So this is probaaaaably one of my top 5 favorite shoots of all- time.

Perhaps it’s an all-time favorite because of the obvious: it’s location – the Great Sand Dunes. Yes, folks, these are right here in our amazing state of Colorado.  Perhaps I adore this shoot because of the perfect lighting – bright and sunny casting shadows in all the right places while we were on the dunes, and soft and pretty while we were not.  No, I think it’s favorite because of the killer color scheme – blue, tan, white, blue – swoon.  

No, it’s none of these really.  Okay, the location IS pretty rockstar.  But no, I think this is an all-time favorite because a.) it has “adventure” written all over it and b.) “trust.”

Kayleigh & Dean found me through the Villa Parker preferred vendor listing.  (We love Villa Parker and we love being a part of the amazing, hand picked, vendor list.) They came all the way down to Colorado Springs, from Denver, to my humble little studio to meet me.  What an honor.  We hit it off right away.  But what I love about this shoot is the way Kayleigh & Dean were up for an adventure some 5 hours away from their home and the way they trusted me. I remember getting an email from Kayleigh saying, “We love your recent Garden of the Gods shoot because it looks removed from the city.”  Knowing I’d always wanted to shoot at sand dunes I thought I’d throw it out there… I mean if they really want a “removed from the city” look. ;-) Fortunately, Kayleigh & Dean were more than up for adventure.  They looked forward to our shoot with great anticipation and excitement for weeks.  And they trusted my judgement that this was going to be an epic shoot. I can’t tell you how much it means to me when our couples trust us.

Kayleigh & Dean, I think it’s safe to say we’re lifers with lots of snowboarding (or sand boarding?) in our futures.  You two are a joy to be around.  Your love is so sweetly and softly understated.  It’s subtle, yet effective.  I hope this images shout out how beautiful, adventurous, and kind your love is.  Keep running those races together, particularly that race that is life and marriage.  And remember what a good friend told me the other day: marriage is like a marathon — sometimes you run through some really hard stuff and you think you won’t finish, but perseverance finishes the race.  Not that there is any doubt you two won’t finish – I just enjoyed the analogy and wanted to share since you two are killer marathoners (and IronMan rockstars!!).

SO much love and joy to you! Thank you for being game for a shoot of  a lifetime.

René