The other day I had the pleasure of photographing the Peet’s Hill Couples Portrait Experience of Jenny and Cooper in downtown Bozeman, Montana.
During their busy lives working in Bozeman, these two often find relaxation and solace with their dogs, Dalia and Mr. Krill, during their frequent hikes along their favorite Bozeman in-town trailhead. For their Peet’s Hill couples portrait photographic experience, we wanted to highlight a place that was important in their relationship. Peet’s Hill was a perfect choice. On a lovely early May evening, we set out on the trail. An opportunity to celebrate this time in their lives together and make some fun photos.
These two have been dating for the past four years. From the moment you meet them, it’s clear that these two compliment each other so well. They have such a playful way about them and in conversation each commented on the absolute kindness of the other. For Cooper, he reveled at just how much fun they have together. He said he loves Jenny’s strength, her go-all-in passion for her art, and her ability to care deeply for the relationship and their friends.
“The way she approaches her life is so heartfelt and pure,” recalled Cooper, “She’s just so wonderful.”
For Jenny, she absolutely cherishes Cooper’s contagious enthusiasm for life and admires his ability to talk to anyone. Cooper’s social skillset has helped her feel more comfortable to open her own life more to others. As a result, he has positively impacted her growth into the best version of herself. Jenny loves Cooper’s commitment to being a role model. His passion for others shows when he is coaching free ride skiing to his twelve to eighteen-year-olds students. Most importantly, Cooper has a unique ability to make her feel safe. His kind presence empowers and allows her to let go of past shame. Such a gift from a loving partner.
With high spirits, we explored Peet’s Hill Park and played with their dogs as the sun set behind the Madison Mountains to the west. These are some favorite photos we created during out time together.
I loved getting to know these two and discovering all that they loved about each other and their relationship. I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding celebration at the Star M Barn venue in late August this year. Congrats to the newly engaged couple! -M
https://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Bozeman-Couples-Portraits-Peets-Hill-Greener-Visuals-0259.jpg9151400GreenerVisualshttps://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Logo-Greener-Visuals-Photography-Horizontal_color_web-1.pngGreenerVisuals2021-05-08 02:41:002023-03-10 01:49:38Peet’s Hill Couples Portrait Photographic Experience of Jenny & Cooper
Happy New Year everyone! I’m proud to present my Best of 2020 Wedding and Portrait Photography and storied reflections on a year during great uncertainty.
What a wild ride 2020 has been.
At the beginning of 2020, my year was lining up to be the best ever for my business. I was looking forward to photographing a full schedule of wedding dates and also had a dozen or so portrait sessions already on the books.
As the coronavirus pandemic spread its way across the country and quarantine began, most of my clients, rightfully so, made the difficult decision to postpone their celebrations.
Suddenly, I was forced to pivot.
With the uncertainty of how to move forward weighing heavily on many. I too wondered how I would support my photographic livelihood moving forward. It was also a heavy time for my family with the realization that my grandmother was to be admitted into hospice for her end of life care.
An ironic twist to an already surreal time in our world.
I was at home with my family in Missoula in late March, giving support to my grandmother the week before stay-in-place directives kicked in. During that time, I came across some old, favorite family photos that I had made of her throughout the years.
I kept thinking about the nearing end of her life and all of the great times we’ve had together. I realized those photos had suddenly become priceless to me. Captured memories that brought up so many wonderful emotions of love.
I wanted to make sure that my clients had the same chance to celebrate their own relationships.
It was a reminder that good storytelling photography can be that bridge to tap into all those emotions we hold dear towards our loved ones.
How many of us have made excuses over the years, not making the time to be present with our families? And in doing so, have we missed an opportunity to celebrate them and this time together with photography?
I think we’ve all been guilty of it.
Yet, once those loved ones are gone, we would do anything to be back in their presence once more. Crave just one more time to savor their cherished expressions that encapsulates who they are.
Looking back on 2020, I think as a society, we came away with many gifts from the year. For many families it was a time of heightened awareness that while we were socially distancing from our neighbors, some of us were getting to experience the precious moments of togetherness. A new appreciation of our families, loved ones, and pets during this time of unpredictability.
That was something to celebrate.
Giving Back and supporting local charities
During quarantine, I decided to create the Bozeman Front Porch Project. I was looking for a creative path to give back and use my photography skills to help my community in any way I could. The premise of the project was a brief, socially-distanced mini family photo sessions. I photographed families on their front porches, offering it as a chance for them to refocus and celebrate all the good that surrounds them while raising money for local charities.
It was such a joy and highlight for me to give back to the community that has given me so much.
Best of 2020 Wedding & Portrait photography – Positivity comes to fruition
As the year went on, I was blessed to meet an assortment of new clients. Families that wanted to capture and celebrate this time in their lives. I also helped businesses and professionals put their best selves forward by creating fresh business portraits and engaging photographic content for their business websites.
While most of the weddings in 2020 had been postponed, I was still able to photograph a few wedding with their close immediate families present.
As we’ve seen from 2020 worldwide pandemic, sometimes the best-laid plans don’t always work out. But it’s amazing how we can adapt to life’s changing circumstances.
Harley and Amanda were so excited to have a snowy winter wedding at the Gallatin River Lodge. When their wedding day arrived, unfortunately there wasn’t any snow on the ground, only a frigid cold outside . Making the best of situation, we wandered out to the frozen pond to remedy the problem.
When the pandemic canceled the big wedding plans of Addie and Nate, we changed course and instead rode up a backcountry mountain on horseback to photograph their small, intimate wedding ceremony. It ended up being better than they could ever imagine.
During Jordan and Raven’s elegant wedding in the Bridger Mountain foothills, a fast-approaching wildfire forced an emergency evacuation just hours before their ceremony was set to commence. Thankfully, on short notice, another venue was secured. Despite the hiccup, we rolled with it and celebrated their relationship well into the night.
The year seemed to be full of unexpected challenges but in the end, everything worked out. Each of these unique weddings was wonderfully imperfect in its own way.
Despite the struggles of 2020, I think as a community and country we have realized some of the hidden gifts of this pandemic like cherished time with the people that give our lives meaning.
Looking back on my Best of 2020 Wedding & Portrait photography, it wasn’t the year I expected. But all of it was a blessing and a well-needed time for reflection.
Now, with hope on the horizon for the vaccines being distributed, I look forward to the possibilities of 2021. The love I’ll get to document, the families I’ll get to celebrate and the businesses I’ll be able to make shine even brighter.
I’m optimistic about what the future holds.
I’m so grateful for the clients that supported me this past year. I cannot wait to embrace my friends safely again once this storm fades.
Above are some favorite wedding and portrait photographs I created this past wild year. I hope you enjoy them. And when the time is right, I look forward to helping you celebrate what matters most in your life. Happy New Year everyone! -M
https://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-Best-of-Photography-Title.jpg8011254GreenerVisualshttps://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Logo-Greener-Visuals-Photography-Horizontal_color_web-1.pngGreenerVisuals2021-01-18 23:19:282023-06-06 18:34:20Best of 2020 Wedding & Portrait photography – A Year of Reflection
Last Fall, I had the pleasure of photographing the Bozeman Family Portrait photography experience of Jenny and Ethan.
It’s been a joy for me to get to know these two over the last few years. A few years ago, these two hired me to photographer their wedding day at Rockin TJ Ranch. Since that great day, married life has been treating these two well. They’ve settled into a new home, their careers are going strong and their world has focused on loving and raising their young son Declan.
For these Bozeman parents, family time has quickly become a top priority in their busy lives.
Before the start of their Bozeman family portrait photography session, they told me the exciting news that their second child was on the way. Jenny and Ethan wanted to celebrate this time right now with Declan. Furthermore, they wanted to create beautiful family photographic artwork in their home that would be a reminder of all the love surrounding him. Photographs that showed their son that he is the center of his parent’s world.
For their family portrait photography session, we went for a walk along the Painted Trails Access with their labrador, Guinness leading the charge. At that vantage point we had a lovely view of the Bridger mountains for their family portrait experience. we played and soaked up the beautiful evening sunset.
Here are a few favorites from my time with them. -M
https://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bozeman-Family-Portrait-Photography-Jenny-Ethan-3904.jpg9341400GreenerVisualshttps://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Logo-Greener-Visuals-Photography-Horizontal_color_web-1.pngGreenerVisuals2020-10-01 22:38:002023-03-10 20:18:13Bozeman Family Portrait Photography of Jenny and Ethan
A few weeks back I had the pleasure of photographing the Morel Mushroom Hunting Couple Portraits of Brianna and Kyle.
Brianna and Kyle are two foodies who are planning their September wedding celebration later this summer.
This engaged couple has made a life together fostering their shared love of the outdoors and wild foods. They work hard for that lifestyle. Both are on the talented staff at the Gallatin River Lodge. Kyle works as a sous chef and Brianna is the kitchen, garden, and reservations manager for events.
Working in the service industry often requires long hours, especially in the summer. It can make personal time challenging to harness especially when your partner might not have the same schedule as you.
Through our numerous conversations leading up to our photo session, we discovered that it’s the little things that they shared together that help make their relationship so strong and satisfying.
For their couples portrait photographic experience, our conversations focused on all the things they love about each other, their relationship together, and their 8-year-old English Pointer dog named Speck.
For this engaged couple, life doesn’t get much better than when they walk the banks of the Gallatin River near with their dog and find wild morel mushrooms to turn into fancy meals.
The more we talked, the clearer our theme became. Their Morel Mushroom Hunting Couple Portraits would be the perfect recipe for their couple portrait theme – highlighting their passion for the outdoors and cooking good food.
I traveled out to their home west of Bozeman where we explored the Gallatin River banks together. Within an hour, we found a heaping bowl full of blond morel mushrooms and made some really fun, personal photos of Brianna and Kyle in their happy place with their pup.
Being an aficionado of foraging and cooking wild game meat myself, I joined them for a riverside campfire dinner. I loved photographing them creating together in their outdoor, fireside kitchen with uncontrollable smiles on their faces. These two were in their creative culinary zone. Kyle sautéed our prized morel mushrooms with garlic, spices, and asparagus then artistically dished them onto a perfectly grilled moose backstrap (donated by yours truly) prepared by Kyle.
We ate like kings and queens that night.
With our bellies full of delicious food and a couple of microbrews, we savored the moment. To close out our time together, I had these two snuggle up into their hammock. Kyle is also a musician and he played blues riffs on his guitar for us as the sun set over the mountains. It was a perfect way to enjoy a relaxing Montana summer evening.
I love the energy and the life these two have created together. I think their bond really shines through these photographs.
Congrats again on your engagement Brianna and Kyle. Wishing you two a lifetime of happiness! -M
Introducing my New Photography Studio Labrador Puppy “Tippet”.
My new best friend has arrived!
My family grew up raising labrador retriever puppies and every Spring, during my junior and high school years, we would have a litter of labrador puppies in our house.
It was so much fun to come home from school and yell “Hey kids!” from the front door and suddenly a wave of wagging labrador would welcome me at the door. Having labs growing up was such a wonderful part of my childhood.
My folks have since moved from my childhood Chicago suburb home and have settled into their new life in Missoula, Montana. As I grow older, those familiar childhood memories and nostalgia grow more distant and seem harder to hold onto. I don’t get to go home to my old room or old stomping grounds which makes tapping into those old childhood memories a little harder.
Besides having the new companionship, I felt getting my own labrador companion would be one way to have some of those positive childhood experiences enter back into my life. And it would also just be a ton of fun.
Since leaving home to pursue a degree in Photojournalism at the University of Montana seventeen years ago, not having a dog has been a hole in my life that I’ve been waiting patiently to fill. So, two years ago when I made the decision that I would get my first pet and put a deposit down with Lori’s Labradors in Whitehall, Montana, my excitement could barely be contained. It turned out to be almost a two-year wait to get a black female labrador. Turns out it was worth it. Last Monday, I finally got to go pick her up.
It seems I’ve suddenly leveled up in adulthood. Now, my days are filled with puppy training, praising and dodging those puppy needle teeth.
I think Tippet is going to be a fun addition to my life. Keeping me company in my photo studio, accompanying me on my adventures and bringing lots of laughter daily. I’m excited to share our future adventures with you all on here. -M
https://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/GreenerVisuals_TippetPuppy02.jpg8001200GreenerVisualshttps://greenervisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Logo-Greener-Visuals-Photography-Horizontal_color_web-1.pngGreenerVisuals2017-03-13 19:21:032019-06-18 05:45:29Introducing my New Photography Studio Labrador Puppy “Tippet”
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