Chelsea and Reto E-Session at Abraham Lake

I was invited by Chelsea, Reto, and Duke the dog, to join them at Abraham Lake for a day in the snowy mountains.  First off, let me say that this was a COLD day.  The wind was harsh and biting, turning any exposed skin numb and whipping Chelsea’s hair into knots.  A haze had settled over the mountains.  We were grateful for the little things like finding shelter from the wind as we took photos or a mug of hot chocolate at the end of the afternoon.  Duke didn’t seem to notice the weather and had himself a great time running far down the coastline.

Chelsea and Reto are adventurers and have already taught me about things like vehicle roof tents for camping or the law surrounding collecting lumber on roadsides.  They love to rough it and Abraham Lake is one of their very favourite places to go.  The water is a gorgeous blue, just like you’d expect from the Alberta Rockies, and the area was so quiet – we met very few other vehicles in the hours we spent there.  We had the view all to ourselves and shot until it was nearly dark.

For as chilly as they were, Chelsea and Reto managed to reach deep inside themselves and find a warm, focused love.  They made the cold moments look simple and sweet.

I had joined them for the second leg of the drive out and I’m pretty sure we didn’t stop talking for those hours.  A photographer herself, Chelsea and I had plenty of ground to cover.  She is so talented so make sure you check out her work at Chelsea Doupe Photography.  It is always nerve-wracking photographing another photographer – if you fumble or grow uncertain, they’re going to notice.  If Chelsea noticed that I wasn’t always sure how to best take advantage of our view despite the weather, she didn’t let on.  She’s sweet like that.

I had a fantastic time with both of you and I love the vibe in your images.  If we can pull this off despite these conditions, I have no doubt that your wedding day will be beyond incredible.  I can’t wait!