Blue Sky Fund’s Annual Halloween Bash Photobooth 2009 Denver, CO

Blue Sky Fund (http://www.blueskyfund.com/) is this awesome group of guys dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged kids in the Denver Metro area. Every year they host a Halloween party to raise money for a local charity whose goals are in line with Blue Sky’s. This year they chose the Kempe Foundation (http://www.kempe.org) to be the beneficiary of their fundraiser. The Kempe Foundation is one of the nation’s leading organizations in the fight against child abuse.

I was asked if I could come and take some photographs at the event this year and when I heard it was a Halloween party at the Lowry Tavern (http://www.tavernhg.com/) I thought it might be fun to give my photobooth idea a spin and see how it goes. I think you’ll be able to tell from the pictures that it was a pretty big hit!

Just a little note to all of you party-goers who participated in the photobooth, you’ll be able to look at the rest of the photos from the booth very soon at www.apriloharephotography.com/proofs & 50% of the print sales will be donated to the Kempe Foundation.

Now on to the pictures!

There were so many good costumes at this party. I was a little disappointed that there weren’t very many gross costumes (I had a really hard time not going as a zombie of some sort this year) but the creativity and humorous ones I saw more than made up for it! Blue Sky guys, I vote for a costume contest next year:)

Where’s Wenda? Oh, wait….

Kristen (on the left!) is getting married in January & I get to be her wedding photographer. Can’t wait!

Some of you may remember Jenny & Charlie from their wedding and engagement photos from last year. Well look at ‘em now. They’re expecting! Yay:) Oh, and it’s kind of hard to tell from the photo, but Jenny went as a jar of Prego. Cute huh?

This is one of my favorites from the night. Not sure why. It just cracks me up!

This was me by the end of the night;)

P.S. I was dressed as Amy Winehouse.

Engagement Photography at University of Colorado and Chautauqua Park Boulder, CO

Davlyn and Kyle are high school sweethearts getting married soon (November 21st! It’ll be here so fast, I just know it!) so we met up to do their engagement session yesterday afternoon. I suggested that we do some of their session on the CU Boulder Campus since that is where they go to school. I’m really glad I thought of it because although I grew up close to Boulder, I never spent any time on campus and I was delighted to see that it was as picturesque as I was hoping.

It was passing period (is that really what it’s called in college?) when we started so we started off in a secluded part of the library. It is like a maze in there!

Eventually we wandered back outside where it had calmed down a little bit. I felt a little bad that at certain points during the session Davlyn and Kyle had an audience, but they were good sports about it:)
Nothing says “CU” like those bricks right?

So pretty!

We were losing light pretty fast (darn winter approaching!) so we drove over to Chautauqua because these two lovebirds enjoy hiking over there. We got just a few quick ones before we called it a night.

Tried to get the very last bit of sunset left

Davlyn and Kyle,
It was so much fun hanging out with you! Thanks for being willing to pose in front of all the students walking around. I think it was worth it:) I can’t wait to show you the rest. Hope you love these and that they tide you over for the next week.
See you soon!
April

Denver, CO Maternity Photographer at Denver’s City Park

I was so excited to meet up with my brother Jon and his wife Teri on Friday evening to do their maternity pictures.  He is the first sibling out of all of us to be having a baby so we are all just impatiently waiting for December to roll around which is when our new little niece or nephew will arrive.  They going the suprise route and decided not to find out the sex of the baby yet.  I’m putting my guess out there right now, I think it’s going to be a girl!  I’ll have to post in December with newborn pictures to let ya’ll know if I was right.

It was already pushing about 5:45 pm when we started so we were a little rushed on time with the light, but I think we got some really cute shots.    Here are just a few:

Teri is adorable. She’s all baby!

I just HAD to try a sunflare shot.

Jon & Teri,
I love you guys. Hope you like your pics:)
xoxo
April

P.S. Just had to add this one too because I love it!

Denver, CO Newborn Baby Photographer: Quinn

It’s been a little while since I’ve had the opportunity to take pictures of a really little bub.  Quinn just turned one month old and today I went to his house to document his new little life.  He is seriously such a precious lil guy.  I had so much fun holding him and rocking him to sleep. Kind of gave me a case of baby fever! I’m so glad my brother’s wife and my bf’s sis are having babies soon!

Cute lil hands:

Awww…look how cute he is in his Daddy’s arms!

Almost missed this one! Quinn has twin brothers who are two years old. One of them snuck a kiss

Cheesman Park Denver Wedding Photographer

I went to my little brother’s football game up in Longmont on Saturday morning where we proceeded to get soaked from all of the rain. I kept wondering if it was going to stay that way because Caitlyn and Ryan’s wedding was later that day. Well, it did stay that way and I thought I wouldn’t like it that wet, but it ended up being so great. As Caitlyn said when she was getting ready, it’s way better than melting in the heat.  I’ve decided that I would like a rainy wedding day myself.  They’re romantic and pretty!

I met up with Caitlyn that afternoon at the Magnolia Hotel which is such a cool little boutique hotel in Downtown Denver.
We were way up on the highest floor. The flowers were already there when I arrived. Caitlyn’s florist did such a great job. How pretty is this bouquet?  Her florist’s names are Lisa & Andrea and the website is: http://www.sweetpea-flowers.com

And Caitlyn already looked like a million bucks before she even put her dress on:)

Of course, adding the dress and these pretty Kate Spade shoes didn’t hurt.

Caitlyn’s friends are so sweet. They took this great picture of Caitlyn and Ryan at their rehearsal dinner and had it framed and ready to give to them the next day.

Ok, I have to admit that I about died of jealously when I saw Caitlyn’s birdcage veil. It was seriously one of the prettiest I’ve seen. I wonder if I could get away with wearing one just out and about for a night on the town?

This picture takes my breath away. Ryan, you are one lucky lucky man!

I know it’s probably because I grew up in Colorado where rain is pretty rare, but I seriously think rain at a wedding is lovely. Maybe I just really like umbrellas in pictures!  That’s Caitlyn’s wedding coordinator Jen Haar from Weddings With Altitude in the background holding her dress so it doesn’t get wet.  She was so great to work with!

The pavilion at Cheesman is such a great spot for a wedding. I love photographing here!

It was pretty chilly and of course, still raining so we just got a few formals at the pavilion.

The reception was at Walker Fine Art Gallery: http://www.walkerfineart.com/

After signing the papers, Ryan felt a handshake would make it extra official.

They have such great taste. Their rings were really cool.

Awww…Caitlyn’s parents.

I have to include this last shot because it makes me laugh. I thought she was going to come hug me:)

Caitlyn & Ryan,
I hope you are having a relaxing honeymoon after such a crazy, long (but fun!) wedding weekend. Can’t wait to show you more when you get back.
Congratulations!
April

Bat Mitzvah Photography at Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO

Geoff’s little sister Rachel has been studying Hebrew for over a year and Saturday morning was finally the big day of her Bat Mitzvah. Relatives flew in from both the coasts and it was a big deal. I’ve only been to one other Bat Mitzvah before so I don’t have a lot to compare to, but it really seemed that she rocked it. She was such a natural up there and she didn’t even have the shake in her voice that most people have when it comes to public speaking. Nice job Rachey!

There was only one picture allowed during the ceremony so we got there early to get some pictures taken.

The very proud parents Steve and Nellie with Rachel:

Sisters!

Rachel has such a nice smile in this one:) (I have that same smile too when I’m around Geoff!)

See, doesn’t she look confident up there?

The Shot:

Nellie had some special M&M’s ordered:

And the charm on this came all the way from Israel!

There was a great little party afterward:

Even the adults got in on some hula hoop action:

Hora!

Rabbi Foster with Rachel I must say he did a fantastic job during the ceremony keeping everyone entertained while teaching what the Bat Mitzvah was all about.

And her Hebrew tutor Artie who Rachel spent a lot of time with this past year.

Congrats Rachel on becoming a woman;)

Denver Family Photographer at Lake Village Park in Eastlake Shores Thornton, CO

I was so excited to meet up with Christy, Sam, and Liam because I used to babysit for Sam when he was just 5 years old and it has been a few years since I’ve seen them.  I knew he’d be older, but it’s still amazing to see how big he’s gotten.  And they have a new addition to the family now who I couldn’t wait to meet.  Liam is such a great little baby.  He was so chilled out and relaxed throughout the whole session. 

This was them years ago when I first started my business:

And now!

Awww

Sam doing his “football” pose:

It was really cool to see Sam as a big brother. He is so good with his baby brother, always holding him and giving him kisses. What a cute family!

Boulder Colorado Family Photographer at Chautauqua Park

Lisa, aka Ann Sanity, one of my buddies from Roller Derby asked if I could get some pictures of her and her sister’s family this week since she would be in town visiting. They decided on Chautauqua Park and I was suprised to find that it was fairly empty that evening. I just love shooting here. The mountain backdrop is gorgeous and I just love that field in front of it too.

While we waited for the sun to calm down a little bit, we started on the other side of the park where all of the houses are.

Brooklyn & Caiden are cousins who are also best friends. This is what I got when I asked them to give me their craziest face:)

Caiden’s classic smile. Awww…he is so adorable!

Man I love those Flatirons!

I can’t remember what they were getting so excited about, but it probably had something to do with Chuck E. Cheese.

Ann, thanks so much for meeting me here.  I hope you guys had a great time at Juanitas and got to check out some of the performers on the Pearl Street Mall!

See you soon:)

-April

Denver Colorado Family Photographer at Hudson Gardens in Littleton, CO

I met up with Kathy (the florist) and her family on Friday night to get some shots of her family for some Holiday cards.  I used to work with her a couple years ago, but I hadn’t had a chance to meet the rest of her family so I was excited to get to see them.  They are such a good-lookin’ family!  And I love how they coordinated their outfits:)

Definitely one of my favorites:

And who doesn’t love a cute picture of Dad playing with his sons?

Kathy brought a few bouquets. I like the roses in this one:

And we even managed to get the kiddos to sit for a second to get a good one of all of them together. Awwww….

This year, Kathy’s family is participating in the Mile High Down Syndrome’s “Step up for Down Syndrome” walk which is being held on September 27th at Denver’s City Park. You can check out their team page here:

TEAM AVERY!

https://www.syssolutions.com/MileHighWalk/main/Team.aspx?FundraiserId=784819fe-fe14-4d11-ba69-54dbe8bb124a
If you can spare it, I’m sure they’d love some donations!

Hudson Gardens Littleton, CO Wedding Photographer

Cara & Joe wed in front of the Rose Garden at Hudson Gardens on Friday night. They are such a fun couple and I love how comfortable they are around each other. It was really a gorgeous, laid-back ceremony. We didn’t even have to worry about the evening rain we’ve been having this summer.

Cara’s dress was so pretty!  She got from Amanda’s Bridal: http://www.amandasbridal.com

 And she has good taste in shoes. I love these!

What a pretty touch! Flowers were done by Petals From Heaven: http://www.petalsfromheaven.net/

Father of the Bride:

I love that the “first look” trend has caught on. I love being able to capture when a couple sees each other on their wedding day for the first time.

They both looked fabulous!

We had a great location for pictures!

This flower girl wasn’t shy:)

The whole wedding party!

Their cake was soooo pretty.  They got it from Kelley Kakes: http://www.kelleykakes.com/

Best Man and Maid of Honor after delivering their toasts:

Awesome live band!  This was Cara’s Step-Uncle’s band, The Barn Cats

Awww…love the first dance. I think it’s my favorite part of most receptions:)

Got some great dance shots

Joe & Cara,
You did it! Congratulations on a beautiful wedding. May you have many years ahead of you that are as happy as this night:)
-April