J. Nelson Photography’s Photolife

We don’t shoot many senior portraits. Not because we don’t like them, I really enjoy them now that I am behind the camera and not in front of it! But I wanted to fit this one in any way I could!!

Bridgette is going to be a senior at Chatfield, where I also went. She is the little sister of a lifelong friend of my little sister’s…..mmmmhmmmm try to follow that story. She grew up in the same valley that I did, and she wanted to make sure that the beautiful surroundings she has grown up in were showcased in her photos. We reconnected at Elisa and Jarris’ wedding in May, and I was so excited when she called looking for some senior portraits that wouldn’t look like any of her friends portraits!

Bridgette is very smart, and unbelievably kind and confident for a 17 year old! I have no doubt that she will be so successful at whatever school she decides to go to. The front runners seem to be the Rhode Island School of Design or the Savannah College of Art and Design. Either will be lucky to have her!

Thanks Bridgette, and Mom Wendy, for putting up with me for a few hours, and for waiting out the pouring rain and crazy thunderstorm!

While Jenny and I are largely wedding photographers in the summer season, we still do a fair bit of commercial work in between the weekends.  Something we really enjoy shooting is food.

I know, food photography tends to conjure images of inedible items created with industrial type supplies to get the “perfect look”.  On the contrary, all of our clients are extremely talented chefs who’s food is both delicious and beautiful.  We shoot their dishes on site, as they would come out of the kitchen for any patron.

While we were in Cozumel last week, we had the opportunity to shoot the food and a little bit of the space at Kinta Mexican Bistro.  Chef and owner Kris Wallenta has been a friend of ours for years, and his new venture in downtown Cozumel has been wildly popular since it’s opening.  Kinta is a perfect example of the blend between cuisine that pleases the palate and a space that delights the rest of the senses.  Kris’ food is thoughtfully  flavored, with elements of the traditional Mexican and Kris’ own culinary background.  From a photographers perspective, the colors on the plates are vibrant, and his presentation really pops.

Maybe the best part was getting to see how Kinta pulls all of this off.  Kris is hands on in every aspect of his baby.  Without getting too cliche,  from the art that goes on the walls, to the art that goes on the plate, you can feel the love he puts into the place.

In the morning, Kris, Jenny and I went to the mercado to grab some tacos for breakfast and to take a few shots of Kris shopping for the restaurant.  You can tell that Kinta uses the freshest local ingredients whenever possible.

I wish all our shoots went like this!  In the end, while we really enjoyed shooting Kris’ dishes, we enjoyed devouring them even more.

I mentioned the other day that we had been out of town shooting some great stuff, and Josh and Lauren’s wedding in Mexico was at the top of that list.  If you know Jenny and I, you also know that travel to anywhere, for any reason, is one of our biggest passions.  When we get to go somewhere as beautiful as Cozumel to shoot such an amazing event, we’re happier than clams in slop.

Josh and Lauren brought us down to capture their weekend, and we’re so stoked they did!  As much as I love shooting in the mountains,  there is something special about a beach wedding.  I think it has something to do with not having to wear shoes.

Destination weddings are typically small, but Josh and Lauren had over 100 friends and family to celebrate with them.  Nothing like coming down and bringing your own party with you!  Everyone had a ridiculous time, and we were LOVING all the new subjects for images.  The colors were great, the details were unique, and did I already mention not having to wear shoes to the wedding?  In short,  it’s hard to pick just a few shots for this post, but you can expect an update with the whole lot when we’ve got them all edited.

Talk about the writing on the wall…

Apparently this is a rare shot of Lauren’s Dad cutting loose at the rehearsal.

Lauren looking beautiful.

The boys getting ready Mexican style.

Seriously, sin zapatos. Que bueno.

Lauren has great style and her details definitely popped.

Champagne toast post ceremony.

Not worthy.

Worthy.

Josh and Lauren gettin’ down.

Thanks so much to Josh and Lauren and their families for letting us be there for such a perfect weekend!

One of the coolest aspects to this business is the great people we get to meet. Outside of being the Bride and Groom, so many of our couples are really interesting people with great stories. Jason and Megan are NY transplants that have become long time Vail locals. Their shared love of playing outdoors has led them to countless adventures, and their sense of community and conservation was the impetus they needed to start their own business. I can’t say it any better than they do on their wedding website…

“In May of 2006, we started Active Energies, Inc., an energy consulting firm in Avon, CO. Together we work to promote energy efficiency and green building through energy audits, solar installations, and design and construction consulting. The business is going well, we love what we do, and we can ski on powder mornings… how could things be any better?”

Maybe the best thing to top it off would be an incredible Vail wedding full of tons of friends and family! It’s so obvious how happy this couple is, and we’re glad we got to be a part of their day.

We’ve been away for a bit shooting in some great places, but we’re back in the goold old USA and excited to get up some fresh content! No one better to start with than Nicole and Piotr and their Vail engagement session!

We have a lot of couples that want to head up to the mountains for their engagements because that is what Colorado is supposed to look like. They may not even be very outdoorsy, but they are happy to brave the wilds for great engagement photos. On the contrary, Nicole and Piotr grew up in Summit County and the mountains have always been a huge part of their life. Shooting their engagement in beautiful Vail in the summertime seemed totally natural, and this amazing couple looked right at home!

Nicole and Piotr are such a fun couple to work with, we’re really looking forward to their Beaver Creek wedding this August!

It isn’t usual for me to write a themed post, or rather, the theme is usually WEDDING.  I wouldn’t start now, except that it is America’s 232nd birthday today, and I am editing a wedding that just oozes Americana.

Randy and Kelly’s mountain wedding was a photographers dream.  I couldn’t help but be blown away by how friggin unbelievable Avalanche Creek Ranch was.  When viewed through the lens of this post, Randy and Kelly’s wedding featured prominently, and in no particular order…dogs, mountains, the Boston Red Sox, beer, dancing, horseshoes, trucks, hammocks, flip-flops, barns, bears, kids, classic American paintings, porches, livestock, flags, fishing, and a TON of fun.

It was simply incredible.  The details were great, the crowd was energetic, and Randy and Kelly (and Cooper) were a complete pleasure to work with.

Congratulations to the couple, and happy 4th of July.  I know Randy and Kelly are probably seeking out a good old American microbrew to celebrate the day…on their Croatian honeymoon!

Avalanche Creek Ranch is right at the base of stunning Mt. Sopris,  outside Aspen.

Cooper just hanging out.

Kelly looks amazing.

What’s more American the French Kissing?

Not a perfect American Gothic, but pretty good.  That is Kelly’s serious face.

American guys love hammocks.

And the Boston Red Sox.

I think this song was Tom Petty’s American Girl…or maybe I just want it to be that.

Sarah and Brad found us after we shot John and Lisbet’s wedding last summer and we’re so glad they did!  We love shooting at new locations, so their ceremony and reception at the beautiful Raccoon Creek Golf Club in Littleton was an absolute pleasure.

We like to think that we can make great images at every event, but it  doesn’t hurt when you get perfect weather and a happy, gorgeous couple!  Sarah and Brad were so smiley and fun, and everyone had an amazing time.  Thanks so much to them for letting us be part of their day!

The ladies were absolutely beautiful.

The best man has a wide range responsibilities.

As beautiful as Bolder is in the summer, it can get wicked hot.  Yesterday was one of those days.  With the temps around 90,  Jenny, my brother Ben and I decided to get out of town and go camping in the Indian Peaks Wilderness west of Boulder.

It’s definitely nice to be able to drive a half an hour and have it be 20 degrees cooler. We found a great spot after some rough road driving and had an amazing night.  The highlight of my night was that I got to  try and do some star trails on my D3.  They were my first tries but they are still pretty cool.

Setting up in the tall trees.

4gunner is majestic.

Long exposure of the creek at our campsite.

Ben Agnini, my broham.

Miss Jenny

Mr. Ugly

The first star trail try. 15 minute exposure. The campfire really lit up the trees.

The second try, 25 minute exposure. We light painted Ben in with a flashlight and he spun a lighter around his face. Really cool that Polaris is centered in the sky.

We met Gina a few summers ago at Jess and Mike’s wedding, and she always told us that whenever she got married she would find us. With her strong, bubbly personality, we were really excited when she did give us a call! Gina and Drew have known each other for a long time, and their wedding was both a celebration of their love for each other and their love for family.

The couple held their ceremony and reception at the Black Bear Golf Club in Parker, which was great because it has such a different feel from the venues we shoot in the mountains. Just southeast of Denver, Parker is much more about the grasslands of Eastern Colorado than it is the mountains of the West. Amazing wildflowers and giant blue sky helped accentuate what was an already beautiful summer day.

Gina and her family have toughed it out and supported each other  through some trying times lately, so we’re glad to see them so happy and wish the whole clan nothing but the best in the future!

Like all guys, practicing their short game at every chance.

Gina gets a peak.

This really was her first put.

The fact that Gina and Drew wanted their Sunday afternoon wedding to comfortable for adults and children alike is just a testament to how much their families mean to them. With all the little kids running around and having blast, it is easy to see why!

They got such an amazing day.

Gina and Drew, we wish you the best and thanks so much!

We met Kendra and Jason at the East Vail trailhead, just down the road from where we used to live. Like so many of our clients, their dogs are a part of the family and no portrait session would be right without them. Timber and Avy are HUGE!  Shoots with dogs usually have to be pretty free flowing, and Jason and Kendra are really relaxed, so rather than something more structured we just took a stroll.

These guys are so into each other, they were a real pleasure to shoot. We can’t wait for their wedding this July!