Class of 2015 | High School Senior Photographer Denver

Thought I'd share just a few shots from this year's incredible senior clients!
I LOVE MY JOB!!

I absolutely ADORE getting to know and photograph these incredible, talented, brilliant young people.
And I already can't wait to photograph the Class of 2016...
Cheers!!

Love! Pure Love! | Denver Family Photographer

So there's this question that every photographer is asked:
   "What's your favorite photo?"
To which, ideally, the answer is:
   "The one I'll take tomorrow!"



I've been lucky enough to experience and create new personal favorites on nearly every photo shoot lately, but this one (above!) may have just jumped onto a permanent list of top fav photos ever!! Pure joy, pure love, natural light... spontaneous moment. All of my very favorite things in one image.

Of course, it helps that I have fallen madly in love with this little family. Can you blame me? I mean, can you even believe how CUTE this little girl is?? She was a fantastic model on our shoot... and her PARENTS?? Well, let me just say it was a joy-filled honor to get to work with these incredible, bright, loving and super TALENTED people. Stephanie and Doug, I just adore you!

In case you were wondering, yes, behind the camera I was in heaven. Oh! And I almost forgot: we were outside trying to duck to avoid 30 MPH wind gusts on this shoot in Denver. So we got creative in finding protected urban nooks with great light, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Enjoy!

Actor Head Shots on Location | Portrait Photographer Denver

I do enjoy a creative challenge...

So not too long ago I took on the crazy task of shooting over 150 amazing young actors for the Denver School of the Arts' Theatre Department annual head shot project.

They could only be scheduled in the hottest light of the day. In August.

And did I mention that this is a parking lot in the background?

Fortunately for me, these kids are totally amazing and were TONS of fun to photograph, even at a such a quick pace!

Natural Light. 

Expression. 

Connection.

I. Love. This.

Enjoy a few samples from the day!

Portrait Book | Denver Portrait Photographer

WOOT!!

I'm crazy excited to share a little something -- my newest MAGAZINE -- at which I've been hard at work:

Portrait Book 2013

By jennifer koskinen in Merritt Design Photo Portraits

24 pages, published 4/10/2013

Welcome to Merritt Design Photo's First Annual Boutique Portrait Photography studio book! Located in Denver Colorado, specializing in seniors, head shots and super fun family photography, this book details session packages, our studio portrait process and introduces our new Senior Model Team!

You can preview the whole Portrait Photography Welcome Book on MagCloud (or ask me for a hard copy -- even better!).  Includes details on our brand new SENIOR MODEL TEAM!!

Also see new photographs on the MDP website PORTRAIT page!

Telluride AIDS Benefit Photo | OSCARS Poster

Hmmm... So this was just brought to my attention.

On the right, my photo, designed and photographed for the Telluride AIDS Benefit Art Auction in 2010. On the left, this year's just released OSCARS poster, designed by Olly Moss.

Copyright law is tricky, but it is sort of uncanny, don't you think? I sure wouldn't mind some tickets to the Oscars...

Environmental Portraiture in Denver

I absolutely LOVED every minute of this shoot last weekend...

How can you go wrong with such a beautiful girl (a dear friend's daughter) who, it turns out, is a natural in front of the camera and enjoyed modeling as much as I enjoy shooting; a great photo assistant (her awesome mom!);  AND great light?

And who doesn't love wandering around Denver Botanic Gardens on a beautiful day in January?

Already excited for my next environmental portrait shoot!

Also, stay tuned... I'm chomping at the bit to share another project on which I've been hard at work for the past few weeks!

Telluride AIDS Benefit | Behind the Models... The Series

I'm still not exactly sure why I ever believed the local fashion show models of Telluride would actually agree to pose for these photos, but somehow they went for it, and here we are, four years strong!

There's something so powerful and pure about the grouped forms of bodies in graphic shapes like this, and the set altogether is quite fun.

Together 8 prints of these four photos have raised over $4K in the Telluride AIDS Benefit silent art auctions.

Top to bottom:
Array | 2009
Force + Grace | 2011
Hands of Hope | 2008
Outside the Box | 2010

Telluride AIDS Benefit | Model Photo 2011

This year's theme, "Force + Grace," was another really fun concept to dream up, sketch out and photograph... A central spine of models choreographed to transfer forces top to bottom, complimented by the graceful poses of the dancers weaving on either side:

As always, the models were a dream to work with... Special thanks to this year's amazing Fashion Show choreographer/directors Katy Parnello and Amanda Carlson for their assistance in directing the shoot.

I feel so blessed for the opportunity to be involved in the promotion and fundraising for this unique and special event.  Gratitude abounds for everything the board and community behind the Telluride AIDS Benefit does to make this event not only an impressive high quality and ridiculously fun experience, but also a huge success with its financial contribution -- funds which go directly to saving lives and helping improve the quality of life for children and people effected by AIDS from the Western Slope to Africa.

Watch here for photos from the always amazing TAB Gala Fashion Show!

Portrait Shoot in Denver, CO

Feeling hugely grateful for the opportunity to photograph this lovely daughter of a dear friend for her upcoming yearbook photos.  Once again I find myself humbled by the photographic medium and excited to be pushing myself into new areas of joyfully fulfilling work.
I look forward to many more photo sessions with great young people like this!

Favorite Photos from 2010 | Part V: Events

(click and zoom in to see images larger)

Art Dress by Nicole Finger

Nicole Finger, an incredibly talented painter (and lovely person) from Telluride, Colorado, asked me to photograph her this past weekend wearing the fruits of her latest passion, couture painting.

It began last year with an original creation for the Ah Haa Auction: a bold safari themed dress which she modeled during the live auction, adorned with a huge, live snake draped across her shoulders!

This year's spectacular dress (the second in what I certainly hope will be a long line of Nicole's art dresses!) takes a retro and artful turn, its inspiration being Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss."  The fabric is intricately painted with shimmering colors and then hand jeweled.

The piece will be auctioned during the live auction part of this Friday night's annual Ah Haa School "Artopia" fundraiser in Telluride.

Sparkles beautifully in late afternoon Colorado light... and on such a gorgeous artist!

Brainstorming some more...

These are our past two TAB Model Photos, from '08 + '09. Auction bids for these and our butt shots (see "Dreaming of the Next in a Series" post below), have totaled over $5,500, proceeds going to the various beneficiaries of the Telluride AIDS Benefit.

I'm absolutely loving the theme for this year's Fashion Show (to be revealed!) and having a blast brainstorming ideas for the model photo... hoping to push some boundaries on several levels! I love my job!!

The final model photo, along with a new photo in the "Butt Shot" series, will be auctioned at the TAB Art Auction on Friday, February 26th in Telluride... details to follow!

Please visit Telluride AIDS Benefit for more information.

Dreaming of the next in a series...

Array, 2009

Behind the Models, 2008

Ah, what to do when you have scores of beautiful, local fashion show models, all donating their time and energy to an incredible cause... who all happen to be willing to pose for you, nude, in the pursuit of creating art for an auction to raise money for AIDS education and care?

'Tis that time of year again, the incredible, annual Telluride AIDS Benefit Gala Fashion Show is almost upon us.  This year's models are now auditioning, couture is being collected, donors and volunteers alike are all in a flurry of preparation, and me, I am busy dreaming up the next in the series of these fundraiser photographs with great anticipation!

Stay tuned for more!!