Miss Southern Ute 2013-2014

When Amber called and asked if I could take her picture as the 2013-2014 Miss Southern Ute I was thrilled. It is a huge honor to have this title and represent the Southern Ute Tribe across the nation. Amber travels across the country giving speeches and attending dances as Miss Southern Ute. She is articulate, charismatic and beautiful. Photographing her was a joy and made for a very special afternoon.

Amber brought several of her traditional regalia, which were stunning. One of the dresses she wore was made by her and her grandmother. Pieces of jewelry and each outfit had special meaning and a story behind it. I loved talking with her and her sister about what she was wearing and how it all came together. Her mom joined us and helped with the changes and helped us photograph Amber with her great eye for detail and beauty. By the end of the shoot, Amber and I had the help of her mother, sister and father. They are a wonderful family and I cannot thank them and Amber enough for such an enjoyable and beautiful afternoon.

Senior Year

Jess was my intern last year in a special program through Animas High School that allows students to go and intern in any career they choose for an entire month. In that month, I felt I really got to know Jess and had so much fun teaching her photography and business. When she asked me to take her Senior photos, I was honored. It was such a fun session and I couldn't help using it as an opportunity to teach her a few more things. She is a beautiful girl inside and out and my goal was to capture a bit of that in her Senior photos. 

Senior year is a special time. Finishing up one chapter and preparing for another is both exciting and exhausting. I love capturing that brief period of life in photos. Jess was brilliant in front of the camera and helped make a lot of the decisions about where and how the session should take place. This was a special one so thank you Jess and her wonderful family for yet another great experience.

Lauren and Alex

I love Fall. The colors, the feel, everything about it. Alex and Lauren made a beautiful Fall afternoon even more so. These two wowed me with their warm personalities and love for each other. As newcomers to Durango, they fit right in and we are lucky to have them. Thank you two for such a gorgeous afternoon.