Tag Archive for: fall

Missoula Engagement Portrait Photography of Eric & Emily

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A few weeks back, I traveled to Missoula to photograph the Missoula Engagement Portrait Photography Experience of Eric and Emily.

Eric and Emily met at the River City Roots Festival in Missoula, Montana a year and a half ago. Their shared love of live music has been a foundation of their budding relationship.

When the pandemic was sweeping across the country these two were just moving in with one another.

Despite the uncertainty of this past year, their relationship has continued to flourish and grow into something really special.

Eric loves how Emily is able to find the fun in any situation. He is so grateful for her encouragement that helps him find the joy and boundless potential within himself.

“She loves me through my worst times,” said Eric, who is finishing up a degree in Resource Conservation at The University of Montana. “It’s been game-changing for me. I can show up as I am and that’s okay with her. She accepts me.”

Both of them commented separately on how incredibly grounding each has been for one another in these challenging times.

By the same token, Emily loves Eric’s compassion and his thoughtfulness toward her.

“During our very first argument, rather than get mad, instead he genuinely wanted to understand me. It was so refreshing to be in a healthy relationship with him. Calmly, we worked it out,” said Emily. “He’s an amazing communicator and is so in tune with my feelings. I feel so lucky to have him.”

For their Missoula engagement portrait photography session, these two wanted to celebrate their relationship in one of their favorite places. Years ago,

Happy to oblige, we walked around and explored the fleeting Fall colors within Greenough Park in the Rattlesnake neighborhood. I attended college at the University of Montana and had a good knowledge of places we could check out along Rattlesnake Creek.

Here are a few favorite Missoula Engagement Portrait photographs from our time together.

I could not be more excited for these two lovebirds. -M

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Missouri Headwaters State Park Family Portrait Session of Eliza and Drew

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The other day I was out at the Missouri Headwaters State Park for a Family Portrait Session of Eliza and Drew. For this Three Forks, Montana family, there is no better way to spend a day outside than when they are trail riding with their young daughter Evelyn, horses, and dogs. We decided to incorporate all of their loves into one photography session timed perfectly with the Montana Fall colors.

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Toddler Fall Family Portraits of Jessica and Matt in Bozeman, Montana

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    Back in November, I met up with Jessica and Matt to make some family photos of them and their 1-year-old daughter Cora. I made maternity photos of Jessica a while back and now that Cora had been born, she and Matt wanted to get their first family photos for their Christmas cards.

Back in November, I met up with Jessica and Matt to make some Fall family portraits of them and their 1-year-old daughter Cora during their Toddler Fall Family Portraits.

I made maternity photos of Jessica a while back and now that Cora had been born, she and Matt wanted to get their first family photos for their Christmas cards. We headed over to Beall Park near their house in Bozeman where we took advantage of the fallen fall leaves.

When photographing little kids, you tend to have brief windows of attention. Most of the time their surroundings hold their attention rather than looking into a camera. It becomes a fun game getting them to smile and look natural before their patience runs thin and they start to fuss. Cora made my job easy. She was nothing but smiles, a trait she no doubt got from her parents.

Here are some favorite photos I made during our toddler fall family portraits together. Thanks for looking, -M

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Broken Hart Ranch Wedding Day of Madeline & Chase in Bozeman Montana

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Broken Hart Ranch Fall Montana Wedding of Madeline and Chase

  • Broken Hart Ranch Fall Montana Wedding of Madeline and Chase

A few weeks ago, I photographed the Broken Hart Ranch wedding day of Madeline and Chase outside of Bozeman, Montana at the peak of the Fall season change. Fall in Montana this year kicked into overdrive and the autumn colors were popping all over southwest Montana. To my delight, Madeline and Chase’s wedding festivities nailed the timing of the colorful season.

This couple has been dating for the last four years. Over that time, they have fostered a loving relationship filled with gratitude and many great funny stories. Many of those stories were shared throughout the evening by their guests during the wedding toasts.

The Broken Hart Ranch venue that day was surrounded by fire-colored flora from the nearby Gallatin Mountain range backdrop. Madeline and Chase created a fall inspired theme for their wedding using the same color palate with great success.

The newlyweds, along with their out-of-town guests, spent the evening dancing, singing, and raising their glasses in celebration long into the night. This crowd knew how to celebrate with vigor. At one point, the wedding guests suddenly busted into a flash mob dance routine to the delight and surprise of the wedding couple. It was one of the great highlights of the reception.

In addition, Madeline, Chase, and their guests also dressed up in costume to play in the Broken Hart Ranch wedding photo booth I provided for the reception. The photo booth was a huge hit with the guests, young and old!

The positive energy of the wedding day was infectious. Looking around the reception hall, it was filled with smiles of the couple and their loved ones. Here are some photo favorites from their wedding day. Wishing the newlyweds all the best! -M

  • Broken Hart Ranch Fall Montana Wedding of Madeline and Chase

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Bozeman Young Family Portraits of Aaron & Beth

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  • Southwest Montana had an exceptionally long stretch of Fall colors this past season. I was fortunate enough to be able to get out to photograph all of it's grandeur with a few late season weddings and a couple family portrait sessions like these of my friend Beth and her family.

I had a great time photographing the Bozeman Young Family Portraits of Aaron & Beth with their children in Bozeman, Montana.

Southwest Montana had an exceptionally long stretch of Fall colors this past season. I was fortunate enough to be able to get out to photograph all of its grandeur with a few late-season weddings and a couple of family portrait sessions.

Beth is an old friend from my days at The University of Montana. She and Aaron now work here in Bozeman and they wanted to make some fun family portraits before the rains came.

We found some time to go out for a walk in a nearby park on the outskirts of Bozeman.

The setting sun mixed with the range of green, yellow and orange colors made for some sweet light to photograph in. Fall days don’t get much better in my book. Here are some of my favorite photographs I made from their family photo shoot. Thanks for looking, -M

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The Woodlands Bozeman Wedding of Courtney & Jordi

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A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of photographing The Woodlands Bozeman Wedding day of Courtney and Jordi. It was a beautiful calm early Fall day amongst the pine trees at The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon in Bozeman, Montana.

I got to know them earlier in the year when we made some fun engagement photos around the outskirts of Bozeman.

Finally, their Woodlands Bozeman Wedding had arrived. I had such a fun time documenting their friends and family. It was great to hear all the stories. Here are some of my favorite images I made throughout the day. I’m just thrilled for these two. Wishing many years of happiness to the newlyweds! Congrats you guys! -M

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Photographing the Bozeman Harvest Hoedown to Benefit Gallatin Valley Farm to School program

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I photographed the 1st Annual Bozeman Harvest Hoedown to Benefit Gallatin Valley Farm to School program.

I’m a big believer in giving back to one’s community and I try to do so as much as I can throughout the year in between my weddings and portraiture work.

Yesterday, I headed over to Red Tractor Pizza, a local, organic farm-to-table pizza-to-plate restaurant, in Bozeman, Montana. It was there I photographed the 1st Annual Bozeman Harvest Hoedown fundraiser for the Gallatin Valley Farm to School program. It’s a pretty cool youth program here in town that I believe is important for my community to embrace.

The local Gallatin Valley Farm to School not-for-profit strives to cultivate healthy kids through education in the classroom and in school gardens while supporting vibrant local farms that bring healthy food to the cafeteria. Thinking local. I dig it.

The Bozeman Harvest Hoedown was a community gathering and fundraiser for Gallatin Valley Farm to School, featuring live music, family activities, delicious local food, beverages, and generous raffle items donated by local businesses this past Saturday.

It was a great time and a great first-showing turnout. To learn more about supporting the Gallatin Valley Farm to School please visit their website here. Glad I could be a part of it. -M

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Rockin TJ Ranch Wedding Day of Jenny and Ethan Bozeman Montana

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I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding weekend of Jenny and Ethan at the Rockin TJ Ranch on the outskirts of Bozeman, Montana a few weeks back.

September in southwest Montana might just be my favorite time of year to be outside. The weather on their big outdoor wedding day was perfect. The full spectrum of Fall colors in the local flora accentuated the wedding party’s red color theme.

I had a lot of fun throughout the day celebrating with these two newlyweds and their out of town wedding guests. I was so thankful to be a part of it. A great day. Congrats again to Jenny and Ethan! -M

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Bozeman Montana Wedding rehearsal dinner of Jenny & Ethan

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The evening before Jenny & Ethan’s wedding day, their close friends and family gathered at the bride’s parent’s house in Bozeman for their rehearsal dinner. The calm Montana evening in early Fall did not disappoint. The sun settled into a fantastic sunset over the Bridger Mountains where their out of town guest snapped photos and soaked up the Montana lifestyle. Rehearsal dinners are great to photograph. Often it’s the first time many of the guests get to see the wedding couple and the atmosphere tends to be more laid back prior to the main event. These two had me come out and document it all. Here are some of my favorite images from their rehearsal dinner. Also, be sure to check out their wedding photos here. I had a great time. Congrats to the newlyweds! -Mike

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Preview of Jenny & Ethan Rockin TJ Ranch Montana Wedding Day

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What a weekend! I had the pleasure of photographing Jenny and Ethan’s wedding rehearsal and wedding day this past weekend at the Rockin TJ Ranch on the outskirts of Bozeman, Montana. September in southwest Montana might just be my favorite time of year to be outside. The weather on their big outdoor wedding day was perfect and the Fall colors were showing up in the local flora. I had a lot of fun throughout the day celebrating with these two newlyweds and their out of town wedding guests. I’m looking forward to showing the rest of the photos from the day. More to come. For now, check out this sneak peek preview of some favorites so far. Congrats again to Jenny and Ethan!

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San Francisco Jewish Naming Party Photos for Gillian & Jeff’s daughter

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One of the surprising twists and wonderful honors I’ve been fortunate enough to experience as I grow my wedding photography business is returning clients. In the wedding industry, that rarely happens. Much like age has brought some wisdom my way over the years, outcomes of how I once thought my path would play out, rarely in fact, did so. I’m so grateful. I have been fortunate in ways I never thought I would have had a chance to be. I photographed Gillian and Jeff’s wedding day years ago in Sacramento, California and ever since they have continued to bring me back into their lives to document their special events over the years. For those of you who may not know, weddings are just one of many facets to my creative photographic outlets. Years ago, Gillian expressed to me just how much I made her feel comfortable in front of a camera. I feel privileged that I can continue come back into their lives to document their celebrations. Without even realizing it, I find myself in the role of a documentary family photographer. These two have been huge supporters of my photography from early on in my career.

A month ago, I left Bozeman, Montana and hopped a plane to San Francisco to spend a Sunday afternoon with my old friends/clients to document the new addition of their daughter Miriam. I spent the day documenting a traditional Jewish naming ceremony at their home and the celebration afterwards complete with the portraits of numerous family and friends. Gillian was very clear in what she wanted – as many photos of her little girl as possible. I was happy to oblige. What a cutie. It was a wonderful time. I recognized many familiar smiles from the wedding years ago and realized I had seen many of Gillian and Jeff’s coupled friends back then early on in their relationships. Fast-forward five years and now I had this new window back into their worlds seeing them with kids in tow. Add some good caterer BBQ with sunny weather to boot and you’ve got all the ingredients for a beautiful San Francisco Bay Area fall day. It was fun for me to spend time with these good folks again. My, how time flies. So glad I could be a part of it. -M

To see all of the party photos and portraits click here.

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Bozeman Montana Apple Pressing Party Photo Booth – A Celebration of Fall

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Last weekend I wanted to tap into my autumn nostalgia and celebrate the new Fall season by hosting a apple picking event and BBQ at my house here in Bozeman, Montana. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs of Illinois, one of my favorite activities was to go apple picking in the local orchards. So I invited some friends over for my First Annual Apple Pressing Party last Sunday. The idea was to all meet up on bikes and to go ravish the local Bozeman area apple trees then bring our bounty back for cider pressing, micro brews, BBQ and campfire into the evening. The reality was that this year was a lousy fruit year for the apple trees in the area and we ended up buying boxes from the local grocery store. Still, we borrowed a apple press from the good folks at Rocky Creek Farms and pressed about a gallon of delicious cider that everyone got to sample around the warmth of the campfire with nice rum and whiskey and smoked ribs. As part of the celebration, I also set up my photo booth over my cast iron yard tub/stationary hammock and we all went to town making fun, spontaneous photos throughout the evening. It was a great time! Here are some of my favorites from the evening.

Winter quickly approaches here in the Big Sky and I’m already starting to book wedding dates for my 2013 wedding season. If you or someone you know is in the market for a wedding photographer, now is the perfect time to be the early bird and book Greener Visuals Wedding Photography for your wedding day. I’d love to hear from you. Happy Fall everyone!

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Davis California Couple Portrait Session of Ben and Charlotte

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I’ve been meaning to post these pics for a while now. A couple months ago, some friends of mine, Ben and Charlotte, approached me about making some fun portraits of them that they could send to their families both here and overseas in Germany and Belgium. They had never had professional portraits taken together and wanted photos that would accurately show their relationship. I really enjoy going out and making photos of friends. Having watched their relationship blossom over the past couple of years I was excited to try to capture it in a formal portrait setting. We ended up checking out the trail along side Putah Creek on the outskirts of Davis and as a added bonus, they brought their puppy Timo along for some entertainment. I find having dogs on a shoot can either be hit or miss. At times they can be very distracting to the subjects but more often than not they can be a fun addition to bringing out the best in my subjects by helping to make them laugh. Timo behaved perfectly and I think added a nice touch to their portrait session. Another fun afternoon with friends. -M

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