And now for Part 2 of Lea and Adam’s Fort Collins Anniversary Session, we venture outdoors for a completely different feel. Couples are constantly photographed in the tall grass and lakeside beauty of Horsetooth Reservoir. But few people’s fundamental personalities are tied to this aesthetic. If I had to pick one symbol for my friend, it would be a piece of wild grass lit up by the golden sun. Lea is summertime and we all feel warm from her glow. Quite appropriately, she married Adam on a warm summer afternoon. Lea has never been one to gush about the people she was dating – until Adam. From the first time we heard about Adam, it was clear he was it. They are adorable together! And their wedding did them justice as the quirky and carefree affair they deserved. In the two years since then they have been through more than is fair for anyone, but always seem contented in each other. Hopefully 25 years from now we’ll replicate this session – assuming I can still walk the trail.
But first, chickens!
After petting birds it was time to go to Reservoir Ridge for golden hour. I went with a vintage look for these photos and lots of black and white. The results feel like we took Adam back in time and put him into the analog photos of our youth. I love that it feels like my memories of her family.
Growing up, Lea’s family was my second family. They were a very different family than mine and I know they helped round me out as a person. The hippie spirit was still very strong with her parents for the years I basically lived at their house. Her dad especially was just a little bit 70’s well into the 80’s/90’s. Soft spoken and kind, he was one of the only men I wasn’t petrified of when I was a kid. His laugh was infections just like his daughter’s. He wore short-shorts. Both of my childhood besties had college educated moms which was a big deal to me. On the long evenings spent at their house, Lea’s mom was often drinking boxed wine and engaging in thoughtful discussions. The kids would listen in or hang out in their incredibly retro basement. I was completely at ease in this place and have so many memories of that house and the people (and pets) who lived there. It makes me wonder now about the kinds of things my kids will remember about the friends whose homes and families they will share during their childhood. I hope they have their own version of brick babies, haunted houses, prairie explorations, hopper-nauts, and bow-legged dogs. As I’ve aged I’ve become very up-tight and thinking about this makes me want to send my kids to Lea and Adams like once a month!
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