Exploring Denver’s Botanical Gardens with Usagi!

Hey, everyone! Tatiana here to share with you my little adventure in Denver, Colorado, this past weekend.

As many of you know, cosplay and cosplay photography are both passions of mine.

As Maid of Honor in my best friend Ashley’s wedding, I’ve been finding myself in the Denver area more often!

And in between a dress fitting and other wonderful Maid of Honor duties, I just had to book some photoshoots while I was in this scenic state! I reached out to Pirefly Cosplay, who I worked with during our on-location shoots at the anime convention NDK last year.

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And I’m so happy that our pretty guardian, Michelle, was free to do some more “Sailor Moon” magic with me!

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We originally planned for a casual Usagi springtime shoot, but Denver is getting a lot of the typical Missouri weather weirdness, so it was impossible to predict the cold front that happened!

Luckily, Denver’s Botanical Gardens has a vast variety of scenic backdrops with or without the flowers in full bloom!

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We had so much fun recollecting scenes from our favorite “magical girl” anime, including Usagi casually waiting for her boyfriend Mamoru. But knowing our meatball head, she would have the time and location wrong!

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This location couldn’t have been more perfect because the gardens have an entire Japanese plant section! It’s seriously an Otaku’s dream location — so we will have to set up an event here for this coming NDK!

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We both felt some Crystal Tokyo vibes with the inner building designs.

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AND DOOM TREE VINES! AAAAAHHH!!!!

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The Japanese Garden area also had gorgeous crystal clear ponds and majestic mini waterfalls to create AMAZING backdrops.

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Thank you SO MUCH, Michelle, for meeting me here and experiencing this beautiful location with me!

Cosplay shoots are so fun and exciting for me and I am always up for doing them!

Speaking of — I will be back in Denver this September for NDK. We will be setting up more on-location shoots during the convention!

 

Denver Takeover: A Romantic Photoshoot By Sunset

Tatiana here — and I just got back from a week long journey in Colorado!

I originally planned this trip because my best friend, Ashley Fields, is getting married and she scheduled a dress fitting. Obvs I had to be there when she said “YES!” to the dress!

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Above is  where she surprise “proposed” to me during her engagement shoot and asked me to be her Maid of Honor! Since I am in the wedding, she totally booked Christine to take the photos! 😉

Then, I thought, “Hey! Since I’ll be in Denver for a week, why not also do what I love and take some photos?” Because I’m a crazy person who can’t just NOT work, if you can even count what I get to do as work!

My first client of the week, which I booked literally less than an hour after my 9 hour drive (again, I’m a crazy person), was another bridesmaid and mutual friend, Ashlee Hatcher. I also had the pleasure of photographing her adoring husband, Craig.

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Ashlee and Craig first met on MySpace in 2006, but officially met in person in 2009. Ashlee had just gotten laid off due to the economy, so Craig picked her up and made her Rice Krispies treats to make her feel better. How gallant!

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They have been together ever since —  for almost eight years, and married for two!

Craig still can’t get over how pretty, fun and smart she is. He’s sweet like those Krispies Treats!

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Now, the location was tricky because I’m from out-of-state. Although, I can tell you some fantastic places for photoshoots in KC, it was a little more tricky to pick somewhere in Denver!

Thankfully, this cute couple had some ideas! They chose Adams County Fairgrounds. This location is amazing! It has everything a photographer dreams about — and all in one location! It’s equipped with a lake, multiple bridges, docks, and beautiful wild flowers.

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I had to run to claim this bridge from another photographer trying to beat the sunset. I would have thrown fists for this shot! Thankfully it didn’t come to that. Tee hee.

Ashlee and Craig aren’t without funny moments in their marriage, and we had our share of laughs during the photoshoot. When I direct people how to pose, sometimes things can get lost in translation:

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No, Ashlee! Put your arms around his neck, not your hands!

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Craig, don’t throw your wife in the lake — we still need more photos!

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They are seriously a fun bunch to be around — and to discuss “Game of Thrones” theories with!

You can see things through the camera lens, I swear. Things that are unseen unless you’re the photographer. Ashlee and Craig had these little touching, sincere moments. They’re so in love, and it’s so adorable (and evident)!

They have been through so much, and through it all they hold each other up from all the challenges life has given them.

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When I asked Ashlee if she had anything she wanted to add, here’s what she said:

“He’s my best friend, he makes me a better person. He always makes me laugh especially when I’m upset.”

It was a pleasure to work with them, as well as get to know them as friends! They are planning to bring another Hatcher into the world in 2019 — I’m ready for those maternity and newborn shots!

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