Love is in the Air {Montana Wedding Photographer}

It is FINALLY wedding season, and after months of cold weather followed by lots of rain it seems as though summer is finally here.  This wedding was a perfect kick off to my summer wedding season for many reasons.  First, it was located at the beautiful Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, Montana which is my hometown.  Second the weather was a little iffy at first, but it ended up being a beautiful day.  The wedding party was an absolute blast, and were up for all my crazy ideas. And lastly and most importantly, this couple is one of the kindest couples I have ever met.  They both have such big hearts, and have so much love and respect for each other, but they also treat everyone around them as though they are the most important person in the room.  They seriously blew me away with the thoughtfulness they both possess.  I felt so very honored and blessed to be part of Nate and Jessica's special day, and it was a joy to watch two people so very in love, commit to each other for the rest of their days.

I think this photo of Jessica captures a rare quiet moment in all the hustle and bustle of getting ready.

The flowers were from Wild Flower Designs and Gifts in Three Forks.  Bonnie always does such an amazing job, and she really goes above and beyond to make sure your flowers are perfect!

 You are gorgeous Jess.

The ceremony took place inside the Sacajawea's Event Tent.  

The above and below photos are my favorites from the day.  The light is perfect, and they are such a beautiful couple.  I was a very happy photographer during the Bride and Groom portrait session!

One of the many reasons I love what I do is that I am surrounded by so much love and joy on a wedding day.  Whether it is the newly married couple, the dating couple, children, parents, or the couple that has been together for many years, LOVE and JOY is everywhere on a wedding day.  I love sitting back and taking it all in with my camera.

Congrats Nate and Jessica!  The wedding is over, the memories have been captured, and now the best part....the MARRIAGE begins.  

Fun in the San Diego Sun!

Last week my parents, hubby, sister, her boyfriend James, and I went to San Diego for a little celebration.  We were celebrating Carley's college graduation, and it was also our first time vacationing all together.  It was a HUGE success.  We all had so much fun.  We went to a Padre's game, ate lots of nachos, drank too many cocktails, biked on the boardwalk, rode the roller coaster, danced, won a bar version of family feud, surfed on a wave machine, napped on the beach, and laughed for four days straight.  It was such a blast, and was much needed since this is going to be a crazy busy summer.  

While on vacation, I also managed to take a few photos!  Carley and I hatched a plan to take photos of her and James on the beach since they don't really have a lot of photos together.  We managed to talk James into giving us 10 minutes of photo time, and I am thinking that someday....if they get engaged....we might just have to make a trip back to do a full session all over San Diego.  I'm just sayin....it might be a good idea.

I love photographing in Montana, but I have to say this was an incredibly fun change!

Oh and just a note...These are NOT engagement photos.  Just some fun couple photos :)  

 The photo below is shot in front of the Surf Rider condos which is where we stayed.  It was right on the boardwalk and Mission Beach.  LOVED the location!

 The one below is a FAVE! 

And...here is one of Kev and I that Carley snapped.    

I think it is safe to say that San Diego and I will meet again.  

Back in the swing of things

It has been a long cold winter and there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.  Spring appears to be here even though I am sure we will still have some winter like weather for a few more weeks.  

I love SUMMER for so many reasons.  I love the sunshine, and the longer day.  I love being able to take Penny for walks, go golfing with my hubby, and just be outside in general.  I love that it is wedding season, and that the majority of my shoots for the year will be taking place in the next 6 months.  I love that this summer we have a lawn, and that I am getting into landscaping around our house. (so far no dead shrubs, but a couple are looking a little sickly)  I could go on and on and on about why summer is my favorite season, but instead I thought I would share what I have planned in the next couple weeks.  

This week I will be busy finishing up editing on an engagement shoot,  and I will be shooting a boudoir shoot which I am really looking forward to shooting in my new home studio for the first legitimate time.  (Penny has been testing it out)  Couples golf league start tomorrow night so hopefully Kevin and I can get a round in tonight since I have not been out this year, and I surely need the practice.  Thursday I will be heading to Three Forks for my baby sister's college graduation party.  Saturday my hubby, my parents and Carley and her boyfriend will be heading to San Diego for some beach fun and sun.  I am really looking forward to this trip for a few reasons-first the SUN, second it is the first time the six of us have vacationed together, third, I have never been to San Diego and have heard amazing things about it, and lastly I am going to talk Car and James into some fun couple beach shots while we are down there.  Plus, I am hoping to have Carley take a few of Kevin and me to update the engagement photos we have in our bedroom.  I will call them newlywed photos, and I am sure Kevin will be thrilled.  Once we get back from our trip we have the Bird Branding, Bucking Horse, lots of company, and lots of shoots.  The end of May officially signals the start of wedding season with a wedding at the Sac in Three Forks.  Busy month ahead, and I am thrilled that photography will be picking back up again.  

If you know you want a session this Summer, please contact me now so we can work out a date.  I will  be between Miles City and Bozeman a lot for weddings and weekend dates are starting to fill up.  

Well that is my update since I haven't really posted what has been going on with me for quite some time. I also haven't taken any photos of Penny in a while, and I used her to test out some new studio props and backdrops.  This first one is my favorite photo of her of all time.

Warmer weather means more shoots which also means more blog posts so check back often to see what is new with me and Whitney Lin Photography.

Nate and Jessica under a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G {Montana Engagement Photographer}

Meet Nate and Jessica.  I absolutely adore this couple and can not wait to shoot their wedding in less than a month!  They are crazy about each other, and could not have been happier during their engagement shoot.  Jessica spent the morning giggling, and Nate spent the morning crazy in love with his beautiful fiance.  Men don't typically love engagement shoots, but it was easy to see Nate was just happy to be spending time with Jessica.  It is obvious these two have what it takes.  Not only are they fun and easy to be around, they are kind, thoughtful, and not afraid to be a little silly.  They even showed concern when I shocked myself on the electric fence which was maybe one of the ditzier things I have done on a shoot.  (That's what I get for going back to blonde)

This couple is reason enough to look forward to a wedding, but they are also going to be getting married at the Sacajawea Hotel which is the perfect location for a wedding.  I am so excited to be a part of the first Sac wedding in the Event Tent, and Nate and Jessica are the perfect couple to break it in. 

 The image below is my fave!

My Royal Wedding Dress Picks!

So I have to admit, I am very excited about the upcoming Royal Wedding.  Yeah, yeah I know I live in the U.S. and I am not British, and the coverage about it IS a little too much.  I mean I don't care to hear from Kate's 3rd grade piano teacher, or from the couple's butcher, but I am crazy about the wedding dress hype.  I LOVE wedding dresses, and the dress Kate wears will have a huge impact on wedding dress designs for years to come.  Plus, Kate is so stylish and has such impeccable taste that the dress will surely be something spectacular. 

I have decided to pick a few gorgeous dresses I think Kate would ROCK.  Obviously her dress will be custom designed, but here are a few of my favorite Royal Wedding dress inspirations.  

This Vera Wang dress is stunning, and colorful wedding dresses are a real trend right now.  I would love to see Kate walk down the isle in something like this.  

source 

I am a big Marchesa fan, and think this wedding dress has a traditional ball gown feel, but love the modern neckline and bodice.  I am not always a big "fluffy" gown fan, but I LOVE this dress!  This is my runner up gown.    

source

Jenny Packham is a British designer, and even though her name hasn't been popping up much as a contender,  I think her designs are fit for a princess.  I could definitely see Kate in this silhouette.  She is tall and slender and would pull off this dress beautifully.  Plus it has a modern feel too it which Kate might go for. 

source

If it was up to me...THIS Elie Saab dress is what Kate would wear on her big day.  I love the lace detailing, and the neckline is so romantic.  Plus the full skirt is fit for a princess!   This is my winner without a doubt.

source

 Although, this is not a dress I would ever choose to wear, Kate just might go with something like this.  It is rumored the front runner for the dress designer is Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.  Kate just might go for something architectural and modern like this dress.  

source

Regardless of what she chooses, it is sure to cause waves and be the most talked about wedding dress of the decade!  I love the hype, and even though my hubby will think I am crazy, I will be setting my alarm bright and early for friday morning to tune in to all the Royal Wedding craziness.  It is after all a modern day fairy tale, and I do work in the wedding industry so I will proudly proclaim my love for the Royal Wedding madness!  

A few more....{Bozeman, MT Wedding Photographer}

I have always LOVED black and white images.  I just feel like there is something so classic and timeless about them.  Plus they have a very romantic quality to them as well.  

Here are a few more images from Brandan and Callie's wedding I shot a few weeks ago.  (To see their original post, just scroll back a couple posts)  They are some of my favorite black and whites from their wedding.

The photo below is one of my favorite photos of a bride ever.  Love the lighting in it.

Dreary Sunday with a delightful couple {Bozeman, MT Engagement Photographer}

Although I had chatted with Shannon on the phone, and through a handful of emails, this was my first meeting with the Shannon and Justin.  The weather had been a concern all morning, but we decided to give it a go and hope for the best.  Although it was little wet and chilly, the shoot went on with a few slight adjustments.  We moved inside the Sacajawea Hotel for a bit to avoid the rain, and by they time we headed back out, the rain had stopped.  

I instantly felt at ease with Shannon and Justin.  They were great to be around, up for anything, and really easy to visit with.  They also interact beautifully together, and you would never know that Justin had to give up a day of snowmobiling for engagement pics:)  I love working with couples like that, and am always so grateful for the fantastic residents we have here in Montana.  It truly is such a remarkable state full of the most wonderful people.  

I can't wait to photograph this perfect couple in June, and I am really excited to be shooting in Anaconda for the first time!  I'm quite confident that regardless of sun, rain, shine, snow, Justin and Shannon will be perfectly relaxed, incredibly fun and simply enjoyable on their wedding day.

See you two soon.  June is right around the corner although I am sure you don't need reminded of that:)