loneman photography

At last the spring rains have abated and the summer sun has returned. That means it's time to turn to my favorite subjects: kids. Summer has to be kids' heaven: no school, long sunny days, plenty of time to get dirty and have nothing but fun.

I'll be photographing weddings on Saturdays but we've reserved Tuesday's and Thursdays this summer for photographing kids, though those days feel more like play time for me.

I photographed a small wedding Friday; bride and groom and 10 guests on the Truman Gulch trail. You'd think such a small wedding would be easy easy, but that is never the case. The size of the wedding or the amount of preparations makes no difference. The day is still full of quick meaningful moments to photograph. And the day means as much to the bride and groom on a quiet trail as it does to the bride and groom who spend thousands and thousands of dollars and marry in a grand cathedral.

The small weddings are my favorites. Access is easier and the intimacy of the day is heightened. There were lots of tears at this one.

Congratulations Heidi and Zack and thanks for sharing your day.

Judy and Jack flew down from Alaska last week and married at Chico Hot Springs in Montana's Paradise Valley. The rain clouds disappeared for a few hours; enough to get some wonderful images of the couple against the Montana skies.

I am constantly blessed with each couple's grace and generosity towards myself, their families and each other. Everybody knows weddings can be filled with stress and greatness at the same time. Judy and Jack were just delightful all day long!!!

Kristen and Doug were married last weekend at the historic Springhill Pavilion in Springhill, just outside Bozeman, Montana. It rained and then rained some more and then the rain increased before it rained even more. In the valley below streams and rivers were flowing over their banks. The rustic atmosphere of Springhill Pavilion held up to the conditions. So too did the bride and groom. They took it all in stride and had a memorable wedding day. You could hardly notice the rain for the love inside the reception and ceremony indoors. It was another lesson to couples planning their big day: the day is what you make it. If you embrace the wonder of the day, the photos are going to be there.

Congratulations Kristen and Doug. It was an honor to be with you on your day!!