Stuff & Nonsense

Jessica & Clif Wedding

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:05:52 -0600

I’ve been swamped recently which is great! But I hate to have to apologize for being tardy on my turnaround time recently. But that’s where we’re at. I finished up Jessica and Clif’s wedding just before leaving for the Leadville 100 Trail run this past weekend. I wanted to let it sit and then look at it again when I got back. I like to give the weddings I shoot a FEW once-overs just to make sure the selections are all good and everything looks great. Perfection is truly the enemy of production!

We had a great time at Jessica and Clif’s wedding. I can’t think of a much better way to spend a Saturday than with family and friends from all over the world. It truly was an international affair with guests and family coming from Japan, France and all points east and west.

Huge thanks to Jess and Clif and their families for being so gracious, giving and FUN!

ジェシカ、クリフ、家族や友達も親切でとても楽しい結婚式でした！。本当にありがとうございました。
結婚おめでとうございます！

There’s loads more photographs to view and purchase at:
http://clients.scottcejka.com/Weddings/JessicaClif

Cheers!

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved

Heather & Austin Wedding

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:18:59 -0600

Heather and Austin and family and friends were camped out up at Meadow Creek B&B up in Pine, CO for the week before the wedding so they were well relaxed when the big day came. No nerves, a gorgeous day with a beautiful bluebird Colorado sky overhead, what more could you ask for! This was such a beautiful and relaxing wedding and we had a blast. A huge thanks goes out to Heather and Austin and their families for being so awesome and generous throughout the day. Y’all looked fantastic and couldn’t have made it any easier for us. Thank you!

Plum Sage did a great job on all the flowers
Aspen Specialty made the tasty food
A Music Plus was the DJ
and last but CERTAINLY not least was the cake and amazing cupcakes by The Bagel Bakery and Cupcake Shoppe
I think we actually snagged a few cupcakes for the ride home they were so good!

To see all the photographs from the day and to order all sorts of printy things head over to:
http://clients.scottcejka.com/Weddings/HeatherAustin

Cheers!

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved

Jenna & Aaron Wedding

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 23:07:39 -0600

Jenna & Aaron kicked off our wedding season with a bang. On a hot May day at Bertolin Barn in Longmont, loads of family and friends all turned out and we had a blast shooting everyone.

I have to say I don’t know how Jenna found me as my advertising to this point has been minimal (read non-existent) and everything has been word of mouth. Which is really how I prefer it. If you can’t trust your friends who can you trust right? Thanks to Jenna however, I’ve since met a few other couples who’s weddings I’ve also shot this summer! I can’t say thank you enough to you both. Thank you Jenna and Aaron and all of your families for allowing us to be a part of your fantastic day! And fantastic it was...

To see the rest and to order prints, swing on over to:

http://clients.scottcejka.com/Weddings/JennaAaron

Cheers!

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved

Happy Father’s Day

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:27:47 -0600

Probably my favorite photo of my father. I think it’s from about ‘78 or something, it’s seen better times, like we all have, but it’s still my favorite. I don’t get to see my Dad much and that’s a shame. I really need to try and make more time for my family but time gets tight, we all get busy, there’s no money to go anywhere, we’ve all heard the same excuses ad infinitem...Anyone hear the song “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin....it’s kind of like that sometimes.

Anyway, I’m babbling...my Dad has done so much it seems..Sheriffs Deputy, Police Officer, Fire Fighter, EMT, ER Nurse, financial planner (don’t know how that fit in there) and I’m very proud of him for always trying something new...always trying.

The older I get, the more I realize how much of him I have in me...and also how different we are. Either way, this is how I like to remember my Dad - dirty from a fire with a big ol smile on his face.

Thanks for everything Dad!

I love you

(To any photographers reading this...I’m sure you are trying to figure out how to get that film-like effect and that cool texture on this photo. So here’s the recipe...Just take one well loved photo, put it in a frame,, display for a few years, put that in the basement for a few more years, sprinkle some water to taste on it, take it out for a few years, put it back in the box, leave it there for about 7-8 more years, scrape it out of the frame and scan it to your computer - simple!)

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved

Jessica & Clif are Engaged!

Thu, 13 May 2010 11:45:24 -0600

I met Jessica many years ago far away from Colorado. We both had just moved to Japan, I was a teacher, she was working for the government in the same area. We saw each other just occasionally during the years we both lived there. We see each other a lot more now that were both back in Colorado. Those years in Japan were magical for me. Everyday was an adventure and you never knew what to expect or what you were going to learn.

I think she’d say that the past few years she’s been back were the same for her as she met Clif and has started a new adventure with him that will surpass any that she’s had before.

We had scheduled this shoot a few times only to be thwarted buy this spring’s crazy weather each time. We finally got an opening in the clouds, snow and rain and went for it-and it turned out brilliant! It usually takes a bit for everyone to warm up a bit, including (maybe especially) me. It’s a lot like sport in this respect but once you get going and get into the groove, it’s great. Jessica and Clif got into the groove right away and were relaxed, fun, and easy to shoot. We had a great time downtown on a gorgeous day amidst the cherry blossoms and Sakura square.

To see the rest of the photos and to order prints, swing on over to:
http://clients.scottcejka.com/Engagement/Jessica-Cliff-Engagement

Thanks to both of you for dinner and always making it easy for us. We’ll see you in June!

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved (table for two?)

Save The (Broncos) Cheerleader, Save The World!

Sun, 4 Apr 2010 11:51:11 -0600

Ok, so she really doesn’t need saving. Just wanted to get my nerdy Heroes reference in there while I had the chance. Kao is a friend of my wife so when she asked for some pics for her blog I was more than happy to help my~..I mean help her out. It’s not everyday that I get a chance to shoot an NFL cheerleader!

Unfortunately for us, Kao’s Broncos cheerleading days finished this year after she decided to head back to Japan to teach dance. She’ll be leaving any day now and while we’re sad to see her go and will miss her, she’s definitely on to bigger and better things and we wish her the best of luck (trust me, she doesn’t need it though)

In addition to being an awesome cheerleader for the Broncos the past few years, she’s been helping teach kids dance and I think that’s where she’ll really shine when she opens her own studio back in Japan. Can’t wait to visit Kao!

Kao’s idea was to get some cheerleading pics, then some headshots, then some just for fun casual shots. The gym was our local down the street www.ironworksfitness.net. Great gym great people!

Just so you know, the green background was all my idea. It’s actually a wall in my office. I thought it would be a nice change to the typical dark bg.

It was really tough shooting Kao, with all the retouching and makeup and...what am I talking about!!??? She was fantastic, knew how to move and work the camera. Any bad pics are all on me.

Thanks a ton Kao and all the best to you in the future. I’m sure we’ll meet again...probably back in Japan.

Cheers!

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved (table for two?)

Shay & Tyler Engaged - December 3rd

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:08:30 -0700

I’ve been meaning to post these for awhile now but something ALWAYS came up...no more!

Shay and Tyler like the outdoors, hiking, snowshoeing, all the usual Colorado goodies so it was only fitting that we shoot them in their element. We went for a hike up around Chautauqua in Boulder back in December.

It’s funny, when I started in photography, I used to shoot only landscapes and objects without people and couldn’t imagine shooting people. Now it’s just about the opposite. When I see a great landscape (and we’ve got our share here in Colorado) all I want to do is put someone into it to balance it out! Like the shot above...I saw that big open space in the trees and KNEW I just HAD to put Shay & Tyler right smack dab in the middle of it.

However, I really love shooting in the city because it’s perfect for someone as ADD as me. All those little distractions in a city keep me moving and saying, “whoa! let’s shoot over in this alley by the garbage!” YES! Shooting in the mountains, or the country without all those distractions is harder...but it’s also the reason why I love (and need to) get away from the city a lot. All that space simplifies things. It gets rid of distractions and reminds you of the essentials...love, family, and good friends.

I go in to the mountains and get away to the country to be free of all the little distractions in my daily life and to re-focus. I’m glad Shay and Tyler chose to shoot their engagement session up there, it gave me the opportunity to simplify and focus more on them and not get so distracted by my surroundings. They were both very natural, calm and confident...fantastic to work with and we got some great shots of them and what they mean to each other. Simple is good.

Thanks Shay & Tyler! Your June wedding is going to be fantastic at the Red Lion Inn

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved (table for two?)

Allison & Quinn are Engaged - November 14th

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 19:03:28 -0700

I don’t get up to Fort Collins that often, and almost didn’t think I’d get up there this time. It was cold, forecast called for snow and the roads were starting to get wet. We met Allison and Quinn on the old part of the CSU campus. You can never tell how people are going to deal with weather (my wife thinks it’s cold when it gets below 80...I’m pretty sure) But these two were more than game for a wander and shoot around in the cold and soon to be falling snow.

A bit of warning to prospective clients...I’ll be the first to tell you that my engagement sessions sometimes go a BIT long. Especially when there’s so much cool stuff to shoot around! We usually start a bit before sunset and go til we either run out of stuff, light, or just need to get some coffee or a beer...or you tell me we’re done :)

We walked all over the place and got some great shots on campus, then moved into the downtown area while the real snow started coming down. It was getting colder as it got darker. That didn’t stop Allison and Quinn from smiling at each other the whole time. That’s a good sign! It means I haven’t bored them to death yet and also, they probably like each other somewhat...ok, a whole lot. We even got a shot at the Aggie where they had their first date, I’m pretty sure they didn’t see Warren G though.

And finally, we ended up at a dry cafe where it was time for coffee...safe, sound, warm and happy...kind of like the way your fiance makes you feel isn’t it?

Thanks Allison & Quinn! Can’t wait for your July wedding

©2010 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved

Karen & Paul Wedding - October 10th

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:37:06 -0700

I met Karen many many years ago through a mutual friend so it was so cool to hear she was getting married. And it was even cooler to actually be invited to shoot her wedding. The weather was perfect, the wedding party looked regal (ladies, men in uniform for you!) and the guests were a blast and just look at her Dad’s car...yep, he pretty much built the thing back from the ground up.

After the wedding, Karen and Paul will be living in sunny Alaska! Paul is stationed there as a member of the Coast Guard. Anybody ever watch Deadliest Catch on Discovery? If you have, you’ll know how tough a job that is up there and how rock solid these guys are. They do it all - Search and Rescue and not to mention defending our coasts! My younger brother is also a member of the Coast Guard, though based in San Francisco. Smart, tough guys the lot of em!

Karen, you looked gorgeous! Paul, you’re one lucky guy! Stay happy and healthy this year and all those to come.

Congratulations!

Ceremony: Lookout Mountain Community Church, Golden
Reception: The Pines at Genesee

FYI...Family and friends can view and purchase these and the rest of the wedding photos here. Karen & Paul will need to provide you the password.

©2009 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved

Danielle & Guy Wedding - October 10th

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:03:07 -0700

I’m pretty sure when brides and grooms are planning their wedding day a year or more ahead of time that they don’t go, “Hmmm, let’s hope for a freezing cold day so we can wear our dresses and tuxes outside in the snow and cold!” I’m pretty sure anyway, unless they’re from Alaska...or Norway. Wow! Can I say I was cold? My wife won’t let me forget it as I’m usually complaining how hot I am when it gets above 60. Seriously, we set a new record low for October 10th. It was 18 degrees! That’s not Celsius either. I love the cold! Don’t get me wrong but I can’t help but feel for people who can’t stand the cold like I can’t stand the heat.

That said, Danielle and Guy weren’t fazed in the least bit. At least they weren’t showing it through all the smiles and laughs we saw all day. We started at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.
Gorgeous gorgeous beautiful church - they were soo gracious to us photographers allowing us to get where we needed to be. I can honestly say I’ve never been in a more beautiful church here in Colorado.

Danielle looked ravishing as we all knew she would! And Guy was dashing and cool. So happy, and so ready they both seemed.

Danielle’s getting ready pictures were fun in “the dungeon” It’s an old church and it really kind of felt like a dark dungeon down there (minus the tortured souls of course) Throw in a phantom light that chose when it wanted to be on or off on it’s own time and you’ll get the picture. And yet, everything and everyone was golden...and gorgeous.

After the ceremony, we all jumped in the humongo limo and headed out for some fun photos all over the place. First stop, Civic Center Park for some cool group shots, then off to Golden for some more fun downtown stuff. Check the train! Chipmunk Express all the way baby! We had a blast and fun things were just popping up all over the place. But the light was fading and we needed to get on back to the reception for some warmth, food, drink and DANCING! I love it when people let loose on the dance floor!

Thank you Danielle & Guy and family for making us feel so welcome and relaxed. We had a blast!

Huge thanks go to Derek Cortvriendt for following me around, dragging all manner of equipment and especially for being in all the places I was not. Thanks Derek!

Cheers!

Ceremony: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver
Reception: Fossil Trace Golf Club, Golden
Hotness: Danielle & Guy

FYI...Family and friends can view and purchase these and the rest of the wedding photos along with the engagement session here. Danielle and Guy will need to provide you the password.

©2009 Scott Cejka All Rights Reserved