Long Beach Engagement Photography
Long Beach Engagement Photography | Long Island Engagement Photos | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Justyna & Steve
Coney Island Engagement Photography
Coney Island Engagement Photography | Brooklyn Engagement Photos | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers | NYC Photographer
Jenny & Frank
The last time I was at Coney Island before Frank and Jenny’s engagement session I was swinging from a trapeze. For real. Now I’m not in the circus and judging by my performance that day, I should stick with photography, but for an afternoon my best friend and I took a trapeze class at Coney Island. It was pre-covid and I was still living in NYC at the time, so Terrence, Grace, and I all took the subway down to Coney Island for the day. We spent some time on the beach, and the blistering sun reflected off the waves on all the New Yorkers looking for a summer escape from the hot concrete in Manhattan.
When we were there, the beaches were practically shoulder-to-shoulder busy, and the boardwalk was booming with both locals and tourists. The rides were in full swing, and we made the obligatory trip to Nathans. I think I got tatertots, the lame-o vegetarian that I am.
Jenny and Frank have similar memories from Coney Island, and have spent many date-days exploring this fun spot. We met up in October for their engagement session and Coney Island looked distinctly different than the peak season craziness that I remembered from my last visit. At first, it was mildly eerie, like the set of a movie where the streets are a little vacant and the year-round dwellers are all characters of their own. The amusement park was closed for the season, but the sun was warm and the light was hazy and reminiscent of summer despite the time of year.
My father was visiting from South Carolina, so him, Terrence and Capa all took off for a stroller tour of the area while Jenny, Frank, and I made our way up and down the boardwalk. We took a moment to get on the sand near the beach, but spent our time exploring and chatting. They are such a sweet couple planning a Buffalo NY wedding, so it was extra fun to get to shoot their engagement in Brooklyn in a place that is so sentimental for them!
Enjoy these photos from Frank and Jenny’s Coney Island Engagement Session:
Boulder Colorado Engagement Photography
Olivia and Tim's Engagement in Boulder, Colorado | Eagle Trailhead Hiking Path | Adventure Engagement Photographer in CO | Rocky Mountain Weddings | Apollo Fields Photographers
Sometimes I feel like our identities are torn between New York and Colorado. It’s hard because I have a serious love for both states but for completely different reasons:
My NY side loves the art scene, ethnic food, the fast paced lifestyle, the ocean, and getting to dress in all black.
My Colorado side loves the mountains, the sense of adventure, the laid back culture, local beer, and getting to wear flannel.
Sometimes, I feel like we’re supposed to choose between these two worlds, but then I remember that we have intentionally carved out a lifestyle that allows us to wear both hats instead of picking only one or the other. It’s pretty damn cool and I think we are so lucky to be able to work in such epic places. What is extra cool for me, though, is when both of my worlds collide. Olivia and Tim’s engagement session was the perfect example of this.
Here’s the backstory… Olivia’s mom is one of the owners and the head trainer of the barn that I board my horse at in Northport, NY. Olivia and Tim recently relocated to the wild, wild west and just like that—BOOM—my worlds collide!
I love showing people around some of our favorite Colorado digs, so this was especially fun for me because they haven’t had a lot of time to explore the front range yet. We hit Eagle Trailhead for golden hour, and it did not disappoint.
Olivia and Tim have such a sweet and fun way about them. It made my job VERY easy because I barely had to pose or direct! It was more of, “okay so let’s go into this light and then just hang out together” click-click-click-click. It felt more like us all chilling by the foothills swapping war stories about turning my horse out than a formal session (AKA the dream for me). And trust me, there are always plenty of stories about Limbo to go around— one of Olivia’s first things she said to me was how my horse had a major meltdown with her when she was bringing him back to the barn once. Oh, Bimbo… he’s so adorable sometimes!
Enjoy Olivia + Tim’s engagement pics:
2020 is booking fast!
Reach out ASAP to check in on your date :)
Brooklyn Heights Engagement Photographer
emily & augie’s engagement photos in NYC | brooklyn heights, bk | apollo fields wedding photography
The night before our trip to Colorado a couple weeks back, Heather and I met up with one of our September 2019 couples, Emily and Augie, at their apartment in Brooklyn Heights. It was supposed to be an early evening where we all get to know each other a little bit but ended with each of us telling story after story over a few glasses of wine and laughing all the way until midnight. #noregrets. What this quintessential New York City night made clear to us (other than that Emily and Augie’s wedding is gonna be dope AF) is that whether we are in New York or Colorado, we are always finding couples who are trying to surround themselves with nature.
When we first stepped into Emily and Augie’s penthouse apartment we were greeted by white walls that opened the space up with light as a breeze came in through the patio door. After a warm welcome and quick tour, we stepped out onto their serene terrace where vine ripe tomatoes, basil, thyme, and grapes grew in raised garden beds, thriving on a custom irrigation system which Augie built himself. He also re-floored the entire patio with a clean wooden farmhouse look to replace the rubber mats that should be kept on NYC playgrounds. He said it was the hardest math problem he’s ever done, lol. We really admire when people have the skills and ambition to take on DIY projects like this! As we lounged and spoke about our love of nature and photography, their two dogs ran between our legs and teased one another with their toys and we were well on our way to a wonderful evening.
In a kind of afterthought, Emily and Augie told us we can climb a metal ladder that reaches to the roof for a view of downtown Manhattan. If you’ve seen the pictures, this was a massive undersell. It was like saying, “you can go look at piles of dirt and trees when you drive on I-70 through the Rockies.” The view from their private rooftop is what people dream of when they rent their first basement shoe box apartment in New York City. They have an unobstructed view of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, downtown Manhattan and the Freedom tower—they could be running a tourist attraction for crying out loud—and it was all an afterthought. They were so much more excited to talk about their dogs, pluck a grape, tomato, or a leaf of basil, and hand it to us rather than boast a view they could charge admission for. Just thinking about the humility and priorities of these two makes us so grateful to be their wedding photographers! When they eventually joined us on the rooftop they didn’t even think we’d snap pictures of them up there, which was equal parts dumbfounding and endearing.
After we climbed down and our jaws returned to their natural resting position, we made our way to their favorite local Italian spot, Noodle Pudding. With each of us coming from our respective quirky families we exchanged stories in a friendly one-upping of “you won’t believe this,” covering everything from barroom stories, to trusting strangers, and wedding planning. The food spread included some of the freshest caprese salad I’ve ever tasted, fried zucchini, some true Brooklyn homemade lasagna, and a couple of glasses of house red to wash it all down. When we all finally threw in our white handkerchiefs we were all full, happy, and ready to call it a night, although I’m pretty sure we all had a story or two left in each of us.
Whether our couples are from New York, Colorado, or somewhere in between, we find that most of them are trying to surround themselves with something green. I’m not talking about money or the famous Colorado herb but something that brings them back to nature. While it is obviously much easier in Colorado than New York, Emily and Augie have shown us what can be done even in the concrete jungle.
As seen in: Popped! Magazine
Photography: Apollo Fields
The many faces behind Apollo Fields
Terrence & Heather here, the passionate creatives behind the pen and lens. This photo is from when we got married in October 2018 and is a wonderful representation of our relationship! Click on the photo and drop us a line, 2020 is booking up FAST!
Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
August 13, 2019
As we conclude another busy stretch that included: a wedding near the artsy town Hudson in upstate NY, a studio collaboration in Philly with a badass industry professional and friend, Dylan Crossley, and a boudoir shoot on Long Island—we’re ready to pack up our gear and start our next leg in Boulder, Colorado. Our rigorous schedule can be demanding, stressful, and scattered all over the place, but we find that it’s better to push ourselves rather than rest on our laurels because 1. our future selves will thank us; and 2. We have each other.
Heather has been on site for wedding days more often than myself this season, so when I got to shoot with her at the wedding in Ghent, NY, this past weekend, it reminded me of all the great parts of being a wedding photographer. From celebrating a couple’s love, to hearing people speak directly from the heart, and bearing witness to reunion after reunion and hug after hug—there’s so much going on in a wedding to be grateful for.
One thing I cannot emphasize enough for a couple who’s seeking a wedding photographer is to meet with your candidates before the wedding. You don’t realize how intimate the relationship is with your wedding photographer until the day of; when your mother or maid of honor is helping you slip into your dress, or your best man or father is helping you adjust your bow tie in the mirror—and just over your shoulder is a person with a camera. Yes, we’re professionals and can still do our job without really getting to know one another, but when we know what makes you comfortable or the backstory for the details that mean something to you, we can do our jobs that much better. At Apollo Fields, we prefer to be close to our couples, crying with them from behind our cameras rather than maintaining a safe distance from the connections and emotions that make a wedding day so special.
Traveling can be a lot. Personalities can be huge. Energy might not be there. There are so many variables that surround weddings that have stress written all over them, but just like any other obstacles or adversities, sometimes the best thing we can do is control the way we react to them. Better still, we can look at the current circumstances and pull from them the most positive things, choosing the silver lining of our experiences rather than the copper-colored rust of regrets or frustrations. Some say that life is a playground, others say it is a test—I believe it’s somewhere in the middle—with plenty of space for somersaults, self-improvement, and a craft beer in between.
As we zip up our luggage and secure our gear, I am energized by these words alone. They contain my reflections on the choices that I make everyday. I don’t run from difficulty and I am not afraid of the future. I pursue my goals with Heather, my partner who drives me mad at times but always helps to keep the course of this crooked ship. Here’s to the adventures that shape us along the way and the destination best left unknown.
Montauk NY Engagement Photographers
Bri & Tyler’s Engagement Session | Montauk NY | The Hamptons Destination Weddings | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
An early evening summer breeze coming off the Atlantic reminds the Montauk locals of the sun and the salt on their skin, but that same breeze that warms a beach bum’s heart can chill a Texan to the bone. A kind memory of home to Bri is a reminder to Tyler just how far he is from his, but come October 2020 their families will join to celebrate their love in a half-homegrown, half-destination wedding.
Many would consider it a luxury to grow up in a destination wedding town, embracing the lifestyle and culture that seems as light as a day on the beach. Others might say that the summer months that bring tourists and city slickers who clog the one road, two-lane streets like the sidewalks in Manhattan are killing their vibes. The reality is that the sun shines no matter what and despite the traffic we are all going to enjoy our drink of choice on the beach for one reason or another.
For Bri, hosting her wedding in Montauk will be like having her own personal welcoming parade of family and neighbors, smiling faces lining either side of the aisle like a beach version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While Tyler and his family, although no strangers to coastal waters, will mostly likely be dipping their toes into the Atlantic a bit more timidly than they do in the Gulf of Mexico. The thing about the locations of weddings is—whether a new or familiar experience—the love in the room is all the same.
Weddings offer us wonderful opportunities to connect with groups of people we might not speak to in our daily lives. Too often our occupations and locations restrict us to familiar routines that can limit our world experience, but when love is the accepted common ground all conversations and connections are possible. There is simply no space for judgment when love is in the air. Breathe it in, take it in, and clink glasses with someone you might otherwise not meet.
Heather and I are so lucky to share these spaces in places all over the world, snapping photos and writing down all of the emotions that we see. I’ve said before that our emotions are our secrets until we share them with someone, but on wedding days most people wear them as proudly as their finest suit or most elegant dress. Restraining the contents of our hearts would be like putting those garments back in the closet and throwing on the wrinkled clothes that adorn the floor. Instead we see tears trickle down cheeks like rain down window panes and eyes well up like dams that are about to burst.
A forum to express the version of ourselves that is too often buttoned up and hidden away is one of the many reasons that make our jobs more than an occupation or service. According to our tax documents we are wedding photographers, but according to ourselves we are photojournalists who never settle for the surface, always scanning the room for people to show us the best version of themselves.
Enjoy these pics from Bri & Tyler’s Montauk Engagement Session:
Hi! We’re Terrence & Heather…
…we are the husband-and-wife duo of Apollo Fields! Thanks for checking out Bri & Tyler’s engagement photos. We are so stoked to shoot their 2020 Wedding at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk!
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
Horse Farm Engagement Session Ideas
Anet and Ian’s engagement photos | hunterdon county wedding photographers | apollo fields | New York wedding photography | farm wedding photographers | wedding writer
There’s something about looking out into a field from the wooden porch of a farm that makes you want to take a deep, full breath. Maybe it’s the way that twilight seems to color the evening sky a little longer than it does in the city. Maybe it’s the smell of dinner from the stove that sweeps through the house and makes the screen door squeak. Or maybe—it’s just the company that we find ourselves in.
Heather and I plan to create such a life on a farm together one day...but it looks like Anet and Ian are going to beat us to the punch! We can’t wait to photograph their wedding next May at The Farmhouse at the Grand Colonial in Hunterdon County, New Jersey because we love being on farms with wandering animals, freshly cut grass, and seasonal vegetables. And if it’s up to Heather, we’ll being feeding our horse, Limbo, through the kitchen window from the palms of our hands one day.
Funny enough, Heather met Anet over 10 years ago in the—you guessed it—horse world. As an equestrian novice, I’ve learned that the bond between a rider and their horse should never be underestimated; and apparently neither can the social ties between horse people. It’s one of the everybody seems to know everybody kind of communities; a blast to be a part of and an absolute mystery to the rest of us. In the years to come I hope to be integrated into the community through meeting people like Anet and Ian, who is also apparently a pretty deft hand at polo. (I, on the other hand used to think that the players hit the ball with the small end of the mallet. facepalm.)
For us, one of the most alluring aspects of the living on a farm is learning to utilize fresh produce all-year round. Whether you’re storing, preserving, pickling or crunching into a spear of asparagus fresh out of the soil, there ain’t nothing quite like biting into some really fresh, homemade food. Despite the fact that both Anet and Ian are afraid of birds, they’re also excited to start a farm and get some chickens—and we’re excited for them! (We miss our little Colorado flock!) Anet and Ian’s plan after their wedding is to begin their family farm in the hills of Ireland and we couldn’t be happier for them. As long as they share their vegetables.
Shooting weddings on farms feels like we’re part of a family or something. Like we can hear the dinner bell and remember to hide the grass stains on our knees. It’s the comfort of a shared table, the waves of chatter, and the clanking of glasses and silverware. It’s the raucous bursts of laughter. There’s so much warmth in my thoughts when I think of farm life that it makes photographing weddings on farms one of my favorite things to do. It may be because of the fresh food and long summer evenings—or maybe—it’s just the company we find ourselves in.
AS SEEN IN THE POPPED! MAGAZINE
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.
Cherry Blossom Engagement Session at City Park in Denver
Eve & Bobby's Cherry Blossom Engagement Session | City Park, Denver | Spring Engagement Photos | Colorado Wedding Photographer | Apollo Photojournalism
Eve and Bobby and are fun loving couple who are able to roll with the punches. They wanted their engagement session to be outdoors and since they live close to City Park in Denver, shooting there seemed to perfectly reflect their lifestyles. They are laid back and go-with-the-flow, which was great when the weather was freezing cold, overcast, and rainy on the day of their engagement session.
Rescheduling wasn't an option, so we crossed our fingers for a break in the weather and met up in the park. I'm so glad we did, because the shots are so beautiful! It never warmed up and the sun never poked through, but you can't even tell in the pictures. And we had the cherry blossoms all to ourselves, an almost unheard of luxury this time of year because their season is so short.
This was my first cherry blossom session that I have done and I was surprised by how much I love the color palate. I am usually more drawn to earthier tones than pastels, but I found that Eve and Bobby's outfits worked so well with the setting that I really enjoyed the pinks, whites, yellows, and light greens of the grove that we shot in.
We moved quickly through the session because the skies kept threatening a harder rain, and with frozen fingers and no golden light to play with, I wanted to get these lovebirds back in their warm car as quick as possible! They made my job easy because they have such a great balance of playfulness and tenderness. They were just as happy to be dancing under the trees as they were to cuddle up with each other and have a quiet moment together.
Peaking at my viewfinder on my camera and I knew that despite the weather (and the cranky geese) we had some gems to work with! I was so excited to get home to warm up and offload all these beautiful pictures from their engagement session. I'm so excited to shoot their wedding this season!
Denver Engagement Photographer: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Fields
Wedding Coordinator: Jennifer Wetterlin | Denver Event Pros
Location: Denver, Colorado | City Park
In Home Engagement Session Ideas for Lifestyle Photography
Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Photography | Sloans Lake, Denver Colorado | In Home Session | Apollo Photo
In home engagement sessions are definitely some of my favorite to shoot! As much as I love the dramatic landscapes and nature sessions, there is something so intimate about being invited into a couple's home that they have created together and really seeing the inner workings of their daily lives and love.
It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera. It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day. Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too! As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions. I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day.
Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards. To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.
Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing. Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them. Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session.
I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell. This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair. Working in such a new space is exciting because it really is a blank canvas, which is one of the big draws that the venue boasts. They let their couples bring in their own vendors, and they get a full 24 hours to party as late as they want and not worry about cleanup that same night.
Since moving from New York City, I rarely get to photograph in urban settings anymore! I do prefer rural country weddings, but it will be a fun chance to get back into a city environment for their wedding. I do love the neighborhood that Skylight is nestled into: Denver's Sante Fe Art District, with loud pops of colorful graffiti, funky coffee shops, and busy streets.
Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Session | Colorado Wedding Photographer | In-Home Engagement Photography
I love shooting in home engagement sessions because they are intimate, personal, and always tell such a great story about the couple. When couples such as Kerry and Patrick welcome us into their home, we get to see the space that they have created as their own.
As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions. I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day. It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera. It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day. Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too!
Most couples are engaged for around a year, and these photos are a sweet momento from that time in their lives which seems to go so quickly in the midst of all of the wedding planning, booking vendors, guest lists, timelines, and all of the other fun – but sometimes stressful – parts about planning the ceremony and party exactly the way you want it.
Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing. Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them. Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session.
Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards. To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.
I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell. This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair. Stay tuned for pictures of their wedding in just a few weeks!
Engagement Photography: Apollo Photo
Lifestyle Photography: Eden Photography
Rocky Mountain National Park Engagement Session
Don & Aliyah's Autumn Inspired Engagement Session | Gold Aspen Trees | Rocky Mountain National Park | Colorado Engagement Photographer | Apollo Photojournalism
When Don and Aliyah asked for the iconic gold aspen trees for their engagement session, I knew I wanted to make it happen right away for them. The season is sort for the leaves, and Colorado autumns can be unpredictable. This year, we had an early frost that stripped most of the trees naked out by the ski villages, which is where we were originally hoping to shoot.
September is also my busiest month of the year. And for good reason! I love fall weddings because the air smells so good, the mountains look majestic, and those leaves make for the most colorful and bold photos. But it's no guarantee out here. Mother Nature can be a real mother at times, and when the season for the aspens got cut short this year, I had to call an audible on our original plan to shoot later in the month out west.
On a whim, I called Don and said, "Could you guys do 6:15AM in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday?" I think at first he thought I was joking. Deep down, I sort of hoped I was joking, too. I'm not a morning-enthusiast, so the idea of voluntarily signing up for that kind of wake-up was normally outside of my vocabulary. But this was our last chance at getting the trees and the morning light was my only option because I was booked solid for my evenings. He quickly agreed, and found an epic location with beautiful mountains and a scenic river.
I drove up the windy mountain roads in the morning, and as the alpenglow began to creep over the peaks, so did a hard rain shower. Suddenly, a rainbow broke and I knew that we only had a small window of time to grab it! We hit the jackpot. We got a rainbow, all of those mountain views, a river, and the gold aspens! It was SO worth it. I just love my couples that are down to adventure and trust in me when I ask them to get up crazy early and hit the rockies. We had an awesome time shooting together, and I'm so excited to shoot their wedding this upcoming September!
Adventure Mountain Photographer: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Wes & Chelsea's Breckenridge Engagement Session in Colorado
Chelsea & Wes' Engagement Photography in Breckenridge | Colorado Engagement Photography | Mountain Wedding Photographer | Apollo Fields Weddings
What could be dreamier than a wintery snowy engagement session in the beautiful Rockies!? Breckenridge is best known for being a popular ski town in Colorado and gets a lot of tourism in the winter months. Chelsea and Wes were visiting from their hometown in Texas to celebrate and I was so excited to be able to shoot their engagements for them in this iconic ski town.
The town of Breckenridge is really settled around the slopes but makes it very easy to get around. There are cute little coffee shops, bars, and shopping stores to pop in and out of. We did our session down by the little river that runs through the town from all of the snow runoff. We were lucky to have a snowy day but nothing too severe.
I actually blew my tire out on the way to this session when a rockslide on i-70 came barreling down onto the highway. I was busy dodging the smaller rocks when I hit the mac-daddy of boulders and immediately popped the tire. I was stressing out because I knew I had to get up to this session and luckily, Terrence was able to throw the donut on the car and we drove to a little mechanic shop in Georgetown and the guy was able to hammer it out and refill the tire (he originally thought it wouldn’t be salvageable so you can imagine my excitement when we got back on the road for only $20)!
I was still able to get up to Breck on time (the benefit of leaving ridiculously early for shoots) and meet up with this fun loving couple. These two had such a great and easy chemistry with one another that made this wintery session a blast to photograph. It was chilly but they never once complained, and one of my favorite things about the dry cold in the mountains is that the snow doesn’t get heavy and soaked through your pants so it is easy to stay happy without needing a wardrobe change!
I can’t recommend this location more to anyone visiting Colorado and love to shoot in this cozy mountain town so please reach out to set up your own engagement and/or wedding in this great ski town!
Colorado Engagement Photographer: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photojournalism