Small Business; Big Family Values
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Capa on my shoulders, Oli strapped to Heather’s chest, we enter the same woods that I used to explore as a child. We’re looking for deer, for frogs, or anything that rustles in the leaves. We pass places that carry snapshots of memories in my mind when Capa decides to let out a coyote howl–awooooo–we all take a turn. We are a wild pack of animals.
It’s times like these that soften the bags under my eyes, the shade of the trees allowing me to open my eyelids a little wider. For all of the blurry hours of the day these minutes are crystal clear. Heather tells me to cling to these moments when things get hard; it’s too easy to let them pass.
All of a sudden it’s the weekend and Heather and I are in the middle of a dance floor, revolving around a mother and son as they cling to each other, and I catch a glimpse of a tear streaming down Heather’s face. She never used to cry during parent dances, but things are different now. Now she sees Capa or Oliver in a suit and she imagines looking into their eyes. I can’t help tearing up either.
And this is how most weeks go for us. We bounce between day care, grocery runs, engagement shoots, weddings, scheduling meetings, and the occasional jaunt in the woods. Weekdays and weekends are indistinguishable save the tuxes, white dresses, epic dance parties, and champagne toasts. Have you ever wondered why they say someone with a watch is “keeping the time” when you can’t really keep it at all? You can only really keep time to the point of telling it, at that specific moment, on that specific day. Thus, it is up to us to keep what was happening in that moment as time moves forward.
Walking in the woods will always remind me of the time before we had Capa and Oliver, when Heather and I explored trails from the Rockies to the Adirondacks. It’s what makes it so special when we get to share it with them, leading them along the path of our values that we’ve been trailblazing since we started dating in 2014. It’s been a steady climb from bartending to starting our own business, from date nights in Manhattan to hosting dinners at our homes in Colorado and Long Island. It’s helped us realize that we will always build upon who we are to figure out where we are going.
And at this point in time, we are a pack of wild animals. Sometimes we wear hiking shoes, other times we wear our precious Sabah’s, but you can catch us howling in the woods or on dance floors alike. Our next chapter will have us tying our aprons behind our backs again, so stay tuned, stay hungry, and stay wild.
Wedgewood Boulder Creek Wedding
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Paige & Johns Wedding
Flight number five for Capa and we’ve gotten into a pretty good routine. Early morning flights are preferable because he’s tired and will sleep on the car ride to the airport and in flight. About an hour before takeoff we give him a small dosage of baby Tylenol. Then we pump him full of puffs, fruits, and top him off with some milk at takeoff. Then, almost like clockwork, he goes down within the first fifteen minutes of flight. Then both he and Heather lay on my lap and I am immobile until they both wake up. They usually sleep 1.5-2 hours while I fidget around and hope that I don’t drop my phone or book into the abyss of the floor of the airplane. This is what traveling with an infant looks like.
We first met Paige and John for their engagement photos at Sapphire Point in Dillon, Colorado, at sunrise. We expected an autumnal scene with a sea of yellows and oranges but instead were greeted with the chill and white of winter. Paige and John rolled with the punches and a special shout out to Paige for somehow being able to not look cold with exposed shoulders with temperatures in the teens. John was shivering in a full suit and jacket. I was sipping on a piping hot macchiato.
Paige and John held their reception in one of my favorite places in Colorado: Boulder Canyon. Back when Heather and I lived in Arvada I bombed down Boulder Canyon Drive on my single speed bike, careening around curves, taking in the scenery while doing my best to keep my eyes on the road. I came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the decline when I noticed a rope swing with a bunch of people gathered around it. I couldn’t help but cool off by launching myself into the cool waters of Boulder Creek.
Paige and John’s reception was at Wedgewood-Boulder Creek, and to no one's surprise it’s one of my favorite venues. I love the layout of the property: guests are welcomed onto the property along the left of the building which spills out to a nice, green space for cocktail hour. The staff is always attentive and courteous and the food is delicious. It’s typically during this time that Heather and I take the couple down to the creek for a few romantic shots because golden hour can be tricky when seated at the base of the canyon. By the time we get back up, we’re able to enjoy the outdoors a little longer before everyone is ushered into a covered patio with regal chandeliers and natural wood beams and columns. It’s very intimate but never feels overcrowded. It’s a great space for heartfelt speeches and dances.
Paige and John hosted a beautiful wedding that we loved being a part of. It was one of the first times a guest offered to take a picture of me and Capa as we were making our way through cocktail hour! Everyone was so kind and fun that it made the day go by like an afternoon in the park with friends. Thank you for having us, Paige and John!
Enjoy these pictures from John & Paige’s Boulder CO Wedding:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Wedgewood Boulder Creek
Florist | Bitterroot Studio
Bakery | Button Rock Bakery
Video | Multiply Media
Dress | Emma & Grace Bridal
Rings | Lauren Addison
Hair | Hayley Styles Hair
Makeup | Mooi Studio
Colorado Weddings
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Hamilton Hall Wedding in NYC
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Carly & Mike’s Wedding
Walking through Harlem with eight-month-old baby Capa strapped to my chest felt like a bridge between two versions of myself: the mid-twenties, student/martini-mixer and the early-thirties small business owner/infant entertainer extraordinaire. The former stayed up until six a.m. drinking and the latter currently wakes at six a.m. to help another person drink. Sleep is seldom in both versions but the idea of it is much sexier now. The link between the two is my wife, Heather, who helped elevate my life from those romantically late New York City nights to my current state of blissful, overworked, exhaustion.
I first met Carly when she was a bartender at my favorite late night jaunt, a bar fondly remembered as AmTav (Amsterdam Tavern) at 106th and Broadway. I’d walk in with my tie undone and saddle up to the bar next to other industry folk with empty shot glasses in front of them. Carly would always be finishing a story or giving somebody the business over what an idiot they were. She embodied the kind of take-no-shit NYC bartender that I always wanted to be but never had the stomach for. I met her partner, Mike, there a number of nights after he finished his shift down at St. Marks that all seem to blend together now. He was (and is) always so kind, charming, and welcoming. They really make a great pair.
Carly and Mike love hosting for all the same reasons Heather and I love hosting: fresh food, strong, well-made drinks, and gathering people around a table to share stories and laugh. They know not to freak out when guests start arriving because they know things always will come together. Just throw a drink in their hands, keep doing what you’re doing, or ask them to help. The true beauty of having good friends is that you can rely on them—the frivolous, irresponsible, and selfish ones were cut before last call.
Carly and Mike replanned their wedding more times than an Upper West Sider sends back a bone dry martini. Yet they still held an incredibly authentic celebration of their love at The Hamilton Hall in Harlem. Carly and Mike’s guests first walked into the space to find handmade seating cards made by Carly herself. Then, as they made their way past the long, wooden bar, more personalized details adorned the tables and walls: wildflower arrangements, specialized bitters from TNT Bitters (a company that Mike runs with his business partner, Anna), and printed itineraries of what to expect the rest of the evening. They held their ceremony down on a secluded outdoor patio and they entered together to the biggest ovation I have heard for a bride and groom to date.
There is absolutely a community in the late night bar scene in New York City. We grew closer as the morning grew nearer and we never seemed to care. We learned that you leave some friends at the service bar because you want something more. And there was always some epiphanic revelation about life that turned out to be nonsense in the morning. But maybe those late nights and early mornings were training us to operate on short sleep to have a family one day. Or maybe we were just rounding up a crew of misfits that we were just beginning to consider family. Either way, food and drink did bring us together.
Enjoy these photos from Mike & Car’s NYC Wedding:
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Hamilton Hall
Seating Cards | Crafted by the bride, Carly
Floral | Crafted by the bride, Carly
Day-Of Coordinator | Sophie Russek
Coming Atcha
Team Apollo with some of our faves!!
Pastures of Plenty Wedding in Boulder, CO
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Mercie and Dan’s Wedding
Coasting down route 36, the Flatirons of Boulder, Colorado, grew larger by the minute. Memories flashed like road signs in the side-view mirror: like the time Heather accidentally sat on a fire ant hill on the side of the road; or the time I biked from Arvada to Boulder and flew down this decline like the red baron in an old Charlie Brown segment; or the many trips coming back from the hospital as we endured our experience with an ectopic pregnancy in 2019. Capa riding with us in the back seat to Mercie and Dan’s wedding at Pastures of Plenty has proverbially turned this sloped road into a rotary, and as we came full circle we turned to look at him and smile.
We first met Mercie when we were living in Arvada and she was working as a hostess at the same restaurant Heather was working at. Mercie always welcomed me into the foyer with the same bright smile, full of a genuine enthusiasm that most hostesses do their best to feign. Heather and I got to know Mercie and Dan as a couple when we took their engagement photos at Rollins Pass in Nederland a couple years later. It was quickly apparent that they share a wavelength--understanding each other through an invisible yet palpable electromagnetism--as after every photo they seemed to draw closer and closer together.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Mercie and Dan had a water slide at their wedding (in case it was too hot). And also appointed their young siblings as their officiants, DJs, emcees, and baby caretakers (For real, one of them took Capa mid-ceremony so I could take pictures). Everywhere you turned there was a role that Mercie and Dan empowered one of their siblings with. Where most couples cater their event to themselves--Mercie and Dan catered it to their family. A Captain Hook shy of Neverland and a religious scripture short of the Garden of Eden, Mercie and Dan’s wedding was a beautiful fantasy of love, support, and purpose. And they all made it a reality.
There were several moments at Mercie and Dan’s wedding where I had to stand back and ask, “is this really happening?” It got to the point where if one of the bubbles floating in the air turned into a glowing fairy I wouldn’t have batted an eye. I am apt to refrain from using words like ‘magic’ or ‘miracle’ when describing a wedding, couple, or family, but Mercie, Dan, and company made it really hard to describe it as anything else. The way that they spoke to all of their various members of their extended family: in soft affirmations, playful directions, and empowering words of encouragement, they reminded me of the way that Snow White spoke to her woodland friends. The exception, of course, is that Disney is a contrived monolith and Mercie and Dan are living, breathing, beautiful humans of sensitivity and intention.
As each of our families evolve and grow I can only hope to embody the acceptance and trust that Mercie and Dan cultivate on an everyday basis. It takes great patience, an even better understanding, and a dedication to emotional communication. While Heather and I already valued each of these attributes we were and are in complete admiration of Mercie and Dan’s intention and execution. It isn’t fairy dust that creates the magic in our reality, it is our thoughts converted into action.
Enjoy these photos from Merc & Dan’s Pasture of Plenty Wedding in Boulder, Colorado:
As seen in: Couture Colorado Magazine
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Videography | Glasshouse Wedding Films
Venue | Pastures of Plenty
Invitations | Minted
Dresses | Galina
This was a special one for us…
…we have SO enjoyed our friendship with Merc and Dan and feel absolutely honored to have captured their joyful day!
Mountain Elopement in Boulder CO
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Logan & RJ
Driving by the Flatirons of Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado, will always remind me of one of the first weddings Heather and I photographed as Apollo Fields. I remember being so nervous that I was going to miss a shot or drop a piece of equipment; I remember watching in admiration as Heather wrangled people from their drinks for family formals—but perhaps most importantly—I remember the couple. They taught me the invaluable lesson that the better you know your couple the better you will be at telling their story. So as the Flatirons moved from our periphery into the rear view, we headed up to Flagstaff Mountain and I kept getting more and more excited to begin to tell the story of Logan and RJ.
Logan and RJ decided to elope at Lost Gulch because their original wedding plans were spoiled by the pandemic. Their intimate ceremony was attended by their closest friends and family and streamed online. Unfortunately, RJ’s sisters and mother couldn’t attend the event, so Logan went out of her way to invite two of RJ’s best friends to surprise him and still make it feel special. They plan to host a full wedding in Fall 2021 at the house they will be buying in the next few months!
Logan and RJ’s first date involved a Phish Stream and a bunch of beers—and that sounds pretty awesome (Heather and I subbed Phish for an ice hockey game in Central Park for ours). We’re all about keeping it simple; it actually has been one of the silver linings of the weddings of 2020. It has loosened the formalities of what can or should be done at weddings and invited a whole slew of thoughtful creativity. For instance, Logan decided to rock a pair of badass boots and white stunner shades and we were all about it! If you’re not doing what you wanna do when it comes to your wedding then what are you doing?!
Logan and RJ will be sharing their vows at their celebration next year and we’re encouraging everyone to do what feels right for them! It’s another angle of the silver lining of this year: you get to cut out the parts out of weddings that you don’t like and no relative or friend can say a damn thing about it! We do think it is important to anchor each celebration with something intentional; whether it is sharing your vows, a vow renewal, or a full ceremony, the more feelings the better.
As we descended the switch backs of Flagstaff Mountain we stopped in pull-offs to take a few more impromptu shots of Logan and RJ along the way. They ran through the brush, jumped into each other’s arms, and allowed one another to be happy. It’s a feeling that has been hard to come by this year, as it seems like every other day we have some other problem that is heaped upon our shoulders—but it is up to us to unplug—throw on some kick ass boots and stunner shades, and step into the sunshine.
Enjoy these photos from Logan & RJ’s wedding celebration:
As seen in: Mountainside Bride
Intimate Wedding in Colorado Springs, CO
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Igor & Michelle
I know Heather is tough, but even I didn’t think she would be climbing through barbed-wire fencing at 30 weeks pregnant to get a shot. After reading that sentence--some may question how I allowed it to happen--but that just means you don’t know Heather and I well enough. Anyone that knows us knows that I would never tell my wife what she can and can’t do, especially when it comes to her body. That doesn’t mean I didn’t raise an eyebrow and say, “you sure?” before she bent down and climbed through the fence like a professional wrestler climbing through the ropes into the ring. I will always love her and Igor and Michelle for being up for an adventure.
We actually met Igor and Michelle in New York City where Heather did their engagement photos in Tribeca. Igor was the Executive Chef at The Standard Hotel at the time before Covid turned Manhattan into a shell of its culinary self. I’m happy that Igor’s confident that the bustling scene will come back in a few years. Michelle is his perfect powerful complement, and their son, Harrison, has a better palate than I do at five-years-old. They are actually in the process of uprooting to Arkansas for an amazing career opportunity and we can’t wait to visit them in an outdoorsy paradise that is increasing in popularity.
Michelle and Igor were supposed to get married in Los Angeles at one of Igor’s former spots, but pivoted to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Michelle grew up because of the pandemic. We started their day with a short photo session of the two of them at one of Michelle’s family friend’s ranches. It was so windy that I was legitimately worried that a branch was going to come down on our heads. Then Heather decided to climb through the fence. We never know what mother nature is going to give us on wedding days but we are always thankful when our couples like Igor and Michelle bring their A-game no matter what.
After that Igor and Michelle planned for some down time before the ceremony and reception. We love when our couples take the time to honor the pace of the day that is all too often scripted down to the minute. Igor said he took the time to play spades with one of his soon-to-be relatives. Michelle and the girls took the opportunity for some self-care with a luxurious, airy spa day at Blush - Dry Spa Bar. I always say that mental health is the most important thing and it has never been more true than in the year 2020.
Next year the plan is to go “back, back to Cali, Cali” (thanks Biggie) and finish the celebration in full swing. The intimate ceremony and reception this year at Prime25 set the stage for one hell of a party. Between Igor getting emotional waiting for Michelle at the first look, and the many toasts, some translated from Igor’s native Russian tongue, there is so much to look forward to. Sometimes we just have to throw caution to the wind, climb through some barbed wire, and have a day for ourselves--that’s what life’s all about!
Enjoy these photos from Michelle & Igor’s Micro-wedding:
Aspen Meadows Resort Wedding Photography
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Jessica & Roger
I don’t know why it had never occurred to me that people go to Aspen in the fall...to see Aspen trees. I think there was some separation in my mind of the city of Aspen and its air of luxury and skiing from the naturally occurring tree that leaf-watchers swoon over while careening about the bends of I-70. Thanks to Roger and Jessica, now I know how beautiful Aspen is in the peak of fall foliage, when the yellow coin-shaped leaves flap in the mountain breeze against a vibrant blue bird sky.
Jessica and Roger got married at Aspen Meadows Resort with Maroon Bells as the backdrop of their ceremony. The altar was out in a lush green field with flowers, hills, and water all around. When I close my eyes I can still feel the serenity of the scene. “I could stay here forever,” I told Jessica shortly after their intimate ceremony, with my arms spread out in the wind. What an absolutely perfect place to get married.
Jessica and Roger have known each other since childhood but only started dating after college. They’re both from Florida but can’t get enough of the Rockies of Colorado. Roger’s family has been vacationing to Aspen for years, preferring the perfect fall hiking weather to the overcrowded slopes of winter. It’s funny how a power couple based in Orlando still can’t resist the call of the mountains.
One thing I’m particularly grateful for is that Jessica and Roger invited us to have dinner with their guests rather than stuffing us into a closet or hallway. Vendor meals can get pretty scary in the wedding industry, especially for pescatarians like Heather. Let’s just say we’ve gotten very accustomed to beige food in cramped spaces. So to be invited to the table alongside Roger and Jessica’s closest friends and family, to enjoy the decadent menu and hand-picked wine was just such a special treat for us. It is already a privilege to photograph weddings as a career, but to be appreciated and invited into our couple’s closest circles--that really means the world to us.
I wound up sitting next to Jessica and Roger’s pastor from Orlando, John, who officiated their wedding ceremony. Heather and I got into one of those amazing conversations with him and his wife that felt like pre-COVID times. It was the kind of conversation that started small and polite and rolled into sharing personal stories. It’s certainly not the kind of conversation for everyone but it speaks volumes to the people that Roger and Jessica choose to surround themselves with. It felt like a fancy, fun dinner party!
I’ll look back onto Jessica and Roger’s intimate wedding in Aspen like the dream that it was: from the wind in the meadow, the sun on our shoulders and the mountains in the background, to the immaculately decorated reception, mouth watering filet mignon and lobster tail dinner, and heart-warming conversation. Leave it to a couple of Floridians to remind us that you don’t need to go to Aspen in the winter--you can go at the height of fall and watch as the golden coins flap in the breeze--it is a place that’s beautiful all year round.
Enjoy these photos from Jessica & Roger’s Aspen Meadow’s Wedding:
As seen in Couture Colorado
Sapphire Point Engagement Photos in Colorado
Matt and Julie’s Sapphire Point Engagement Session | Dillon, Colorado Engagements | Lake Dillon Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
I’ve never described a view as “sticky” before, but that’s the word that came to mind after we wrapped Matt and Julie’s engagement session at Sapphire Point in Dillon, CO. It was like the feeling I got as a kid when it began to get dark and there was just one inning left in our wiffle ball game. “Just one more inning, mom!” It’s this feeling that this moment is all that exists and to leave it would be to deny yourself an experience that you will never get back. Call it juvenile or dramatic but I think 12-year-old me and 31-year-old me might be on to something.
Our first meeting with Matt and Julie happened in one of our favorite places—a brewery. Oasis Brewing Company in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, CO, is a multi-level, exposed-brick venue with rustic wooden tables and industrial steel beams to anchor the open, charming space (I actually helped re-open it in March 2018). Once we grabbed a beer we all took a seat at one of the banquet tables along the wall and chatted about Matt and Julie’s wedding in Littleton, CO, in May 2020. The conversation mimicked the space in which we spoke: laid-back, organized, and youthful yet sophisticated.
Matt (a lawyer) and Julie (a teacher) represent the kind of couples that we are grateful to attract and meet. Matt and Julie know what they want, aren’t afraid to ask questions, and their communication is a wonderful mix of professional, candid, and casual. These conversational cornerstones allows us to navigate the complexity of wedding photography, i.e. “what do we get?” or “what are we paying for?”, with ease. Instead of bogging down the meeting in the details, we candidly ask what they are looking for in wedding photography as we all casually take a sip of our beer. This way, we can deliver a customized package based on their priorities rather than trying to sell them products or services they’re not interested in. Of course, we don’t expect every one of our couples to know what they want like Matt and Julie, but it’s definitely something we’re grateful for when it comes down to the brass tacks of wedding photography (totally thought it was “brass tax” until I Googled it).
Fast forward a few months and we’re meeting Matt and Julie at Matt’s family home in Dillon for their engagement shoot. We were welcomed by his mother and father, two dogs, and a brilliantly blue Colorado sky quickly approaching our coveted golden hour. We began by taking a stroll down by the cliffs of their home for a more casual start before we made our way up to the photographer-and-chipmunk occupied Sapphire Point (seriously, there were adorable little chipmunks scampering everywhere). Luckily, we came on a Sunday night when it wasn’t that busy, we don’t even want to imagine the amount of hikers we would have photoshop out of a picture on a Saturday afternoon.
The love was real, the mood was romantic, and the view was...sticky. Everything about Matt and Julie’s engagement session made my eyes and heart want to stay but it was starting to get dark. It was an experience I may never to get to live again exactly, but perhaps that’s the best way to appreciate a moment. To allow your desires to remain a bit unsatiated, to walk up the hiking path away from the view so that your mind clings to its pristine image in all its glory. I can still see that sunset when I close my eyes, and even though I won’t know how that wiffle ball game was supposed to end, maybe I’m not supposed to.
Enjoy Julie & Matt’s Engagement Photos:
As seen in: Couture Colorado Magazine
Breweries and happy couples… these are a few of our favorite things…
Hanging with Matt and Julie after their Sapphire Point engagement photos! What better place to connect than over a craft beer! If that makes us hipsters then you should expect handlebar mustaches on both of us shortly!
Wedgewood Boulder Creek Wedding Photographer
Apollo Fields | Wedgewood Weddings at Boulder Creek | Intimate Wedding Photos | Candid Wedding Photography
The modernization of traditions keeps our jobs as wedding photographers fresh and inventive. From DIY ceremonies and weddings in the woods to more conventional rituals in churches; each wedding reveals each couple’s unique relationship to their respective belief systems. Kelly and Alec’s catholic wedding at Sacred Heart of Mary and reception at Wedgewood-Boulder Creek in Boulder, Colorado, showed us that you can both honor your past and embrace the new.
Before Kelly and Alec’s wedding, I never knew the significance of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. But when we went to photograph Kelly and Alec’s first touch (a version of a “first look” where a couple doesn’t see each other) right near a fountain with a golden statue of St. Francis, Alec filled me in after they shared a few moments of beautiful tension. Alec spoke about St. Francis the same way that an environmentalist speaks about Jane Goodall, worshipping the person for what they mean to the natural world rather than elevating them as an idol outside the realm of natural phenomena. It was incredibly refreshing to see someone who holds a monotheistic belief system so close to their heart also share a deep love for Mother Nature.
Following the ceremony inside the church, the caravan climbed Boulder Creek Canyon Road to the reception hall a few minutes into the foothills of the Rockies. Wedgewood-Boulder Creek is an immaculately designed, accessible, and romantic setting to host one of life’s most precious gatherings. Upon entering the space you can hear the trickle of Boulder Creek, just as the friendly staff of the venue greet you with your favorite refreshments and libations. The flow of the property mimics the way the creek carves its way through the mountains, allowing for family and friends to naturally convene on patios and berms of fresh green grass. There is no doubt in my mind that St. Francis helped Kelly and Alec choose this venue to celebrate their love.
On a day where clouds were kept at bay, golden hour floated in the early evening air like lightning bugs on a summer night. We borrowed Kelly and Alec from their celebration for a few romantics down by the creek and thanks to their genuine chemistry we didn’t keep them for long. They spun and smiled and danced and frolicked. They kissed. They unabashedly enjoyed themselves, wrapping their arms around one another like vines around a tree. Undeniably in love, we laughed, snapped pictures, and danced with them. When love is as natural as the trees, the breeze, or the trickle of the creek, you better believe that you’re doing something right. If Kelly and Alec wouldn’t take credit themselves, I’m sure they’ll be thanking St. Francis for a long time to come.
AS SEEN IN COUTURE COLORADO MAGAZINE
Vendors:
Venue | Wedgewood - Boulder Creek
Dress | Madison James
Floral | Painted Primrose, Sabia Magrun
DJ/Band | Diamond Empire Band
Suit | Generation Tux
Rings | Shane Co.
Hair & Makeup | Serenity Salon- Arvada
Cake | Kelly Leigh Cakes
Oh Hey!
It’s us at the end of the night having the best time with Kelly & Alec.
Elk Meadow Elopement Photography in Colorado
Melissa & Matt’s Elopement | Evergreen, Colorado Elopements | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
I am very excited to share not only the beautiful pictures from Melissa & Matt’s Colorado elopement, but also the guest blog from our dear friend and officiant, Carya:
“It was in the freezer aisle of Costco…
…snacking on yet another sample, that Melissa non-chalantly said to me, “Hey, I have a random question. Are you ordained in Colorado?” As it turns out, I am! And as we waited in line to check out, she told me of their plans to elope.
Melissa and Matt had been engaged for 5 years. And every time they sat down to start to plan a wedding, stress and anxiety quickly followed. Both born and raised in Colorado in big families, they knew that if they had a traditional wedding, it would be a dauntingly big affair. So a few months ago, they decided that what would honor them best is to go up into the mountains, just the two of them (and their sweet pup, Country), and tie the knot in the simplest way! Once they knew what they truly wanted, they spoke with their close family and friends to inform them of their plans.
I had only officiated one wedding before, and I absolutely loved it! As a yoga teacher, it felt very natural to mindfully guide a couple through such a special ceremony. So, of course, I was thrilled to be asked to preside over their wedding and for one of my best friends to ask me to be such an integral part of her big day! She has been there for me through so much, I was so grateful to be able to return the favor!
When I first asked Melissa if she had plans for photos, she said, “I just figured we would have you take a few shots after.” Thinking that would just not do, I knew just who to call! You never know when Heather is going to be in Colorado, maybe she will be around! If not, she will surely know someone! Melissa, Heather and I all worked together in Arvada and had become good friends, so when I told Heather that Melissa and Matt were eloping, she jumped into action. Because Heather is a legit Wonder Woman, on top of all the other work she does, she mentors other photographers who are just starting out. And since she would not be in Denver, she secured her mentee Carly, who happened to be free on a Tuesday evening around sunset with less than a week’s notice.
With photos in place, my focus turned to flowers. Every bride has to have flowers, no matter how small the wedding! I have done freelance wedding flowers for many years and I wanted to make a beautiful bouquet for Melissa. I had recently heard of an urban farmer growing beautiful flowers on her little farm in Arvada, CO. Since I follow Gina on Instagram, I reached out to her and she invited us out to her farm to pick flowers for Melissa’s bouquet. The day before the wedding, we met Gina early in the morning in her beautiful fields. She guided us through, naming all the flowers and then gave us clippers and a bucket and told us to take our pick!
As we walked up and down the rows of blooms, Melissa would stop and marvel at the beauty a specific flower. She fell in love with radiant dahlias and happy sunflowers and picked white lavender and sage to give her bouquet a beautiful aroma. Later, as I made the bouquet, I remembered how she chose each flower with such love and care. It was a beautiful experience and made her bouquet that much more special!
When the wedding day arrived, we met at Melissa’s mom’s house. Melissa got ready with her mom and sister while Matt and Country hung out in the back yard. Her sister placed a few flowers in her hair while her mom placed precious family jewelry around her neck. She joined Matt and Country in the back yard for their first look, sharing a sweet moment, however fleeting due to Country’s bounding excitement. Then we all shared a champagne toast with her family before climbing into Matt’s pickup and heading up to the mountains.
A few days prior, Melissa and Matt had traveled up to Evergreen, CO to look for the perfect spot for the ceremony. They chose Elk Meadow Open Space and found a small patch of trees, not far off the trail, with lichen covered rocks and a beautiful view of the meadow as a backdrop.
The ceremony was short and simple, with a heartfelt message to their families and a beautiful poem that the couple chose. Little Country was overcome with emotion and cried throughout the ceremony. A sweet mix of Melissa and Matt’s favorite love songs played softly as they professed their love to each other. A few tears were shed and before you know it, they were married!!!
While a champagne toast is great and all, this elopement was about being true to who Matt and Melissa are, and though they have their moments of poise and class, they are also country bumpkins at heart. So we busted out some Montucky ColdSnacks for them to toast this next chapter in their lives.
With daylight waning, they walked through the meadow hand in hand, enjoying the peace they created for themselves through this intimate setting. We gathered up our few things, and Country and I crawled into the backseat of the pickup, where he promptly fell asleep (all that crying is tiring!). Melissa summed up the day perfectly as she tapped Matt on the arm and exclaimed, “Holy crap, Babe, we’re married!”
Writing by: Carya Haas
Enjoy the photos from Mel & Matt’s elopement:
Photography: Associate shot by Carly for Apollo Fields
Florals: SheGrows
CO Elopement Location: Elk Meadow, Evergreen
The Evergreen Lake House Wedding Photography
Ashley & Nick’s Wedding | The Evergreen Lake House | Colorado Mountain Weddings | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
When I woke up on the morning of Ashley and Nick’s wedding, I rolled over to see Heather staring at the ceiling, eyes wide open like she’d either seen a ghost or drank too much coffee. These are the excited jitters that run through a wedding photographer’s veins that send most thin-skinned photographers running for the hills. The morning of a wedding is like being in the shoes of a performer in those final moments of waiting backstage on opening night, knowing full well what is on the other side of the red velvet curtain.
The pressure that’s slowly been building in the pit of your stomach like a dull pain starts to climb to the bottom of your throat and it’s up to you to swallow it back down. Whether an audience of spectators or a guest list of family and friends, meeting their expectations is an uncertainty that can drive an artist at their core. The worst of them quit and exit stage left; and the best of them, well, bring the fucking house down.
Fast-forward twelve hours and I’m dancing behind the DJ booth, and Heather is on the dance floor camera in-hand. Ashley and Nick’s wedding couldn’t be going any better. When we first arrived at the house where Ashley and the bridesmaids were getting ready, we expected to walk into a hurricane of hairspray and a tangle of hair straighteners (as is tradition); instead we were greeted by a group of beautiful, calm and organized girls in floral robes who were ready to party. The atmosphere at the boys’ house was more of the same (except for the floral robes). The rest of the day transpired as planned with less logistical hiccups and more amazing dance moves, and it had us analyzing just what it was that made their wedding so seamless to us as photographers.
Obviously Ashley and Nick were well-prepared, but it was their energy and trust that set the tone for their wedding. For example, both wedding parties, despite being large groups (7-8 people/each) were down to clown but still listened to and followed our dictation. When it came to family formals, romantics, and the first look, Ashley and Nick totally put the ball in our court, trusting us with where to go, when to do it, and what angles to take. That’s not to say our couple’s shouldn’t generate photo ideas or looks of their own, but rather that that trust in our professional and artistic vision 1) makes our jobs a breeze and 2) allows our couples more time with their guests. This is all not to mention the deep, genuine love that Ashley and Nick have for one another which made photographing them a joyous experience composed of one-part envy and one-part melt-your-fucking-heart. Nick was crying before he even turned around for the first look! (Sorry, not sorry bud!)
So when it comes to the pre-wedding jitters and meeting the expectations of such an event, the uncertainty is just part of the ride. Some weddings are obviously more difficult than others, but it often comes down to the tone that the couple sets for the day. That tone is so important because it stems from the current health of the relationship at a point in time where they’ve both deemed their love worthy of an official union. As wedding photographers, we embrace the unknown with our artistic hearts, but are always hoping that a couple’s trust and energy will reign supreme.
Enjoy the pics from Ashley & Nick’s epic wedding:
The Vendor Team:
Photography and Writing: Apollo Fields
Venue: Evergreen Lake House
Florist: Wandering Poppy Co.
Entertainment: DJ Guy
Wedding Cake: Small Cakes Colorado
Decor: Event Rents
Dress: Aisle Chic
Shoes: BHLDN
Jewelry: BHLDN
Veil: Needle Button Wardrobe
Suit: Men's Warehouse
Rings: Rogers & Hollands
HMUA: WedLocks Bridal Hair and Makeup
Stationary: Shutterfly
Hey, it’s us…
…We are Heather & Terrence: the husband-and-wife duo of Apollo Fields! We had such a great time at Ashley & Nick’s wedding and absolutely love heading back to our old stomping grounds in Colorado. REACH OUT to say hi!
Small Business Owner Tips Wedding Photography
Running A Business With Your Significant-Other | Husband and Wife Photographers | Destination Weddings Lifestyle Blog | Apollo Fields
I woke to the sound of a sweeping rain over Montauk Lake, spraying the French doors of our friend’s guest bedroom like the ocean smashing against a cluster of coastal rocks. White caps shifted about the marina like tiny crowns of the sea as the wind buoyed the boats with a sort of smooth violence. Emerging from beneath the clean and warm white sheets of the bed posed a difficult task as Heather and I have been traveling up and down the eastern seaboard the past few days, but such is the hustle of the life of wedding photographers.
Since this past Friday, Heather and I have spent over 20 hours in the car together. As much as I love her, anyone who’s traveled that much with their significant other can imagine the frustrations that might arise. Now imagine that your significant other is also your business partner. Those 20 hours now sound like they could be that much more tense—and they absolutely can be. Yet as tired and frustrated as I have been (and still am) I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The sounds in our car during a road trip vary from Kendrick to talk radio, from laughter to earnestness, and business to barking dogs. The mood shifts from conversation-to-conversation, state-to-state, and from day to night. Long road trips with a significant other are common litmus tests to see if the relationship is the real deal; but a long road trip for a professional and romantic partnership is an endless loop of perfecting the way you communicate. Heather and I’s flare-ups range from disagreeing on something as trivial as choosing where to eat or when to stop, and something as serious as our next big business move. But the most important thing is to keep the conversation going.
Ironically, sometimes the best way to do that is to embrace a silence. So often we are quick to fill a void in time with mindless chatter, a podcast, or background tunes and we forget that our seemingly restless minds just wants us and our senses to shut the fuck up. Silence can be a great teacher, and giving the space for the tensions of our relationships to dissipate into the air can prove to be much more productive than spewing whatever our egos or inner selves are dying to say. Sometimes in a disagreement—no one person is right—and sometimes you both are. Taking the time to share a few moments of silence together has helped us more times than I can count.
This morning was one of those mornings when you wake up after you’ve traveled so much that you forget where you are. The constant waves of rain gently splashing against the doors gave me a sense of ease amidst the chaos, reminding me that there’s always beauty to be found in any given situation. Sometimes we don’t realize how fast we’re moving until we stop for a moment to look at how far we’ve come; then after we wipe the sweat from our brow, rest a little, and take a deep breath, we can go back to bouncing up and down in the tide, moving naturally with the wind through time with a sort of smooth violence.
– Terrence
The Pines at Genesee Wedding Photographer in Golden, CO
Long Distance Relationships Can Work | Johnny and Naomi’s Wedding in Golden, CO | The Pines at Genesee Weddings | Apollo Fields
Many take the idea of having a long distance relationship as a futile effort at romance, but Johnny and Naomi have proven that nothing can stand in the way of love and communication. For the past several years, they have each been stationed at Air Force bases in different states, only managing to see each other once or twice a month. Yet the irony of their relationship is that the distance between them brought them closer together.
Johnny and Naomi’s first date was actually on Johnny’s birthday five years ago at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. That’s a lot of expectation to place on a Tinder date—but obviously his gamble paid off. They met up for coffee, spoke about their respective trips to Israel, and took a short walk to Naomi’s favorite waterfall. Their conversation was natural and fluid and Naomi thought the date went really well until Johnny said at the end, “we’ll keep in touch,” which was not exactly the most reassuring of phrases to conclude a romantic evening. Naomi would later learn that phrases like these were just quirks of his personality.
Over the next few years, as distance became an issue, the small moments they did share obviously became more valuable. In the pre-wedding questionnaires we gave to them, they both spoke about times where they were about to spend an extended amount of time apart, and each of them said or did something that made them realize they really loved one another. For Naomi, it was when Johnny returned from summer break one year and asked if she “wanted to spend every night together,” knowing that in the near future he would be shipped off to Air Force training. For Johnny, it was when Naomi was training for ROTC and began getting very nervous. She was so stressed that she started talking to her socks, and it was then that Johnny knew that they each represented a calming presence to each other. It was because of these timing restrictions that they learned to express their appreciation of one another.
Naomi and Johnny like to joke about a time they went canoeing when Naomi would just put her paddle in the water to make them go in a zigzag or circle pattern rather than floating in a straight line. I like to think about that story as an analogy to their relationship as they maneuvered through the difficulties of long distance dating with attention and appreciation for one another. They say that they almost hit a boat of fisherman—just like I’m sure there were points in their relationship that seemed like they thought they were going to crash. But because of their effort, trust and honest communication, they were able to carve out time for one another and laugh as they floated through time like they floated down that river.
Working as a wedding professional, I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as a “perfect relationship,” where every moment of every day is like the song “So Happy Together” by The Turtles is playing in the background. Like every other great thing in life, a solid relationship requires work, and more often that not the path of our canoe is going to zigzag or go in circles. The important thing is having a partner that can work towards a shared goal and laugh while doing it. If you can manage to find a partner like Johnny and Naomi have in one another, then you can embrace every adventure and hardship with an equal hand; where the serenity of a mountain lake with a beer in your hand is that much more sweet, and the sunshine reflecting off a field of yellow flowers is that much more bright. Distance is only an obstacle for your relationship, but with the right amount of effort and love, it can be conquered and wind up bringing you closer together.
Hey, it’s us!
We’re Heather & Terrence— the husband-and-wife team behind Apollo Fields. Feel free to reach out and say hi or sign up for our newsletter below!
The Vendor Team:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Getting-Ready Venue: The Dove Inn
Ceremony Venue: Pines at Genesee
Party Planner / Day-Of Coordinator: Vivian Weinress
Officiants: Rev John Witkop & Debbie Kintish
Florist: Fleur de Liz
DJ / Band: Drake Dawson "DJ Drake"
Dress : Allure Bridal | Purchased at The Bridal Boutique
Veil was made by "the Button the Needle and the Wardrobe" (alterations), everything else is Etsy!
Suit: Dillards
Rings : Goodman & Sons in Virginia | Engagement ring was Johnny's grandmothers
Hair and Makeup: Prodigy Salon
Invitations and Save The Dates: My Big Day Designs
How To Run A Wedding Photography Business
Happiness in the Workplace: The Life of a Wedding Photographer
Apollo fields | Denver wedding photographer | New York wedding photographer | Wedding photos | Engagement photos | wedding writer
Most people don’t enjoy their jobs. Whether it’s the fluorescent lighting or the no windows casino approach to work environments, the tired early morning commute or the death by a thousand cliches like “happy wife, happy life,” working in the 21st century is at best and worst a dull sort of suffering. The intermittent good days make the job not quite bad enough to quit, and the benefits of a stable job outweigh childish millennial pursuits like happiness in the workplace. Lucky for us, we don’t have that problem.
Heather called me yesterday after her 4th wedding of the weekend (!!), and I could hear her smiling through the phone. She was beaming about being in the center of a 30-minute horah (Jewish wedding dance celebration) and reflecting upon how grateful she is to have an occupation that lands her in the middle of these powerful cultural traditions. Despite having no ties to any sort of religion ourselves, more often than not, we are educated on and included into these intimate spiritual circles rather than being forced to the perimeters and relegated to the role of outsiders. Take that “multicultural day” at the office!
This wedding season, Heather has already shot weddings in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, soon to be Maine, and at the tail end of the season, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Travel is part of our jobs and we’ve learned that there is love to be photographed everywhere! In the past, we’ve photographed weddings from the Dominican Republic to Quebec City, Canada, and we’re excited to the places our jobs will bring us in the future. Our ever-changing workspace keeps our eyes fresh and the hundreds of miles of open road keep our hearts for adventure well-fed.
That being said, the life of wedding photographers can be stressful and inconsistent. We don’t have work until we book it ourselves, making security and stability in our profession an autonomous responsibility of discipline and dedication. We don’t have windows in our office either, but that’s because the sun is on our shoulders; and we can’t hear cliches because we’re too busy dancing to the live band. Sure, it can be hard to keep the energy level high as the season wanes on, but every time it begins to fade there is a tear-jerking moment to bring us right back into the fold. I would trade the dynamic difficulties of our job for the static grinding of the human will that permeates office culture a hundred times over—because at the end of our workday—we’re growing towards love rather than withering towards retirement.
How to DIY a Wedding on a Budget
Casey & Thomas’s Wedding in Longmont, CO | Laid-Back Colorado Wedding Planning | Sentimental DIY Weddings | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
It is always interesting to read the answers that our couples come up with to our pre-wedding questionnaire. It gives us a glimpse into their past and allows us to begin to picture what their wedding day might look like. After reading Casey and Thomas’s, I noticed that in every one of their answers there was a different, important aspect that goes into a healthy relationship, and I knew right then that their special day was going to go off with only one hitch (getting hitched, that is!).
After briefly dating in high school, Casey and Thomas reacquainted when Thomas was driving through Chicago about five years ago. They wound up meeting up for burgers and talking a lot and well, “the rest is history.” What this glimpse taught us about them was that they are steady, confident individuals who are comfortable meeting up with a friend from the past, but more importantly, it provided them the opportunity for serendipity to open their hearts to a long-lasting relationship.
After their romance had been rekindled, they dated long distance for six months, establishing a trust and system of communication that would later serve as the basis of their loving relationship (Isn’t it ironic how we can grow closer the farther we move apart?).
Yet an example of perhaps the most integral part of any relationship occurred when Casey received a large gift on her birthday from Thomas at her office. She had no idea what it was, but when she tore back the wrapping to reveal an original print of a photographer she mentioned once (time to step up your games, fellas!), she was floored. Being present enough to listen and conscientious enough to act is a level of thoughtfulness that every relationship can benefit from.
And I know that surprises aren’t for everyone, but Casey said she had NO idea that Thomas was going to propose. I think I can speak for the married couples out there who must remember the nerves that coursed through their veins when the question was popped—kind of like the first time you went in for a kiss—and the immense relief that rested upon the lips of your partner on the other side. A healthy dose of vulnerability can go a long way, and continuing to surprise your S.O. with acts of love will never get old.
Before I let Casey and Thomas’s beautiful relationship turn into a dating column on our website, let me finish with what they said they were most looking forward to on their wedding day: “looking out and seeing all of my favorite people together.” It’s a simple enough answer, but the fact that they designed the itinerary of their day to maximize their time with those who traveled to the celebration of the union of their love showed their commitment to their communities. Sometimes we can get caught up in all of the details that we forget that the assembly of all of our friends and family on our wedding day might never happen again—but Casey and Thomas did not.
Now I can only imagine that Casey and Thomas are probably laying on their backs on a mountaintop near Telluride, gazing up at the broad sky of stars, thinking of all of the things, big and small, that they will experience together, because they place value in every single one of them. Cheers to you, Casey and Thomas, and congratulations!
Enjoy Casey & Thomas’s Sneak Peeks:
The Vendor Team:
Colorado Wedding Photography: Apollo Fields
Longmont Wedding Venue: Altona Grange
Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Jenny Yoo
Hair: Carbon Salon
Ethical Wedding Bands: Brilliant Earth
Wildflower Wedding Invitations: Paper Culture
Golden Gate Canyon State Park Engagement Photography
Kat & Brett’s Engagement Session | Golden Gate Canyon State Park | Colorado Engagement Photography | Jeep Wrangler Engagements | Cannonball Brewery Beer Photos | Apollo Fields
The crunch of pine needles under your hiking boots. The kind nods of strangers walking by. The mountain wind that sings aspens into a dance also fills your lungs with movement. The comfort of adventuring in Colorado where the unknown trail feels like a well worn couch. Sink your soul into nature and the wild woodland sounds will lull you to sleep. A community of one in the safe outdoors—or better yet—bring a friend or two and set the trail ablaze with laughter and conversation. Expand your community, bring people together, and fill your heart with trust.
Hiking Golden Gate Canyon State Park with Kat and Brett for their outdoor engagement session felt just like this. Light with laughter and steeped in love. It made me miss living in Colorado, but it made me grateful for the communities we’re helping bring together. “Talking with a friend about friends you meet and I’m so glad we met,” Kat said in a text yesterday, and I couldn’t agree more. We cross paths with strangers and acquaintances on city sidewalks, hiking trails in the woods, and in line at supermarkets—and it is up to us to decide who we should invite into our lives.
Kat and I met working at Oasis Brewing Company together and I still love to use that space as our hub for connecting when we’re back in town. Firstly, because beer; secondly, because of the honest and kind-hearted eyes of Morianne and Erik Smith that welcome me back into that building; and thirdly, because the beautifully decorated rustic modern space is a comfortable and conducive atmosphere for meetups of all sizes. By purposefully perpetuating relationships out of this space (I’m not forgetting you Kael and Kelly), Heather and I hope to cultivate long-lasting friendships that never end at the bottom of the glass.
When we met up at the brewery this past Monday, we held a meeting with Matt and Julie, a couple potential (now actual!) clients, followed by an open invitation to all of our friends in the area. The turnout exceeded our expectations, including climbing buddies, fellow industry professionals, old friends, horse barn neighbors, and even a couple, Meghan and Armand, whose wedding we shot in the summer of 2018. Meghan and Armand were the real MVPs of the meetup as they beamed with happiness, recounting to Matt and Julie just how positive their experience with us was. Funny thing is, the meeting of these two couples was unintentional if not downright serendipitous, because we didn’t tell most of our friends that we were coming early to meet with Matt and Julie. Yet because we choose to cultivate relationships with our couples and with people in spaces that mean something to us, we continue to connect and create communities.
It’s that same feeling that washes over us when we take our puppers on a walk in the woods. It’s a community of one turning into a community of many, linked by trust and adventure. We’ve only known Kat and Brett, Erik and Morianne, Kael and Kelly, and now Meghan and Armand for a year or two, but as we hike forward towards the future, we aim to bring the Matt and Julie’s into our community one couple at a time.
AS SEEN IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN BRIDE MAGAZINE
Photography: Heather for Apollo Fields
Writing: Terrence for Apollo Fields
Colorado Location: Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Dress: Madewell
Beer: Cannonball Creek Brewery
Maternity Photography in Arvada Colorado
Lindsey’s Maternity Session in Wheat Ridge, CO | Colorado Maternity Photos | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
This sweet session gave me all the feels! Lindsey and Jeff were one of my 2017 couples who had an amazing wedding at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion in Denver. It has been so fun capturing their relationship through their engagement session, wedding, and now maternity photos as they prepare to meet their sweet little girl in just a few weeks!
I love specializing in weddings and it has been great for my business to be able to really focus and hone in my skills; however, there is something so amazing about getting to follow my couples through the years as they begin to grow their own families. I love switching things up by taking on these sweet maternity sessions whenever the opportunities arise. Lindsey and Jeff have such a caring way about them that is such a joy to photograph.
We got to spend the afternoon in Anderson Park in Wheat Ridge soaking in the light and some of the first sunshine that Colorado had seen in days after a stretch of cold and gray days. CO boasts “300 days of sunshine” but last week was not part of that count apparently. When we landed in Denver on Thursday, we were excited to hit the ground running with sessions but the freezing rain with no mountain visibility forced us to rearrange our plans a bit. Lindsey and I were checking in all day for this session because the skies were doing some wonky things and the weather reports were all over the place threatening to storm. But we decided to go for it anyway and look at the amazing light we got! We struck gold and I’m so excited to share these sweet photos.
It was such a privilege to capture this time for Lindsey and Jeff as they prepare to meet their little babe at the end of the month (hopefully she comes on time because then I’ll also be back in town to do her newborn pics)!
Heather is a Colorado & New York based wedding photographer who loves to follow her couples through their milestones after their weddings. Reach out to set up your own session or chat about your upcoming wedding!
Colorado Wedding Photographers
We Just Landed in CO for a Rad Wedding Weekend!
Wedding Photography Lifestyle and Travel Blog | Destination Wedding Photographers in Colorado and NYC | Terrence and Heather Huie | Apollo Fields Weddings
Well it’s finally here. Wedding season.
We’re so pumped that we feel like Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers—well except the fact that we’re actually invited to the weddings we’re attending!
I like to say we are invited because that’s how we feel about the relationship with our couples, how each of them welcome us into their lives and give us the responsibility and privilege of documenting some of their life’s most precious moments. Of course, we take great pride in the professional service that we provide, but it’s the families and friends that we meet along the way that make us grateful to no end. Jes and Emma got our season off to a heart melting start a couple weeks ago, but we just landed in Colorado to officially kick it off with a bang!
Aaand it’s snowing...in May. Well it’s actually not all that unheard of in Colorado this time of year, but we planned to hit the ground running and make our way to Boulder to meet up with one of our couples, Kelly and Alec, for an outdoor engagement session today but mother nature had other ideas (usually we are all for weather but this is all gray, freezing rain, no mountain views, and no light whatsoever). So we’ll be rescheduling that for later this trip! Kelly and Alec are a wonderfully thoughtful couple who got engaged on a picturesque bridge in Amsterdam and will be hosting their outdoor wedding in Boulder this August at Wedgewood! (Let’s hope it doesn’t snow :) ) Shout out to our close friends, Matt and Kerry, who will be hosting us while we make the most of our time in one of our favorite places!
Tomorrow we head back down to Denver to begin the wedding weekend for Naomi and Johnny. Their rehearsal dinner is at New Terrain Brewing Company (hell yeah!) in Golden and we can’t wait. We just shot their engagement session in Norfolk, Virginia at a gorgeous trail head and brewery (finding a theme? :)) a couple months back and we’re so excited to meet their friends and family. If they’re anything like Naomi and Johnny we’re in for a heartfelt weekend. On Saturday, they’re hosting their wedding at The Pines at Genesee, a gorgeous outdoor wedding venue in Golden that we’re very familiar with. We can’t wait!
The same night, Casey and Thomas are getting married at Altona Grange Hall up in Longmont and we’re so excited for them! Our awesome associate, Sarah, is covering their wedding while we kick some ass in Golden and I know she’s going to do a killer job as always. They are a couple who dated in high school, lost touch, then eventually serendipitously reconnected in Chicago five years later. It’s funny how love seems to find us in the strangest ways. Here’s to the mysterious machinations that bring us all together!
Finally, we finish the trip with our dear friends Kat and Brett. Kat and I met working together at Oasis Brewing Company where we immediately connected over our unique blend of dark humor and entrepreneurial professionalism. I’m stoked to shoot their outdoor engagement session in Golden Gate Canyon State Park and look forward to sharing a laugh or twelve while we catch up over a beer (okay—there’s definitely a theme here).
All we ask as your wedding photojournalists is to show us your true selves. Unapologetic and unflinching, embrace the relationships that you’ve all deemed worthy to invest your life into. After all, these people are your partners, your secret-keepers, and your livelihood. Open your eyes and hearts and we will be there to capture it all.
Our Travel Dates:
Thursday, May 9: Boulder
Friday, May 10: Golden
Saturday, May 11: Longmont + Golden
Sunday, May 12: Arvada
Monday, May 13: Denver
Tuesday, May 14: Arvada >> FLY BACK TO NYC
We have a lot of weddings and shoots, but since we like to work hard + play hard, we are loosely planning on having a meetup Monday evening at Oasis Brewery to see some of our favorite faces. All are welcome, as usual :)
XO,
Terrence & Heather
Gold Hill Inn Wedding in Boulder, CO
Zach & Susan's Gold Hill Inn Wedding in Boulder, CO | Colorado Weddings | Apollo Fields
I loved Zach and Susan’s wedding for a lot of reasons, but I think my favorite part about it was how much it truly reflected their lifestyles and relationship. They are both super down-to-earth, laid back, outdoorsy, and family oriented people and their wedding really let all of these aspects shine. I loved when we first chatted for a FaceTime meetup, we had to set up a specific time for them to be on wifi since they are living off the grid on a little hobby farm in the mountains of Colorado. We really clicked about their no-frills lifestyle and what it means to move towards a sustainable and eco-friendly homestead.
I want to share some of their couples questionnaire because I think it says so much about their personalities:
How Did You Two Meet?: We met the way people meet these days. And then we met in-person at the Pizza Bar 66 in Lyons, then took our dogs for a walk in Meadow Park.
When Did You Know It Was Right?: We had a very quick and easy bond. It just felt right. We expressed our love for one another about a month after starting to date. We were on our first hut trip together, over Thanksgiving break.
What Are Some Of Your Favorite Things To Do Together?: ski, hike, camp, travel, all manner of outdoor activities
What Are You Most Looking Forward To On Your Wedding Day?: I (Zach) think we are most looking forward to celebrating with friends and family after all the official business is over. Although the Gold Hill Inn will be very special, I think we're most looking forward to having everyone back to our home for the cookout/campfire/campout at our house.
Who Popped The Question? And how!?: I (Zach) popped the question in May. I was planning to do so for a while. We took a dive trip to Belize and I proposed to Susan on the first night. We went for a walk around the small island and I proposed to her on a dock just past sunset.
Any Big Plans For The Future?: A kid together, lots of travel and adventure and an active outdoor lifestyle. Hopefully one day moving back to the Western Slope or perhaps the Pacific Northwest.
What Makes You Two Unique?: We're both in our late 30's and have our shit together. That said, we recognize the life is worth living and not only for going through the motions that responsibility dictates. We like to work hard and play hard. This isn't particularly unique, but it's what makes us such a good match.
Individually, Susan is "wicked smart", compassionate, upbeat, positive and emotionally intuitive. I am straightforward, earnest, open, honest, loyal and driven.
Something Silly Or Quirky About You Two?: Susan is a small animal vet. As such, we have lots of animals and a hobby farm. And as such, I also have a small side business as a pet photographer. On our farm, we have 8 dogs (6 inside & 2 working dogs), 4 barn cats, 9 goats, and about 30 chickens. Two of our dogs will be in the ceremony (one one each side).
Enjoy their photos from their Gold Hill Inn wedding & their reception at their hobby farm:
Colorado Wedding Venue: Gold Hill Inn, Boulder, CO
Colorado Photography: Heather Huie for Apollo Fields
Golden Hour Photography Tips
Why It Is Important To Shoot Romantics During Golden Hour
Michael & Kia's Wedding | Hudson Gardens Event Center Wedding | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
Kia and Mike had a beautiful summer wedding at Hudson Gardens in Littleton, CO. I’ve shot a few weddings at this venue and it gets a great golden hour in the back of the property as the sun begins to set. I wanted to show off their romantics because I think these pics are a great example of why it is so important to build in couple’s portraits during golden hour away from your wedding guests.
Why Do These Need To Be Private?
I feel so strongly about taking time WITHOUT any guests, family, friends, wedding party, etc during golden hour to do photos. Why? Because the rest of your whole day can be a blur of people swarming around you. Vendors prepping, planners circling around you, guests hugging you, your weird uncle who won’t stop talking to you, your bestie who can’t be denied the selfie, etc. These can all be fun parts of the day and honestly, most of the socializing is great and a reason to opt for having a bigger wedding celebration.
But it is important not to lose sight of WHY you’re getting married. You are committing your life to your partner and this is a beautiful thing! This is what it is all about and you should absolutely take some time to be alone together. As your photographer in this moment, I’d rather be able to set this moment with you guys and then throw on a long lens and let you have your privacy. Talk together. Hug. Dance. Kiss, make out, or just be. It’s all fair game and I promise to be more of a person holding space with you than an awkward third wheel.
Why Golden Hour?
Well, first of all… what the heck is this “golden hour” you speak of so much? Let’s backtrack a bit. Golden hour is that time before sunset when the sun gets closer to the horizon. The light becomes more dynamic first, then if the weather and clouds cooperate, you’ll get a “fire hour”. This is that gorgeous, warm, amazing gold light that floods through the leaves and across water. This is the stuff of photographer’s dreams. It’s my catnip.
After the sun tucks itself behind the horizon line, the light will get very soft and flattering. Everything seems to calm for a moment (yet another reason for a private moment) and it is such great light for portraits. After this, “blue hour” will begin to creep in. The temperature of the light ‘cools’ off, which means it shifts from the warmer yellows and golds towards more blues and icy tones. Blue hour is also great to shoot in, and can be a fun opportunity to push creative boundaries a bit.
As a photographer and synesthetic, I am super — super — light sensitive. It’s really easy for me to understand that light has a temperature, a shape, an energy, and a tangible quality to it. Some lights to me feel like the ocean, some feel like flannel, some feel like strawberry short cake. It’s weird and I don’t expect my couples to totally understand this, but the good news is that you don’t HAVE to understand it! That’s what I’m hired to do, let me do my light thing and you’ll get beautiful photos my friends.
Why Is The Light So Important?
All of this is to say that the TIMING of your couple’s portraits is extremely important to achieve that beautiful, epic dreamy lighting. Golden hour is rapidly changing, and the good stuff only lasts a few minutes so this is why it is important to have a photographer who really knows light. For me, it’s THE most important technical part of getting amazing shots (I think the number one most important part is making sure you and your partner feel comfortable, are having fun, and walk away with an amazing experience).
The good news is, we can take as much or as little time to do these portraits as you would like. In a perfect world, we’ll have some time set aside in the timeline of the day that works around whenever the sun is setting in your location and date of your wedding and we can go out for 20 minutes to really enjoy the landscape and you can really connect with your partner before the energy of the reception really revs up.
How Do I Build This Into My Timeline?
The easiest answer is: Let’s take a look at what your timeline is looking like and when/where the sun will be setting for your wedding. I like to work backwards here and have just a little bit of flexibility. Remember, sunset is LATE in the summer, so you might already be into your special dances and everything when golden hour happens. On the contrary, winter weddings are often dark by the ceremony. Let’s figure out together how to carve this into your day without it becoming a hassle.
So we’ll figure out when sunset is and then think about the direction of the light and the layout of the venue. Oftentimes, I’ll have one eye on shooting the wedding and my other eye on the light. When it is “just right” I’ll come and snag you guys! It’s the one time during the wedding that when I say “GO”, we really need to go! Haha, but it is without a doubt one of my favorite parts of shooting weddings and oftentimes, my favorite pictures of the whole day. (Think album covers, people) Yes, yes!!!
