Helen was one of those people that I connected to instantly and I when I met Dan and the rest of the family (Dudley and Elliot) I knew we were going to be able to get amazing photos together!  Sometimes I just "know" it's a great match and this was one of those times.  Now that I have done this photo shoot with them, I can happily say, I was right.  :-)  We had a blast and all we did was walk down the street to a little park in North Boulder for a while.  I love shooting when I get to find the shot in any given situation that I have no "plan" for.  It challenges me creatively and every time I stretch that muscle, I am pleased with the results.  So, here are a few of my favorites from our session.  I am SO excited to photograph their wedding celebration very soon...

I just LUV Amber and Perry! They are so natural together and their personalities are even more adorable than they are (if that's possible)! Perry is currently stationed in Afghanistan and has had the engagement surprise planned for Amber for months.  I had a heads up though so we got together while he was back for a short break to celebrate their long coming official engagement!  Hurray!   I had a really great shoot with Bonnie assisting me and I have to mention this because I was SO impressed. Daisy, Amber's baby (aka dog), is the most well behaved dog I've ever met...ever!  Even better than mine!  (And you know I must mean it if I say that, because of course I think I have the best dogs in the world! ;-) ) 

Thanks again to Amber and Perry for their sparkly personalities!  Here are some of my favorites from our session at Riverfront Park in downtown Denver. 

The day after I got home from Vegas I met with another of my fab couples for this year, Katie and John, and their adorable dog, Scout, for a beautiful spring afternoon shoot at Cherry Hills Country Club.  I don't know if it's just having been to WPPI or what, but I felt totally creative and inspired on a whole new level, and I am in love with these images! I was literally "seeing" photos and beautiful light everywhere I turned.  Thank you so much to Katie and John for being such amazing models and for choosing a new venue for me to get to know. I can't WAIT for your wedding!!  Let's have another wine date before then for sure!  :-)

Have camera bag, will travel.  :-)  I have been all over the map in the last couple of weeks!  A week after getting back from Atlanta, I was on my way to Orlando, FL for the premier Weekend Wedding Retreat at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress presented by Susan Southerland and the Just Marry team as well as the hotel.  I flew in on a Thursday, shot with the Just Marry team on Friday, and Saturday was a jam packed day of shooting, documenting the event all day, speaking to all of the couples about how to choose a wedding photographer who were split into two different groups,  not to mention the 17 "mini" engagement shoots with each couple that attended.  It was a bit like what I imagine speed dating would be like...a total whirlwind! 10 min per couple starting at 3:00, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40... and on like that until I had photographed everyone.  I had about 15 min for a quick change of clothes while also making a slideshow to surprise the couples with at the mock wedding reception that was going to finish off the evening.  By the end of the day I think I had taken close to 4,000 photos. It was a crazy fun day for everyone!  I had so much fun with all of the couples and I got really great images of all of them all despite the time constraints.  It was quite a challenge for me and I felt really great about it afterward. :-) Hopefully I will get to photograph some of their weddings too!  The hotel was absolutely amazing and the food was fantastic!  A big thank you to Angela Palacio, catering manager at the Grand Cypress, you were so awesome and so helpful!  I hope I get to come back to shoot weddings with you.  And to the other fantastic vendors involved; Vangie, you were absolutely marvelous!  Jeff, you amazing DJ you, great to meet you also. Thanks for the blackjack lessons... and to everyone else involved, thank you!

Gayle and Barry Steinhart (Write in Style): 
Jon Zimmerman (Absolutely Fitting):
Shannon Kykta (Solutions Bridal):
Diana Jo Rosanna (Two Left Feet Dance Lessons): 
Vangie DeLaConcha (Blossoms - Arrangements of Distinction): 
Jeff Verschage (White Rose Entertainment): 
Susan Southerland (Just Marry!):
Angela Palacio (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress): 

Here are my favorite shot of each couple.  Check out Susan's blog for my photos of the actual retreat itself coming soon.