Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy Graduation - 4 Eagle Ranch

When I finished High School in New Zealand, nothing really happened.  I'm pretty sure I got in my car and drove home and I probably went to my after school job that night.  Americans on the other hand, know how to do it up right when they finish high school!  

Last week I was asked to shoot the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy's graduation at 4 Eagle Ranch.  These graduates compete in skiing and snowboarding all over the country and they still managed to get all of their school work done with the help of some amazing teachers.

Astronaut, Jerry Linenger, was the key note speaker and gave the most amazing address.  If you have the chance, look him up and read one of his books.  His tales from his 5 months in space were absolutely unbelievable!

Congratulations to all of the VSSA grads to graduates everywhere!

Visit the website to see more Vail Event Photography

Vail Engagement Photos - East Vail - Kim and Bradon

I was recently staying right in the heart of downtown Houston and talking to a friend who lives there.  He told me that during the summer months in Houston, there's a significant decrease in traffic and pedestrians in the city because so many people leave to escape the heat.  I can attest to the fact that a ton of Houstonians migrate to Vail for the summer to take advantage of our cooler summers. 

Kim and Bradon were recently visiting Vail from Houston and decided to take their engagement photos while they were here.  With their cute pup Shipley in tow, we set off down the East Vail bike path to take in the views and grab some shots.  We got some great shots and as you can see, Shipley completely stole the show!

Visit the website to see more Vail Engagement Photos

Vail Family Photos - 3 x mini sessions in Edwards, CO with the Hobgoods, Drakes and Thomas

I had done photos for the Hobgood family in the past, so when they told me they were coming back out and bringing two families with them, I was excited to be able to do three mini sessions for them.

In true mountain form, it was raining when I arrived.  The Hobgoods decided to take the first shoot and after a weather delay, we were able to get on with the session.  As you can see from the photos, the backdrops were countless.  With water features and mountains throughout the property, there was no shortage of locations to choose from.  

You can also see how the lighting changed with each session as the night went on.  These are a few of my favorites from the three sessions!

Visit the website to see more Vail Family Photos.

Vail Event Photography - 3 x 40th Birthday Party at Bol, Vail Village

Up in these mountains, you'll find that most residents would consider themselves more Country Mouse than City Mouse.  If we have to wait behind five cars at a roundabout, we complain about the traffic.  

We do miss some of the big city luxuries though.  Luckily we have Bol.  It's a bowling alley in Vail Village and it's about the most cosmopolitan place you'll find around here.  

When Brandon contacted me about shooting a 40th birthday party, I had no idea that it was 3 x 40th birthdays combined.  I was later told that these three guys had been born at the same hospital at the same time and they've been throwing elaborate birthday parties together ever since.  

Friends from all over the country, from every phase of their three lives flew in to help these boys celebrate.  They brought in their own DJ, turned the lights down on the lanes and let the good times roll - bad pun intended.

Side note...I may or may not have been humming Marilyn Manson's 'The Beautiful People' throughout the night.  Such a good looking group!

Visit the website to see more Vail Event Photography

Eagle Family Photos - Andrews Family

Getting 3 generations of family together can be hard, especially when they're scattered around the country.  So many families are in the same situation, so it's always great to be able to capture some of their time together.  This was the case recently for my dear old friends Matt and Tina when they had their families gathered together in Eagle recently. 

It's hard to believe that these were taken during ski season!  You can see all the snow in the hills, but it was completely dry where we were shooting.  Perfect conditions for little boys to run around and burn off some of that energy!

Visit the website to see more Eagle Family Photos.

Beaver Creek Family Photos - Hopper Family

When I headed to Beaver Creek to take photos for the Hopper Family, the skies were clear and bright.  We'd been told that a storm was supposed to hit the valley that morning, but 5 hours later, it was still no where in sight.   I took a walk to scout out locations and found a perfect spot with mountain views at the base of a ski run.  The family headed out to meet me there, just as the non-existent storm rolled in, ruining my mountain views!  Thankfully, the Hopper family were excited for some stormy photos before we headed inside to the warmth for a few more pics.  

I always talk about how much I like red as an accent color in the snow.  Check out Lulu the dogs scarf!  Love the accessorizing! 

Head to the website to see more Beaver Creek Family Photos.