pets to visit with at grandma's house.

and some sparklers to boot!

and rounding out july, another of my college bff's and her family swung through fort collins for a night. so happy to see genese and love on her darling girl kayla who took right to me (may or may not have anything to do with pixie stix in my purse...). we played ball in the yard:

went for a flower-picking walk in the park...

and burned some energy:) we also had a great hike in the mountains before they left...short visit but sooo good to catch up with genese & brian and love on kayla. see another beautiful shot of miss k {HERE}.

love you kiddos!! aunt jess misses you, xoxo

(liz, april & genese: your disks are in the mail!)

autumn & john {married}

2010-07-31T21:58:00.003-06:00

their wedding day was nothing short of perfect.

autumn & john tied the knot under a perfect july sky, full of sunshine and fluffy clouds with the cherry creek marina in the background. it was a day they had waited a long time for, since their story began awhile back. john had just returned from iraq and was out celebrating with his marine corps buddies, when a mutual friend gave out autumn's number. he accidentally texted her later that week thinking she was his sister autumn. and so their story began, out of the clear blue sky. hearing their story was so exciting and so fairy tale-ish....he simply swept her off her feet, and he's still doing just that. their wedding was beautiful, and we were so grateful to get to document their love! we knew from the day we first met them last summer that theirs was a match made in heaven.

her dress was amazing, and she scored it for a STEAL at a david's bridal sale...

autumn, you are so pretty!!

and john - please stop with the handsomeness ;)

LOVE the moment autumn's dad first saw her that day...

and i so loved her parents giving her away. oh, how proud her momma looks!

the colors were amazing and bold. thank you, usmc. goodness knows i loved shooting a marine corps wedding...reminded me so much of the handsome marine i snagged a few years back ;)

there is such tenderness in their eyes for each other. it is so endearing to watch.

and yes, this was as awesome as it looks! as they pass under the swords, they're stopped at the final marine - and he swats the sword across her backside and says, "welcome to the marine corps, ma'am." :)

after their ceremony and family portraits, we headed out with the bridal party to grab some shots...love this one jen captured!

despite the blazing afternoon sun, we had a perfect backdrop with the marina!

L.O.V.E. this one. something about the down-turned cover (it's his hat for civilians...i have been corrected on its term).

and then it was time for their party! autumn did such a fantastic job with all the details....isn't their cake adorable and fresh!

we all laughed and cried with their great toasts...

and thank you cherry creek marina for the most perfect afternoon light streaming through the big windows! brides, if you haven't picked your locale yet - GET MARRIED HERE! :)

they are so sweet together. i just fell in love with the way they treat and care for each other.

and they love their families with that same pride and abandon.

and then there was lots of laughter & visiting...

and you know i love me some good dance music!

...and of course there were more toasts. to brotherhood and serving our nation. to new chapters of life. and to love.

i'll end with perhaps my favorite shot of the day. i just love autumn's expression....you could not find a couple more perfect for each other. their love doesn't trickle - it explodes out of their being. congratulations mr & mrs fullmer!! thank you for letting us into your beautiful day. it was such an honor to celebrate you.

*check back soon for their full online gallery {HERE}

melanie & gardell {engaged}

2010-07-27T09:18:00.002-06:00

i got to meet melanie & gardell for the first time a few weekends ago in kansas city. we had a great time wandering all over westport & the plaza for their urban session. i just love them and i'm so excited to be a part of their october wedding this fall!!

being a huge fan of both pink & skirts - i loved melanie's clothing choice:)

one thing i really love about them is how sweet gardell is to her.....he's gentle, and he really takes care of her, looks out for her. and melanie just smiles constantly around him which is so perfect! loved this glass wall we found...and their interaction.

melanie, you are gorgeous!

one of my favorite ways to shoot an engagement session is to wander. and i had such a great time doing that with m & g. we happened upon so many cool areas and i kept saying, "ooooh let's stop here" over & over :) the overcast day really made the urban colors pop!

LOVE.

i love the feel of this one for some reason....i'm a sucker for brick walls anyway, but i just love their expressions in this picture. they're completely happy, content, and ready for this next chapter in their relationship. oh, and i loved melanie's AWESOME red heels. yes, please!

after we'd exhausted a few blocks of westport, we headed over to the plaza to find some green. i love all the trees in the park near the j.c. nichols fountain. and the fountain itself is gorgeous!

seriously, you guys are ADORABLE! thank you for letting me hang with you for a couple hours:) you're so easy to be around!

and i'll end with one of my faves...i love the old wall and the bright green grass and how in love these two are. perfect! can't wait to see you guys again in october!!

to see more of melanie & gardell's engagement session, check out their slideshow {HERE}!

meredith & steve {married}

2010-07-23T11:08:00.002-06:00

they were friends first, meeting while working at the student bookstore on their college campus. this foundation of friendship is prevalent in their relationship in the way they are so intimately connected & truly best friends. steve & meredith tied the knot in a beautiful, moving ceremony on july 10th. the backdrop of copper mountain set the stage for their i-do's and we were so blessed to be witness to their day!

the intent was to be married at the top of the mountain so we all rode the lift up...

and meredith did her preparations in the lodge at the top.

her gorgeous shoes & dress...

mer, you are so classically beautiful!

despite the impending rain, she was so calm & collected :)

LOVED her flowers. and the ring shot jen captured!!

we set up a first-look between meredith & steve and i just love how these shots turned out. to give some background, the rain had just picked up on the mountaintop, along with some friendly lightening & thunder {haha}, and there was a subsequent flurry of decision making between the event staff & these two about where to hold the ceremony. but the second mer & steve were finally together, they were both so incredibly calm and relaxed about however their day was going to unfold. i loved witnessing how they truly support & complete each other.

so......decisions were made and we headed down the mountain for an inside ceremony. thankfully a bus came to get us as lightening had closed the lift we took to the top. how cute is she with her raincoat over the gorgeous dress!

once inside, there were just a few minutes to prepare for the ceremony and meredith took it all in stride. she has such a gentle spirit about her and it helped everyone else relax about the day, too.

love this shot jen captured between her and her sweet dad, just about to walk down the aisle.

their ceremony was light-hearted and fun, but incredibly moving as well.

yay! married at last!

miraculously, the rain cleared by the end of their ceremony and we headed out for their portraits.

i mean, seriously! there was not a cloud in the sky! we all wondered aloud whether this was even the same day :) such beautiful lighting for their mountain-backdrop photos!

after wandering the resort grounds for awhile, we headed back in for their reception. which was a BLAST. love the emotion during their toasts...they have such a great group of loving family & friends.

the details & colors were amazing.

i especially loved that their centerpiece arrangements were displayed in different beer glasses as a nod to their tastes.

their sweetness together was never more openly displayed than during their first dance. it was beautiful and i may or may not have teared up ;)

and oh, my! the father-daughter dance was tender at first and then just a blast when they busted out some moves to "the twist."

steve with his mom, who was just so wonderful and warm to us (can i say any more how great their families are!).

and then....then the party really began. these two are dancing fools and apparently, so are all their friends :) so great!!

of course, there was some checking out of the new bling.

and i'll wrap up with one of my favorite shots. you can't tell in this picture but this was while they were out on the dance floor with several other couples but still having their own private moments. what an honor to be able stop time for them in the midst of their busy reception.

steve & meredith, thank you thank you thank you, for allowing us into your celebration and your perfect day. when we say we are honored, it still doesn't quite express our gratitude. y'all are wonderful, beautiful people and we wish you all the best in your journey!!

*check out their online gallery {HERE}....coming soon!

sarah & ryan {engaged}

2010-07-10T07:58:00.003-06:00

from the first day i met them at a starbucks in fort collins, i knew we'd be fast friends. sarah & ryan are two of the most authentic, joyful people i've ever met. they live their life with loads of laughter and sincerity and it overflows into those around them. to say their engagement session was a breeze would be an understatement. we had so much fun running all over union station in kansas city, laughing and talking and even stopping for a coffee break halfway through. thank you guys for such a great & memorable afternoon. i can't WAIT for your wedding in october!! (and p.s., the picture above was the first frame out of my camera and it is one of my favorites ever! love these two!)

this is them, sweet & tender with each other...

s & r, could you be any cuter??

i loved this little nook we found tucked away. ryan was working his GQ here...and i think he does a mighty fine job!

loooooove.

these guys are MADLY.IN.LOVE let me tell you. i love that about them - they aren't just planning a wedding, they are planning a lifetime together.

hello, gorgeous eyes.

the heels just didn't work for the walking around between shots, so they had to go.

i loved these little aluminum tables, so we all three plopped down for a coffee break midway through our session and chatted for awhile. highly recommended. i wanted to just stay there being friends:) i think this picture is really cute of them, just hanging out.

this reminds me of a poster or something...

did i mention i love union station? it was such a great reprieve from the melting kc humidity that day. we'd planned on a park shoot but decided on this last minute and i'm soooo glad we did. beautiful!

my favorite ever. it's beautiful of them, so real and intimate.

ryan takes care of sarah. he is in tune with her, he's attentive, he loves on her constantly. this picture isn't perfect and i almost pitched it, but thought there is something really true about it.

we did brave the heat index for a few outside shots. the cloudy skies were perfect for beautiful, crisp colors...

love this! you're made for each other.

and i'll end with literally, my last frame of the day. this is them. sweet, loving and totally fun. thank you, thank you, thank you s & r for a fantastic shoot. y'all are truly beautiful, inside and out. see you in just a couple months!!

click {HERE} to see more pictures on their slideshow!

casey & diana {married}

2010-06-28T12:30:00.000-06:00

"you should meet my son casey," his dad said to diana as he was moving his son's belongings into the apartment next door. and so their history began. it started with casual hello's in the hallway, and progressed to post-it notes left on each others doors and before either of them knew it, they were falling in love. what a perfect story.

casey & diana were married on june 17 at villa parker and it was fitting for their gorgeous summer day, beautiful and open and elegant. we were so excited to be part of their celebration!

jewels gray did diana's hair and make-up and she is a-mazing!

diana's dress was unbelievable! the detail was so pretty and classic.

she had lots of help getting into her gown...

afterward, we hung out with casey and the guys for awhile. villa parker has awesome rooms for bridal party preparation. we were so fortunate!

his brother helping him with the bow tie. with world cup soccer in the background of course!

some details of their day...

oh my, they had the SWEETEST ring bearer & flower girl. who obviously took their jobs very seriously :)

seeing his bride for the first time all day...i love how proud casey looks. proud and at peace, ready to tie the knot!

and there she is! with her dad and two brothers helping her (and her long gown) down the aisle. i loved how involved their families were in their wedding day.

what an amazing setting!

i love how they look at each other. they might be the most thoughtful couple i've had the blessing of documenting; they just take care of each other.

yay! married!

their recessional photos were some of my favorites, don't they look so happy?

we snuck around back for some portraits while their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour. diana, you are gorgeous!

i loved the light under these arches...

...and how sweet they are together.

and then it was time for their party! again, with the amazing light in the reception hall. i can't say enough about the villa parker venue. what a blessing to find it!

their dj, who was honestly the best one i've worked with yet, was phil peralta with simply entertainment. he had casey & diana write letters to their parents thanking them for so many things, and then he read them out loud. there was not a dry eye in the room. it was an amazing way to honor their families and i totally wish i'd done something like this at my own wedding. so beautiful.

and then it was time for their first married dance! they had a ball.

after, they shared father/daughter and mother/son dances. i loved how diana and her dad boogied.....and how sweet casey and his mom were.

the dance floor was never empty after that, with tons of dancing and laughing. even the grandmas got out there! phil knew how to keep it going!

their cakes were awesome. i especially loved the grooms cake, which was a replica of their front doors with post-it notes stuck all over. so cute!! and oh my, those cupcakes were the best. jen & i ate ours with coffee on the way home that night and we were really happy about that :)

i'll end with one of my favorites. right before we left we stole them onto the patio for a few pictures in the amazing evening light. i love this picture because it is exactly them to me: diana laughing of course, and casey just loving on her. have i mentioned how tender they are together? match made in heaven.

casey & diana: thank you, thank you, thank you. for trusting us with your big day....we had a blast. we laughed and cried alongside you and were so blessed to be such an intimate part of your celebration. we wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you again!

xoxo, jess & jen

click {HERE} to see their online gallery in the next week or so...

sharee & brian {married}

2010-06-25T09:59:00.006-06:00

they met at a new year's party, and their lives changed forever. in just one moment. i love stories like that and it was such an honor to bear witness to that on june 12. sharee & brian are so close, the best of friends first and foremost, and they made our job of documenting their intimacy and celebration so easy that day! the day presented itself with lots and lots of rain....but they cruised through it without a moment's hesitation, just adjusting where their outdoor ceremony would be held and smiling through everything. it's hard to dampen that kind of joy.

one of sharee's bridesmaids, gabriella (i hope i came close to spelling your name right girl!), did her hair and make up. she did SUCH a great job!! and she was soooo sweet to boot.

she rocked the details on her dress & shoes. so elegant & classy...my fave!

we loved the rustic feel of their venue, sylvan dale ranch. we've worked with them before and their staff is amazing! not to mention the breathtaking scenery, even on a rainy day.

sharee's mom was so tender with her, and i just loved watching them interact.

the emotions overflowed pre-ceremony...

i love when a groom walks his mom down the aisle personally, it's just really sweet. brian's mom is obviously so proud of her boy!

and speaking of proud...sharee's dad!

their attendants were AWESOME. just really helpful, sweet to them, and proud to be standing by. they are a well-loved couple.

they way these two look at each other makes me smile. and maybe i teared up once during their ceremony:)

man & wife. wahoo!!

as a nod to their new year's eve love story, sharee and brian were ushered out of their ceremony by their guests blowing noisemakers. i loved that!

afterwards, we snuck away for a few portraits outside since the rain had let up. this is one of my favorites! sharee, you are totally gorgeous.

it was wet and COLD!

heading into their reception. i love the movement in her dress...

her dad gave a great toast with laughter and some tears from the crowd. he even blew his noisemaker again after:)

love the gorge cake.

and HE makes me want a baby! look at this little guy, just days old!

brian's dad, step-mom, and sharee's dad watching the first dance. this is what i love about photographing weddings, the emotion on people's faces. their families are so obviously proud.

and her gramps! i love his expression and how tenderly he was dancing with her. there is seriously something about grandpas.

sharee's girls got brian out on the dance floor eventually, amidst much laughter.

and i'll end with one of my favorites from the day, a quiet moment together during their reception. what a perfect day.

sharee & brian, thank you for the opportunity to document your beautiful day and your beautiful relationship. you guys are the best! we can't wait to see what life holds for you.

xoxo, jess & jen

click {HERE} to see more of their celebration on the slideshow!

(there's a link on the slideshow to the full online gallery)

wyatt {newborn}

2010-06-12T10:29:00.000-06:00

i got to meet this sweet little man a couple weeks ago for his very first photo shoot. at just over three weeks old, wyatt was pretty alert for most of our afternoon together but definitely got a few naps in. along with a whizzle on my shelf (thankfully we were prepared!). sadly his dad has orders to deploy this summer so we wanted to make sure to document this time in their new little family's journey.

love his bright eyes:

this face is typical newborn to me!

love, love, love.

they are the sweetest family. i was really grateful to get to stop time for them.

a photo shoot is WORK for a newborn. and let me tell you, he let us know how he felt about the wardrobe changes :) i love how small he looks in one of his daddy's hands here:

this is one of my favorite shots from our day. when brian is deployed, i think it'll be so neat for his momma to see a picture of wyatt wearing his daddy's fatigues.

love the american flag in this shot.

my new office shelves came in handy, and doesn't he look so TINY?

thank you guys for letting me document this time for y'all! i had a great time and i'm so excited to watch your little family grow.

barbara & luke {married}

2010-06-09T17:58:00.005-06:00

"he got me fired," barbara told me the day we met for their engagement session. luke just grinned, "well it's true." they met at work, but didn't stay working together for very long:) and so begins the story of their love. unconventional but perfect in every way. and documenting their wedding day, the ultimate celebration of love, was the greatest joy.

i never consider myself more lucky than when i get to shoot a wedding that makes me tear up more than once:) love is real and emotional and when it pours out of an entire day the way it did at barbara & luke's wedding, it's the best thing ever to be a part of. from start to finish, their day was perfect and it was them. and jen & i left that night grinning from ear to ear and talking a hundred words per second about all that was beautiful about it.

we both loved barb's choice of deep purple heels!

her attendants were her two sisters and they were wonderful and beautiful, inside & out.

yellow roses were barb's mom's favorite flower, and they were gorgeous in her bouquets and symbolic of her mom being with her throughout the day.

barbara, your smile is beautiful girl!

a tender moment with her dad...

and lots of smiles getting last minute touches on the veil.

taking a peek at her soon-to-be-husband arriving in the parking lot.

and there he is! luke, you're looking good man!

the cutest little flower girls, sisters...

more sisters:) so sweet!

the ceremony site was unbelievable and sported a great view of horsetooth rock.

watching his bride walk into view. i love this moment; the expression on a man's face when he first sees her.

the wind was amazing this day!

their ceremony was personal and emotional, and truly beautiful. i love her sisters' expressions.

her sweet dad and beloved aunt.

one of my favorite shots from jen of the whole ceremony site...

celebration and joy!

the new mr & mrs tourville.

a fave from the day:

my all time favorite shot by miss jen :)

after the ceremony we snuck away to roland moore park for bridal party fun!

what a GOOD looking crew!

barbara rocking it out. stunning!

one of my favorite parts of their day was the wind, and how beautiful it made her veil and all the laughs it produced:)

i asked them to just give me their best sass. not too bad, girls!

we found a great field to play in...

and then headed into their party...

having a blast together, as usual, after the cake-cutting.

this is a typical look from barbara to luke...they really have the best time together and don't take life too seriously!

the father-daughter dance moved the whole room to tears. how precious their relationship.

barbara and luke: thank you for inviting us into your celebration and your lives. we have so treasured our time getting to know you and share such a momentous time in your relationship. thank you for trusting us with these moments. we wish you all the best!

xoxo, jess & jen

click {HERE} for their slideshow!

sharee & brian {engaged!}

2010-05-18T19:50:00.002-06:00

when sharee & brian suggested the flat irons for the background of their engagement shoot, i was thrilled! i love it out there, and we had a great time running all over the park laughing and getting to know each other. we are so excited for their june wedding at sylvan dale ranch in loveland!

sharee, you are totally gorgeous!

one of the things i love most about these two is their gentle affection for each other. they are just sweet together, with snuggling and whispering and quiet smiles. they made my job easy this evening, but they also reaffirmed for me why i'm so blessed to get to do this for a living.

i LOVE afternoon light in colorado. sigh.

this picture makes me smile just looking at it. i love how in love with each other these two are, and how freely they share that with the world.

thanks jen, for this great detail shot:)

oh, and for these two as well! love.

s & b, this next one might be my fave. it needs a big frame in your house :)

see? dandelions are good for something! a splash of color. oh, and thank you guys for being willing to get down & a little dirty for the shoot:)

beautiful! s, you will make a stunning bride next month!

thank you again, jen! love these action shots:)

and i'll end with my all time favorite from their day:

happy engagement, sharee & brian!!
can't wait to see y'all again in just a few weeks:)

heidi & jeremy {married}

2010-05-10T14:40:00.004-06:00

i've known heidi for a long time, and the first time i heard her talk about jeremy i knew he was something special. different. she was just calm about him, comfortable, grounded. the first time i met jeremy, i understood why. in every way that she needs grounding, he grounds her. he is home for her. in every way he needs vibrance and joyfulness, heidi provides that for him. they are a great match if i've ever seen one, and documenting their wedding day was such an honor. i teared up alongside them, and laughed until my tummy ached. their day was beautiful and emotional and personal; just the way they are together. i could not have picked a better wedding to kick off the 2010 season!!

could her dress be any more gorgeous? it was perfect for her.

last minute touch up's on the hairdo before donning the dress.

family is a big deal to both heidi & jeremy (you might remember their family session HERE). their children were an intimate part of every aspect of their day, and they were surrounded by their extended families throughout. i love this shot of heidi being assisted by her grandma and her oldest daughter...

heidi is never more beautiful than when she is laughing, and we got to see a lot of that throughout the day :) she was so sweet and full of joy.

heidi has the most awesome friendships from back home that she's still maintained despite living so far from utah - and seeing her with all those girls was a blast! they are all so great!

seriously, girl - you are stunning.

we caught jeremy getting some last minute counsel from the pastor...and i'm lovin' the shades!

the bride with her two beautiful girls - such sweethearts!

looooove this shot....

needless to say, their ceremony was one of the most moving and meaningful i've ever been to. just so them.

we snuck outside after the ceremony to grab some quick shots of the wedding party...

love their interaction!

three trees chapel was such a great venue for their wedding & reception! perfect location set into the foothills with a lot of space to roam outside for photos and to get away from the crowd for a few minutes :) it was really peaceful despite being "in town."

love this image that jen captured - the wind was just starting to blow as we were finishing up our outdoor shots, and i love their expressions.

we moved on to the reception which was a blast! lots of laughter from the toasts :)

and plenty of sweet moments between these two.

i'll end with one of my favorites from the night; this captures who they are together, intimate and joyful. congratulations heidi & jeremy!! thank you for the honor of being part of your day.

to see a slideshow of more images, click {HERE}.

meredith & steve {engaged!}

2010-05-02T16:34:00.003-06:00

i don't like to play favorites or anything, but come on. is this not THE cutest couple? meet meredith & steve. they laugh a lot together, which makes us laugh a lot, and the afternoon we spent with them felt like being with old friends.

jen & i headed down to denver for their engagement session, and were welcomed into the greatest little neighborhood ever! it was so fun to shoot in an area that was so meaningful to them, their first home together. the park that's just a five minute walk from their house was awesome too, with a huge lake and views of denver's skyline. we loved just wandering around talking & shooting, and i continue to be so blessed by the opportunity an e-session affords to get to know our clients!!

one of the highlights of the shoot: meeting basco the cat. as in, tabasco. he was really a great sport about the whole, camera-in-the-face thing.

the early evening park scene was just beautiful with the spring grass & warm light. need i mention i love colorado?

love the swing in their backyard. and LOVE shooting in a location with meaning to the couple - it just really shows in how relaxed they are.

two of my favorites of jen's shots:

sweet, sweet, sweet, these two.

this is what a ton of our shots looked like: meredith laughing and steve just having MADE her laugh. they are so much fun together. it's clear they are best friends first.

another fantastic shot by jen...

they mentioned that this side porch is what sold them on their house, and i concur. what a great spot for entertaining friends or just relaxing after work!

congrats on your engagement steve & meredith!

and thank you for letting us capture such a great time in your lives together. we can't wait to see you again in july, on the top of copper mountain :)

barbara & luke {engaged!}

2010-04-24T15:29:00.004-06:00

i always encourage my couples to pick a location that is meaningful to them for their engagement session, somewhere that brings up good memories or just feels like "them." i was so excited when barbara & luke suggested going out to devil's backbone for their session. it is just beautiful country on the outskirts of town. easy to get to, but gives you the feeling of being miles away from everything. we walked around for an hour exploring the area and finding little pockets of great light amidst an otherwise cloudy day, and i think these pictures portray the goodness of their relationship. they are sweet, kind and funny with each other and jen & i loved getting to know them a little better.

love this shed we found behind the parking lot:

and this next shot is one of my favorites yet....i love how the bare trees and the reedy grass frame barbara & luke.

isn't the "devil's backbone" beautiful?

luke was cracking us all up with his expressions....but you can tell he loves his girl.

again with the cool shed and cute couple:)

barbara, you are gorgeous girl!

love these two next ones by jen...

it was so fun that barbara brought along heels to pose in and tennies to hike around in, and she never complained once when i'd say "do you mind switching shoes just one more time?" :)

you guys are the best! we had such a fun afternoon with you and can't wait til your big day!!

abriana {local photog}

2010-04-21T09:01:00.002-06:00

i was nervous as i walked into mugs, wondering would she recognize me? would we find things to talk about? would the picture-taking go well? my fears were relieved when i swung open the door and she was standing in line, smiling big in my direction. it was obvious we would be fast friends and colleagues in this crazy world of photography.

blog world, meet abriana chilelli!

she is taking portrait photography in fort collins by storm with her passion for kids & families. she is the momma to a sweet boy (who i get to meet this afternoon, so excited!) and she has a husband who supports her dreams so thoroughly that it reminds me of my hubs as well. we had a blast talking about everything from babies to the biz, and i can't wait to watch her journey unfold here.

after visiting for awhile at the coffee shop, we hit the streets of old town for some headshots for her site...

girl, you are beautiful!

we thought nothing about borrowing a couple of adirondack chairs from in front of the ace hardware...we loved this blue one and a hot pink one. we got a few glances from passers-by but oh well! we did see another photog on what looked like a senior shoot and it was fun to grin at each other as we passed, "we're in the same boat!"

we found some great light in an alley/loading dock area and i love this shot:

fort collins is an all-out bike town and i loved the bright colors of these ones lined up outside a rental shop:

love the orange wall, her bright scarf, and her cute smile!

go check out her site!! http://www.abrianachilelliphotography.com/

thanks, abriana, for a great first meeting. i'm so excited to be colleagues with you in this fun, exciting, and challenging industry. can't wait to see where your journey leads!!

give-away!

2010-04-16T16:20:00.002-06:00

go {HERE} for an exciting give-away, and don't forget to follow along for more in the future!!

casey & diana {engaged!}

2010-04-14T16:21:00.000-06:00

they first met when diana moved in next door at the apartment complex. their friendship began with post-it notes stuck to the other's front door, and quickly blossomed into a courtship that forever changed them. jen & i had the pleasure of meeting casey & diana this week for an engagement session to document their love and their friendship. we had a great time running all over the lake loveland park, making pictures and getting to know each other a little better. we are even more excited now to shoot their june wedding! :)

one of the best things about diana is how much she laughs. it's infectious and relaxing!

we found a cute little porch at an office building where we took a breather and just relaxed for a few minutes. these pictures from the porch are some of my favorites.

the mountains and water are on grand display at this park, and it was the perfect "outdoorsy" setting that they requested!

thank you guys for braving the steep rocky terrain to get a little closer to the water :)

these two have been together for just over a year, and are CLEARLY crazy about each other.

casey is so sweet with his girl!

and doesn't her smile just make you smile?

thank you guys for a great evening and for trusting us with your photos. we can't wait to see you again for the big day!

to see more, click {here} for their slideshow.

heidi & jeremy {family}

2010-04-11T16:31:00.003-06:00

their families are becoming one next weekend and the excitement was palpable at their shoot. there was lots of laughter & goofing off with each other, but one thing was obvious - this is a crew who loves one another deeply. we met for heidi & jeremy's first family photos last week at roland moore park, on a gorgeous spring evening and documented their becoming "one big happy family" :) much love to you guys!!

their kids are just beautiful. tasia was one of my seniors last year and she rocked it out again for this shoot!

heidi did a great job coordinating everyone's outfit, didn't she? i always recommend bright colors and clothes you feel comfy in!

we had to have lots of opportunity for fun pictures too; young people can only take so much posing :)

you two are seriously perfect for each other. and awfully good looking to boot.

the tree was amazing, and the bridge, and of course the subjects :)
this was only my second time shooting at roland moore park and you can bet we'll be back....it's got great options!

this young boy is a HAM...he looks sweet here, but he was cracking us all up all evening, with his eye rolls and active imagination!

one of my faves from the shoot....jeremy & heidi are SO sweet to each other.

heidi, one word for you girl: GORGEOUS.

noah couldn't resist a few grass stains. he's a boy after all.

i love to watch this family interact; they laugh a lot together which is the key to happiness in my book.

thank you guys for letting me document your family in its glory. y'all are wonderful.

another sneak peek!

2010-04-09T18:00:00.001-06:00

meet my new friend, abriana. more about her coming up!

sneak peek {family}

2010-04-08T22:48:00.006-06:00

sneak peek from today's shoot....i'm so excited for heidi & jeremy's wedding next week. their "engagement session" was really just all about their sweet family (remember her!) and we had a great time running all over the park. they are all too cute! more up on the blog soon...

audrey lou {newborn}

2010-04-05T15:15:00.003-06:00

i teared up when i first met her, my second niece.

she had arrived just hours after my grandpa's passing, and brought with her much needed joy and promise. my grandma commented that she was loved instantly even though she had not yet done anything - and it reminded me of how pure unconditional love is and what hope really means to our family. we are so grateful for her life this week and i am incredibly thankful that i was there to meet her so soon.

blog world, meet audrey.

she looks so small in those big arms.

she has the same dimple on the left cheek that her sister has!

with her momma, my sister liz, who is so natural with her girls. it's truly beautiful to watch her parent them both.

i've always loved a baby with a binky. she's so tiny the newborn size still looked too big on her face!

she was just 48 hours old in this photo and her eyes didn't open much but we got a peek a couple times.

big feet for such a tiny thing :)

yours truly with the peanut.

i can't wait to watch her life unfold!

Snow Day {happiness}

2010-03-23T19:00:00.002-06:00

We are thoroughly enjoying our afternoon here in snowy Colorado. Yes, it was 65 yesterday. Yes, I'm very happy about this latest development. I love the snow!! I know it will be spring soon enough so I'm soaking this up. As in, sitting by the fire with a cup of coffee and two happy wet dogs next to me while the world turns white outside. Life is good.

Eleven for 2011.

2010-03-20T20:08:00.007-06:00

Half of the clothes I stressed over bringing, I never wore. Those cute flats? Killed my feet. The big bulky purse - not as comfy all day long, since it seems to accumulate a lot of heavy things and make the shoulders ache more than usual.

These are the things I want to remember for WPPI 2011. So I need to write them down. For my sake really, but feel free to follow along. Or add other tips. Maybe both :)

1. Buy a 12 pack of water bottles to stash in the hotel room. The Nalgene is too heavy for the conference, and while I love NOT supporting disposable plastic water bottles in real life - at WPPI it's way too convenient to be able to pitch them and their dead weight. And water is imperative - Vegas is dry, baby!!

2. Bring multiple chapsticks. Again with the dryness. And I'm from good ole dry altitude myself.

3. Pack comfy, cute, versatile clothes. Maybe one cute dress (which I didn't wear regardless, but maybe next year). Versatile is key. Cute jeans, comfy but nice shirts. Sweater for layers. The conference rooms are chill. And my goodness, take care of those feet. It was a 15 minute walk from our room to the conference center. The dogs were barking in my stylin' but terribly uncomfortable dress flats.

4. Bring a notebook for sure. So glad I read that tip somewhere pre-conference, because I used several pages up with notes on speakers and ideas for my biz. Super helpful.

5. Cash is a good thing to have plenty of. Makes a lot of things easier, like purchases at the Trade Show along with lunches out and cab or shuttle tipping. And save those receipts!

6. Study the Trade Show layout extensively before heading in and highlight the highlights! It's totally overwhelming (in a good way) and it was fantastic to be able to make sure we hit all our faves without much stress or running out of time. I highly recommend this.

7. Charge that phone every day, and multiple times a day. The conference rooms are black holes of cell phone service and the battery drained quickly. An extra charger or battery source is uber helpful.

8. RSVP to parties early when getting those online invites. We missed what could have been a fun party by The Knot because I waited too long, not knowing what my game plan was.

9. Definitely bring the laptop. Great to be able to do some normal online stuff between activities.

10. Speaking of gear, I did just fine with one camera and one lens - and never used the flash I brought (which happened to contribute to my bag's ridiculous heaviness). Loved getting some great pics and loved not having multiple lenses to drag around. Not that those wouldn't be useful for a more structured shoot though...

11. Spend some time researching the platform speakers before deciding on a class to attend - this would have helped narrow down some options for sure!

There are probably more things I'm forgetting......but most of all, have fun and leave those "I'm such a cool photographer" attitudes at home, like Jasmine Star recommended, and just be YOU :)

**oh and if you're just joining in - check out my 2010 project {here}. It's been such a blast!

WPPI {2010}

2010-03-11T18:36:00.004-07:00

I just got back from WPPI 2010 in sunny Las Vegas. I think the temperature was actually the same as I left in Colorado - hey, isn't Vegas supposed to be warmer? Anyway. It was my first year and the short version is, I'll be back next year. The longer version? Well thanks for asking!

I got to meet my sweet friend Erika Jackson there, and we had so much fun together. We laughed until we cried and then laughed some more, shot a bunch of photos together, walked a mile down the strip to see the Bellagio fountains at night, got a picture taken with one of our inspirations in wedding photography (we heart Jasmine Star), spent hours wandering the Trade Show, listened to so many fabulous speakers and photogs, ate ourselves silly on the expensive Vegas food, brainstormed business ideas, and made goals.

I left Wednesday morning wishing I had just a few more hours at the conference. I left with a million ideas and challenges. I left feeling inspired to take more chances, to fail a lot and succeed even more. I left feeling challenged to grow, as a photographer and as a person. I even joined Twitter! :) I left with the challenge to know my clients better, to look out for them more, to really make their day the best they could imagine (not just show up and shoot).

I left with a renewed passion for my business, and photography in general. This year is going to rock!

And now a few of my favorites from our photo shoot on the strip...we were both overdue for updated profile pics and had a blast making that happen.

Love these two that Erika caught of me in action.

Two of my faves - heels & my camera :)

We laughed. A lot.

Look at her eyes! She's the cutest.

In front of the {fake} Brooklyn Bridge. If only we were really in NYC together!

Bringing the sass.

We loved these yellow stairs, despite how BRIGHT they were in the sunlight. They matched my earrings!

I realized along the way that my photo preference seems to be verticals, so we forced some horizontals to stretch my comfort zone a little - and I love how this one turned out with the brick wall behind her!

Thanks, WPPI. You were good to us.

the taylor-gesells {family}

2010-02-23T17:18:00.004-07:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to catch up with my aunt Susan at her home in southern Illinois and shoot some family photos for her. We had a great time laughing together and enjoying their beautiful home & family time. Despite the cloudy February weather we managed to get some fantastic outside lighting afterall :)

Aren't they a good looking crew!

S&B are a great pair and so easy to hang out with. I had a blast with them!

And what a grand entrance to their home. It makes me crave the country...

Of course Junior the Cat had to be in a few shots with Harrison, which he was not thrilled about! He's planning his escape here.

Thank y'all for letting me shoot your photo session, and for the fantastic time just hanging out all evening. I'm lucky to be blessed with such a solid family and you guys are wonderful!

stacy & brian {married!}

2010-02-18T10:28:00.003-07:00

Between the holidays and some website updating, I somehow missed blogging about this sweet wedding from November! My apologies to Stacy & Brian!!

Their wedding was one of the most beautiful I've had the pleasure of shooting. Documenting their day was easy and fun and moving. I think it goes without saying that I love weddings. I love love! And I love the emotion and the tears and the smiles so big your face hurts afterwards. Theirs was filled to the brim with all of this and the hours passed too quick (I'm sure for them too!). We're already looking forward to the spring when the ground thaws here and we can get out for a Newlywed Session with the new Mr & Mrs.

And now, some of our favorites from their day.

Stacy, you rock girl. What a stunning bride you are!!

One of my favorite parts of their day was how involved their families were. Stacy's mom pinned on her gorgeous brooch and her dad helped her with the garter.

This little sweetheart stole the show with her smile, which was hard to come by at first (not too fond of the girls with the big black cameras!) but was worth the wait :)

The bridesmaids were amazing! It always makes our experience so much sweeter to feel so welcomed by the wedding party. And they did their job so well, helping Stacy & Brian navigate their day flawlessly.

The father walking his girl down the aisle.

Seriously can you just feel their love for each other?

This is my favorite shot of the day, as they were welcomed into their reception. I love the joy & pride on their faces.

You two are amazing together!

Love that the DJ got out on the floor to show the crowd some moves :)

A quiet moment near the end of their night...

Stacy & Brian, thank you so much for inviting us into this most beautiful day. We celebrate your love with you and we were so honored to get to document it. Best wishes for a long life by each other's side!

We can't wait to see you again this Spring......
Jess & Jen

Click {HERE} for their slideshow, set to their first dance song!

join us!

2010-02-16T18:01:00.002-07:00

check out our latest project...

Vista Bella Today.

let us know what you think!

november & december {babies}

2010-01-22T17:10:00.006-07:00

November & December 2009 were busy months for Vista Bella. Busy loving on babies and enjoying some much needed downtime with friends & family. We hope your holidays were wonderful as well and look forward to a bright and successful 2010!!

Here are some of the stars we got to spend time with the last couple months.

Starting off our November, this little guy turned ONE! He's my partner Jen's son and he is so much fun. He clearly loved his birthday cupcake...

Checking out his new toys.

Thank you to Jen for capturing this shot of me with my "nephew" :) He and I are buddies and I totally dig this picture.

December opened up with a visit from Alabama friends for a fun weekend in the mountains. Mister Chase was the star of the show and we got to sneak in a mini-photo-shoot one morning. He was happy to comply!

Could this little man be any sweeter? He tugged on my heart for sure.

And he was the cutest little snuggly bear ever. I loved getting to love on him all weekend!

Chase's little friend Lydia joined us too for some pictures. Love her headband. She makes me want a bunch of baby girls some day!!

Girl's gotta stay warm in these parts!

Christmas was spent in Missouri this year with my sweet family.

While there I got to catch up with my BFF April and her husband and big girl Ella, whose smile still stops me in my tracks! {THIS} is her just a year ago. How does she grow up so fast?

Working her art skills for us...

And oh my, this peanut is the best part of my life I think. My niece Laney stole my heart long ago, and spending time with her just rocks. {HERE} is her big blog debut. She just keeps getting better! Oh and my iPhone was the key to her happiness over my vacation home. She seriously works it as well as I do, little smarty pants.

Kicking back relaxing...

Best picture I have of her yet. Could she be any more precious in her pigtails and Cinderella too-big-heels? Love you Laney!

Happy New Year (finally!) from Vista Bella Photography!! We look forward to serving y'all in 2010.

the knechts {family}

2009-11-24T08:52:00.001-07:00

let me just tell you - this little family is the CUTEST! jen and i teamed up to photograph them a few weeks ago in october and we both fell in love with their little girls (and we already knew we loved alex & hannah). thank you, knechts, for trusting us with your family session!

love that this mama knows the trick with kiddo photography is for the adults to keep smiling and looking at the camera no matter what :)

they're a really sweet team.

could their big girl be any cuter?

nearing the end of the shoot, and the babies are still going strong! they did so well!

well, maybe there were a few grumbles ;)

this one of gentry is my favorite of jen's shots!

check out their slideshow {here}

thanks again guys! we had a blast with y'all!

the mcblairs {family}

2009-11-22T16:02:00.001-07:00

a few weeks ago, in the height of the fall leaves changing here, i got to catch up with the mcblair family for a family session. they have so much fun together and therefore, i had tons of fun shooting their portraits! we ran all over town to a few different locations to get just the right shots and they were all game for whatever i put them up to.

thanks, mcblairs, for trusting me for your family photos - i had a great time!!

their cute little girl melana hopped up on this rock and struck her pose - she is the best kind of client!! :) i didn't even suggest it to her, she is just model ready!

love the walking shots. something about the parents holding the kiddo's hands.

thanks to tanya for picking out this little park FULL of the bright red leaves. loved it.

and love that we stumbled upon this fountain in the middle of a neighborhood.

how cute are they together??

one of my very favorites.

i do love shooting in colorado, where trails and nature are aplenty. this awesome fallen tree was the perfect backdrop for a few shots - this is where i get to LIVE folks! :)

what a fantastic family. thank you guys again!

and to see their slideshow, click {here}.

courtney & luke {married!}

2009-11-21T15:43:00.001-07:00

at the end of october we had the privilege of shooting courtney and luke's fantastic scottish & orthodox wedding. complete with kilts, a bagpipe, and loaded with tradition theirs was the most beautiful day. we are constantly reminded how blessed we are to share in others' love and getting to shoot their wedding day such a huge honor.

so, thanks o'dells! hope scotland was wonderful to you!!

the sunflower bouquets were perfect for a fall wedding.

the girls getting made up!

little girls too :)

courtney was the smiley-est bride! we loved how she just radiated joy.

finishing touches...

and one of the glam bridesmaids!

luke waiting for the ceremony to start.

love this shot jen took of courtney with her dad pre-ceremony.

and this one too!

walking to meet her man.

what a beautiful dress! and their ceremony was so meaningful, i have to admit i teared up more than once ;)

love the kilts!

i love their expressions of quiet reflection. so great to be able to pause on your wedding day and take it all in. it goes so fast!

they walked around the table three times, their first steps as a married couple.

and now, pure thrill at being married!!

and he announced them into their ceremony.

along with the horse carriage!

my favorite picture from their day. love that luke donned a sword for the reception :)

cutest decorations ever. so much thought and intention went into their day, down to the smallest details.

courtney helping out the dj!

and working the air-guitar. great girls in her party!

living it up with their friends & family.

and at the end of the ceremony one special guest got up from his nap for a goodbye to the bride & groom :)

check out their slideshow {here}.

megan & chuck {engaged!}

2009-11-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

a few weeks back jen and i got to meet up with megan & chuck for a little engagement shoot. it was really fun to just hike around chautaqua state park in boulder and get to know them a little bit. they are the most loving couple, it's obvious they are best friends and have so much fun together and it rubbed off on us :) we're so excited for their big day next summer!!

here are some of our favorite shots...

could he be any sweeter with his girl?

we made it just in time to catch the last of fall's color. the park was so beautiful!

they are from the kansas city area and are getting married out in colorado, so they wanted engagement pictures that reflected their mountain theme. i think the flatirons did that well :)

as always, i'm a sucker for afternoon light. the golden hour for sure!!

love this one of them. classic and beautiful.

again with the sweet affection! they are so great. we can't wait to shoot their wedding...

congrats guys!! best wishes for the planning of your big day and we can't wait to see you again out here!

click {here} to see their slideshow.

the greens {family}

2009-11-11T09:53:00.002-07:00

the green family.

theirs was one of my most fun family shoots ever! i met up with the greens at a local fort collins park last week to sneak in some family pictures. it was the third time we'd had to reschedule (thanks to the ever-changing weather and an untimely black eye for ellie!) and we were blessed with perfect fall weather for their shoot. we had such a great time just laughing and chasing their little girl around, not to mention the antics of their two dogs! such a fun afternoon. here are some of my faves from their day...

loving on their baby girl...

we had a fun time feeding goldfish to the ducks!

one of my very favorite shots. they are the sweetest family.

another fave! there were too many to pick from!

the dogs behaved quite well overall :) the little one was a little camera shy but we pulled off a few shots with her actually looking at me.

isn't ellie just the most classic baby? she is so beautiful!

the afternoon light was so warm...perfect time to take pictures.

love this one!

i love toddler teeth. so cute.

the most candid pics are always my favorite. just getting to capture a family doing Life together is so cool.

thank you greens, your family is fantastic!!

their slideshow is {here}.