After you have been photographing in the wedding business for a few years you will discover, like any other art I would imagine, you ride waves. Once you get to a certain level of photographic skill you have to maintain that level – which sometimes is harder than getting there to begin with. I love that the connections that I have made over the years photographing weddings allow me the opportunity to find specific vendors that I absolutely click with. You share a vision of making every shoot great, and are always reaching for that epic image in your art.
I stepped back from inspiration shoots for some time. I was busy with my business and then kids came along and found less and less time. These past three years I’ve made a point of setting aside a few dates a year for pure inspiration and going after those Epic images that make me love photography so much. It is a rush getting done with a well set shoot knowing you have already fallen in love with an image or more. As much as I like posting images on Facebook ASAP because as a team everyone is excited and I like to keep that excitement going…. I typically hold back a bit on my favorite. Ok… well, maybe not so much – holding back for me is a couple of days.
So – that being said – here is my favorite from this past week. I fell in love with it – and hope you do too.
Thank you to Isabelle for orchestrating the shoot entirely (Isabelle Kline Design) – you allow me the freedom at our shoots to create and that gives me more love for my work. Yana Jones – absolutely amazing model and beautiful person inside out. Danielle Banfield (Blushing Bride) – you make me smile and I’m so happy that you have helped me in so many of my inspirations by trusting that regardless of the dirt or grime I get on your beautiful gowns we make beautiful images because of your dresses. Samantha Koch (LadyCharm Artistry) – working with you has been a pure pleasure – I love everything you do for hair and make-up, you are the complete package and my #1 – happy that I met you.
I’m also grateful for inspiring places that we have in Colorado (Ribbons n Rainbows in this case) – and the beautiful skies that come with living in this majestic state.
We all have vendors that we have worked with or just love, if you are in the wedding industry – you know exactly what I mean. Your personalities click, each helps the other and you become in theory a dream team because you all have the same amazing goal to make a wedding perfect. While we don’t always get to choose who we work with at a wedding, in about April this year I wanted to have a chance to work with some of my favorite people in the wedding industry and do an inspirational photo-shoot.
Photographer: Jeanine Thurston
Originally it started small, Melissa Schans (model/actress) was all excited and we were planning for sometime in May 2011. I gathered a couple of vendors that were willing to work on this project, but as you can’t control everything that happens – if we would have done the shoot in May I would not have had Samantha Koch as my MUY/Hairstylist. We decided to post-pone so that she could still be part of this production. In the end, it was good that we waited – because good turned into great.
Photographer: Jeanine Thurston
Julia Kaaren, owner of Mulberries Flowers was in the group from the start. She has amazing energy along with a creative eye – and well – of course I just love her dearly as a vendor and person. I am forever grateful that she brought Jon Taugher into the shoot as he had some amazing Retro Bicycles that added some fantastic imagery.
Then of course there is Susan Dillon of Kitty Mae Millinery. I had never met her personally… fb friends, and of course Melissa always spoke highly of her. Above all, her artistry in hair pieces speaks for itself. Then after some chats on facebook… there was not a doubt in my mind that our personalities clicked.
In July, after having a hundred dreams about what I wanted this shoot to look like; let’s be honest, I couldn’t make it all happen while working a full schedule and with two kids at home on top of it. I put a post on ISES board for a wedding planner, and Isabelle and I met for coffee a couple of days later. Loved her, and could tell she “got” what I wanted to photograph and she organized my mind for me along with every other detail. We also brought in LeAnne to assist her in some of the details as well.
Katharine Salzgeber of BoutiqueDeBijoux jumped right in with her hand-made jewelry designs. They are beautiful, one of a kind pieces that fit so perfectly with our look.
Then of course there is Blushing Bride Colorado. Danielle has a beautiful little boutique dress salon in Windsor, Colorado. I’ve known Danielle for many years and she jumped right in, providing us with dresses for our models to fit the look we were going for in this project.
Melissa Schans was in from the start. She has done some bridal modeling for me before and she is an instant sell when it comes to bridal modeling. She has all the poses, expressions – and best of all she makes everyone smile.
Brittany Quinn, I had the opportunity to photograph this summer and was so happy that she was able to be a part of this photo-shoot. Fresh… just back from spending some time in China – I’m surprized that she didn’t still have jet-lag from such a long trip, and she looked amazing.
Kirsten Sletten, was the third model for our shoot.. and I so wanted to bring her on sooner but I had already had another model at the time and didn’t want to have too many. But, the instant that the other model wasn’t able to make it – I couldn’t have been happier to have Kirsten come on! What a beauty – and hope I get the chance to photograph her again – she is gorgeous.
Then of course comes THE MAKERY. I was at the Grant Humphrey Bridal show when I first got to taste their cupcakes, and I’ve been sold on them ever sense. Yum, beautiful, great to work with. Will always refer them – love them and their creations. Even my husband is completely sold on that they have the best tasting cake EVER as he would put it.
Pampered Passions also was kind enough to loan us a vintage piece for some shots. Beautiful quality.
Then last, but certainly not least, Michael Sasser. He was my wild-card. I had never worked with him, never met him, and two days before the shoot he agreed to take some video and create a little vendor promo for us. I’ll be honest, I’ve worked with a lot of videographers – and the talent really varies a ton, so I went by a referral from another photographer with my fingers crossed. I can not say enough about how amazing the video he created was, and loved working with him. Personality… love, video… love, and the simple fact that he pulled it together so quickly for me was amazing. Many, many thanks to him and he has definitely made it to #1 on my referral list.
A little stress the few days before when the weather people were forecasting 30% chance of rain. We ended up getting 100 degrees that day and sun… with the storm moving in just in time to give us some great images and give us a few sprinkles right as we were finishing the shoot.
In my mind – it went AMAZING… wouldn’t have done anything different and we have some great images, video and made a few more long-lasting friends in the process.
Sunday – Sept. 26th finally! After about 6-8 weeks of planning/coordinating… and more, it all came together perfectly. Beautiful upper 80s for weather… bright sun, everyone involved showed up on time or early. I have had a chance to work with Heathyrre Kautz a few times over recent months and she again… worked her magic on the models turning the canvas into absolute perfection, and Claudia Opara was assisting Heathyrre. Berenice worked on hair…. and when she arrived she was a little quiet… with a little nerves because it was actually the day before her wedding. While the models rotated in and out of chairs between make up and hair the ones on break poured over bridal magazines and chit chat until everyone was ready to go to play dress up for the afternoon. David was the lucky “groom” for my ladies, with huge beautiful light brown eyes that would make about any girl melt. To round out the models we had Tristin Huntamer, Rachel Vigil, Melissa Schans, and Courtney Dalton. Newberry Brothers provided us with a couple beautiful bouquets, and I did a quick stop at Fun Services to add balloons to a few shots too. Danielle from Blushing Bride Colorado met us at the park with so many beautiful gowns, and even a tux for David. It was a completely exhausting day – but so much fun, and loving the images that we all managed as a team.
I would love for you to visit the little video we put together with some selects from the shoot : Bridal Fashion
Jeanine Thurston 