The Buescher family from Alabama! We had a fun connection when I correctly pronounced their last name thanks to it being the same as a State Park in Central Texas. We talked about the 'Bama game against The University of Texas the previous Saturday where UT almost pulled off the upset, and I enjoyed attempting to get a smile from the very serious little toddler.
When you get a call from your friend Sarah Harding to see if you're available on a weekday for an hour for a sweet elopement in the park, you don't say no. Bonus points for the couple wanting to include the Jeep they've been driving across the country.
Susan and Steve were visiting from Lousianna and while they were still going to have a big party for friends and family back home, they thought "why not do something intimate with just the two of us?" And I couldn't agree more. It was super low-stress, we chatted about life and Jeeps, and Sarah and I got to be part of something extremely special.
Hey everybody, meet Aspen, Class of '23. Aspen is a badass softball player, you don't want to mess with her. Especially when this senior absolutely rocked a chilly August morning and a 4:30 am wake-up call to make this sunrise happen.
Nothing like a simple and relaxed family portrait session in and around West Glacier. We kept this one pretty relaxed and informal with the little one because it's pretty easy to get tired of smiling for the camera (this applies to grown-ups sometimes too.)
This was one of my favorite days all summer, even though it was very much my longest day of work. My previous post featured Natalia & Ben's sunrise Glacier National Park portrait session. Well, that very same day I got to hang out with Paige & Chris again for their adventure session. It truly was a day that cemented in my head why I love doing what I do. The weather was perfect and we simply took our time meandering our way through the park and stopping when the opportunity presented itself. Prior to that, we did stop just outside the park to take some photos with their dog who was unable to attend their wedding day. That way he could be let off leash briefly which is generally frowned upon when inside the park, and explicitly denied on trails.
Paige & Chris once again proved themselves to be more kind than I could've imagined, and I can't wait for our paths to cross again.
The Burton family happened to be breezing through Northwest Montana on a cross-country road trip, and wanted to memorialize it with a quick family session, but nothing too involved. They didn't have a ton of time to carve out as they had plans to visit as much of Glacier National Park as possible. I don't often do one-off West Glacier mini-sessions, particularly in the summer, but occasionally my schedule lines up to allow it, and I'm glad I was able to accommodate.
My portrait session with the Bratt family was another amongst the "delayed family reunion/vacation" that finally got to take place after COVID cancellations. They were staying at the amazing Snowmoon Ranch vacation rental as part of the Going-to-the-Sun Chalets in West Glacier. After the standard group photos you really have to get at these moments, we had those who wanted to kayak or canoe do so and I snapped away. Such a great way to spend another evening of near-perfect weather this summer in Montana.
I always get hyped up for photographing a wedding. Doesn't matter if it's big, small, or medium-sized or where it might be taking place. I get doubly hyped up when it's a couple I've been fortunate to do their engagement portraits beforehand. Since we've already gotten to know each other ahead of time over a couple of hours, it's just like attending the wedding of long-time friends.
Emily and Logan's wedding was unique for me personally because they grew up and traveled from the very same area where I grew up in Central Texas. The weather didn't exactly cooperate 100% with the whole evening—it rarely does in Montana—but it did for their private vow recitation in a secluded area of Glacier National Park and the ceremony at the wedding pavilion at Glacier Raft Company, and didn't really bother us with rain until everyone was under the aforementioned pavilion for the dance party.
Venue: Glacier Raft Company / Catering: Gina MacNeil Catering / Hair & Makeup: Mountain Soul Event Styling / Couture: Essence of Australia & Men's Warehouse / DJ: V-Team DJs / Jeweler: James Allen / Florals: Something Borrowed Blooms / Videographer: Taylor Films / Rental & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography
What do you get when you mix a delightful family, absolutely perfect mid-summer weather, and Northwest Montana's beautiful scenery? Some truly amazing, almost unbelievable family portraits. I truly didn't want this portrait session to end, and the Patterson's to return to their home in Florida. I wanted them to find a house here not even so that I could have them as repeat clients, but just to hang out and chat.
There is nothing quite like spending an amazing day on the doorstep of Glacier National Park with a little over 100 of your friends on the happiest day of their lives. You might think I'm referring to Paige and Christopher, but the reality is I'm talking about myself.
I meet the most amazing couples, and at the end of the day—literally and metaphorically—weddings are one big party. That doesn't have to mean loud music and wild dancing during the reception, but it certainly can mean those things.It's easy to make friends when you're surrounded by happy people though, and by the end of the night, I'd made some new, sure-to-be long-time friends in Paige and Christopher.
Venue: Glacier Raft Company / Hair & Makeup: Jeff Fulford & Lindsey Komenda / Florals: Mum's Flowers / Catering: Oso's Catering / Bakery: Montana Wildflour / DJ: Destination DJ / Rentals & Decor: Empress Tents & Events and With Love, Vintage Rentals / Couture: Rita Vinieris / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography
