Oooh, am I ever stoked to share Maelyn’s University of Montana graduation images with you today! When Maelyn’s mom contacted me about making grad photos for her college graduation announcements, I was excited to get to work with her. Especially when she told me she wanted to go off campus to make her photos. (We opted to photograph towards the campus and have it just visible in the valley below.) Heck yes please!

Making these images to celebrate such a major accomplishment is always so special to me. I can’t help but remember that time in my own life, and how giddy, excited, nervous, and exhausted I was. I was beyond ready to graduate, while simultaneously terrified about what would come next.

Maelyn’s also “so ready to graduate,” and I don’t blame her. She’s been working hard in school these past several years, and will walk across that stage with not one, not two, but THREE degrees! She’s been studying Ecology, Organismal Biology, and Wildlife Biology — talk about wildly impressive!

As we meandered around the property close to where she lives, she told me that she made her own earrings (with feathers) and has been doing so for ages. She also ties flies and fly fishes. Upon heading into the trees, Maelyn’s experienced eye noticed some upturned rocks where a bear had been active. But thankfully the only critter we encountered during our session was her sweet cat, Tiger.

Maelyn and Tiger have been together since she was a kid. At age 19, Tiger is one of her best buds, and a really awesome adventure cat! Maelyn told me that Tiger is sort of a dog-cat — she likes to hike and ski with her! How cool is that?! These two clearly have such an incredible bond, and I was just so glad to capture it for them. (Big props to Tiger for being such a sweet participant, even though she really wanted to go on a hike and smell all the smells.)

Thank you again, Maelyn, for such a fun session, and for fitting it in amongst all the things I know you’re wrapping up with school! It was such a pleasure to meet you and Tiger. Happy graduation to you, too! 

I hope you all enjoy a little peek into Maelyn’s college grad session!

On the docket:

Portraits and weddings and more! Stay posted!

See another college grad session here!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I was so excited to meet up with Erin and Chris for their Missoula summer maternity photos. I hadn’t yet connected with them because their maternity session (and upcoming newborn portraits) were a gift from Erin’s sisters. (Side note: what an amazingly thoughtful gift to give!)

When I met them for their maternity session, it turns out that Erin and I had met a few years back during the “For Women’s Only” ski program at Snowbowl. (Funny how small towns work like that!) It was so nice to see her again in this new stage of her life, and we had such a fantastic time making images to celebrate her mama-ness.

Their 10-year-old border collie mix, Lyra, also joined us for our shoot, and was such a trooper even though she seemed a little confused that we weren’t all going for a longer walk together and kept stopping a lot to take photos.

We had such a beautiful evening to make Erin, Chris, and Lyra’s photos. Mother Nature treated us to perfect light, with gorgeous cottonwood fuzz floating around creating a sparkle-like effect.

Erin and Chris’s little boy is due in early August. Erin told me she can’t quite wrap her mind around his arrival and meeting him for the first time. “What will he look like?” she mused. She and Chris are beyond giddy to meet their little man.

Erin, Chris, and Lyra! Thank you for such a fabulous session! I loved everything about your shoot, and I’m just so excited to meet your little boy very soon!

On the docket:

Editorial shoots, brand sessions, portraits, and weddings — stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

It was so fun to photograph Rilee and Nick’s colorful autumn engagement photos – not only because we timed our session perfectly and were treated to some absolutely brilliant yellows oranges and reds, but because these two are just a blast to work with! I’d photographed Nick’s older brother Jamie’s wedding a few years earlier, so when Rilee and Nick contacted me about doing their engagement and wedding photos I knew we’d click (no pun intended!).

As was standard for this year, we had some rain clouds threatening in the background as well as a few raindrops to start out our session. But thankfully the impending storm skirted around us and allowed us to meander, chat and spend a lot of time cracking up together!

Part of why Rilee and Nick chose the location they did for their session was because Nick had actually proposed to Rilee not far from where we were photographing! They also invited their 7-year-old dog, Bear, into a few of their images too!

Bear is just the sweetest doggo, and was all about sharing in the excitement of the day, including giving both Rilee and Nick some big “Bear” hugs! And then giving us all funny looks when our walk didn’t really turn into one that made sense to him. (Humans, why do you keep stopping to kiss one another? haha)

Suffice it to say, I’m super stoked to get to photograph Rilee and Nick’s upcoming 2020 wedding, and can tell we’re going to continue having a blast on their wedding day as well!

Rilee and Nick – congrats again! I know you said you were a little nervous about being in front of the camera, but as I told you the day of your session, you don’t have a thing to worry about, and I cannot wait for June to get here! :) Woo hoo! Way to rock your session, you two!

On the Docket:

Elopements and portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

One of the best parts about being a photographer is the connections I get to make with people over the years. I’ve been working with Katie and Mike since 2011, believe it or not! We’ve had a blast making engagement photos, creating images during their wedding day, getting adventurous during their rock the dress session, documenting Katie’s pregnancy with Ruthie, and now, capturing Missoula spring family portraits for the three of them! What a huge honor to get to do this for them!

Ruthie, who is just a bundle of energy and excitement at 20-months, loved getting tickles from her parents, checking out the nearby wa-wa (a creek that we photographed some of Katie’s maternity photos in!), dancing on the bridge, playing with the tall grass, doing her best to poke out her dad’s eyes while riding on his shoulders, getting to swing high in the air, throwing treats for their dog, Drake, and meandering everywhere she could. She’s got the cutest little smile, and is a busy girl with places to go and people to see!

There may have been a few minor meltdowns during this session (thanks again, Mike, for sacrificing your ears for some photos!), but all was well with the addition of some treats, some Drake dog time, and being on the lookout for the ever-elusive (invisible) deer in the woods.

Katie and Mike! It is so cool to see you two as parents – you’re doing a stellar job with your darling little daughter, and I’m so happy that we’ve gotten to continue documenting the wonderful milestones in all of your lives! Cheers to you three!

On the Docket:

Weddings, portraits, elopements and more! Stay tuned!

And, don’t forget, if you are in need of a session, please remember to contact me sooner rather than later as open dates are booking quickly!

Cheers,

-Kristine

So, you know how you talk with someone and you just click? I totally felt that way when chatting with Melisa initially about her wedding day. We both love words. We both love birds. (Words and birds! See what I did there?!) And her goal was to get married on her wheat farm to the love of her life, surrounded by her family and all of their farm critters (horses and dogs and chickens and turkey included!). Hooo boy, yes please! Therefore it was no surprise at all that when I zipped up north for Melisa and Zack’s Dutton Montana farm engagement, that it was just such a wonderful time.

Dutton treated us to a beautiful sunny, windy day just outside of Great Falls, and we had such a nice time poking around Melisa and Zack’s farm, and getting to meet all of the above-mentioned critters. I can’t tell you how excited I was that they got to be featured in Melisa and Zack’s engagement photos too! As Melisa had told me prior to our session, one of their horses, Song, is a big time photo bomber, and she wasn’t kidding! That horse knows how to work it for the camera!

We also had a few moments to talk more about Melisa’s family’s farm, which has been in operation for five, yes FIVE, generations! How cool is that?! Zack also grew up farming in Minnesota, and eventually made his way out west. And the two met while attending a rodeo where they just happened to be sitting next to one another – kismet, I say!

As we strolled through the pastures that evening, Gypsy and Junebug (Zack and Melisa’s dogs) stuck around close by as well, and we all giggled and laughed as Song stopped to chew his lead rope every now and again, and dole out some big ol’ horsey licks here and there from his soft, velvety nose.

Because several of Melisa and Zack’s chickens had had a chance to star in some images earlier in our session, Carol, the turkey, not to be outdone, made a cameo as well. I’ve got to say, this is the closest I’ve ever been to a turkey, and she was a sweetie! (As were all of Melisa and Zack’s animals.)

But I think the best part of their entire session was watching these two interact with one another. Seeing them look at each other and smile at one another just warmed the cockles of my heart – and getting to capture this in a place that’s so important to them – well, that’s just icing on the proverbial cake.

Melisa and Zack! Thank you so much for such a delightful photo shoot – and it was so good to finally get to meet you, Zack! Additionally, though I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – I cannot thank you ENOUGH for helping me with that crack in the oil pan of my car.

(Context for those not-in-the-know: as I was driving in to their farm, a big ol’ rock kicked up and left a nice gash in my oil pan, effectively releasing ALL of it right as I pulled into their driveway. Egads!) You and your family didn’t need to take the time to help me out, especially as late as it was in the evening, but you did, and I’m just so incredibly grateful. You are good, good folks!

But most importantly, it was a blast to get to work with you two, and I’m just so excited for your wedding day! Please give all your critters big hugs for me in the meantime. :)

On the Docket:

Portraits and weddings! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I’m always so tickled when I get to work with past couples of mine – and that was absolutely the case for Sarah and Matt’s Missoula autumn anniversary photos with their sweet pup, Oliver. (We called it an “anniversary session” even though it was technically a few months after their first anniversary, which was in August.)

I hadn’t met their dog, Oliver, before as he’s the newest addition to their family since they’ve moved to Montana, so it was such a treat to get to document these three together just enjoying the beauty of a chilly October day in Montana.

Oliver was pretty excited to survey his new playground, and did his best “dolphin” impersonation as he leapt through the swaying grasses, popping his head up every now and then to get a visual on us. We had such a great time chatting and cracking up at Oliver’s antics, and I’ve got to give a shout out to Sarah and Matt for braving the cold and wandering through the hills for their images.

We somehow also managed to avoid most of the raindrops the day was throwing at us, and even lucked out with some pretty spectacular big sky clouds to act as a wow factor in our backdrop, which always gets me pretty excited.

Sarah, Matt and Oliver! Thank you again for such a happy, fun session – I just love getting to work with you guys, and have absolutely enjoyed the opportunity to document so many wonderful moments in your lives! Here’s to loving where we live, and appreciating it and protecting it always!

On the Docket:

Weddings and portraits! Don’t miss ’em!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I was so tickled when Katie recently got in touch with me to do her Missoula maternity photos – not only because she’s pregnant with her first baby (SO EXCITING!), but also because I was so looking forward to seeing her and her husband, Mike, again too. I have had the pleasure of making photos for them before – for their engagement images, their wedding day, and their rock the dress photos, and I was so looking forward to getting to see them again and document this new, wonderful stage in their lives!

Katie and Mike decided to have their photos done at Mike’s parents’ property – which is actually where we did their engagement photos way back in 2011. It was quite the change from our original shoot when everything was covered in snow and we were thigh-high in it in some areas!

And it was the perfect location for their photos – so green and lush! We also got to catch the last of a smoky sunset to start out our session, and Katie was just glowing (she is one gorgeous mama-to-be!). We meandered on down to the creek that runs through their property for some images too. (Katie was definitely a fan of the cool water on her bare feet!) And holy moly – talk about a magical setting for these images. It was no surprise that we had such a blast laughing and cracking up as we made their photos. Katie and Mike’s dog, Drake, even joined in for a few photos too! (He’s also a pretty excellent photo-bomber leaping through the grass, dolphin-style!) Katie’s mother, Connie, deserves a shout out as well for being a most excellent wardrobe assistant, and for being at the ready for any help we needed. (So wonderful to see you again, too, Connie!)

Katie and Mike! I just loved getting to hang out with you two again, and it was so fun to document this new exciting time in your lives! I am so thrilled for you both, and am simply beyond happy for you and your soon-to-be family of three, and I can’t wait to meet your little Ruthie!

On the Docket:

Portraits and weddings! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

First, I just love, love, love when folks contact me wanting to do family photos with their four-legged friends, and secondly, I love it even more when it gets to take place in the winter! So it was no surprise that Margaret, Scott and their adorable dog, Danforth Quayle’s, Missoula pet and family photos would be so enjoyable.

Margaret and Scott have been wanting to make some portraits for a while now, and decided this was the year to do it – and also give it as a gift to their parents! (Always a great idea!) Luckily we were able to fit a session in for them while it was 1). actually snowy (sometimes Missoula doesn’t see that much snow in the city). 2). while it was actually not totally freezing and deep-freezing us with sub-zero temps (thank goodness!). AND 3). while Scott was still in town (he’s a professor of philosophy at a liberal arts university in India – yep, India!).

It was so fun to get to chat with these two as we ventured around making images in the snow. I asked to know a little bit more about how their sweet dog, Dan (Danforth Quayle), got his name. Margaret told me that all their dogs have been named presidents’ names, which I think is just about the most perfect thing ever. (They’ve also had chickens named after first ladies!)

Thank you again, Margaret, Scott and Dan for such a delightful afternoon! And thanks so much for braving the cold and tromping through feet of snow to get the photo – worth it, I’d say! It was such a treat to meet you all and I’m so excited that you’ve now got some fun photos of your lovely family!

On the docket: weddings and portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

It was rather chilly for Janelle and Jamie’s Griz engagement photos in Missoula, but that didn’t stop us from having a great time together. We met up at the University of Montana for the first part of their engagement session, since Janelle and Jamie actually met each other at a Griz game! As luck would have it, we popped on into the stadium to make a few fun Griz-themed images and then strolled around campus to capture the iconic look and feel of the university.

Their sweet dog, Zepley, was ready to get out in the mountains a bit more though. We had such a blast making images of the three of them with Missoula as their backdrop, and Zepley most definitely channeled her inner supermodel for her photos too – in between bouncing around and overall giddiness at getting to run around a bit. :) (Oh my, I love her happy energy so much!)

Thank you again for braving the chilly temps to make these fun photos Janelle and Jamie! I am SO excited to get to photograph your wedding next year! Here’s to love, happy dogs, and the Griz! :)

On the docket: more portraits!

Cheers,

-Kristine

When people ask me to photograph them with their pets, I admittedly always get a little excited (ok, a LOT excited), because pets and their people are seriously the Best. Thing. Ever. And when I’m told that the session will include a puppy and an older dog too…well then. It’s no surprise that my heart completely melted during Kristy’s Victor Montana pet and family pictures.

I met up with Kristy, Dug, her 10-year-old golden retriever, and Sven, her 12-week-old golden retriever puppy at Kristy’s friend’s ranch in Victor. It seriously couldn’t have been a more idyllic setting – the ranch land is rugged and beautiful, and full of areas perfect for two curious dogs. Plus, that little dusting of snow on the mountaintops is always a nice bonus. We had a great time wandering the land and chatting, and as it turns out, Kristy also has Wisconsin connections, which is always fun to discover. (woot woot!)

A small creek runs through the ranch, and Dug took the initiative to jump in and go snorkeling for a variety of rocks that passed his strict rockhound test. Kristy and I couldn’t help but laugh ourselves silly at Sven’s antics, doing his best to imitate his big brother, Dug. As only a puppy can do, he barked and jumped alongside the creek, waggly puppy tail waving in the air, wanting to jump in, but being a little cautious as it was pretty deep for his currently short stature (which he had discovered earlier).

Kristy – what a pleasure it was to be able to make these images of you and your happy furry family! It was so fun to document this time in your life, and so cool to see how much your pups love you and how much you love them too. They’re lucky lads for sure!

On the docket: portraits and more portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine