Once again working with my friends at Whitefish Theatre Company, I had the pleasure of photographing the delightful farce "Suite Surrender." And what a classic farce this particular play is. Mistaken identities, missed connections, and misunderstandings abound. If you're in the Flathead Valley this weekend or next—June 1–4th and 8–10th—you should really check it out.
It's not every day I get to hang out with a family from Texas, and some newly minted University of Texas alumni. While photographing the Wyat family, however, that was just the case. They were visiting from Northeast Texas—a small town I was surprisingly not familiar with already—and two of the grown children are now former students from the campus where I spent a lot of time growing up.
As bad luck sometimes does, smoke from recent wildfires in Western Canada blew into Northwest Montana the few days before our session, and decided to hang around. That said, I think you'll agree it did nothing to make the backdrop any less amazing than it would normally be. Different? Yes. But Montana rarely disappoints.
Nothing is more exciting, and a little anxiety-inducing, than when you're hired by another photographer for a job. But it's ultimately always a blast. My colleague Jennifer Vernarsky's husband was turning the big 4-O and was holding a surprise party for him at a Kalispell vacation rental. It was so much fun arriving early to capture some of the custom decorations she'd ordered from Etsy, and getting to hang out with her in-laws while we waited for them to arrive for the big surprise. Of course, I had a piece of the delicious cake from the Crumb Cake Bakery.
The good news, the surprise was a success, and everything went off without a hitch in the plans.
A few weeks ago I got a text from my friend Katie with An Epic Elopement to see if I was available on a Tuesday for a quick elopement in West Glacier. As it turned out I was available and was happy to jump at the chance to once again work with her to document a lovely couple's nuptials.
Why only two weeks in advance? Well, Carly and Steve just happened to be in the area helping some friends move to the Flathead Valley, and decided they'd go ahead and get married while they were here. They've been together for years and engaged for several of those years. After getting engaged people would ask Steve when the wedding was and he would respond "Tuesday." Turns out, he's been telling the truth all this time.
We met up at the old Belton Bridge outside Glacier National Park for a sweet ceremony, celebrated with tequila shots afterward, and then headed into Apgar Village just inside the park for some portraits on the shores of Lake McDonald.
Planner: An Epic Elopement / Officiant: Raul with Best Day Officiants
Over the span of a couple of months, 50 plus middle and high school students throughout the Flathead Valley rehearsed and performed "Les Misérables," one of—if not the most—famous theatre shows in the world. It's a difficult show about love and loss set amidst the backdrop of the French Revolution.
If you've followed my work for any amount of time, you're likely already aware of how impressive Alpine Theatre Project's productions are. Their student productions in particular never fail to just blow me away. The amount of care and commitment ATP puts into each production, and the dedication the kids display is so evident when seen on stage, it is nothing short of inspiring.
Another fun project documenting a rehearsal of Whitefish Theatre Co.'s production of the play "Evelyn in Purgatory" written by Topher Payne. depicting teachers on a probation of sort in the New York Department of Education. Admittedly less frenetic than my last two projects with them. More talky, some humor, but more serious. The cast did an incredible job and includes 7 actors from around the Flathead Valley. Joy James plays Evelyn Reid, Andy Wilton plays Candace Metzger, Merannda Button plays Lila Wadkins, Dawn Watland plays Roberta Burke, Mikey Winn plays Toby Fleming, Malcolm Sharbutt plays Fred DiSalvo, and Laura Abernethy plays Ms. Atwood.
The preview performance is today, and it runs this weekend and next.
Those in the Flathead may recognize the Cowart name from local musician Todd Cowart. I've had the pleasure of photographing him as a performer a number of times in his work with The Alpine Theatre Project productions.
Needless to say when I got the call that his family would be visiting from out of town and he was hoping to grab some family photos with them I jumped at the opportunity to make it happen! We had an exquisite bluebird afternoon at—and on—Whitefish City Beach as our setting, and there were lots of laughs to be had.
My friend Katie with An Epic Elopement texted me one evening as she and her husband were having dinner with one of her neighbors to see if I was interested and available for a weekday portrait session with them. They were going to be getting married at the courthouse soon and were hoping for some portraits at the courthouse, and then 'somewhere epic' later on.
Well, it doesn't get much more epic than Glacier National Park in this neck of the woods, even if it is winter and there are low clouds everywhere. We left the sunny, blue skies of downtown Kalispell to the completely socked-in winter setting of Lake McDonald and took advantage of all the beauty it has to offer.
This was such a fun performance to photograph with Whitefish Theatre Company. A double feature night of theatre with children making up most of the cast it featured the children's classic "The Velveteen Rabbit" and some modern takes on beloved children's stories in "Bedtime Stories (As Told by my Dad, Who Messed them Up)"
This Valentine's week Alpine Theatre Project produced another two-night run of big band music featuring some of the most beloved songs from the American songbook, and some Bjork and a big band arrangement of Brittney Spears. Because why not?
The evening starred ATP's own Luke Walrath along with Tracy McDowell, Eric Krop, N'Kenge, and Dewitt Fleming Jr. along with an all-star backing band.
