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

Ashley and Nick truly are two wonderful people — and I was so excited to be able to make Garden of One Thousand Buddhas engagement photos for them, which is one of their favorite places. Ashley shared with me that it’s particularly significant to them because it’s the spot they’d often visit together when they first started dating. (And if there’s one thing I love, it’s being able to make photos in meaningful places for folks!)

Zipping up to Arlee from Missoula, we somehow managed to be treated to one of Montana’s balmier days this winter, complete with a little sun and blue sky, which I think must’ve been timed just perfectly for Ashley and Nick’s session. The universe knew!

If you haven’t been to it before, the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is a special place, surrounded by stunning mountains, dotted with Buddhas of all shapes and sizes, and permeated by a tranquil, positive energy that we all appreciated. We wandered through the grounds, stopping at various points to laugh and chat and make photos. I think everyone’s faces hurt from smiling and cracking up so much — always a good thing in my opinion!

Speaking of which, Ashley and Nick are just a blast to photograph, and I love to see just how much fun they have together! Even though things were somewhat chilly (I mean, it is still winter after all), the warmth and love they radiated made the temps barely noticeable.

I am just so excited to get to photograph their wedding in October, and I already know we’re going to have the best time together capturing such a special day! (Photo ninja mode, here I come! )

Ashley and Nick! Congratulations again on your engagement, and thank you for being just an absolute delight to photograph! You two are the bees knees, and I’m seriously stoke, stoke, stoked for your wedding! Woohoo!

P.S. Here’s a fun little GIF to enjoy, too.

On the docket:

Portraits! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Eli definitely timed his nature and urban Missoula senior photos perfectly, because we hit that autumn sweet spot, right before the temps dropped! And we had such a great time making his photos to celebrate his senior year at Willard. Even his girlfriend, Ivy, and mom, Sam, joined in for a few photos, too!

As we meandered around Missoula to make his images, Eli shared with me that he absolutely loves traveling. After he graduates from high school, he’d love to travel the world and has many places he’d be keen to visit, including the Faroe Islands, Sweden, and Croatia. As he put it, “pretty much anywhere” because he’s got the travel bug! (Courtesy of his mom, he said.) He said he even has some goals to take time to bike pack around some of these places. Which…how cool would that be?! I hope you get to do that, Eli!

Eli was so fun to photograph and such a great sport. He has the brightest smile, and, of course, Ivy and his mom helped bring that out, too!

When he’s not busy with school he shared with me that he loves to go backpacking and hiking with friends. He especially enjoys going up Pattee Canyon. He’s lived in Missoula all his life, so he’s ready to move on from it. Eli said that he’s thinking about heading to Salt Lake with his buddies. And it doesn’t hurt that Moab is right nearby, too — a fact which he really likes.

Eli (and Ivy and Sam, too!) — thank you for being an absolute treat to photograph! I so enjoyed meeting you all and getting to make these images for you. And Eli! Congrats on your upcoming graduation, and here’s hoping that travel bug succeeds in taking a (gentle) chomp out of you so you can explore all those cool places! Cheers to you, your fantastically positive attitude, and I hope you have a very happy remainder of your senior year!

On the docket:

More portraits! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

We had the most perfect evening for Levi’s autumn senior photos in Missoula, and it was so nice to see him again after the first half of his session earlier this summer! Thankfully this time around it was not close to 100 degrees (phew!), so traipsing about in the cool fall air was a relief.

Levi’s been busy with school and scouting since I last saw him. He told me he’s putting the finishing touches on his Eagle Scout project, and is excited to finish that up. It sounds like it’s been a lot of work!

We took the path less traveled and found ourselves down by the water, taking in the view. Levi really enjoyed the area by the water, and when I asked him if he likes fishing, he told me he’s not a big fisherman, but enjoys it here and there. He’s more of a lake fishing kind of guy.

As we walked around to find spots of autumn color, Levi told me he’s also been enjoying hanging out with his friends and watching football when he can. He doesn’t have any favorite teams that he roots for, but he loves the overall camaraderie of getting together with people and eating good food. (I can relate — who doesn’t love friends and food, right? )

He also brought his sweet, sky blue 1972 Chevy along for his session. The truck is his grandma’s, and he absolutely adores it — it’s his all time favorite vehicle. And I can absolutely see why. It’s in such beautiful condition, and it even had a custom wooden bed made for it! A beaut, that’s for sure!

As luck would have it, we caught a bit of some pinkish purple color in the sky, and were able to take advantage of the truck’s cool, retro lights and flip those on for some fun photos. Levi’s only ask — make sure that Chevy logo is displayed!

We had such a blast with these truck photos (thanks again, Levi, for putting up with my unbridled excitement while we were making these images!), and it was the perfect proverbial icing on the cake for some really fun sessions together.

Levi — thank you again for two delightful sessions. I hope you have a fabulous senior year, and congrats again on successfully completing your Eagle Scout badge! Have fun with that cool truck ‘o’ yours, too.

On the docket:

Portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I was so excited to get to photograph Landon’s Missoula senior photos in the forest, not only because I’ve been photographing Landon and her family for years now (we won’t say how long, because omg, I refuse to admit how old I am now, haha!), but because Landon’s an absolute blast, AND she told me she’d be wearing some hand-knitted items she’d made. (As a knitter myself, I’ve got mad respect for any and all knitted things, especially if they get to star in some photos!)

We were treated to a completely beautiful summer evening, and met up in one of Landon’s favorite places — the forest. Some of the shrubbery had already started turning colors in preparation for autumn, so our session was filled with that forest magic Landon loves. She told me that she especially appreciates big, tall trees, and remembers staring at the sky as a kid and feeling small. (I get it! I’m a sucker for that feeling wherever I can find it, even as an adult.)

We had so much fun finding all the little gems in the forest, including (apparently )every cool stump there is, as well as the teeniest, tiniest, cutest pine cones and little red berries.

As we wandered, Landon told me that she’s planning on going to college (perhaps at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor) to study Musical Theater, Linguistics, and Classics. She’d also love to possibly study abroad, and had recently returned to Missoula from a month-long linguistics learning program in France, which she just adored.

Being someone who’s spent some time in musical theater myself, I asked Landon about the type of theater that she enjoys most. She shared with me that she prefers original theater productions that have stellar storylines, and don’t rely on a movie that was made first and then converted into a musical. Preach!

When she’s not busy at school, Landon loves to play tennis, play guitar, violin, and ukulele, learn new languages, sew, and knit. Speaking of knitting, I’ve got to give Landon a shout out for her bear sweater (which you will soon see and admire). She knitted her sweater over a couple months (color me impressed!), and I was so happy she got to wear it for some of her photos. Thankfully it wasn’t a million degrees out so Landon didn’t cook in her sweater. But either way, it would’ve been worth it!

As our time wound down, we continued to get treated to all the sweet light, and we had so much fun cracking up over Landon’s Demi Lovato moves in the sunshine. (Though those moves will remain a secret in perpetuity. )

Landon! Thank you again for such a fabulously fun session! I always love getting to spend time with you and your family, and I’m just so excited to see what’s next for you after you graduate. (I know it’s going to be awesome!) Here’s to you, all your interests and ambitions, and to a wonderful senior year at Big Sky!

On the docket:

Portraits galore! Don’t miss ’em!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Getting to photograph people in places that that are meaningful to them always makes me so happy. And I loved getting to capture Ashbeigh’s Potomac Montana senior photos right down the road from her house, alongside a creek and at her family’s barn.

We were treated to the most gorgeous summer evening, and Ashbeigh had picked out a perfect little grove of aspens to shoot in. Ashbeigh was wearing a pretty, white dress, and when pretty dresses and glowing aspens are involved, then twirling is always a must! Ashbeigh and I had a great time cracking up and laughing together amongst all those beautiful trees. Her collie dog, Sadie, even joined us for a few photos, too!

As we made Ashbeigh’s photos, she told me that she’s looking forward to graduating from Hellgate High School and pursuing a nursing career (as inspired by her aunt, who’s a nurse). When she’s not in the middle of making beautiful images, she keeps busy with volleyball (and wants to pursue it at a college level), 4-H, and track. She also loves hanging out with her friends and going to the lake for fun.

Speaking of 4-H, after our time twirling in the aspens, we meandered down the road a bit to Ashbeigh’s family’s barn. We had so much fun playing with the light and shadows there (all the while been “cheered” on by a crowd of mooing cows, haha, which definitely had us all giggling!). Ashbeigh invited Reba, her 4-H cow (along with Reba’s baby, Nova), to join us for a few images, too! Reba really enjoyed working it for the camera, which kept the laughs coming!

And, when Ashbeigh wasn’t herding cattle during our session, she had a great time “model stomping” her way through the barnyard for some fun images! We really hit the light at the absolute perfect time, and as the sun slowly slid down behind the mountains, a bright moon made its appearance in the bluish-purple twilight. The proverbial cherry on top of a fantastic evening!

Ashbeigh! Thank you again for an absolutely delightful session! You totally rocked your images, and I’m so excited for your senior your and your pursuits afterwards! Here’s to you and your very, very bright future ahead!

On the docket:

Lots more portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

When Olleke’s mom, Kari, wrote to me about doing her Philipsburg Montana senior photos, saying that Olleke is “a creative musician/environmental enthusiast” who is “half punk rock, half mountain girl,” I just knew we had to work together. And I’m so glad everything worked out! Timing-wise, it nearly didn’t, and weather-wise it also nearly didn’t happen, but luck was on our side during our session and we honestly could not have had a more amazing day together!

Olleke is from Houston, Texas, but we met up in Philipsburg, which is where her family’s primitive cabin is. Her great grandpa built it, and, as Olleke describes it, “this place is absolutely the most important thing in my world and means the most to me.” She’s spent a few weeks every summer at that cabin, and so I was absolutely excited to get to capture such a special place to Olleke and her family.

We started our evening off meeting up at the local Doe Brothers soda fountain where we had fun making images with a more vintage vibe. In fact, Olleke picked up a few vintage dresses just for her session, and they were perfect to complete the vintage feel! (A big thanks to Kari for treating us to some delicious milkshakes — a perfect treat for a very hot summer day!)

We continued wandering around downtown Philipsburg for a few more photos, and then it was time to hit the road to some of Olleke’s favorite spots on the way to her great grandpa’s cabin. One of those places was this amazing fishing hole, and talk about scenic. I mean, we literally ran into a plein air painter right where we were shooting. (Seriously idyllic, let me tell you, holy smokes Batman! We were all a little beside ourselves, can you tell?) Olleke threw on a giant pair of her dad’s boots, and wandered down to the creek where she showed off some of her fly fishing moves in what may be The Most Beautiful Place Ever. We didn’t catch any fish, but boy did we land some amazing photos!

To continue our adventure, off we headed to nearby Moose Lake. But on the way there we came across a bear, which we all felt was a sign that we were definitely experiencing The Most Awesome Day Ever. We yelped with excitement, and that energy followed us to the lake where Olleke’s family friends let us borrow their dock (and their mosquitoes, haha!). We had so much fun making images of Olleke strutting her stuff on the dock catwalk, and thankfully I did not float away on a nearby dock that (as it turns out) was only lightly tethered to the one Olleke was standing on. (THAT would have made for an amusing story!)

After our lake images, we were off to the storied cabin. And what a magical little spot that is! It’s nuzzled into the forest, alongside a babbling creek dotted with bluebells and sunlight and happiness. I 100% understand why it’s one of Olleke’s most beloved places on earth — it’s a gem! Olleke twirled her way throughout the forest, and then it was time to bust out her guitar (her PINK guitar — yas!). She told me that she plays in a rock band (guitar, bass, keys, vocals, drums — talk about talented!). And this girl has goals! Olleke wants go to college and major in environmental studies, and perhaps pursue environmental law (but only if she doesn’t become a famous musician first). She’d also like to apprentice at some farms and do some work with the forest service.

Before the light disappeared we ventured off down the road again to find a cool boulder Olleke likes. We didn’t come across that boulder, but we did all scream with delight and joy as we rounded a corner and BAM! Rainbow! I told Olleke to run down the road with me to catch it before it disappeared, and she twirled and danced with a basketful of wildflowers, and we giggled giddily at our luck. Did I mention this was The Most Awesome Day Ever?

The sky started turning the strangest shade of yellow orange, and opened up pouring on us for a bit, but before our evening was over, we were treated to one last special cameo from the local mother moose. As we drove back to Philipsburg, I don’t think any of us stopped grinning at all the joy, fun, and brilliance we’d just experienced, courtesy of Olleke and Montana.

Olleke! Kari! What a truly amazing day! Thank you SO much for hanging out with me, running down dirt roads chasing rainbows, and going gaga over bears and moose and beautiful landscapes. It was such a treat to get to meet you both, and I’m just thrilled we got to capture images of you, Olleke, in some of your most loved spaces and places in Montana. Here’s to you, your senior year, and all your exciting plans after you graduate! I can’t wait to see where life takes you! (I bet you anything there will be many more rainbows in your future!) P.S. I threw in a little surprise for you at the end…bear with me.

And…last, but certainly not least, I just had to have a little fun with one of our forest friends we ran into…

On the docket:

Oodles of portraits! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

There’s absolutely nothing, nothing, like getting to connect again and work with couples whose weddings I’ve photographed, especially when you get to meet their sweeter than sweet kiddos! Hanging out with Sarah and Justin for their Missoula Montana summertime family photos seriously felt like it was only yesterday that I’d photographed their wedding. And I’m so glad I was able to catch up with them during their Missoula visit!

Their daughters, Elise, 6, and Isabelle, almost 3, were so cute in their matching dresses, and we managed to find some purple flowers for them to frolic in — talk about perfection! Purple is Isabelle’s favorite color, and, after getting acclimated to some very tall grass, she was all about checking out the blooms.

Elise loved showing me how beautifully she twirled in the sun, and the whole family got some great laughs as the resident winery dog “sang” to us through a very hilarious series of howls! (Elise and Isabelle loved imitating his howling, which had us all in stitches!)

Grandma and Grandpa (abuelita and abuelito) even got to join in for a few photos, and everyone helped sing some songs to me that I “absolutely needed to hear” and had “definitely never ever heard before ever in my life…ever ever.” The smokey the bear song was a treat! I think Rockin’ Robin might have made an appearance, too!

Elise told me some stellar jokes, the girls both loved dancing on a few big rocks we discovered (can you guess the image below that I swear is going to be Isabelle and Elise’s next save-the-world movie poster?), and both Elise and Isabelle are living proof that girls and dresses and backhoes and sandboxes are the perfect mix. I got to play in the sand, too, at Elise’s request. (“You need to stop taking photos and play with us!” she insisted. Twist my arm, sweet girl!)

Elise and I took a little stroll together to go look for birds in a nearby field. We walked the dirt road and she gently brushed her fingertips against the sun-kissed tips of the swaying grass. We also had a blast making images of Sarah and Justin together in that same field! (Did I mention it feels like only yesterday we were making photos of the two of them as newlyweds! Oh, time — how she flies!)

Towards the end of our session, Elise and Isabelle giggled gleefully together in a rope hammock as Sarah and Justin rocked them back and forth. Elise looked at me and exclaimed at the top of her lungs, “We’re going to send you a gift! It will be CHOCOLATE!” “Chocolate?!” I asked. To which Isabelle added, “AND POPSICLES!” I’ve never been offered such a thoughtful gift, and I seriously can’t wait to have chocolate and popsicles mailed to me. They’re definitely girls after my own heart.

Sarah and Justin! What a hands-down, absolute treat to get to see you again and meet your darling girls. (And see your folks again, too, of course!) Your session nearly made my heart burst with happiness, and I can’t wait for our next “play date,” as Elise put it. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for bringing so much love and joy to our time together that evening! Chocolate and popsicles and summertime hammock giggles forever!

On the docket:

Lots more portraits! Don’t miss ’em!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Way back in November of last year, Greg reached out to me about making Hamilton Montana family photos of him, his wife, Mary, and their son Jeremiah — and he booked the session as a surprise Christmas present for Mary. Fast forward a bit, and we planned on photographing sometime in spring, but it rained and rained and rained, and I think we had to reschedule something like six times! However, even with all those reschedules and rain delays, serendipity was on our side, and we experienced the most gorgeous evening together. The wildflowers were even still in bloom due to our wet, cold spring.

I met up with Greg, Mary, and Jeremiah on their 92 acre property outside of Hamilton, and as I parked my car at the their house, five-year-old Jeremiah came running up to me telling me that he had a gift for me! And out he thrust a little fist full of wildflowers he’d picked for me. I about melted of happiness on the spot right then and there. Suffice it to say that this was just the start of many, many delightful moments during our session together!

Jeremiah was incredibly excited about the photos and had all sorts of ideas for me. (As Mary said, “He’s five going on 30!”) He was our official tour guide, and he would take my hand, and lead me around to show off his favorite “shortcuts.” Bodie, their Rhodesian ridgeback, also joined us for some photos, too!

We had a blast finding the most perfect wildflowers and views, giggling and laughing and being silly, discovering dancing caterpillars, playing hide and seek in lupine, making flower petal confetti, turning into tigers in the tall grass, and even racing down their gravel road (Jeremiah definitely won that race with me, haha!).

What an absolutely delightful session! My heart was just soaring during and after, and I’m so glad we finally got to make these photos together! Thank you again, Greg, Mary, and Jeremiah! Your family is so delightful, and it was an absolute joy to capture these moments for you!

On the docket:

Portraits and weddings galore — stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

It was such a treat to get to meet up with Kristie, Darwin, Isaac, Sophia, and Noah for their family photos at the Ranch at Rock Creek! They were visiting Montana from Florida, so our weather was slightly different than what they’re used to. We’ve had a very, very wet spring in Montana (did you see what happened to Yellowstone? ) , and even though it drizzled during our entire session, we still all made the most of it together!

I loved seeing how much fun their entire family has together — there were plenty of giggles to go around, some “mom adjustments” to hairstyles and good-natured joking, and the kids definitely know how to make each other crack up!

We hit up some of their favorite spots on the ranch, Isaac and Sophia spiffed up Noah’s cowboy hat with some giant feathers they found, they took a spin on the bikes the ranch provides (Sophia even off-roaded, all while wearing a dress — color me impressed!), and everyone had a good time showing off their cowboy boots, too.

As our session wound down, Sophia and Noah even showed me some of their “pool shark” moves at the ranch’s bar.

Kristie, Darwin, Isaac, Sophia, and Noah — thank you again for such a delightful session! I loved getting to meet you all, and I want to commend you again for braving those raindrops. Montana will most definitely be glad to welcome you back for another visit!

On the docket:

Weddings and portraits galore! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine