Jessica, Grace & Amanda

Three sisters, three beautiful girls and what an amazing group to photograph.  I’ve photographed them a few times over the past years… but hadn’t seen them in some time – and they were amazing to photograph this week.  Each one with such a different look and personality – I can’t wait to get them in for more sessions.  I get so excited to photograph for my clients over the years, and especially when I get to see them grow up right before my eyes.  We worked on some head shots  for them and then took advantage of the beautiful light around the studio.  While we had a little snowstorm the night before – mom and dad were great and trekked out in the icy roads on Sunday morning to get to the studio and it was a great session.

King Vitale Wedding: MEXICO

From the bright sunny skies to the beautifully staged ceremony and reception – this wedding was a dream wedding by anyone’s standards.  We got a little “extra” music during the ceremony, but Dawn and Corey laughed a little and everything was still great.   Destination Wedding Diva’s created a beautifully orchestrated wedding and reception – and left the bride and groom with smiles on their faces to enjoy their wedding day.  Ceiba Del Mar is a boutique hotel that would meet nearly anyone’s highest standards from the food, to the service they were spot on everything.

But… best of all, was how completely happy the bride and groom were on their wedding day.  They are beautiful, and their personalities made everyone else just beam when they looked at them.  Plenty of amazing photos, I just couldn’t be more thankful than to have a couple that was willing to have fun and be a little playful to get some great images.

Sunset at Ceiba del mar

 

 

Then came the reception.  Their first dance was beautifully done as they had been taking dancing lessons (which I always appreciate), but at the end of the dance they broke out in a fantastic Salsa dances that had everyone amazed.  Congratulations Dawn & Corey!!!! It was amazing being here to photograph your wedding!!!!

Ceiba del mar resort & spa

 

King Vitale Rehearsal

Beautiful weather, gorgeous couple! Ceiba del Mar Resort and Spa in Puerto Morelos is an amazing Boutique style hotel and a great setting for a tropical wedding.  The wedding rehearsal went perfectly… and when I asked Dawn and Corey if they would jump in the ocean after the rehearsal… there was no hesitation.  Friends and family gathered for the welcome party on the beach and everyone had a smile on their face.  I can’t wait for their wedding day tomorrow, and I’ve had a sneak peek at her gown and it is absolutely amazing… so more to come!

Elstad Hubbard Wedding

11/7/2009  and last wedding in Colorado in 2009 for me, and it was held at the Historic Crags Lodge in Estes Park. The lodge is ideally located in the heart of Estes Park on the north side of Prospect Mountain and only minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park. Breathtaking mountain views surround you.  Lyssah & Ryan’s wedding was so outstanding… from the red shoes that accented her beautiful white wedding dress, to the sunset that we were given in perfect timing with the end of the ceremony.

photography by Jeanine Thurston

I have to admit, I made the mistake almost as soon as I came in the door… thought Ryan’s brother was him (identical twin brothers), so it is official – even having twin brothers of my own…  it doesn’t make a difference when they look that much alike – you just can’t tell them apart.I I wouldn’t have made it through the day if they weren’t wearing different boutiners.

Grant Humphreys Mansion wedding

Reflecting back to a wedding favorite, I wanted to share one of the great weddings at Grant Humphreys Mansion in Denver, located on Quality Hill in Denver, Colorado. The Mansion was built in 1902 by James B. Grant, Colorado’s third governor.  It is such an outstanding location for a wedding from the beautiful brides room to the pillars and grounds that surround.

CASTING CALL for babies and bellies

I’ve been brainstorming again and have a load of new ideas that I’m so anxious to try out.   So spread the word to all the moms and moms to be out there.  We will have so much fun.

This casting call:

* session will be free of charge (however, prints may be purchased at regular rates).

* will require a model release (most likely the image will be published in our new children’s catalog).

* will be held either at Jeanine’s studio or  location of Jeanine’s preference.

* will have a goal of creating one single image, but if time time and patience allow, additional poses and images may be attempted.

* will have specific session dates/times set, so please e-mail info@fototails.com , call or comment in our blog with your info if you would like to be contacted about participating.    I will be starting image sessions on or around November 16th, 2009 and will continue until I get the exact images that I am looking for.

**NEWBORN MULTIPLES: Looking for twins, triplets or more that are 2 months or younger!  Personal sessions for muliples at no charge from December 2009-February 2010.

**BELLIES!!!! I’M SEARCHING FOR SOME MOM’S THAT ARE BETWEEN 30-37 WEEKS PREGNANT!

**SUPER TINY NEWBORNS: November – December 2009 I am looking to photograph newborns that are 7lbs or less for some shots I am trying to get.  Please call me as soon as you can after you have your baby so that we can set up a time for your session.  These sessions may be as easy as being in your home – please call or e-mail for details

The whole world in his hands.

Grant-Humphreys Mansion bridal show – January 31st, 2010

Grant Humphreys Mansion

 

Quality permeates at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion bridal show, located in the historic Quality Hill District of Denver.

This is a necessary for any couple – newly engaged to finalizing your ceremony.

Taste incredible food from Colorado’s top caterers

Sample delicious cake from featured bakers

Talk one-on-one with experts: photographers, officiants, DJs & hair/make-up stylists Obtain ideas by viewing work samples from linen companies, florists, salons, calligraphers, and stylists

Take with you an incredible goodie bag which includes a keepsake 50-page wedding planning guide! Attend informative planning workshops at the show: Presented by professional planners.

Each session is 45-minutes, drop-in/drop-out format, ending with a Question & Answer session.

A keepsake 50-page handout and planning guide is in the bride’s goodie bag.

11:30 am: Getting Started & Pulling it all Together Getting started: Developing your overall style, budgets and format Create your wedding day agenda Finding the perfect location and outdoor considerations

12:30 pm: Your Ceremony Ceremony setup checklist & diagram your processional and recessional Examples of different ceremony programs & what to include in your program Ceremony setups and floor plans for the Grant-Humphreys Mansion ~ decor, linens, florals and more

1:30 pm: Food, Beverage and Reception Setup Different types of food service & how to save money How to design a table top: from blah to bling, from dull to dynamite! Floor plans for Grant-Humphreys Mansion: dinners and reception setups Taste: Wedding cake cutting demonstration and couples

Grant Humphreys Mansion

Puttkammer family

It was such a cold day in Denver today, and while a few of my sessions were rescheduled – The Puttkammer family was more than willing to brave the cold for an hour of photography time.  I can’t believe how the time passes… as I had photographed their wedding a few years ago, maternity and newborn… and now Jake is a year old already.  We had a fun few shots near Union Station in Denver and then a quick stop by the park too, before it was turning our noses red.  It was such great lighting this afternoon with just a few snowflakes falling during our session you could feel winter coming.

Adolph Arneson Wedding

Brrrr.  Oct. 10th, 2009 for a wedding – and that morning all you heard about was 20 car pile ups in Colorado Springs, and tons of accidents on I-25 due to the icy road conditions.  Happy to say the roads dried off by the time I was off to Lindsey & Todd’s wedding… but still a bone chilling 20 degrees according to my car.  So… not much for outdoor photos, but they were die hard and slipped out for a few outdoor photos anyway… even though it has dropped to 17 degrees by the time it was portrait time.  It didn’t matter – as they still had a smile on their faces – just so happy to be having their wedding.  The beautiful car almost didn’t make it – as it was having a crisis about the weather… but the engine finally gave and the RR made it for a few shots with the bride & groom.

Their son Oliver was the life of the party… never stopped for more than a second the entire day and evening – the energizer bunny was on his side… and won for the most part, until we caught him hiding under mom’s gown!  He was taking in every corner and hiding place at Cielo at the Pines, and there was no space left undiscovered by the handsome 2 year old.

The dress was stunning on Lindsey – and I’m sure she won’t mind me saying that she got it at a consignment shop in Colorado Springs… it was amazing, and with her accessories (including a beautiful comb) she was stunning!

Then of course it goes without saying, the entire day is a whirlwind for the bridal couple… especially the bride – with all of the preparation finally coming together.

I love the smile that they get as I tell them it is finally time to go in and enjoy the rest of the evening. But not without a little fun in photographing the guys.  It doesn’t matter how formal the wedding, the men are always more happy after some fun photos instead of being stiff all the time, and they were cold – so I told them to warm up by the fire.  They decided above the fire was more appropriate!Then at last – with all of the chaos going on around them Lindsey and Todd were able to catch a moment together on the dance floor, and block out the rest of the world.

Kelly, Matt & Ella

I was so happy to see Matt & Kelly this morning.  I’ve photographed for their families for a few years now and I photographed their wedding out in California a few years ago too, so I was so excited to meet Ella their daughter.  She is beautiful! I fell in love with a lot of images, but the one here with the tear on her cheek is not what it would seem.  While many times we have to work between toddlers being upset about one thing or another, this image was simply a product of the cool morning this morning – and yet the way she was looking at me for this shot just breaks your heart.  I could say it was because we took her baby doll away from her or her sippy cup (which happened later in the session) but reality is “just timing.”  

The image here in the tree however was Ella’s location of choice.  With her persuasive way, she had mom & dad climbing the tree too… but in the end she was the one happiest perched there.

Then of course, it is hard not to notice what a “daddy’s girl” little miss Ella is – she is so sweet on Matt it just makes you smile.  And, she constantly had an eye out so she knew mom was close. You have to love mornings like this photographing with people that are so happy to be a family.