Headed to Vermont

I'm taking a break from shooting weddings to be IN a wedding! Mia + Matt are tying the knot this Saturday at a beautiful place in Stowe, Vermont. I took this picture last fall and it's exactly where the ceremony and reception will be. Everything is outside...and very Vermont. Leading up to the wedding, they've got all sorts of things planned for us to do: hiking, baseball game, dinners, BBQ....and a lot of chillin' out. I've been running around the last several days getting everything ready for this trip...and now I'm looking at the clock and it's already 1:00 a.m.!!! I leave in less than 6 hours. I'm sure you think I'm crazy. But I've always been like this. I'm a permanent night owl...and plan to just sleep on the plane. I'll have email access on-and-off so I'll get back to everyone as soon as I return next week. If it's urgent, I'll have my cell. Take care everyone...I'll return with lots of pictures. Here's a look back at the bride and groom-to-be.

Introducing the future Mr. + Mrs....

Yep, the good ol' Wise Potato Chips truck really came in handy this time. Couldn't have been the more perfect spot to start off Laci + Tayler's engagement session. No joke...that's Tayler's last name. Love it! The truck was actually the only planned location. I haven't done a session that's completely spontaneous in months, so I was ready for a challenge...and they were too! Here's a bit of what we came up with in just over an hour...

Alicia + Wyatt: sneak peek

This was such an awesome wedding that I'm still not quite ready to post yet! Here's a little something from a jam-packed weekend in Ft. Benton. Stay tuned...

The Clampitt Family

OK, remember the last time I offered babysitting services? Well, it happened AGAIN! I can't help falling in love with all of the children I get to meet. This family was no exception. They made me laugh from beginning to end. I thought this would be a great post to kick off the week. Enjoy!

Sydney

Another incredible senior to show off to you! This one comes all the way from the town of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota! Pretty crazy how it all worked out...but Syd actually learned about me from her next door neighbor, who's best friends with my husband's sister. Still following me? Well, Syd's whole family went hiking and camping in Glacier National Park and made a quick detour through Great Falls so we could get some senior pictures done. I feel so flattered that they made a pit stop in the Electric City. Syd is a genuine sweetheart through-and-through with the cutest family to match. I hope we can hang out the next time we're back in Minnesota!

Olive + Chloe + Laura

I told you we got some pictures! That's for Laura, who wasn't quite sure how a photo shoot with cats would go. But the dark gray cat Chloe is already a star in town - check out her poster - and Olive was hamming it up this time. As most of you know, I prefer to do my shoots outside using natural light...but we couldn't let the cats run around in the yard. So I just chased them around the house! Here's a quick peek at some of my faves. They are such graceful cats...and look at those eyes!

Face Behind the Camera

Meet Adrienne. The gorgeous senior who made sure I'd never forget my jean splitting experience. Much more to come from this smashing + classy young woman.

Exposed

My favorite jeans are now history. R.I.P. A huge RIP in the worst place possible...and it happened right in the middle of my first senior shoot of the summer. Thank goodness my senior was a girl!!! Thanks Adrienne for laughing so much at me, guarding me from people walking by and taking this picture as incriminating evidence.

Happy Anniversary

3 years. That's how long I've been married to the love of my life. :)

To celebrate our big day, I'm sharing some of our favorite wedding pictures. Rick Hunter in San Antonio was our photographer and, at the time, he didn't specialize in weddings. I didn't care though. I loved his style. Rick was a newspaper photographer for years, before he quit to devote his time to his art galleries. He's got an amazing natural talent and captured our entire day on that prehistoric stuff called...FILM! Seriously, I know firsthand now how tough it is shooting weddings...and to think that he did the whole thing with film and couldn't see any of his photos until they were developed impresses me like crazy. All of these images are straight out of his camera. That means...no Photoshop or retouching at all!

This next one is actually my favorite. I was extremely emotional during our vows and remember vividly the way Matt was looking at me. This photo takes me back to 3 years ago...

I love this moment because it's right after we were announced as husband and wife. We took a quick second to just look at each other before we went outside and headed to the party.

It was very important for us to have a military wedding because if it wasn't for the military, we would've never met! The honor guard was actually busy that day doing another event, so we didn't think we were going to be able to have the arch of swords. But some of Matt's best friends and fellow pilots in the Montana Air National Guard made it happen! It meant the world to us and seemed like a dream...

...until one of the men smacked me right on the butt with his sword! I forgot that was part of the ritual, so I jumped and screamed. Here's our reaction right after the sword smack...

A little bit of Asian flair was thrown into the Texas/military wedding.

My Matron of Honor's mom designed my bouquet.

Chapel One almost looks fake, doesn't it?!?! The church is stunning. Old fashioned and intimate inside...just absolutely stunning.

Our reception site was actually at the place where we met --- the Officer's Club on Randolph Air Force Base. Long story, short: it was my first time there. My friend talked me into going that night. Matt was there with his buddies. He was looking for someone to go two-steppin' with (something we're both actually pretty terrible at!). I declined the country dancing offer, but he -- thank goodness -- still asked for my number. Here's the exact spot where it all started...

Korean dancers put on 3 different shows for us. It was awesome!!!!!! My mom was so proud. :)

And classic Cindy clumsy style. I tripped while we were making our grand exit.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MATT! Thank you for being the most incredible best friend a girl could ever wish for in the whole wide world.

The Walters Family

We nearly had to take a rain check on this shoot, but the Walters family stuck it out! It was threatening to rain the whole time, then all of a sudden there was a downpour. They really wanted to make it work though, so we just took frequent breaks and made the weather part of the whole experience. I love that they literally let their hair down...and got it wet! We also did the entire session at their home, which is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen.










Before I took off, I snagged some quick ones of the dogs! Too cute!