Journals of a wedding photography adventure

[heatherfeather]

Every morning this week my alarm woke me 6:30, and I opened my eyes hoping the weather would cooperate and it was the day. Finally on Thursday, it did and it was. I got out of bed loaded up my gear and dropped my kids at the sitters.

I arrived at the hotel to find typical wedding morning happenings... the bride is running late... The groom, however, was ready. So the two of us wandered around outside the hotel and killed time and made a few photos.

The groom is Thom. He is currently serving our nation as a medic in Iraq. He was in Alaska on leave for only 2 weeks. And as I write this, he is already back in Iraq, carrying on with his work.

In our first few sentances to each other, he said, "I forgot my cover in Iraq, so we'll have to make due without." I told him it was no problem since this wasn't an official military event. (Not that I know that much about the military, but thought it might make him feel better. Bluffing.)

1.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579018676_oRkkZ-M.jpg

The bride arrived at the hotel, and I was given the rings and set free to play outside for what was supposed to be a few minutes and turned out to be most of an hour while she got her gown on. Apparently the brides gown was taken in just a bit too much and the zipper handle broke with their attempt to zip. After a bit of head scratching, the groom used his leatherman to zip it up. Here is what I was up to:

2. http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579020347_oQNCg-M.jpg

3.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579023056_unEsZ-M.jpg

The dress crisis averted, the couple finally hunted me down. We stopped by the lake for just a few minutes and made some pretty photos there.

4.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579028831_hJg93-L.jpg

All too soon we had to rush to the cars to begin our adventure. Thom led the way in his car, and I did my best to keep up. It is tourist season in Alaska and the moterhomes were clogging up the roads. He was passing them with a vengance. He had somewhere he had to be. Me too, but I had the thought of the double ticket fines in the safety highway corridor of the Parks Hwy to slow me down. An hour later, we arrived... and we discovered that the pastor was still en-route. Thom was getting a little nervous.

5.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579044345_wzTms-M.jpg
We took a few photos... and the pastor was still not there.
6.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579043190_pvtQf-M.jpg

When you only have a few days to be with someone, every moment becomes precious. It was a good reminder to me of the value of being together with your loved ones and to make the most of each moment. They had a serene quality about them.
7.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579045748_r9P2P-L.jpg


The bride is Destiny. She is also a member of the army, and is stationed out of Fort Richardson near Anchorage. She serves as an optomotrist for the military families. She has a really soft sweet southern voice and manners to match.

8.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579053631_Z9ArU-M.jpg


The pastor finally arrived and it was time to go. I have to admit I was a little... shall we say... concerned... about our adventure. But relieved all the same. When Destiny first contacted me, there was talk of a helicopter. The cessna seemed much less intimidating than a helicopter.
9.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579055871_kqCNy-M.jpg

10. Our pilot. I think his name was Dan, but to tell the truth I was much to flustered at this point to remember names.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579059135_bwyhn-M.jpg

Loading up a plane like this is a process. First the pilot stowed all my light stands and camera gear in the back. Then he situated the pastor, and then the bride. I rode in the front seat next to the pilot and then finally the groom climbed in to sit next to the bride.

11.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579062167_Cht6Z-M.jpg

12. And then we were up. This is a shot of our shadow over the Talkeetna River as we turned to head towards our destination.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579065502_rrXjL-M.jpg


13.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579067158_gaxDu-M.jpg

I was just a bit worried that the beautiful clouds would block our objective, but enjoyed them anyway. They were the type of clouds that made me expect to see Funshine Bear at any moment. (A Carebear for all those without small children. :D )
14.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579073933_YMcnp-M.jpg


Then we saw what we were coming for... Mt. McKinley. I actually prefer to call it by its Alaska native name, Denali, which means "the great one". Its a fitting name since it is the tallest mountain in North America. And its base is very close to sea level so it really LOOKS big.

15.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579075778_Rjye6-L.jpg

16. My view from the front seat. This photo is my very first attempt at a panoramic stitching... It is 12 photos in all. Photoshop and LR did most of the work.. I just fixed a few mistakes here and there... not perfect but you get the idea.

http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579086096_KPJWy-XL.jpg

17. Destiny and Thom were pretty excited this whole time... It was soo beautiful. I have lived in Alaska for pretty much my whole life, but the beauty of this area just blew me away. Thom told me that he had been to many, many places in his travels with the military, but Alaska and Hawaii have the most beauty. I have never been to Hawaii so I can't vouch for that, but Alaska is very pretty.

http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579080172_3buTB-M.jpg

Down below, we could see the glacier winding through the mountains. The pilot said that the glacier was 3,500 feet thick... and a couple miles wide. The enormousness of everything around us was incredible. These photos can't even come close to the feeling.

18.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579084175_mdHT5-M.jpg

*edited to say the continuation is on page 2*
To be continued...
I am going to have to finish this later... I have come to the end of the uploaded photos. By morning, hopefully the rest will be uploaded and I'll get to the very cool ceremony on the glacier at the base of Mt. McKinley.

[Art Scott]

WOOOW!!!!!:bow:bow:bow:bow:bow:thumb:thumb:thumb:t humb:clap:clap:clap

SO VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!

[jayegirl]

Heather,
It doesn't happen often, but I am speeechless!

[jeffreaux2]

Sheesh Heather........

Your gonna give everyone on the forum gig-envy!:huh


Seriously, the commentary is fun(and totally you) so keep it coming.....and of course the photographs are up to your normal high standards....and the stitching looks good to my eyes.

So.....hurry up! This commercial break (or whatever it is) has me on the edge of my seat!:rofl



Now...back to your regular programming....

[cornerketch]

WOW that is an adventure.. I want to see the rest.. Great shots..

[ChatKat]

Having flown over the glaciers in Alaska, a dream would be to do just what you are doing. WOW - these are awesome! Some portfolio material. Can't wait to see the rest!


(and Hawaii is just as beautiful as they say- but very different from Alaska)

[elizabeth_Luna]

Wow! wow wow love it please show the rest soon!:lust:thumb

[divamum]

:jawdrop

Just breathtaking.

More! More! More! More! More!

And with the commentary... well, combined with the emotion of some of those shots, I'm sitting here all choked up.

[jeffreaux2]

:jawdrop

Just breathtaking.

More! More! More! More! More!

And with the commentary... well, combined with the emotion of some of those shots, I'm sitting here all choked up.


She's doing this on purpose......making us wait!:rofl

[kyeezie]

Keep going please!!

[jbakerphoto]

This is great stuff Heather... Keep it coming.

[Scott_Quier]

Heather - you are so blessed living there. And, I am sooooo jealous - we got nothing like those mountains around here. And snow? What's snow?

Oh, and the photos? :barb :ivar :bow :bow :thumb

We Want More!!

[lisap]

:bow Freakin' incredible!!!! The photos, the story, the scenery...... Can't wait to see the rest!! Hurry up!! ;)

[zoomer]

Hey!!!!!!!!
Can't believe you leave us hangin like that......
Loving this entire series......

Ready for part 2!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mmmatt]

Holy smokes! There is a once in a lifetime event! Great work Heather I can hardly wait for the rest!!!!

Matt

[Qarik]

:lurk

[mtmcelvy]

:clap :clap :bow

Incredible!!!! Talk about location!:D I am with everyone else... MORE PLEASE!!:thumb

[Elaine]

Wowweeeee!!! Heather, this is amazing! What an event and what a fantastic job you are doing with it. Can't wait for more!

[heatherfeather]

All right all ready... :D

Part B...
The pilot pumped with this lever in between us and we felt a huge bump as the skiis dropped into place. The landing was VERY bumpy. Talkeetna Air Taxi is one of the only companies that have permits to land in the park, so it is really neat that we get to do this. There were several other planes already there... but most of them were just leaving. I guess it was a good thing that the pastor was running late. We got the glacier pretty much to ourselves.


B1. (I think this is one of my favorite photos of the event. Love their expressions and the scenery is beeautiful!)
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579106047_8fft2-L.jpg

None of us were really sure what we would encounter on the glacier... So we all came prepared with winter gear. There was about 6 inches of fresh snow from all the bad weather we had earlier in the week. But other than that, it was hot (I got sunburned as always) and VERY bright. The snow was a giant reflector, so I didn't really have to worry about racoon eyes very much. I ended up using my umbrellas on stands as a sort of scrim for shade for the couple.

I picked the spot for the ceremony (How often does the photographer get to do that?) And the groom tamped down a bit of snow for his bride to stand in while they said their vows.

B2.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579125894_gzgu4-L.jpg

We weren't quite the only ones on the glacier. There were around 4 people (couldn't really tell how many from the distance) over to our right, building what looked like a jump on the incline. They all had sleds. When Destiny and Thom kissed after the ceremony we could hear their cheers echo off the mountains. It was really fun. You can just see them behind the pastor in this shot. It is a great way to get a sense of the scale of the area.

B3.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579113210_iKEFd-L.jpg

B4. I keep saying it was so beautiful... but that is because it was. I really do think this is one of my favorite Alaska experiences of all time. And I got paid to do it. Gotta love that.:lust

http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579137609_7GaYc-M.jpg

B5.
A little wide angle fun during the ring exchange. (You can see the other people in the distance just a bit better in this shot. I think they must have been watching the whole time.)
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579144523_U7wLX-M.jpg

B6.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579150623_8Pjvu-M.jpg

B7. And the first kiss... It was convenient how they blocked out the pastor for this shot. :wink
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579154579_5UrCn-M.jpg

B8.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579155913_73YQ6-M.jpg

B9. Not a perfect photo but I love the mood.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579159509_UAbYi-M.jpg

B10. After the ceremony a little snowball fight broke out. She started it. I had thought about PSing in a little more room by him but I decided I liked how he was leaning almost out of the frame.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579163150_zXmW8-M.jpg

B11. Yep thats snow.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579164065_SbqjZ-M.jpg

B12.
She yelled "Its not fair if you catch them and throw them back!"
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579166264_nDBiy-M.jpg

B13. But he just laughed and threw another snowball.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579170513_8mzw3-M.jpg

B14. The snowball fight ended in each others arms.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579173782_uL8Mh-M.jpg

B15. This is a candid. A crazy beautiful candid. Wish I could get candids like this every day- way better than posing.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579175387_R2nTN-M.jpg

B16.
But we did do some posed shots as well.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579190403_vSMEQ-M.jpg

B17. Some of the poses worked out, and some didn't... mostly we were just having fun.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579194088_Hkpdg-M.jpg

B18.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579238621_P539L-M.jpg

B19.
The snow angel...
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579252830_hq7dr-M.jpg

B20.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579253491_LbWZs-M.jpg

B21.
What a backdrop for bridals! It was a difficult balance to find... I wanted to use the gorgeous landscape, but still have the focus of the photos be the bride. So I opened it up a bit and let the background go soft. Not sure if it was the best decision, but I thought about it for a long time before the trip, so at least I can say it was intentional. Again, I couldn't have done without the umbrellas/scrim. I wish I had my huge one along, but it wouldn't fit in the cargo place.

http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579266602_YtQYk-L.jpg

B22.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579270901_oTB2B-M.jpg

B23.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579287144_kcot9-M.jpg

B24.
Blow the snow and what do you get? The seamless look.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579285248_d4zW9-M.jpg

B25.

http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579291589_YkZu6-L.jpg

B26.
I could get a such a natural look of tenderness from this couple... it is so rare.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579294060_7vVBW-M.jpg

B27. And then it was time to go home.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579322175_4oyrw-M.jpg

On the way back to the airport, the groom told us about their adventures during his leave. They apparently had been living the Alaska dream... white water rafting... saw black bears and moose... Glacier and wildlife tours... lots of fun stuff.

From the bit I saw of them, I think these two will be very happy together. When they can eventually live thier lives on the same continent... I think it will be sweet.

B28.
http://ambience.smugmug.com/photos/579336947_uXZYn-L.jpg

And now I pray that God keeps him safe until he comes home to his Destiny.

[divamum]

Just checked this thread between students and gawow... here's part 2.

BREATHTAKING

Omg, snowballs, glorious scenery, gorgeous bride who is one of the glowiest I think I've ever seen in any of y'all's work, processing to die for and... and... and... Ok, I'll stop gushing, but you get my drift.

ALso, does anybody else think the groom looks like Paul Gross?? I feel like he should be wearing a Mounties uniform (hubba hubba) :D:evil Kidding aside, here's to his safe return home. What a beautiful, beautiful wedding and amazing memories of the day from you, Heather :lust

[heatherfeather]

Just checked this thread between students and gawow... here's part 2.

BREATHTAKING

Omg, snowballs, glorious scenery, gorgeous bride who is one of the glowiest I think I've ever seen in any of y'all's work, processing to die for and... and... and... Ok, I'll stop gushing, but you get my drift.


ALso, does anybody else think the groom looks like Paul Gross?? (hubba hubba) :D:evil

Actually I think he looks a whole lot like my DH when he was a bit younger and had hair. (ha ha!) Funny thing is my hubbie agrees with me!

Thanks Diva... it was so awesome! It definately puts the rest of the weddings I shot that week to shame.

[KTLew]

I could sit here and write a book about how lucky you were to have such an opportunity and how amazing the pictures are...and blah blah blah...but I think two words sum it up...SIMPLY WOW!!! :D

[sweet caroline]

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! My heart was racing as I looked at these!

Caroline

[jbakerphoto]

:bow :bow

[mtmcelvy]

:bow Your awesome!:bow

My head would be so big if I could do half as good of work as you:super

[RezaMorri]

Wow, getting married in the snow?? What a unique wedding that must have been.:D

[Scott_Quier]

That is just freaking amazing! :bow :thumb :barb :ivar

Not much more to be said!

[kyeezie]

Wonderful story, amazing pictures. I cried, and I'm at work!! I will be praying for his safe return!:lust

[zoomer]

Best post ever!
Love it.....

[zoomer]

Oh yeah....I wanted to ask, What lens did you shoot that very first picture with.
I love the extra blurry effect in behind him.
I don't get that much blur effect with my regular f2.8 lenses.
Thanks

[heatherfeather]

Oh yeah....I wanted to ask, What lens did you shoot that very first picture with.
I love the extra blurry effect in behind him.
I don't get that much blur effect with my regular f2.8 lenses.
Thanks

It was the 70-200 2.8

I always move quite a ways away... like 30 or so feet and then zoom in to the full 200mm to get the blur. Works well.

[Elaine]

So amazingly beautiful!!! That candid (B15) just choked me up a bit. He looks so masculine and strong and she looks angelic. What a spectacular job you have done for such a special event. I love that her white dress is so distinguished from the snow. Bravo!!!

[mmmatt]

Wow Heather! This is really nice work. My 10 yr old daughter looked over my shoulder from the couch when I was looking at part B and was hanging on my shoulder just ooing and aahing as we went through the set. She wanted me to tell you she thought they were awesome also.

Something tells me you will be booked every weekend you want to be having this added to your already awesome portfolio. Once in a lifetime opportunity and handled wonderfully. you must be on cloud 9.

Matt

[jeffreaux2]

....Stunning work Heather....did I just call this work?:rofl

-One question I have....doesn't everyone in Alaska see bears?

Seriously, beautiful series of photographs. Truely an experience that they wil treasure forever, and one that turns out to be just as special for you. The results here are no less than what I expect to see when opening your threads. Very well executed on all counts....and the sanctuary....yes....a spectacular setting fore sure.

Just beautiful.



For the rest of us....we can all at least say...."we knew you back when...."
:bow


....and I think we can skip the "repeat after me" bit this time...eh?

Thanks for sharing

[wilsonjg]

.....the entire time I'm looking at the ceremony photos, all I can think of is what an amazing job you did with the exposure!! ANYONE that has shot in snow can relate to the issues with over and under exposing then images...

What an amazing gallery!! :clap

[ChatKat]

Wow, Heather - these are great. What a fun couple - you got the whole gamut of emotions and their sense of adventure and playfulness.

Makes me want to visit Denali again.

[divamum]

.....the entire time I'm looking at the ceremony photos, all I can think of is what an amazing job you did with the exposure!! ANYONE that has shot in snow can relate to the issues with over and under exposing then images...

Well, it is Alaska after all - she has more practice with snow than the rest of us :rofl :lol4

(J/K, Heather - I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing about those dead-on exposures, especially the ones with white dress on white snowy background - you KNOW somebody's technique is rock solid when they can do that all the time they're producing spectacularly artistic and emotional results like these!!)

[JulieLawsonPhotography]

Heather this is such a fantastic series. What a teaser though. :clap

[JulieLawsonPhotography]

I just finished reading the rest of your story and seeing your pictures. Heather, your commentary needs to be a part of their wedding book. Don't know if you do that or not, but I think this could be one of the best little "love" stories I've ever read. :D

[South Shore Snapshots]

Heather, your photos speak for themselves. I just wanted to point out how cool the bride's boots are in her your second snow angel pic! Thanks for sharing.

Rob

[elizabeth_Luna]

Heather, What a blessing it was for you to pick that spot! :clap Thank you so much for sharing these pictures with us very awesome work indeed! :thumb:thumb:thumb

[MA-FOTO]

this is so cool!!!! :barb and :bow and:ivar and :thumb !!!!!

thanks for sharing!!!!

what an oportunity and fantastic job!!!

SWEET!!!!!

Later,
_Mark

[Mox]

These are truly delightful. Thank you for sharing the photos and their story!

[MelMcClain]

This shoot was 100% impressive! You've done a fantastic job in both pictures and describing your perspective of this couple! Thanks for sharing with us!

[Scootersbabygirl]

Absolutely amazing! This is so touching in so many ways - thank you so much for sharing it with us!!

I agree - I like candid shots generally better than posed as well.

[Shima]

Such an AMAZING place you got the joy to photograph, and very cool that they let you choose the ceremony location! This is probably one of the coolest locations I've seen a wedding at yet! Awesome! Love these :)

[Llywellyn]

Wow, Heather...what a spectacular event, and you've done a wonderful, gorgeous, stupendous job capturing it and relating the story. Fabulous, amazing, (I need another adjective!) photos. :bow

B20 especially brings a smile to my face. :thumb

[heatherfeather]

Wow- Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments. I am super excited and I love these photos too!
-To Jeff- I have only seen a grand total of 5 bears in the wild in my life. Two were last summer when I was camping. The bears live at the campground, and were quite accustomed to seeing people. They just sat on the hillside and ate vegitation all day. We kept a close eye on our kids and dogs while there... :D

http://www.ambiencephotographyalaska.com/photos/316429953_HiNA3-M.jpg

I certainly would love to do the scenic fly-in tour again. I am going to definately see if I can talk my DH into going with me perhaps next summer. Life is too short to not do something so amazing more than once, especially since it is nearby! Though, I have to admit I love the boat tour with the whales and glaciers almost as much....

[richtersl]

Heather, your photos speak for themselves. I just wanted to point out how cool the bride's boots are in her your second snow angel pic! Thanks for sharing.

Rob

Noticed those boots too. VERY cool! :thumb

Thanks so much for sharing these shots, Heather. They were fabulous!!!! :clap

[eoren1]

Really, really incredible job here! Love B15 and B21 and the snow angel ones...
E

[jeffreaux2]

Wow- Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments. I am super excited and I love these photos too!
-To Jeff- I have only seen a grand total of 5 bears in the wild in my life. Two were last summer when I was camping. The bears live at the campground, and were quite accustomed to seeing people. They just sat on the hillside and ate vegitation all day. We kept a close eye on our kids and dogs while there... :D

http://www.ambiencephotographyalaska.com/photos/316429953_HiNA3-M.jpg

I certainly would love to do the scenic fly-in tour again. I am going to definately see if I can talk my DH into going with me perhaps next summer. Life is too short to not do something so amazing more than once, especially since it is nearby! Though, I have to admit I love the boat tour with the whales and glaciers almost as much....

I was teasing about the bears....but you know that...


I have had Alaska on my "to-do" list every since I read Michener's "Alaska". Some day....some way....

You are blessed to live in such close proximity to these most beautiful parts of our planet. Truely.

-and you do it justice.:D

[Prezwoodz]

Wow heatherfeather, those shots are just awesome. And you got to do them in the gorge thats even better!

[Scott_Quier]

I was teasing about the bears....but you know that...


I have had Alaska on my "to-do" list every since I read Michener's "Alaska". Some day....some way....

You are blessed to live in such close proximity to these most beautiful parts of our planet. Truely.

-and you do it justice.:D
I can not encourage you strongly enough. It is so beautiful there. And it's not that expensive. No more so than flying anywhere else and cheaper than some places in the CONUS I can think of. And, it's well worth the $$.

[The Curious Camel]

Wow, what exceptional images and an amazing adventure.

I'm glad I stopped to look.

You captured it wonderfully.


g

[Wil Davis]

I love the OP's pictures; that's such a neat idea for location, and it must have been such a blast to do that gig, but I wonder how far did you have to fly to get in, and what precautions did you take (in the event of forced landing or whatever) ?

I thought the boots to be neat, but did you have any survival gear on board? (just a thought…).

Back to the photos: You seem to have dealt pretty well with the overall blue light, although some of the later ones (in your sequence) had a different cast on them; I wonder if that was intentional, or time of day? Which brings me to some more questions: how long did you spend on the ground? What was the temperature? What was your altitude (when you were on the ground)? Also, on looking at the pictures again, I felt there was a slight amount of vignetting especially in some of the earlier pics… was that on purpose, part of the processing, or what?

Great pictures! Totally jealous! Thanks for sharing! :thumb

- Wil

[heatherfeather]

I love the OP's pictures; that's such a neat idea for location, and it must have been such a blast to do that gig, but I wonder how far did you have to fly to get in, and what precautions did you take (in the event of forced landing or whatever) ?

I thought the boots to be neat, but did you have any survival gear on board? (just a thought…).

Back to the photos: You seem to have dealt pretty well with the overall blue light, although some of the later ones (in your sequence) had a different cast on them; I wonder if that was intentional, or time of day? Which brings me to some more questions: how long did you spend on the ground? What was the temperature? What was your altitude (when you were on the ground)? Also, on looking at the pictures again, I felt there was a slight amount of vignetting especially in some of the earlier pics… was that on purpose, part of the processing, or what?

Great pictures! Totally jealous! Thanks for sharing! :thumb

- Wil

Good questions, all.
We flew the scenic route in, and the quick route out. The scenic route was around 1 1/2 hours... and the quick route about 45 minutes. I believe all the airplanes are equiped with safety equipment... and it isn't very far to the nearest town, and in fact we flew over it on our way back. If you are wanting to know a bit more about our route...
I attached a map from their website. I believe we did the grand Denali with a little spin into the gorge on the right. That is aproximately where I think we landed. I don't have a clue of the altitude, but we weren't that high up, since my ears did the whole popping torture on the way to land.

As to the photos...
It was difficult when I was processing... her dress was a totally different color of white than the snow. It had a lot more blue in it. Although it might just have been shiny or reflective of the blue in the sky.
The reason why the colors might have looked different toward the end of the shoot is because we turned a completely different direction, and I made sure to keep them in the shade for the most part. I have noticed that the sky appears bluer depending on where the sun is in it. But it might just be me.

Confession: I am a vignette junky. I just can't hardly get enough it. Added later intentionally and hopefully judiciously. :D

[ian408]

I like these for the same reasons I like The Proposal in the Park.

These are great. Lots of goodness comes across in these shots. And I too will hope the goodness carries through until the groom gets home.

You did very well.

[WingsOfLovePhoto]

WOWeee Amazing everything!!! I am insanely jealous of Heather! :lust I want to have the opportunity to take pictures like that (but only once cause I hate the snow!) and have technical expertise and get the exposures right and be able to talk about it here and have people say nice things! Can you feel my tantrum? stomping feet and pouting? :smo Can you come to NY and give me a lesson or something? :dunno Pretty please? :D Seriously though....some of the most amazing stuff I have ever seen in wedding photography..... that stuff should be published!

[slpollett]

I don't think I can add a thing that hasn't been said already, but I absolutely love this whole series. They are simply beautiful, gorgeous, inspiring, and just WOW! Congratulations to you and also to the lucky couple.

Sherry

[CaroleHayes]

I don't think I can add a thing that hasn't been said already, but I absolutely love this whole series. They are simply beautiful, gorgeous, inspiring, and just WOW! Congratulations to you and also to the lucky couple.

Sherry

What she said.... :lust

[heatherfeather]

Thank you to everyone. I am simply overwhelmed by your responses!
I really enjoyed everything about that wedding... let alone the experience! I am glad everyone is vicariously enjoying the day.:lust It was so beautiful.

[While I'm Waiting]

Wow, totally stunning pics with an amazing story to go with it! I, too, got married on top of a mountain with a bit of snow. Okay, maybe not quite as dramatic...we drove to the base and took a gondola ride to the top! There was a helicopter that landed semi-close so we had to halt the ceremony for a few minutes and also people that we didn't know would come right up to us and take photos but it was still a beautiful ceremony! This was on top of Whistler Mountain, nowhere near the remote beauty of your mountain top! Whistler...beautiful-yes, remote and private-no! Great shots!

[Mishka]

I've been out of town and just saw these--incredible! I can't really add to the praise, but truly breathtaking, as I'm sure the whole adventure was to photograph. Well done!

[zoeblue]

Wow! Simply amazing. Thanks for sharing :clap !

[Ed911]

Very nice. It's easy to tell that you've had practice shooting in the snow. Your light is very well controlled. Great set.

The backdrops just don't get any better...

Thanks for sharing.

[ssimmonsphoto]

The only thing that I can say is:

I would pay YOU to be able to be your assistant. OMG. You are amazing!:bow

[Jeff_Milo]

Don't know how I missed this post before (to much wine in Napa) These photos and the entire story are AMAZING Heather. I agree with someone earlier who said this is one of the best posts ever!! A once in a lifetime opportunity you simply nailed perfectly. VERY WELL DONE!!! :bow :bow :clap :clap

[coldclimb]

Truly incredible, of course! :D Me and my wife agree that there's pretty much no better place for a wedding than the Ruth Gorge (That is where these are taken, right?). Drop me a line next time you need a second shooter Heather! :D:rofl

[heatherfeather]

Again, thank you to everyone. I really appreciate the super nice comments. :lust

[NorthernHorse]

Wow Heather I'm completely amazed...even living here I'm blown away. I think this is one of the best pictures I've seen of a wedding in the snow. Did you have her stand under the plane wing for some of the pictures in the shadows?
If you ever offer a workshop, I'll gladly drive down for the experience. You definitely have one of the best "eyes" I've ever seen in a wedding photog.

[heatherfeather]

Destiny just called to order the disc of her photos... and I got an update. Thom is still in Iraq, but will be stateside at the end of summer. aaand the two of them finally got their paperwork approved to be stationed at the same base. I am so glad that they will be together! :clap Thought you guys would be too.

[BroPhoto]

Wow Heather! This is almost a perfect ending to a perfect story and photo shoot! I say almost because he isn't back in her arms yet. I hope you will have a fitting ending to this story by shooting and posting the reunion of this beautiful couple. If you do, please tell both of them my hat is off to them for what they do for our country! I know the sacrifices they have to make, because I spent 3 years in the National Guards, and 3 years in the Army Reserves!

GaryB

[Andy]

:jawdrop

[nightspidy]

I am lost for words :dunno Honestly, gorgeous pictures, there were so many of them that I liked and I am sure the bridge & groom will love them too! :lust Thank you for sharing :D

[emeraldrose]

wow so inspirational.