Trystan Photography: An Intimate Portrait.

When I finished Emily and Neil’s engagement portraits, she wrote back with: “I can’t get used to seeing us in photos like these… more intimate photos.”

It’s a common reaction from our clients. Most people are used to very bland, straight on, looking at the camera portraits. When they see themselves in a portrait where: 1) the composition and lighting are flattering, 2) they look comfortable, 3) they have real emotion in the shot… well, it can freak you out a little (in a good way).

Those things are the essence of fine editorial photography/portraiture. I aim to capture who my clients are, in the most flattering and visually engrossing way possible.

My favorite moment from the session was from the beginning when we met at Union Station, I was going to do the signature “dip” in the middle of 17th St. (see Kristin and David’s engagement pics for a sample), when suddenly I noticed another photographer with another couple. She was standing right where I stand and was doing the exact same shot I wanted to do!

Two things happened: 1) I didn’t feel very creative, 2) I was filled with an overwhelming urge to challenge her to a duel. You see, for those of you who don’t know, the Revised Unified Code for Photographers section 16.28 sub-paragraph 6 mandates that any 2 photographers who meet out on location with the intent to capture the same shot must fight each other to the death (just like Highlander) using our longest lenses as bludgeons. Whoever is victorious absorbs the creative essence of the other photographer. I know, I know: it’s a very barbaric practice, but it’s been in use for thousands of years, before there were even cameras or photographers. Our ancestors strictly adhered to the photographer’s code.

Needless to say, I won. Emily and Neil were a bit shaken, but as you can see from their photos, the initial shock wore off and they recovered quickly.

(For legal purposes I must now explain that I did not, in fact, bludgeon another photographer to death with my tele-zoom lens in a barbaric Highlander-esque battle for creative rights to capturing a particular shot. It was simply my attempt a gallows/nerd humor and was clearly hyperbole. In fact, if  you thought I was serious, you are clearly humorless and are no longer allowed to read our blog.)

So, anyway… it was an awesome shoot and we were all over downtown Denver. From Union Station to 14th and Curtis (riding the 16th Street Mall buses is really easy). Emily and Neil were awesome and very adventurous. It was cold, dark and nearly raining, but we made the best of it.

In fact, the photo of them walking in front of the big yellow wall, holding hands, and she’s skipping forward and looking back at him is my favorite engagement portrait I’ve ever taken. Seriously. I love it. Thank you for being so great, you two!

How often can you say you really “cavort”? Do you even know what “cavorting” is? Well, Matt and Sharyn obviously do.

When I go into engagement sessions, the absolute holy grail of photo subjects is a couple that not only really, really loves each other, but are almost giddy with energy and enthusiasm. I don’t always get that from my couples, but Matt and Sharyn were the definition of fun and energy. They cavorted all over the place. And Red Rocks is a heck of a place to do that at!

Matt and Sharyn’s wedding is this Saturday, so I will have some wedding photos to share soon!

This is a convoluted story line so try and stay with me here:

Once upon a time there was a bride named Julia. She was in love with a guy named Matt. Matt proposed and Julia filled her days and nights scouring the internet and wedding magazines for the perfect wedding photographer. Eventually she settled on us (we won!!!), and they went on their merry way…

Not quite. Julia also happened to mention after she booked that she was really into photography, I mean like, really into photography and she was hoping she could start assisting us on weddings.

Well if I had a dollar for everyone that has called to ask us if they could start assisting us at weddings, well… I’d have $30 bucks. (That wasn’t nearly as impressive sounding as I’d have hoped…)

Just because Julia was a client did not mean she didn’t have to prove herself just like everybody else. So we asked for her to put together a little portfolio presentation for us. Now I’m a pretty picky guy, and Charlotte is even worse when it comes to critiquing work ( you should hear her “critique” this blog post). But when we saw Julia’s portfolio, we were struck by something unique in her photography. We’d seen a lot of other portfolios from much more trained photographers who had asked if they could assist, but none of them had that certain “something”. It’s that nameless aspect of a photo that captures your imagination and/ or your heart. It can’t be taught, sometimes it can’t even be replicated, but it’s there nonetheless. And a lot of her work had “that”.

So we emphatically said “yes” and she was assisting us within weeks. She took our oldest camera ( a D70 from 2004) which was the actual camera we used to start Trystan Photography. You see, she hadn’t actually worked on a digital SLR, just an old film camera. But within a few weddings it was obvious she was a natural. Her images were great, and the more she shoots, the more stunning her images are. She is truly passionate about photography, and you can’t teach or buy that in an employee.

So that was last October, and in the meantime it’s become really obvious that we’re getting way too busy and we need some help with everything. S, again we turned to Julia. It turns out that not only is she passionate about photography, but she’s rather anal and detail oriented to boot! So now all of those little details (like putting orders in right, getting paid on time, filing taxes… blah, blah, blah…) are actually going to get done.

So, if you get a phone call from Julia and suddenly you find yourself wondering what the heck happened to Charlotte and Trig, don’t worry: we’re still here! We’re just focusing on photography. Because we’re photographers. It’s great!

So obviously, we took Julia and Matt’s engagement photos a while ago, and I’m only getting around to sharing them now. But what a great way for all of you to meet her!

Matt is probably the chillest man on earth. I mean, he’s marrying Julia: he has to be! (ha, ha, ha Julia! … I have the power of the blog, and you don’t!)

Please follow the link or click the photo (above) to view the sample gallery of SeHee and John’s wedding photography at Washington Park and The Korean Christian Church in Denver.

I love emotional weddings. Underneath my somewhat intimidating 6’4″ bearded viking exterior: I’m a big softy. Very often I’m tearing up right along with the people I’m photographing.

… and that’s the problem.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to focus a camera if you’re crying?!?… or much less even see what’s going on?

SeHee and John’s wedding represented the deepest union to them. John (who is normally a very cool customer) was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude and love from the moment SeHee stepped into view down the aisle. By the way, for those of you who think that seeing each other before the ceremony “ruins” something in the ceremony: SeHee and John had been around each other for about 2 hours before the ceremony even started and it obviously had no effect on the emotional potency of their ceremony.

It was the same with Charlotte and I: We got ready at the hotel together, walked across the street to the church together and separated at the chapel doors. I walked forward and took my position at the altar, and even though it had only been moments since I’d last seen her, the second she appeared at the top of the aisle it was as if I was seeing her for the first time. She was bathed in the light of love, God and hope. When you see your soon-to-be-wife walking down that aisle, there is no preparing for the flood of memories of your past and dreams of your future (together) that will wash over you.

It’s an honor to have to job that we have. It’s not gloating, but an acknowledgment of how awesome it is to have the responsibility of capturing these moments for our clients.

A couple of weeks ago Kim, Julia and I had the opportunity to photograph one of the most amazing moments, a real marriage proposal.  The whole thing was very strategically planned out by Josh, who lives in Georgia, to send his now “fiance” on a little scavenger hunt around Denver. Megan is currently going to school in Denver and had no idea Josh was in town.  The entire deal could not have been more thoughtful and adorable. It was one of the most emotional shoots I’ve ever been a part of (I was literally crying as I was shooting), and we were all very honored to get to capture this moment for them.

The last place Megan was led to was a little park downtown Denver, where her and Josh had one of their first dates together. Josh had made a little circle of sunflowers (her favorite), with the last note in the center, instructing her to call him on his cell.  That’s when he came out from hiding (and us as well) and did his thing.  I put together a little slide show of my favorite images, there are several, but I love how it tells the story.  Congratulations again Megan and Josh, I’m sure you will have a long and happy marriage! Enjoy!