Teresa and Luke’s Devil’s Thumb Ranch Wedding
I hadn’t covered a Devil’s Thumb Ranch wedding before, but as a Denver wedding photographer contemplating a 12-hour day in the August heat, spending the weekend in much-cooler Winter Park was more than welcome. The ranch is a resort just a few miles north of town tucked into its own little valley. That location is important for day or night it feels much further from the closest town than it actually is and there’s no visual evidence that there’s anyone there but you. The landscape is gorgeous and undisturbed. There are cabins, lodges, restaurants and a number of different event venues, but it’s all rather quiet and disguised. It’s one of the nicer venues I’ve been to in Colorado.
Teresa and Luke brought a lot of family to their Devil’s Thumb Ranch wedding and held a welcome dinner and short Hindu ceremony the night before. I covered those as well, but I should leave room for other couples on this site. Like another recent wedding couple, they both practice law in Denver and were both senior editors of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Teresa clerked for a Colorado Supreme Court Justice, who also happened to be the officiant. I know it’s the license that makes it legally binding, but let’s say the optics were good.
Gathering storm clouds. There was a high chance of rain, which held off until after the ceremony. The chance of gorgeous soft light was 100%. I’ve been to many weddings in amazing locations where the ceremony was moved indoors on the mere possibility of rain and I would look out the window and think of the pictures that might have been. I’m grateful that Teresa held firm; chairs can be moved pretty quickly if necessary and I’ve never been to a wedding where people weren’t happy to jump in to help.
Luke doing the pompadour push.
An ostensible first look, though Luke kept an eye on the sky.
The ceremony will go forward, train or shine. Ok, I’m done.
I love the nervous energy people have when getting ready. My interest isn’t so much in the process of transformation as the little stories and moments that only happen in private settings, particularly when the couple is the center of attention for most of the day.
Luke’s mother.
Teresa’s father hears thunder, but Teresa gave specific instructions to the sky.
Luke attaches a necklace in an actual breeze.
We did some color family photos afterwards but they aren’t quite in the same vibe. Then everyone else went to the reception and left them alone for awhile. I like that.
Last-minute dance rehearsal.
The last few moments alone before joining the reception. I’m there, but I give people their space. Having a calm presence and a silent shutter helps, but most important is the attitude with which one approaches the wedding. This is a memory, not a photo op. I don’t ever want to pull someone out of a moment to present themselves a certain way. This isn’t a performance, it’s their life. Beautiful things can happen if you just let people be.
No cake smashing in that dress. Huh uh.
I love playing with light during receptions, especially in black and white. Dance floors are chaotic and unpredictable, everything happening so fast. Having a go-to even lighting setup is the common approach, but I find it banal. Light can pluck small moments from the stream, telling stories invisible to video or lost in the cacophony of sound. You have to work harder when you break the rules, but there are things you would never see otherwise.
