Front Porch Project Family portraits from afar to raise money for those in need.

This past weekend, fifteen gracious Bozeman families participated in the Bozeman Front Porch Project family portraits from afar. They wanted to celebrate their loved ones, be a part of a community art project, and raise money to support the Greater Gallatin United Way during this unsettling time in our community and country.

Over the last few weeks, the COVID-19 virus spread across the world and finally reach our Montana doorstep, social distancing commenced. Quite quickly our vibrant, social, outdoorsy Bozeman community suddenly felt like a ghost town.

As a self-employed photography business owner navigating the uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus, I wanted to support and create a project to uplift the mood while our community maintains safety with social distancing.

While our normal lives have been turned into a holding pattern it’s important to remember that – Love is not cancelled. Friendships are not canceled. Emotional support is not canceled.

I wanted to create a reminder of all the good things these families have to celebrate in their lives right now.


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These precious moments of togetherness with our families, loved ones, and pets – our relationships, are what will help us all get through these times of difficulty and struggle.

Through our shared, sheltered experience, we can still foster connections and our combined community’s resilience.


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The enthusiasm and outpouring of support for the Bozeman Front Porch Project, has been profound.

I am so grateful to everyone who supported this and helped me spread the word on social media. Thank you!


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Right from the start, the health and safety of every one were at the forefront of importance for me. As the week went on, this serious national health emergency continued to drastically change and escalate.

With the announcement of stay-at-home directives (starting this weekend for Montana) by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, suddenly, I was debating whether I should put the project on hold.

In the end, under my already stringent safety measures, I decided to continue forward. By photographing everyone from afar with my telephoto lens (on average at least 20 feet), we created some really genuine fun family portraits.



There was no charge to participate in the Bozeman Front Porch Project Family portraits. However, I’m happy to announce that donations raised $1,015.00 that will be given to the Greater Gallatin United Way!

I am so thankful for all of the generous donations to this good cause. It makes me proud to be a part of our Bozeman community. I’m looking forward to a time when we can put this challenge in our rearview mirrors.

Thank you, Bozeman!

Stay safe, stay healthy, and soak up this time with your loved ones.

When this storm passes, I’ll be here to help you and your family showcase everything you love about your relationships during your own family photographic experience.

Together, we are all going to get through this. -Mike Greener

P.S. As a candid, creative photographer, I can’t help but capture a moment if it’s happening in front of me. Here are a few bonus photos that I liked from my weekend of giving back.

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And lastly, thanks to my labrador retriever and photo assistant Tippet for accompanying me on the Bozeman Front Porch Project. -M

Family portraits from afar to raise money for those in need.

Lately, there has been a lot of uncertainty. The pandemic has caused drastic changes across our community and the nation these past few weeks.

Everyone is feeling the impact in one way or another due to the current health and economic crisis of Covid-19.

While we may be socially distancing from our neighbors, we also get to experience these precious moments of togetherness with our families, loved ones, and pets. During this time of unpredictability, we can turn it into a celebration.

That is something to celebrate.

Together, we will get through this.

As Fred Rogers said in times of trouble, “Look for the helpers.”

During this past week, countless, selfless people in Bozeman were offering support in various ways throughout our community. I wanted to do my part! 

Introducing the Bozeman Front Porch Project.

Greener Visuals Photography is now offering family portraits from afar. It’s a chance to celebrate your loved ones, create a community art project, and raise money for those in need during this unsettling time.

While I might be standing a little farther away than I normally would, the connection I’ll inspire during our photo session will be felt deep within your hearts!

It’s a little something to uplift the mood while maintaining safety. Together, we will create a photograph that will remind you of all the good things you have to celebrate in your life right now. Through our shared, sheltered experience, we can foster social distancing connections within our community.

How it works: Every weekend during the stay-in-place statewide directive, Greener Visuals Photography will come by your home in Bozeman and take your family portrait on your front porch from afar.

We are fundraising to support the Bozeman Area Community Foundation.

In return for your $100.00 booking fee, half will go to supporting the Bozeman Area Community Foundation and $50 to support the costs of your local candid, creative family photographer.

In return, each family who donates to the cause will receive a beautiful matted 5×7 fine art print. They will also receive 25% off a future family portrait experience. All participating families will receive a web-friendly digital photograph of your tribe as a thank-you for your donation and support.

Together, we will raise funds to assist the Bozeman Area Community Foundation in helping our neighbors heal through this ordeal. Collectively, we will have a group of portraits representing your individual family’s strength together and our combined community’s resilience. -Mike Greener

Next weekend April 25th & 26th, 2020 throughout Bozeman.

Update: The Bozeman Front Porch Project was a great success! Read the story and check out all of the gracious families that participated.


I’m proud to share my Best of 2019 Portrait Photography!

I’ve been looking back on this past year and the photos from my Best of 2019 Portrait Photography with so much gratitude for the couples, families, and business professionals I had the privilege to photograph and build relationships with.

As a destination family photographer, I was lucky enough to travel to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, many parts of New England, and all over Montana this past year for my portrait photography clients.

Everyone had so much to celebrate in their lives.

I harbored so much fulfillment in helping each one of my photography clients rediscover what they valued most in each other and their relationships – in turn helping to bring out the best versions of themselves.

This year I chose the photos for my Best of 2019 Portrait Photography that showcased the photographs that meant so much to my clients.

For me, 2020 is shaping up to be another great year of celebrating the best in life.

Thanks for the continued support everyone! Happy New Year! -M

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

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The other weekend I was hired to photograph the 2019 Summit Resource International Holiday Party Photos at the Fork and Spoon Bozeman Montana.

Summit Resource International is a leading private label supplier of apparel and accessories to retail and distributor markets providing design, merchandising, sourcing, import, and distribution services for its customers based here in Bozeman, Montana.

To ensure that all of their employees could attend their employee appreciation event, this crew held their end of the year party after the holidays at the Fork and Spoon Homestyle Kitchen.

An assortment of delicious finger foods and drinks were on hand where their hardworking employees could kick back and enjoy a fun evening. Once folks got their fill of good food, an energetic game of “Singo” based off the popular “Bingo” gamer rules, kept everyone laughing, singing and having a good time the remainder of the night.

My job was to be there to document all of the fun in photographs throughout the event. Here are some of my favorite moments from the evening. Thanks to Summit Resource International for the fun night and for being gracious hosts! -M

To see all of the photos from the event, click here.

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This past Saturday, this Bozeman event photographer had the pleasure of photographing the PRG Group Holiday Party at The Rialto in Bozeman, Montana.

Based in Big Sky, Montana, The PRG Group is a luxury residential and specialty commercial contractor that manages and constructs an assortment of projects varying from unique renovations to complex custom homes.

In the last decade, there has been rapid construction growth happening around southwest Montana. The PRG Group construction company has been at the forefront of creating that growth, especially around the Big Sky area.

This night was about coming together to honor the efforts of the employees who have been working so hard to serve clients all year long.

The newly renovated Rialto in downtown Bozeman was the perfect location to celebrate.

As a Bozeman Event Photographer documenting the event, it was clear to see that this wasn’t merely a work party. It was more of a gathering of family and close friends.  I found a warm reception and a fun group of folks to be around. This company clearly cares about each other and is proud of the work they create. From photographing a previous company event months ago, it was great to see a lot of familiar, smiling faces who also remembered mine.

You might say we all picked up where we left off.

The evening was filled with laughter, hugs, funny stories, libations, excellent appetizers, and dinner entries from The Rialto kitchen.

Here are some favorite photographs made from the event. So glad Greener Visuals Photography could be part of the PRG Group end-of-the-year celebration.

Happy Holidays PRG team! -M

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Last night’s Prospera Business Network Prosperity Party Photobooth at Rockin TJ Ranch in Bozeman Montana was a huge hit!

I had a blast playing in my Greener Visuals Photo Booth with the attendees of this year’s Prospera Business Network Prosperity Party.

Great people having fun and supporting Montana business owners. While all the photos were taken by the people in the photos, here are some of my favorite moments that stood out.

Greener Visuals Photography strives to support local organizations that work towards bettering the community in Montana.

So glad I could be apart of the celebration. Check out the awesome and enjoy! -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

Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Photo Session of Tara and Sky

With the help of fellow wedding vendors, I photographed a Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Shoot in under 24 hours’ time.

The idea for a Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Shoot sprouted last Tuesday as I was talking on the phone with my friends Jacy and Matt, owners of Gallatin Valley Botanical. For the last couple of years,  I’ve been photographing and supporting their local Bozeman organic farm here in Gallatin Valley.

They mentioned that they would soon be taking over management of the popular Rocky Creek Farm just down the road from theirs. In addition to farming the increased acreage of land, they would also be pushing to make Rocky Creek Farm a successful new farm wedding venue. While gathering material together for their wedding advertisement for this past weekend’s Bozeman Bridal Walk, they realized they would need some wedding photography to showcase their new venue to prospective wedding clients. They didn’t have much time.

I told them I could help. The answer…

We decided to have a Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Session. The next day.

Our time was short. We set our photo shoot time for 2 pm the following afternoon and let them know I would take care of everything. After hanging up the phone, I sprung into action. First and foremost, we would need models. I decided to get in touch with my engaged friends Sky and Tara and invited them to be my models for the afternoon. Thankfully, they agreed.

If we were going to have a properly styled wedding photo shoot, we would need to make our volunteer wedding models look amazing.

We were in need of a fine suit and beautiful wedding dress for my models to flaunt. I called upon the talents of Persnickety Formal Wear owner Anne Porter. In between all of her fittings for the busy prom season, she happily agreed to help. Sky and Tara were outfitted with some classy wedding attire that looked incredible.

For Tara’s hair and makeup, I stopped into Indulgence. My friend, the lovely owner Deirdre Quinn, saw to it that Tara looked radiant as a bride for our Rocky Creek Farm Styled shoot

It all came together so well. In all, we organized our impromptu wedding photo shoot in under 24 hours.

Our styled wedding photography shoot turned out awesome.

The Wednesday morning rain clouds had subsided by the time our two-hour afternoon photo shoot commenced. We were given a nice, calm weather window to utilize and we made the most of it.

It turns out Rocky Creek Farms has a lot to offer both in capacity and scenery.

I photographed Sky and Tara against various canvases found on the farm. We made good use of Rocky Creek Farm’s old barn wood backdrops, apple orchards, and open farmland under the views of the nearby Bridger Mountains. We even took photo opportunities along the on-property spring creek.

I could have photographed there for hours.

We even utilized a few baby lambs and my new labrador puppy, Tippet, to be featured in our photo shoot.

It was a perfect way to spend a Montana afternoon. The styled wedding shoot could not have happened without the hustle and team effort of my fellow vendors. At a moment’s notice, everyone worked together to make something special happen on such short notice. I’m so grateful for their willingness, enthusiasm, and professionalism.

Congrats to Sky and Tara on their engagement! Well wishes to Matt and Jacy as they grow their new wedding venue out at Rocky Creek Farms! -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.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting dozens of new brides-to-be during the annual Montana Bridal Tour event at the 1915 Barn in Bozeman, Montana. Greener Visuals Photography has participated in the Fall bridal event (run by the talent event planner Abby Turner, of Reed & Lee Event Planning) for the past couple of years and really enjoy the face time connection with all of the excited brides as they begin their wedding planning process. As a whole, the Montana Bridal Tour is a chance for the newly engaged couples in the Gallatin Valley to tour multiple wedding venues around the Bozeman area and meet talented wedding vendors at each location. For a fun-filled day, four buses rotate driving participants from place to place where they get to sample the wares, get inspiration for their own wedding day and ask questions to participating wedding vendors. It’s so much fun to see the excitement on their faces.

In between chatting with brides all day long, I made some photos from the event at the 1915 Barn in Bozeman, Montana. For information on attending next year’s tour, you can visit their website here. What a fun day. -M

This past Friday I had the pleasure of photographing the Lake Yellowstone Hotel 125th Anniversary Event in Yellowstone National Park.

The event was in conjunction with the 1ooth year anniversary of the National Park Service. To celebrate the National Historic Landmark designation of the “Grand Old Lady”, the National Park Service held a grand party in the renovated space Friday evening. The historic building recently received a two-year, $28 million facelift. All of the 153 guest rooms, public spaces, dining rooms, and much of the interior were renovated during this time.

I was hired to document the evening festivities and distinguished guests during the Lake Yellowstone Hotel 125th Anniversary Event. It was a lovely time complete with live music, a seven-course meal, and a celebration amongst good people dressed up in traditional black tie affair.

So glad I could be a part of it. -M

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Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending my third A Montana Wedding Bridal event at the Gran Tree Inn in Bozeman, Montana. The event is hosted by my former coworkers at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. I really enjoy participating in these events. It’s a fantastic way for brides to connect with vendors and be inspired. In between chatting with lots of wedding couples about their plans, I wandered around the event and made some images from the day. It was fun to see all the excitement in the bride’s faces. I look forward to attending it next year at The Commons. I was proud to be a part of it. -M

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County 2015 Holiday Party Photos

I recently set up my Holiday Party photo booth for the 2015 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country holiday party at Fork and Spoon in Bozeman, Montana.

As a business owner, I believe it’s important to give back to enrich and benefit my community. It was one of the many things I took pride in over the last decade while photographing at community newspapers across the country. Telling the stories of others in my community is one of my passions.

Now as a self-employed wedding, editorial, and commercial photographer, opportunities to interact with the public, like my time working as a journalist, don’t come around as much as I would like. Supporting and donating my photography skill set to benefit local not-for-profits is a service I am grateful to provide.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County‘s 2015 holiday party was planned for the kids, their families, and the mentors of the program to come together and celebrate. About a week before the event, I was contacted by Valerie Erwin, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County. Valerie was in a bind and was short on time. She needed an event photographer to document the fun at their annual holiday party. I was happy to help.

I headed over to the Gallatin County Fairgrounds and set up my portable photo studio. It set the stage for the party attendees to have some fun. This crowd was a hoot. I love documenting humans at play. We all had a great time and I came away with some fun photos from the event. Here are some favorites. Happy to support such a great local organization. Merry Christmas everyone! -M

I recently photographed the Gallatin Valley Botanical Labrador Puppy Family Portrait of Matt and Jacy!

For the past 7 weeks, I’ve been making a weekly trek to the outskirts of Bozeman to the Gallatin Valley Botanical farm with my girlfriend Lora to scope out her new puppy and best friend. Ten labrador puppies equal awesome. Our Wednesday visits quickly became the best day of the week for us to play with the kids.

Matt and Jacy, the owners of the local Bozeman farm, had a litter of ten puppies and one of which would soon come bouncing into my life. During my youth growing up in Illinois, my family bred labs on our five-acre wooded property. I have some good family memories growing up around Labradors. Now by association, I would get to be around once again. Awesome indeed.

Before the puppies all went to new homes, I ventured one evening over to the Bozeman organic farm with my camera and made some fun Gallatin Valley Botanical Labrador Puppy Family Portrait photos of Matt and Jacy along with their kids and an army of labrador puppies. After all, it’s not often an opportunity like this happens. We had a great time. In the end, Lora got a yellow male and is calling him “Timber”. This will be fun. The dog adventure begins. -M

Last week, I photographed the Story Mansion Christmas Party for the Bozeman Young Presidents’ Organization in downtown Bozeman, Montana.

I was asked by my chef friend Carrie McCully, of ADOUR Good Food, to photograph a swanky Story Mansion Christmas Party she was hosting for the Bozeman Young Presidents’ Organization. The famous Story Mansion was built in 1910 and is a gorgeous historic mansion on the north side of downtown Bozeman. There is so much history to this place.

For the themed event, guests dressed in 1920s attire which combined with the surrounding architecture, made the party feel so authentic. Like we had all stepped back in time!

Each room was designed with a different theme in mind complemented by the lighting, food and desserts, and signature drinks. Guests were also treated to a live professional swing dancer performance.

I had just a great time with these folks. My job was to capture the fun and document the details all in the span of two hours. I love a good challenge.

Here are some of my favorite images from the evening event. I loved playing with all of the colored lights and highlighting all of the fun guests were having. What a great way to ease into the holiday season! Happy Holidays everyone! -M