Trash the Dress- Mile High Photographers Havin' Fun!

Earlier in the week I attended a workshop put on by a group I belong to, Mile High Photographers. I know I've mentioned MHP before and some of the other group shoots we've done, but the group is getting so big! I can hardly believe how the 12 people getting together at someone's house and having wine has turned into 60+ people at every meeting every month, and, I think, around 150 members! That's a lot of photographers! I have to admit, this is one of my favorite groups of people ever...! I have made some amazing friends from the group and I so look forward to every chance I have to get together with everyone. The Senior Rockstar Tour is one of the many projects and great things that have come from this group! When you work for yourself, it's not as if you have a co-worker to turn to with questions, or anyone to help you with decidions or ideas. Having a friend in arms who knows the business and what you're going through is an absolutely priceless asset. I blogged recently about helping one of these friends out with a wedding when he was sick, but we constantly call upon one another to be assitants and 2nd shooters... I just can't imagine my life without these friends and colleges.

See, aren't we fun? This is myself, Dusty, and Dawn and our buddy Ross is taking the picture. I just wish Ross was in it!


Because of our new size, I think the days of our informal meetings and improptu get togethers are, sadly, a thing of the past. Meetings require a RSVP to make sure the meeting space is large enough, and now group shoots are not just an open invite, but a paid slot to only the first to sign up to keep the group manageable and to hopefully have enough models. It's just crazy!
This last week, 3 of our own members, RJ Kern, Jared Wilson, and James Christianson, were nice enough to lead the masses and share some of their knowledge with the rest of us. We also had 4 fabulous models who were oh so patient all day while 6 or more people attempted to direct them at once. "Look this way, bend your arm, no place your hand on your hip, smile, laugh, wait- be serious, close your eyes...." hahahaha. Poor girls... they did wonderfully!!



These guys are all pointed at one girl. How many cameras do you count? :)


For those of you wondering, "Trash the Dress" doesn't have anything to do with ruining a gown. It has much more to do with freedom and letting go of tradition. It's the idea that it's ok to run in field in your dress, lay in the grass, get on a horse.... climb around in a ghost town...! Wait, that's exactly what we did! Russel Gulch Disc Golf Course is such an intertsting and unique place. Located above Idaho Springs at 9,000 ft., it is unlike many places you'd consider for wedding photos. So this is exactally why we picked it!

These are just a few images that I've messed with so far. The funny thing about these get togethers and shoots is that it's not really about the images... at least not to me. Some group shoots I've been on I've never even edited a single image! So I briefly glanced through these, pulled a few into photoshop to play with them, but the truth of the matter is that I may never really even look at these again. There may be MUCH better images in the mix, but day to day life and business priorities will take over and these just don't serve much of a purpose. Now wait, I lied a little. I will be going through to pull out and edit at least 5 images of each of the girls to give them for their time and patience. I did forget about that. But for now, this is it! These are the only images that have seen the light of day so far.

Oh, and I don't believe that I could ever duplicate this green flare again. That's why I opened it! Not only have I only seen a circular flair just a couple times in the millions of images I and my friends have taken, but I don't know if I've ever seen one a bright color. SO here ya go, a bright green circular sun flare! haha







On a regular basis, I try to keep images pretty classic. I feel like, as photographers, it's our job to give our customers something that will stand the test of time. We've all seen styles and trends come and go and I don't want someone to look back at their wedding photos in 15 years and say, "wow, what was I thinking?!" So, while I like some of the rustic and old school feelings that are very trendy right now, I don't usually do this "old time" look very often, but it just seemed so fitting for the location, don't you think? And these are for fun, so...!