I don’t know what it is with us and musicians lately, but I’m totally digging it! Something magical happens when creative people join forces. And, when the creative people in front of our cameras also happen to be completely smitten with one another…well, the magic becomes utterly fantastic.
Such was the case on Monday when we got together with Colorado cuties Julia & Scott, founders of The Raven and the Writing Desk, which in recent years has created quite a stir in the Denver Music scene, with a sound that critics say reverberates with imagination and theatricality. An appropriate description given that their band’s name comes from Lewis Carroll‘s classic book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Julia is the lead singer/songwriter and Scott plays guitar. The two met while attending Tufts University. Scott was a sophomore and Julia a freshman. During her first week at school, she serendipitously began hanging out with Scott and his friends.
“We made immediate connections as musicians, music lovers, English majors, writers,” Julia told us. “We would stay up until the sun came up, singing our favorite Bright Eyes, Neutral Milk Hotel, (and) Neil Young tunes.”
“I felt an immediate connection to Juls – absolutely love at first sight,” Scott said. “And, (I) always treasured every second that we spent together.”
The friendship grew over the years, but the timing never seemed right for romance, until five years later, when both Julia & Scott were single and “in our right heads.” Scott asked Julia to join him at a Chris Cornell concert on the Boston waterfront. And, the sparks flew like a July 4th fireworks spectacular.
“First kiss. Knee-buckling magic. Knowing it was right. Knowing each other so well. Knowing the people we had been, the people we were now, and the people we wanted to be together. We made music from that point on in every way with our lives,” said Julia.
And, on Saturday, these two creative, passionate, soulful, inspired, smitten people will pledge their lives and hearts to one another at a private, backyard ceremony here on Cape Cod.
Because they live in Colorado and don’t come back East very often, we hadn’t actually met them in person until their session this week in Barnstable. But, for us, at least, the connection was immediate and together we made music…
Just love the colorful shades…fun & quirky, just like Scott & Julia.
Love is…moments like this!
Although Scott typically plays electric guitar, and Julia the piano, they treated us and each other to some sweet sounds on Scott’s acoustic guitar. We can’t wait to hear them play for real at the wedding!
Love this next one. It’s one of my faves from the day….
So cool…
When your partner looks at you like this, you know you’re in for a good life!
Love this perspective…so serene.
What’s so cool about these two is that as happy as they are to be together, they still give each other room to be individuals. I love how that’s reflected in this next photo…and in a few more that follow later.
Whatcha playin’ pretty lady?
To the harbor for a change of scenery….do they look like rockstars or what? (Believe it or not, Andy used to have long blond hair, like Scott’s, but wavier. If he could, I think Andy would very much like to be in a band. And, his guitar is coming along quite nicely…what do you think Scott & Julia..room for one more? lol)
Serenade me sweetheart…
One of the things that was soooo fun about photographing Julia & Scott is how comfortable they both are…with each other, in their own skin, and in front of the camera. It was like we didn’t have to do anything, but sit back and enjoy the show…quite literally!
Footsteps…so symbolic, representing the years & experiences that lead us where we are now. And, for Scott & Julia that’s down the aisle! Yipppeeee!
Having some fun…
happy, playful, perfection!
Ahhhhh….
This next stop kind of happened by accident. I just love the tall reeds that grow by the water…we almost didn’t stop b/c everywhere else was just a big ugly parking lot, but sometimes all you need is a quiet corner and a cute couple and voila….magic!
Dreammmmmy….
Awwww…completely unprompted and picture perfect!
Sweet kisses & cuddles…
And hugs that scream, “You are my favorite thing!!”
Be still my heart…
Hummuna Hummuna.
LOOOVE Julia’s expression in this next one. She looks like some native princess to me…so serene, content, filled with love, and utterly feminine. Love!
Swwwoooooooon!! It’s amazing to me, as a photographer, the magic that can happen with subtle shifts & changes of body position. I admit, we asked them to sit like this and lean into one another, but then they took things further…really feeling the moment, settling into the exchange and that’s when magic happens..with just a slight tilt of the head that says, “I love you!” And that stuff makes me crazy happy! Getting not only to witness it, but to experience it and document it for them and future generations to treasure. It’s a gift that we get to do what we get to do. I just love it and am so grateful!
One last stop on our journey….
A play on the swag & bindle…
Play me something lover…
Couples who “play” together, stay together.
As I said before, these two seem to know how to give each other room to grow. It reminds me of an excerpt from a poem Andy & I had read at our own wedding. “And stand together, yet not too near together. For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grown not in each other’s shadow.” I thought of that when I took this next photo, and it’s why this is another fave from the day…
As dusk was settling upon us, a flock of starlings descended upon the surprisingly large number of mosquitoes munching on us. Made for a dramatic addition to the sky.
My talented hubby and his silhouettes. He just loves them…I can see why!
Julia & Scott, thank you so much for trusting us to document this exciting time in your lives, without having yet met us. Thank you too for making time for us this busy week, before your wedding, but most importantly, for opening up to us in such a beautiful way. We had such a blast with both of you (great seeing you too Ruth, and meeting you Meg!). Can’t wait to be there documenting all of the love, fun & creative expression we just know will be all around you this weekend! Big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo