It’s always so special to be able to make photos for seniors in a place that holds special significance to them. And Allie’s Seeley Lake senior photos were a perfect example of this! Her mom grew up in the Bitterroot valley, and Allie’s grandparents live in Seeley Lake. She’s been visiting them every summer since 6th grade. (Allie currently lives in Georgia, and Georgia just doesn’t have what we have here in Montana. Plus, apparently a LOT more snakes. )

Allie just loves the mountains and the lakes, and the wide expanses that Montana has to offer, so we made sure to showcase that in her senior photos. We initially had to postpone her session a couple days since this spring was a rainy one, and it had decided to just pour on our original session date. Thankfully, we found a little window of time where the weather was dry and we could have a blast making images together!

Allie is a self-professed nerd (as am I), so we had a great time nerding out together. (Marching band and Star Wars, oh yes!) Speaking of marching band, Allie channeled her marching band walk for some of her images (she nailed it!), but just without the saxophone, and in slightly taller boots.

The wildflowers were still in bloom for her session, and we found all sorts of beautiful specimens to include in some of her images — larkspur, arrow leaf balsam root, and I think wild geranium? But don’t quote me on that. Montana was definitely in full-on Montana mode during Allie’s session, and also treated us to melodic meadowlarks, and majestic eagles and ospreys flying overhead.

Allie also wore THE most excellent top for some of her images (Darth Vader on a bicycle, yo!), and after completely slaying one of her photos, she pumped her fist in the air with excitement. I joked with her that I should add a light saber into that image…wellll…..I’ll let you scroll down a bit to see if I did or not.

Allie! Thank you again for an absolutely awesome session! I loved getting to meet you (and your mom and Papa), and make these images for you. What an absolute treat! Here’s to you, your senior year, and your future ahead!

On the docket:

Portraits galore! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I had the pleasure of photographing Margaret and Grant’s wedding last summer, so I knew we’d have a blast again this spring making their Seeley Lake Montana family portraits, this time with their puppy, Teddy the St. Bernard in tow! (Though he’s already a very big boy!)

I met up with them at their family cabin on a (chilly!) spring day in June, and, as it happens in Montana, we got a little bit of everything as far as weather goes – but the best thing is that Margaret, Grant and Teddy were totally open to making it work and going with the flow.

We began our session in the woods outside their cabin, and were serenaded by some chatty Sandhill Cranes as Margaret and Grant strolled along the pathways around the property. As we headed to a spot where massive numbers of lupine were in bloom (and I mean massive – it was a sea of purple!), the sky became a little darker, the wind picked up, and just as they stepped out into the field, Mother Nature unleashed a sky-full of graupel on us.

But instead of being forlorn at the change in the weather, we all just laughed our heads off and went with it – which is always the best way to be, in my opinion. And what fun images we made because of that! Margaret’s hair and dress were catching the wind with great, dramatic flair, Grant was laughing at his hands full of graupel, and my hair was totally covered in it. Hilarious!

As is the saying in Montana: “Don’t like the weather? Wait five minutes.” And sure enough, as we chased the nearest opening in the clouds we were treated to faint rainbows and beautiful light peeking through the gray.

Soon the sun began to sink and turn the sky a pinky-purple, so we decided to make some portraits of Teddy on his own. And oh my gosh – I laughed so. dang. HARD. Turns out Teddy loves a little keep-away game with the camera and he made a series of THE most hilarious faces as he ran circles around me. What a hoot! It’s moments like these that I absolutely love, and I swear, all our faces were a little sore after that episode because we had all been smiling and laughing so hard.

Margaret, Grant and Teddy! What an evening! Thank you so much (as always) for being so completely wonderful to work with – and ohmygosh, Teddy – what a little (wait a second – big!) sweetheart! I’m so happy we got to make these images for you all, and thank you again for the Coldsmoke surprise (so thoughtful of you!). Always love me some good Kettlehouse beer. :) Cheers to you all!

On the docket:

Weddings and elopements and portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine