Volkel Image

NEW BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-20T23:56:00.003-06:00

It's been a good couple of years but we needed something with just a bit more... bigger, better, faster! Check out our new blog here: www.volkelimageblog.com

Bridalize Denver: Grand Opening Come Join Us!

2010-03-02T15:01:00.007-07:00

Okay I lied my last post was not my final one for this blog I have one more to share.... the Grand Unveiling of Bridalize Denver! Come join us this Thursday from 6-8pm. You can check out the store to see all the amazing vendors (and see some of our work as well). Below is the invite with the address. Click here to RSVP. Hope to see you there!

Assistant Photographer: Wedding with Jared

2010-02-14T14:29:00.006-07:00

This will be my final post... forever... on this blog. That's right I'm done with this old blog and on to bigger and better things. I had a few other opportunities to photograph with other photographers this past year but thought I'd finish out with this wedding with Jared Wilson of Jared Wilson Photography. The interesting thing about this wedding was that only a couple months prior I shot the wedding of the groom's cousin (Hanako & Eddie's Wedding up in Georgetown). Small world! Anyway, their wedding was held at the Gatehouse at Lionsgate Center way up north. Here are a few of the images I took at the wedding. Thanks Jared for the opportunity to shoot with you!

Assistant Photographer: Wedding with Dawn

2010-02-05T15:59:00.005-07:00

Here's another wedding I had the chance to second shoot for this summer. This one was with Dawn of Dawn Gioia Photography and was held at the Mount Vernon Event Center in Golden.

Look at all the bugs flying around in the grass!:

Assistant Photographer: Wedding & Engagement Session with Tyler

2010-01-31T15:30:00.008-07:00

Back in September I got the chance to shoot with Tyler Jones of Tyler Jones Photography for his wedding at the Inverness Hotel. Here's a few shots from that day:

Tyler asked me not to post this first photo but I just couldn't resist... sorry Tyler =)

This is a REAL photo- I did not photoshop the image into the lens:

We also headed up to Evergreen for a night engagement session with one of his couples. It was very COLD but I love some of the shots I took:

Assistant Photographer: Weddings with Ross

2010-01-30T14:34:00.003-07:00

Another great photographer and friend that I had the pleasure of photographing with this summer is Ross Bothwell of Elegant Images and Photographs. Here's just a few shots I took at one of the weddings I shot with him up at the Lionscrest Manor in Lyons, Colorado.

Assistant Photographer: Weddings with Erin

2010-01-26T16:56:00.012-07:00

We had a very busy year in 2009. Between some awesome weddings and portrait sessions and our Senior Rock Star Tour, we kept busy. One of my favorite things though is getting the opportunity to tag along with other photographers as a second shooter- whether it's for a wedding or a portrait session it's just fun to work with other great professionals and get to experiment a little with my photography catching a different perspective than I normally would as the main photographer- much like Michelle does for our own business.

This past year I had the chance to work with some amazing photographers and some great friends. On three separate occasions I tagged along with Erin Cady of Art & Soul Photography for various weddings. Below are some of my favorites or just different images that I want to share.

This first wedding was back in June up at The Aspen Mountain Lodge. Down the mountain was perfect weather but once we got up to the top the wind and snow started making for a very cold ceremony. The view was absolutely breathtaking though- making it all worth it.

This next wedding was in August. The ceremony was held at the Denver Botanic Gardens and then we traveled over to the Wellshire Inn for the reception.

This last one I shot with Erin back in October out in Calhan, Colorado. I absolutely love photographing this time of year near sunset with the warm glow.

The kids at this wedding were so flippin' cute!:

Bridalize Denver: Wedding Planning Made Simple

2010-01-20T16:51:00.009-07:00

Written by Michelle

Planning a wedding can pretty much become a full time job for most brides-to-be. You have to meet with vendor after vendor after vendor after vendor..... you get the idea. And sometimes, things don't always work out too well- you just don't mesh with them, the pricing isn't right, the product wasn't quite what you were looking for, and you have to start your search again. It can be an exhausting process. Wouldn't it be nice if someone came up with the brilliant idea of having all those vendors and resources in one location???? Well, that day has arrived and the location is Bridalize!

A few months back we were approached by the wonderful ladies over at Bridalize Denver- an awesome little boutique that was just opening up at the Village Shops at the Landmark in the Tech Center. One of our past brides had passed on our name to the girls and were wondering if we would be interested in adding our name to a short list of wedding photographers for brides to consider using for their big day. After hearing more about the shop and the services they would be providing to brides (for FREE- seriously no gimmicks it's really FREE) we were excited to participate.

Here's how it works. You get engaged and of course tell each and every one of your friends the great news. They offer up advice and names of companies they loved working with and those they didn't for their own big day. Some of those companies may work great for you while others just don't match your style/budget etc so you need more help. Rather than spending hours searching the internet for companies that could or could not be worth your time, Bridalize Denver is a one stop shop for all your planning. Everything from photography, to invitations, to a wedding planner, and much more- you can find it all at Bridalize. The shop's owner, Jessica, got this amazing idea while planning her own wedding not too long ago. It's such an exciting time in your life and for many people the planning of their big day can literally suffocate the fun out of it. She spent so much time and energy planning her wedding and searching the city over for trusted vendors she decided she wanted to help other brides by taking away much of that stress and research. All the vendors in the shop came by way of referral- from past brides or through other wedding professionals. No back alley, take your money and run shops- these are trusted professionals you can count on to be there for each of your wedding needs.

When we heard what this store was about we were so excited to participate. When I started the planning process over 7 years ago for our own wedding I would have loved to have had a resource like this available. I had several trusted companies that I worked with from referrals of friends/family that worked out wonderfully but for everything else it was up to me. And, while I loved the whole planning process I wasn't impressed with some of the vendors I found through the internet and yellow pages (yes I did say yellow pages- hey it was 7 years ago!) Our limo broke down on the way to our reception- making us an hour late which threw the entire evening off. The replacement limo they brought to pick us up had been out with a partying crowd the evening before and they didn't even bother to clean it up before bringing it to us- chicken bones and all! Then there was my wedding dress and the girls bridesmaids dresses. The shop closed down literally 2 weeks before I was to get my dress (for which I had waited almost 4-5 months for it to come in). I found out the dress I thought was a designer gown, and had paid for, was actually a knock off being sold as the designer. I was one of the fortunate few who did end up getting our dresses but there were many brides who lost their money and their dresses. It's from these experiences that I cannot recommend enough this great shop. If you or someone you know is planning their wedding please check out Bridalize. The website is just a glimpse into what they have available at the shop- visit them at the Village Shops at the Landmark: 5370 greenwood Plaza Blvd Ste 109, Greenwood Village CO 80111.

We went in the shop last week to take a look at everything now that they have the decor just about finished and all the vendors products to browse through. Here are some images we took of the shop while we were in there.

Here's one of the outside of the boutique:

And their sign:

What you see when you first step inside:

And another one:

I LOVE the furniture and they way they've decorated the place!:

Our area on the wall with our METAL prints:

Great area in the back for meetings:

It's Okay if You Don't Want to Hire Me =)

2010-01-16T01:40:00.003-07:00

Just tell me so.

I found this interesting post written by Lori Raines Calligraphy in Oregon and thought it was very fitting for those of us in the wedding industry as well as great advice for brides and grooms planning a wedding.

It goes like this:
You located me on the web or through a friend. You e-mail or call me, we take time to meet, if you’re a local bride, or talk over the phone or e-mail if you are in another state or cross country. You tell me what it is that you want my services for in your wedding or special event. I listen and tell you how I can help you out, lettering styles, colors, prices, timelines, etc. We agree that this looks good and can work, we have gotten along well in our initial meeting and you say you will get back with me with a firm decision in a couple of days, if not sooner.

A few days later I e-mail you to see how things are coming and if you have made a decision. Nothing.

A week now goes by and I send a second e-mail asking if you can let me know if you wish to reserve space on the calendar for my services. I hear nothing.

Now, by this time I should take a hint, but I think to myself, “What if finals have her really busy, or there’s a family issue and she’s just not been able to get time away to e-mail or call.” I also don’t want any lack of follow-up on MY part to be taken as “she doesn’t care” or laziness. Like many business owners, I am hyper-critical of myself in business situations, so I worry about everything.

Don’t worry, I KNOW what happened. You simply changed your mind about paying the budget and not needing my services, or you found another vendor that you “clicked with”. Not a worry! I totally understand that this happens. This is business. I have competition. There are budgets. I understand. But all I am asking is this: Tell me your final decision so I can adjust my schedule accordingly. Also, by telling me WHY you chose someone else, I can adjust my business and approach, the way I present things to potential clients. It’s a learning process for me, not a personal slam. You won’t hurt my feelings. Constructive criticism is necessary to grow and learn. You don’t have to phone to tell me, just drop me a line and say you will be going with someone else and why. Just say SOMETHING and don’t worry about detailing it out. It’s not necessary. Feedback is good and necessary for the growth of my business. I guarantee you, there are hundreds of thousands of other wedding professionals that will agree with me–it just takes an e-mail to let us know the how and why you decided to book with someone else. And it doesn’t leave us wondering.

That’s my request to all brides and grooms out there and I am certain that any wedding vendor you call on will agree that they would like to know why you chose someone else. How else can we improve if we never know what we are doing wrong?

Tim & Francy Photo Booth Slideshow

2010-01-06T19:16:00.013-07:00

For Tim and Francy's 25th Anniversary party we set up a photo booth so people could have fun taking pictures all night. We put one of our cameras on a tripod, put up some lights, and using a remote trigger people could take as many pictures of themselves as they wanted all without a photographer. Pretty cool! Here's a slideshow of the photos people took throughout the evening:

25th Anniversary Celebration- Tim & Francy

2010-01-04T19:11:00.023-07:00

A week before Christmas we had the opportunity to photograph a surprise party to celebrate Tim & Francy's 25th Wedding Anniversary. They held the party at the Green Gables Country Club and the room was absolutely gorgeous! The lighting, the flowers, everything was beautiful and perfect for a black tie affair. It was a surprise party for the guests of honor so part of the fun was in catching all of the family and guest's expressions as they anxiously awaited Tim and Francy's arrival. When they arrived and opened the doors they were greeted by all their family & friends and I loved their reaction to it all! How awesome that their family would put together something this special to celebrate their marriage!

Between the dancing, a slideshow of Tim & Francy's old photos, Tim and his singing buddies who call themselves "4 Higher" singing a few songs, and the photo booth we set up for guests to take fun photos of themselves, it was a great evening!

Here are some photos from the events that night. Check back for some more photo booth pictures in another post.

Some detail shots of the location, flowers, table settings etc:

Everyone awaiting the couple's arrival:

Love this one with Francy in the background and her reaction to it all:

The happy couple watching a slideshow of photos of their years together put together by their daughter-in-law Nichole:

Their son toasting Tim & Francy:

Tim and the guys singing for everyone- they were awesome!:

Love this one of the two of them dancing together:

And this one too:

The girls hitting the dance floor:

This one is hilarious of their son:

Everyone together for a big group shot:

A teaser of shots from the photo booth:

One of Carmen and Nichole acting goofy- thank you girls for putting this together and allowing us the opportunity to photograph it:

Guys Night Out: Painting with Light

2010-01-01T13:44:00.007-07:00

A few days before the new year, a few us us chums decided to have a guys night out and shoot something that was very new to me- Painting with light! It's pretty cool all you do is set up your camera with a wireless trigger on a tripod (yes my tripod is ghetto), set it to a very long exposure, then run around with either LED lights- or in our case lightsabers- and create some really cool unique pics. Thanks to Ross for setting this up! There were 4 of us guys (Ross Bothwell, Tyler Jones, Zach Wear and myself) willing to run around downtown in the middle of winter and freeze our butt's off!! This is definitely something we will do again.. but next time in the summer!

Day 12: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-29T16:32:00.020-07:00

On the 12th day of pictures my camera gave to me... favorite unexpected moment with the bride & groom.

This one comes from Becky & Neal's wedding this past August. We were taking the bride & groom portraits out the dock when I shot this image. It was supposed to be some nice portraits of the two of them but the dock was open to residents for fishing off of or for accessing the boats so we weren't the only ones there. While we were taking pictures this little boy fishing off the dock was wondering what was going on and was looking over at the two of them. He was close enough to the two of them I just had to snap this one with him in it. It ended up being one of my all time favorite images ever!

Day 11: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-29T16:32:00.019-07:00

On the 11th day of pictures my camera gave to me... favorite getting ready moments.

I love catching those moments leading up to the wedding. Whether it's of the guys hanging out, the girls surrounding the bride trying to calm her down, or those funny moments that happen before the bride walks down the aisle. Here are two moments that I caught in the bride's room prior to the wedding that are some of my favorites!

This one is from Brandy & Bill's wedding. Brandy is such a crack up- this picture totally brings out her personality. She was putting her earring in and her expression was priceless.

Almost every wedding venue I've ever shot at seems to have issues with air conditioning in the bridal suite. I guess they figure the bride would have no reason to get a little warm the day of her wedding- not like she'd have any reason to be a bit nervous or anything right? Anyway, this picture from Melissa & Adam's wedding sums up exactly what it feels like to be stuffed in the bridal suite the day of a wedding.

Day 10: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-29T16:32:00.018-07:00

On the 10th day of pictures my camera gave to me... favorite "first look" moments.

The tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other before the wedding began back in days of arranged marriages. The bride's family hid her away from the groom and under a veil until the marriage was official for fear that the groom would take one look at his bride to be and run the other way if he didn't find her attractive.

Today, most marriages are no longer arranged and many brides & grooms are abandoning tradition and superstition and seeing each other before the wedding. And, when they do we like to set up a "first look" where we can capture both the bride's and groom's expressions when they see each other for the first time. Here are two favorites from a couple first look moments.

This one is from Jen & Ryan's wedding this past September.

And this one was from Tammy & Greg's wedding the same weekend as Jen & Ryan's.

Day 9: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-24T23:52:00.004-07:00

On the 9th day of pictures my camera gave to me... hilarious moments.

Here are two pictures from moments this year that brought tears to my eyes from laughing.

This one was from Alyssa & Matt's day after session. They were running up out of the water onto the beach for this series of photos and while doing so Matt tripped and almost took the two of them down in the process. Alyssa was laughing so hard even though they almost did a face plant into the sand- it was too funny.

This photo I took at Hanako & Eddie's wedding before the traditional garter removal. Eddie had a special dance he wanted to do for his "spotlight moment" during the wedding. There were a few shocked faces in the crowd as he did a semi strip tease but mostly tears brought on by laughter. It was probably one of the funniest moments I've ever witnessed at a wedding (don't worry it was completely clean and no skin was revealed in the process).

Day 8: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-23T18:06:00.006-07:00

On the 8th day of pictures my camera gave to me... my favorite photos of the groom dipping the bride.

Often times as a way to get couples comfortable in front of the camera I'll have them dance together. It's a great way to loosen up, makes for some great movement photos, and occasionally if people feel goofy while dancing to no music you'll get some great laughs out of it. I'll also tell them to dip the bride back sometime during their dance. While it can be a challenge to do right (and in that case makes for some great laughing moments between the bride and groom) if they pull it off it makes some awesome photos. Here are two of those moments during our time with the bride & groom.

This image goes all the way back to the beginning of the year at Erin & Jared's wedding taken outside of Coors Field. I absolutely love this shot of the two of them!

And this one was taken at our final wedding of the season with Jenn & Patryk. It was getting a little darker outside so the entry lights had come on and the resulting image is one of my favorites.

Day 7: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-22T23:43:00.006-07:00

Day 7: On the 7th day of pictures my camera gave to me... sunset photos.

This category was a bit difficult for me because I have so many images that are my favorites. These three really stood out to me though because of how different each one turned out using the light at the end of the day.

This first one was from Angela & Robert's Wedding at the Buell Mansion. It was right after their ceremony and I saw the way the light was coming in and had to pull the two of them over for a few shots before we lost this awesome light. I shot directly into the sun which created more of a hazy glare blowing out the background but casting a warm glow over the two of them- love it!

This next one I took at Brandy & Bill's Wedding outside the Stanley Hotel. It was pretty much the exact same time of day as the photo above but I changed my angle a bit and stood Brandy & Bill close to each other to have the light glow behind them creating a completely different look. This set of photos turned out beautiful.

This last photo was taken back in July at Melissa & Adam's Wedding. They had a 7 pm ceremony so by the time we started photos with the two of them the sun had almost completely set except for an awesome orange glow remaining in the sky just as the last bit of light was vanishing. Zach Wear of Revert Imaging came along for this wedding and assisted me in setting up some off camera flash to get this image. I love the way these turned out with the orange sky as the backdrop.

Day 6: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-22T00:11:00.004-07:00

Day 6: On the 6th day of pictures my camera gave to me... favorite father/daughter moment.

This one comes from Hanako & Eddie's Wedding up at Shadows Ranch in Georgetown this past May. Before walking down the aisle, Hanako, her parents, and her bridesmaids took a carriage ride around the lake. I caught this moment between Hanako and her dad right after they got in the carriage. The look on both of their faces says everything.

Day 5: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-22T00:01:00.005-07:00

Day 5: On the 5th day of pictures my camera gave to me... favorite first dance.

This one is from Jenn & Patryk's Wedding just a little while back in October. I did actually post this image on their sneak peek on the blog but I still just love this photo so thought I'd share it again:-)

Day 4: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-21T23:43:00.008-07:00

Day 4: On the 4th day of pictures my camera gave to me... favorite moment between the bride and groom. This particular topic could probably span across every wedding I've shot but I love this image especially. Melissa & Shelby had great chemistry between them- you could really tell they're meant for each other. I love this image in particular because of both the location and how they stood leaning into each other. They were married at the Crystal Rose in Denver which is located in between several office buildings- something that you may not see as photo worthy at first glance but the reflection the building created made for some beautiful images!

Day 3: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-18T22:56:00.008-07:00

Day 3: On the 3rd day of pictures my camera gave to me... the favorite first kiss.

In July Michelle & I had an awesome opportunity to travel to Jamaica for Alyssa & Matt's wedding on the beach in Ocho Rios. Between the beautiful surroundings & a beautiful couple it was impossible to take a bad photo during their wedding and this is just one example of that.

This next photo was from Marci & Mark's wedding at DU's Evan's Chapel. I love the look of this little chapel! Michelle shot this image and it's awesome!

Day 2: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-17T19:39:00.008-07:00

Day 2: On the 2nd day of pictures my camera gave to me... a goofy groom and his groomsmen. For anyone who has met me you know that I'm kind of a goof myself- okay not kind of I really am. I love it when people let their guard down and are willing to have fun and just act a bit silly. Here are two perfect examples of that.

This first image was from Kristie & Matt's wedding in July. They were married at the Arvada Center which has all sorts of sculptures inside and outside the building which made for some cool pictures. When I saw this sculpture I thought it would be funny to have the guys try to pose just like it. They obviously agreed to pose for it and I love the way the photo turned out- I was cracking up!:

This one was taken with Neal and the guys at Becky & Neal's wedding. Their wedding was held right near the dock to the lake which made for an awesome backdrop for photos. This one obviously had nothing to do with the scenery though. There were a few people fishing along the dock and one of Becky's brothers suggested a photo with the guys fishing. With the guys' pasted smiles and pointing towards the water it really made for the perfect "cheesy posed" picture- I love it!:

Day 1: 12 Days of Pictures- Favorite Wedding Moments of 2009

2009-12-16T18:41:00.008-07:00

Last year we thought it would be fun to post 12 days of pictures as a year in review of some of our favorite images. It was so much fun we thought we'd do it again! This time however, we thought we'd try something a bit different and choose a different theme or topic for each day. We had some awesome weddings this past year and are so grateful to each of our couple's that let us capture their big day! Check back each day for a new post.

Day 1: On the 1st day of pictures my camera gave to me... some favorite images of Colorado weather. I figured since we are in Colorado and it's near Christmas time it's only fitting to start this series of 12 days of Pictures with images that represent our drastic changes from the Colorado weather. If you want to be a photographer in Colorado you better come prepared on a wedding day- you never know if that 60 degree heat could become snow in a matter of hours or if the 102 degrees from the summer sun could lead to an afternoon thunderstorm.

This first image is from all the way back in January of this year at Cathy & Cody's Wedding. The ground may have been snow free just a few days before their wedding but it came in the day before leaving some behind for their big day. Cathy borrowed some boots to wear under her dress while we took some pictures outside but apparently they were so comfortable she left them on through the rest of the night. Here's the two of them walking along the street with her boots, the snow on the ground, and someone getting rid of their Christmas tree in the car behind them:

This image is among a group of some of my absolute favorites ever! I'd always wanted to photograph in fog and while it's not the easiest thing to photograph it sure makes for some great images. We could barely see 10 feet in front of us while driving to Kacey & Jay's wedding that day back in May but we were really glad when the fog stuck around to take some awesome images in it!:

Why Hire A Professional? Article Featured in Seattle Bride

2009-12-11T00:12:00.014-07:00

I was browsing through some websites and came across this great article written by Cody Ellerd in Seattle Bride Magazine. With tough economic times many people are resorting to having a "friend who dabbles in photography" photograph their wedding. Cody Ellerd's article points out the differences between hiring that "friend" and a professional from a personal perspective of being that "friend". Here is a link to the original article on their webpage: Seattle Bride

Issue Date: Fall/Winter 2009
PHOTOGRAPHY
By Cody Ellerd

Photography by Cody Ellerd (bottom photos) and John & Joseph Photography (top photos)

I consider myself a pretty good amateur photographer. I’ve taken a couple of classes, I have a nice Nikon D60 and, as a professional travel writer, I’ve even had a few of my shots make magazine covers and pages. If you didn’t budget for a professional photographer at your wedding, I’m the friend you might call to take pictures.

So when Seattle Bride sent me to the late-winter wedding of Vicky Wu and Chris Nicoll to shoot alongside Joey Hong of John & Joseph Photography, a local award-winning team of two brothers who have been shooting commercial, fashion and wedding photography for more than eight years, I was curious to see how well I could keep up with a seasoned pro.

From the moment we started shooting in the bride and groom’s room at Hotel 1000, I was floored. “Vicky, look down at your shoulders…put a gentle smile on your lips. Chris, look straight at my lens—no, smile. Relax your forehead.” Joey’s attention to such minute detail went way beyond “Say cheese” and brought out the couple’s absolute best. He knew how to manipulate the room’s light and reflective surfaces in ways I never would have dreamed of, transforming what I thought was an unremarkable setting into a photo studio with endless possibilities.

Joey commanded family portraits with a gentle control and confidence that only comes from years of experience. He had the right flashes and steadiness of hand for getting great dance photos, while I snapped shot after blurry shot in a mild panic that my precious memory space was quickly dwindling. I was giving it my best, and in a few instances it showed: an inside shot of Vicky simply glowing in the window’s natural light; a close-up kiss in the sunlight where the couple wore the sweetest smiles. But when those spontaneous moments that are here and gone in the blink of an eye happened, Joey caught them with lightning speed, while I lost many of them to improper focus or exposure.

I now disagree more than ever with the digital-age adage that “now everyone is a photographer.” Tens of thousands of dollars in education, equipment and experience separate me from the pros. Professional photographers, like any other artists or business owners, need to spend money to make money. When you hire them, you’re helping them pay for their investments.

“Photography is a very equipment-intensive business, and the equipment is expensive,” says Scott Squire of NonFiction Weddings, a Seattle-based photography team with 10 years of experience. To each wedding, he and his partner bring six or seven top-drawer lenses, a handful of strobes, three camera bodies, one backup and innumerable accessories. (In contrast, if my equipment had failed, my backup would have been my camera phone.)

Staying on top of new technology in the digital age is its own challenge, one that takes a professional commitment and expense. “The rate of change [in digital media] can be stupefying,” laughs longtime Seattle-based wedding photographer Sharlane Chase. She keeps up with the flow of information at annual weeklong workshops and seminars, and it shows in her final product.

On a side note, like all of you reading this magazine, I also happen to be planning my own wedding. My fiancé and I are on a tight budget and had planned to take a gamble and hire an amateur photographer friend. Now? We’re determined to find a way to get a pro.

Vicky and Chris would have been pretty disappointed if I had been their only photographer. If anyone ever does ask me to take pictures at their wedding, I’ll be happy to show up with my Nikon, and I may even take the best disposable-camera shots of the whole night. I just hope someone like Joey is there, too.

“This was such a cute moment, totally unscripted,” Ellerd remembers. “They bumped fists and it was clear it was a little habit of theirs, one that conveyed their friendship. Joey was right there to catch it while I was fumbling with my focus ring.”

“This image is so painfully inferior,” says our rogue photographer Cody Ellerd about her image. “My angle is bland while Joey’s is creative. His is crisp and perfectly exposed, while mine is washed out and grainy. Joey knew exactly how to take advantage of the sense of motion created by this cool backdrop at Hotel 1000.”

“The couple was getting a little photo fatigued,” Ellerd says, “but Joey turned it into a beautiful and intimate shot. I thought there was enough light, but without using a flash and spoiling the cool light bouncing off the building behind them, I couldn’t get my hand quite steady enough.”

For this “exit shot,” the clarity and color of Joey’s shot versus Ellerd’s is evident. “Notice the white car in front of Chris and Vicky,” Ellerd says. “Joey magically made it disappear—I’m not even gonna try.”

Gift Cards for Christmas!

2009-12-09T17:21:00.005-07:00

Still looking for that gift for someone for Christmas? How about the gift of pictures?! We now are offering gift cards in increments of $50, $100, and $200. They can be used towards a portrait session, wedding photography services, or a wide range of prints & products such as gallery canvas wraps, albums, and metal prints. If you're a recent bride and looking for a great gift for mom and dad (such as a parent album) this is perfect for that. If you are interested please contact us for details. Click to purchase your gift cards online. You'll need to enter Promotional Code: Tax (case sensitive) in order to purchase. Here's a few images of the various cards (sorry cute penguins are not included).

Book Cover Photo Shoot with Michele

2009-12-01T17:26:00.008-07:00

A few weeks ago we had a really cool opportunity to photograph some images that will be used for the cover of a book that is currently in the works. The book is going to be about the new energy economy entitled "Modern Energy Movement" written by Michele Ashby of Mine LLC. We got connected with Michele through Sarah Edgell of Edgellworks, Inc who will be designing the cover for the book. We had a great time getting to meet both of them and photographing Michele for the cover. This was something brand new for us and we can't wait to see which image makes the cover once it is published and released. We thought we'd take a few different directions with the images. Rather than the typical "green" cliche photo Sarah & Michele wanted to do something that still will push the reader in that direction without it being a typical photograph since Michele is not typical either. Michele is a very inspirational person- among other accomplishments she has traveled around the world, started her own company, and is the founder of Dani's Foundation in memory of her daughter. It was an absolute pleasure getting to work with her and we wish her the best in the success of her book.

Senior Rock Star Tour 2009

2009-11-20T13:52:00.016-07:00

Now that wedding season has officially ended for 2009 I thought I'd share some other exciting projects and photo shoots we had the chance to be a part of this summer. We had a crazy year packed full of weddings and portrait sessions with our own business that kept us very busy starting in January. I also had the opportunity to work with several other amazing photographers in the area with assisting at weddings they were photographing. For now though, I'd like to share some photos from a really fun new venture we got involved in with 4 other photography studios for senior portraits. I shared a little about the group earlier this summer but thought it would be nice to show some of the images we took during the two tour dates in June and July. I can't say enough just what a great time not only the seniors had during our tours but the photographers had as well. We had students from not only the entire Denver area, but students from Durango and even all the way from Ohio as well! We are hoping to be able to possibly add a few more tours next year to the schedule and can't wait to do this again. If you have a high school student who will be a senior next year or know someone who does check out the website at www.seniorrockstar.com to see what it's all about and to hear what some of the seniors from this year had to say about it. Below are just a handful of images Michelle and I took from both tours. It was so cool to see how well everyone got along- you'd never know many of them had just met the day of the tour and walked away with new friends!

Getting all pretty for the shoot:

Everyone "vogue":

Dawn working the perfect shot:

Allison showing the image she just took:

The twins laughing because I made them do this goofy pose:

No photographer was harmed during the production of this image:

Typical Ross- never without his camera to catch EVERY moment:-) :

More of the girls getting all prettied up for their pictures:

We had some fun too:

The mini train at Heritage Square just happened to pass by right as we were taking photos. Love the guy waving in the background:

Not afraid to act a little goofy:

Photography 101

2009-11-07T17:30:00.007-07:00

Here is a great video Get Married put out talking about some basic things to remember when choosing your photographer. I'm so glad they mentioned that finding your photographer right after booking your location is so important. So often people forget to start looking for their photographer until after they've spent a majority of their budget only to find out that photography is one of the more expensive costs of a wedding. In the end they end up not having enough to afford the photographer they really want and sacrifice quality for their budget. If you book your photographer at the beginning you can make sure you have someone who will capture your day the way you want and then work through the rest of the details with the remaining budget. After all, your photos are what you have left when the wedding is over. Check out the video here: Photography 101

Jenn & Patryk's Wedding: Cielo at Castle Pines

2009-11-02T17:25:00.009-07:00

Last month before all the snow came in and changed our fall into winter we ended our busy wedding season with Jenn & Patryk's wedding at the Cielo at Castle Pines. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for an October wedding in Colorado. You may remember Jenn & Patryk from their engagement session earlier this summer up at Red Rocks. We were really looking forward to their wedding after their engagements. They are such an awesome couple and were a pleasure to work with. As our last wedding of the season we couldn't have asked for a better ending! Not only did we have a great couple and beautiful weather but it was fun to photograph at a brand new location that just opened up this year. The Cielo had to have had the best bridal suite I've ever seen at a wedding venue. We got some beautiful photos of Jenn before the wedding in the suite. Not to mention the grand staircase that definitely made for a nice entrance as they were announced as husband and wife. Thanks guys for an amazing end to our wedding season and we wish you the best!

Love the gold on the bottom of Jenn's shoes:

Snuck this one of Jenn's adorable niece picking up the flower petals during the ceremony:

Probably one of my favorite first dance photos ever!:

Sarah & Taylor's E-Session Downtown

2009-10-24T00:07:00.012-06:00

About a month ago we photographed Sarah & Taylor's engagement session downtown. We were really excited to work with these two after meeting them at Becky & Neal's wedding back in August. Taylor is Becky's brother and Sarah was Becky's maid of honor. While planning the location for their engagement session, Sarah mentioned that both she and Taylor would really like to do something with a baseball/softball theme since both of them played in high school. We ended up at a field close to Commons Park which was a perfect location for their photos. Near the park was this awesome little grove of trees- you'd never guess you were downtown by the looks of it. After taking a few photos at the softball field we walked around until it starting getting dark. I'd been really wanting to do some night photography with a couple and Sarah & Taylor said they be more than happy to be guinea pigs. Here's a few of my favorite images from our day.

McMahon Family Portraits at Red Rocks

2009-10-20T11:31:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of meeting the McMahon family up at Red Rocks for a family portrait session. They were referred to us by the awesome Kristie & Matt so we knew they were going to be a great family to work with. Anyone who has worked with us in the past knows we never put timers on our sessions. It's something that makes us different than many photographers out there but I feel it's important to give people whatever time they need to get comfortable in front of the camera. Kids especially need that time every now and then so we make sure to allow for it at every session we do. The McMahon family warmed right up to the camera though- the kids were great! We had a wonderful time with all of them at their session. It's was funny to watch their youngest, Rileigh Rose do whatever her older brother's did, she could jump off the rocks just like the boys. Here are just a few images we caught throughout the day. If you'd like to see more samples of family portraits check out our portrait website.

Brandy & Bill's Wedding at St Malo's & The Stanley Hotel

2009-10-17T15:46:00.008-06:00

I can't believe it's already fall! Where did the summer go? We had a busy, busy, busy wedding season this year and have so many more things to share with everyone that we can't wait to post. But for now here is one of our last weddings we shot this summer with Brandy & Bill up in Estes Park. The wedding was held at the beautiful St Malo church which has some of the most spectacular views and then the reception was held at the historical Stanley Hotel. Jackie Vorheis of Blissful Happenings (blissfulhappening@gmail.com) coordinated the event and did a beautiful job- we hope to work with her again in the future!

Fall is my favorite time of year with all the colors and these two got married just as the leaves were beginning to change in the area. We've had a great time getting to know Brandy & Bill starting with their engagement session last fall, Brandy's Bridal Fashion session this summer and then their wedding. They are just a great couple and so much fun to hang around we're just a little bummed their wedding is over, but maybe family pictures in the future? Here's some of the shots of the day.

Love this one of Brandy up on the stage leading the "YMCA":

Jen & Ryan's Labor Day Weekend Wedding

2009-10-08T14:57:00.009-06:00

I know this post is LONG overdue but here is the second half to our labor day wedding weekend with Jen & Ryan's wedding in Platteville. The day was beautiful and the wedding was held at a cool little place out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. We don't have too many sunflowers down in the southern suburbs so I love it when we go up north and you can see sunflowers growing on the side of the road and fields of them here and there. The wedding site was situated in between a single lane road that just seemed to go on forever, an irrigation ditch with sunflowers growing everywhere, and a open field to a neighboring farm- it was such a cool place for pictures! Jen & Ryan decided to see each other before the ceremony so we got some great shots of the two of them and their bridal party before the wedding utilizing each area of the site. We had such a great time with these two and are so glad we got to photograph their big day. Here are just a few favorite shots of the day- enjoy!

The infamous "Sara phone shot" that started all the way back at Juliana & John's wedding in 2007:

Tammy & Greg's Wedding at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch

2009-09-30T11:11:00.010-06:00

Every year over Labor Day weekend our schedule is busy with weddings and this year was no exception. Our wedding weekend began on Saturday with Tammy & Greg's wedding up at the YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch. It's been sad to see how much the area near Winter Park & Granby has been affected by the beetle kill but even with all the dead trees in the area the ceremony site had to have had one of the most beautiful backdrops for a wedding. At the edge of the hill with a wooden cross against the mountains it definitely makes it up there on my list of favorite wedding locations. Michelle got some great images with her wide angle lens of what the guests saw during the ceremony- it was awesome!
Our day started with a few shots of the guys getting ready before we headed down to the girls cabin. At first the weather was perfect until right as we set up Greg for their "first look" as Tammy walked up behind him and the wind came in with force trying to bring in the rain with it but fortunately after just a few big raindrops the rain held for the rest of the day. Tammy was such a good sport about the whole thing and said "that's just what comes with an outdoor mountain wedding". Michelle has been feeling so much better these last few weeks that she was able to photograph also during the times where I didn't need her assistance. I thought it would be fun to show a few shots that we took at the same time from different perspectives. We had a great time with Tammy and Greg and are so grateful for the opportunity to capture their amazing day. God Bless!

Here's when Tammy & Greg first saw each other before the wedding- ending in a kiss:

I love this picture of the two of them laughing:

Aren't their pet guinea pigs so cute?!:

There was this cool pile of dead trees on the side of the road heading to the reception and made for some cool photos:

Here's the shot I took of them sitting in the field:

And here's the same shot from Michelle's perspective:

Here's another one I took of Tammy:

And Michelle's version of the same shot:

Got this shot right as one of the guest's flashes went off which made for a pretty cool picture:

Bridal Fashion Shoot with Becky

2009-09-22T21:38:00.008-06:00

A few weeks ago we photographed a bridal fashion session with Becky at the Cherry Creek Reservoir. The day started out just fine until the sky looked like it was going to pour for the rest of the day and ruin the hours we'd spent at the hair salon and having her makeup done. We were glad though when only clouds stuck around and didn't bring the rain with it. Michelle came up with a great idea a while back after seeing the Taylor Swift video for Love Story. We decided it would be fun to do our trash the dress/bridal fashion sessions with a theme if people wanted to, so when Becky suggested the look of Audrey Hepburn we loved the idea. Finding the right dress for the occasion was not as easy but she had a few dresses that when matched with the hair and makeup worked great to fit right in to our 20's, 30's, 40's theme. You may remember Becky from her & Neal's wedding back in August- she's been a blast to work with and we were so glad we got to take more photos for her. I've been wanting to test out my skills at off camera lighting at night so we started the photos a little bit later in the day and finished with some really cool shots with some of the lights near the marina. Contact us if you are interested in a bridal fashion/trash the dress session- they are a lot of fun!

Angela & Robert's Wedding at the Buell Mansion

2009-09-14T13:46:00.010-06:00

Angela & Robert were married a few weeks back on August 29th at the Buell Mansion in Cherry Hills Village. We were so excited to be able to photograph their wedding at such an exclusive location- not to mention they are an awesome couple! They were another great couple referred to us by Ladonna & Ryan and we've been so blessed to have worked with them. The day was gorgeous, the location was gorgeous, every detail was gorgeous- and of course the couple was too:-) Bella Fiori provided their flowers for the wedding and did a beautiful job- I would definitely recommend them if you are looking for a florist for your wedding! I had trouble deciding which photos to show so there's a few more than usual- enjoy!

Her Priscilla of Boston designer gown was awesome!:

The guys hanging out before the wedding:

Angela looking stunning as usual- and she thinks she isn't good at posing... ha!:

Just a random photo of Robert and the ladies next to the big tacky yellow street sweeper:

Love this one of Angela!:

And... this one too:

I few things I LOVE. and a few things I DON'T.

2009-09-08T09:15:00.009-06:00

This is not a typical post for me but I thought I would share some things on my mind. After all this is a blog post and people are to blog about their life, right?!

So here are a few things that I LOVE and DON'T about being in the photography business.
-I LOVE that my Wife Michelle has been feeling a little better to start shooting again. I Love her point of view and the way she sees things I don't. Here's to the best assistant I'll ever have. Love ya.
-I DON'T like it when your going to get that perfect shot and either the coordinator or the officiant tap you on the shoulder and tell you you have to "move, in order to preserve the specialness of the moment" Well there goes the picture to remember that "moment."
-I LOVE when the mom is glancing over at her daughter and smiling while shooting the formals.
-I DON'T like it when I try to put the lens cap back on your lens and it falls to the floor, making a loud noise when everything's quiet. "D'oh!"
-I LOVE my 50mm 1.2 L Lens. Can you say Bokah?!
-I LOVE hanging out with our clients, going to church with them, playing Lego's with their first child, and when they are no longer clients but friends!
-I DON'T like that I get too hot to wear sweater vests in the heat of summer, even though I look great in them. ha=)
-I DON'T like it when the vendor meals are stale and cold. We gotta eat too!
-I LOVE it when the Bride & Groom send you an invitation to their wedding, even though they know you'll already be there.
-I LOVE when a B&G can tell their friends "we loved our photographers!"

Well I could go on and on but that's enough for now. These are just a few things that I thought I'd share with all of you. And since a post is never complete without a picture here is a cute kitten I found online to enjoy!

Senior Portraits with Ryan

2009-09-07T12:39:00.011-06:00

A couple weeks back we photographed Ryan's Senior photos up at Red Rocks and then in Downtown Morrison. Ryan will be graduating early this December and heading off to college while the rest of his class finishes their final semester- way to go Ryan! Ryan has an interest in photography so it was fun talking about cameras and photos with him. We had a great time during the shoot. Here's just a few from his session. Good luck Ryan!

Tammy & Greg's Downtown E-Session

2009-08-27T22:09:00.007-06:00

A few weeks back Michelle and I headed downtown to Union Station for Tammy & Greg's engagement session. Having spent many years living down near Union Station, the area held special meaning for the two of them. With Tammy & Greg we spent the afternoon around Union Station and then headed over the bridge to the Commons Park area. It was the first time we photographed on that side of the Millennium Bridge so it was fun to go somewhere new. I love the shot we got of the two of them near sunset with just their silhouettes against the sky while they stood on the strange brick art structure- whatever it is =) It's so much fun to watch people become more and more comfortable in front of the camera as we get further into the session. By the end it's easy to forget the camera is even there and those are always some of my favorite images. These two are getting married next month just outside of Winter Park and we can't wait to photograph their wedding. Oh and thank you to Stephanie Osborne for the referral!

Becky & Neal's Wedding: Grant Ranch

2009-08-22T22:21:00.008-06:00

Two Saturday's ago Becky & Neal were married at the Grant Ranch Clubhouse. The location was perfect for a wedding- located right off a lake with an awesome dock and beautiful scenery. We convinced the two of them to see each other before the ceremony since it wouldn't be over until near sunset. We got some amazing photos with both Becky & Neal as well as all their family and bridal party before the wedding. I have to say that the photos on the dock with the boats in the back are some of my all time favorites! Following the ceremony we took a few more photos with the bridal party and the two of them out front of the clubhouse. While we were taking photos a passerby driving a sweet old Ford was kind enough to stop and allow us to use his car for some pictures. What perfect timing that he just happened to be driving by. It was perfect, especially considering that Neal is a car man and builds old cars for fun. In fact he even brought out a floor creeper when it came time to taking off the garter (for those of you who don't know what that is- it's what mechanics use to crawl under cars for repairs and such). Here's just a sneak peak of their wedding. Becky and Neal are such a great couple and we are so glad for the opportunity to work with them- congrats guys!

Katie & Sujan's E-Session at Evergreen Lake

2009-08-18T15:21:00.013-06:00

A few weeks back Katie & Sujan flew in from New York City and Michelle & I met them up in Evergreen for their engagement session. Almost 10 years after we graduated high school together I never would have imagined that I'd be photographing her wedding! In high school we had almost every art class together and through the power of Facebook we met again all these years later. It's crazy to think of all the things that have changed over the years! We are so excited to be able to photograph their wedding next summer. Sujan is such a great guy and you can tell these two really have fun together. We had a great time with them for their engagement session up in Evergreen. Of course though right as we start taking pictures the rain decided to start but only for a few minutes and the rest of the afternoon the weather was great. Evergreen is such a beautiful location to photograph and the great thing about going back multiple times is that I always challenge myself to do something completely different every time. I always like to find a new location or a different way of looking at the same thing and it's fun to see how different things can turn out. Here are some of our photos from our afternoon with Katie & Sujan. Enjoy!

Kristie & Matt are Married!

2009-08-16T15:21:00.013-06:00

The last Saturday of July Kristie & Matt were married at the Arvada Center. The location had some pretty funky art in and around the Center which made for some fun photos. The two of them opted to see each other before the ceremony which turned out to be a good thing considering the weather just wasn't sure what to do- rain, no rain, rain, no rain- it just couldn't make up it's mind. We were fortunate to be able to get to know Kristie & Matt since the photographer they originally contacted was booked and he sent them my way- thanks Mike for the referral! We are so glad he was booked too because Kristie & Matt have been such a pleasure to work with and get to know. Their family and friends were no exception and we had a great time photographing their wedding. Stephanie of Hummel Studios was able to come along for their wedding as well and got some great shots- I thought I'd share a few of my favorites that she took of the day. We wish Kristie & Matt the best. God Bless!

I love this one of them seeing each other for the first time before the ceremony:

Here is a shot Stephanie took of Kristie against this cool wall of sand inside the Arvada Center:

The guys were hilarious! It's so funny that they posed for this picture:

Here's just a nice one of all the guys:

I love this one Stephanie took of the two of them!:

They had this cool light that lit up the trees & flowers that was fun to play with in some photos:

The father/daughter dance is always such a cool moment:

One of Matt's groomsmen breakdancing to Justin Timberlake or something like that- this guy could dance!:

Mel & Adam's Evening Wedding: Chateaux at Fox Meadows

2009-08-11T21:54:00.011-06:00

It always seems strange when you get back from being out of town, at least for those of us who don't travel too much, but the week after we got back from Jamaica was a little more strange than usual. Our computer had crashed just before leaving town which meant things were going to be crazy when we came back but we weren't expecting the news that Michelle's grandfather had passed away on top of that. By the next weekend though things were slowly getting back to normal as wedding season continued on with Mel & Adam's Wedding up at the Chateax at Fox Meadows. I was a little nervous going into the wedding since they were having a ceremony ending just before sunset and we would be taking the pictures of the two of them right after sunset. Since Michelle was unable to attend the wedding, Zach Wear of Revert Imaging came along to 2nd shoot & assist which couldn't have been more perfect for the situation. We knew ahead of time that we would need to use some off camera lighting for the photos and Zach sure knows his stuff. He helped me to get some awesome images of Mel & Adam during sunset. I've known Adam for such a long time and never thought this day would happen. We're so happy for them- congrats guys! Thanks Zach for coming along and helping me out!

Why is it that every bride's room is always burning hot?! Here's Mel being fanned:

I love this photo Zach took of Mel!:

Here's another awesome shot Zach took:

This one Zach took of the guys is so sweet! So his style:

Alyssa & Matt's AWESOME Wedding in Ocho Rios Jamaica!!! Part 3- Day After Session

2009-08-06T16:13:00.007-06:00

What beach wedding would be complete without a day after session- a day to take some awesome photos without worrying about the dress anymore? When Alyssa & Matt told us they were interested in a "trash the dress" session after the wedding we couldn't have been more excited for the opportunity. Not only would we get to photograph their wedding in beautiful Jamaica but would get the chance to do some really fun photos following the wedding as well. A perfect combo! So after their awesome wedding the day before we got up to start their day after session at 6:30 in the morning- yep that's right 6:30. It was the perfect time of day, nobody on the beach, nobody in the sweet infinity pool, and great morning lighting. We were so glad they were willing to wake up so early the day after their wedding for the session. However, when we woke up a little before 6:00 that morning to thunderstorms and rain we weren't sure if it was going to happen- at least not that early in the day. Thankfully the storms parted right before we headed out to meet them for the session. Alyssa had purchased a second dress just for the session so as not to ruin her actual wedding dress which made it better since that way we could get them fully in the ocean without worrying- and by the end they were both soaking wet and we had tons of great photos. I could probably make this post a mile long but I've chosen just a few to share from our session. Thanks Alyssa & Matt for giving us such an incredible opportunity to photograph your wedding and this day after session. We cannot thank you enough for bringing us along and getting the chance to get to you know and your families & friends. Enjoy!

Alyssa & Matt's AWESOME Wedding in Ocho Rios Jamaica!!! Part 2

2009-08-05T15:45:00.024-06:00

Here's a few more images from Alyssa & Matt's wedding day in Ocho Rios Jamaica. This first one is a shot of just part of the huge resort we stayed at and where Alyssa & Matt were married:

The ceremony site was beautiful!:

Loved the reflection on this table in their room:

Just had to catch this one of the hotel's photographer taking one of the "posed" shots during the ceremony:

Isn't this staircase sweet?!:

They didn't want to do all the traditional stuff for the reception so this was from a quick first dance to a song playing in the background- so cute!:

Alyssa & Matt's AWESOME Wedding in Ocho Rios Jamaica!!! Part 1

2009-07-31T16:38:00.016-06:00

A few weeks back Michelle and I had the most amazing opportunity to photograph Alyssa & Matt's wedding at the Riu Ocho Rios resort in Ocho Rios Jamaica. I don't think we could have asked for a cooler couple to make the experience of our first destination wedding so unforgettable. When we arrived a couple of days before the wedding Alyssa & Matt treated us to a beach bag filled with beach necessities like sunscreen, aloe and lots of other goodies- they made us feel like guests! Both of their families were absolutely wonderful- it's no wonder Alyssa & Matt are so awesome. Jamaica has to be one of the most beautiful places ever. We loved how relaxed the entire atmosphere of both Jamaica itself as well as the wedding was. We had so much time with Alyssa & Matt following the ceremony for photos that I have no idea how I'm going to edit the photos down. I have soo many photos I'd love to share but here are just a random selection of a few shots that we loved from the wedding day. Stay tuned for more images including those from our day after session!

Michelle shot this one during the ceremony. Isn't it awesome!:

Can you say magazine cover?:

I caught this photo right after the ceremony when they thought nobody was looking:

They had the coolest families- how many families would be willing to do this?:

This guy's not too shabby himself:

Matt showing off his juggling skills with some random fruit on the beach:

CD Cover Shoot with Dianne

2009-07-30T11:50:00.012-06:00

I'm so excited to finally be able to post our session with Dianne from last month. We met her up in Evergreen in the open space for her upcoming CD that will be released this fall. She is crazy talented and plays several instruments including the violin, piano and cello that are featured on her CD. We even had the opportunity to hear a little bit of her playing the violin while we took photographs. Originally we had planned on her session at the Opera House but when things didn't work out for us to use the space as intended, we suggested going into an open field since it seemed to fit the theme of the CD and we figured we might be able to get some flowers in the shots that were similar to lilacs (since they were something she really wanted to include in the photos as well). So, armed with bugspray- to keep the mosquitos away, we started the photos close to sunset and got some beautiful shots! Although, when we were greeted by a park ranger right after starting photos we weren't sure if we were going to have to change our plans. We had only been at this particular location one other time and were unaware that we need to get a permit to photograph there. Fortunately the park ranger was very kind and allowed us to finish up our session. We had a great time photographing Dianne! She was so easy to work with and it was a blast getting to do something completely new for us. Thanks Dianne for the opportunity and we'd love to get a copy of your CD as soon as it's out! Here are just a few images we took throughout the session that she maybe using for her CD cover- enjoy!

Jen & Ryan's E-Session in Evergreen

2009-07-23T14:36:00.010-06:00

A month ago we photographed Jen & Ryan's engagement session up in Evergreen. We started their session at the lake and then headed to a nearby field to finish up. We'd passed by that field so many times before while heading to the lake that I just had to test out the area- it turned out to be awesome! We made it there just before sunset and the light was so beautiful! We had a great time photographing these two and getting to know them and hear how they first met. They were so natural in front of the camera and made my job so easy. We are very excited to photograph their wedding the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Last year we said we should sell that Sunday as including a rainbow with the wedding since both last year as well as 2007 ended up with a rainbow while we took the bride & groom's photos. Apparently that tradition is continuing in some way since Jen & Ryan's wedding venue has the word "Rainbow" as part of the name- who would have thought? Anyways, here are just a few photos from their session last month. The last one is one of my favorite ring shots that was completely unplanned. A lady bug just happened to land on Jen's left hand and stayed there long enough for me to catch a photo with the ladybug and the ring in there as well. Enjoy!

Calling All Ladies Contest Winner Brandy!

2009-07-19T21:16:00.014-06:00

I realize this post is long overdue but things have just been hectic around here the last few weeks so we're glad we're starting to catch up on a few things. Our Calling All Ladies Contest that we held a few months back turned out better than expected. We had a close race up to the final hours of the contest and until midnight we weren't sure who would win. In the end Brandy was declared the winner with a close second going to Kacey & Jay. Last month we set up the actual session with Brandy and decided on Castlewood Canyon as the location. Donna Kelly did the makeup and hair for Brandy and did a beautiful job. She helped us out for our first Senior Rock Star Tour last month as well and did such a great job that we had to have her help us for this event as well. When we got out to Castlewood Canyon the park ranger warned us about the mosquitos and boy was he right. By the end of the day we totaled 59 mosquito bites between the three of us- yet Brandy was such a sport through it all! We had a great time taking photos the entire afternoon and even got in the water (which I don't think helped deter the mosquitos at all). Here are just a few images we took during the session. Check back for some video footage we took of the day with my new camera. If you or someone you know is interested in a bridal fashion shoot please let us know!

I caught this one right as Brandy was getting bit by a mosquito.

Hello there fellow Blog Readers!

2009-07-16T07:20:00.004-06:00

Hi Everyone! If your reading this it is because we have fallen behind in our blogging. Sorry. We have had quite the crazy last couple of weeks. With lots of work (which is a good thing), our main computer's hard drive exploding, our recent destination wedding to Jamaica and the passing of Michelle's Grandpa Miller; we have fallen behind a little. But no worries, we will have some awesome posts coming your way! Including our "Calling all Ladies" event, a CD album cover shoot, some engagements and our Jamaica Destination Wedding!! So please stay tuned and have no fear for Volkel Image is here! Man that was cheesy. =)

Melissa & Shelby's Wedding at the Crystal Rose

2009-07-03T16:56:00.009-06:00

I typically try to post about a week following a shoot but things have been a little crazy to say the least over the last few weeks ending with our main computer's hard drive failing at the most inopportune time- in the midst of wedding season. Fortunately we have a system set in place for copying all our files in 3 locations after a shoot so other than a few personal things and the progress of items currently being worked on, nothing was lost. We're awaiting a new hard drive for our computer so in the mean time are grateful for our laptop. Anyway, back to Melissa & Shelby's wedding. They were married on June 20th at the Crystal Rose in Denver. The last time I shot there 2 years ago it rained through the evening so we didn't get to take many photos outside so it was fun to get to use the surrounding area in a whole new way with these two. And, with their wedding being held early in the day it made for great weather before the afternoon thunderstorms could roll in. When we first arrived and saw Melissa we couldn't believe how beautiful she looked! The image of Melissa looking up to the sky has to be one of my all time favorite images- she looked like she stepped right out of a bridal magazine! Melissa & Shelby are such an awesome couple and we are so glad we had the opportunity to work with them!

E-Session Downtown with Mel & Adam

2009-06-23T20:35:00.014-06:00

A long, long time ago in a land far, far away when Volkel Image was just beginning I photographed Mel & Adam's "couple" session with their new puppy Hemi. They were technically our first "engagement" session in the sense that it was practice for our first official engagement session- although Adam was quick to point out over and over that it was just a "couple" session. I've worked with Adam for several years and like to think that in a small way I got these two back together when I convinced Adam to call his then "ex-girlfriend Mel" to bring us Taco Bell for lunch. The rest is history. They are now getting married next month and we couldn't be happier for them! For their "real engagements" we took them downtown. They were such great sports and did whatever I asked- even climb up and hang off a train. I love the photo through the grate that perfectly made the shape of a heart around them. Here's a few of my favorites.

Leonard Family Photos

2009-06-21T11:04:00.016-06:00

A couple weekends ago we met up with our friends Jennifer, Nick and their adorable daughter Lexi. Lexi was born in January and we'd been looking forward to meeting her since we heard the news that they were expecting last summer. It's crazy to think 2 years ago at this time they were planning their wedding and now they have a little girl to complete their family. At first Lexi wasn't quite sure what to think of us and the big camera pointing her direction but she quickly got used to us and we got so many great photos with her and the entire family. They have such a good looking family! We took the photos at their house which makes things so much easier for babies instead of bringing them somewhere they don't know and feel uncomfortable. We even got some smiles out of her! We are so happy for Nick & Jennifer and grateful for the opportunity to take these photos for them. Here are a few images we shot from the day.

Kari & Sterling's Wedding at Black Bear Golf Club

2009-06-18T22:39:00.012-06:00

About 2 weeks ago Kari & Sterling were married at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. Their ceremony was beautiful even with the wind being a bit of a nuisance. We got so many great shots of them following the ceremony in a field just to the side of the ceremony site. It was as if we were out in the middle of nowhere! We've known Kari for a few years now and she was just one of those people that you feel as if you've known forever even though you just met. No surprise her family was the same way. We've had the opportunity to photograph both her sister's and brother's weddings since then and were so excited when Kari said she was engaged and it was her turn to walk down the aisle! We are so happy for her and Sterling! Although I do wish there were more siblings in Kari's family- we just love getting to work with them!

Stephanie of Hummel Studios came along to photograph the wedding as well. She had several great ideas for photos and we loved having her there. Wedding photography is something new for her and Kari and Sterling were the perfect couple for her to test out what photographing a wedding is like. We're hoping she'll come along for several more weddings this summer!

Here's a few images we shot throughout the day including one of all the siblings together that we've photographed over the last few years- Erin & John, Kari & Sterling and Stephanie & Dave.

Senior Rock Star Tour June 10th Video

2009-06-16T20:42:00.005-06:00

Here are some video clips we put together from the first Senior Rock Star Tour last week. The tour was awesome and we had such a great time with all the seniors who came along for the ride. It's unlike any senior photo session out there- it's an experience that shouldn't be missed. Here's an idea of what our day was like. Check it out! www.seniorrockstar.com

Washington Park E-Session with Tamia & Adam

2009-06-12T13:28:00.014-06:00

I was excited when Tamia suggested Washington Park for her and Adam's engagement session last Friday. I had taken proposal photos there last year and had wanted to go back ever since for engagement pictures. These two were referred to us by Erin & Jared who were married in January and we are so glad we got to meet them! They definitely make one good looking couple wouldn't you say? They brought along their cute little doggy who was so good the entire time I couldn't believe it- I almost wanted to take her home with me! We had a great time with all three of them and got some beautiful shots. The guys who ran the rental for the boats and bikes were so nice to allow us to use the bikes for some really fun pictures. Tamia and Adam are getting married in Mexico next summer and we wish them the best!

Hanako & Eddie's Wedding at Shadows Ranch

2009-06-11T21:03:00.012-06:00

Sorry I know I'm a little behind on posting so this week I've got a lot to show everyone from weddings, engagements, and family pictures to our 1st Senior Rock Star Event (that was awesome by the way). Going back a couple weeks was Hanako & Eddie's wedding up at Shadows Ranch in Georgetown. Of course it started to rain right before the ceremony as we were taking photos of Hanako and the girls and it didn't look like we'd be able to hold the ceremony outside. However, the rain stopped just in time for her to walk down the aisle with both her parents at her side. This was the first time I'd had the chance to photograph up at Shadows Ranch and it was beautiful! We got some awesome light for our pictures following the ceremony and some sweet sun flare. Their wedding was so much fun! During their reception I was laughing so hard I could hardly take photos as Eddie did a little dance for Hanako before he removed the garter- the video of the entire dance I'm sure will be hilarious- can you so YouTube?!?!

Jenn & Patryk's E-Session at Red Rocks & Morrison

2009-06-03T22:20:00.011-06:00

The coolest thing about Red Rocks is that there are so many places to take photos and make them unique from one time to the next. A few weekends back we photographed a great couple, Jenn & Patryk. We began the day up at Red Rocks and then headed down in the town of Morrison for their engagement session. They are so photogenic it was difficult to take a bad picture with either one of them. The skies looked a bit threatening the entire day but the dark blue clouds made all the colors with the grass and rocks just pop! We were even able to get a few shots with the two of them and Patryk's new Porche! I have to say the funniest part of the day was when Jenn got the idea to use the dandelions you play with as a kid for a photo. At first she looks all cute and innocent and the next photo the seeds are flying in Patryk's face- that's got to be one of my favorite photos! They are getting married this fall and we can't wait to photograph their wedding. Enjoy!

New Portrait Website is Officially Launched!

2009-05-31T09:58:00.003-06:00

Our new portrait website is now online so please check it out! We are still doing some construction to the new landing page at www.volkelimage.com but if you click on the link for Portraits you can check out the new site or type directly www.volkelimageportraits.com to get there. We've started to branch out into portrait photography and so if you or someone you know needs family pictures, baby photos, maternity portraits, business portraits etc please contact us.

E-Session with Jessie & Brandon in Winter Park

2009-05-26T11:45:00.015-06:00

If it hadn't been for a couple of cars and a few people we saw I would have thought we were the only 4 people in all of Winter Park last weekend. With it being in between seasons the town was practically empty which was nice since there was no one there to tell us to get off the ski lifts and we felt like we had the entire town to ourselves. We love to take pictures in locations that really represent the couple and as you can see Jessie and Brandon love to ski so Winter Park was a perfect choice. Neither Michelle nor I had ever been there before so we didn't know what the location's potential would be for photographs but it's always exciting to get to be creative with a new place. Jessie and Brandon made it very easy for us though. They knew of some awesome locations for pictures from the ski lifts, to an old run down bus, and a cool sign that said "ski". Most people would have passed by the old orange ski bus they found but they saw the potential something like that carried for a great photo opportunity. The owner of the bus was so kind for allowing us to use it for some photos- they turned out awesome! It's so cool when we meet with people who just have that "eye" for what makes a great photo and these two definitely have it. I had a difficult time trying to narrow down which pictures to post because there were so many great pics of these two (and their cute dogs that we got a few pictures with too). They are getting married in Maine next summer and we wish them the best!

Kristie & Matt's Engagements at Red Rocks

2009-05-23T13:17:00.012-06:00

When we scheduled Kristie & Matt's engagement session for Red Rocks it didn't occur to Michelle and I to check to make sure there were any concerts or events taking place there. We figured it was May and things wouldn't start until at least the end of the month. Of course we realized too late that we should have checked. Luckily we convinced the parking attendant to let us slip through the closed off road and so did Kristie and Matt and we were all able to meet up for pictures. It was a perfect day for photos up there. Between a great looking couple and perfect afternoon lighting we got some beautiful shots. Kristie & Matt have to be one of the nicest couples ever. We had such a great time taking pictures of the two of them and just talking. You can definitely tell God made these two perfect for each other. We are looking forward to photographing their wedding in July. Here's just a few pictures from our day at Red Rocks.

The Pines at Genesee: Kacey & Jay Wedding

2009-05-15T18:23:00.010-06:00

Last Sunday as we drove up to Kacey & Jay's wedding in Genesee we could barely see more than a few feet in front of our car because of the fog. At first appearance the weather may have seemed awful for an outdoor wedding but for a photographer this is something you rarely get the opportunity to photograph and it makes for awesome photos! We started the day out with a few pics of Jay and the guys in the fog- these have to be some of my favorite shots I've ever taken, the fog was so cool! Kacey looked absolutely beautiful and didn't seem to mind at all that is was a little cold. By the time the wedding ceremony started the fog had lifted enough so all the guests could witness them exchange vows. Later that night the fog returned and these two were great sports to go out in the misting rain for a few shots in front of the car lights- I love these shots! Kacey & Jay we wish you two the best- thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your day. God Bless!

I Wanna Be a Rockstar!

2009-05-11T22:28:00.009-06:00

A couple of months ago Michelle and I were led to a local network of photographers through a nationwide photography forum. Having been in business for a couple of years we really didn't know too many other photographers in the area and thought this would be a great opportunity. At the time we had no idea just how much taking that one step would mean to us both personally as well as to our business. It was through that group that we met a couple of photographers who would make a big change for us. Out of the blue I receive a phone call from Erin Cady of Art & Soul Photography. She wanted to see if I would be interested in this very secretive project that would change the senior photography experience- something that was so original that they couldn't even share the details until they knew I was on board. This top secret project was the brainchild of Ross Bothwell of Elegant Images & Photographs. He'd been working on this great idea for some time and needed a few photographers to come onboard. Well... obviously I couldn't resist and it sounded so awesome there was no way Michelle and I could pass it up.

So here's the lowdown on this top secret project (we'll I guess not top secret anymore). The name of this awesome event is Senior Rock Star Tour. There are 5 photography studios- Ross & Kammi Bothwell of Elegant Images & Photographs, Erin Cady of Art & Soul Photography, Allison Ragsdale of Allison Ragsdale Photography, Dawn Gioia of Dawn Gioia Photography, and yours truly. There's 5 different locations, a tour bus, prizes, pizza, and 20 seniors. This is not your typical senior photography session- it's like a party with some of your closest friends and the paparazzi there to cover it all! We have two dates scheduled so far for this summer so if you're a junior ready to have a blast or know someone who is check out our website at www.seniorrockstar.com for all the information and to sign up. It's going to well... Rock!

Alyssa & Matt- Engagements Downtown

2009-05-01T15:40:00.007-06:00

When the weather turned out better than expected last Saturday we were hoping for the same luck with Sunday for Alyssa & Matt's engagement session. No such luck- it rained, and rained, and rained. Luckily our original plan to meet at Cherry Creek was changed when we realized the Cherry Creek Sneak was taking place and so we ended up at the Performing Arts Complex- perfect location for a rainy day. Other than venturing out in the rain for a few pics with the umbrella we were able to find a few really cool locations out of the rain. We found this really cool tunnel for a few shots and even better there was heat! Matt made a comment that he thought it would be funny to twirl the umbrella for a photo thinking I wouldn't take him serious but as you can see once the thought's in my head I have to try it out. Alyssa & Matt were a blast to photograph- they're such a good looking couple too! They are getting married in Jamaica this summer and we can't wait to photograph their wedding it's going to be awesome! Despite the weather we got so many great shots and I had a difficult time choosing a few for the blog but here's a sneak peak for you. Enjoy!

Castlewood Canyon E-Session with Hanako & Eddie

2009-04-27T17:47:00.006-06:00

On Saturday the weather finally worked out for our engagement session with Hanako & Eddie.... well sort of. It seemed that whatever day we picked for pictures the weather kept changing our plans for us. Finally we settled on trying for this Saturday despite the weather forecast calling for rain. Although it was a little chilly the sun did make several appearances throughout the day and we got some great photos with them. We'd really wanted to get a few photos out at the old dam that was destroyed many years ago in Castlewood Canyon. It was quite a hike but they were great sports and at least the hike kept them from getting too cold. Hanako & Eddie really know how to have fun with each other and goof around. I love catching pictures with couples just having fun and being themselves! Eddie brought along his gun (don't worry he's licensed to carry it) and I took this snapshot of the two of them with Eddie's camera. They look like trouble don't they???

Annual Turkey Hunting Trip

2009-04-20T11:59:00.009-06:00

I made it home alive!!! But... the turkey didn't. Every year my dad and I go on a trip to Valentine Nebraska for turkey hunting. While everyone else was enjoying the snow here in Colorado, we were enjoying fog and rain. Fortunately we didn't stay out in the cold, wet weather for too long. Within 10 minutes of our weekend hunting trip it was 1 turkey down- 1 to go. And an hour later the planned 2 day hunt was over and we didn't even make it to lunch on day one. After I got my bird I took out the good old camera for a few pics of my dad in action. What kind of photographer would I be if I didn't bring along the camera for some pics?? Here's a few photos of my dad, the turkey before he became this year's Thanksgiving meal, and ME!

Calling All Ladies- Congrats Brandy!!!

2009-04-16T00:16:00.003-06:00

Congratulations Brandy for winning our first annual Calling All Ladies Contest!!! This is going to be so much fun! We want to thank everyone who participated for making this such an awesome contest and fighting to the end. Here is a photo of our winner and her husband-to-be, Bill, from their engagement session this past fall. Everyone make sure to keep on the lookout for our session this summer.

Photographers in Front of the Camera!

2009-04-13T18:06:00.006-06:00

Last week Tyler, Erin, and Michelle & I headed downtown for some headshots. This time however, the photos were not of clients but of US! It's kind of a strange feeling being on the other side of the camera. We took turns being the subject while the other two photographed and at first none of us wanted to volunteer to have our picture taken. Erin kindly nominated me to be the first subject but she didn't get to stay behind the camera for long. Before we realized it it was almost 9:00pm! As a photographer you get so used to trying to make other people feel comfortable in front of the camera so it was nice to put myself in their shoes for once. Since it was all just for fun for the most part we took our time and experimented with lots of different lighting situations and had so much fun just being goofy. Here are a few shots we took during the night. Don't we all make such great models???:
Erin in action:

Tyler in some sweet light!:

Erin well.... just being Erin:

ME looking pretty awesome huh? Photo shot by Tyler:

Lyndsay, Josh & Baby Nug

2009-03-28T12:42:00.014-06:00

The other day we had the opportunity to photograph some maternity photos for Lyndsay & Josh. These two crazy folks decided to wait to find out if they are having a boy or girl- I have no idea how they can possibly wait the suspense would kill me! Since they don't know the sex of the baby yet he or she has the cutest little nickname... baby Nug. Baby Nug is going to be one lucky little boy or girl with Lyndsay & Josh as parents. We had so much fun with these two! Our take on maternity photos may be a little different than the traditional look most people recognize but who says they have to be all black & white and in a studio anyway? I think the traditional style misses a very important aspect to the pregnancy- the excitement, love and personalities of the parents. It's apparent that Lyndsay & Josh are so happy about adding this little one to their family and we got so many awesome pictures showing just how overjoyed they are. We had a difficult time choosing which pictures to post there were so many we loved but here is just a peak into our day. I couldn't leave out Josh's #1 to Penn State though. These two crack me up- enjoy!

Marci & Mark's Wedding at University of Denver

2009-03-26T18:02:00.011-06:00

Every now and then we all get sick and sometimes it occurs at the most inopportune time. Such was the case for Dusty last weekend. We had a wedding for a great couple on Saturday but sadly he was way too sick to be there to photograph their big day. Fortunately we have a wonderful network of local photographers that can help one another out in these types of situations. We made a few phone calls and Erin of Art & Soul Photography saved the day for all of us. Marci & Mark were beyond understanding about the whole situation and I just knew they would love Erin. The day turned out after all and we got some awesome shots! I (Michelle) was excited to assist another photographer and see how others work. It was a great experience for me to shoot a lot more than normal and remembered how much I loved photographing. We had a great time with Marci & Mark and their entire families. Marci looked absolutely beautiful of course and they make such a great couple! They held their ceremony at the Evan's Chapel on DU's campus. Mark's family is Italian so what better setting than the Tuscany Ballroom for their reception. I almost couldn't believe that they planned the whole thing in just 6 weeks! Then again with Marci being a graphic designer and having a very talented family (her aunt and mother did all the flowers and such) it made perfect sense. Dusty and I photographed Marci's cousin, Kevin & Kelly's wedding a little over a year ago so thank you guys for referring us! Here are some of the photos Erin & I took throughout their day. The first 7 are photos from Erin and the last 4 I took- I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself:-)