stacy & grady (albuquerque engagement photographer)

I grew up in Santa Fe, and I miss the desert like crazy!  I always jump at the chance to be able to head back to New Mexico, so when Stacy & Grady contacted me about shooting their engagement session in Albuquerque, I was thrilled!  These two are wonderful people, so fun to be around, and I'm so excited for their wedding in Estes Park next summer.  Gotta love all of this gorgeous, golden, desert sunrise light :)

Then we headed to Old Town Albuquerque for some fun shots.  I love all the history of the Southwest!

Congratulations, you two!

santa fe

A few images from a quick trip we took back "home" to Santa Fe a few weeks ago.  This is what comes to mind when I think of my childhood - intensely blue skies, rounded soft adobe corners, glorious sunsets...

I love living in the mountains, but I still miss the desert hardcore - especially during sunsets like this one.  I plan on heading back to Santa Fe a few times this summer, so please, please get in touch if you're in the area and want to schedule a session!

santa fe & the diving bell (santa fe lifestyle photographer)

I am probably the most annoying person to go to Santa Fe with.  I grew up there, it feels like home, and every time I get to go back I get all excited and start talking a lot... not good for anyone involved :)  Thankfully my friend Brynn put up with me for a few days, and we had all kinds of random adventures.  I am more in love with this place every time I visit.  Plus, it's been winter here in BV for almost two months, and in Santa Fe, it's still fall!

We came back through Taos.  Bryn brought a papier-mache diving bell.  We are awesome.

santa fe (santa fe wedding photographer)

Last weekend was my one free weekend of the summer, so Zach and I headed to Santa Fe!  I grew up in Santa Fe and try to go back every few years, even though we don't have family there to visit.  (I still have kind of a strange accent.  I sometimes get asked what country I'm from... I blame it on Santa Fe.)  It's weird - I love the mountains and I'm pretty sure I live in one of the most beautiful places ever, but I frequently find myself missing the desert.  There's just something so peaceful and raw about it - it feels like home still.  The buttery light, the soft colors of the sage and adobe, the amazing food and the smell of dirt in the bright hot sun... sigh.  I love it.If you haven't been to Santa Fe before, you must go.  Must.  I'm sure you have a mental image of something called (unfortunately) "Santa Fe style" or "Southwestern style", but it's not like that at all - I swear.  "Southwestern style" is cheap and tacky and full of garish colors and stuffed rabbits with antlers glued on to their heads; but the real Santa Fe, the place, is classy and full of amazingly friendly people, soft pastel desert colors, great great light, and mellow earth tones with occasional punches of turquoise.   I would absolutely die to shoot a wedding or an engagement session there.  Please?!  I'll love you forever...