Boulder, CO Musician Photoshoot

Boulder, CO Musician Branding Photoshoot

AJ is a singer and guitarist in Boulder, Colorado. AJ wanted new photos to use for media, so we went to a forest preserve near Boulder Falls to look for a nice place. AJ sat in the middle of a dry, grassy field and played some songs. We explored the forest preserve and had beautiful views. AJ’s music is emotional and powerful. I love the emotion in each of their songs. AJ is awesome to spend time with. They are kind, attentive and so so talented. Check out their page on Instagram!

@montanasandmusic

Boulder Elopement Photographer - Lake Isabelle Sunrise Elopement

Taylor and Keith’s Lake Isabelle Sunrise Elopement - August 2020

Taylor and Keith decided to self solemnize in Colorado. Colorado is one of the few states that allows couples to get married without an officiant or witness. We had an early morning and met at the trail head around 4:45am. We hiked a few miles up to the lake and arrived just as the sun was coming up. The color on the mountains was changing every minute- it was gorgeous and only 45 degrees. We took lots of photos, drank some Prosecco and hiked back to the parking lot by 8am. Almost everyone we saw congratulated them as we hiked back. Taylor and Keith are such an inspirational couple. They are activists and always making their voices heard. I’m always in a great mood after I spend time with them. This morning adventure was one of my favorites so far, good company and amazing views!

Wedding Photographer in Golden Colorado

Wedding Photographer in Golden Colorado

July 11th, 2020

Max and Linnea’s Golden, CO Mountain Wedding was incredible. Max and Linnea are such kind people. One of my favorite parts of photographing weddings is getting to know people I’ve met maybe once or twice. I get to hear their family and friends speak about their relationship and them as individuals. I get to hear the best things about them. It makes me so happy to hear people being told how much of an impact they’ve had because of wonderful people. Being around Max and Linnea for about 8 hours on their wedding day gave me a view into their lives. I got to meet all of their closest friends and family. I got to see them smile at each other every time someone congratulated them on their marriage- it was incredible. Cheers to this awesome couple and their new beginning!

Sandhill Crane Migration in Kearney Nebraska

The Sandhill Crane migration in Kearney Nebraska is amazing. I have seen these Cranes in Northern Illinois a few times in past years, but only about 10 or 15 at most flying high near forest preserves. Recently, I saw hundreds at once in Nebraska. While driving down I-80, I saw tons of cranes in a cornfield. I pulled off to the next rest stop and hoped they would fly soon. Within 10 minutes, several flocks of at least 30 birds each, flew in and landed in the same cornfield. The birds all eventually started circling in the air before starting to fly away. It was incredible to hear their unique chirping in such great numbers and to see these beautiful birds swirling in the air like waves.

Boulder, CO Dog Photographer

Boulder Pet Photoshoot.

Mitch and Beckham <3

Boulder, CO Graduation Photographer at Chautauqua Park

Boulder, CO Graduation Photographer at Chautauqua Park

These are photos of Jess at her Boulder, CO Chautauqua Graduation Photo Shoot. She earned her masters in Environmental Studies here in Boulder. So of course we had to take photos near the beautiful mountains of Boulder. and stop at the Rayback for a beer to finish our session :)

Graduation season is coming up faster than you think!

Send me an email and let’s plan a session to document and celebrate your achievements.

December 2019 - Illinois

I love December. I love anticipating snow, and unusual 57 degree days in Chicago! I love being with my family and dog and friends. Take a look at my photos from the past few weeks in Illinois. And keep scrolling to see what drivers in Chicago do when they think I’m taking photos of them.

Family Photographer in Boulder Colorado

Family Photographer in Boulder Colorado

This Colorado in-home holiday photo shoot was so lovely. Taylor and Keith love their animals and needed all of them included in their holiday photos. After we spent a lot of time getting all the animals in one spot, they ended up settling on the couch where they love to be anyway. Taylor loves decorating, and their home is so cozy. These kinds of photos are so intimate and important. Your home is the place you make your own and the place that comes to life because of who is in it. I loved documenting their little family and home.

Nippersink Winter Family Photo Session

Haley, Vito and Tinley’s Nippersink Winter Family Photo Session was their first Christmas session together!

I’ve been taking photos for Haley and Vito for a few years now. Through their engagement, maternity, Summer photos with Tinley and now Christmas! They are all amazing and effortlessly photogenic.

Eldora, CO Lost Lake Hike

Eldora, CO Lost Lake Hike

This hike was a perfect challenge with lots of hiking uphill and about 4.5 miles round trip. The hike goes through pine groves, past waterfalls and up to Lost Lake which has gorgeous views of the mountains in the distance and beautiful water.

I got to hike this trail with my childhood friend who came to Colorado for a weekend to visit and enjoy the mountains.

Coot Lake, Boulder Fall Family Photo Session

This family’s Coot Lake, Boulder Family Photo Session was so pretty! I love this lake and area for walks and to enjoy the water below the mountains. We had plenty of sun and warmth for this session as we walked around the lake.

Kaia fell asleep on the drive over, so the best way we could get her to be awake and happy was to have this lollipop involved in the session.

Boulder, CO Wedding Photographer - Wedgewood Weddings

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Boulder, CO Wedding Photographer - Wedgewood Weddings

Vendors:

Venue: Wedgewood Weddings - Boulder, CO

Photographers: (myself) and Mackenzie at Mackro Photography - https://www.mackrophotography.com/

Aleece and Jeff’s Boulder Creek wedding at WedgeWood was gorgeous!

I arrived and met the groomsmen to start taking photos with Mackenzie. This entire bridal party was hilarious. Typically, groups of people need prompting to look more natural and to relax a bit. These people were already there! They were cracking jokes nonstop and laughing, looking incredible! It was a challenge to reign them all in to take a photo of them looking at the camera with more serious faces. I would take this kind of challenge any day.

It started drizzling after the ceremony, so we took some quick group photos, but then there was a downpour with tons of thunder and lightning. No one was fazed- the cocktail hour moved under the tent where dinner would be and we ran out to take photos whenever the rain let up a little.

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Boulder, CO High School Senior Photographer- Chautauqua

Re-posting one of my favorite high school senior photo sessions in Boulder!

Lilly's High School Senior Photoshoot at Chautauqua - Boulder, CO was gorgeous. We got there just before the sun was behind the mountains and we had the perfect amount of light. Lilly had never had professional photos taken before, so I did a lot of prompting and directing as I usually do to make people comfortable. Lilly is gorgeous and I loved this session.

Denver, Colorado Headshot and Branding Photographer for Artists

Mary texted me a photo of her staircase and said “Look how nice the light is!!! Can you come over and take pictures of me?”

Mary and I are always looking for inspiration to take new photos and use the body as art. She really wanted to incorporate something different this time. She wasn’t sure what until I suggested water and her face lit up. These photos show our thought process for this lovely concept.

I’m so grateful to have Mary as a friend. She is vulnerable, emotional and so kind and passionate about life and her art.

Follow Mary here:

https://www.instagram.com/marekirkart/

https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/mare_kirk/

Cheyenne, Wyoming Road Trip

I ordered a backpack from Sierra Trading Post and decided I would drive to Cheyenne, WY from Longmont, CO to pick it up and make a trip out of it.

We drove for about an hour and a half then got to downtown Cheyenne. We stopped for drinks at Accomplice Brewing and for ice cream at Mary’s Mountain Cookies. SO good. I was pretty excited to drive back and explore some rock formations we saw on our way up, so I left about an hour before sunset. The formations are like small canyons in one area of the open land and very odd.

I can’t wait for a longer road trip going further west into Wyoming. I’m grateful to have the freedom to explore these nearby places frequently and with good company.

Lake Hikes in Colorado - Lake Haiyaha

Saturday Lake Hike - The weather was gorgeous this day. It was very warm around 11am and by 2 or 3pm, rain started falling and the temperatures dropped. It was a nice break from the harsh sun.

The blues here are incredible. I already want to go back :)

Check out this link from Just Go Tavel more details about the hike here: Just Go Travel

Illinois -

These images are a documentation of some things and people that I love most. Sunsets near the airport, warm weather, spending time outside with my dog, exploring downtown Chicago and most importantly, being curious and exploring familiar places with a different mindset.

Since February of 2019, I’ve spent most of my time in Colorado. I was able to visit Illinois for a week at the end of May and I decided to go back again this past week of August. So far, whenever I get back to my new home in Colorado, I feel conflicted and have a mental hangover. I’m so overwhelmed with love and things to do with my friends and family in Illinois and the week always passes by quickly. Once I get back to Colorado, I feel lonely; the days move at a slow pace and I miss everything about Illinois. I know I’m blessed to essentially be able to walk in 2 worlds at this point in my life. One world is familiar and full of friends who I’ve been around for 22 years, the other world is new and scary, but both are beautiful and full of endless opportunity.

Rocky Mountain National Park Lake Hikes - Dream Lake & Emerald Lake

August 10th, 2019

I had been to Dream lake once in October of 2018. It was a foggy, rainy/snowy day. The visibility was only as good as about 20 feet in front of me. Going back to this lake and up to Emerald Lake in August of 2019, I got to see the mountains in the distance that I had never seen before! I loved this difference in weather patterns and season.

These lakes are great hikes to get to with stunning views and beautiful at any time of the year.

Rocky Mountain National Park - Gem Lake

Rocky Mountain National Park Day Hike to Gem Lake - August 2019

This was my first trip to the Rockies this summer. I bought an annual park pass earlier in July and wanted to start getting more use out of it for the rest of summer. This place is amazing. I’ve been to the Rockies a few times since I was 12 years old and I always want to go back and explore more of this park. My goal is to go back a few more times before September :)

Best Sunset Spots in Boulder, CO - Lost Gulch

Lost Gulch, Boulder Summer Sunset with Amber, Sarah and Tori.

We were missing Lana, but this group of girls is so incredibly positive, intelligent, successful, supportive and loving. I’m so grateful to have them as friends here in Boulder. Seeing beautiful sunsets together is even better :)