Engagement Portrait Photographer | Real Photography

Manitou Springs Engagement Portraits – Bernadette and Haydn

May 19, 2008

I know Bernadette has been eagerly awaiting these–thank you for waiting, Bernadette!

colorado springs engagement portrait

We had to reschedule Bernadette and Haydn’s engagement portrait shoot last weekend due to weather, and my parents are visiting us this weekend (from our native Seattle), so thanks Bernadette for being patient on your sneak peeks! (And thanks to my mom and dad for letting us reschedule the shoot during their visit!)

We adore Bernadette and Haydn. They are oodles of fun, and just as nice as can be. I think that having a sense of humor is very helpful in marriage, and these two have that down:

mantiou springs laughing engagement picture

(You know it’s a good laugh when there’s motion blur!)

I have been telling Bernadette for some time that just as soon as our business is big enough, I’m going to be knocking down her door begging her to be our studio manager. After yesterday’s shoot, though, I realized I also need to hire her as my personal wardrobe manager. This girl can dress. She brought three outfits complete with the perfect accessories. Check out the way her necklace brings her shirt and Haydn’s shirt together. (When they drove up, Nic couldn’t see them getting out of the car–all he could see were some killer red shoes and he said “I think that’s them–I see cute shoes.”)

colorado springs engagement portrait

Bernadette wanted to take some pictures with their two dogs to use as table number displays. She was hoping for something fun and crazy and silly, and we definitely covered all of the above. My favorite “totally out of control” shot is this one:

colorado springs engagement portrait

They are not at all competitive. Not at all. There was neither arm wrestling nor serious skeeball face offs at our shoot…never mind the photographic evidence.

manitou springs engagement portrait

manitou springs skeeball engagement portrait

Just in case you are wondering, these are not the prettiest eyes in the world. These, we were informed by Haydn, are the second prettiest eyes in the world. Who has the actual prettiest eyes in the world? Haydn.

(Nic and I laughed just as much at the shoot as Haydn and Bernadette!)

colorado springs engagement portrait

colorado springs portrait

We’ll end with a playful saucy one.

colorado springs engagement portrait

I’m hoping to post a couple more this week. Thanks again, Bernadette and Haydn, for a wonderful shoot! We hope we captured how FUN you guys are and we can’t wait for your wedding–we know it will be amazing! You guys are the best!

Posted in Engagement Portrait Photographer

Photography Tip Tuesday – Week #9: Golden Light

May 06, 2008

colorado springs engagement portrait

This week’s tip is simple and easy because I have a date with a movie rental tonight.

Evening and morning light creates beautiful images. The soft light and long shadows are dramatic and flattering.

Of course, if you live here in Colorado Springs, you’re at a disadvantage because we don’t have much of a sunset–the sun drops behind the mountains before it really sets. But if you are determined, you can catch our amazing morning light (thanks to those endless plains stretching toward Kansas).

So if you’re going to pull the family outside for a quick family portrait, don’t do it at noon. Wait until after dinner for some nice evening light.

Posted in Engagement Portrait Photographer, Photographer Tips

Manitou Springs, Colorado Engagement Portraits

May 05, 2008

We photographed not just one adorable couple this weekend, but two! In fact, sometimes I feel bad for the other Colorado wedding photographers, because we get all the coolest couples and that must suck for the other photographers. :P

On Saturday we got to photograph Courtney and Chris’s engagement portraits in Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods. They are getting married in a month and a half, so get ready, because Courtney is going to be a knock-out in her wedding dress!

manitou springs engagement portrait

colorado engagement portrait

I loved Courtney and Chris’s outfits–another couple that coordinated very well together. Courtney had the great idea to use layers to add interest and texture to her ensemble, which I loved! (I’m thinking of adding an “outfit hall of fame” page to the site to give other couples/families ideas and tips on dressing fabulously for photographs!)

manitou springs engagement portrait

manitou springs engagement

We had an amazing day for pictures at Garden of the Gods. We are getting to have a few favorite spots that blow me away and look much more dangerous than they actually are. ;)

colorado springs engagement portrait

black and white engagement picture

I love the curving lines and long shadows that Nic captured in this shot:

colorado springs garden of the gods

They are such cute jumpers!

jumping engagement portrait

And I have to end with this shot that is so Colorado to me…

Thanks Courtney and Chris for being so wonderful and photogenic! We are so excited to be your wedding photographers and love that we don’t have to wait long for the big day–I know it will be amazing!

Posted in Engagement Portrait Photographer