I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when the Fed Ex truck pulled up to our house this morning.  Matt peeked out the window and got giddy like a school kid, "The film is here! Yes!!".  We have been waiting for a small package in the mail from our new lab that will be developing our FILM work - yep!  Jenna Walker Photographers is introducing film as a new addition to our family of imagery. Of course, we won't be leaving digital behind - but we wanted to give the option to shoot film when our clients want it.   There is just something magical about the color, the grain, the imperfect perfectness of old fashioned film.  I love the look, the tonal range - and the surprise of not knowing what exactly we got out of the shoot until the Fed Ex man brings us the lovely package back from the lab.    

So - here is the big unveiling - meet Florence and Sean.  These two are infectious - and fashionable.  If I only had half of the fashion sense of these two - I'd be in great shape!  They will be getting married next June in Denver.  Katie, Matt and I all headed out with them a couple of weeks ago and they are our first clients to choose to record part of their session on film since we left the medium many moons ago for digital.   Thank you Florence and Sean for giving us the opportunity to return to our first love in photography - imagery on film.  We think the world of you!  

If you are a current client interested in adding film to your existing wedding package - give us a call to discuss options.   More to come!

All the best,

Jenna, Katie & Matt

I am always amazed by those who do good. Stacey & James are those people. They are grateful. They are joyful. They are generous. All when the hour seemed unlucky and the lights nearly out.

Spend an hour with them and it becomes clear - Gratitude is not shared only by the lucky ones. Joy can be embraced in the darkest hour. Giving is possible, even when you feel you have nothing to give. And in all of this, we have a choice to travel the brightest path.

In January, cancer knocked on their door - Stacey's Mom, Wendy, began her fist-to-fist fight against aggressive breast cancer. The reaction to chemotherapy did not go over well and an otherwise, continued plan for a Palm Springs wedding would soon change. In a matter of weeks, Stacey & James relocated their wedding to Denver as the risk of her mother not making it to the wedding became too great.

All of this and they had no time for pity. Instead, choosing to overcome their circumstances in an extraordinary act of selflessness - they decided to make their wedding a celebration toward a cure. And that is was. Tying in a fundraising element to the big day, Stacey & James sought out vendors and venues that would be able to donate their services so that the newlyweds could donate their wedding funds, instead, to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center.

When I first heard of their story and their cause, I was overwhelmed by a need to do something, anything. I had been put in my place by someone who - instead of worrying about the shade of her table linens - worried what the next round of chemo would bring. My camera cannot cure cancer, but caretakers need caretakers too. So I showed up and looked for the light in this difficult chapter of their lives, and what I found is that didn't have to look far at all. Here is a family that does not take anything for granted, a family with great joy and deep love. They are proof that it is never too late for the strength of the human spirit to surprise us.

Stacey & James - the world is a better place because of the journey you have taken, the lives you change, the eyes you open. Your generosity and courage will touch the lives of so many others equally as determined to choose joy EVERY DAY. Here is to you, your beautiful hearts, and one step closer to a cure.

A very special thanks to Randy at Shutterbooth who helped Stacey with their vision for a donation-based PhotoBooth at their reception. All proceeds went to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center and Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Some of those doing good include:

The Oxford Hotel, The Jet Hotel, Epicurean Catering, flowers by Abloom, Mulberries Cake Shop, DJ Ty Tek, and Shutterbooth.

A very special thanks to my good friend Erin at the Oxford Hotel for sending this beautiful couple our way - and to the very talented Kate Borgelt for donating her time as well.

To add your name to the list and help Wendy and millions of other women kick cancer in the pants, donate here to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. anything helps!

With admiration & hope,

Katie

From the moment I met Karen & Keith, I just knew they were the type of couple that wouldn't let any bump in the road get in the way of having fun. They seemed too content, too in love, too fabulous to let life be anything but joyful. And that would prove to be true.

Karen & Keith had to completely revamp their wedding plans after Keith's job would relocate him out-of-state. Forecasts of an epic April snowstorm would loom over them in the days leading up to the big day. Denver's sunny days seemed to be replaced by winds more like that of Chicago that morning. All of this - and I can't think of a more stunning, more cool-calm-and-collected bride than Karen. It was a beautiful day - moving at a welcomed pace where every detail was able to stand out as one of those defining moments most brides dream of remembering. They were so present in the day, so mindful of the fact that their guest list represented both of their lives coming together into a mosaic of every memory of years past. So there it was - among their closest family and friends, Karen & Keith tied the knot.

Waiting...

Now this girl knows how to work it in a wedding gown - she moved with such grace and gratitude that day.

Keith & his mom are so sweet together.

Dogs welcome! They were married at the Hotel Monaco where Lola & Truman were given a King's Welcome.

Karen & Keith chose to see each other before the ceremony. I love it when couples do this - Oh so very sweet...

They were married in a wine cellar - no shortage of Old World Charm here.

Post-ceremony bliss with the whole group!

I love this photo - I love the togetherness of these women, all coming together from different strands of Karen's life.

Kids will be kids. And Grandmothers know how to play the part too!

Their dinner was just as you'd imagine among a close group of friends - the intimacy of the wine cellar and the authenticity of their toasts is hard to beat.

One of my favorite moments.

The end.

Karen & Keith - Thank you so much for inviting us to document your beautiful day. I just think the world of the two of you!

Much love,

Katie

To my sweet Story Rose,
It’s my first Mother’s Day today.  You are playing on the floor right now. You are all of 3 and a half months today, but you are so alive with life.  You make us all so happy.   Your dad is sleeping in this morning at my request and in the quiet of the morning, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with love for both of you.  And of course, my cup of coffee is full.  This is by far one of my favorite things that you will soon come to learn.

I want to tell you so many things about life Story.  I want you to have a very full life and someday, when the blur of the business of life trys to intrude on us.  Remind me to slow down and remember what I once told you on a Mother’s Day morning.

I hope that you can always have happiness in your life.  And when it doesn’t seem that way, I hope that we teach you to be able to see beauty in hardship and the tougher times of life.  

I dream that you will do good things in your life.  I hope that we teach you that life is not about how much money you earn or the things that you keep, but rather, it is about the people you meet and the change you make.

I hope that you live out loud and that you aren’t afraid to share you voice with the world.

I hope that you always seek adventure in your life.  May it be one of constant discovery and you go out and see the world.   And when I’m afraid to let you go to do this, remind me that at one time I did it too and it too made me who I am today.  

I hope that you go your own way in life.  Be confident and know where you are going.  And always believe in yourself.    

I hope that you put others first in your life.  And when you forget how to do this, just watch your dad as he is a constant example to me of how to live this way.  It is hard but will lead to a far more rewarding life.  

I hope that you are brave enough to try new things in your life.  Whether it is picking up a guitar, trying out for the school play, meeting a new friend or starting a business – do not be afraid to welcome change in your life.  This life is not a dress rehearsal.  I know this for sure.   And when you do venture out of what is comfortable, remember that is is ok to fail.  Don’t be afraid of failure.  Welcome the challenge and when you overcome obstacles and push on, you will learn more from this than anything else.  You will learn to believe in yourself and the world will become a smaller, less scary place.

And when the world feels too fast or hard, I hope that you come back to dad and I.  I hope that we can be a constant source of encouragement in your life.  I want to be your biggest cheerleader.  I want to be your best example.  I want to love you more than I even know how.  And I know I will.   I know that you can count on me every single day of your life that I am lucky enough to be a part of.  I want you to know this so that you can go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  There are a lot of people that love you so much.  

And someday, I hope that you can sit at your computer on your very first Mother’s Day with your daughter playing on the floor and your husband peacefully sleeping in bed and know that you are exactly where you want to be in your life.  For this is what life is truly all about.

All my love,
Mom

(I hope you all have an AMAZING Mother's Day with your moms!  Here are just a few shots from the Walker photo albums since I haven't posted anything since Story was born!)  

Happy Mother's Day from all of us!