Penny and David
Air Force Academy Chapel and Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Colorado Springs
August 5, 2006
We had so much fun at Penny and David’s wedding yesterday that I woke up early today, excited to see the pictures. You know you love your job when you’d rather work than sleep in on a Sunday morning.
Penny and David live in Las Vegas, and planned their wedding here in the Springs, where David went to college. The ceremony took place at his alma mater, the Air Force Academy. The Academy chapel is one of my favorite places to photograph, due to its vivid colors and incredible architecture.
The reception took place at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, with some of the most creative and touching tributes to friends and family that we’ve seen. The whole event was heartfelt, unique, and downright fun. It was a joy to be a part of it.
Congratulations to a wonderful couple, Penny and David!
August in Colorado Springs is marked by these beautiful yellow wildflowers.
That is Cheyenne Mountain in the background, the location of NORAD.
We started the day with David and the guys at the Fort Carson golf course. Here David
completes his last hole — in the second photo, the ball is halfway in the hole!
Next we headed to the salon, where Penny was getting her hair
done in one of the most elegant styles I’ve seen.
Her niece looks on.
Then we headed to the hotel, where David and the groomsmen were getting ready.
I like this picture of David’s AFA class ring and cuff links.
At the Academy, the guys used their officer status to get us inside the cadets’ area for some photos. They were all classmates at the Academy, and have remained close friends.
Penny’s nephew, an adorable ring bearer
David’s nephew, also an adorable ring bearer
The lovely ladies
The Chapel is amazing. My camera loves it.
The sabre team greets the newlyweds!
Their ballroom at Cheyenne Mountain Resort was beautifully decorated.
During the toasts
First dance
The flower girl, giving us some sprinkler action.
Last dance of the night
Ceremony: Air Force Academy
Reception: Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Wedding gown: Reem Acra
DJ: Born to Boogie
Hair and makeup: Veda Salon
I am convinced that Colorado must be the best, most beautiful place in the world to get married. It’s all so gorgeous and your photos make it appear etheral. 🙂
Thanks so much! 🙂
Simply wonderful set! (seen from
That’s COOL! I’ll definately get in touch with them…thanks! 🙂
The proofs will be online in a couple weeks! Just ask Penny and David if you’d like to see them. 🙂
Well, since I’m in MN I’m not too sure when I’ll get a chance to see the proofs, but I look forward to it whenever it is! 🙂
Hi there! Angel is a fitting name for such a little sweetheart. She’s adorable! I can’t wait to show you and your family the rest of the pictures!
Charlotte, your pictures are outstanding! David is my “big/little” cousin, and the photograph of the little girls dancing is great! The one on the right is my daughter Angel. You captured an extraordinary day just beautifully. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise out here on lj!! 🙂
that is an amazing chapel, and beautiful photos! i love the one of the two little girls on the dance floor.
Such gorgeous photos, as always, you should be proud.
It looks like a beautiful wedding, with a beautiful couple and on a beautiful day! I hope they have many happy years together.
He really does look like Kevin Costner, especially in the picture where he’s dancing with his sister. 🙂
They were absolutely adorable!
Just to clarify… I don’t shoot at 1600 or 3200 all the time–only when the natural light is low. 🙂
Thanks!
I only wish that I could process all the pictures in one day! I always try to pick out some of our favorites to post in the blog a day or two after the wedding, as a preview. It usually takes me a month to get all the pictures ready for the clients, though.
Since I always work with another photographer, with full-day coverage, I end up with LOTS of pictures to process. Mike and I usually end up taking a few thousand pictures. After deleting duplicates, unflattering expressions, and such, we aim to deliver around 800 final photos for the average wedding. Longer wedding days lead to more.
I think 900 pictures, with color, b/w, and sepia options probably is overkill. Choice is a good thing in customer service, but few clients really have the time to sort through so many pictures and make that many decisions. I recommend that you provide the photos in the format that you see them–the photographer usually knows whether color was an important element in her vision for a photo. Sometimes I can’t decide if I prefer a photo in color or black and white, and in those situations, I offer both. Usually I choose one or the other, though. I don’t do sepia, because of my personal preference, but I do like warm tones in my black and whites.
Mike and I don’t use a lot of formal lighting for weddings (or portraits, for that matter), because we prefer the look of natural light when possible. We shoot with fast, prime lenses as much as we can. Now that I have the 5D, I shoot at 1600 or 3200 ISO, with low noise and beautiful, soft light. When extra light is needed, we use on-camera, bounced flash. Occasionally we’ll use lightstands with remote-activated strobes.
It really does! It’s the most dramatic and unusual church I’ve seen, yet it’s completely perfect for its setting.
I love this chapel! Depending on your mood, it can appear exquisitely beautiful, or harsh and futuristic, but no matter how you see it, there’s no denying that it’s extraordinary!
Boy that chapel is funky! I love how your camera picked up all of the details!
The groom looks a little bit like Kevin Costner doesn’t he? She looks like the most relaxed and happy bride. And she’s beautiful! I love those centerpieces too, just a gorgeous day, every aspect!
oh wow.
speechless.
but may i just say those ringbearers are the cutest little men ever??? 🙂
That’s the first thing I thought when I saw that photo!
Beautiful photos!
Astonishing photos, as always. That chapel is amazing.
Do you really complete processing all their photos in one day? Also, I meant to ask you before – about how many edited photos to you give couples in the end? I just took a week to process photos from last weekend’s wedding and ended up with almost 900 edited images (just like the first wedding I did – I provide color, black and white, and sepia versions of most images, just so they have options). Is that just going way overboard? I feel kind of like it is and others seem to think so, as well.
Also, do you mind letting me know what kind of lighting you have with you during weddings, aside from your external, on-camera flash?
If it’s easier for you to e-mail your answers (when you get time, of course), you can always e-mail [email protected].
Thank you so much – it really is a pleasure to be able to see your work for inspiration and guidance.
With the 50th anniversary of the the AFA, they did a pretty in depth show on the AFA with Rocky Mountain PBS, it was pretty interesting. The discussed the chapel in quite detail.
Anyhow, here’s the link if you are interested:
http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/fuseaction/showContent/contentID/199/navID/188.htm
I’m not sure but a local library in your area might carry it if you ask them to. It’s a good historical view of the Academy which, if you are into that stuff, is pretty cool.
This is the perfect military wedding.
Oh man…
Lovely pictures, as always!
…but man. I have to say that chapel looks like a spaceship.
The Air Force Academy Chapel is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. Your pictures of it are always breath taking.