Beautiful Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Tamytha Cameron Photography

COPPER PEAK FALL SHOOT

October 5, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

CopperPeakFblog101

Some time ago I posted about Celeste and my first trip to Copper Peak to do our spring/summer shoot for a project we are working on there. We just returned from our fall shoot this past weekend, and were so saturated with fall beauty that I immediately submerged myself in editing and finished the images. It was much like editing a wedding with the number of images we shot, but editing each and every image was a joy and a way of reliving the experience over again. We are traveling to Copper Peak, located in Ironwood Michigan, three times, spring/summer which we shot in June… fall which we just shot in September… and the winter competition shoot which will be in February of 2014. We are shooting promotional and informational images for the Copper Peak Board of Directors and the Copper Peak Organization for their web presence and well as for other promotional purposes. We are shooting the jump itself and the facilities as well as the surrounding natural beauty. For those of you who don’t remember my last post, Copper Peak has the only ski flying hill in the United States, the others being in other parts of the world. The site hasn’t been skied for 20 years and is under renovation for a ski flying competition that is to be held there in the spring. As with my last post, here is a link to the amazing things happening at Copper Peak: Ski Flyers to Soar Again at Copper Peak. I want to thank Bryan Sanders, former Olympic Skier and Copper Peak Board member, as well as all around great guy, for trusting us with this task.

This whole project has really been life altering for me… in that it has reaffirmed for me that I am doing the right thing in devoting my professional life to photography. I can’t even begin to describe how much I love doing what I do… and how I see pictures everywhere I look. My mom always said that beauty is all around us… and that you only have to have eyes to see it. This is really my philosophy when it comes to photography, whether I am photographing people, places or things, and I know that my greatest asset as a photographer is my eye. What is the most exciting about this project besides the obvious is that I have been able to shoot it with my daughter Celeste who is becoming a very accomplished photographer in her own right. We both love the outdoors, beauty and adventure… and I have enjoyed sharing this with her more than I can ever say.

We shot for most of the day on a Saturday as well as Sunday, with breaks to have good food, fellowship with a great friend, and to visit that friend’s amazing and remote cabin. The fall color was absolutely breathtaking. I can’t even put it into words and even the images don’t do it justice. The golden light felt like it was seeping into us and around every corner was a new photo… And yes… we take a lot of photos of one another along the way… but hey, we are photographers, and good photographers never miss a chance to get the shot. And let me warn you… there are a lot of images in this post… more than I have ever put in a blog post before. But I am so in love with this place I just couldn’t resist!

Lest you think the life of a photographer is just about standing around taking photos… there is a lot of climbing, hiking, braving of high winds, and getting into strange positions to get the perfect shots… best of all every day is a new day and a new challenge… we even manage to get in a little yoga while we are on location.

As I mentioned, in addition to shooting the jump itself, we shot the nearby harbor, forest and rapids, there are several amazing waterfalls in the area… and didn’t miss some of the smallest local flora and fauna… There is so much to see near Ironwood and Copper Peak. Even if it weren’t for the attraction of the jump itself and what will be happening there in February, the area itself is worth a visit. And the people are so amazingly friendly and wonderful.

On our way back to Minneapolis where we were going to fly home, we found some choice spots along the way that will give you some of the flavor of this beautiful area… from Minneapolis Minnesota, where we flew in, through Wisconsin and into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, there is beauty bursting out everywhere… clear, green, clean, vibrant and rich right now with the wonders of fall.

Goodbye Copper Peak… until next time when you will be dressed in white. We will miss you.

MARIN AND BEN’S BEAUTIFUL KENTUCKY WEDDING

September 27, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

kentuckywedblog40

Marin Elizabeth Fiske-Rankin is one of my very best friends. Today is her birthday and as I have been meaning to do it anyway, today seemed the perfect day to blog about her beautiful Kentucky wedding… which incidentally was the first digital wedding I shot when I got back into photography. I used to shoot weddings with film back in the day… but Marin and I connected at the Meadows Museum when I was on staff there and it is largely because of her and this wedding that I am doing what I am doing today. For this and for her I will always be thankful. Now keep in mind friends that when I shot this wedding I had a vastly inferior camera and not a stitch of the equipment I have today… I will not even go into it because it makes me cringe to think about it… but alas, Marin’s creativity and the beauty of Kentucky and all those involved in this celebration of love make these images priceless. There are so many wonderful details about this wedding that need mentioning. The fact that her mom grew all the beautiful flowers, that the honey that filled the sweet little jars that were given as favors was made also by her mom, the cupcake flags were made by Marin herself, the yellow checked tablecloths were picked out with care by Marin as was her lovely vintage inspired headpiece from Etsy and her bridesmaid dresses from Anthropologie. The cake and cupcakes were made by a family friend, the wedding was held on the property of a friend, the barbecue that was served was from a favorite restaurant of Marin and Ben’s… I could go on and on. Oh, and I can’t forget the oh-so-cute brand on her boots with the wedding date inside a heart. I’ll let the images do the rest of my talking.

And let me just say a few things about Marin… she is an event planner by profession… and a damn good one. This is evident in the amazing details of this wedding… many of which, if not all, her hands were on. She has a chicken coop filled with chickens in her back yard, as well as a newly designed and built Tipi (blog post coming soon). She also has a boxed garden, which is a good thing as she is an amazing cook. She is very close with her family, she has amazing style, she loves boots and Anthropologie, she is a blogger, she throws fabulous dinner parties, she always remembers and commemorates the birthdays of friends and loved ones with such thoughtful gifts, and she loves Kentucky. That merely scratches the surface, but suffice it to say that she is a one of a kind girl and nowhere else would do for her wedding but Kentucky, the place where she grew up and where she and Ben met! Marin and Ben did a “first look”and saw each other for the first time before the ceremony… the photos were important to them and the moment couldn’t have been more special had it been at the traditional time… coming down the aisle. There is an old historic home near her parents place… on the farm… just the sort of beautiful horse farm you would expect in Kentucky. That is where they had their moment… and just look at Ben’s face when he first saw Marin, and the adorable way he took in every detail of his beautiful bride and carefully touches the hem of her dress.

These two were so joyful on this day and I don’t think I have ever seen Marin so happy…

kentuckywedblog49

The ceremony was emotional for everyone involved… but notice Marin’s face as she stands with her grandfather before the wedding, and as she was heading down the aisle after the ceremony had concluded…

After the ceremony everyone grabbed a plate of delicious barbecue and settled down on the beautiful green lawn to listen to the toasts and enjoy each other’s company. Marin’s face when she was listening to her loved ones talk is so expressive I just love it! The feeling at this wedding was indescribable and it will always be one of my favorites. The way the couple danced at the end of the night was one of the most romantic things I’ve ever seen, and that memory will stay with me.

Marin and Ben you will never know how much shooting your wedding has impacted my life… love you both!

kentuckywedblog38

BEAUTIFUL MOLLY… AND HER DAD … IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS

September 21, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

Molly Thomson is beautiful, that’s obvious. What you may not know at first glance is that she is one of those girls who just rolls with things, and with such grace and good humor. Molly’s dad, Chris, surprised her with a photo shoot after she had driven three hours to Dallas for a visit from Norman Oklahoma where she was in school at the University of Oklahoma. Now those of you who know anything about girls, especially girls her age, might guess that having a surprise photo session with no time to plan or get ready might throw a girl for a loop… but not this girl. Just look at the images and you can see that she wasn’t phased a bit.

Molly talked her Dad into being in some photos with her. I loved the idea because I don’t have any other Father/Daughter shots except those at weddings… and I think there is such an amazing and tender relationship between fathers and daughters. You only have to be around these two for a very short time to observe how close they are. Chris was such a good sport. Any man willing to blow bubbles in photos for his daughter is a great dad in my book.

I love shooting in this area around the AT&T Performing Arts Center… it’s one of my favorite spots… and it was the perfect backdrop for Molly’s session. A few interesting facts about Molly: She is very close to and devoted to her family, she is a great cook, she loves Whole Foods, she was on the OU women’s rowing team, she loves yoga, and she graduated this past May from OU with a degree in journalism. She is a lady of many talents… not the least of which is looking great in photos. Wouldn’t you agree?

I love incorporating cool architecture and artwork in my images whenever I can… and Molly and Chris were more than willing to interact with the local art.

I had so much fun with these two and I think they would agree that other Dads and Daughters should have more photos taken together… well maybe with some advanced notice. Not everyone is as cool and adventurous under pressure as Molly!

BECCA AND GREG ARE ENGAGED!

September 11, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

Becca and Greg are such a sweet and romantic couple! I hadn’t met Greg before this shoot as I had only met with Becca and her mom to discuss the wedding. This is often the case and I never know how the groom to be is going to be in front of the camera. Greg was quiet at first, but I tell you what… this young man is a natural in front of the camera. These two have such great chemistry and such an amazing connection that it translated seamlessly to the camera. Their natural romanticism and loving way with one another made for beautiful images. They met in high school and have been together for many years despite how young they appear. I have a feeling that they will be one of those couples who will always appear younger than they are… lucky devils.

We met at Becca’s family home and the area was rich with perfect spots for photos. Between the bridge… which was such a fabulous backdrop, to the light coming through the golden trees, to the beautiful pool in the back yard, we were absolutely spoiled with beauty! I was particularly spoiled this day because my dear friend and fellow photographer Udi Mandu came along to share his lighting magic with us and it doesn’t hurt that he also sounds like Antonio Banderas… or maybe Antonio Banderas sounds like Udi… but at any rate everything pretty much sounds good when he says it. So we had romance coming from all directions.

There are things that stand out with every new couple I work with… of course these two have great style and I always notice that… (three changes of clothes make my stylemeter happy)… But more than that I noticed the way Greg looked at Becca. He seemed not to get tired of looking at her, it was as if we weren’t even there… and he obviously loves being close to her. I don’t think Becca minds a bit.

I have to confess that I am pretty crazy about these images… I liked every one of them… which is so rare for me. But I mean who wouldn’t like these two? Their love is contagious! Becca wanted some fall-ish images as their wedding is going to be in February and the save the dates will be going out in the fall. Being the “all out fall fan” that I am I was all for it! I have to also note that the back of Greg’s truck was such a cool place for photos… personal to them and it doesn’t hurt that they look like they are in some kind of ad. They are both Baylor Grads (Go Bears!) as am I, so I tried to get the Baylor sticker on the rear window in the image…but found myself honing in on the two of them instead.

These two are just a stunning couple… and it was a joy to photograph them. This is one of my very favorite images from the day, which was a hard call let me tell you! Becca and Greg I absolutely cannot wait to photograph the wedding!

KAREN AND SHEA AND BABY ON THE WAY

September 11, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

Karen and Shea are such a wonderful couple. I want to call them adorable… but I don’t know how men feel about being called adorable by anyone other than their significant other, so I will try to choose other words. They are funny, witty, joyful, stylish and so easy and in tune with one another. Their precious dog Nellie is lovable as well and makes quite a splash in these photos. This session was so easy to shoot. We talked and laughed and started shooting and everything just flowed from there. We started in their lovely home and ended at one of my favorite little spots with flowing grass and beautiful light… perfect for parents to be. I daresay that baby William enjoyed it as well… we were all having so much fun.

It was obvious that Shea thinks his wife is beautiful, but he had an opinion about her dress and wanted her to wear her brighter aqua dress for some of the photos. Karen, who knows a thing or two about compromise, agreed to change for some shots (even though she preferred her black dress) and lo and behold Shea had a point. She looks radiant and the dress is perfect for this area of their home! Oh and by the way, Shea and Karen got engaged in Paris… so when you see them holding a framed photograph it is one of their engagement photos taken in Paris… and so the story continues… from two in Paris to a family of three. Make that four, I can’t forget Nellie!

These next images are some of my favorites because they show the joy that these two exhibit in each other’s presence. The baby is due very near Thanksgiving, so Karen’s family got her this little hat with turkey legs in honor of the baby. I thought it was so cute sitting on the table and thought it belonged on Karen’s stomach. Nellie was not so sure…

I think Nellie is going to be great with the baby… she is so sweet and patient. We became fast friends.

I am a sucker for outdoor photos as you all know, and the light on this late September day was exquisite. Shea and Karen were great sports about taking a short drive and it was well worth it. It had cooled down by 6:30 and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

These two are just such a beautiful couple!

I think these two are pretty darn romantic… even if Shea did scoff at some of my posing ideas. They pulled them all off because they love each other and it shows!

Karen is the epitome of the radiant mom-to be… and she was so willing to roll with my ideas. I think the results are stunning. Baby William can look at these one day and be proud of his beautiful mom.

This last photo is a departure from my usual style, but I love the way Karen and Shea look here… on the threshold of a new and beautiful part of their lives. I wish you all every joy and I cannot wait to photograph the baby!

TAMYTHA AND CELESTE’S SUMMER SHOOT IN COPPER CREEK

August 14, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

I’m sure that by now most of you have seen some photos that Celeste and I have posted from our June trip to Copper Peak, located in Ironwood Michigan. However, that being the case, I’ve had a lot of people ask me what our trip and our shoot was all about. The truth of the matter is that I just want an excuse to blog these amazing photos from this spot that is truly one of the most beautiful areas I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting… and even better, I was paid to do a shoot here! In the way of explanation I offer the following photo, which really explains it much better than I could…

The facility has not been used in many years and is now in the process of being renovated for a ski flying competition that will be held there in 2014. Bryan Sanders, who was a US Olympian in ski jumping at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, is spearheading the project along with the Copper Peak Board of Directors. I’m going to include a link to an article that gives great information about what is happening at Copper Peak:

Ski Flyers to Fly Again in 2014 at Copper Peak

Here is Bryan, who is a great guy by the way… their intern Matt Croschere, who was so kind and took Celeste and I all around Copper Peak and it’s environs, having mapped out every single waterfall and interesting natural feature in the area, and the Copper Peak Board of Directors, who were a super nice bunch of men. There is also some images from the history of this facility thrown in.

As for Celeste and I, it is our task to photograph the jump, the facilities and the area for their website and other promotional purposes… and to do this in the spring/summer, the fall and then the winter. In fact we plan on being there for the first competition! It is really a dream job and we are so thrilled to be a part of what is happening at Copper Peak.

And now on to some photos… Before we even got to the UP, otherwise known as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where the jump is located, we flew into Minneapolis and drove to our destination. We wouldn’t be girls… or photographers… if we hadn’t first done a little airport shopping as well as a couple mini photo shoots on the way… the landscape and the area are so amazingly scenic!

Before we could spread out and photograph the area around the jump we had to climb… yes climb… the jump itself and get some photos from the air. The ski lift takes you to the top of the hill but the rest of the way requires hoofing it so to speak. For this South Dakota/Texas girl who has always been afraid of heights, this was a feat in itself… but soooo worth it! What a sense of accomplishment and what an amazing view. Of course it didn’t bother Celeste a bit… that’s my adventurous daughter!

After this amazing climb, we were off to photograph the surrounding area, and let me tell you the natural beauty is breathtaking! I am going to let the photos speak for themselves. Copper Peak, Day 1:

We got up on Sunday ready for more shooting and we photographed everything we could before having to race to the airport and catch a plane back to Texas. Here is Copper Peak Day 2:

What an absolutely amazing trip and such a renewing experience! It’s such a blessing to get to do these kinds of jobs with my daughter whose wonder about the world around her equals my own. We can’t wait to go back in September and photograph the fall color!

JACQUELYN AND STEPHEN’S ELEGANT AND CLASSIC DALLAS WEDDING

August 11, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

I first met Jacquelyn and Stephen at their beautiful home… newly designed and built by the amazing Moore Design + Build team. In fact it was one of these gentlemen who referred me to Jacquelyn and I am so glad that he did. To say that they are a stunning couple would be an understatement, and they are charming and easy to talk to as well. We started talking and a couple hours later I knew that what this couple wanted were simple, elegant wedding photographs that would capture the day that was so important to them and their families.

They had planned an elegant ceremony and celebration of the joining of two lives for Saturday, May 18th, and there was so much love and respect between this couple and their entire families that my job was going to be a joy. From the evening of their rehearsal dinner at the Zodiac Room downtown I saw the love between Jacquelyn and Stephen and it was an honor as it always is to hear friends and family talk about the couple and how much they mean to them. The ceremony was held the next day at a beautiful Catholic Church with a gorgeous sanctuary.

Before we get to the actual ceremony however, I have to share some images that are among Celeste and I’s favorites… taken before the ceremony at the Maid of Honor’s apartment, Jacquelyn’s sister, Leah. By the way, talk about a truly beautiful family, Jacquelyn, her mom Tina Marie, and her sister Leah quite evidently share the same gorgeous genes… and these ladies are not just beautiful, but stylish as well… and as you will see they certainly know how to choose their dancing shoes.

Now on to their lovely ceremony…

The reception was actually the first to be held on the roof of the Wyly Theater in downtown Dallas. The Dallas skyline made a beautiful backdrop for what turned out to be a fabulous party. The Walton Stout Band had everyone on their feet and the energy and fun in the room were palpable! Dayme Mullins Walther, their amazing planner, had everything running as smoothly as silk and the catering by Wolfgang Puck Caterers was delicious. I’m going to let the images speak for themselves, but I will say that Celeste and I both agreed that their reception was one of the most fun we had ever attended. One of the absolute highlights of the evening was the dabke, a dance of Lebanese origin, that the bride was excellent at leading. Everyone joined in and had such a great time and it brought so much joy and energy to the reception! We watched the couple exit the theater at 1 AM to a shower of rose petals and I think I can safely say that a wonderful time was had by all!

My wish for you Jacquelyn and Stephen is that you will always be as happy as you were on this day!

KATIE’S STUNNING BRIDALS AT THE OLD RED COURT HOUSE

August 2, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

August 1st, 2013

Katie and Kyle have been dream clients… They booked me for their wedding last year and it has been a joy walking through the whole photographic process with them, from their engagement session at the Arboretum and downtown Dallas, to Katie’s bridal session at the Old Red Courthouse, to their warm and wonderful rehearsal dinner at Times Ten Wine Cellars, to their beautiful wedding at Perkins Chapel and reception at 333 First Avenue. What a lovely couple as the old adage says… inside and out. In their case it couldn’t be more true! I will be blogging about their wedding very soon! This post is about Katie’s bridals which I have been absolutely dying to share since I shot them. You can obviously see why! This is one gorgeous and stylish girl… and she can’t seem to take a bad picture. It was my first time to shoot at the Old Red Courthouse so that was exciting as well, and Katie’s sister Deb came along as maid of honor to enjoy this photo session with Katie and she and I made a great team! Thanks Deb for all your help, you are an absolute jewel! I couldn’t have done it without you!

Notice Katie’s adorable pink crinoline which she managed to keep under wraps until the removing of the garter… sneaky girl. It was the perfect compliment to Katie’s beautiful gown and fabulous hat which is even more beautiful in person!

And now… the captivating Katie Tripp … now Mrs. Wilson in fact. [Read more…]

BEAUTIFUL BERNICE’S BRIDALS

January 2, 2013 • Tamytha Cameron •

If you look up gorgeous bride in the dictionary you will probably find Bernice’s picture! Talk about a stunning girl… taking her photos was a pleasure. When I met with Bernice and Kevin I soon realized that Bernice would not be your traditional bride. I always try to reflect the personality of the bride in the type of photos that I take and this session was no exception. Bernice and Kevin are a modern and adventurous couple who enjoy fast cars, like Kevin’s Aston Martin, as well as extreme sports like sky diving.

Our original plan involved Bernice being photographed with a small plane to honor their shared love, adrenaline junkies that they are, but we were unable to make that happen on a rather limited timeline. I met with the couple in November and their wedding just happened… Friday December 28th in fact!

One thing I couldn’t help but notice was the way Kevin obviously adores Bernice… and the way she affectionately calls him Amore. They are such a lovely couple with equally lovely families on both sides and we had a fabulous time at their Ashton Gardens Wedding. Kevin and Bernice I hope you guys are having a fabulous time in Hawaii!

Really Bernice… could you be any more stunning? Kevin is a lucky man!

One of the benefits of being a December bride is taking advantage of all the Christmas decor… and downtown Dallas provided us with a fabulous backdrop… even the Grinch wanted in on the shoot!

I wish you and Kevin every happiness! I can’t wait to blog your wedding! XO