~Giorgia ~ Senior Shoot ~ Callahan House Longmont ~ Chautauqua Boulder~

Giorgia, my youngest child is a high school senior, graduating in 2023. Does not seem possible. Not sure where to even begin as there are so many words I can use to describe her. She lights up a room, she is so smart, so beautiful, so full of life and passions. And stubborn. And so fiercely independent. When she was maybe 2, 2 and a half, we were in a pool and she just would not let go of me to try to learn to swim. No words, no coaxing would make this happen. So, as mothers do, I blew into her face and pushed her to the bottom (only a few feet in the shallow end) and brought her back up. She looked shocked but at the same time you could almost see the wheels turning. She pushed me away from her, now refusing to be held, and spent the rest of the day learning to swim. On her own. That’s my Giorgia. She is off soon to start her college and adult life journey. I am excited to see where she goes and what life she will build for herself. But I know that whatever it is it will be amazing. She is amazing. Love you my stubborn little mermaid.

~ Kyle ~ Senior Shoot ~ Chautauqua Boulder~

Where do I start this post about my son. He is, well physically at this point, much taller than me (and his sisters and pretty much most of his friends) which was unexpected and wonderful. He is also possibly the most kind, sweet, smart and lovely person I know. Also so very much a boy. Growing up in a house full of females he has been our balancing stick and a very needed dose of, well, not all girls all the time. He has such a quick brain and such a big heart. When he finds things he is passionate about he goes all in, which tells me that he will forge a path that makes him happy and fulfilled. And he still gives me the hugs I need without fuss. Really, what more can a mama ask for?

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~ British Virgin Islands ~ June 2014 ~ Family Time ~

2014 was quite a year for my family.  We have several trips and family visiting from overseas.  In June we travelled to Cooper Island, in the British Virgin Islands, and hopped over to Virgin Gorda as well.  If you have never been to Cooper Island you should.  And it is not really considered a “family” resort.  VERY small island with a small beach, a great restaurant, guest rooms, an ice cream shop, and a rum bar.  And, my favorite part, this resort is very, very Green.  Green as in, eco-friendly and sustainable.  We also got to stay with friends on Virgin Gorda where we got to swim in an infinity pool over looking the ocean.  We snorkeled, dived, swam, played, ate ice cream, celebrated Giorgia’s birthday, and made new friends.  2014 was a good year…

~ Mendelow Summer of Love ~ Family Time ~

So one might wonder how many activities can be done with 9 family members (5 adults and 4 kids) in 5 weeks. Well, quite a bit if your family is like mine.  My sister-in-law Elina, my brother-in-law Robbie, and their insanely cute little one, Aran, came to visit from Spain, and my mother-in-law came in from Brighton, in the U.K.  We rode bikes, visited the Wild Animal Sanctuary and Lakeside Amusement Park, rock climbed, built an enormous fence around our backyard (thank you Robbie and Elina!), tubed down the Boulder Creek, went to several Band on the Bricks, went up to camp and hike Indian Peaks, the boys went skateboarding (a lot!), and we celebrated three birthdays between us.

We had an epic camping trip to Moab, Utah for 10 days with 9 bikes, 3 kayaks, 2 dogs, 3 tents, a camper, a truck, and a little red car. While we were there we rode slick rock, explored Arches National Park, went hiking, survived some crazy rain, made friends with a goat, and went jeeping. Aran went no where without his trusty dump truck and mini jeep (“Is this what happens in Moab?”) and we did it all with lots and lots of tea, laughter, mud, and fun!

Love you all, miss you all, and cannot wait to get together again!

xoxoxoxoxo

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~ 180 degrees photography ~ Denver Life Weddings Editorial Shoot ~ Denver Editorial Photographer ~

I had the honor of photographing Denver Life Wedding’s Spring/Summer 2014 magazine Lookbook bridal fashion spread.  The best part about being involved in a magazine editorial shoot is all the people that come together to make it happen.  The day was long, and crazy, and…it was snowing.  And cold.  And the goal was to make it look like Spring and Summer!  Our very, very brave model, Anna, was such a trooper.  She was professional and “warm” looking to the end!  There were so many talented and amazing people that worked on this and so many gorgeous gowns, head pieces, jewelry, shoes, bouquets…and the location was breathtaking.  I decided to break this shoot up by the Bridal Studio that provided the gowns, and I am starting with The Little White Dress Bridal Shop.

Thanks to all involved:

Model: Anna Zhovmiruk, Donna Baldwin Agency   Photographer: 180 Degrees Photography
Hair: Alex Rosas Cano, The Parlour Denver   Makeup: Erroll Perkins 

Florals: Lale Floral Designs   Location: Crooked Willow Farms, Larkspur

Dress provided by:  The Little White Dress Shop

~ 180 degrees photography ~ 1940’s Hollywood Glam ~ Styled Wedding Photographer~

As you all know, my wedding photography business is a partnership with the uber talented Tanja Butler-Melone of Contemporary Expressions Photography.  We love to have these  creative and inspired Styled Wedding Shoots.  For this shoot we collaborated with an amazing group of talented artists to create a 1940’s Hollywood Glam feeling.  We decided to take the classic and elegant glamour of the 1940’s (think Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Bette Davis…) and twist it a bit to make it into a look that a bride could wear today.

Sort of like finding inspiration from your mother’s, or even your grandmother’s, wedding album. That amazing, oh so elegant diva from the past brought up to date.  Thanks to everyone involved in our day:

Styled by: Jani Duncan Smith and 180 Degrees Photography
Hair: Jessica Lauren
Makeup: Tiffany McCray
Model: Haley
Flowers: Lale Florals
Dress: A & Be Bridal

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

180 degrees photography 1940’s Hollywood Glam Styled Wedding Shoot Denver Colorado

 

~ Another Emma & Grace Couture Wedding Gown Shoot ~

I feel so lucky to be able to drape gorgeous, luscious, designer wedding gowns from Emma & Grace Bridal Studio on our lovely models and just, well, shoot away.  This day was short and sweet, but still…managed to capture a few images to share.  And it so sweet to see some of my work on their site.  Please, go check it out, they have to-die-for wedding gowns.  Maybe I should renew my vows…..

~ Of the earth : Madison Family ~

Where to start….

When my dear friend, Regina, asked me to photograph her family I was thrilled.  Previously I had the unbelievable honor of photographing Reg’s maternity session for her now 9 month old.  She wanted an underwater maternity shoot with a Warrior Mama/Divine Feminine/Mother Goddess Theme and did we have fun with this session.   I am very proud of the images I made on this day and it will always remain one of my absolute favorite sessions ever.

Well, now I have yet another one to add to my “absolute favorite” collection.  And, once again, Regina had a, sort of, theme in mind.  Well, really more of “representation” of who they are.  And there is definitely a free spirit, bohemian, earthy feel to the session, which, I think, seems absolutely natural and true to this wonderful family.  This time I had a whole afternoon with the entire Madison family.  All five boys. Now, all of you know, because I say it all the time, that my fondest sessions are those with lots of energy, activity and motion.  Bingo.  I won the lottery.  I have done many large family sessions and they always make me giddy.  Truly.  And I already knew this bunch of boys.  And by the end of the afternoon, Blue had stolen my heart (he is the one with the newly buzzed hair cut if you want to pick him out of the bunch!).  He spent most of the time talking to me and holding my hand.  Yup.  I’m a sucker for that.

Honestly, I know Tommy and Regina were beyond tuckered (they were also in the middle of packing up everything for their move to Arizona…yes, I miss them madly) and they had five little men with muddy feet (among other parts), wet clothes, mosquito bites (OMG were the mosquitos out in force!…I even had to photoshop mosquitos out of images!), and hungry tummies and napping needs, but I have to tell you that their little gentlemen went above and beyond.  No big fights, no meltdowns.  Polite to the very end.  Well, OK, maybe a tiny bit grumpy but weren’t we all?  Oh, and did I mention Tommy had to carry all the Teepee materials a half mile up and down the trail?  Sorry Tommy….

OK, so, my kids were watching me edit and prepare the images (they love to watch the photoshop magic and tell me what a great photographer I am….nothing like children’s admiration to boost you up!) and my son, Kyle (surrounded by a sister on either end), reminded me that he STILL wants a brother and has yet to forgive me for only having ONE boy and TWO girls.  I said, “Look, Reg and Tommy have FIVE boys and no girls.”  He said, “That would be amazing!”  Um, well, maybe…  Tommy and Reg certainly make it look amazing.  xoxoxo to you all ~ Blue, Dax, Xavier, Jett, and Rhen!

So I am opening this blog up with one of my picks from the Underwater Maternity session I did with Regina.  I have so many I love from that session it was very hard to only pick one, so if you want to see more go check it out.

I think I will end with this:

Hold on to what is good, even if it’s a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe, even if it’s a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do, even if it’s a long way from here.
Hold on to your life, even if it’s easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand, even if someday I’ll be gone away from you.
–Pueblo Prayer

~ Styled Wedding Shoot : Free People/Anthropology Style ~

Some days I love my life.  Some days I really, really LOVE my job!  Today was one of those days.  I got to photograph four absolutely stunning couture weddings gowns, graciously provided (accessories and all!) by Emma & Grace Bridal Studio.  We had two gorgeous and talented models, Cada and Miranda, a beautiful Colorado day, and hours of fun.  This shoot was done in a “Free People”/”Anthropology” style, which if you know me at all, is my dream look!  Please check out Emma & Grace, they have the most luxurious, elegant, amazing gowns.  And, look for many more posts to follow…we are shooting every other week with two new gowns!  Yes, I am smiling….

~ Akumal Mexico, June 2013 ~

For our family vacation this summer we traveled to Akumal, Mexico and were part of a Teens4Oceans Turtle Tagging and Research trip.  We had 10 glorious, humid, salty, sandy, amazing fun-filled days.  We were joined by 14 teenagers (along with my three kids and my lovely mother-in-law Annie!), several chaperones, turtle researchers, and many great people from Centro Ecologico Akumal along the way.  Our condo backed up to the Lagoon where we could snorkel every day, and we were a bumpy mile long ride in a golf cart away from the bay, where numerous green turtles (and a few loggerhead and an occasional hawksbill), sting rays, squid…just to name a few, hang out.  We visited Coba, to see Mayan Ruins (and lots of iguanas!), and as part of the T4O trip, we tagged eight green turtles and installed acoustic telemetry and camera systems.  And my kids got to stay up till midnight to watch a 300 lb female lay eggs. Oh, did I mention there was also a pool at our place…on the roof?  Yup, my kids were in heaven!