Archive for March, 2011
Engaged: Alanna and Alex
10.03.11 
engagements
Boy, do I have a treat for you! A treat that’s even better than this sunshine I’m soaking up on my back porch as I blog this. :-) Yay for almost spring time!
Last weekend, Jesie and I had the opportunity to work with Lana and Alex at Lana’s parents’ home in Sheridan Lake, Colorado. If you’re asking yourself where the heck Sheridan Lake is, fear not: I think residents of Sheridan Lake are the only people who know where it is. ;-) You can find this little town waaaaay out on the eastern plains, almost to the Kansas border. Turns out there’s some pretty killer light and people out there!
We had the best shoot with these guys around the home where Lana grew up. Her father farms 15,000 acres, of what I’m not sure, but has some pretty neat farm equipment that made for some of my favorite engagement images to date. What made this shoot even better was A.) Jesie was tag teamin’ it with me and she doesn’t get to come to very many engagments B.) Lana and Alex have this amazing chemistry together and C.) they also have great wardrobes and brought SO many options which allowed us to get the perfect look no matter where we shot. You’ll be hearing me harp on wardrobe a lot more in the future because it will make or break your shoot. :-)
Lana and Alex, you two have it goin’ ON! Thank you for being such wonderful sports and opening up and trusting us! I think you’re going to love these. :-)
With love and joy,
René + Jesie
The weather was pretty windy so we started near the grain bins to break the wind.
GQ!
I have always said that you can tell a lot about man by his shoes. And I just so happen to LOVE these shoes.
Lana, I can’t say this enough – you are a KNOCKOUT!
Um…. this is most definitely my fave. Love love love.
Or this one! LOVE.
Oooor these next two by Jesie! Holy moley.
Ugh… So good, Lana.
Check out their little pet they brought all the way from Denver!
32 Comments
I have the coolest brides and grooms
09.03.11 the latest & greatest
I may or may not surprise our couples with a gift of a few of my favorite things. Never has the gesture been returned, nor is it expected. The other day I came home to a package. A package addressed to me from an unfamiliar address. Lo and behold it was a gift from our awesome bride Karen that include a few of HER favorite things. In conversation, I mentioned to Karen that my sweet boyfriend is going through a program in the Air Force comparable to the Navy’s Top Gun program. Confidently nodding my head like I knew what I was talking about I said, “Kinda like the movie,” though I’d never seen the movie. To which Karen could not fathom that being the romantic I am had never seen Top Gun. Days later, she saw to it that the situation was remedied.
I did watch Top Gun and consumed my very first Junior Mint (how did I not had these before?!) and have decided Top Gun is now one MY favorite movies. I can now confidently say that my boyfriend’s training actually is fairly similar to Top Gun. Minus the volleyball part. ;-)
Thank you Karen! You are THE coolest!! I feel like a complete person now having seen this and eaten a Junior Mint!
With love,
René
2 Comments
- Jodi said
I feel as though I failed you as a friend. Had I only known I would have shown you the beauty long ago.
- melissa said
1. You seriously do have the BEST clients.
2. You had never seen Top Gun?!
3. Once more…you have NEVER eaten a Junior Mint?!
Flying Solo: Single Parent Families
08.03.11 portraits
Last week I Twittered about heading off to my “favorite shoots of the year.” This is it. The Flying Solo Families. Flying Solo is a scholarship program dedicated to helping committed, promising, single parents of all ages who are in need of financial aid get through college. The scholarship is offered across several universities and colleges around Colorado. It’s a terrific organization backed by big hearts and people who genuinely care. Each year the scholars get together to discuss where they’ve been and where they’re going. On that day, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to give these families a professional portrait session – something that many of them might not be able to afford on their own. Each year I’m blown away by the strength and intensity of love between these beautiful souls.
I hope you enjoy looking at these moments as much as I enjoyed capturing them. If you wish to view last year’s session, click here.
4 Comments
- Emma Scherer said
This is beautiful Rene. Made me tear up!
- Kami said
Love them, and love Flying Solo!
- Lisa Marcy said
These are great pic what a fun time:)
- Caitlin said
These are fantastic and for such a great cause. You’re a complete inspiration. Thanks Rene!
Mike Colón Seven Workshop
07.03.11 the latest & greatest, weddings
Good morning! And happy Monday! I’ve got a great session to kick off your week. This was a styled shoot in sunny Las Vegas, a part of Mike Colón’s Seven Workshop. It was a full twelve hour day of education and a little bit of shooting. So wonderful to have a small, intimate group to pick Mike’s brain.
Here are just a few of my favorites from the afternoon.
Enjoy! I’m off to yoga. :-)
3 Comments
- Edie Layland said
I was there, took lots of photos, but these are so much more creative, the composition is fantastic! I am looking and learning. Thanks for posting these Rene! You’re a very accomplished and talented photographer!
- Jesie McElroy said
Ugh, I love these! They are so clear and the composition is beautiful. Wish I had been there :)
- Shannon Coker said
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m simply speechless!!!! You know I follow you, like every single post follow you, this is simply the best stuff I think I’ve ever seen! Wow! WOW! WOOOOW!
Lana all the photos are wonderful are perfect for magazine cover .. good look!!!
Lana – these photos are absolutely gorgeous – good luck picking out one you like for the canvas print!
Looks great Lana!
i love these photos!! you both look great!!
so great…!!!! thats love!!!
Wonderful pictures! Hard to decide which one is the best. I really like those in the car! :-)
Sheridan Lake never looked so good! 39, 30 and 16. Okay 16 ia so Bob can have his truck in the photo…. ;-)
Awesome pictures! I really like the one of you two kissing in front of the grain bin!
So good, all of them! Very unique and well-captured. I love the ones in the tree rows.
I love them all Lana but particularly the ones in the old Chevrolet truck (I have massive truck envy now!) The background scenery made me miss Colorado…
Great pictures. I love how Rene gathers emotions so well!
Hey Lana!
Those pictures are just grate, well done! :D Congratulations!
Paljon onnea ja kaikkea hyvää!
these are soo good i love them!! i don’t think i can pick a favorite :)
I would have a hard time trying to choose just one of these pictures they are all so good. You are a beautiful couple.
I have a hard time trying to choose just one’ they are all so good. You make a beautiful couple.
really beautiful! It would be so hard to pick just one as my favorite.
They are great. Congrats again!!!
Your photos have gone from engagement photos to Vogue/GQ spreads…LOVE THEM!
Lana, you and your fiance are SO PHOTOGENIC!! such great great pictures!!! i LOOOVEEE the ones of you two laughing when you’re in the green sweater and hes in a white sweater and i LOVEEE the ones of you two in the truck!!! I LOVEE ALL the pictures, though!! It would be hard to decide! And he is very photogenic!! as well as you!!! You two are the perfect couple! so cute and congratulations to you two! :) :) :)
P.S. the photographer is amazing! Wow! Such amazing work and very unique (which i LOVE!) :)
wow, every single photo is so amazing, but my fav is the one you two kissing on the street, while lana’s wearing alex’s jackett. It almost like feeling the love between you two. I’d be so happy to meet up with alex one day, so lana, bring him down here, so i can see you again too :)
I wish you two the best i can and i know that both of you will be happy ever after :)Miss you lana
The pictures are beautiful! I can’t pick just one favorite because I like them all! Lana & Alex, you two should drop out of school and take up modeling! :)
Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning! Congrats again you two!
These look absolutely amazing!!! I love them, you guys are adorable! I can’t pick just one that I like, you are both very photogenic!! Congrats again!!!
Ahhh…yeah… that was good… reeeealll good! :) mmmm!!! :) Great colors, wardrobe, backdrops… stunning!!! #25 knocks my hopeless romantic socks off! So incredible!
Wooo!!! Love them. Great work you guys, all four of you.
Love the photos — cannot wait to meet Alex :)
Great pictures, Lana and Alex! Love them all.
Great pictures. Congratulations. I love the one picture of you two sitting on the highway pavement. Good Luck as you pick out the best.
LOVE THEM ALL!! Mrs PC is too cute.
All the pictures are great. You are such a beautiful young lady and have such a GREAT and PRETTY smile. I like the ones with you two where you are wearing the green sweater. Several more than others. Great backgrounds, must be in Sheridan Lake at your parents house.
They are all such great pictures, it makes it very tough to say which ones are my favorites :) Congratulations Lana and Alex!
I’m sorry…but are these two professional models? LOVE!