At any rate, Chris and Sarah and I had a blast shooting their engagement session. It was a chilly day but that didn't stop us. They are both fun, energetic and playful! We bopped around the Gallatin Valley and Bozeman and eventually found ourselves at Dave's Sushi for a little dinner. Yummy!
As many of you know, engagement sessions are useful on many levels. It gives clients a chance to get to know me, how I work and how I photograph. It gives me a chance to get to know the clients, see how they respond to me and my camera and it allows me to put them at ease. All in all, it helps the wedding day go smooth because they know me, know I will do a great job for them and they already kinda know the "drill" (not that there is really a drill). Even if clients come to town the week of the wedding, I always highly recommend even a short, mini engagement session.
Here is a little information I grabbed directly from the Double T River Ranch website:
Hot, sunny summertime lounging and listening to the river. The cold clear beauty of snow-covered meadows and awe-inspiring mountain backdrops. Deer and moose grazing under blaze orange fall foliage. Bald eagles soaring silhouetted against true blue skies. Private riverside trails wandering through aspen groves and towering cottonwoods to brilliant wildflower meadows...
Just another day at the Double T River Ranch. Come live for a while at your Montana home.
The Double T River Ranch is different. Not a guest ranch, not your typical vacation home. It's your ranch, your way. Discover one of Montana's hidden gems...
The Double T River Ranch...Look forward to laid back.
Located 3 minutes from the friendly, quaint, western town of Clyde Park, MT, the Double T River Ranch offers 115+ acres of beautiful private Montana wilderness - all for the exclusive use of you and your group. The ranch features one mile of prime Shields River frontage, dedicated concierge services, comfortable sleeping space for up to twenty-five guests and a restored "party barn". Whether you bring your family, your fishing buddies or your corporate team, you and your guests will enjoy luxurious accommodations, friendly, warm service and a relaxed, comfortable environment without the distraction of other guests. The Double T is your ranch, your way, offering total freedom to build your ideal vacation.
Born from our own experiences trying to find the perfect place for a vacation for our large, three generation family group, The Double T River Ranch is the realization of a dream to provide a one-of-a-kind experience. The Double T River Ranch provides what typical hotel rooms, guest ranches and vacation homes can't - space, privacy, luxury and unique communal spaces carefully designed for hanging out. Offering a huge restored "party" barn, a four-bedroom ranch house, a one-bedroom cottage and two private riverfront cabins, The Double T River Ranch comfortably sleeps two to 25+ people in total comfort and luxury. The finest linens, overstuffed pillows, down comforters, and handmade quilts can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning, but fully appointed baths, rich thick towels, mountain sights and scents, and the amazing array of activities available will ensure that you enjoy each day in true Montana fashion. We believe that quality time deserves a quality place - and that defines the Double T River Ranch!
The Double T River Ranch is beautiful and secluded yet :
- 3 minutes from friendly, quaint western town of Clyde Park, MT: grocery, gas, restaurant, bar/tavern, etc.
- 20 minutes from Livingston, MT (galleries, movie theater, great restaurants, shopping, fly shops, etc.)
- Yellowstone Park - 1 hour
- Downhill Skiing at Bridger Bowl -30 minutes
- Cross-country skiing (5 minutes or 20 minutes)
- Yellowstone River - 10 minutes, Boulder River - 30 minutes
- Great big game and bird hunting close by
- Bozeman, airport - 1 hour
Fun shots! Good job, Lauren. I love the interior shots of the barn. Glad I got to come along.
(04.16.09 @ 7:49PM)Beautiful work Lauren!!! When are you going to unveil your new website???? See you on Tuesday.
(04.18.09 @ 5:51PM)Your pictures really brought out the beauty of the place. Wish I could get married again just so I could have it there...I guess I'll just have to plan a trip!
(04.23.09 @ 12:58PM)Hey Lauren! These photos are all so beautiful. Thanks for using your talent to help show the Double T River Ranch off to the world! We still need to grab a beer one of these days....
(04.29.09 @ 2:42PM)Great shots Lauren. It was nice meeting you yesterday, just sorry your day had been messed up. Hope I was able to help brighten it just a little. Best of luck to you and if I can ever help you in Charlotte, please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
Doug
Congratulations Jessica and Perry!
Lauren, every image is so real! I love looking at your work. Thanks for blogging about these two...I have known Jessica from the industry for a while, but have never met Perry! I am so glad to put a face to the name! Stunning couple, great photos. LL
(04.13.09 @ 9:11PM)
Payne, rocked this shoot and he rocks this marriage!!!! The show stopper is the one of him between the two of them. So great. He is the winner in this marriage... and he LOVES it. Smile and know that these images will be cherished in years to come. Lar
(04.11.09 @ 9:56PM)Great shots Lauren! I would definitely have to agree with Larry ~ Payne is a riot! Looks like you guys had fun! Can't wait to join you!
(04.12.09 @ 2:27PM)Beautiful photos! What amazing photography to be cherished forever. You rock girl! The family is beautiful!
(04.12.09 @ 8:22PM)I am so fortunate to working together with you and this couple! They are a riot...and can't wait to blog about all the pieces of their wedding! Lauren, these shots are so great, and what a well, put together series! From seeing them quick on your computer to seeing this, you are so good! Thanks for sharing! LL
(04.13.09 @ 9:14PM)To promote her new business, she put together these promo post cards. I was blown away when I saw them because she featured my photography on her card! I am so thankful and honored! These shots are from a fabulous intimate wedding we both worked on last April in Paradise Valley, the wedding of Ruth & Robert. Click HERE to view my blog post from this wedding and click HERE to view their wedding album.
At any rate, Leslie does amazing floral design and is a dream to work with on event and wedding design and coordination. She is an experienced business woman and has been a dear friend and mentor to me over the years. You may remember her recent business, the Floral Gallery, a successful floral design business in Bozeman, Montana as well as an event planning business called Paradise Custom Weddings. I highly recommend her services and respect and love her dearly! I'm pretty darn sure if you decide to use her services, you'll feel the same way about her immediately.
Leslie recently opened a storefront in Ennis, Montana called Main Street Floral. She calls it a little piece of sunshine in Ennis, Montana. I have yet to head over the hill to visit, but am looking forward to it. Our dear friend and photographer, Morgan Roof visited her last week and took some awesome photos of the new shop. Visit Leslie's blog to view photos of Main Street Floral.
My studio neighbors, Classic Ink designed the new logo for her which is a take off of her old Floral Gallery logo.
On a whole other note, I was honored to do some professional portraits of Leslie last summer. She was working hard on her new business, blog and website and of course, needed some nice head shots to go along. You are a beauty miss Leslie and make my job easy!
Yeah Leslie! Can't wait to come check out Main Street Floral myself! What a great smile :)
(04.08.09 @ 1:57PM)Gushing....It was fun...sunny...and I felt so comfortable having you photograph me! !!! You are the bestest! LL
(04.08.09 @ 3:40PM)You girls are amazing! So happy to have you as dear friends - so amazed by the talent you both offer. Love you girls! xoxo
(04.12.09 @ 8:26PM)
I love the reflection in the puddle! Beautiful pictures as always!
(04.29.09 @ 11:00AM)