I am off and running into my wild wedding season! I had all of June off to relax and spend quality time with my boys, and now I am more than ready to capture some magic this summer! To say I have the most incredible lineup of couples this summer would be an understatement. My couples are THE BEST!... I am so anxious to share their stories with you. 
When I arrived to the Hart Ranch on July 13, 2019, it was as if I was reunited with a long-lost friend. I have photographed many weddings and attended multiple events at this venue, so memories started to flood in when I pulled up.  

Madi, the sweetest Bride, got her makeup done by Jessika Hobart from Glow Beauty and hair done by Finale from Martelli Salon... and wow did she look breathtaking!

As if Madi wasn't stunning enough in her robe, it was time to slip into her dress from Rococo Bridal. I have to admit, this gown had me drooling!!

These ladies showered Madi with love throughout the day and were full of so many laughs.

Then I had to sneak this bride away to get some Bridal Portraits... gahhh still drooling over this dress!

Meanwhile, the boys were in a cabin on the Hart Ranch property getting their handsome on. Over half of the groomsmen were Montana State Football players and they were so full of personality! Shoutout to Mariah Allen Photography (Boss Lady) for capturing some of these images of the guys.

Before Dillon & Madi saw each other, they read letters aloud behind a door. Such a sweet intimate moment.

But..... Madi couldn't be serious for too long and played a hilarious prank on her almost hubby! This groomsmen was the hit of the day!

Let me tell it to you straight...there is nothing better than a first look. It is such an intimate moment that you get to share with just the two of you (and the photographer hiding in the tall grass). Truly special.

We then transitioned into the bride and groom formal portraits. These are the most important images of the day because these are the images that will be hanging on your wall when your great grandkids come to visit in 50 years. I like to snap a few traditional images, but for the most part, these images are candids of the couple enjoying this time together as they prepare for the ceremony ahead. Side note, Madi has the BEST laughing face. I need to take some lessons from her because I always have five chins when I am laughing in a picture!

The rest of the day was picture perfect (haha so punny). We got some shots of the bridal party, sent them down the aisle to say "I Do", and danced the night away. We even were able to sneak away for 10 minutes to capture the golden sunset. It was nothing short of amazing! Oh and I forgot to mention... during their first kiss, there was a huge thunder crack. It still gives me some serious goosebumps when I think about it!

p.s. let me leave you with some Father Daughter images. These are so special!

I cannot believe all these 2019 Seniors are graduating soon! School is almost out which means I am gearing up for my busiest summer yet! 2020 seniors are on the books and my first senior session in Bozeman is set for June! I cannot wait, seniors are so much fun! Did you know that MAP Studios seniors,  receive a FREE fashion consult before your senior session! There is so much more than just picking up a camera to make your senior session amazing! I truly believe planning out your perfect senior session is key to making your session all that you want and more! Once you book your session with me, we will schedule your initial consultation and then your fashion consult. Currently I am working with two amazing boutique's in town for your fashion consult. Apricot Lane of Bozeman and Twisted Sisters Boutique! We will meet at one of these stores or both to go through possible outfits and plan locations accordingly! 

I also recommend using one of my amazing hair and makeup artists for your session! When you book through me, your hair and makeup will be done at my studio and you will get a few complimentary studio shots too! 

Then the fun begins! We will spend a full 3 hours together and you will be getting the most amazing modeling experience around! You will feel like you stepped right into a magazine shoot, but super laid back with lots of fun, laughs and music! Yup, we are going to jam out to your favorite tunes during the shoot! 

About 2 weeks after your amazing senior shoot, you will come into my photography studio located in Belgrade, MT for your premier viewing session. At this session you will get to see all the amazing images we captured during your shoot. I will walk you and your parents through an ordering session, complete with professional custom senior albums to graduation cards and more! 

Mariah Allen Photography Studios of Bozeman is the most premier senior portrait experience that Montana offers. This experience is once in a lifetime and you are going to love the process from start to finish! 
Let's Chat
Want to know more? Shoot me an email or go to my contact me page and lets chat! 

Lanie was an amazing senior to work with! Here are more of her beautiful senior images! 

Blue skies, sun shinning, little summer breeze- what more could a bride ask for when she wakes up on her wedding day. Katie started her day off downtown Bozeman at Blush to get a soft natural bridal look for her makeup. I always do a little happy dance when I hear a bride is going to Blush because I know their makeup will be flawless and absolutely gorgeous! 

Katie and her bridesmaids went out to Gallatin Gateway to finish getting ready at a VRBO, just across the road from the wedding venue. Most of their hair was done by Katie's 14 year-old cousin, and lets just say this sweet girl has a bright future in wedding hair! 

Of course you need to pop some champagne on your WEDDING DAY!

These little wedding day details were so fun to capture...

Katie and Chris decided they wanted to tie the knot at one of Bozeman's very sought after wedding venues, Hart Ranch. This venue sits south of Bozeman in Gallatin Gateway against the mountains, near Big Sky. This rustic barn venue has everything you would want for a simple, yet elegant Montana wedding. 

Katie wanted to slip into her wedding dress in a more intimate setting, the bridal suite at the Hart Ranch with just her Mother and Maid of Honor there with her. 

Katie's custom Converse were the ultimate wedding detail of the day! Katie is a 4th grade teacher, so you know all of her kiddos will think she is the coolest teacher EVER with MRS. G on the back of her chucks!

Dress-Check, Shoes-Check, Accessories- Check, Looking Freaking GORGEOUS-Double Check.... Off to the bridal portraits. 
Katie was wearing a gown she found at the well-know and highly recommended bridal dress boutique in Bozeman, Eskay Bridal. Her bouquet was created by a family member.

Meanwhile, Chris and some of his closest friends were enjoying their afternoon in the grooms getting ready location at the venue. They opened gifts, laughed, and reminisced on some good times, 

Chris & Katie's ceremony was filled with so many emotions- happiness, excitement, and a whole lotta love. Their heart-filled vows had me in tears as I was trying to capture the special moments of the ceremony. 

After the ceremony, I was able to sneak away with these two and do their portrait session. As you will see below, these two were utterly infatuated with one another.

These two couldn't be serious the whole time- they are always goofing off!

ANNNDDDD they got by with a little help from their friends!

I can't forget about the 7 flower girls and the cutest ring bearer!!

I was so honored that Katie & Chris asked me to be their wedding photographer. In high school, Katie & I spent our summer nights watching Chris and my husband play baseball. We would talk about the future and it always included those baseball boys. I could not be happier for these high school sweethearts and to see how far they have come. Here's to Katie G and Chris G! 

Vendors
Venue- Hart Ranch
Makeup- Blush
Gown & Suit- Eskay Bridal  
​Catering- Just a Taste Catering 

Well today definitely does not feel like a typical summer in Montana. It's chilly out there! I was freezing yesterday, but I was excited to see some sun this morning. Thankfully we've had some sunny days in Bozeman this past June, not many but enough to get in some beautiful family sessions for some sweet clients! 

This family just makes me smile! From the first time I met their sweet girl celebrating her first birthday to now seeing them as a family of 4 with their handsome little boy. 

We did get eaten alive by mosquitos, they were terrible! We have had so much rain that they have been terrible this summer. 

But in between shots we were swatting them off of us (because I forgot bug spray, my camera bag is now stocked full!) We got some amazing images for this beautiful family to hang on the walls of their home to cherish forever!

So many clients ask for the beautiful backdrop of the Montana mountains in their portraits, but some clients want something different. I love finding new locations to give clients something different each year. 

I love how these turned out! I spend hours driving around looking for new unique locations and this spot has become one of my favorites! 

Gahh.....look at how cute these all turned out! One of the fun things about family portraits is all the fun combinations of shots you can get! I love capturing the unposed images, just having fun and interacting as a family.

One thing you will get from me when you book a session is a fun & relaxed session....yes we do some basic poses with everyone looking at the camera....but the fun is twirling, laughing, letting the kids run, lots of kissing and hugging and more laughing! I don't tell great jokes, so I fake laugh and then my clients laugh at me! 

And then there are sibling pictures! Aren't these two just the sweetest! 

And I had to share these...there are way more, but this little cutie pie I think may just be a future model....so many super cute modeling faces from her! These were some of my favorites! 

This beautiful Montana family brought a smile to my face as I edited their images. This is why I do what I do and I stay up late at night to get images to my clients and book myself silly over the summer months....because of this....because if these images bring a smile to my face as I am editing through them....I know my clients are going to cherish them forever and when they look through them....they are going to smile again and again. 

Thanks to this sweet family for allowing me to capture their forever portraits! 

Love & Light,
​Mariah