Photography and blog post by John Michael Cooper

I’m almost tempted to write volumes of our little adventure and adversity out in the Nevada desert with the apparently sanctioned indigenous creatures, but i won’t … instead I’ll just show you two people in love enjoying the Nevada sky.  Adventure and adversity tends to bond people together and who could of picked a better couple to bond with than Allen and Amanda.

Amanda, Allen: thank you for the adventure and your lightheartedness. I wish you two the best!

(and side note to the indigenous: just in case your two photographs of my plate did’nt turn out.)

photography and blog post by john michael cooper
I like fun little bridal sessions downtown, I also like being surprised by something a little different. And that’s just what Johanna and Matt had in store when I met them after their chapel wedding – they were ready for a downtown tour with friends and family. The bus they had charted was a double decker and we all rode up top in style, what cool way to do a photo tour down town with all your loved ones on board. Johanna and Matt:  Congratulations!

Photography by John Michael Cooper and Dalisa Cooper, Blog post by Dalisa Cooper

Please allow me to take you back to Stephannie and Joey’s bad ass engagement session – just click this.  Now fast forward to the wedding and you will see how it all comes together.  This is no conventional couple – these two know what they like and were not afraid to break away from what most believe is standard wedding procedure.  This event was custom designed to them and I love that.

The Ceremony and Reception took place at RPM Nightclub at the Tropicana

Who other than Randi at Naakiti Floral could put together such amazing floral and decor for this unique couple? I freaking love this broach bouquet

This wedding was complete with a killer corset inspired cake (made by the Tropicana) a Champagne Muse, Go Go Dancers, confetti,  a candy bar and yes… Stephannie arrived several feet over her guests head in a circus ring for her grand entrance – I couldn’t ask for more!

Talent and entertainment provided by Champagne Creative Group
Wedding Planning and Coordination: Simply Weddings by Brit Bertino
Hair and Make up: Your Beauty Call

A 1960′s styled shoot for Luxury Magazine

Photography by: John Michael Cooper johnmichaelcooper.com altf.com
Hair and Make up: Zee Clemente ZeeStylez.com
Styling by: Jenna Doughton http://jennadoughton.tumblr.com/
Models: Best Agency
Fashion from: The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Photographed at: The Martin, Las Vegas

Photography and blog post by john michael cooper

A small Las Vegas destination wedding for this NYC couple complete with friends, family, a downtown session, and of course some “blue suede shoes”.. What a great wedding and such a cool couple… Congratulations!

photography of www.altf.com

Blog post and photography by john michael cooper

Out to the very eclectic, Nelson NV with a fabulous couple and a brilliant Nevada sky. Jessica and Jeremy took ride with me braving the hour drive there and back, which is just enough time to become good friends since they share a common interest in multiplayer gaming… yes the drive out there was full of nerd talk which is awesome because that’s how these two fabulous people met. A little look at our adventure in Nelson..

Bridal session by www.altf.com
Hair and make up by www.yourbeautycall.com

blog post and photography by john michael cooper
Congratulations to Katie and Peter – an amazing couple from across the pond braving the heat and the bright sun of the morning.   Hard, direct sun is probably the most difficult to shoot in and I’m often asked “what technique do you rely on most under the those conditions?”  Well…. my answer is almost always that “I hope for a really good looking couple” and you can see by looking at Peter and Katie that I continue to get lucky.   This strikingly darling couple are going to have a some nice, bright memories to share on the rainy days in London.

photography by john michael cooper, blog post by Dalisa Cooper
It’s true – maternities are a rarity at the Altf Studio but all it takes is a trusting client with an interest to let us do whatever we want and let go of any pre-conceived idea of what a maternity session is “suppose” to look like and you get this…

Thank you Jacqueline, Baha and new little one for playing along.

maternity session with altf.com
Make up by LaVey at Your Beauty Call

Yes we do family portraits! No the are not traditional.  Are you surprised?….
And oh how we love the Arestad’s! Through out all of their shoots – their wedding, engagement, bridal, portraits, holiday, etc… they have always given us free reign and just trusted us completely. Here they are with their new little guy who is clearly starting off his modeling career on the right foot. And Lori White came in to rock Ashley’s Hair and make up – what a perfect Spring shoot!

Family Photography at www.altf.com

Photography and blog post by john michael cooper
Although I sometimes feel like I’m in an episode of “american pickers” when I’m there, Nelson Nevada is always worth the extra drive time for all the cool props laying about, escpecially if you have such a sweet couple to photograph!  Thanks to Chelsey and David and Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Photography: www.altf.com

Photography and blog post by John Michael Cooper

I love location photography, going out to some out of the way interesting environment always gets me excited to make images.   This, however, is not a location shoot, it happens to be all studio and really allows us to push the idea of what a portrait studio is suppose to do.   Liza and Shane are just the right kind of clients, bringing in some of there ideas and letting me design and taylor the experience to their personal style.  And the coolest thing about having a studio big enough to bring a car into is that we can bring a car into it.    We all know how I love vintage cars and what great props they make..     What a great couple to aim my hollywood lights on and work a film noir style portrait session.

How do I follow up such a killer session? Come back in the following day and add a sultry boudoir session to the mix.

Studio and portait photography: www.altf.com
Fashion Styling: www.jennadoughton.com
Hair and Make up: www.kellybelmonte.com

What better way to celebrate a birthday than to treat yourself to a super sexy session with Altf? Dawn looks amazing, had a birthday to celebrate and wrapped up some intense studies in Culinary Arts. We didn’t hesitate to pop open some champagne with Dawn and capture this amazing time in her life!  And did I mention that the most fabulous and darling, Lori White did her hair and make up?  Truly a win all the way around!

Boudoir Photography by altf.com

Family portraits do not have to be traditional or look like they belong on your grandma’s wall. That is especially the case with the approach we take here at the altF Studio, we would rather have our clients consider their images more as art then just portraits.  We also know that shooting in a non-traditional way can be very challenging; and those that know me best know that i love to be challenged.   Bryan brought that challenge to our studio recently when he wanted a family portrait with an homage to Avedon’s “American West” as the basis for what he visualized going on his walls.  Being a huge admirer of Avedon’s work for decades I occasionally reference “American West” in my work, mostly to try to grasp what makes these images simple yet complex in the same moment.   So if your aching for a family portrait that’s just “out of the box” then we are definitely ready for the challenge.

family portraits altf photography

Blog post and photography by John Michael Cooper

Not every wedding we shoot is a full blown affair. Sometimes they’re elegant and quaint elopements.  Just the couple (and me, of course) to enjoy the moment and day at a very close and personal level.  The cool thing about elopements to Las Vegas is that without the big production more time can be spent having fun and of course, there’s plenty of time for photos in different locations.. Here are Chuck and Jen, a fun non-traditional couple who had a little taste of everything that Vegas has to offer.  The day started with Jen being made up by a very talented hair and make up artist, Lori White after which we shot around the Aria and City Center giving them a taste of  ”New” Vegas and then to a chapel for a “very” Vegas drive-thru ceremony.  After the ceremony we were off to the coolest place that the desert here has to offer, the dry lake bed.  To end the evening we wrapped up with “old” vegas downtown with its neon and old charm.  Jen and Chuck, thanks for the great day!

Photography by John Michael Cooper, Blog post by Dalisa Cooper

When Traci from Scheme Events contacted us to tell us about a test shoot that they were doing for the WPPI Convention that was in Las Vegas, I didn’t hesitate for a second to jump on board and represent Las vegas in true Altf fashion! Please see below for a list of all of the fabulous professionals that helped put this shoot together!

Coordination and Design: Scheme Events
Hair and Makeup: Your Beauty Call
Stationery and Signage: Paper and Home
Cake: Gimme Some Sugar
Venue: The Barrymore
Bride’s Attire: Bella Bridesmaid
Groom’s Attire: Tuxedo Junction
Floral: Divine Events
Linen: La Tavola
Chameleon Chairs: Classic Party Rentals
Flatware: RSVP Party Rentals

Photography by john michael cooper, blog post by dalisa cooper
I must admit… I can’t help but get super excited when I meet a new couple and they just seem really down to earth and over all cool but I become thrilled when I spend some time with them and learn that they really are as down to earth, sweet and super cool as they seemed to be! That’s what I found in Andrea and Ben when we went on a little hike for their engagement session. Not only did we put them to the physical test of JMC’s 10 minute hike that turned out to actually be a 30 minute hike but Andrea rocked the dirt and stones in her gorgeous red heels and never once murmured a word of the dirt and grit that was covering her by the end of this session. These two are as super rad as their black lab, Roxy and I simply cannot wait to get back together with all three of them this Fall for their wedding. Until then… enjoy this little sneak peek!

photography by john michael cooper, blog post by dalisa cooper
JMC has been redefining studio work as we know it. We moved into our studio just over two years ago and he has been playing and changing and experimenting with the way that he does things ever since. You won’t find any paper backdrops with trickling streams and bunnies in this studio nor will you find the oh-so-popular fairy wings. Only cool things happen here. Kim and Sasha are one example of some fun we can have with portraiture.

Make up by the darling Ms. Lori White

photography by john michael cooper, blog post by dalisa

So this post has been in the hopper for quite some time. Julie and Erik put together a killer save the date card for their friends and family so we held of on this post but this is actually one of my favorite sessions and it was well worth the wait! Julie actually took apart her mothers wedding dress (which was also he grandmothers wedding dress) and customized this modern piece for herself. Hair and make up by Your Beauty Call

After the above super fun session, we got together a few weeks later for some more pics at the Neon Museum. (we really just needed another excuse to hang out with the super fun couple)!

A little test shoot for Bridal Spectacular at Ravella at Lake Las Vegas..

Dresses by Couture Bride
Hair and Make Up by Amelia C. and Your Beauty Call

photography & blog post by john michael cooper
Ok, brush up on your “Sicilian Defense” cause we are playing big chess with Catherine and Victor’s studio engagement session…. I love it when couples bring a idea into the studio that i can wrap my head around.. Chess used to be one of my favorite games. When Victor brought the black queen and king pieces Catherine asked why both them had the same color piece, and Victor said “that’s because we’re playing on the same team!” See even chess can be romantic. I can’t wait to see how beautiful this couples wedding images turn out!