Words cannot explain what a wonderful time I had with these two. I’m in Montana this week and yesterday I got to photograph Tassie & TJ.
Tassie & TJ were the winners of my Montana Summer Wedding Giveaway and I cannot wait for their wedding! I’ve known Tassie for a while and I absolutely love her and it was so great to get to know TJ a little better. I’m sure glad the contest rules did not exclude friends and family from entering 
. They are such a wonderful couple and I really enjoyed our day together. There’s nothing better than to have clients who trust me 100% and are happy to just have fun and focus on each other while I snap away. Thanks, guys!
We started our session downtown Polson. It was really cold and my fingers were frozen, but it was so fun!
Then Tassie gave me some gloves and we moved down to the the docks:
Tassie has always wanted a claddagh ring and TJ got this one all the way from Ireland. It’s so special to her. He’s a special guy 
They are getting married July 11.
We got back in the car to warm up for a little bit and drove to this field for some more fun photos:
TJ is a football player so I though it would be fun for them to play for a little bit. Love these photos!
On the way back we stopped along the way for a couple more photos:
Then Tassie and TJ changed and we went back out just for a little bit longer:
We pretty much laughed the entire time
This is one of my all-time favorite photos:
One last one walking back to the car:
And a sneak peek of their wedding post-card:
Tassie & TJ, I hope you know how happy I am for you two and how much I appreciate your willingness to go along with my ideas and for being so much fun and easy going. I love you guys and I am so happy I get to photograph your wedding. Thanks for reading my blog and entering the contest .
Yesterday I met up with Breckin and Alex for their engagement session. I am so thrilled to have the honor to photograph their wedding. Last year, I photographed Breckin’s sister’s wedding (Rachelle & Jordan) and Alex’s sister’s wedding (Christina & Eric), isn’t that so fun?! I feel like I know they whole family already 
I usually suggest to couples two outfits for their session, one casual and one a little dressier. I joked with Breckin that they had a super dressy outfit and an extra dressy outfit… Her response? “Don’t let the fancy dress fool ya, we are up for anything!”. Don’t you just love her?!
Breckin and Alex, thank you!! And happy Valentine’s Day <3
Love them!
02-14-2010 4:32 pm
fancy dress… “up for anything” couple. fdoes it get any better? GREAT stuff.
02-15-2010 12:17 am
We had so much fun during the shoot, even though it was “fancy” attire. Thanks, Cristi
02-15-2010 9:59 am
Love the pictures, you both look great!
02-15-2010 2:04 pm
Great pics!!!!
02-16-2010 5:06 pm
WOW…BEAUTIFUL!
02-17-2010 11:06 pm
This last Saturday I had my first official Fancy Camera Workshop and I feel like I am still recovering from it. The whole day felt like things were moving 10x times faster than normal life speed. I’ve taught many community college classes before, provided countless nutrition presentations for a variety of groups, from children to elderly, from 5 people in the audience to 500. I thought I was more than ready for the workshop, but this was completely different than anything I’ve ever done before.
I packed a whole lot of information in one day and trying to create images while answering questions and trying to make sure every important piece of information is covered can certainly make your head spin. But I have to say I am soo happy with how things turned out. Some of the attendees had literally just bought their cameras the week of the workshop and walked away shooting perfectly exposed and very well composed images on manual setting! In just one day!
Four our photo shoot location, I thought it would be great to show everyone that you can create some really great images in really terrible places. So after the lecture part of the day we just literally walked out to the hotel’s parking lot where the workshop took place and used that as our photo shoot location. I was really impressed with what everyone was able to create.
I also need to give my best friends, Tom and Trisha, a lot of credit for being so adorable and patient with us. I love you guys! Here are some images of my favorite couple:
I think this series is just so cute:
It’s always fun to practice a little panning, and with sunflare it’s even better!
After the shoot we went back inside and talked a little bit about post-processing and had a great critique of everyone’s images. Here are a couple of images processed a little differently just for fun:
Thank you so much to everyone who came. It was wonderful meeting all of you. Please stay in touch as I can’t wait to see what else you will create! For some behind the scenes images, click here.
[...] You can see some of the Fancy Camera Workshop images here. [...]
01-11-2010 2:06 pm
I kinda fell in love with these two at first sight. We met at a coffee shop just two months ago and as we talked their connection and love for each other was so apparent, I secretly hoped and prayed they liked me as much as I liked them. I was beyond excited when they announced they were set on having me as their wedding photographer. We celebrated with chocolate chip cookies and iced tea and I’ve been looking forward to their engagement session ever since.
LOVE this. I wish I could bottle up Nicole’s laugh, it’s really that great!
This is what happened when I asked for a serious face…
But then we got it. Well, kinda…
Nicole is absolutely beautiful!
This location was Chris’s idea and he asked to get some credit on the blog. Great job, Chris!
It doesn’t get any more adorable than this:
Can’t you feel the love here?! It’s my favorite image of the day:
After the hugs and hellos, one of the first things I said was how much I liked Nicole’s shoes. Her reply: “Aww, thanks, I knew from reading your blog I needed some killer shoes for the photos”. Love you, Nicole!
Nicole and Chris wanted to incorporate some desert shots into their session, so into the desert we went:
Sooo pretty:
I could not love this shot anymore:
Nicole and Chris, thank you, thank you, and thank you! You have no idea how much fun I had with you yesterday. I hope you love your images
Absolutely beautiful–yall look very happy
you deserve it Chris!
11-12-2009 5:51 pm
Great pictures!!!Can’t wait to meet Nicole
Love Loretta
11-12-2009 6:04 pm
Love the pictures! Ya’ll look great together! Can’t wait to see the wedding pictures!
11-12-2009 6:19 pm
You guys do look so HAPPY together! I am so happy and excited for the both of you and I cannot wait to meet Nicole too!!
Love you!!
11-12-2009 8:04 pm
Looks like ya’ll had fun with these shots.
Turned out great!!
11-13-2009 6:38 am
I can tell you had a great time! The pictures are fabulous! Can’t wait to see the rest! We love you two!!
11-13-2009 9:57 pm
My faves are the second to last, and the tight shot of her sweet smile! They seem like a great couple. I love how genuine these images are!
11-15-2009 6:39 am
For all of you romantics out there, go and grab a big box of tissues… When I first heard Colleen and Brad’s story I sure wish they had warned me just how cute, made-for-the movies, make-Cristi-cry it was going to be…
Brad had just finished his first year in law school and had decided to go to London and Paris for the summer to study International Law. On his last day in Phoenix, as Colleen was helping him pack, he said he had a present for her and gave her a giant cardboard box. The box was filled to the brim with huge manila envelopes – each one dated for a day that he would be gone. Below the envelopes were gifts all wrapped up – again, each one dated. He had written letters for Colleen to read every night and small presents for her to open each morning. Just a way for him to be there, even though he was gone. They made plans for Colleen to go visit him in Paris at the end of his program. The last letter Colleen read in Phoenix said that her final gift was waiting for her in Paris. Her first few days there with him were spent sightseeing, traveling and enjoying time together. On the last day – Brad took Colleen to the Luxembourg Gardens for their final picnic of the trip. There he reminded her of his last letter and the gift that was waiting for her arrival. He pulled out the ring got down on one knee… and she said yes!
Aren’t you glad I told you to get some tissues first?
They are just soo cute together!
We of course had to re-enact their picnic:
Colleen is G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S
Colleen and Brad, thanks for enduring the heat, the ant bites and the outspoken bystanders I hope it was worth it!
o.m.g…. that is such a great story!! they are so sweet together, adorable couple Great pics as always Cristi! Great pics!
09-27-2009 10:20 pm
This session is sweeet! And also I love the new blog!!! Take care over there!
09-30-2009 11:41 pm
Viviane Adams
Now you should have a “california family giveaway” contest!!
What do you say about that?
Loved the pictures. What a cute couple!
02-28-2010 11:14 pm
helga
OMG! This is a.m.a.z.i.g!!! (think about the nyc workshop)
03-01-2010 7:54 am
Tina
Beyoooootiful! Love the shot with the mini icebergs in the water:) Awesome. Love these!
03-01-2010 8:45 am
Emilia
Cristi your favorite picture is mine as well. But all of them are so good. I’m pretty sure the couple are very proud of their pictures taken by you : ) And oh, Montana scenery is breath taking. I’m putting the low temperatures away from this discussion ok? lololololo
03-01-2010 9:26 am
Nicole Newkirk
These images are awesome, Cristi! They are such an adorable couple and look like tons of fun
.
03-01-2010 10:33 am
Denise
This session is AMAZING! Gorgeous work Christi. I’m totally in love with the ones on the docks
03-01-2010 12:23 pm
Amanda Howard
Gorgeous work! I LOVE the dock photos!
03-01-2010 1:02 pm
Melinda Owen
Seriously, I know we are family so you are going to think I have to say this but. . . YOU ARE THE BEST. Honestly every new album I see I am just amazed at how breath taking your pictures are! I love you!
03-04-2010 8:28 am
Vanessa Figueroa
Wow!
There is nothing more needed to say.
These are BEAUTIFUL! The couple & the location! hmmm.. I’m thinking I may have to start planning on a trip to Montana!
03-04-2010 11:12 am