We are both pleased and honored to be able to share this wonderful spread from the July 2011 Issue of Brides Magazine. With the 2011 wedding season winding down and before the 2012 season begins winding up, we will be sharing more of our recent magazine features.  We hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I did shooting them! If you would like to see more of their photographs take a peak at their online gallery:  http://www.nashanclients.com/RedCart/index.php?gnum=346#3d62b5

So, over the years I have learned what I do best.  Professionally it is taking photographs.  It is what I love in so many ways.  I find it natural to find beautiful perspectives everywhere I am.  Deciding upon the view, lens and choice of settings on my camera are intuitive to me.  Composing the image comes to me most of the time without thought.  That is when I am happiest at work.  Creating images that I would treasure if they were of my family gratifies me, when it is valuable to others it makes me even happier.

Over the years I have learned what I can’t do no matter how hard I try.  One of them is following through with my blog plans.  I have tried to write a plan in my notebook, or on my computer.  Somehow or another I forget about my plans, forget where I have stored them, and then decide to post something that inspires me at the moment.  So instead I continually approach blogging and posting on FB in a more hodgepodge fashion.  Now, for the first time as I write this I see something that I have never seen before.  When I photograph weddings I don’t go to the wedding with a concrete plan, instead I let the emotions of the day and my instincts guide me as to what to do.  I know this may sound haphazard but I do draw on over 20 years of experience and typically can see or feel what is going to happen next.  (On more elaborate weddings I am aware of the plan that the event coordinator has created, and stick to the plan and timeline.)  So, I just realized that I approach blogging and posting in the same manner.  I don’t function too well when I have to follow a rigid plan or structure.  So instead of writing down plans from now on I am going to just write about what moves me.  Isn’t that what photography and life is about anyway?

Cassie, Chris and I met at a little bistro in Bozeman for their engagement photographs.  As we chatted about their wedding plans I started looking at them through their wine glasses and loved the voyeur like quality of this photograph.  It is such an intimate moment that the glasses in the foreground allow them the privacy to be so intimate with each other.  When I work with a couple on their engagement photographs I love when these moments pop up in front of me.  These images speak so much about their relationship rather than an explicit depiction of what they look like.  Capturing relationships is what keeps photography interesting to me……

One of the things about my job that I love is that many of my clients and I become friends.  I love the process of meeting people, creating documents of important parts of their lives and building a relationship based on trust and vulnerability.  After all, when a person creates a visual document of who you are you have to trust their aesthetic judgement to create a rendition of you that is flattering; one that you would like to share with your family and one that might be in your family for generations to come.

Christi McDermott came to my office with her mother to talk with me about being her wedding photographer.  She heard of me through Priscilla Foster, of Priscilla Foster Books, and I am eternally grateful for Priscilla’s recommendation.  I loved Christi from the moment we started talking, she has more energy than anyone I have ever met and is eternally cheerful.  Over the last several years I have photographed Christi and Drew on three occasions and want to share snippets of my interactions with them with you.

By the way Christi is a great accountant.  I remember asking her what she did in my office and when she said she was an accountant I am sure I had disbelief written all over my face.  Every accountant I had ever met before was a little bit more subdued than she is.  At that particular time I remember I asked my accountant if there was a how to for accounting that was a picture book and instead of laughing he looked straight at me and said unequivocally ‘no’.  I knew when I met Christi things would change and she has been my accountant ever since then.  Now tax time is as pleasant as I think it can be.

I met Christi and Drew for their engagement photo session in Bozeman.  At first I thought engagement sessions were a waste of my time, honestly I did.  Now I think they are a valuable part of building a relationship between the three of us, and I love doing them.  It gives us some uninterrupted time to get to know each other without the distractions that will surround us on their wedding day.  I love this photo for a variety of reasons.  When I photograph people I try and make them have interactions with each other.  Creating an unexpected situation between two people will often show you their personalities and details of their relationship that are very private.  Those are the moments I love to capture.  I love the complete and utter joy that Christi has on her face.  Luckily for all of us who know her these moments are common and capturing them are easy.  Unfortunately you can’t see Drew’s piercing blue eyes in this photo.

If you are from the Bozeman area and haven’t eaten at the Stockyard Cafe.  You need to do yourself a favor, find it and have breakfast there.  It is an experience in itself.  Since I didn’t want to neglect Drew and his warm personality I included this photograph because it shows you the tenderness and self assuredness that Drew posses.  I love the firm grip he has on Christi’s back and the sweet and utter joy expressed  in his face.

I find myself looking through my archives of photographs very often for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes it is for a submission for magazines, old clients want a photo, vendors need some prints or I want to blog about something.  I hadn’t stumbled upon this image in forever although I have it hanging in my office.  It was from when I shot film exclusively and I shot it with a Russian panoramic camera I purchased on ebay when ebay was something new.  I love the photo for so many reasons.  I have a need to photograph my clients in their environment in a beautiful way.  This couple was walking away together after their ceremony and wanted to have a few minutes by themselves, no friends, family or photographer.  As they walked away I couldn’t help myself and captured this image that still resonates with me even though I shot it over a decade ago.  I love the vastness of the landscape…

I had the pleasure of finishing out 2011 photographing my nephew’s wedding in Tampa, Florida,  The last family wedding that I had photographed was my sister’s and that was over 20 years ago.  I remember my nephew as a baby, sleeping in my bed, learning how to play catch with my husband, going to the beach and his occasional visits out to Montana.  Several years ago he met Brittany, his new wife, and I remember all of us being so happy that he found someone so similar to himself.  When someone in your family is with someone you hope the person makes them an ever better person, that they appreciate their personalities, and that together they are happy and in love.  That is the case with my nephew and his new wife.  I watch a lot of weddings every year and I am so happy to have been a part of my nephew’s and to have created images that I think they will be able to look back and remember the emotions of their wedding day.

Late this summer Melanie shot the wedding of Julie Huntsberry and Ted O’Neal.  This elegant yet rustic wedding was at Hubbard’s Lodge and right before the ceremony started the clouds whipped up a “Montana Big Sky” moment that created an amazing backdrop for some of the photographs.  Julie was a great sport and kicked off her shoes so that we could capture a truly artistic event.   Here are some of the photo’s from that evening as well as Julie’s thoughts.  Enjoy!

The storm and the bride

Location: Hubbard’s Yellow Stone Lodge

Theme/Style: I wanted to balance a classic elegance with the rustic outdoors of Montana.

Bride’s Dress: Priscilla of Boston. Veil: David’s Bridal.

Bride¹s Shoes: Vince Camuto

Hair & Makeup: Theory Salon, Bozeman. All makeup Laura Mercier. Hair products: Oribe

Guitarist: Craig Hall, Bozeman. Jazz and classical guitar.

Flowers: Floral Boutique, Livingston (Carol Buckner)

Cake: Bittersweet, Livingston.

Invitations & Collateral:
Custom Matchbooks: “For Your Party” http://www.foryourparty.com

Table Decor (table cloths, burlap runner, place cards): Ordered custom from Etsy

Mercury glass votive holders: West Elm.

Napkins: blue linen with ivory scalloped edge, William & Sanoma

Table bird nests: Michaels (made by bride)

Bird nest ring bearer: Etsy

Food & Drink: Hubbard’s Lodge, chef Dave Blackburn.

Wedding Planner: bride with help of Nancy Schaefer-Hubbard of Hubbard’s Lodge.

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Hubbard’s Lodge

The Photographer: Melanie Nashan

What was your favorite photo? Hard to choose just 1. The series of Sean walking across the chairs is priceless.

Can you tell us your favorite thing about your wedding?
We had a friend marry us and kept the guest list small and intimate. We invited only our family and 2 friends and stretched it out over 5 days. It was so special to have so much time with each other and by the time we left, it truly felt that Ted and I had brought our two families together and made them one large family. We’re excited to get everyone together for the holidays!

What would you do differently if you had the chance to do it all again?
There was a rain storm that delayed the start of our wedding by an hour, which in turn, pushed dinner out. I would have requested that the cocktail hour be moved to before the wedding, so people weren’t restless and hungry.

Mike and Angie were married late this summer in an intimate wedding at Big Sky Chapel at Spanish Peaks.  It is always so wonderful to be able to shoot a small wedding.  It allows us the opportunity to capture everyone in attendance at the special event.  We see a lot of these types of weddings and love the true intimacy of it.  Here is a sampling of some of the photographs from that day.  To see more of Mike an Angie’s online album, click here. Congratulations again!

Angie and Mike and the Spanish Peaks

The Group Shot

An intimate moment

The new bride

A sweet peek...

The church setting

The Dad

The flowers

The beginning...

The sunset kiss

Mike and Angie

We are running a mini-portrait special & I photographed the first one yesterday.  Here are a couple of my favorite photographs; a more traditional  family portrait, one of Jeremy throwing Waylin so high in the air that it made me incredibly nervous and happy to photograph, a sweet moment of Angela and Waylin dancing in the field and snow, and of Waylin and baby Thea snuggling on the bales of hay.  I love the shape of his eyelash line as he looks down at her.  Only in Montana would a young family with a three year old and three month old be willing to brave the freezing temperatures and snow for photos without heavy coats or complaint!

If you are interested in having a mini-family portrait session call the office and set one up soon as the appointments have to be made by tomorrow.  222-2881

On the dock...

Our Keegan got to shoot this beautiful late summer wedding for Jaci and Scott in September.  Wildflower Gardens is one of the prettiest places in SW Montana for an outdoor wedding.  We are looking forward to shooting the groom’s sister next year as well!  Jaci was sweet enough to share her thoughts and suggestions from the wedding below. Congratulations to Jaci and Scott, again.  Enjoy!

The Beginning

The Bride and Groom

The Bouquet

The Ladies

A perfect way to keep cool

The cutest little guest

The Cake

The Setting

The kiss

The Dance

Jaci and Scott’s details…

 

Location: Wildflower Gardens, Red Lodge, MT

Theme/Style: Black, white, and lime green

Bride’s Dress and Shoes:  David’s Bridal

Flowers: Ilsa Kovach

Cake: Amy DeTienne

Food: Moonlight Catering

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Red Lodge Pizza Company

The Photographer:  Keegan Nashan

What was your favorite photo?  The photo with the close-up waterfall and us facing each other in the background is amazing.  We also loved the wedding party photo of us all standing side by side in front of the waterfall…and the pictures of us both on the dock!  It’s hard to pick just one!

Can you tell us your favorite thing about your wedding?  Marrying eachother in the presence of our friends and family in an absolutely picture perfect setting…and the nacho bar!

What would you do differently if you had the chance to do it all again?  We wouldn’t change a thing, the day was perfect!

April, before she became Mrs. Douglas

April and James

The bride and the pond

The silly side of the couple

The location... perfect.

The Rings

How was she supposed to choose? So many good friends!

Pretty sure this type of problem ONLY happens in a Montana Wedding!

A new trend? The Flip Side Photobooth

Location: Wildflower Gardens Red Lodge, MT

Theme/Style: Romantic & Beautiful!

Bride’s Dress: David’s Bridal

Bride’s Shoes: Nina Hilaria China Blue Satin Flip Flops

Hair & Makeup: Forever Young- Hair
Morgan Stenger (bridesmaid and very close friend)- Makeup

Wedding Party Details: Boy, was it a brawl to have my eight bridesmaids, but I’m still young! There are so many girls that I truly rely on and love so why not? His side was made up of family and friends, while the rest of our party consisted of family and those that might as well be.

Flowers: Hot Pink Spray Roses, Sunflowers, Tweedia, and Pink Lilies
Gainans Flower Shop Billings, MT

Cake: Dancing Ovens– Ruth

Invitations & Collateral: April Douglas (Me)

Food & Drink: Carbon County Catering

Wedding Planner: I did the majority of the planning and detail with excellent suggestions and wonderful assistance from the staff at Wildflower Gardens

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Carbon County Steak House

The Photographer: Melanie Nashan

What was your favorite photo?
To be quite honest, all of them! It has been a battle between which captured moments will be featured on the walls of our new home; thus far, the beautiful photographs cover our living room and dining room. I cannot get over how well each special moment, from the detail of the decor to the special looks between my husband and I, were all captured on film!

Can you tell us your favorite thing about your wedding?
Marrying the love of my life. And… the everlasting beauty that our wedding photos captured.

What would you do differently if you had the chance to do it all again?
I would focus in on the most important thing– James. I would let the small things go such as the silly family squabbles or the timing of the bouquet toss . When marrying the love of your life and best friend, all the stresses are just minor details compared to the big picture.

It is official, on the morning of Tuesday, February 21 I will be teaching a Master Class called “Weddings From Start to Finish” which will cover everything you need to know to shoot a wedding!   I will discuss the main points of how to approach a wedding from a creative perspective, and how to create extraordinary images no matter what your subject matter is.  The class will include ideas on how to present your work to your clients, what to talk about when discussing their wedding, and how to photograph each aspect of a wedding in a very candid and artistic manner.  If you are a beginning photographer or experienced one, this class will bring inspiration to your shooting practice.  Please feel free to email me if you are interested in the class.  The class size is limited so enroll soon.   Visit WPPI at:  http://www.wppionline.com/show/classes.shtml