Form submitted successfully, thank you. If you contacted us looking for a specific wedding, please contact the bride and groom directly. We are unable to provide gallery information to guests. Thanks!

Error submitting form, please try again.

Welcome to the Real Photography blog! We are wedding and portrait photographers based in Colorado Springs. Here in our blog, Traci shares the latest portrait sessions and wedding photographs, as well as tips for improving your own photography and Photoshop skills.  To see our pricing and portfolios, please visit our wedding photography site, our family portrait site, or our senior portrait site.

the wait is over!

Ellie is here!  She was born on January 28th at 10:02am, just 2 days past her due date and 10 hours after her aunt arrived hoping to catch her birth!  She was very accommodating–I went into early labor in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, but Ellie held off kicking things into gear until Thursday morning–long enough for us to get a decent night’s sleep Thursday and long enough for my sister-in-law to hop on a plane!  Active labor began at 6:30 am Thursday and by the time we got to the hospital I was already at 8cm.

I used the hypnobabies hypnosis for childbirth self study program for the birth and would highly recommend it to anyone planning a non-medicated birth.  With Will, I used the “whine and beg for death” method of natural childbirth, and it certainly had the same end result (a baby), but it was a lot less pleasant for all involved.  :P  The hypnobabies program kept me positive and patient during those traditionally impatient last few weeks of pregnancy, and focused and calm in labor until it was time to push (at which point I admittedly dropped the hypnobabies and switched to the curse/panic/beg for a c-section method of natural childbirth).  If any preggos have questions about the hypnobabies program, just let me know–I would be happy to share more with you!

One of the very cool parts of Ellie’s birth is that we had a photographer to document it.  Charlotte Geary, a Colorado Springs photographer I have admired for a long time, photographed the birth and she is now an honorary member of our family.  Not only did she capture the most beautiful photos, but she was the perfect attendant at such a time–she was very discrete, but I could still feel her pulling for me.  And when Ellie poked her head into the world, I think Charlotte cried just as much as I did!  We are so grateful to her for creating my new most favorite photos and for being “on standby” for weeks as we waited for Ellie!

Here are a few of her amazing images:

(relaxing through a contraction as Nic checked us into L&D)

blog14

Meeting Eloise Marie:

blog31

blog41

blog51

blog71

blog81

blog91

The moment I’d been looking forward to for 9 months finally arrived: Will got to meet his baby sister!  It was love at first sight–he completely ADORES her.

blog101

blog10a1

blog111

blog121

blog131

And then the amazing Charlotte finally got to hold Ellie!

blogfinal2

***

We are home and doing very well.  Will continues to adore Ellie–I think the biggest obstacle in her life right now is just getting sleep around all of the kissing and petting.  At any given moment, the scene at the Turchin household looks something like this:

bloghomesmall

I’m behind on email (as you can imagine) but we will be slowly getting back to normal in the next few weeks.

Kelly Henry - Thanks for the post Traci! They are all such cute pictures...can't decide which one to make my desktop :)

Rachel - so many amazing pics! You are so lucky to have this special time in your life so perfectly documented! :)

Rachel Dallaire - Congratulations Turchin family-enjoy that baby!!!! Welcome to the world baby Ellie! :-)

shannon m - SO amazing!! She's gorgeous and I love that you have such awesome shots of the sweetest time with an amazing new baby.

Jen - Will is the cutest big brother ever. congrats!!

jessie - Congrats to the whole Turchin family! Ellie is beautiful and you are amazing! Way to go. ♥

Steph H - LOVE seeing this pictures Traci. So cool to see Will as a big brother. The shot of him with the big brother button just melts my heart!

Susan - I was so anxious to hear this news...i have been checking in daily....congratulations, she is adorable....and so very tiny.

Charlotte Geary - I'm still completely honored that I was able to witness Ellie's first moments. I'm so happy for the four of you, and I'm thrilled that you love the photos!

Kim - Congratulations! She is beautiful and I adore her name!

LEORA - Absolutely gorgeous pictures!! Congrats on the new addition to the family!!!

Bridget =) - she is gorgeous - and looks just like momma! congrats!!!!

Lauren - Congrats!!!!

Lauren - She's a doll, what a beautiful family! Congrats!!!

Amanda - What great photos and such a little sweetie! I especially LOVE the ones with Will... and pointing to his Big Brother button is priceless! Congrats!

Larissa - Beautiful!

Melissa Plum - Congrats!! These pictures are beautiful and I love Will's "Big Brother" pin.

Susanne - Congratulations Traci!!!! What a sweet big brother Will is!!! I'm honestly glad to read hypnobabies didn't work through the pushing : ) hee hee...I keep hearing about these wonderful pain free births and was starting to think I was a huge gigantic sissy!!!

Julie - You have such a beautiful family, and the pictures of Will holding his baby sister are just priceless. Congratulations!

Alison - YAY! Love every photo:) Welcome to baby Ellie!

Susie - Yea! Congratulations Turchin Family, so happy to hear your news :) Many blessings to you guys!!

best of 2009 | centerpieces | colorado springs wedding photographers

We saw some incredible wedding receptions this year, so this episode of the best of 2009 series is dedicated to the tables that made us go “ooooooooh!”  Here’s to more gorgeous wedding reception table decor in 2010!!!

bestweddingcenterpieces1

bestweddingcenterpieces2

bestweddingcenterpieces3

bestweddingcenterpieces4

bestweddingcenterpieces5

bestweddingcenterpieces6

bestweddingcenterpieces7

best of 2009 | ceremony shots | colorado springs wedding photographers

On an unrelated note, happy 40 weeks to me!  Baby Ellie’s due date is today!

If you’re starting to wonder how many more best of 2009 posts I’ve got prepped, the answer is:  a lot.  :)  Here come a few favorite wedding ceremony shots!

best2009weddingceremony1

best2009weddingceremony2

best2009weddingceremony3

best2009weddingceremony4

best2009weddingceremony51

best2009weddingceremony6

best2009weddingceremony7

Melissa Plum - Love them!! Happy due date to you...hopefully she will be here soon :)

Susanne - LOVE Little girl feet : D ******** "There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it." ~ Sheryl Feldman Happy due date : D

Cindy - Happy due date! Too bad she didn't come today, Jan 26 is a good birthday--at least its served me well for 27 years! Loving your best of posts, glad to hear there are more!

best of 2009 | wedding party portraits | colorado springs wedding photographer

More in the best of 2009 blog post series!  Today is all about the wedding party!

favoriteweddingpartyportrait

portraits142

bestof2009

bestweddingpartyportraits2009

bestof2009weddingportraits

weddingphotographybestof2009

susanne - I love the second from the botton. The bride's dress is amazing!!

Laura G - It's so fun to look at other people's wedding pictures :) I love the colors and the flowers in the first picture--so pretty!

Christine - Love all the shots!! And so much fun that the snow shot made it in too...I love my brave bridesmaids :) So glad we got some outdoor/snow shots that weekend!

2010 brides choice award | colorado springs wedding photographers

awardwinningcoloradophotographer

We are so excited to have received the Brides Choice Award by Wedding Wire again!  A big thanks to all of the amazing couples that made it possible!

heather - congrats traci and nick!!!!

Laura G - That's awesome Traci!! Congrats! :)

Susanne - Well deserved. This is like the Golden Globe to your upcoming Oscar; Photographer of the Year!! : ) You're awesome!

kristy - YAY! Absolutely deserved!!!!Congrats