The Charming Gardeners-- with gratitude!

Our neighbors and my husband and myself have a community garden that we planted together this late May. It was a true labor of love, because the garden had not been "gardened" in a couple of years so it was full of weeds, dandylions, and prickley things. We spent 2 weekends pulling, digging, conditioning, and re-vamping this beautiful spot to have a lovely garden this year. I must say that things are much more fun with friends!! and it's almost a month later..and we have some serious progress going on!! I am very excited to have our own veggies this summer!!! I cannot wait to go and pick my choice of fresh salad lettices, carrots, onions and radishes for a most delicious salad--that we grew and cared for!! Talk about a labor of love!

So I started thinking of how grateful I am for the people in my life, my family and friends that surround me and my wonderful clients for whom are some of the most dynamic and spectacular people I have ever met! I am forever grateful for your companionship, trust, love, respect, wisdom and for inviting me to smile--knowing that I am surrounded by beauty and friendship!

Thank you!

here's a couple pics from 'The Charming Garden'--and one of my favorite quotes...they seem to tie together!









"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom"-Mark Proust

Have a wonderful day!!
Melissa

Wedding Photojournalist Association!

I am so excited to announce that I have just been accepted to the Wedding Photojournalist Association!!! It is "a professional organization composed of photojournalist and wedding photographers from around the world. What sets their members in the industry is their candid, documentary apporach-a distinctly artisic vision toward wedding photography."-from their website. I also appreciate their way of choosing members...on their work!! A photographer cannot pay to become a member, but hand picked by credited judges of photography.

I am increadibly honored to be among some of my favorite local and international photographers in the top rankings in the industry! I have referred to this website for some time now for inspiration and insite!--and now to be among some of my high ranking inspirations is a humbling blessing!

woo hoo!!!!

UNCOMMON SCENTS!!

This month's HIT LIST is a funky scent boutique in the Highlands! Theresa Halliburton, owner of Uncommon Scents is not only a wonderful person, but has a wonderful shoppe! It's so unique and different--and FUN!!! She specializes in custom scents for all occasions, from everyday wear to your signature, custom wedding scent.


I figure the best way to describe something you love is to describe you're own personal experience!
A friend took me there last November for my birthday and the 4 of us had a little party!! When we walked in, we immediately enjoyed the aroma of fine fragrant oils in her shop that filled our pallets with warm fuzzies! Her scents are not overbearing (like a parfume counter) but more like a floral shop. We sat down and Theresa had cracked a bottle of wine. For the next 1-2 hours we mixed and matched different scented oils to create our own signature scent. In between each scent we would clear our pallets with coffee beans (and who doesn't like the smell of fresh coffee!). We sipped wine, had wonderful conversation, several laughs all the while creating a completely custom scent! We each left with our new creations in tow and a really great night!! I commented the next day of how much fun I had and it was something special that I too wanted to share with friends and family!









Theresa specializes in bridal parties...where all the girls get together and have a scent party..typically then used on the wedding day and beyond! How much fun!! I would absolutely recommend everyone to stop what their doing right now and go experience her shop for yourself!!

Uncommon Scents
3716 West 32nd Ave
Denver, CO 80211
303.455.1190

Theresa is getting married in July 7, 2007!! and I am also privelaged to be photographing her wedding!!! Congrats Theresa on your upcoming wedding and your amazing custom boutique!!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY PAPA!!

Yea!! happy fathers day to all the daddy's in the world!! You are our pillers of strength and our light! Thank you for being such great supporters in the world! My Dad, my husband and I went boating this Sunday up at Lake Dillion in Frisco/Keystone and of course..BBQ'd...it's a Father's day staple!! He just got a new boat and we wanted to test it out!! What a great time!!
I'm not so good at taking photos on a moving boat....lol.....30 mph....splashy water is fun..but not for the camera :)



I love you Dad!!

What are friends for....

to make you bust a gut!! I miss these guys so much!!!....I'll leave you with this to laugh for the weekend!!!
....ahhhh photographers......

Instant Karma!

"...you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one....."


So, ROCK ON!! What a great way to give back! Amnesty and Yoko Ono are joining forces in the "Campaign to SAVE DARFUR"

"It's no surprise when people turn to the music of John Lennon during times of political and emotional crisis....Looking to heighten awareness of the situation in Darfur...Net proceeds from the purchase of this album will go to Amnesty International to help end the human right crisis in Darfur."

I am a huge fan of John Lennon, his message and his passion. If this is one way we can help a community in great need, and we can rock the house with great tunes...how can we go wrong? I'm sure you all (by now) have a version of itunes..check it out! I really feel it's worth it!

"....I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one."

Peace, Melissa

Match made in Denver!

When I met Jamie...I knew we were a perfect fit! When I met Tom over lunch on a cold blustry day in January...It all made sense! We all got along great, and I knew this dynamic couple and I would have some seriously good times! Marriage is a big deal to them, Jamie's parents have been married for 27 years! So when Tom did the "will you" it was a BIG DEAL! Jamie couldn't be happier to marry her best friend! and Tom the love of his life!
I can't wait for their fabulous wedding in November! This power couple is ready to move mountains! They are such great spirits, friends and one of the best couples I have ever worked with! Here's a couple of their engagement photos. We got together a couple days ago and had some serious fun...Jamie could not wipe the smile off her face....all because of Tom!








Congratulations Jamie and Tom on your engagement!

Sweet Surrender in the Rain!

We had an amazing mountain wedding in Buena Vista, Colorado on June 2nd. Trisha and Zach tied the knot high up on Mt. Princeton. You might remember Trisha and Zach from there fun e-shoot we shot in May.
They had over 300 guest from all over the county attend this mountain splendor and what afternoon in the mountains wouldn't be complete without a little rain..or in this case a down pour!! Right in the middle of their sacred vows and communion the skies opened up and let it go...Everyone was in great spirits despite the drenching rain and it was still a BEAUTIFUL ceremony! And my amazing assistant Kristy had this huge umbrella (thank goodness...I forgot mine) and she held it over our heads so I could still shoot! She rocks!






The night before the wedding Trisha and Zach had a huge rehersal dinner and love, toasts, food and good times were shared! One of their family friends even wrote them a song!! It was so beautiful, they changed their first dance song to this new and much more personal one! Apparently I helped out with the lyrics and I didn't even know it...the questions I had asked at their engagement shoot allowed for creativity for a few of the lines in their song...so cool!!

I'm BACK!

SO my husband and I just got back from an awesome tour of Southern Colorado! It's the first time in a-long-time...since my honeymoon that I have actually left work behind..no computer, no cell phone....talk about disconnect! Now, sun baked, relaxed, and ready to rock, I am back....I have a lot of BLOG's to catch up on (and work) (he he)...I'll be sure to post pics sometime later today of our trip...stay tuned!


so..my camera battery went dead...I did not take this image of the sanddunes...(It came from a local "what to do in San Luis Valley" magazine) which were amazing!! In June there is a wide creek that runs at the bottom of the enormous dunes (the tallest in the country) and after climbing to the "tallest" dune...it was nice to cool off in the water :)

Ha Ha...I didn't take this one either...this rafting picture came from "Adventure Magazine"--we did however go rafting on the Animas in Durango, CO...it's one of the last free flowing rivers in the United States...cool! The water was FREEZING!! Let me reiderate that........FREEZING!! OMG! but it was a blast!! I cannot wait to do that again this summer!! Colorado River/Grand Canyon anyone?


all of these are from Mesa Verde in Southwestern Colorado. I finally made it here! I have been wanting to explore this part of Colorado for close to 20 years..yea I made it!! Check out our 'tour guide' His name was Paul, he was very nice!! and informative. You can't go into the ruins without a guided tour...so Paul was the man!
The Puebloians lived in this area for about 800 years and left around the year 1300..these are amazing..95% of everything you see is original, untouched, just preserved. We had to climb a 32 foot (3 story) ladder to enter one of the dwellings.


This isn't a window..it's a door...and it's the itsy bitsy way out!



...check out this little guy...I don't know if it was a rattle snake or a garden snake, but I didn't stick around to find out....

and of course...a southern Colorado trip would not be complete with out a stop in the infamous Telluride, festival capital of Colorado!! My husband said.."Honey, lets move here!!!!" all google eyed taking in the beautiful eye candy....I don't know...Lotus in Telluride....sounds sort of nice....during the summer :) lol!



We had a great week!!


I also have a lot of extras to post, an amazing wedding, some uber-cool engagement shoots....you get the drift..it'll all be here soon!!

smiles!!
Melissa

Denver in the Spring time

Tonight I had an awesome E-session in Downtown Denver with two awesome people!! Kara and Matt are getting married at the Westin-Tabor Center in Downtown Denver and we thought that this fun, extended engagement session was a perfect fit! Heather Allen of Table 6 Productions is their personal wedding planner and she is just so great! Heather's passion and creativity is so obvious and she is helping Kara and Matt plan the most fabulous wedding!
Tonight we ran all over town having a ball! There will be more pictures to come later...but here's a teaser for now!

Kara and Matt had a whole crew of friday night bar hopper whistles and applauds!



..even though the ally smelled a little fresh (lol) the light in this little hole was so cool! I guess it's my tribute to the uber cool fashion shoots in ally ways!

Ha...they literally stopped traffic :)