Christina Gressianu Photographer

Weddings: Nicole & Marco

Christina — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:58:39 +0000

I get totally high on weddings. All the love, the happy family and friends, the music, food, fun… And Nicole and Marco’s had all that, and then some. They are the kind of couple that find comfort in each other’s presence. Leave them alone for a couple seconds and they crack each other up. They make my job so easy. And it doesn’t hurt that Nicole is fun, easy-going and totally gorgeous.

Not to mention that they picked fabulous locations! We started out at St. Joseph’s, here in Fort Collins.

It never fails: if the groom cries, I cry. And so when Marco got choked up saying his vows having, well, I did too.

After the ceremony, we played on the church grounds and then at the amazing farm where Nicole’s parents live.

I often say that I have no clue how my photos happen. That’s it some kind of crazy magic that shows up when I pick up camera and point it at people. The photo below is a perfect example… Nicole, Marco and I decided to take some photos behind the barn. It was big, red and most importantly, shaded from the midday sun. When we got back there, I noticed a bright yellow thing propping the barn window open. I joked with Marco that he was responsible for hiding it from the camera by standing in front of it. We started taking pictures, and when Nicole and Marco leaned toward each other for a kiss, Marco grabbed Nicole and pulled her towards him—because he had to stay in front of the big yellow thing!! The reason the photos looks so natural is because it totally was. I couldn’t have posed that shot better if I’d tried. Magic, right?

And then we all had some good laughs… (See the bright yellow window prop?)

The wedding details were amazingly lovely. Sweet, simple, elegant… Lovely. A big, giant THANK YOU to Kate O’Donnell of Green Apple Weddings for pulling it all together so perfectly! And for being just plain awesome to work with and be around!

Big, white wedding tents = pure awesomeness.

And so you see why after Nicole and Marco’s wedding, I was flying high. I was honored and grateful to be there; to laugh with them, hang with their family, have a couple cupcakes, (yes, a couple…) and to witness their incredible love!

Lifestyle Session: Lindsey, Damien, and Caylee

Christina — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:07:23 +0000

Some families are just plain good-looking. Like they could be on the cover of a magazine or in an ad for sunshine and fun. The Parrishes are one of those families. And Caylee, the cutest 2-year-old I’ve ever met, is a little ball of curiosity and independence. Lindsey and I got to talk on the phone a bunch before the photo session, since it rained the day we’d planned it. And it rained the 2nd day we’d planned it too. Amazing considering we live in a state that gets about 6 days of rain a year. (Ok, I’m exaggerating… but it seems like it’s ALWAYS sunny in Colorado)

Third time’s a charm, and we met at City Park just as the morning’s clouds were breaking up. I had so much fun processing these photos, so you’ll get to see a variety of the ways I can play with colors to change the mood of a photo.

Caylee was fascinated by me, always checking to see where I was. Yup, I was still there… and she’d contentedly go about exploring some more.

And hang out with Mom and Dad…

See? They’re a gorgeous family! And I had a ton of fun being part of it for a couple hours that morning.

Seniors 2011: Aubrey Davis

Christina — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:33:44 +0000

Aubrey Davis is one of those girls who can do anything and does it all. She played football on the high school team. She arranged the flowers for her sister’s wedding. She jumped barefoot in an Old Town alley. She asked me if I could retouch her tennis-playing tan lines.

And she’s just plain gorgeous. This girl does not cease to amaze me.

I love that she wanted to do this one above!

Aubrey is going into her senior year at Rocky Mountain High School, and then I have no doubt she’ll be a rock star where ever she goes!

Family Lifestyle Sessions – The Blackdens

Christina — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:52:38 +0000

Outdoor family photo sessions are similar to weddings for me, in that I never tire of them. Photographing people who love each other is where it’s at for me, and so I can get pretty high on lifestyle session in the park. I get to be a little goofy, a little sneaky, and a little part of the family for a while. And so it was with Tiffany, Gary, Max and Liza… a family so full of love and fun that I almost forgot how freezing it was that morning. And with a little running around, I totally forgot.

Tiffany’s reaction:
The shots you took are just extraordinary. You caught so many of our sweet little guy, even though he was so pouty during the shoot…amazing. Thank you so much, we really love them!

Once we got Max to forget about the big black camera, he was an adorable smiler!

And Liza LOVED having the camera pointed at her.

And of course, Tiffany and Gary couldn’t be any cuter or more clearly in love.

I’m looking forward to warmer weather and lots more families and children to photograph!

My Big Want

Christina — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:43:19 +0000

As my readers might have noticed, I’m not very good at blogging regularly… sometimes it’s once or twice a week, or I can go a month without saying a word. I know, it’s bad for marketing… and yet, since that’s not why I blog, marketing is not the proper motivation. I blog because I want to share. Photos mostly…

BrandCampBlog.com showed up as a suggestion in my Google Reader this morning, and so I read a few of her posts. One of them challenged her readers to share a personal story on their blogs. A personal story? I had a visceral terror reaction when I read that. I’m really good at hiding my dirty laundry and maintaining a shiny, happy appearance. Clearly, I could tell a personal story that enforces the shiny, happy appearance… but that feels less-than-genuine. And so, since I like to do things all the way when I do them, I’ll tell you one of my biggest secrets.

Throughout my 20′s (and since I turned 30 last week, I can say things like that) I always prided myself on not needing anyone. I wanted a career, enough money to keep up with fun techie toys and eat out and have adventures big and small. I was all about how I don’t need a boyfriend or a relationship, and I’m perfectly happy if I never get married. I don’t want the kids and the picket fence and the golden retriever anyway. I just want to travel, explore, dance, and meet people all over the place. I can make friends anywhere, so why would I need anyone in particular, right?

Yeah? So why did I drop my life in New York City and move to Colorado to be with my boyfriend? I had perfectly logical reasons.

With my life in Colorado, my work as a photographer turned towards weddings. Weddings!? I hate weddings… except that I don’t. Except that I really love weddings. I really love love, and the truth is that with every wedding I photographed the voice in my heart got a little more persistent. The truth is that I’m so good at capturing the looks and moments between bride and groom because I let my heart guide the camera, and I want them so badly for myself. I do want to travel the world, explore and meet people all over the place… and I really want a partner in crime for the trip, a play mate, a dance partner, a hand-holder.

Yesterday morning I did a family portrait session with the Blackden’s, and saw it in Tiffany and Gary. What they have there…that’s my big Want… and the big secret I’ve been keeping from everyone, including myself.

Get in the Car and Go

Christina — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:08:08 +0000

Because sometimes, that’s what you’ve got to do.

Rio Grande Gorge, Taos

I’ve been learning a lot lately about living from inspiration, or following your heart, or whatever you want to call it. It comes down to listening to the soft whispers that gently ask that you do something exciting and scary, rather than listening to the loud and ceaseless voice that has reasons and justifications for playing it safe, keeping things predictable and controllable.

Well, last week I had one such little whisper that said “get out of town… now.” I had all kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t… I’d go alone? Where? And isn’t there work and stuff I should be doing instead? The whisper said “yes, alone… anywhere… and the work will wait.” Ok then… it makes me nervous, but I’m listening.

Rio Grande Gorge, somewhere between Santa Fe and Taos

And so on Friday, I got in my car and drove to Taos, New Mexico. Saturday morning, I took a yoga class and then drove to Santa Fe. Sunday afternoon, I drove back to Fort Collins. In between, I talked to strangers of all kinds, locked my keys in my car… twice, broke into my car… twice, did a lot walking, stopping, and looking around. I certainly had my moments of discomfort, moments of “what the hell am I doing here?” and “why am I the only person in the universe all alone?” For the most part though, I was drunk on my freedom, giddy with the enormity of infinite possibilities and madly in love with the little whisper in my heart.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

I think everyday, everyone should do one little thing out of the ordinary. One little act that is simultaneously exciting and uncomfortable. That way, when big opportunities or big ideas present themselves, you’ll be a pro at tuning out the fearful voice telling you to play it safe. You’ll be able to recognize that little whisper saying “yes, do it.” And you will listen.

The Many Flavors of Boudoir Photography

Christina — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:27:28 +0000

There are many great things about boudoir sessions – the outfits, music, accessories and beauty of course. It’s a little like playing dress up, but with altogether different results! When Lauren and I talked about her boudoir session, she was bubbling with ideas… I got emails about fun clothes she’d found and photos she liked. We decided to do the shoot at a friend’s pre-owned furniture store here in Fort Collins, just for the randomness of what might be there.

Lauren showed up with a suitcase of shoes, 2 bags of clothing and a basket of jewelry. So far, she takes the prize for most fun stuff brought to a shoot. And because we had all the different areas of the store, and all her different outfits, we got to showcase a good sampling of the variety of flavors boudoir photography can be. Not to mention the amazingly multi-faceted-ness that is Lauren.

I tried to think of clever names for the various flavors… but so far, this is #1.

Flavor 2? And fair warning: the photos get steamier and more beautiful as you scroll down!

How sweet and sexy is that expression in, uh, flavor #3?

This is definitely the Michael Jackson Flavor!

The following two I see as being very Dita von Tess:

And this last one is my absolute favorite! It’s a magazine ad for cowboy boots or something. Confident, feminine… gorgeous!

Read more about Lauren at her website: http://www.advocateforselfishness.com/

Spring is for Portraits!

Christina — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:42:55 +0000

After being couped up for the past few months, the warming weather has me looking forward to outdoor portrait sessions! I look forward to the gray of winter exploding into the vibrant colors of nature in bloom. I have visions of kids running around, laughing in a big, green, grassy space. Parents strolling along, giggling together, smiling at the antics of their children. And me, virtually unnoticed, soaking it all up with my heart and my camera.

In the spirit of spring photography, some of the photos from the end of last summer that I didn’t get to blog.

Tell me Jack here isn’t the cutest little boy ever!

Jack and his mom, Kristen.

And even though I was mostly taking pictures of Jack, I snapped a few shots of his parents too. I mean really, who could resist?

And this gorgeous girl’s name is Christina!

And Lexie, another cutie!

So you see, I have a lot to look forward to! Kids and sunshine, long days, warm breezes… I can schedule outdoor photo sessions pretty flexibly, so if you’re interested feel free to call or email.

Gregg Braden, and the Gremlins in my Computer

Christina — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:12:52 +0000

Before a few weeks ago, I’d never heard of Gregg Braden. After being asked if I’d be interested in covering his event here in Fort Collins, I did some minimal digging on him. Everywhere, I found the following photo of him:

And I gathered that he’s a new-age science-y author and speaker guy. In the last couple months, I’ve found myself entrenched in the new thought / spiritual world, and so documenting a Gregg Braden event fits in.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since being around the new thought / spiritual people, is to show up when and where you’re told to without asking questions or having specific expectations. And so, I showed up Friday morning when Leap! and Bella Spark interviewed Gregg on camera, and I showed up Friday evening when he did his talk at the Lincoln Center. The experience of meeting this man and listening to him speaking, and hearing his message renews my hope in the world, in humanity and in myself. I don’t need science to believe in love, but when a person has a scientifically researched statement for the beauty of love, and the amazing changes it can make… well, I’m hooked.

Having met Gregg, heard him laugh, and talk and crack jokes, I don’t think the photo of him used everywhere does him justice. He is so full of life, full of warmth and kindness… I would like people to see him the way I do.

I’ll soon be on a steady regimen of reading his books, and hopefully will have the opportunity to meet him again. Oh, and the gremlins in my computer? Well, once I started editing these photos, gremlins in my computer decided to turn it off randomly, every 10 minutes or so. Coincidence? I don’t know… but I’ve seen an entire web server go down when someone is about to give a powerful message, and I’ve heard it happen to others as well. I don’t get it, but it’s an interesting world…

When Boudoir Meets Maternity, you’ve got a Hot Mama!

Christina — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:55:40 +0000

Boudoir photo sessions are some of my favorite opportunities as a photographer. Something about working with a woman to help her feel beautiful, and then showing her the proof of that beauty makes such a huge difference in her life… I’m just honored and floored by comes out of it. For her and for me.

When I met Tiffany, she loved the idea of boudoir and really wanted some artful photos of her pregnancy. To make things easier for her, I packed up my equipment and met her at her house. We had music, a variety of outfit changes, and her own great furniture to work with… not to mention her cute and sweet partner! Tiffany was a blast to work with – fun and upbeat, willing to try my crazy ideas and coming up with crazy ideas of her own.

After I sent Tiffany her photos, her reply to me simply said. “You are such an amazing photographer…I love these…so much fun”

And here’s where the crazy fun ideas came in…

Tiffany can rock it! And one more of Tiffany and her man, cause really, what’s sexier than true love?