Phomo Media - Aspen Photography & Videography
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ACRA Winterskol Luncheon MR-9028.jpg

Latest Work

Ariane contacted me because it was the extended family's first time in Aspen. She wanted grand vistas and mountaintops. But with a baby on the way, the doctor suggested we not go up the mountain. So we stayed at the base and took advantage of the town! Ariane said...

"I warmly recommend the services of Brian Zager, he is professional, flexible and it's easy to communicate with him. My family and I were on vacation in Snowmass-Aspen in March 2024 for a ski trip and we met with Brian for a family photoshoot in the city of Aspen. It was an amazing family experience and the photos are a very nice souvenir of our time together. Thank you again Brian!"

 

Quin knew he wanted to propose on Snowmass and he knew he wanted a view. There are countless spots to get a beautiful vista on the mountain, but when Quin heard the name for the run “Long Shot,” he felt it was a fitting spot to put a ring on it. There is a short hike up to the perfect spot, but I was there waiting “for the clouds to clear” when I offered to snap a photo for the two of them.

From Quin: “Brian's services provided with Phomo Media were exceptional. I called Brian and entrusted him with capturing a special moment in life in the form of a proposal. Brian had more local knowledge than I did with the mountains and runs of Snowmass and this turned out to be very valuable. Brian acted as a passing photographer and offered to take photos of my fiance and family, all while having pre-rehearsed a signal for me to get down on one knee.

All was coordinated over a few texts and phone calls and above all, his professionalism stood out. My fiancé, myself, and her family were ecstatic, and we all felt as if Brian went above and beyond. Recommending Brian and Phomo Media feels like an easy and natural thing to do. Thanks, Brian, and we're hoping you can capture the big day for us!”

 

Kendall was so excited about proposing that he sent me pictures of the ring when we connected. He had ideas of popping the question at Maroon Bells, which is a challenge in the winter. Instead, we planned for the main event to go down atop Ajax with a beautiful vista in the background. But when we got our first powder day in weeks, the three of us were forced to make the most of the snowy day… and the result was epic!

One thing potential clients wonder is how I am able to preserve the element of surprise. Reach out to learn how it is done!

Kali wrote the following review. “My now fiance contacted Brian to be our photographer for our engagement in Aspen. We came all the way from Denver, not knowing much about the area and Brian made sure that we had the absolute best time. He is so easy to work with, very kind, great at communicating and accommodating. He really made our snowy engagement as special as possible. I would recommend Brian to anyone looking for a photographer in the Aspen area. :)”

 

Alex knew he was ready to propose. He had never been to Aspen, but he knew he wanted the mountains to be prominently featured in the background. And he believed he wanted to drop on to a knee right in the middle of a downtown street. But the timing didn’t quite work out with everyone getting off the mountain during the middle of rush hour. So I suggested a spot where we could still get the mountains and use a pedestrian walkway downtown.

After the shoot, Alex said, “I used Brian to capture my proposal and he did a fantastic job! It was my first time in Aspen and he made great setting suggestions. The whole process was very fun. My fiancée and I are extremely happy with our photos and recommend Brian very highly!”

 

You learn a lot when you move to Colorado. One thing that I learned is that in the Centennial State, Motet is royalty. The group rocked a sold out TACAW (The Arts Campus at Willits). Year round, TACAW presents exceptional performing arts, cultural events, and thought-provoking programming that sustain a connected, engaged, and inspired community. But on this night, everyone just danced and sang their hearts out.

For more photos from this concert, click here.

 

The final event I shot for ACRA’s Wintersköl 2024 was the broomball tournament at the Aspen Ice Garden. Replay Sports kicked everyone’s butts (many of which were sore after, but more due to the ice), which was to be expected when they were the only team that showed up in custom jerseys. Even so, as you can see from the photos, everyone enjoyed themselves.

For more photos from this weekend’s events, click here.

 

AVSC (Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) is the Roaring Fork Valley’s oldest and largest youth non-profit. Kids are inspired and coached to excel while promoting a community of passion, grit, and mountain culture. And for this year’s Wintersköl, they got in on the action with the ACRA Rail Jam, where these young snowboarders and skiers put on a show under the lights at the base of Shadow Mountain lift!

For more photos from this weekend’s events, click here.

 

After Wintersköl kicked off with Aspen’s annual “toast to winter,” ACRA saluted this year’s royalty. Wendy Mitchell and Kaleb Cook were honored for their commitment and dedication to our community. That honor included custom cowboy hats fitted and adorned at the hotspot Kemo Sabe in downtown Aspen.

For more photos from this weekend’s events, click here.

 

Wintersköl, Aspen’s annual “toast to winter,” dates back to a quiet January in 1951 when locals chose to commemorate Aspen's distinctive mountain way of life with a diverse weekend of events. The four-day festival showcases on-mountain activities, snow sculptures, a soup contest, a craft beer festival, a torchlight descent and fireworks on Aspen Mountain plus much more. Each year, Wintersköl choses a unique slogan reflecting the theme and spirit of the celebration. “Uniting Ski Bums and Bunnies” represents a coming together of diverse members of the community to celebrate our winter lifestyle. This year, the festivities began at the St. Regis in Aspen and celebrated ACRA's business community members including the business and non-profit of the year, the THRIVE award, and the Molly Campbell Service Award.

For more photos from this weekend’s events, click here.

 

Snowmass has been Maggie’s spot for decades. It’s a special place to bring her three daughters and now their husbands. With her expanding family all together, she wanted to make sure and capture the moment. We got together early and preserved the ski day before everyone returned home. We made sure to get the family altogether as well as the nuclear families. And a few extra with Maggie’s cute grandson who only smiles when someone sneezes.

 

Abtin reached out because he likes to take pictures whenever the family travels from LA. But when he brought his wife and two young kids to Aspen, it was particularly cold. Luckily, the family was staying right at the base of Ajax. We met at the hotel, used the lobby, and popped out for family photos before the kids had enough. And when they did, the parents made the most the session.