This past Saturday Stacey and Ryan were married out at Riverview Golf Course in Sterling, Colorado. While we were walking around doing their portraits we started talking and one of the things that came up was why I do serious shots and not just smiling. Don’t get me wrong, there are always tons of smiling shots! The way that I look at it though are that photos capture who you are. As most people walk around, they don’t always have a smile on their face. When you snuggle in and hug your husband/boyfriend/fiance/wife/girlfriend it isn’t always with a big grin. In fact, the really good moments are usually those ones that really knock the wind out of you, make you close your eyes, just feel, and remember how lucky you are. For that reason, it’s really important to me to get not just the smiles.

There is always an exception though! I’d like to introduce you to Stacey. She doesn’t just smile, I’d say 90% of the time if she cracks a grin, she isn’t just going to show you some teeth, she’ll throw her head back and let out a laugh. And that, well that’s more infectious than you can imagine. My favorite image from their wedding so far isn’t perfect. The wind had kicked up and taken Stacey’s beautiful hair across her face. It didn’t matter though, because she had the most sincere smile full of laughter. Ryan had his arms wrapped around her and the laughter had completely taken him over as well. All that you can see in it is their happiness.

In my book, there is just nothing better than the first dance.

I’ve known Stacey and her family for many, many years. That made the usual lump in my throat during the father daughter dance even bigger.

Last, but not least, I love, love, loved Stacey’s bouquet (and the bridesmaids’). Secret Garden Designs were responsible for the beautiful florals.

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I’m dramatic. There, I finally admitted what my mom and brother accused me of all those years when I’d constantly hear, “Stop being so dramatic!” Yeah, so that might have been me being dramatic in a not so positive way. However, as a photographer I think it’s a pretty great trait. When I hear the word wedding I think back to all of the great chick flicks I adore, all of the sigh inducing final moments of those movies. I picture the doors swinging open at a beautiful cathedral, sunlight streaming through in perfect rays, the bride has her veil down over her face in her beautiful white ballgown wedding dress, on her side is her father, and at the end of the aisle is her groom with one single tear coming down his face at the sheer beauty of seeing his bride.

Now how many weddings have I shot like that? None! Was my own wedding like that? Nope! It doesn’t matter though, because it seems like many couples relate that moment and drama to what their wedding should be. That first sight moment is exactly what so many women have in their head, and from my experience just as many guys (maybe minus the tear for all of the too tough to cry guys). In recent years it’s become pretty commonplace for couples to have that first sight moment before the ceremony so that they can do all of their portraits before, and then after the ceremony all they have to do is hit their reception, mix, mingle, and party. At the same time, I’ve noticed recently a lot of my couples have gone back to the traditional route of not seeing each other until those big symbolic doors swing open.

So, which way is better? Which one do I prefer you to do? I wouldn’t say there is a better way. A lot of it is just going to be completely personal and what you and your soon-to-be husband/wife decide on. If you take the emotion out of it though, and look at it from a strictly photo perspective there is sometimes a better decision though. If you’re getting married in the middle of the summer, have a 5 p.m. ceremony, then consider this. The best light is always as close as you can get to sunrise and sunset. Maybe we would do all of the bridal party shots before the ceremony and save just you two for after to get that beautiful light (or at least not midday ugly light) while your guests enjoy a cocktail hour or travel to the reception location. Then again, if you’re getting married at sunset or in winter in the afternoon, I’d probably say to seriously consider a first sight before the ceremony, at least if I’m your photographer. You see, I’m a natural light photographer. That doesn’t mean I can’t use lighting or won’t, but it means that my style, the same style that you see on my website and in my albums, is done 90% with natural light. If you want that style, and I sure hope you do if you’re booking me, just consider that. So, which one do I prefer? I prefer pretty light, wherever that may fall in your day.

All that said though, I will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER tell you that you need to see each other before the ceremony or that you shouldn’t see each other before the ceremony. I will probably tell you when the light will be best, but you can use that information or ignore it. What’s most important is that it’s your decision!

My personal experience, the moment that is most burnt into my memory from our wedding day was my church doors swinging open moment. I will never forget riding out to our ceremony location, my stomach full of butterflies, sitting next to my dad, and then seeing Mitch at the end of the aisle. I was a mixture of tears and big goofy grin for the whole ceremony. The funny part, we had spent hours together that afternoon (we gave our photographers plenty of time before, because photos were what was important to us), and had just seen each other 10 minutes before the ceremony. It didn’t change the meaning or emotion behind that moment one bit though.

As usual, every post is better with pictures. So, here are couple from Kendra and Regan’s first sight.

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Just when you think things couldn’t get any crazier, they do! I can’t get into details just yet, but there will be in the very near future lots of changes going on around here.

In the meantime, check out two of my awesome couples who were recently featured on Colorado Wedding Style . Jesson and Nicole’s post can be found here and Mike and Rebecca’s is here. Let’s be honest though, you’re probably going to get caught up in all of the awesomeness that is the whole Colorado Wedding Style blog, so just check out the whole thing.

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Oh boy, I think that my maid needs to be fired after seeing all of the dust collecting around here! As you can probably guess, the wedding season and traveling combined have kind of kicked my butt. I’ve still been pretty good about getting images up on the Anna Lynch McClary Photography Facebook Page though. The ironic part is that I’m poking my head in here just to let everyone know that I’m jumping on another airplane tomorrow and will be out of reach for a few days. The next couple of weeks I get to travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Colorado, and even make a stop in Nebraska for weddings and senior sessions. I’m going to miss my bed and my kitties, but it should be a good time filled with lots of great photo opps.

Oh, and when I return, I vow to be a better blogger. To show my seriousness, here is one image from each of the sessions that I shared on Facebook today.

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Over the past month wedding season has kicked in and a crazy schedule has kicked off. Somehow this year, my wedding schedule is split exactly in  half. With May, June and July mostly back west and August, September, and October mostly in Indiana. So, if you’re ever looking for me, your best bet is probably either Fort Wayne Internationl, Denver International, or on a plane. During last week’s trip back I squeezed in a Friday night engagement session with Bri and Braden.

You might say that I jinxed the day when I tweeted how beautiful it was the morning. It was absolutely gorgeous that afternoon, too. Then, about 15 minutes before our session was supposed to start a nice 30 mph wind kicked in. We took cover as much as we could, but I could not deny one of the locations that I scouted out. So they both totally bucked up and probably braced themselves for each gust. Not only did we have the wind to deal with, but because I had so much fun downtown, we were running out of light quicker than I could shoot. Here’s just a few sneak peek shots, but you’ll be seeing the full post soon and come the end of July their wedding images.

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My season kicks into full swing this week with seniors and engagement sessions and my wedding season starts next week. I’m so looking forward to getting back into the groove of things and hustle and bustle, but I was not expecting to start it off in the hole. Last week, out of nowhere (after spending the previous week out of the office) the flu got a hold of me. So that to do list that wasn’t all that intimidating is now looking a little scarier. I’m behind on emails right now, so if you’re waiting on one, know that I’m not ignoring you. Now, let’s not let this blog sit empty and unrefreshed for another day.

Brady took me fishing in his friend’s pond and out around the farm last fall.

Honking his horn of course!

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You know those couples that just make sense? They make so much sense that its hard to have a conversation about one one of them without referring to them as a couple. Mike and Rebecca are that couple to an absolute T for for me. I could have talked to Becca that day and told Mitch that, and he’d ask me who Becca was. It was always followed by, “You know, Mike and Becca.” He of course knew who she was, but together they just made sense. Individually they are their own fantastic people, but together they are two seamless puzzle pieces that compliment and finish each other.

Mike and Rebecca had to roll with the punches on this whole wedding planning thing. When they originally booked me, the plan was a fall wedding in the canyons of South Dakota. However, what is meant to be always works itself out, and the South Dakota wedding just wasn’t meant to be. So, a couple months before the wedding they relocated everything to Colorado, more specifically Lionsgate at The Dove House. They totally rolled with the punches and the end result was a beautiful and incredibly personal wedding that was packed with emotion (my favorite).

You may have noticed that Becca is kind of drop dead gorgeous!

Oh yeah, Mike’s pretty easy on the eyes too. Ridiculously good looking and meant to be couple, sounds like one of the Disney movies I grew up on.

Congratulations again Mike and Rebecca, couldn’t be happier for you two!

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Three posts in one week is nothing to some bloggers. However, to this one, who is trying to get back on the blogging horse, three posts in one week is a rather fantastic moment for me. So, to keep this streak alive I’m going to have to post up one without a lot of back story. The images are always better than my words anyhow. Let’s suffice it to say that Sarah is one of my awesome seniors from Sterling. I asked her more than once during the session where she got whatever cute accessory or shirt she had on. Her family came along on the session and they had scouted out some great locations!

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I’ve finally figured out why I let myself get so behind on blogging images. It has major perks… well sort of. So, maybe it has more like one perk. You see Heather and Freddy have long since been married, but hey I couldn’t just ignore their engagement session. That perk I was talking about, well getting to show off one of the cool products they picked out to show off these photographs.

Last year was the first year that I offered guest books to my clients. While it is a no brainer product for wedding guest books, it doesn’t stop there. Seniors, these are perfect for your graduation receptions, moms to be could use the images from your maternity sessions for your guest book at your baby shower and even in those first weeks as your new baby’s first visitors stop by.

Now, I think I’ve already held these pictures up long enough, so without further ado…

You may notice a theme…

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Going into my first ever destination wedding, as a guest and a photographer, I had some pretty high expectations. I mean when a place is called Dreams, who wouldn’t? Personally, I can say that it was pretty fantastic and held up to all of those expectations. Professionally, I couldn’t say anything less.

In my opinion Bobbie and Ryder had one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve seen. They knew what they wanted and went with that. Their wedding day was enjoyed 100% and never once filled with worries about their officiant, the flowers, or any of the other details that I’ve seen so many get tied down with. When I started shooting that day Bobbie was so relaxed as she sat in the stylist’s chair. She was fresh out of the spa from a massage and didn’t have a thing to worry about, which I think is what most brides hope for at the point in their wedding planning. Meanwhile, upstairs in the the groom’s suite, the guys were joking around, laughing, and throwing back a couple Coors Lights (what else would you expect from Colorado boys?).

The relaxed theme had begun much earlier in the trip and carried through all the way through the ceremony, right to the end of the trip. I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever gone back home from shooting a wedding 100% more relaxed than when I left. I guess the massages and beach might have helped.

The entire week we spent down there was a testament to the support that Ryder and Bobbie have surrounding them.

When in Rome, right?!

The resort photographers had dibs on Bobbie and Ryder following the ceremony, so we met up a couple mornings later to do a Day After Session.

Congratulations again Ryder and Bobbie!

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