Red Rocks Wedding

Hello, two weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing a wedding with my good friend and fellow wedding photographer John Hudetz. Hudetz Photography. The ceremony was held at Red Rocks and the reception was at The Mount Vernon Country Club. Mount Vernon Country Club.
It was a beautiful blue sky Colorado day!
I started with the groom Romain, his family and friends mostly from France. Then we drove over to the Trading Post at Red Rocks. Red Rocks.
John showed up with the bride, Liz and her family.
The big challenge of the day was the fact that Romain who was born and raised in France came down with Bell's Palsy a few days earlier which made one side of his face paralyzed. Romain was a great sport about his condition and didn't make a big deal about it. John and I did our best to find good angles to photograph him from, lots of kissing etc.
Cheers, Kent
If you would like to see a slideshow of Romain and Liz's wedding CLICK HERE: Romain and Liz's wedding. All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player

The Summer Debutante Ball

Hello, last Saturday after the surprise birthday party I photographed The Summer Debutante Ball at The University of Denver. Everything was going along great until a huge thunder storm blew in just before the young ladies were about to make their entrance escorted by their fathers.
Not to worry the party moved into the tent. The girls all curtsied and the dancing began. If you would like to see a slideshow of The Summer Debutante Ball CLICK HERE: Summer Debutante Ball. All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player. If you would like to see last years slideshow click here 2006 Debutante Ball.

Long Term Love Story

Hello, I would like to introduce you to one of the first couples who trusted me to photograph their wedding, Shana and David. Shana booked me after I showed her my newspaper portfolio! Their wedding was about 10-years ago at Devil's Thumb Ranch. We've managed to stay in touch as their family has grown. The first two pictures are from their wedding day and the second two are from a studio session when Shana was pregnant with Anika and Ely was 3-years-old.
Last weekend Geri and me were invited to a surprise birthday party for David and Anika. David turned 46 and Anika turned 3! It was wonderful to see so many of their friends and family who were at their wedding. I've photographed Shana and David's world so many times and places, I can't even remember them all! Documenting them has become a Long Term Love Story project for me. If you would like to see a slideshow of the party CLICK HERE: Long Term Love Story. All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player.

Water Fight

With the summer heat comes summer fun. Last week my neighbors were having a water war and invited me to document the action. Enjoy the pictures and enjoy summer while it lasts!
Cheers, Kent

Cheryl and Brian - Civic Center

Last week after returning from Montana, I had the pleasure of photographing Cheryl and Brian at the Civic Center in downtown Denver. Cheryl wants to use the pictures in a signature book at their September 1st wedding. Believe it or not I didn't even have to ask them to Kiss!
Cheers, Kent

Road to Zen Summer 2007

As promised, our road trip to Montana is delivered! I began this trip with all of four hours sleep the morning after I shot the Breckenridge wedding! We made it to Bozeman in about 10 hours and had a great barbecue rib dinner. The next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the Cateye Cafe before getting back on the road. Our only stop was at Clearwater Junction to savor an ice cream cone and photograph the giant cow. We headed north along the Swan Seeley Highway - driving along Seeley Lake, Salmon Lake and Swan Lake. We made it to Kalispell - our destination - in about five hours. If you would like to see a slideshow of our trip CLICK HERE: Road to Zen Summer 2007. All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player.
The intention of this trip was not to have fun, believe it or not. We spent the week taking inventory, packing and cleaning Geri's father's house. He passed away in February and all four daughters and two brothers-in-law put in some long, hot days. In fact, there was at least one day of record-setting temperatures of 101 degrees. When you are that far north, the sun comes up about 5 a.m. and sets about 10 p.m.!
I managed to have some fun catching up with a photographer friend, Craig Moore. I actually met Craig the week before at the Breckenridge wedding. He was a guest and I was the hired photographer. We hooked up for lunch at Moose's Saloon. Craig invited me to join him for a sunset drive to Glacier National Park. He loves to do late-night, long-exposure pictures featuring star fields and trails. I hadn't done that in many years. Needless to say it was a late night or early morning. We saw lots of wildlife and thank goodness, no bears. A mountain lion crossed the road in front of us at 2 a.m. when we were driving down Going-to-the-Sun Road. We had a good time and made some cool images. Craig's website.
The next morning, which was the Fourth of July, we got up early (not my idea) to get some work done so we could attend the unveiling of the new War Memorial in downtown Kalispell, at the end of the parade. Jim, Geri's dad and a WWII veteran would have enjoyed being there with us. I was too tired to drive out to the lake to photograph the fireworks that night, but we were able to see and hear plenty from where we were staying!
Geri and I visited our good friends Howard and Mauriene for lunch and a quick visit to their art studio. The next day we had lunch with another couple, Chris and Cas, at their home near Big Fork. Chris is a landscape architect and I always enjoy photographing in and around their yard.
We headed for home on July 8 which was our 12th anniversary, stopping for the night at the Snow Lodge in Yellowstone National Park. We toasted our union with a bottle of wine, before taking a wonderful sunset stroll around the geyser basin. What an amazing place.
We were on the road at 6 a.m. the next day so we could see the sun rise over Yellowstone Lake and have early morning light while driving through Grand Teton National Park. Please take time to see the slideshow from the trip and if you are wondering about the little guy, he is our traveling gnome, Jerome. Oh, and I almost forgot to explain the pictures of Geri having her thumbnail punctured to release the blood under the nail after she slammed her thumb in a car door. Ouch! I told you it was supposed to be a fun trip.
Cheers, Kent

Kelly and Nate Breckenridge

Hello,
A couple of weeks ago I photographed a wedding with my good friend Sean Cayton in Breckenridge.Cayton Photography. Kelly and Nate's wedding ceremony was at the Saint Mary's Church in downtown Breckenridge and their reception was held at Ten Mile Station on the ski slopes.
It was a beautiful warm sunny summer day. If you would like to see a slideshow of Kelly and Nate's wedding CLICK HERE: Kelly and Nate's wedding. All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player.
Their wedding was coordinated by one of the most respected planners in Summit County, Emily Campbell.Bella Design & Planning.
Sean and I recently created a new website called Keystone Photographers designed to market weddings in the mountains of Colorado.Keystone Photographers.We both enjoy spending time in the mountains whether we are photographing weddings, skiing, camping, hiking or fishing. Locations such as Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge are a target for our new plan. Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge.If you are planning a wedding in the mountains or if you know anyone planning a mountain wedding please ask them to visit our site.
Cheers, Kent

Flashes of Hope visit at Children's Hospital

Hello,
before our trip to Montana, I was asked by the Flashes of Hope program at Children's Hospital to photograph a terminally ill young man as his mother wanted a beautiful memory of him that would last forever. The request came between our trips to Minnesota and Montana and this photo session needed to happen that week.
Doing work like this really feeds my soul and motivates me to live a full life. Meeting this young man and his mother was much different than photographing the Cancer Kids Camp a few weeks ago. We started having a nice talk and I found out how much he liked photography, etc. When it was time to take a few pictures I asked if we could change his shirt and remove his oxygen tube for a couple of minutes, which wasn't a big deal. I just wanted to a make an intimate portrait that reflected the love of a mother and son.
Before I left, a man showed up with a therapy dog named Buddy and I couldn't resist taking his picture!
I hurried home so I could process the pictures and email a couple of them to the doctor so he could print them out to share with them right away.
Here is the response from the doctor, "They absolutely LOVED the pictures and they wanted to thank you again. I also wanted to say thanks. You really made their day yesterday and today!"
If you would like to learn more about the Flashes of Hope program please visit their website. Flashes of Hope.

Jim Meyers Minnesota Goodbye

Hello, last week between two Saturday weddings, I traveled to Minnesota for a memorial to my father-in-law Jim Meyers, a mass on Monday in St. Cloud and a military burial at Fort Snelling in St. Paul on Tuesday. Many of you may have read my previous blog posts about his life and/or his Montana memorial this past March. Jim passed away Feburary 23, 2007. Here are the links to those slideshows. Jim's Life and Jim's Montana Memorial. Even though we were only in Minnesota for a short time, we managed to include two family get-togethers. One on Geri's mom's side of the family and one on her father's side. The memorial mass held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in St. Cloud was attended by extended family members and friends, while the burial at Fort Snelling was a small gathering of family including all four of Jim's daughter's Melani, Geri, Jackley and Vicki. Jim received a 21-gun salute and Taps were played by two buglers standing about 100 feet apart. It was quite an experience.
After a quick return to Denver, I photographed a beautiful, Colorado mountain wedding in Breckenridge. Check back soon for that blog post.
Then Geri and I left on a 16-hour road trip to Kalispell, Montana, which is about 60 miles south of the Canadian border, to pack up the house Jim lived in and settle his financial affairs.
It has been a tough week spent cleaning out the house room by room as well as the garage and preparing boxes of items to be sold at an auction. We did take time to attend a dedication ceremony for a new veteran's memorial on the Fourth of July. Jim was a proud WWII veteran and would have felt great appreciation at the unveiling of a bronze statue depicting a soldier kneeling at a grave marked by a gun, boots, helmet and dog tags.
We were all too worn out to see a fireworks show that evening, but for about two hours it sounded like we were in a war zone because of all the fireworks shooting off around the neighborhood and larger displays exploding in the distance. If you would like to see a slideshow of Jim Meyers Minnesota Goodbye.CLICK HERE: Jim Meyers Minnesota Goodbye All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player.
In case you are keeping score, I photographed two weddings, two funerals, and two road trips in two weeks! As if that's not enough, this Sunday, July 8, (and also the day we drive home to Denver) is Geri and my 13th wedding anniversary. We were married at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Kalispell. It's a powerful feeling to live long enough to experience such circles of life.
I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July! Check back as I will be posting more about our trip to Montana soon.
Cheers, Kent

Amber and Matt's Hudson Garden Wedding

Hello, last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Amber and Matt's wedding at Hudson Gardens in Denver. Hudson Gardens. It was a gorgeous June day and the gardens were particularly beautiful.
The ceremony was in the Rose Garden and the light streamed in adding a dramatic effect. If you would like to see a slideshow of Amber and Matt's wedding CLICK HERE: Amber and Matt's Wedding. All of our slideshows require flash player. Download a free version here: flash player.