Kicking off its spurs and hanging up its hat,

      Montana has emerged as a premier wedding destination . A far cry from the cowboy culture of its youth, today's Montana is a mix of soaring piney peaks, rushing golden waters, five star resorts and continental cuisine. National parks like Yellowstone and Glacier lay within minutes of hearty elk steaks, rich, dark glasses of Pinot Noir and down comforters. A rare combination that lures couples away from the big cities and back to nature.

Wedding photographer Larry Stanley understands the appeal. "Montana has a way of making you see what really matters. The sky is wide open and large; it demands that you take a broader view. When I saw it for the first time, it took my breath away," he says. "When you get married here it's as if you are saying, 'Regardless of all the superficial things that will surely come and go in this world, I will always be there for you.' "

Undoubtedly, the grandeur of this Big Sky country makes an indelible backdrop for photography. Add veils, tears and tuxedos and you have a combination prime for any amateur. Yet Stanley offers an uncanny ability to find the smallest of moments, the intimate details, making it hard to distinguish his wedding photography from fine art.

"Photography is like any true form of art,"

      Stanley says. "You study and learn all the technical dos and don'ts, all the rules. Then after you've mastered all of that, you get dissatisfied with the rules and break out. Only after you've gone through this process can you begin to see more and capture more as a photographer."

It all began at the age of five when Stanley was given a camera and a small black and white enlarger. With his father's help, he began shooting simple photos of schoolmates, teachers and family. And a life-long search for natural beauty was born.His want to capture people, their lifestyles and the spaces in which they live have made Stanley a world traveler. One such sojourn took him to the roof of the world, the sacred city of Lhasa, Tibet. It was a life-changing experience. "There are two places on the earth where I am completely at home. Both are in the mountains with streams, lakes and high mountain valleys: Montana and Tibet."

High in the Himalayan mountains, Lhasa was once the secular and spiritual seat of the government of Tibet. Despite the oppression of Chinese occupation, Stanley found the silent strength and effervescent hope of an ancient culture. His photographs exposed a culture steeped in history, a Tibetan soul that is alive and well and a new approach to his art.

"My study of Tibetan Buddhism

      has altered the way I view life and those around me," Larry notes. From the Buddhist idea that life arises from moment to moment shaped by a collection of influences, Stanley crafted a similar Zen-like approach to his work. "I just put the camera to my eye and watch for what arises. It's amazing what you can see when you are truly looking."

His photography is represented internationally by Index Stock in New York and is the backbone of architectural studies such as "The New American Cottage" and the recently published "Private Towers."

He was chosen by TV Guide to capture the 1883 style frontier wedding of Nate and Kristen Brooks during the filming of the PBS documentary special Frontier House. Other publishing clients like Lucky magazine of Conde Nast Publishing were quick to follow

Yet his uncontrived and fresh approach to photography is most often practiced close to his Livingston, Montana home. "I see my work as one that looks for and captures the beautiful moments that arise in every aspect of life. The celebration of the union of two people in marriage is full of this imagery in a very natural way," Stanley muses. "The dynamic energy of idealism and love, the hopes and dreams of the couple, family and friends. All of this makes the day pregnant with possibilities."

"Beauty... as it occurs naturally"

      is a phrase that has come to define Stanley's view not only as a professional photographer, but also as a human being. The end result is an approach to wedding photography that is personal, artistic and creative.

Throughout the wedding festivities, a precarious balance between staged and spontaneous is achieved. From getting dressed to the first dance, Stanley watches with a mindful eye. Elegant portraits and family groupings are photographed quickly and with a sense of fun. The rest of the time is spent unobtrusively stealing the candid moments away for a lifetime - a mother's teary grin, a child's hug, a tender conversation. The moments very few others, if any, noticed.

As you might expect, Stanley has become something of an expert when it comes to weddings. And, so, for the bride-to-be, he offers a few sage words of advice , "I've been witness to hundreds of beautiful weddings and I can tell you that it is a magic time. Do everything you can to make the details that are most important to you perfect, and then take a step back. Leave room for 'beauty... as it occurs naturally.' "