Thursday, January 23, 2014 Posted in Weddings
1. Waterproof Mascara
Happy tears are a wonderful thing. As a photographer I love seeing people overcome with true emotion. It’s moving. Swapping regular mascara for the waterproof kind keeps makeup in tact and photos free from tear stains.
2. Fun
People make such a big deal about all the things you have to do before the wedding, or all the stress of things that can go wrong on a wedding day. Don’t worry about all that stuff. Seriously. Have fun. You are getting married. Kiss your husband, dance with your best friends. Enjoy it.
3. A Moment to Herself
On a similar note, your wedding day is filled with amazing moments that can fly by all too fast. Whether it’s a morning yoga session to start the day, or just taking a quiet minute of solitude to soak in everything going on around you, take a minute to yourself. It’s calming and helps you appreciate the day.
4. A Day of Clutch
It sounds like Mom advice but it really is useful. It’s a great place to stash tissues, touch up makeup, and maybe a tiny bottle of booze or a sentimental good luck charm. Maybe you don’t use any of it but it’s nice to have just in case.
5. Permission To Feel Beautiful
I know this sounds like totally cheesy advice. But here’s the thing — I HATE having my photo taken. Like dentist-visit-nerves-don’t-like-it. So I know what it’s like to stand there and have someone photograph you all the while you just want it to end. Don’t do that. Take a deep breath and think about your exciting future. Feel beautiful. It may sound like silly advice but it’s ok to feel good about yourself and how you look. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to ensure you actually look amazing in your photos — plus you’ll feel better while the shutter clicks. Trust me.
2013 was a great year for Cou Cou Studio. We have been really lucky to have thoughtful clients that let us spend time with them at special moments each year. I pulled just a couple of my favorite images from this last year of shooting weddings and portraits. Thanks to all of our loyal clients who invite us back year after year to photograph their families and loved ones. We are grateful to work with you each time.
This shot from the Boh family portrait session. It happened in between setups of the entire group on the beach at Whitefish Lake. I’m happy I was able to spin around in time to catch this little guy staring out at the horizon.
Moments between mothers and daughters at weddings are often particularly sweet to me. This photograph from Eric and Sarah’s wedding was caught before the ceremony. I just thought the image on Mom’s face was so sweet and genuine.
This second image from the Boh family photo session between the kids was sweet and simple. You could really tell they were having fun — and they were especially great to work with since it was exceptionally chilly and they still had bare feet.
Cathy and Walt were kind enough to let me photograph engagement photos of them on the roof of Casey’s Bar in Whitefish, Montana. I just loved how happy he looks and how content she seems.
Sarah and Eric’s wedding outside Glacier in Columbia Falls, Montana was a highlight of our year last season. Their kind and funny families were so fun to shoot. This photograph from their first look before the ceremony was a nice pause in the middle of the wedding day and all the preparation and festivities. Plus look how happy they look with each other. So sweet.
Thanks to all of our clients for a great year. We are now booking weddings and portrait sessions for 2014. As usual some weekends are more popular than others, make sure to get in contact with us if you are looking to hire a wedding photographer before we fill up our available dates.
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It’s that time of year : engagement season. We are currently booking dates to photograph weddings in 2014. If you are in the Missoula, Montana area and want to meet up for coffee or a drink to discuss your plans we’d love to hear about your celebration. We love meeting with potential clients in person to hear all about what they have in store on their wedding day and what they are looking for in a photographer. Lido and I are heading out of town to Atlanta from December 21st thru January 5th. We will then be in New York for meetings January 6th thru the 9th. We are happy to meet folks in those cities too if the opportunity comes up.
We love the clients we meet each year — they make our jobs easy and beautiful. We are looking forward to 2014 as our best season yet!
What an adorable family. When the Boh family asked me to photograph their family portraits at Whitefish Lake I was thrilled. They are such a great group and the kids were a blast. We got lucky as this photo shoot was done just before the weather really did turn cold and everyone was brave enough to stand on the chilly shore in the early morning. Caralyn did a great job coordinating the colors and clothes for the family. I love it when things mix and match and still it all works together. Thanks again Boh family for such a fun family photo session. Till next time!
Montana offers so many wonderful venues for weddings. From hotels to national parks, ranches to homesteads, there are no lack of choices for brides and grooms who say “I do!” in Montana. Here’s a round up some of the best venues Cou Cou Studio has had the opportunity to photograph.
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is always a spectacular location for a Montana wedding. The four-diamond hotel is on the shore of Whitefish Lake and offers beautiful views of the water from the outdoor ceremony pavilion. It’s also great when guests are coming from out of town and want to stay at the same location as your celebration.
Holland Lake Lodge in Condon, Montana
This historic lodge was built in 1924. After a fire burned the main lodge in 1946 it was rebuilt in 1947. The result: a timeless backdrop in a jaw dropping location. It doesn’t hurt they are known for their delicious food either. If you are looking for a rustic location with plenty for guests to do before and after the wedding this Montana lodge can’t be beat.
Green Valley Ranch in Coram, Montana
Green Valley Ranch is just outside of West Glacier in Coram, Montana. The stunning views are good enough your guests might not even make it into the park. Surrounded by mountains and with a pond on location, the site is just the thing for couples who want to stay with their wedding party together for the weekend. Originally homesteaded by the George Green family in the early 1900′s when Glacier Park was newly created, it then operated as a dude ranch for many years. Today you can rent it out for your wedding and enjoy Montana with your friends and family in a relaxed location.
Working as a wedding photographer means that I spend a lot of time watching people in love. Seeing families share emotional moments and couples at some of their happiest moments. It’s one of the things that makes me love my job so much. It also makes me feel grateful people allow Lido and I to be there for some of their most emotional moments. The last 10 years of shooting weddings have given me some insight into what makes for great weddings photos.
1. Do Your Homework
It can be tempting as you run down the pre-wedding to-do list to let that family friend who is thinking of becoming a photographer shoot the wedding. Or just pick a photographer from a list you find online. My advice — no matter who you end up choosing is to pick a photographer whose style and personality is a good match for you. Ask them questions, get a feel for their photography aesthetic. When it comes down to it the photos are the record of the day you will have forever. Professionals have spent time learning to be great photographers and capture amazing moments. It’s worth investing in someone you know will photograph the day the way you want.
2. Stay Connected
I love it when a bride sends me an update on how her wedding plans are coming along. Even before I eventually get a timeline — getting to know some of the details in advance helps me get a feel for how things will go on the big day and what the bride and groom are planning. Communicating along the way helps build a better relationship that is so worthwhile on your wedding day. Keep us in the loop!
3. Timeline
Timelines are a photographer’s best friend. Once you have one or just start formulating one clue your photographer in on your plans. Often we can help offer insight into how long we think certain kinds of portraits will take or other parts of the day. I like running on a schedule that allows for things to run a couple minutes late. Then you are always on time. We love being a part of the conversation as you work on your timeline — it helps us figure out what the pace of your day will be like.
4. Trust Us
We had lots of chats, talked about what you want to have happen — maybe even seem some photos you just love. On your wedding day it’s time to trust your photographer. You’ve hired someone professional so you don’t have to worry about the photos that day. Let us do our thing and trust us to make great decisions – -that’s what we specialize in doing.
5. Take a Deep Breath
Seriously. Something is bound to go wrong. But at the end of the day you are getting married. Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy! People are here to celebrate with you. After all is said and done you won’t remember that the cake got there late or that one of the groomsmen got a random bloody nose (trust me, it happens). What you’ll remember is that you got married and are deliriously happy with your spouse, family and friends.
You can see more of our amazing clients and work on our website. Good luck out there with your wedding planning!
This summer’s wedding season is winding down and we are already looking forward to 2014. We’ve already started booking dates and getting travel plans organized for the upcoming year. We are also excited to announce that we will be participating in this year’s Montana Bridal Expo in Missoula. Mark your calendars to come say hi and meet us in person in the University Center Ballroom at The University of Montana on October 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Till then you can view more of our recently photographed weddings on our website. We can’t wait to see you in October!
We had the pleasure of photographing Sarah and Eric’s beautiful wedding at Weatherwood in Columbia Falls, Montana. Here’s a quick preview of the happy couple. More images to come from this fantastic wedding. Stay tuned.
This couple was such fun to photograph. Lido and I had a wonderful time shooting Sarah and Eric’s wedding at 
Thank you so much Eric and Sarah. It really was our pleasure to capture your day. Best wishes for a bright and happy future.
by cocoablue
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