Flyfishing Family Portrait Photographer Gallatin River

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On a peaceful August afternoon, I had the pleasure to photograph the flyfishing family portrait session of Kevin and Joan along the Gallatin River outside of Bozeman, Montana.

With their only grandson, Colton, living out of state and them residing in Red Lodge, Montana, this flyfishing family doesn’t get to visit each other as much as they would like. Kevin and Joan were so excited to finally be spending quality one-on-one time during their recent Southwest Montana road trip. Their agenda? Spend as much time together on rivers with fly rods in hand, chasing trout. 

Flyfishing, as it turns out, has been a storied way of life for this family for generations. 

All of their four adult children are serious fly fishermen. Two are even professional fishing guides featured on national television shows

To Kevin and Joan, this family time together was precious. They recognized the importance of this time in Colton’s life. After all, he was growing up fast. They knew they wanted to document this moment with a flyfishing family portrait session. 

In excited agreement over the course of our discovery conversations, we decided to highlight both their love of Colton and their favorite family pastime. In turn, they wanted to create some beautiful photographic artwork as a reminder to their grandson of all the Montana love that surrounds him, even from afar.

They are a family after my own heart! As a Montana Family Photographer (and fellow flyfisherman), it brings me great joy when I can celebrate and photograph families in a place that fuels their souls. I was happy to oblige.

Along with their Goldendoodle “Boomer” in the lead, we had a great time exploring, fishing, and photographing along the Gallatin River and making some really meaningful photos of them along the way. It’s never a bad day on the river with the ones you love. Here are a few favorite photos from our family portrait session. Wishing this family of anglers all the best on the road trip ahead. Tight lines, -M

  • Bozeman Morel Mushroom Hunting Couples Portrait Photography

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

  • Realtor-Molly-Ogle-and-Pippa-Indoor-Business-Portraits

The other day, I photographed the Indoor Business Portraits of Knoff Real Estate Associate Molly Ogle.

Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of creating numerous professional business portraits for the good folks at Knoff Group Real Estate in Bozeman, Montana.

Molly Ogle, their new associate, recently joined this talented team of realtors and was in need of some updated headshots and business portraits. We decided to explore the newly restored, historic Cannery District with her French bulldog, Pippa in tow and made some fun, indoor business portraits for her new position.

Here are some of my favorites from our portrait photographic experience. -M

Looking to get some fresh new business portraits for your own company?

Check out my business portrait services here and I look forward to helping you bring out the best version of yourself for your clients. 

  • Anchorage Alaska Family Kids Portrait Photography

I recently photographed the Anchorage Alaska Kids Portrait Photography of Eric and Brandy’s family celebration.

With all the couples and family portraits I’ve been making this Spring, I got a break. I took the opportunity to spend a week with my family up in Anchorage, Alaska.

Their official Anchorage Alaska Family Kids Portrait Photographer was back for more.

It is so much fun being an uncle!

We were celebrating the one-year-old birthday of my nephew Paul. I wanted to see the look on his face as he bit into his first chocolate birthday cake.

Not having any kids of my own, it’s been such a fun experience for me to watch my younger brother Eric as a father and as a caring partner to his wife Brandy. Household laughter sums up the experience every time I visit. Eric and Brandy are so good at playing and engaging with their children. It doesn’t take much for them to get their kids to giggle.

There is a lot of love in this Alaska home.

I feel grateful that the flexibility of my work schedule allows me to travel up to see them a couple of times a year and be a part of these kids’ lives.

As a photographer uncle, I want my niece and nephews to be able to look back at their candid childhood selves in pictures years from now and see all the love that was and is all around them.

Photographing my family has become a fun, personal project for me. I get to observe how these little lovable humans process their world and continue developing their different and unique personalities.

It means something to be there on that lazy morning to capture the pure joy in the face of Molly, my niece, as she cruises down the hallway on her scooter with “Jones”, the family Labrador chasing in stride.

Laughing and watching smiling Paul, who is just months away from taking his first steps, currently opting to carry all sorts of items in his mouth and utilizing his new crawling habit.

The kid can move.

For me, the best gifts from these experiences are being present for the little things.

Watching them helps me receive the world in a whole new way. A glimpse into the perspective of all things a new.

Here are some favorite moments from my time making Anchorage Alaska Family Kids Portrait Photography of my Alaska tribe. I can’t wait to return. -M

  • expecting-parents-embrace-over-sound-Alaska-Maternity-Portrait-Experience

During my recent trip to Alaska, I had the pleasure of photographing the Alaska Maternity Portrait Experience of Jessie and Brendan in Hope, Alaska.

These two expecting parents are dear friends to my brother and his family in Anchorage. Over the last five years, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know these two wonderful people.

Jessie and Brendan have been married since 2010. They love to travel together both throughout Alaska and abroad. Their passion for a full life in Alaska lead them to purchase land outside of Hope, Alaska where they have been building their own home together since 2011.

As that passion project comes to a conclusion, a new journey is about to begin for them. In two weeks, these two are expecting the arrival of their first child.

To commemorate this special time, Jessie and Brendan reached out to me about making some maternity photographs for them. For our Alaska Maternity Portrait Experience, we decided to explore their favorite walking trail near their home that looks out over the Turnagain Arm and the Chugach State Park landscape.

Here are some of their favorites from our photo experience. I can not wait to meet the new addition to their family! Congrats you two! -M

 

  • engaged-couple-playing-hockey-during-Bogert-Park-Snowstorm-Portraits

Even a Bozeman Montana winter snowstorm couldn’t dampen the spirits of Ali and Josh during their recent Bogert Park Snowstorm Portraits session.

Ali and Josh are seniors at Montana State University and besides finishing up school and internships, they have continued to grow their relationship. After meeting them at this year’s Montana Wedding Event, we got to talking about things they love about each other and the activities they enjoy doing together.

Hearing their story and learning about their relationship, they have found a shared interest in playing ice hockey together. We decided to incorporate that shared passion for their recent Bogert Park Snowstorm portraits photography experience.

The last few weeks in Bozeman have had frigid temperatures and lots of snow. This meant most of the outdoor ice rinks around town were buried under a few feet of snow. We headed over to Bogert Park in downtown Bozeman, Montana to take advantage of its covered, outdoor ice rink.

After a fun hockey-themed photo session, we noticed a snowstorm coming in. We shifted gears, took off the ice skates and went for a tromp around the park in the deep snow. These two had a great attitude throughout and their playful love for each other really comes through in their photographs.

Here are some of my favorite photographs from my time with them. Big things are on the horizon for these two and I couldn’t be more happy for them. -M

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The other day I was out at the Missouri Headwaters State Park for a Family Portrait Session of Eliza and Drew. For this Three Forks, Montana family, there is no better way to spend a day outside than when they are trail riding with their young daughter Evelyn, horses, and dogs. We decided to incorporate all of their loves into one photography session timed perfectly with the Montana Fall colors.

Bozeman Engagement Photographer Middle Cottonwood Canyon couple

  • Bozeman Engagement Photographer Middle Cottonwood Canyon couple

The other day I photographed the Middle Cottonwood Canyon Engagement Portraits of my wedding clients Lisa and Noah in Bozeman Montana.

Lisa and Noah wanted to feature a special place as the setting for their engagement session.

It was here that Noah brought Lisa on their second date for a hike up Middle Cottonwood Canyon.

These two have been living in their new home in Washington for the past year. Lisa works as a software engineer and is Noah working away on his pursuit of a science graduate degree. They were home visiting family and wanted to have their Middle Cottonwood Canyon Engagement photos to remind them of their Montana roots.

When it came time to plan their wedding day, choosing their Montana home as the backdrop was a no-brainer for them. These two will be tying the knot tomorrow up Kelly Canyon! I’m so excited for these guys! Stay tuned for their wedding photo preview! -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

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Last week I was able to travel up to Anchorage, Alaska for an Alaska Family Portrait Photographic Experience of Brandy and Eric.

I love photographing Alaska family portraits of my brother and his little family. My new nephew Paul is a little over a month old and the trip was my first time meeting him. The new Greener heir has been born! It was fun to embed into the world of a young Alaska family’s experience raising two kiddos. Despite the occasional fuss from my stinking cute two-year-old niece Molly, the majority of the time giggles and laughter could be heard throughout the house.

These two are natural parents and it was fun for me to help out where I could while documenting their Alaska family portrait experience. It’s a cool new thing for me in my role as an uncle. It’s the ultimate long-term photo project. A lifetime of photographing all of the fun with my niece and nephew.

I’m just thrilled!

We had a great time and my arms are tired from holding and bouncing babies! Someday I’ll get dad arms.

Here are some favorite photos I made of my family during my stay. I can’t wait until the next time I can head back up. -M

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  • Rocky Creek Farm Family Portrait Farmers Kids

I love this time of year. It’s a chance to reflect back on my Best of 2017 Portrait photos. To remember all of the fun I had with my clients over this past year. 2017 was a blast!

I feel blessed for all the new relationships I made throughout the year. It’s a gift for me to be able to tell candid, creative stories through photographs in southwest Montana and beyond!

During this recent trip around the sun, here are some of my favorite Best of 2017 Portrait photographs that I made. I look forward to what adventures await in 2018.

If you are in need of new family, business headshots, engagement photos, or an epic wedding photographer, Greener Visuals Photography is available for all your professional photographic needs in 2018!

Happy New Year everyone! -M

  • Bellingham Washington Family Portrait Session Hands Leaves

Back in October, I packed up my cameras and traveled northeast to photograph the Bellingham Washington Family Portraits of Kim and Daniel and their two daughters.

Upon my arrival in Seattle, we loaded up their Subaru and made a day trip north to the small coastal town near the Canadian border where we explored the beaches, rainforests, parks, the local farmers market, and the surrounding college town community of Bellingham.

It was great to have another opportunity to photograph this awesome family.

Years ago, before their second daughter came into the picture, I photographed this family here in Bozeman, Montana as they were traveling through town on a vacation.

This time it was fun to explore their home turf of Washington.

Bellingham is a beautiful place and was a great new photographic canvas to work with. I had a great time with this family.

Here are some of my favorite images from my time with them during their Bellingham Washington Family Portraits. -M

Montana Family Photography Hyalite Canyon family portrait

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    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

Greener Family Reunion Portraits in Missoula Montana

It’s amazing to me how busy we all can get wrapped up in our own lives. We are all guilty of it. While my parents are living close by in Missoula, my brother Eric and his wife Brandy are starting their new family in Anchorage, Alaska with their new daughter Molly. My sister has been busy working to finish her veterinarian school in Colorado. The Greener clan has been spread out over the last couple of years and we only manage to see each other once a year.

So when the opportunity to meet up last week in Missoula with my siblings, their families, my parents and grandma, naturally I wanted to bring my camera to document the rare family gathering. We were more concerned about hanging out and playing with my niece who is turning into a fun little kid.

We kept things casual and I made pictures when the creativity struck. Time flies when you are having fun and living life. Blink and eye and nieces, puppies and the rest of us all grow up. We had a lot of fun spending time together and I will cherish these moments. These are the good times. Here are a few of my favorites. -M

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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

Greener Visuals Photography participated in the 2017 A Montana Wedding Event at The Commons in Bozeman, Montana this past Saturday.

I’ve been a part of this annual bridal show put on by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle for the past five years. The event was held at The Commons at Baxter & Love just outside of town. The event is a wonderful place for wedding planning brides to gain inspiration, meet a plethora of talented wedding vendors and a chance for me to meet some excited brides-to-be.

After setting up my rustic, reclaimed lumber and metal wedding show display booth, I spent the rest of the day talking, hearing wedding plans and sharing in the excitement of all the participating wedding couples.

If you are a bride that gets overwhelmed with options, this event is a great way simplify your search, to put faces to the names of local wedding businesses, and a chance to check off all the tasks on your booking list.

Here are a few favorite photos I made during the day’s wedding-themed festivities. I’m so glad I could be apart of this great annual wedding event. -M

I still have a few dates available for booking wedding photography in the 2017 and 2018 wedding season. I travel worldwide. Inquire for details.

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  • young-family-with-baby-daughter-during-toddler-Fall-Family-Portraits-at-beall-park
    Back in November, I met up with Jessica and Matt to make some family photos of them and their 1-year-old daughter Cora. I made maternity photos of Jessica a while back and now that Cora had been born, she and Matt wanted to get their first family photos for their Christmas cards.

Back in November, I met up with Jessica and Matt to make some Fall family portraits of them and their 1-year-old daughter Cora during their Toddler Fall Family Portraits.

I made maternity photos of Jessica a while back and now that Cora had been born, she and Matt wanted to get their first family photos for their Christmas cards. We headed over to Beall Park near their house in Bozeman where we took advantage of the fallen fall leaves.

When photographing little kids, you tend to have brief windows of attention. Most of the time their surroundings hold their attention rather than looking into a camera. It becomes a fun game getting them to smile and look natural before their patience runs thin and they start to fuss. Cora made my job easy. She was nothing but smiles, a trait she no doubt got from her parents.

Here are some favorite photos I made during our toddler fall family portraits together. Thanks for looking, -M

In between all of my weddings this past summer, I also made some Livingston Summer Family Portraits of Bob and Sydney and their sons at their family ranch. Bob and Sydney are good college friends of my parents and met during their time at the University of Montana back in the 1970s. I’ve known them for years myself. They are great people.

For their family portrait experience, I headed over to their grandparent’s beautiful horse property in Livingston, Montana.

Horses would turn out to be a big theme of our time together that day. I arrived to find a household full of family members glued to the television with intensity. They were cheering on “American Pharoah” to win The Belmont Stakes horse race. Before our family photo session began, I joined them in cheering on the moving horses and riders figures on the screen. Their excitement was infectious. I learned that this family has a long family history of breeding racehorses. The business was their grandfather’s labor of love and a passion he upheld for decades. A dime tour of their house revealed decades-worth of framed pictures of celebrated horses, race memorabilia, and wonderful family memories. It was fascinating to learn about.

After an exciting finish to the race, we headed outside into the pristine Montana summer afternoon weather.

Keeping in theme with the day, we decided to highlight Bob and Sydney’s love of horses during their Livingston Family Summer Portraits session. Their sons bridled up their two favorite horses. Then we explored the ranch property and made some fun family photos with their equines in tow. It worked out splendidly. I still geek out on the great Montana light we had that afternoon during their session.

These are some favorite family portraits I made during our family portrait session.  -M

  • Southwest Montana had an exceptionally long stretch of Fall colors this past season. I was fortunate enough to be able to get out to photograph all of it's grandeur with a few late season weddings and a couple family portrait sessions like these of my friend Beth and her family.

I had a great time photographing the Bozeman Young Family Portraits of Aaron & Beth with their children in Bozeman, Montana.

Southwest Montana had an exceptionally long stretch of Fall colors this past season. I was fortunate enough to be able to get out to photograph all of its grandeur with a few late-season weddings and a couple of family portrait sessions.

Beth is an old friend from my days at The University of Montana. She and Aaron now work here in Bozeman and they wanted to make some fun family portraits before the rains came.

We found some time to go out for a walk in a nearby park on the outskirts of Bozeman.

The setting sun mixed with the range of green, yellow and orange colors made for some sweet light to photograph in. Fall days don’t get much better in my book. Here are some of my favorite photographs I made from their family photo shoot. Thanks for looking, -M

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  • couple-embrace-under-juniper-tree-during-Triple-Tree-Trail-Engagement
    I recently photographed Bobbijean and Chris' engagement photo session at the Triple Tree trailhead in Bozeman Montana.

I recently photographed the Triple Tree Trail Engagement Session of Bobbi Jean and Chris in Bozeman, Montana.

Wedding season is upon us here in the Big Sky state and I’ve been having a lot of engagement photo sessions lately. Last week I met up with Bobbi Jean and Chris at the Triple Tree trailhead in Bozeman Montana to photograph their engagement photo session.

Engagement photo sessions come complimentary with all of my wedding photography collections. I like it because it gives me and my clients a chance to get to know one another before their wedding day and make some fun photos in the process.

Bobbi Jean and Chris brought along their dogs as we hiked and explored the popular Bozeman trail system during their Triple Tree Trail Engagement session. Knowing Chris worked as a logger and Bobbi Jean as an employee of Yellowstone National Park, I wanted to photograph them in their outdoor element. Afterward, we ventured over to the wood shop of Montana Wildwoods artist and friend Tom Benedict where we played amongst his large juniper tree sculptures.

These two were great and I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding at the Old Faithful Inn later this summer. A fun day. -M