First things first: Kisa ("Lisa" with a "K") Koenig (prounounced Kay-nig)
My business started walking on its own two feet about 8 years ago, and has been growing every since. I specialize in wedding and portraits and I love that I get to surround myself by wonderful people and happy occasions on a regular basis. I get excited every day that I get to go to work because I absolutely love what I do.
My roots are in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I often go back and visit there...and am certainly available for shoots there...but currently, I live in Driggs, Idaho with my husband, two sons, a dog and a cat. We look at the Tetons every day from our front window (the "backside" to Jackson Hole) and marvel that we live in such a beautiful place. I arrived here after 6 years in the San Francisco Bay Area where I studied photography and started my craft.
Currently, my life is a big pile of chaos, and I love it. I'm a mom to two little boys, who keep me moving all day long. I'm passionate about photography, and it weaves its way through my personal life as much as being my business. I don't find many moments to sit and read a book...something I cherished in my single days...but that's ok. I've been given the most blessed of tasks to take care of my kids and family and I know I'll get my "me" time back some day.
I also love attending weddings. I especially love photo booths.
Jump ‘long the creekside
The rock’s crooked line
Fun girls, you’ll hear it
The days open wide
And horses trot faster ’til sparrows fall down
But you just fall, laughin’, to the snow on the ground
You grew up by playin’ the valley so wild
And that’s why
You’re so beautiful now
And, dancin’ your bike to the lonesome, young mare
You call up her owner; say your heart will be there
You’ll build a collection of scars on your knees
To learn how to count the impossible trees
You grew up by climbin’ the birches so high
And that’s why
You’re so beautiful now
And we live so close that we probably seen
The same bird, the same time
They solumnly scream
One day, I’ll find just that friend who can see
All this weird beauty
Thrown right at me
Growin’ by playin’ the valley so wild
And that’s why
You’re so beautiful now
When you plan your wedding, there’s a lot that can be controlled…and much more that can’t be. When unforeseen things happen, you can either choose to let it deflate the happiness of the day, or choose to focus on marrying your perfect match. But that’s easier said than done, of course. On the day of Beth and Jim’s wedding day, we all knew those dark clouds might choose to arrive at the exact moment of the outdoor ceremony, but we hoped they would hold off. As the bridal party and family huddled in the Trail Creek lodge, the guests contemplated waiting it out in the pouring rain. I’m not sure who made the final decision to gather all of the hundred guests in the upper loft of the barn, but honestly I thought it was a crazy idea. After one of the ranch workers assured me the upper loft held hay bales much heavier than all of the wedding guests, I figured at least it wasn’t going to end up in a tragedy!
But when I made my way up the 6 sketchy wooden stairs, what I saw was incredible. Hay bales formed stadium seating and the guests were full of smiles and anticipation for Beth and Jim’s arrival. I don’t think it could have been planned this well. The look on Beth’s face was priceless when she took in the scene after walking through the rain under a large umbrella and making her own way up the stairs. You can just see the pure joy and happiness in her face. What followed was one of the most dramatic, emotional ceremonies I’ve witnessed. The only light coming in was from two cut out windows and to be honest, I was wondering how I was to pull of shooting this as I stood pretty much right next to them the whole time with only a few steps here and there to move around. It all worked out as it always does with a little help from my 50mm 1.4 lens and a touch of flash here and there, and some of the shots have become some of my all-time favorites.
Next came a festive cocktail hour and reception…all outside because the skies must have decided that was enough of the rain. There were hilarious toasts, lovely dances, delicious family-style dinner, mint juleps and other beverages free flowing…and a dance party into the evening that only Mandatory Air could have provided. Beth’s dad even got to play a few songs on bass with the band and the crowd was loving every minute of it…with everyone on their feet.
Congratulations Beth and Jim on a perfectly un-perfect wedding!
You may remember Christina and Ilan’s gorgeous wedding at the Couloir that I posted last week. As promised, here are some of their engagement portraits. What’s up with the unicycle, you ask? Well, Ilan is a mountain unicycler…not sure if that’s the official term. But his wheels are fat like a mountain bike, and he frequents trails shared by bikes and hikers. During his last visit, he took the tram to the the top of the mountain and unicyled down. I personally would love to see that in action. Anyway, he’s extremely passionate about it and simply had to have a few of their portraits include his one-wheeled friend.
These two were so fun and playful, and we were blessed with one of those jaw-dropping, fabulous Teton sunrises. Every time I hate getting up before the crack of dawn to venture into the park for a sunrise shoot, I am reminded why I do it when I see something this stunning.
I’m pretty excited to show off this next wedding because it is a real Jackson Hole affair. Jenny and Danny did not plan a destination wedding. Far from it. They are 5th and 6th generation Jacksonites and Danny’s family runs the Bar-J Chuckwagon, a family fun supper and western music show. It’s an authentic western experience for people visiting Jackson Hole or for locals. What you can’t do is reserve this place for a wedding…unless you are family. Turns out, this location is a pretty great one for just this occasion, and the photos will show you why. The Bar-J is located off the village road in Wilson and has stunning Teton views to boot (no pun intended.) You may have seen this lovely couple’s morning portrait I posted a few days ago, but here is the wedding. I loved how many family and friends helped out: Jenny’s hair & makeup, flowers, officiant, cupcakes, music…
Well, I reckon I’ll have to let Danny tell this touching story of the day because it’s just too dang sweet.
“With the soft glow from a pumpkin with the words “will you marry me” carved into its skin I waited on one knee for the one and only tiny word to pour from her lips. “Yes of course!” she said as I flew to my feet.
Being that we are 5th and 6th generation Jackson natives, we knew the guest list would be large. As the list crept closer to 600, options of locations started to dwindle. My grandfather and uncles own and operate the Bar-J Chuckwagon and it became apparent that this was our last resort. With the love and understanding that only your family could have they graciously allowed us to use the Bar-J for our ceremony during their busiest time of year. The venue was perfect for the type of wedding we wanted to have. It was reminiscent of a simple Jackson lost through the years when a hand shake was your word.
On a crisp Thursday morning in August, we stood looking out over the Snake River waiting for the sun to chase away the remaining shadows of a night full of anticipation. Our child hood friend and her family had so graciously allowed the use of their home and property for our 6:00 am photo shoot. Jenny’s arms were outstretched holding onto my thin green suspenders as my weight started to pull her towards the water. As Jenny puts it “In the last seconds before my foot slipped I had a flash of me floating down the river in my wedding dress.” Now I thought it would be a great photo even at the risk of putting my future wife into the freezing river. The hues of a beautiful morning slowly creeping through the clouds, the native Snake River Cutthroat Trout rising to its first meal of the day and the majesty of the Grand Teton towering into the sky made our first shoot of the day absolutely amazing!
The crowd began to grow as the minutes drained to seconds as if watching the sand pile up in the bottom of an hour glass. The cultural lines had been lost as shiny stilettos and fancy dresses blended with cowboy boots and Wranglers with the familiar look of years spent tending cattle. As a great rendition of Here Comes the Sun resonated from my cousin’s guitar, I stood perched upon an old wagon that seemed as sturdy as nerves. My stunning bride appeared, overshadowing the beauty of the golden grasses and late summer flowers. In an instant I noticed hesitation as she began down the aisle. Immediately, I think “someone grab her before she takes off!” But only then did I realize I was not the one being left behind but her bouquet. The remainder of the ceremony went off with out a hitch. Jenny’s grandmother had always dreamt of having the Bar-J sing at her funeral, but being that we were not gathered for a funeral, Jenny decided to dedicate a song to her during the ceremony. The beautiful harmonies of How Great Thou Art brought tears to everyone’s eyes as we watched her grandmother slowly melt at the tribute the Bar J boys delivered. From the exchange of heart felt personal vows, the noose that my brother so kindly slipped over my neck as I said “I do”, to the sweet unforgettable kiss the day could not have gone any better.
Photos proceeded immediately after the ceremony and as our families gathered around Jenny’s grandfather’s cobalt blue ’50 Chevy it seemed to bring us back to days of old and was a perfect representation of what our lives and our families represent. The reception was no different. My grandfather began the night with a very special blessing welcoming all those who sat at old log tables surrounding a gravel dance floor. Our brothers continued with their duty as best man and “man of honor” reading their speeches that not only provided roaring laughter but loving words that only brothers could muster. As my brother AJ began shaking reading a note he produced from his back pocket, I thought to myself, he is falling apart in front of all these people, only what came next brought me to fits of laughter. As he read words of praise “you are such a great hunter and fisherman” he then seemed to become confused by what he had wrote, he turned to me and proudly exclaimed “Danny I can’t seem to read your handwriting!” Sean, Jenny’s brother only added to the laughter when a seemingly innocent speech was interrupted with “Fart” instead of the word part and when talking about our transition as a couple he muttered our “transgressions.” The music played and everyone danced beneath wagon wheel chandeliers, cowboy boots and hats hangings from the rafters. Jenny was so beautiful in her white dress illuminated by the tiny white lights strung above us like stars only found in a Wyoming sky. A custom made stand that I designed and my brother helped me build proudly displayed our cupcakes made by one of Jenny’s best friends. While the “waterin’ hole” provided the drinks, the serving line our food, and our family and friends the love and support nothing could have made our special day any better. For as many laughs, there were just as many tears as our new life as “luckiest husband in the world” and wife began.”
VENDORS:
Ceremony & Reception Location: Bar J Chuckwagon
Officiate: Maureen (Mo) Murphy (friend)
Hair & Make-up: Tiffany Cross Morgan & Faith May (friend and mother of the bride)
Florist: Krista Novak (friend)
Entertainment (ceremony): Bar J Wranglers/Clay Humphrey
Entertainment (reception): Tyler at A & B Productions
Caterer: Carino’s (Idaho Falls)
Dessert: Cupcakes by Madeline Melka (friend)
Photo Booth: Fotobox
Dress: David’s Bridal
Boots: Old Gringo from JH Clothiers
This is my little man, Harper. He turned two this morning at 8:27am. It’s really hard to believe he’s not a baby anymore. He’s tall and strong and loves himself a big bowl of yogurt…although just like his big brother, he’d prefer some candy instead. Well, I’ve been remiss in writing much about him…second child and all…but he makes me so happy. He gives big, wonderful hugs and the sweetest little kisses. (He’s finally figured out to close his mouth when he kisses, so that’s a bonus.) He’s a social guy, that rarely cries when he has to go to daycare, but he always yells “Mama!” when I come to pick him up. Lately, he’s starting to talk more and more and some of his favorite words are Mama, Papa, Owey, No, Milk, Eat, Mine, Yep, Hi, Bye, Night Night, Book, Truck, Elmo, and so many more. He walks around singing/humming the tune to Twinkle Twinkle (consequently Baa Baa, Black Sheep and the ABC song.) He sings loudly. He yells a lot, especially in the car and in his crib in the morning when he wants us to come and get him. Lately, he yells “OWEY!” to try to get his big brother to get out of bed and help him out of the crib. He sleeps 10-12 hours a night consistently (Thank the Lord!) Sadly, video games have also gained his affections…specifically Angry Birds (which he usually catapults backwards), the Bee game and pretty much anything else Owen is playing. He loves Elmo…it was bound to happen. His wooden train set usually keeps him entertained for a while and he puts lots of cars together. He loves all stuffed animals and says, “Awww” when he hugs them. He plays well with others. He finds himself in timeout a lot, mostly from throwing fits…wonderful, dramatic tantrums where he actually throws himself on the ground. It’s really fun when it happens in the grocery store. He loves to read books and have a bottle of warm milk before bed. I’m sure we should stop those bottles, but this is my last baby and I’m not ready yet. He’s pretty uninterested in the potty, although he’s used it a few times. He’s currently obsessed with his new soft, penguin jammies he got from his Sittee (grandma.) His favorite thing to do is take one arm out of his shirt and put it through the neckhole, so he’s got this 80s off -the-shoulder thing going. It’s quite hilarious. This morning we taught him to say “Two!” when we ask him how old he is. This third year of Harper’s life should be an entertaining one. I thank God every day that he is ours, and I can’t wait to learn more and more about this wild, loving little guy. Happy Birthday, Harper!
There’s certain times when I find myself somewhere and think “How lucky am I?” Views of the Tetons and the Snake River can be found all over the valley, but there’s this one certain sweet spot, where you can see the river and the range just so…and it’s on private property. I never would have found this vantage point had I not agreed to meet Jenny and Danny at the crack of dawn on the morning of their wedding. Our cars met in the darkness that preceded this particular morning and we weren’t even entirely sure how clear the sky was. We ventured to Jenny’s childhood friend’s house and she got ready with her mom as the sky just started to lighten. After the hair and makeup and dress were complete, we headed out to the backyard, and over a slight hill. The view opened up to this stunning sight and the perfect morning sky started to brighten up as the sun made it’s way over the Sleeping Indian. There we were, just in time to take pictures and watch the morning unfold, with ducks honking by, and fish starting to take their first nibbles of the day. It really was magical and to make it even more special, there was Jenny and Danny, looking particularly gorgeous…together, in love on their wedding day. Some family and friends watched as we played near the river and took some pretty gorgeous photos.
After the shoot, we parted ways until the afternoon when we met up at the Bar J Ranch for the wedding. That post will follow, but for now, here are the lovely morning photos.
[...] village road in Wilson and has stunning Teton views to boot (no pun intended.) You may have seen this lovely couple’s morning portrait I posted a few days ago, but here is the wedding. I loved how many family and friends helped out: [...]
In short, this was one stunning, elegant event. I first met Christina and Ilan in person a few days before their wedding. We met for a sunrise engagement shoot in Grand Teton National Park. We could not have asked for a more beautiful morning. The Tetons were crisp and perfectly lit with a gorgeous blue sky. Their engagement shots are worthy of their own blog post, so that will be coming later. I was surprised to learn that Ilan had brought along his unicycle…with big, fat tires like a mountain bike. He’s one of the few people currently bringing mountain unicycling to popularity. I mean, he rides the tram to the top and unicycles down…pretty awesome. Anyway, those will be coming.
For now, I must show you one of the prettiest, most fun weddings. The day began with hair and makeup being done at the Four Seasons salon, and then back over to the Teton Mountain Lodge for getting dressed. Christina wore an Enzoani wedding dress that fit her style perfectly. We headed off through Teton Village to load the gondola to the Couloir Restaurant. Even if you never attend a wedding there, if you get the chance, go there. The views can’t be beat and the food is delish. They had a classic Jewish wedding, and I’m convinced everyone should include a chuppah during a sunny ceremony. Christina and Ilan were aglow under the soft, diffused light.
The night ended with one of the best dance parties I’ve ever seen. It helped that Rocky from Four 4 Productions was spinning some mad music, but the highlight must have been when Hava Nagila began, and the couple, as well as all of their parents, got lifted onto chairs high in the air. What followed was a wild night full of dancing, drinking, and tons of fun. And you can’t end a Couloir wedding without a sparkler exit to the first departing gondola.
Welcome to the blog of Kisa Koenig Photography. Here you'll see lots of beautiful weddings and lovely portraits, but you'll also find many photos of my life, family and adventures. Enjoy!
Schedule 5-10 minutes right after the ceremony for you to have alone time with your new spouse. The day will have been a whirlwind, and it will be nice to take that moment to check in with each other in an intimate way before you are off to pictures, dancing, and eating.
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