Let’s dive into a throw back Thursday post that takes us all the way back to being a Berrendo Bulldog… which was middle school when I first met Brooke.
When I began this wedding photography business, I expected that my friends would support me the way that friends do. Share Facebook posts. Send texts with affirmations. Refer their friends my way. You know, typical friend stuff. What I didn’t expect was that my friends would actually hire me…. and not just hire me, but hire me to shoot their wedding. Their WEDDING!! I never expected that out of a sea of photographers, they would pick me. And in this case, I was dealing with a sea of Colorado photographers who would have been less of a hassle, and let’s face it, cheaper to hire… because they didn’t have to travel.
I was absolutely honored, humbled and anxiety-ridden when this exact scenario came up with my dear friend, Brooke. Brooke had moved to Colorado after high school and while there she met her best friend, and soon-to-be husband, Justin. After exchanging a few emails with Brooke, it was decided that Brooke and Justin were coming to Las Vegas so they would plan to do their engagement session here. After the engagement session we planned to discuss the idea of me shooting their wedding.
We began the engagement session a bit earlier than we should have and the sun was a bit too harsh. So we stopped to take a short break… and a cocktail was likely involved. Over cocktails, in the middle of the engagement shoot, Brooke said yes. She said yes to me shooting her wedding! I’m pretty sure I tried to put on a cool face, but inside I was full of excitement, nerves, and anxiety. The pressure was on, not only for the wedding, but also for the second half of the engagement shoot! Remind me to never do that again… book the wedding mid-engagement shoot, that is… ha ha ha!
Brooke was an absolutely stunning bride, and Justin was as dapper as could have been expected. They were the perfect bride and groom to stand in front of this insane landscape that the Arrowhead Golf Course in Colorado had to offer.
Brooke & Justin decided to do a first look in order to allow plenty of time for the wedding party photos to happen, and these images from the first look are absolutely some of my favorite from the day!
Janelle hadn’t started shooting with me yet, so I contracted the amazing Rhema of Rhema Faith Photography to drive down from Fort Collins to shoot with me. This image of Justin seeing his bride for the first time is hers!
We roamed the grounds of Arrowhead Golf Club for Brooke and Justin’s portraits, and I can’t begin to tell you how magical the scenery and Brooke & Justin were together.
Looking back on these weddings really shows me both how far I have come along in finding my photographic aesthetic, and exactly how much I have stayed the same. I definitely edit my photos differently now, but most of the photojournalistic shots during the ceremony and reception remain similar.
I mean, really?
Congratulations, Brooke & Justin… you’ve made it through the first year of marriage, plus some! Which is both a huge compliment to you guys and a huge slap on the wrist to myself for my lack of blogging skills. No seriously, I could not have been happier to have been with you on your wedding day, and I hope that you will cherish these memories forever.
