First off, I have to say that Andy and Angie were a pleasure to work with from the very beginning.  We spent a good bit of time back and forth via email trying to get a date sorted out, and also just what we wanted to cover during the day.  Angie covered most of this with us, and she was even nicer in person than she was via email. 

Also, we had some trouble getting a rental car for the day we had scheduled, and in the end they just offered to come to the airport and pick us up – which was a huge blessing and also saved a lot of headache.  I did offer to pay them, but they refused.    So they picked us at about 7:45 that morning, and we headed off to get some breakfast (which they also would not let me pay for) and talk a little bit about the day, and our business.  We had decided to spend the morning talking about business and SEO related subjects, and spend the afternoon shooting and going over some off camera flash techniques.

After our breakfast Q&A session, we moved down the street to a coffee shop to talk in more detail about SEO and biz related matters.  (We also randomly saw a good friend of mine at the coffee shop – small world – Hi Addy!)  The morning session was awesome.  I learned so much in a short amount of time!  And and Angie were very knowledgeable when it comes to SEO, and had great advice for business in general as well.  They were also totally transparent when it came to questions about their own business, which was helpful and refreshing.    I really think the morning session more than made the trip worth it all on its own.

So, after we grabbed a snack for the road, we met up with Andy and Angie’s assistant, Charlotte.  She was going to be our model for our afternoon lighting session – which she did a great job as and was a totally trooper!  Once again I think both Janna and I found that they were very knowledgeable on the subject – and even more than that, they were patient and kind teachers.

I think that it is worth noting that throughout the day we found Andy and Angie to be a total pleasure to work with.  They have a passion for teaching that shows, and they do it well.  They were (and still are!) genuinely interested in seeing us succeed and helping us better our skills and our business.  There was no question that was off limits, and even more important, I think, was that there was no stupid questions to them.  It was the kind of environment that you felt like you could truly learn in – and we did!

To top off the evening we had dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory (which they finally conceded to let me buy) before we had to head back to the airport.  Nothing like a good meal to end a good day!  We learned a ton, and also had a ton of fun in the process.  I think I can safely say I would recommend Andy and Angie’s workshop to anyone looking to spend the day with some quality people and learn a few things.  Or just hang out for a good time!  Thanks guys!

And because I promised…  Here are a few pictures from the afternoon – feel free t leave Charlotte some love in the comments section!

Chris

We did all kinds of fun things with the kids… Went to the beach, went to the zoo, took them to the flight museum…  And, of course, being the good photographer dad, I was trying to document all of this along the way.  FAIL.

Ok, so not a complete failure.  I did get some fun and/or cute pictures of the kids.  But, what I did learn is that is quite difficult to participate in and document the same event.  Or at very least, it isn’t a lot of fun!  Maybe it is the wedding photographer in me, but when I am trying to take pictures of an event, it seems that is what takes over.  So, towards the end of vacation I opted more times than not to simply leave the camera for a while, and just have fun.  And I did. 

Chris

I know it has been far too long since I’ve really posted anything, so I thought I’d update the blog a little and, you know, let you all know I am still alive. 

So, here’s what’s been cracking:

- We moved!  Well, just across town, but you wouldn’t know that by the amount of work it seems to take.  I’ve determined that if I never move again, I think I will be happy.  At least until next time…  The good news is we moved in to a bigger house, which means the kids have their own rooms, which means I get more sleep, which is generally good for everyone who comes into contact with me.  Which also means I can maybe cut down on my near lethal doses of caffiene.  Maybe.

- I got to work with some fabulous people yesterday on a bridal fashion/editorial shoot… So much fun!  Don’t want to give too much away – there will be a full post on that coming soon!

- Shooting a few Senior sessions lately as well, although the weather isn’t playing along very well yet.  You can see all that work over on the Senior website – Helena Montana Senior Photography – it will be updated soon as well!

- On top of all of  that planning our short little vacation out to Seattle next month.  Gotta get outta town before wedding season kicks into gear.  We always like visiting Seattle…  The kids love the Zoo.  I love going back to where I grew up.  Sometimes miss all the things you can do in the big city, but Helena is really home.

And on that note, consider yourself updated…

Chris

Chris
Helena Montana Wedding Photographer

In the meantime, here are just a couple pictures that I wanted to share.  Many thanks to Charlotte for being our model.   She was a trooper, and did a great job!

Feel free to leave some comment love if you like… 

Chris

Nothing award winning, but I think it is beautiful and it does capture what I was seeing.  Hope you enjoy!

Chris

On another note, the sun is shining outside, and it looks like spring!  I doubt it feels like spring outside, judging by the frost on the car, but nonetheless it makes me excited for warmer days…

…and warmer, longer days means wedding season is that much closer to starting!  Yes, I am excited, and I can’t wait for wedding season to get underway.  We have the most amazing clients, and I can’t wait to work with all of them this year.

With that, I’m off to play with the kiddos…

Chris

Janna had the opportunity to go to a 1-on-1 workshop with the wonderful Jessica Kettle, of Jessica Kettle Photography, who’s work Janna and I both love.  She learned a ton, and I got to learn a little too, secondhand. 

I’ve got some new pictures to post up here soon, and some old ones as well.  Sometime in the next week or so we will be doing at least one best of 2009 post, and I’m thinking we may even have a little fun with it!  Maybe a vote, and the couple in the winning image gets a prize?  What do you think of that?  Not 100% sure on the idea, so I’m open to hear others. 

Sometime in the not to distant future we will be starting what will (hopefully) become a regular feature: Guest Authors.  We will have posts (and I think maybe even some video posts!) from some people with good info to share for both brides-to-be and photographers alike.  Keep a watch for the first installment sometime in the next few weeks, hopefully.

We are going to be at the Helena Bridal Fair again this year, and we are super excited to meet you all!  Please don’t be shy – we are going to have a great giveaway, and we would love to just chat with you.

We’ve received some wonderful comments and testimonies from our clients in 2009, and some of those will be appearing on the website soon, and we may post them here with a few images tied to them as well.  Hopefully it will be something helpful for those of year who like to know you’ll get what you pay for. 

I think that’s about it at the moment…  I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but that’s ok.  Hopefully have another post tonight with some pictures from a recent engagement session!  Leave some love in the comment box if you have some to give.

Thanks!

Chris

I LOVE my job.

OK, there is the rare occasion when I am staring at my computer at 3 in the morning that I feel like I don’t love it, or at least that part of it….  But then I wake up in the morning and I love my job again.  So it’s all good.  :)

I think my favorite thing in the world to photograph is a wedding.  I know some people say they are all the same, or that once you’ve done a few you’ve seen it all…  I just don’t see it that way at all.  While having done plenty of weddings does mean I’ve seen a lot of things, I think that each wedding really is unique.  Each couple is unique, and there is an ever changing cast of characters…  What more could you want?

I don’t think I’ve ever done another job that is as much work as this one, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  I’m never more exhausted then at the end of a wedding, but it is always worth it.  Janna and I do everything possible to make your experience relaxed, comfortable, and most of all FUN!  If you’ve seen any of the pictures that have been snapped of me working on Facebook and the like, you’ll know we like to have fun, and we like to make it fun for you.

All the pictures you see here and on the website wouldn’t be possible without all the amazing clients I’ve had the chance to work with.  Working with all of you is what makes this job worthwhile, and I can’t wait to meet all the clients for 2010.  Gonna be the best year yet!

So, thanks to everyone who has helped us get to this point, and here’s to all of you who we will meet along the rest of the way!

Chris

Chris Rebo & Janna Beecher
Rebo Photography