Trystan Photography: An Intimate Portrait.

Please click the photo or follow the link to view Jessica and Lee’s stunning wedding samples at Shove Chapel and Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

It’s dark. It’s very Gothic in it’s architecture. It’s one of the most feared places to shoot in Colorado Springs. Why? I have no idea.

All I know, is whenever I have a meeting about a wedding at Shove Chapel, the number one thing I hear is, “Other photographers say it’s really hard to shoot in there… and they’re photos look really dark. Why do yours look so bright?” Well, the short answer is we know how to push our cameras and capture the shot. The longer answer is: 1) we always make sure the altar lights are at full (they normally keep them at 1/2 power), 2) we have very steady hands so we’re not afraid to push the shutter way past the normal “lower threshold” (why hand-held? Because that place is HUGE and we are running all over to get the shot), and 3) we always shoot with our array of wireless remote Nikon speed-lights.

The most important factor of all  is the remote speed-lights. We’ve been shooting with remote lighting for 6 years now, and I would say they are the most important equipment I use. Having flexible, fast remote lighting allows us to shoot in otherwise impossible scenarios. Obviously, when it’s dark it allows us to create shots where there are none, but even when it’s light enough, they allow us to form the light, and add a sense of drama to an already attractive scene. I use remote lighting on 80% of my shots, and I personally think that I’ve gotten to the point where the extra lighting is very subtle on most of them. The lighting either mimics what’s already there, or at most seems like a complimentary element of the scene.

We love Shove Chapel, I can’t think of a cooler place to capture a ceremony. It has a sense of drama, and gives every wedding an epic scale, which I think lend themselves perfectly for the purposes of wedding photography. We use a 3 flash system, 2 on each side, either above in the side-balconies when we have assistants, or on the ground floor on 15′ light stands when I have to adjust them myself, and one master flash on the camera. I like to shoot across the aisle from the right side (facing the altar) during the processional. As soon as the bride walks up the altar stairs I flip the lights around towards the altar and use very subtle lighting to add detail to the subjects which are lit mostly from the stage lights. Those little Nikon Speed-lights are incredibly powerful for their size, and the fact I can whip them around ultra-fast and tuck them back into little hiding places to add stunning splashes of light is the winning aspect over more powerful strobes.

And then there was Lee and Jessica’s wedding. Not only are they a stunning couple, but Jess (and Lee) did an amazing job planning every detail of this wedding. Her dress was stunning, her flowers were elegant, the reception decor was impeccable, and the food? They didn’t choose. They simply had Cheyenne Mountain set up multiple stations with an amazing array of everything. Want pasta cooked with custom ingredients as you wait? Check. Oh, but you also need some prime rib? Why not? And a seafood & salad station? Sure. And they best part? They let us eat! THEY LET US EAT ANY OF IT! And boy, did I…

I know, you’re confused. But it’s a little known, and very dark fact that not every couple let’s us eat or offers us food. But it’s okay, we’ve only been running around on our feet for 8 hours… we’re fine. Don’t worry about us. My face is always this ashen and drawn…

But I digress (as usual). In closing, if you’re thinking about a wedding at Shove, but you’re worried about the different horror stories you’re hearing around town about how dark it is, book it with confidence. It is an amazing place for a wedding, and it really is worth the extra hard work to pull of the photography. But I’ll shut up about it now: the photos speak for themselves.

Click the photo or follow the link to view Anne and Tim’s Irish/Scottish Wedding at the Lower Lake Ranch near Conifer, CO.

I’ve been around enough people from Iowa that I’m convinced there isn’t much to do in Iowa except pick corn, go to Phish and Widespread Panic concerts… and PARTY. Iowans are officially the rowdiest people, given to lots of dancing, and can consume cocktails and beer like it’s the top of the nutritional food pyramid. And I don’t say this lightly and without evidence: my wife, in-laws, most of my family, and even myself (5 years as a kid) are from Iowa.

All of this consequently means that Iowans are the best people to know if you like to have fun. Anne and Tim’s wedding was a case study in this fact.

To start with, men in kilts and bow ties may seem to indicate a sense of formality, but if you really stop to think about it, it’s the exact opposite. I have never met a man capable of wearing that venerable warrior’s man-skirt who didn’t do so with a twinkle in his eye and frequent (and gratuitous) displays of what is (or isn’t), in fact, covered underneath. I’m not Scottish or Irish, but I have worn a kilt, and I do have to admit that I too felt the overpowering urge to flash and moon everyone I met that day. *shrug* It’s a guy thing.

Secondly, Anne and Tim held a very moving and very traditional Gaelic/Scottish ceremony, in which there was a classic moment where the couple shared a shot of whiskey with the first person they met, who for the ceremony’s purposes was their officiant (and Tim’s best friend). He quaffed that shot like a champion, which was probably for the best becuase he’d announced to the guests earlier that he was very nervous. Ahhh, whiskey! Liquid courage.

Third of all (thirdly?), Anne is a fountain of laughter and joyous energy. She literally bounds at times, and her energy infected the day with constant laughter and fun. She didn’t stop dancing all night long, and becuase of that, neither did her guests. They had an eclectic mix of danceable party music, from hip-hop to jam band and a lot of hard Scottish and Irish traditional/rock. It was a treat to photograph, and the best part was I can shoot some video now on the Nikon D300s and I was playing around with it, shooting a little video in between photos.

This is what I got, put to “Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys, edited by me on my home computer. It’s pretty obvious that I should stick to my day-job (photography), and leave the videography to the professionals… but I still think it’s pretty cool!

http://www.vimeo.com/8980619

I got an email yesterday from a past client who is chair of an auction committee for an annual fundraiser event for www.MyLifeline.org.  MyLifeline is an INCREDIBLE nonprofit organization based in Denver that provides free personal websites for cancer patients. Using their website, patients can easily update friends and family on the progress of their treatment, allowing them to focus on healing and recovery. It truly makes a difference!  They will be holding a Kentucky Derby themed party this year at Invesco Field as a fundraiser.

Tryg and I have decided to do donate to the silent auction and hopefully we can attend the event as well.  MyLifeline.org looks like an incredible foundation and I’m hoping to get involved with this more.  If you are interested in making a donation or becoming a company sponsor please contact:

Kristen Kirsh

@ Alisa Benay Bridal Couture

Cell: 303.646.7055

www.alisabenay.com

www.alisabenay.com/blog

Kristen represents a bridal line “Alisa Benay Bridal Couture.”  which are incredible vintage inspired wedding gowns, and the designer is local. You should check out her website if you get a minute. These dresses make me want to plan a 2nd wedding (to Tryg again, of course)!

For those of you who are already a fan of our fan page on Facebook, you’ve probably already seen the updates about this…

For those of you that are not a fan already: 1st of all, “Shame, shame…”, 2nd of all you need to get over to the fan page (http://www.facebook.com/trystanphotography), become a fan, and check out the note we wrote about the new “Facebook Fan Foto Contest”.

Fabulous prizes, fame, and unending amounts of envy from others await you and your favorite wedding photo!

Loyal readers and the women of Colorado: Trystan Photography is delighted to announce after months of hard work and design, our co-founder Charlotte Bundgaard has launched her own boutique boudoir photography brand, “L Boudoir“.

L Boudoir is now the premier boudoir studio in Denver and Colorado Springs. Charlotte’s art has achieved new heights of unmatched skill, and we’re so excited to showcase it within such a sexy new brand like “L Boudoir”.

So please stop by the new blog-site! Ladies: make sure to share it with your friends, and make sure to grab the L Boudoir RSS feed so you can stay up-to-date on all of Charlotte’s latest announcements!

Got a Facebook account? Become a fan of L Boudoir’s Facebook Page here.

Don’t miss out on our annual wedding special!

If you book your wedding with us before 1/31/2010 and include a Graphistudio wedding album, and get two 6″ parent’s album copies FREE!

It’s a great savings and a wonderful gift for your parents. Schedule your consultation today!

In Denver call 303.872.4678, and in the Springs call 719.359.5520 or e-mail us at info@trystanphotography.com.

Check out our sample Graphistudio album layouts