Tag Archive for: hyalite canyon

Earlier this summer, I went hiking with my wedding clients Courtney and Josh for their Hyalite Canyon Engagement Portraits outside of Bozeman, Montana.

I met Courtney and her family a few years back when I photographed her sister Jenny’s wedding celebration here in Bozeman.

While Courtney and Josh have only been dating for the last two years, they have known each other since they were twelve years old. Josh admitted that he had a life-long crush on her when they were growing up together in Bozeman.

As they were coming of age, he was her first kiss. They stayed friends.

Years later, they reconnected and began cultivating a stronger bond with one another. For her, it was his unconditional support and selflessness. For him, he loves her confidence, intelligence, and nurturing presence.

Hyalite Canyon, in their youth and now in their relationship, has been a special place for them to explore. Nowadays, it’s often with Mia, their 16-month-old blue healer mix pup in tow. Together, we decided it would be the perfect place to photograph their Hyalite Canyon Engagement Portraits.

With their wedding day only a week away, as Josh puts it, “It feels like we are leveling up now in life.”

How appropriate that when we were out hiking in the mountains, we went to one of their favorite trees in the forest and climbed up for a photograph.

It’s exciting to see two people so perfectly matched for one another. This weekend is going to be a fantastic wedding celebration!

Congrats on your engagement you two! -M

  • engaged-couple-embrace-around-campfire-during-Hyalite-stargazing-engagement-portraits

I photographed the Hyalite stargazing engagement portraits of Aysha and Brad on the eve before the springtime road closure to Hyalite Canyon.

For Aysha, her love of Brad’s spontaneity and ability to make her laugh won her affection over quickly. Their relationship grew closer through their LDS faith, love of soccer and live music, and being together stargazing with each other in their Montana backyard. This couple is dedicated to their craft. Aysha helps run the family plumbing business and Brad is also working there as an electrician apprentice.

Brad summed up Aysha as nothing short of amazing and kept commenting on how much he cherished how every day, she gives everything her all.

After dating for seven months, they were engaged a few weeks back while next to a campfire.

For their Hyalite stargazing engagement portraits, we decided to highlight some of their favorite activities they love to experience together. We made a plan to meet up at the Hyalite Reservoir just outside of Bozeman for their nighttime, stargazing engagement portrait experience.

Upon our arrival at the snow-covered Hyalite parking lot, we were greeted with clear skies and a setting sun. We started by exploring the quiet, cold winter landscape with antique oil lanterns that lighted our path. As the stars came out over the frozen mountain scene, I made some long exposure photographs to make the sky really shine. Afterward, Brad made us a warm campfire to sit around. This couple came prepared with plenty of s’mores, cups of hot chocolate, and the arms of each other. We had found a perfect mountain atmosphere to showcase Aysha and Brad’s relationship.

It made for a really fun night.

Here are some of my favorite photographs I made during our evening together.

I’m so excited for these two and the good fortune that lies ahead for them. Congrats to Aysha and Brad! -M

Bozeman Engagement Photographer Hyalite Canyon couple portrait

  • Bozeman Engagement Photographer Hyalite Canyon couple portrait

Capitalizing on a recent break in the rainy weather, I met up with my wedding clients Allison and Matt for their Hyalite Canyon Engagement Photography Experience.

Over these last few months, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know these two.

They recently moved to Bozeman from Davis, Montana where they attended school as Ecology grad students. Back during my time working in California newspapers, I too lived in the city of Davis. As we got to know each other, we quickly realized we had many overlapping UC Davis friends and shared outdoor leisure activities. We quickly hit it off and had a blast exploring the scenic local landscape during our Hyalite Canyon Engagement Photography session.

These two are wonderful humans.

And their big wedding day is quickly approaching. I’m looking forward to documenting and celebrating them at their Springhill Pavilion wedding day in a few weeks! -M

Montana Family Photography Hyalite Canyon family portrait

  • Hyalite-Canyon-Family-Portrait-Photographic-Experience
    I had the pleasure of joining the Rigard Family for their Hyalite Canyon Family Portrait Photographic Experience near Bozeman, Montana. Jen and Ryan have been friends of mine in Bozeman for years and I was honored when they hired me to photograph their family reunion.

I had the pleasure of photographing the Hyalite Canyon Reservoir Family Portraits of the Rigard Family.

Jen and Ryan have been friends of mine in Bozeman for years. I was honored when they hired me to photograph their family reunion.

Mindful of Ryan’s need for wheelchair access, we explored the areas around the Hyalite and played around in the evening sunlight photographing their relationships.

I was really pleased with how they turned out. Here are some of my favorites from the day. -M

Hyalite Canyon Winter Engagement Photo Session of Heather & Andrew

A few weeks back I got to photograph Heather & Andrew for their Hyalite Winter Engagement Photos Session outside Bozeman, Montana.

I’ll be photographing their 2016 wedding day at Chico Hot Springs next April. While they were in town for Thanksgiving with family, we found a window of time to drive to the nearby majestic rocky mountain canyon. The snow had just recently fallen a couple of days before and now cast a white blanket across the surrounding Hyalite Reservoir and Gallatin National Forest. It was a cool ice-covered scene to explore. With the mixed overcast clouds, I was able to play with the cooler winter color palette of the Montana landscape.

These two were a lot of fun during their Hyalite Winter Engagement Photos Session. I appreciate a wedding couple that is up for an adventure. I’m looking forward to documenting their wedding celebration this Spring. Congrats on your engagement you guys! -Mike

  • Hyalite Canyon Winter Engagement Photo Session of Heather & Andrew