Mt Lemmon Snowscapes

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonScenicPosted on One Comment

ccw-NewYearsDay2013-0037bw_webJanuary 1, 2013

Mt Lemmon is located on top of one of southern Arizona’s famous “Sky Islands” and here I was able to capture some amazing snowscapes on New Year’s Day.  The snow kept falling from the Ponderosa Pines in this area which created interesting images, especially in black & white or monochromatic.   Fresh, clean, invigorating air and crisp snow on picnic tables…SO refreshing for us desert dwellers!  For those not familiar with Mt Lemmon, it is an extremely popular recreation area near the top of the Catalina mountain range bordering the north edge of Tucson.  The elevation is significant enough to host a ski slope (9200′ feet) and provides months of quick cool-off getaways for the locals.  On this particular day we took two truckloads of snow back down to the valley where we hosted a snowball fight for neighborhood residents of ALL ages…what fun!  Only here can we enjoy a day playing in the snow and still wear shorts back down in the valley 🙂

All of these images are available for purchase in two formats: Prints or Notecards.

 

Megan & Randy: Outdoor Sonoita Ranch Wedding

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonPortraiture, WeddingsPosted on No Comments

November 10, 2012 This wedding shoot was full of “firsts” for me…the wedding ceremony was to be held outdoors on a ranch; it was a western themed (no surprise there)–the bride and bridesmaids wore cowgirl boots while the groom and groomsmen all wore cowboy hats; we did the ‘first look’ shoot in a barn; and, …

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Apryl & Alex Engagement: Desert and Mountain and Trail Dust, Oh My!

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonEngagement, PortraiturePosted on No Comments

 

ccw-8884_webJuly 20-22, 2012

So much fun with Apryl and Alex–the most comprehensive engagement shoot yet, with three different venues.  We started at Saguaro National Park East

(9 mile loop drive) on day one.  The next morning we hit Trail Dust Town in the early morning followed by Mt Lemmon in the afternoon.  This was my first engagement shoot on Mt Lemmon … sooooo beautiful with so many breathtaking backdrops to choose from! I was delighted that there was water for them to walk in since that always makes for fun images.  The next day we ended the shoot outside of PF Changs, taking advantage of the uniq

ue vegetation and backgrounds.  I am really looking forward to shooting their wedding in January 20

13 in Longview, Texas.

 

Casey & Steven Wedding: Elegance in Black, White & Turquoise

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonPortraiture, WeddingsPosted on No Comments

ccw-HUSAR7_137-8X10-webApril 21, 2012

Casey and Steven had one of the most elegant weddings and receptions I have ever photographed.  The black & white paisley theme (with an accent shade of turquoise blue) was coordinated in every element, down to the candles used in the ceremony.  I was awestruck by the amount of detail work that went into their special day.  They had a custom-appointed covered alcove built on the Sanctuary platform which housed the communion table…the outdoor reception was no less than stellar in the transformation of a residential common area (trees, dirt one picnic table) into a wonderland with elegantly-appointed tables, lights twinkling everywhere, amazing dance floor with a custom canopy and a live band on a custom-built stage.  The bride and groom were so easy to work with (since I had also taken their engagement photos) and were such a striking couple it was hard not to go overboard snapping away.  We enjoyed many memorable shoot times throughout the day–especially their “First Look” session.  Casey was one of those who did not originally want the First Look session but changed her mind only six days before the wedding….she later told me that she was so glad she did.  It was so meaningful to have that “alone time” with her fiancee (and myself, of course) to see each other for the first time in their wedding regalia before the ceremony.  Thank you Casey and Steven for allowing me to be a forever part of your life!

 

Bryanna & Shane Wedding: New Year’s Eve in New Mexico

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonPortraiture, WeddingsPosted on No Comments

ccw-0143_webDecember 31, 2011

The last day of the year and it was cold, ice and snow on the ground, but not so bad that we couldn’t drive when we arrived to shoot the wedding of Bryanna and Shane.  We were excited to stay at a cute little B & B in Edgewood NM (very small town aprx 30 miles east of Albuquerque) called Alta Mae’s.  Very, very New Mexico with Santa Fe style architecture in the enclosed ‘hacienda-style’ courtyard with adorable ‘themed’ rooms.  Wonderful great room with a player piano and a full kitchen for our use (which is almost a necessity when you have celiac disease and are traveling).   Alta Mae’s was only a five minute drive to the church where the wedding and reception were taking place so it was extremely convenient for us.  We had fun shooting the bride getting ready at a friend’s house before the wedding then we drove over to the church to begin the “First Look” session followed by the wedding party extended shoot…I even had the attendants walk around outside in the cold wind so I could get some of the magnificent backdrop of the South Mountain.  The decorations at the church were beyond incredible–a professional decorator (who happened to be close friends with the Bride’s family) coordinated every area of the Sanctuary, foyer and hallways with turquoise and brown accents of every description.  The Bride and her court chose dresses that matched those colors–it was really fun…a great chance to try some things I had not before.  Just as an aside, the bride wore tennis shoes–with turquoise shoelaces–SO CUTE!!!  Had a second (Amy) and third shooter for this wedding (usually only my hubby, Paul, who takes from the back with a long lens), and I have included one or more of her photos in this gallery–one of them is the bride tying her shoelaces…so cute.  Wonderful day and relaxing evening sitting in the B & B great room reviewing my photos in comfy clothes on the couch…ahhhhhh

 

Ashley & Zac Wedding: November in Northwest Tucson

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonPortraiture, WeddingsPosted on No Comments

ccw-AshZac-9007-webNovember 26, 2011

This was a great lesson in learning to make lemonade when life hands you lemons!  Our bride, Ashley, had her heart set on having her ‘first look’ and wedding party shoot at a beautiful remote area in the Tucson mountains.  Having never been there before, we just assumed that it was fine so we showed up 15 min before the shoot was scheduled to begin.  We started carrying our gear up the hill to the area where she wanted the shoot and were stopped by a caretaker who said that ‘professional photography is no longer allowed here–too many people end up using the chapel as a changing room and are not respectful.”  Sooooo–what do you do?  The bride is practically in tears (on the phone as she speaks to her groom when he tells her the news).  We end up driving down the road about a mile and we pull over.   There is a place on the side of the road that has the same view of the mountain she wants in the background (just a little further away) but–it will work.  Across the street is enough room to park off the road.  There is a fence around the wilderness so we have a small area to work in.  It turned out more beautiful than I would have hoped.  I had been planning to shoot mostly in a rustic chapel but was now going to be shooting in bright sunlight, totally blue skies at 11am.  Not the best for what I had in mind…however, my assistant (this time it was my husband) pulled out my brand new reflectors and went to work taking shadows out of the faces.  Sometimes the light was so bright that I had my subjects shut their eyes until I counted to “three” and then they opened them for the shutter release.  The colors were amazing, the mountains and cacti made an interesting and somewhat unique backdrop.   Unique in that most of the country does not have this option, although it is often preferred here in southern Arizona.  After this shoot, we went to the church to finish the pre-wedding photos and the ceremony.  It was a great day with great people.  Ashley and Zac were great to work with and their wedding attendants were so fun and such troopers!  Thanks Ashley & Zac!

 

Kayla Grace Grad Shoot

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonGraduates, PortraiturePosted on No Comments

ccw-0943-2_webOctober 29, 2011

Beautiful young lady that reminded me so much of Hollywood starlets from the 1940s in some of these photos.  Extremely photogenic and what gorgeous venues–first to Tanque Verde Guest Ranch on the eastern edge of Tucson nestled in the Rincon mountains, then to Agua Caliente Park in northeast Tucson.  Amazing backdrops with endless possibilities for posing!  I love working with grads, especially when I’m able to help them relax and enjoy the experience themselves.  Thanks Kayla!

 

Robyn and Timothy: Barefoot Bride in Pennsylvania Campground Wedding

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonPortraiture, WeddingsPosted on No Comments

September 10, 2011 Another unusual venue for a wedding–at least for me–a church campground in northwestern Pennsylvania.  It so happens that these two young people (Timothy and Robyn) met each other at this campground at children.  Cool, huh?  They renewed their friendship some twelve years later and there you are.  The bride went with an …

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Bryanna & Shane Engagement: Shy and Shyer

by Cheryl Caffarella WilsonEngagement, PortraiturePosted on No Comments

CCW-4910_tnJuly 18, 2011

So fun to get to work with out-of-towners Bryanna and Shane…so GLAD I got to do it before shooting their wedding in December!  It’s always my preference to do an engagement session with a couple before I shoot their wedding … it makes the wedding go so much smoother.  Bryanna took awhile to get over her shyness in front of the camera (lots of people do) but soon was old hat at following directions.  Taken at one of my most popular photo session venues, Trail Dust Town, they were game to try just about anything.  I found how they treated each other (sweetly and tenderly)…so  refreshing in today’s world.  Thanks for letting me be a part of your special day you two!