Last week I managed to find a day where it wasn’t raining for long enough to get a portrait shoot in. That was a great thing since Cara and Jared are super chill kids to spend a spring afternoon in the mountains with. We headed up to the luxurious and fashionable town of Ward, Colorado for a change from my usual Boulder scenery.  The town of Ward isn’t your usual town, and is a place for modern engagement photos that are unusual and different.

OK by now you may have detected a facetious tone to my writing. But if you haven’t, I’ll spell it out. We went to Ward to take pictures surrounded by all the wonderful junk in and around this quirky little town. If you follow the Dark Side at all, you know I’m on this Junk Kick right now.

There were numerous junked cars to play in and around. This old fire truck was pretty funny. It still had helmets and a fire hose in it, and was left as if it was about to be driven the next day . . . and then just forgot about for a few decades.

Here is a great example of rockin’ the tilt shift “The Right Way”

Other than the old cars, there are also some pretty quirky buildings. Jared promised to buy 4 1/2 Utica for Cara someday. It’s pretty much a dream home. *snicker*

Overall it was a fun shoot, although we did get absolutely eaten alive by ravenous mosquitoes! I’m looking forward to more good times at the wedding in Winter Park on Labor Day weekend. See everyone then!

Like many of us in Boulder, Chautauqua Park holds a special place for the Ganey Family. We scored a perfect day in late fall with sunshine and a temperature near 60 degrees.  We started off with an attempt at a human toboggan, but there wasn’t quite enough snow to pull it off.

Dawson shows his many sides: On the left: Super Model Dawson shows off his Blue Steel look.  He says that Magnum is almost ready, but he can’t unleash the beast until he’s tamed it. On the right: Strictly Business Dawson -there’s a tree that needs climbing, and he is just the man for the job. Just keep your camera out of the way, buddy.

What are those memories that you remember longingly from your childhood?  I’d have to say that roughhousing and playing in the leaves probably rank pretty highly on a lot of peoples’ lists.  I love this shot, it is a true captured moment.  A split second of time that tells an entire story.

The latest installment of the wedding blog comes to you with some epic Estes Park Wedding Photography.  Eric and Nicole chose Lost Antler Ranch as their wedding venue.  The Ranch is a brand new venue that sits in a gorgeous valley on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Nicole, Eric, and I had a fantabulous engagement photo session back in Boulder a few months ago.  They are already the tallest couple ever, and I told them that during the wedding I was going to use the wide angle lens to make them look even taller.  Just like this.

Eric is a friend of mine who I know through his managing of wedding rock band of awesomeness, Meniskus.  Since I know these guys, and I know that these guys are a bunch of jokesters, we took a lot of fun pictures of the guys goofing around.  You should see the ones that I’m NOT posting.

The ladies also had their fun, but in a more traditional, scenic, and dare I say, dignified manner.

After days of cold weather and rain, the ceremony was held on the shore of the man made lake on a picture perfect bluebird day in the mountains.

Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding party paddled kayaks and rowboats out to the island in the middle of the lake for a celebratory toast. Well that was a first!

There were so many great locations for the Creative Portraits. I could have shot for hours if I had the time. There were great lines and angles around the barn.

Later in the day, the sun was setting down directly across the lake. The specular highlights in the reflections in the lake were incredibly bright. I don’t think I’ve ever seen highlights quite like these.

As the sun went down the guest retreated into the heated tent as the temperature was dropping quickly. The “Best Band” kicked into gear and everyone danced the night away to cap off an incredible day. Until next time, Cheers. -Steve Z