Envision Image Photography

Announcements by Envision Image Photography

2012-01-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

Head on over to my announcement design blog site and check out some of the newest designs I just put up, including this one:

And, good news! You don't have to be an Envision Image Photography client to order announcements or cards! (But there's a sweet discount for those who are.) ;)

1 Week Sale

2012-01-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

The winter wedding season is almost over, and with it goes the winter wedding pricing! But never fear, for the next week ONLY (January 20th through midnight January 27th) anyone who contacts me will be eligible for the winter wedding pricing for ANY wedding date throughout the year. This is a several hundred dollar value. Must be booked (deposit received) by the end of the month. Email me for more details and both pricing catalogs so you can see the difference!

*for new wedding inquiries only. Photographer reserves the right to determine eligibility.

Cody and Whitney's Engagement session

2012-01-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

I'm really making a go of this blogging on a regular basis thing, guys! And since I'm shooting this beautiful girl's bridals this week, I thought...good time to post these cowboy-licious engagements. :) Oh, my...these two are probably what 99% of those classic country love songs are talking about.

Enoch and Tacy's Engagements and Formals

2012-01-11T22:15:00.001-07:00

I have recently been reminded that I have a blog.
Ok ok so I didn't forget...but somehow in the last year my blogging has slacked and slacked and then in the last 2 months somehow fell by the wayside all together (which is the same fate my personal blog succumbed to more than a year and a half ago...couldn't let my photo blog suffer the same demise!) So here I am, committing to blog better this year. Which means full posts on a regular basis...which shouldn't be hard considering I never fully blogged 90% of the sessions and weddings I did last year! The sneak peeks which have somehow usurped my regular blog posts will still happen for those who would like them, but they will be finding a new home on my facebook page. :)

So, to get started with the blog repentance, I am doing two posts in one: Enoch and Tacy's engagements AND their formals! They are getting married TOMORROW so it seemed like a great place to start. I can't wait for your wedding tomorrow you two! Its going to be so beautiful, I already know it. And maaaaaaybe a few silly parts too. Just a hunch I have.

First up: Engagements

and now, the Formals:

Sandberg Family

2011-11-29T23:41:00.002-07:00

Last year was the first time I ever photographed this adorable family, and it only happened after like 2 reschedules due to weather and when we finally thought we'd caught a break it started rain/snowing on us (snow is one thing--wet nasty soaking rain/snow is another!) and we had to sneak into a local little store to finish up. But they must have earned a break after last year, because this year was GORGEOUS. Today was the perfect day. Great weather, great location, great light and some super photogenic kids...amazing shoot.

Tacy and Enoch's engagements!

2011-11-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

The best engagement sessions are when the bride and groom totally forget I'm even there and get lost in their own little world. Or, they are just reeeeeally good at pretending I'm not there.

These guys were good at both!

Thanks you two! You rock. :)

Ryan and Erin engagement sneak peek

2011-11-12T08:52:00.002-07:00

A girl needs a guy who can make her laugh. That's all there is to it.

Laughter was definitely a key factor in this super cute engagement session from last night!

See? Here they are enjoying a rousing game of 52 card pickup. :)

This time, the joker finished first. :)

Jeff and Taryn

2011-10-29T00:46:00.002-06:00

Today I got to shoot my second wedding at this beautiful Park City home (remember Scott and Debbie from last year? loved them). And it was absolutely lovely. Simple and yet so sweet. This is probably the last outdoor wedding I will shoot this year, but it was perfection...the quintessential fall evening in the mountains.

It should be illegal to have so many gorgeous girls in one family!

Congratulations you two. And thank you! It was a beautiful evening.

2011 Holiday Sessions

2011-10-28T02:10:00.003-06:00

I have decided, in an attempt to maintain some time for myself and my family during the holiday season this year, that I need to limit the holiday sessions I do. Last year was a liiiiiiittle bit on the crazy side!

That said, there really are only a handful of sessions available--all on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve your day/time, a $50 deposit is due at the time of booking, the remainder due at least 1 day prior to your session.

SOOOOOOO....I also have another, very important announcement to make. As of January 1st I will be changing my business structure a little bit, and with that comes some policy and pricing changes, especially for family and portrait sessions. I am shifting some of my focus to my design products (check out www.envisionimageannouncements.blogspot.com to see what I have been working on) so that I can spend a little bit less time out shooting and hunched in front of a computer editing, and a little bit more enjoying life with my boys.

So what does this mean for you? Weddings will remain my primary focus, and while the pricing will stay pretty close to the same with only minor adjustments, there will be some policy changes. Family and Portrait sessions will have some pricing changes as well as policy changes, and I will be restricting how many of those I book a month as well.

Booking prior to these changes will ensure your pricing and guarantee the policies I use for your photo sessions. I strongly encourage anyone considering me for their 2012 wedding to contact me asap, as I am already booking into fall of next year.

I love you all! Thanks a million times over for your business and encouragement...I cherish every word you send my way!

Product Spotlight: Photo Guestbooks

2011-10-21T21:48:00.001-06:00

One of my most popular products is the photo sign in book. Basically we take your enagements (or in some cases, bridals as well) and put them into a fully designed 20 page book for your guests to write messages to you on your wedding day. I love creating them, and they can become such a valued keepsake from your wedding day!

The best part is, you get to dress it up with stories, poems, quotes, lyrics...anything that is special to you.

And, because it was requested, I will share Jeff and Maren's full story-book style guestbook:

The cover:

Now, here is the fun part....

For the next 3 days only, I will be throwing in a photo guestbook* with any wedding package as a booking bonus. This is a $299 value. To receive this bonus, you must contact me for a consultation within the next 3 days (before the end of the day Monday the 23rd) and your wedding must be booked before the end of the month of October.

*You can sub the guestbook for a 10% discount if you would prefer that instead. Offer does not apply to previously booked weddings.

Jeff and Maren's groomal sessions

2011-10-19T23:20:00.005-06:00

There is something inherently autumnal about the story of Cinderella.

The evenings spent at the fireside.

The fat, orange pumpkin that becomes a glittering coach.

A masked ball.

Rushing out into the cold night.

Magic.

I know it's out of order--I still have many, many beautiful sessions that I am dying to post--but I couldn't think of a better time to share these two session than a cold autumn night. It just has the right spirit.

Wouldn't you agree?

It took two separate sessions: one for the grand, elegant ballroom scenes,

where Cinderella meets and falls in love with her Prince,

and another more organic session, featuring a pumpkin patch

and the pivotal reunion scene.

If the shoe fits, right? :)

Thank you so much Maren and Jeff for bringing this idea to me in the first place and being so adaptable and enthusiastic about helping me make it happen. :)

One last note....Maren's wedding ring, and her bridal jewelry, were all passed down from her grandmother. Jeff's belt and buckle came from his grandfather. Part of their love story includes a long journey and two special books that bonded them...they brought one of these books, called Aspire, with them to the session. It also paid homage to another Cinderella classic--Ever After.

I thought those were all beautiful touches.

So here you go...

Next up: their to-die-for photo guestbook.

Andrea and Wyn...groomals

2011-10-17T17:35:00.001-06:00

Looking back on this session, its easy to forget that I was 8 3/4 months pregnant. In fact, I delivered my little boy 6 days after this shoot, and then did their wedding 3 weeks after that. Yep, it was a liiiiiiittle bit crazy, but so worth it! Andrea and Wyn are an absolute pleasure to work with, sooooo photogenic (I mean, c'mon...people should not be that gorgeous. Just sayin') and so in love. And despite the fact that it was like 100 degrees in July and I was hauling a 9 pounder around in my tummy, this whole session was a walk in the park.

I think what is so special about these images is that they have the feeling of another era. As in, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, or Elizabeth Gaskill. (Seriously, if you haven't seen/read North and South, do it. Now.) It was a feeling that carried on into their wedding day (soon to be posted) and I'm certain, through the rest of their lives. That's my kind of love. :)

And yeah, they totally rocked the parasol-top hat combo.

Lauren and Mark Groomal sneak peek

2011-10-14T02:33:00.000-06:00

I've been out shooting every night for the last several nights.

This was my last shoot before a much deserved weekend with my family (Jamison turns 3!).

What a great note to end the week on. Beautiful.

Kimberlee's Bridal sneak peek

2011-10-13T00:23:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love this girl and her whole family. Isn't she just beautiful? We had such a great time at the island tonight (and happily, no spider incidents!). We shot a little bit later in the day to get some of the beautiful sunset colors...so glad we did. Plus we got to borrow her Dad's sweet old fashioned Studebaker. Yep, it was a pretty awesome evening!

Tayler and Stefanie at the Draper Temple

2011-10-08T23:56:00.001-06:00

Tayler and Stefanie were one of my favorite couples from last year, and they just got sealed in the Draper Temple. I was so excited to meet them there tonight for a formal session, it was so romantic with little tea candles and beautiful light...thank you guys, and congratulations. :)

So This is Love.... Maren and Jeff sneak peek

2011-09-18T00:17:00.001-06:00

What an incredible evening!

Maren's vision for her bridal/groomal session came down to one important theme: Cinderella. I am a sucker for fairy tales anyway, but when she sent me a painting from my favorite living illustrator, K.Y. Craft, (my favorite non-living illustrator being Maxfield Parrish) I knew that we pretty much going to be BFFs. Here is that inspiration image:

I'd say we did pretty well.

Loved every second of it.

A sweet little redhead named Ruby

2011-09-13T22:45:00.000-06:00

An old friend of ours called last week to ask me to take pictures of his new little girl. Of course, I had to say yes. So I got to meet her today, and I have to say, she is absolutely gorgeous. And she hardly made a peep. Hmmm....this might not be so good for me. Because now I really want a little girl. :)

I mean really...can you get any cuter than this?!

the Sanders Family Sneak Peek

2011-09-12T22:59:00.001-06:00

The family picture season is starting to kick into gear! Check out this super adorable family. Jackie and I were buds back in the day at my first job at a grocery store. Not sure we got much done while working together, but we sure had fun goofing off. Fast forward a few years, and I got to shoot her sweet sister's wedding back in 09 (Can't believe it has been that long!!!). So I was stoked when she asked me to do some family pictures for her this year. We're all grown up now (uh...sorta) but I'm sure if we worked together now, the bathrooms still wouldn't get cleaned. Because, lets face it, some things never change. :)

Kimberly and Zach's wedding day sneak peek

2011-09-11T14:41:00.000-06:00

Kimberly and Zach got married yesterday, and it was beautiful. A storm rolled through right before their outdoor ceremony was to take place, but they lucked out and it passed with moments to spare, leaving behind a nice temperature and perfect light. It was such a great night!

All right, so this one I was just messing around with exposure times, but for being an experiment I think it turned out pretty cool. :)

Kimberly and Zach's {engagements and bridals}

2011-09-10T14:57:00.003-06:00

Kimberly and Zach are getting married today! So I thought...why not post their adorable engagement and bridal sessions in honor of their big day! And who knows...maybe we'll add a little sneak peek from the wedding when I get home tonight. What do you say? :)

PS....aren't they soooooooooooo adorable?

And their bridals....such a pretty day!...

Kinda in love with this one:

Up, Up, and Away...the Ellsworth Family's Sneak Peek

2011-09-04T01:30:00.000-06:00

It was a very beautiful day today...fresh air, sun, and hot air balloons. :) This family is so cute! I grew up in the same neighborhood as Janica, so it is extra fun to see her all grown up with two gorgeous little boys of her own.

In fact, it would have been the perfect day, were it not for this:

I had been taking a few shots of the boys sitting in the grass, and when I stood up and turned around Eric (the dad) said calmly "Hold very still," and he proceeded to swipe something off my back with a blanket. It took a couple seconds and I asked, "Do I want to know what it is?" to which he responded, "NO."

It was a ginorous disgusting spider. (see above). A HUGE spider. On my back. I still have the heebeejeebees. He squished it before I got to see it (which probably helped us avoid my having a full-on freak out) but yeah, I have been feeling creepy-crawly all day long.

So thanks for a great shoot guys, and thanks for saving me from what is obviously a carnivorous, man-eating spider. :)

Where Love Can Lead You.

2011-08-26T17:22:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking a lot about when and how to post about the newest addition to my little family. You wouldn't think it would be very hard--take pictures, post pictures, say a few things about how cute he is, DONE! But I've had such a lot on my mind since his birth, every time I've sat down at the computer to do just that, it hasn't felt like enough to do justice to how much it all means.

I mean, I'm a wedding photographer by trade. I do almost any type of photography, but weddings are definitely my specialty. I'm drawn to romance. I savor every sweet moment shared between two newlyweds as I chronicle that day for them. But the wedding day--however iconic in a person's lifelong love story--is just one day. Its the life that happens after that is the most important.

As I rocked my baby to sleep last night I thought a lot about how hard it had been on me to bring him here. We'd tried for a second baby for quite a while with no luck, and when we did get pregnant, his due date landed right smack in the middle of my wedding season. It pretty much cut out my two most profitable months--last year they accounted for at least a third of my entire years profit. Last year I did eight weddings in the same time period where this year I did one (and that was only after a long consideration as to whether or not I would be up to it.) Besides the logistical nightmare of trying to figure out how to make that work, my body slowed down to a point I hadn't experienced with my first baby. Every ache and pain was enhanced, the fatigue became consuming. It was hard to imagine what it would be like when the pregnancy was over while I was in the middle of it.

And then I had him. And he was perfect. He was ours.

Another part of our family that we didn't even know we had been missing.

And it strikes me every time I look at him, and at his sweet big brother, that this is what it is all about. These two little boys...they are our legacy. They are our love story made real.

When we married six years ago, I never could have imagined this future. I have always dreamed big, so sometimes I get lost in the day to day comings and goings, the new crises, the stresses and challenges. The little things.

Jamison yesterday. Food coloring is not finger paint.

But it is perfect in its imperfection.

So here he is...

And I think...this is where our love has lead us. And it is beautiful.

Wyn and Andrea's Engagements

2011-08-23T22:52:00.003-06:00

I love when I get to incorporate a little bit of my clients personalities and passions into their photos....Wyn and Andrea are both very into theater and literature and music. A true-blue renaissance couple in my opinion! So we were very lucky to be able to use Wyn's place of employment--an old (and reputedly haunted) theater as our jumping off point for their Deluxe Engagement session (three hours, multiple locations...tons of fun.) After that we played it by ear and found a HUGE tree off the side of the road and a gorgeous horizon to go with it. Ahhh...looking at these engagements just makes me happy. :)

this one is silly but I love it...anyone else love that awful 80s movie "mannequin" when they were little? no? just me? okay then... :)

Back 2 School Sale!

2011-08-22T22:32:00.001-06:00

I have friends and family of all ages (elementary school through college) going back to school again this week! Thought it was a great time to do a fun sale for ya'all... So if you want a new family picture before the Christmas rush, if you want a few shiny new pictures of your little ones for your living room wall...if you're planning a wedding and want a little something something to sweeten the deal...or if you want a session just for yourself for some pretty new facebook profile shots (you know its true!) ...use this little sale as your reason to go for it!! All sessions must be scheduled between now and the end of the month of September. Sessions are always first come first serve, so don't wait!

PS...brides who book their wedding before the first day of September will also get a gorgeous photo guestbook. And not to toot my own horn or anything...but I can put together a killer photo guestbook. :)

Email me right away to schedule your session!!

Wyn and Andrea's Wedding {Extended Preview}

2011-08-19T21:37:00.001-06:00

Wyn and Andrea's wedding this week was my first since having my baby in July. I wasn't planning on doing any weddings in August, but once I met these two I couldn't turn it down, not even if I had wanted to. :) They are an amazing couple and their wedding day was perfect...I loved every detail!

Since Andrea is from Missouri, they did an open house in her hometown today and so I put together a slideshow of some of their wedding images (threw that together fast! Didn't know I had it in me!). Enjoy this extra long sneak peek...oh and check back in the next few days, I will be posting their bridals and engagements. You won't want to miss it!

Amy and Marcus {Engagements+Bridals}

2011-08-11T16:48:00.000-06:00

Amy is my sister in law, and I have to say, probably one of the most beautiful girls I know, inside and out. Marcus is one lucky guy if you ask me! But since Marcus is also equally awesome, it works out perfectly. And the fun thing about taking pictures for people you are close to (and can boss around without regret) is that you get to do things you might not normally get to do...such as drag them to the arches in Moab. :) These two got married last month and in the hustle and bustle of the wedding...and oh, yeah having a baby two weeks ago...I never even posted a sneak peek of their bridal/groomal session or their wedding. So when I was contemplating what to post today, it was easy to decide. Congrats you guys, we love you both, and Marcus we are so happy to have you part of the family!

Inspire Me Monday--Baby Mine {Dumbo}

2011-07-25T23:08:00.001-06:00

As some of you might know, I am going to meeting my second little boy before the end of this week. With my first son, I sang a lullaby--the same lullaby--every night to him from the day he was born (until recently, when he started asking me not to sing, little stinker). I've decided to pick another special lullaby to sing to this little boy, and this is the song I've decided will be "his," so to speak. That is, if I will ever be able to sing it to him without crying. We'll see.

Probably the most heart wrenching moment in any Disney film, to me at least. I always teared up watching it before I became a mom. I understand it a lot more now. Wow. If this doesn't move you, I don't know what will.

love.

Jane Austen would be jealous...

2011-07-22T00:26:00.000-06:00

I think the thing I love most about Wyn and Andrea is that when I say something ridiculous like "hey, could you bring a top hat and parasol with you?" the day before their groomal session, they don't bat an eye at the request AND they know right where to go to find said items. And it was so perfect! The whole session felt like it belonged in a Jane Austen novel, only better. Jane Austen only wishes she had these two for inspiration. :) Lovely. Seriously lovely.

Taylor and Lance, Start-to-Finish {Engagements, Bridals, and Wedding Day}

2011-07-12T16:10:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to do some full-on blog posts for a while now...and by a while I mean like most of the year. :) And facebook informed me this morning that today was the lovely Mrs. Taylor Earnshaw's birthday and I thought--what better day to post everything for her? :) Happy Birthday Taylor, here is a sampling from all three of the phenomenal shoots I had with you and your sweet significant other, Lance. Hope your day is awesome!

THE ENGAGEMENTS

so It may be 100 degrees now...but we were freeeeeezing for these January engagements! But cold weather is perfect if you're looking to get all cozy with someone special. And here's proof:

THE BRIDALS

It was determined early on that Taylor and Lance wanted a little something extra for their bridals...something fun and whimsical and THEM. Yeah, I think the 1800s era carousel fit the bill just fine. :)

She is just so gorgeous. This is real beauty folks, right here:

again...so lovely.

And, last but not least....

THE WEDDING DAY

We were blessed with some fabulous weather for it being March!! Gorgeous sunny day. This was the first time I've ever shot at the Springville Museum of Art, and I am so in love with its architecture and history! What a great place to have as a backdrop to your first day as man and wife. Congrats again you two.

Paige and Caleb's groomal sneak peek

2011-07-06T23:51:00.001-06:00

I don't actually get to shoot Paige and Caleb's wedding day (insert frowny face here!) as I am supposed to be having a baby at that time, but I was really excited when I still got to do this groomal session for them tonight! I hadn't met Paige before today, but it turns out she was an EFY counselor to one of my little sisters not too long ago, and she also knows one of my friends and a former bride of mine (the awesome Kierstyn). She and Caleb were so amazing to work with, and everything turned out so well...despite not having picked a location until an hour before the shoot OR being approached by about a dozen of the strangest people I've ever met in my life during the shoot. :) Thanks again guys! You are great together!

The Cowdin Kids...sneak peek

2011-06-24T00:45:00.001-06:00

I did a big family session for the Cowdin Family last year, and was lucky enough to have them contact me again to do a session with the grandbabies only...with the addition of this precious little girl! And as you can see, they come from a stellar gene pool...don't know if you can get much cuter than these little guys! (and girl). She's gonna have some fun keeping up with these two. :)

Whitney and Lane's wedding day

2011-06-24T00:01:00.000-06:00

Lane and Whitney got married today! It was hotter than hot out, but it hardly bothered anyone, it was such a sweet ceremony; and afterward the ambiance was just slow and romantic. Not to mention their venue (the gorgeous Anderson Residence) was so incredible...a fairytale hideaway. Here's a quick sneak peek for ya'all to enjoy! congrats again you two!

Kimberly and Zach's groomals...sneak peek

2011-06-17T22:59:00.000-06:00

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood! Best. Weather. Ever. Like, this entire year (for shooting at least). And what goes better with a beautiful day than a beautiful couple? Kimberly and Zach (and Kimberly's mom, behind-the-scenes) were awesome tonight. But don't take my word for it...see for yourself!

mmmm....love that golden sun!

Isn't she just stunning?!

Wyn and Andrea: Deluxe Engagements=Deluxe Sneak Peek!

2011-06-12T01:04:00.000-06:00

So Wyn and Andrea decided to go BIG. And deluxe engagements means more time, more locations, more clothing changes and more fun! (well, in my opinion. I did make them go tromping through 10 feet tall grass full of who-knows-what-kinds-of-critters. That counts as fun, right?) This session can be divided into three parts: the elegant theater, the massive tree, and the country road. And I've included two pics from each place, though there are SO many more to come...

I love when we get to incorporate things that are unique to the couple into their engagements. Both Wyn and Andrea love theater, so when Wyn had the connections to get us in to this one, it was perfect, and so "them."
Sadly, Everett the ghost did not pay us a visit. As far as I know. :)

I may or may not be a leeeetle bit in love with this tree! I want to attach a swing to it. A tire swing, to be exact. It was begging for a tire swing.

Our last location was just off one of the back roads in the vicinity. I think these two need to be in print ads. for cologne, or jeans or something. They are just too gorgeous. F'real.

Thanks again guys for an awesome shoot!

Kimberly and Zach's engagement sneak peek

2011-06-10T23:00:00.001-06:00

What a fun session tonight! I LOVE going to someplace I've been before and getting something entirely new! The downside was, this particular street on a Friday evening was teeming with all sorts of people, many of them scary. The upside? We got to see a lady walk her goose. Yep. She was out walking her goose. (See last pictures below). All in all, a fun night!

Can you spot the goose?

Here's a closer look:

yeah...

A Family of Musicians...sneak peek

2011-05-30T22:42:00.001-06:00

The Pehrson family is an abundantly talented group of girls (and dad!). I love that they wanted to have most of their family session today include the other parts of their family--their instruments! How beautiful is that? And after about a week of scheduling and re-scheduling we were finally able to get out and shoot, and we lucked out and managed to schedule in the only tiny pocket of pretty weather we've had in days! Check out them out:

Brittany and Bryan celebrate with some sparkle

2011-05-25T23:46:00.002-06:00

My good friends Brittany and Bryan celebrated their five year wedding anniversary today! I was so excited that they asked me to do a special anniversary session for them. Brittany is probably the most unabashed girly girl I've ever known in my life, so it was no surprise that what she wanted for her anniversary was a little bit of bling...in the form of sparkly water fountain pics, that is! Happy to oblige.

Thanks for a super fun night, you two! Happy 5 years! :)

Inspire Me Monday--SYTYCD and Ryan Woodward

2011-05-23T22:17:00.002-06:00

I haven't done an "Inspire Me Monday" post in months and months, and even though every week I start with the intention of doing one, the days and weeks just always seem to get away from me--and I had pretty much come to the conclusion that it had been long enough, maybe I should just let it go. But then I was told by my big sister that she missed them...so in turn, I promised I would try to get em going again. :)

Probably the most inspiring thing I have viewed of late is this video from an amazingly talented artist and animator (and incidentally, a fellow Utahn!) named Ryan Woodward. You may recognize the style--about a week or two ago Google had him design one of their little google "doodles" for their main page that celebrated a dancer. I'd seen that and admired it, but the very next day one of my sweet brides (Kristen, who is graceful enough to be a dancer, even though she SWEARS she isn't--I don't believe her) brought this to my attention after her bridal session. It is absolutely lovely. It has pretty much everything in the world that moves me: chemistry, a love story, longing, motion and movement, not to mention beautifully composed figure drawing. (I've studied figure drawing back in the day as an art major. It ain't easy. And to make it move like that, so fluidly and realistically...its magic.)

Watch...and be amazed:

Then, when I was watching this, I remembered a dance I saw something like 5 or 6 years ago (I think) on So You Think You Can Dance. I don't watch much in the way of reality shows because they all give me extreme anxiety, but this I did tune it for, and it made enough of an impression that I still go back to it sometimes to bask in the romance.

If you ask me, posing a couple for a photograph isn't really unlike choreography. The end goal is the same: capture the love and tension and hope and longing and a story and convey it visually, without words or declarations of any sort.

Back in the day one of my roommates had a home video of an ex-boyfriend's college dance company doing a gorgeous ballroom number to the GooGoo Dolls' Iris. If I could find that video, I'd post it....but since I can't (unless you still happen to have that old VHS 7 or 8 years later Tia? hmmm?) I will just ask instead:
Are there any dances you've seen on TV or in real life that have moved you? Leave a comment to share!

Whitney and Lane's groomal sneak peek

2011-05-21T23:42:00.000-06:00

So this has been a wonderful, hectic week...and the cherry on top was this session. Bright blue skies, puffy clouds, gorgeous people! Does it get better than that? I don't think so!

Kristen and Christopher at the Mt. Timpanogos temple

2011-05-21T23:37:00.000-06:00

Today was my first time shooting at the beautiful Mt. Timpanogos temple--Kristen and Christopher got married there today! (Now the only temple on the wasatch front I haven't had the privilege of shooting at is the Provo temple. The only other Utah temples I haven't yet done are St. George and Vernal...any takers? lol) We had so much fun at their "pre-ception" (thanks Jamie for sharing that lingo with me!) last night and this morning they got to sealed. And on such a beautiful day no less. :)

Congrats you guys!

Micah and Melissa's Groomal Sneak Peek!

2011-05-17T23:23:00.000-06:00

The weather this year has been hardly a photographer's dream, yet it seems that every time I've braved the wind and rain we always get some amazing pictures. Today was no exception...rain all day, and then as soon as we head out to shoot, the skies clear! Thanks Micah and Melissa (and your luggage carrying moms!) for a great afternoon in the sun! :)

Nate and Sierra groomal sneak peek

2011-05-16T22:05:00.000-06:00

Nate and Sierra are getting married on Wednesday, but they decided to keep their wedding day simple and focused on the ceremony, to break it into two halves and do the portrait portion of the wedding today! Now I just have to get them all edited--pronto! :)

Aren't they so in love? And I am so in love with her veil! Love that we had just a bit of wind to help it fly...

An ethereal spring evening...Kristen's Bridal sneak peek

2011-05-11T22:48:00.000-06:00

What a beautiful night! Thanks to Kristen for being such a stunning and graceful bride. There was something in the air tonight that felt like it belonged in a chapter of Anne of Green Gables. A day that felt like spring...it was lovely, start to finish. <3

Steve and Tipling Groomals+Wedding

2011-05-11T15:25:00.000-06:00

Here's another groomal/wedding day combo for you! Tipling and Steve are lucky charms for weather. I kid you not...it was pouring on the day of their bridals. I was driving towards Salt Lake in what felt like a monsoon. But as soon as we got going, the rain stopped and we got some gorgeous end-of-the-day light. And, a few days later on their wedding, it happened again! As soon as we were done shooting, it started to drizzle. With the way the weather has been going lately, I'm thinking of bringing these two on all of my shoots, just to be safe. Congratulations again to both of you! :)

Now remember this hilarious groomsmen shot? I still laugh every time I look at it...

Paige and Matt Bridals+Wedding

2011-05-10T23:12:00.000-06:00

Its been a long time since I did a post that wasn't a sneak peek (a LONG time...like 1 in 6 or 7 months...yikes) so to catch up I'm going to have to double up on some of my posts. So I'm pairing a few of Paige's stunning bridals with a selection of her beautiful wedding to Matt. Seriously gorgeous couple. With a GORGEOUS little boy. Enjoy! (FYI her bridals were taken on a frigid day in January, her wedding in February...props for not looking as freezing as they probably felt!)

Special shout out to my fabulous second shooter Ashley for helping me with this wedding. :)

Ali and Tage are now Mr. and Mrs!

2011-04-30T23:44:00.001-06:00

Its been a long and lovely evening! Congrats Ali and Tage, you are such a stellar couple, I've loved every minute of working with you! And don't worry...we'll keep in touch. Because I drive a Jetta, and I will need Tage to fix it when it breaks. Which is about every other week. :)

Here is a sneak peek of their wedding day today!

Kristen and Christopher's engagement sneak peek

2011-04-27T22:27:00.000-06:00

What a laid back, easy-going session! Kristen and Christopher are just that way. Plus we got along great since we have about 100+ things in common. Kristen waited for Christopher on his mission. I waited for my husband. Christopher went to Madrid, Spain, on his mission. My bro-in-law went to Madrid a few years earlier. Kristen is a photography major at UVU...and well, I dabble in photography myself. :) Also, all of our names start with "Chris" Kristen, Christopher and me, Crystal. Oh yeah, did I mention Kristen's uncle has been my family's dentist for like 20 years? I think the dental work I've had done by her uncle practically makes us related. I'm pretty sure. :)

OK, so maybe not! But still a fun session. (We rescheduled to today from Monday, and so glad we did! Nasty storm monday, perfect weather today! Sometimes we luck out like that!)

so cute!

Sample Pagespread from Tage and Alison's guestbook

2011-04-25T08:21:00.000-06:00

They picked the quote, I picked the picture from their groomal session last week, added a texture to hint at a starry sky and voila! I love it. :)

Carly and Ben's post-wedding groomal sneak peek

2011-04-22T21:53:00.000-06:00

Okay, so that title is kind of a mouthful! Really, this was a "trash the dress" session--and thanks to the mud, we did!--but our original idea of maybe wading in the river was thwarted by the fact that the river is more like a dangerous, white-rapid torrent at the moment. So we played it safe on solid ground. No reason for anyone, myself included, to get swept away. :) You may recognize these two, they got married back in December. They decided back before their wedding that since Ben was not going to be in town with enough time to do this session before their wedding, to just wait until spring and do it then in the warmer weather. (Who knew spring was going to play hookey this year?) anyway, I'm glad they did decide to wait until now, what a perfect evening!

Kyrsten's Senior Sneak Peek

2011-04-21T22:55:00.000-06:00

So I spent the evening shooting Reese Witherspoon!
Okay, so maybe not Reese Witherspoon, but a gorgeous senior named Kyrsten who I swear looks just like her. And not afraid of the camera either. Here is a sneak peek into our fun session...yet another one where we lucked out and missed the rain!

Ummm yeah. This session rocked! More to come...

Ali and Tage's Groomal sneak peek

2011-04-11T23:04:00.000-06:00

Ali and Tage are getting married in a few weeks! All they wanted for their groomal session was some spring blossoms...but mother nature decided not to cooperate this season! We did find one tree that had a few fledgling buds on it, so of course we capitalized on that, but with any luck the blossoms will hold out for another 2 or 3 weeks and we'll have 'em in abundance on their wedding day! Can't wait!

PS... thanks for a hilarious shoot. :)
PPS...Ali, your shoes are awesome. Comfort and style. Definitely a win! :)

Amy and Marcus...Moab engagement!

2011-04-10T21:57:00.001-06:00

This weekend my little family and I took a little trip to our favorite place on earth, Moab. (Which also happens to be the one place in Utah that didn't get drenched in rain and snow this weekend...it was beautiful!!) We went with my husbands family (my AWESOME mother and father in law, my super sweet sister in law, Amy, and her amazing boyfriend Marcus). While we were out there, I made it known that I intended to take some couple-y pictures of Amy and Marcus with some red rocks, and they were totally cool and let me boss them around for a bit. What Amy didn't know was that this was all part of a BIGGER plan...get her all dolled up, then take her to our family's favorite eatery in Moab, the Sunset Grill....and then set up a few more shots with them as the sun was going down...at which point, Marcus pulled out a ring and proposed overlooking the town.

It was incredible. My first engagement shoot that was an actual engagement shoot.
Welcome to the family, Marcus! Well...almost. :)

Whitney and Lane....engagement sneak peek!

2011-04-02T22:51:00.001-06:00

Wow...can you say good looking couple? These guys took the word "photogenic" to a whole new level! (I'm a little jealous of Whitney's super long legs....but heck, I'm pretty sure there are runway models who would be too!) And I swear, they posed themselves better than anything I could come up with. I would be halfway through some kind of direction and then they'd do something cute. I can't tell you how many times I was like, "Okay, why don't we....never mind. Just do that! Don't move!" lol. Fun day, awesome shoot!

And just for fun, some birds that were passing by. :)

Melissa and Micah's engagement sneak peek!

2011-03-24T23:15:00.001-06:00

Another great day where it rained right up until we ventured out to shoot, and this time we were even ready for it! (We took a couple shots with the umbrella anyway, just for fun!) Special thanks go to my assistant for the day the Grand Reflector, Amy (my sweet sis-in-law who happens to be BFFs with Melissa) who did a bang up job carrying everything in creation and bouncing light like nobody's business. :)

Baby Luke sneak peek

2011-03-23T21:23:00.000-06:00

Here's one of the sweetest little guy I got to work with tonight...isn't he adorable?
PS...found out I was for sure having another little boy today. So it was extra fun to work with this beautiful boy!
Love him!

Rick and Mickelle's Wedding Day Sneak Peek

2011-03-15T17:23:00.000-06:00

So this is the last of my 3 weddings in 5 days...Rick and Mickelle got married today! And it was such a beautiful day, here is an angle I've never used before at the Bountiful temple. Romantic, isn't it? And there was just the sweetest little breeze to add just a tinge of drama. I love it!

A black and white sneak peek for Tipling and Steve

2011-03-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Something about the light this afternoon at the temple just begged for black and white. Gorgeous.

And I have to be honest, this is one of my favorite groomsmen shots of. all. time. I was trying to do the last of the family shots and the groomsmen were waiting in the wings for their turn and I told them to brainstorm their poses while I finished up. This is only one of MANY hilarious shots. Priceless.

Taylor and Lance got married today!

2011-03-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

I am about ready to zip on down to Springville for their reception, but I wanted to share a couple of shots from their wedding at the SL temple this afternoon! Aren't they sooo sweet together? I swoon!

Rain or Shine...or Both. Tipling and Steve's Groomal sneak peek!

2011-03-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

The weather couldn't make up its mind today...rain. Then shine. Then rain. Then shine. We were a little iffy about how this session would work out with the weather, but we decided to just go for it and make it work no matter what the sky decided to do. And even on my way to Salt Lake, I felt like I was driving through a monsoon. But then, just as we hit go time, the clouds parted and we got some stunning shots! Check em out. Gorgeous. :)

Because I promised...Mickelle and Rick's groomal sneak peek

2011-03-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

So I am waaaaaaaaay behind on my blogging, but I promised Miss Mickelle that there would be a sneak peek of her session today up on the blog before I went to bed tonight! So this is for you, my dear... :)

Clarissa and Javier's wedding

2011-02-17T00:17:00.000-07:00

My life wouldn't be complete without a blizzard wedding from time to time! Luckily we got most of our outdoor shots in before the crazy weather took over this evening! Congratulations Clarissa and Javier...your wedding was lovely, and I was so glad to be a part of your day!

Allie and Connor's wedding sneak peek

2011-02-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Allie and Connor got married in the Salt Lake Temple this morning...and they couldn't have asked for a prettier day! Can't wait for this lovely couple's reception...coming up in just a few hours. As always, though, I can't resist posting at least one...

Ahhh...magic. :)

Let me call you sweetheart...Taylor and Lance's groomal sneak peek

2011-02-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Ever since I rode a refurbished 1800s era carousel at Prospect Park in Brooklyn this last summer, I have been dying to do a shoot on one. Taylor and Lance were totally into the idea--yay!--and even though we had to drive quite the ways to get to our location and it was frigid today (not to mention the fact that we encountered a variety of side problems to keep it interesting--if you run into Taylor ask her about the pervert bug. hehehe) it was perfection. Enjoy this sneak peek of our great day!

Even though it was too cold to turn it on, I still have turn of the century carousel songs in my head... Bicycle built for two anyone? :)

Kierstyn's Maternity sneak peek

2011-01-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

Kierstyn is one of my earliest brides and also happens to be one of my BFFs. And she's having a baby!! At her maternity shoot today we probably spent 1.5 hrs shooting and 3.5 hrs chatting. And maybe a half hour eating gourmet cupcakes as well...If you ask me, it was time well spent.

This girl is one hot mama. :)

2010 Image of the Year and a thank you.

2011-01-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Voting for the favorite 2010 Wedding Image ended last night at midnight! And the winner is... (big surprise here)
BREANNE AND CHAD! They brought in a whopping 2331 votes for their engagement session photo!
Congrats you two! Dinner and a movie are on me, as well as a 1 year anniversary session! (Though since I am due like 4 days before your anniversary, it might have to be slightly before or after...but we'll work it out!) Also, look for this image in my header in a coming day...

I really must also give a shout out to our runners up, they all broke 100 votes. These guys will be getting a little date-night surprise in the mail from me as well. :)

1st runner up: Staci and Nathan, for Staci's bridal shot (659 votes!!)
2nd runner up: Stefanie and Tayler, for their groomal shot (356 votes!!)
3rd runner up: David and Jamie, for their groomal shot (267 votes!!)

To all of the winners, please email me with your current address to claim your prize!

AND, A THANK YOU...

Thanks to all of you who voted. In 1 week I saw my blog stats go up exponentially. Thank you for your support of both me and all of my super-awesome 2010 couples. I know I've said it before, but I will say it again: I have the BEST clients out there. You make my job so easy!

Because I am in a such a good mood, I will be giving 10% off any wedding package AND an additional $150 product credit to anyone who contacts me before the end of January about booking their 2011 wedding!

I love you guys!

Paige's Bridal sneak peek

2011-01-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we took Paige's bridals. And they are breathtaking. I had to resist posting like twenty of them! You would never know that these were taken in the middle of January in Utah. She was such a trooper, even though I probably sent her home with hypothermia, poor thing!

And what a gorgeous smile! This girl should be in movies.

Allie and Connor's groomals

2011-01-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

So it has been a couple of months since this session with Allie and Connor...but let's be honest, it was totally worth the wait. :) I am totally in love with Allie's dress (custom modified just for her...and so stunning) but I especially love her sparkly hairpiece and sparkly embellished shoes. Like gorgeous rhinestone snowflakes. And since she and her awesome fiance Connor are getting married in the winter (just a few weeks away!) it fits so perfectly!
So the next time I see you two, Allie and Connor, you will be gettin' married!

Sigh...doesn't this just make you miss fall?

2010 Weddings in Review

2011-01-19T15:02:00.003-07:00

I've been meaning to do this post for quite some time, but who knew combing through all the weddings I did this past year would take so much time? It was a pleasure, I must admit, to revisit all the beautiful weddings I did in 2010. So many amazing couples I got to know... I love you all!

So it might not be quite the new year anymore, I thought it was still worthwhile to highlight all these amazing 2010 weddings. There was no way I could fit them all into one slideshow, so here are parts one (January-June) and two (July-December) for your enjoyment:

After putting these slideshows together, I decided to do something a little different and maybe have a bit of fun while we're at it. I went through and picked my absolute favorite images from all the time I spent with each of these couples (so 1 picture from their bridals, engagements or wedding day). Now here comes the fun part: I would like some help picking my favorite picture of the year. So you will be able to vote for your favorite picture from you favorite couple for this next week.

The couple that has the winning picture at the end of the week will receive :

$25 gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, movie tickets for two, and a free 45 min 1 year anniversary session.

I will also use the winning image in my header and as part of my marketing for this next year.

SO HERE GOES!

Natalie and Jon:
Natalie and Jon got married in the bitter winter cold (Almost 1 year ago! This next week!) but their wedding and reception was sweet and sunny. This is my favorite shot, taken during the ceremony:

Tyler and Jen:
I had an easy time picking this one...I even have a 20x30 printed of it to show clients!
Ahhhh....such a tender moment!
And it doesn't hurt that Tyler and Jen are totally gorgeous. (I have had more than a few people tell me that they remind them of Bella and Edward...only better.)

Chase and BreAnne:
After long deliberation, I had to go with this shot from their engagements. Great color, great sky, great moment...walking through a field in the golden light before a storm. I dig it!!

Shane and Abby:
There was just something about this shot from their engagements that I fell in love with...Color, great backlighting, expression...What you don't know is that the ground was like negative 100 degrees, and I made them lay on it. Good sports, these two. :)

Harley and Annie:
I think the thing that sold me on this shot was Harley's tie blowing back in the wind as they walked. It added that perfect whimsical touch for me to fall in love with this shot!
They were married on a beautiful afternoon in May, which brought me my first sunburn of 2010. :)

Kyle and Tiffany:

Ugh...so tough to choose!! I think that in the end I had to choose this one from their reception because it is just so Tiffany-and-Kyle. (These are the folks who brought giant glasses to their engagements.) Bright, cheery, colorful, buoyant. They are all of they above. :)

Brian and Marcie:
So maybe I'm partial to this one because I got chewed out by a cop for taking it (I'm embracing my rebellious streak) but I think it could also be a combination of perfect light, beautiful vignette with a classic little church in the background, great couple and, yes...fabulous wedding dress. The run in with the cop? Worth it! :)

Dusty and Jordan:

The problem with Dusty and Jordan's pics is...well, that there were too many of them I LOVED to count. So I had to settle for the one that speaks the most to my soul. If you must know, this shot was part of the inspiration for my branding using quotes from some of my favorite literary figures. It epitomizes, to me, Bronte's phrase, "Whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same."

Cindy and Jordan:
Most of my favorites have both the bride and groom in them, and while their bubbles-blowing picture from their wedding day was a close runner up, Cindy's bridals were just so epic I had to pick one from that session. Sun going down? Check. Storm rolling in? Check. Exotically gorgeous bride? Check. Unbelievable location? Check.

Jamie and David:
There is just something timeless and wonderful about the shot I chose for these two, the very last shot of their groomals, taken just as the last light of day was slipping away. As most everyone knows by now I love fairy tales... this has a clock tower, a secret garden, a stolen kiss... Sigh. Love it.

Spencer and Candace:

The location Spencer and Candace chose for their groomal session is a gorgeous place, and when Candace hopped up into this alcove the magic really started happening.

Love the pink shoes and pink flower...really love the way those two are looking at each other. That's happy. Right there.

Robin and Jeremy:

These two are rock stars. We had such a phenomenal engagement session, then an inspiring bridal session with Robin (ohhhh, it was so hard not to choose one of her bridals!!) But when it came down to it...who can resist blue sky and a full arc rainbow? Thats right, these guys were blessed with a rainbow on their wedding day. (It may have come with a little bit of rain, but the payoff was a rainbow...nobody was complaining!) What a way to decorate for your reception right? :)

Vickie and Steve:
Steve and Vickie were married in a glass conservatory in Morristown, New Jersey. It was a lush, beautiful day! Some of my favorite shots were on the grounds of their venue, The Madison Hotel, in the tall trees and gardens that you can only find back east. Such a lovely experience, such a lovely couple!

Chad and Breanne:
Another heart-rending choice! Breanne's bridals are probably some of my favorites EVER (see why here) But this shot from their engagements proved completely irresistible to me. Happy, joyful, lively...Bright sky, blue water, and utter adoration. I heart this shot. Forever and ever.
Did I mention Breanne and Chad got married on my 5 year anniversary? Which means they are AWESOME. :)

Jade and Shurna:
C'est L'amour. When we shot Jade and Shurna's groomals, she wanted an elegant, european plaza feel to them. I think we achieved it! After spending some time indoors, we braved some wind and rain outside and captured this elegant shot. Delicious, is it not? They printed a 16x20 of this one for display at their wedding and it looked ah-MAZE-ing.

Britney and Devin:
After our first location choice didn't work out, we were forced to improvise, and because we lost light in the location transition, most of Britney and Devin's groomal session was done after the sun went down above the city. Lightning kept flashing across the sky, too, completing the dramatic ambience. I love the blue sky in the color version of this shot, but the black and white I think wins this one for me! Stunning!

Debbie and Scott:
These two were married on a grand Park City estate, with the forest two steps from the door. My favorite shot is definitely this one, with the sun filtering through the trees behind them just after the ceremony was completed. Did I mention that Debbie walked down the aisle in the sunglasses Scott gave her as part of her wedding present? Yep, they totally rock!

Tayler and Stefanie:
Tayler and Stefanie were an absolute joy to get to know. I've said it before and I will say it again--theirs is an inspiring story. If you want to know what real love looks like, look no further. Plus we had an awesome time at every shoot--bubbles at their engagements, fog machine and a cemetery at their groomals. I had a hard time choosing (I am very partial to this one) but in the end I had to side with Stefanie. She printed this one large, on metallic...let me tell you, it glowed!

Matt and Annicka:
While these two got married in October, my favorite shot is from their engagements, which we took all the way back the first week of June. This photo will trick you...misty mountains and rich greenery, its hard to believe it was taken in Utah. We just lucked out, shooting right up until it started to pour, getting great overcast moody shots without getting soaked! This photo makes me want to breathe in deeply. Ahhhhh....

Brian and Jean:
Don't worry if you don't recognize these two, you'll see them up here on the blog in no time! Jean and Brian exemplify the fact that love can find you at any age. Theirs was probably one of the sweetest, most special ceremonies I have ever had the privilege of attending. While I am just finishing up the editing for this wedding, I already have a favorite, looking through an etched glass window during that beautiful ceremony.

Carly and Ben:
While Carly and Ben still have one session to go (trash the dress, here we come!) and I am still working on their December wedding photos, it was certainly easy to pick a favorite...because these last pictures from their engagements were kind of the coolest thing ever. Droplets of water, with a little bit of flash=sparkles!! I LOVE sparkles! The hardest part was picking which one of the series was my favorite. :)

James and Molly:
James and Molly were my last wedding of the year...and it was a cold and wet one! The good news is, we had done their groomal session back in October on the same grounds they got married, so we had plenty of great shots of them together--minus the snow. :) These two had me laughing the whole session long, and I could pick dozens of photos that could have made it to this spot, but in the end, my heart belongs to this one of them dancing above the city. I keep thinking that song from Cinderella (so this is love....mm-mm-mm-mm...so this is love...so this is what makes life divine...) :)

Last but not least, I have to give an honorable mention shout out to two brides whose weddings I was unable to shoot, but whose bridals I did. Here are my favorites from them both:

Kisha:
Stunning bride with some spunk!

Staci:
This was from Staci's bridals, part two...lovely light, gorgeous girl!

Now, let the voting begin!!
I will be taking votes until the 26th of January, and the winning photo and couple will be announced the 27th.

Good luck, and thanks again to everyone who made 2010 such a marvelous year!

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED!

Clarissa's bridals sneak peek!

2011-01-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Don't look, Javier!

I am trusting you.

Snapped a few shots on the chilly but oh-so-lovely Antelope Island today with Clarissa.

I will let the images speak for themselves. :)

Mickelle and Rick's engagement sneak peek

2011-01-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

So it was mighty cold out today, but that didn't stop us from trekking out to SL, spending some time in some of my favorite spots with some of my favorite people! Mickelle is a good friend from my very first job, and with a little help from facebook we managed to keep in touch after all these years. And now, she's gettin' hitched! Rick is a swell guy, and they are so happy together, it shows in every picture. Even the ones I told them not to smile!! :)

Thanks for a fun, freezing evening guys!

Taylor and Lance's Engagement Sneak Peek

2011-01-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

What's this? A post? An actual post?
Yes, my friends, I have been MIA. But I have some very good (and exciting) reasons. Which will all be explained at a later date. As in tomorrow. (though I make no promises!)

But I simply couldn't wait to post a few sneak peeks from the engagement session I shot tonight. In the frigid cold. With two of the most awesome people ever. They even got my obscure 30Rock references. Which, of course, means we're friends for life.

Other than being sort-of interrupted by some kind of pioneer movie being filmed at our location even though we had the place legitimately scheduled and paid for, this was an awesome shoot! And hey, if we ever see whatever movie they were filming there, we can always look at and think, "Hey, I was there! Off to the side, sending angry vibes." :)

Good times.

Alison and Tage's Engagement sneak peek

2010-12-20T21:07:00.001-07:00

I shot Alison and Tage's engagements this afternoon...all done with sessions until the end of the year! Yay! (Except I still have about a zillion edits to finish...and even more sessions to blog...all in good time!) These guys are so awesome. They have told me they are a comfortable, easy-going couple, and that was exactly how this session was start to finish. And they made a special request to have one of their sneak peek pics be of them with Tage's well-loved racing Camaro. So here you go...enjoy. :)

Carly and Ben...wedding sneak peek

2010-12-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

Carly and Ben were married today in Salt Lake. It was a cold cold cold day, but they were pretty much oblivious to it. They were both glowing! Oh yeah, and we got a shot with Santa, who gave them each a candy cane as a wedding present. :)

Stefanie and Tayler's Autumn Wedding

2010-12-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

One of the by-products of being busy during Christmas Card/Family Session season is that I have gotten miserably behind on my blog posting. Thanks for sticking in there with me, I have a couple of weddings, a bridal session, engagement session, and about a dozen family sessions to post. Soon, I swear!

Stefanie and Tayler were married in late September and I am so happy for them. I've said it before, but they have an amazing story. Check their blog out here, and you will see what I mean! I love it when I find clients who are so easy to connect with. Congratulations guys, I can't wait to see the continuation of your amazing story...such good things are ahead for you two!

Coolest special handshake EVER:

Hamblin Family Sneak Peek

2010-12-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

This year marked the 5th time I've done family pictures for the Hamblin Family....they were my first family picture session back in 2006. I LOVE being able to witness a family growing up...and these girls have turned into young women right before my eyes. Gorgeous.

Minster Family Sneak Peek

2010-11-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Liz is an old high school friend of mine, though we hadn't seen each other in years when she stumbled on my blog and figured out it was me! We both got married about the same time, and we both have 2 year old boys...funny how life brings us all full circle. :) We had fun tromping through the snow...well, at least I did. They probably froze their toes off.
Thanks guys! Let's not wait another 8 years to get together again. :)

Isn't he just a doll?

Cyber Monday Specials!

2010-11-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

To schedule a wedding consult, or book a portrait or mentoring session, email me here.
Check out Envision Image Design's HUGE template sale here.

All of these specials are for TODAY ONLY! Don't miss out!

Inspire Me Monday--Giving Thanks

2010-11-22T22:20:00.002-07:00

I've thought long and hard about what I wanted to post this week that inspires me.
But the truth is, I think that this week should be a little different...it should be about giving thanks for the wonderful things that surround me. Giving thanks for everything God has blessed me and my family with. I would list them, but there isn't enough space on this blog or time in the day to be able to cover them all.

Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

G.K. Chesterton

I do have to say that there are top 2 things I am thankful for most of all.

And both of them are boys :)

Special thanks to the incredibly talented Sam from Samantha Jane Images for doing such a beautiful job on the photos of me and my family. They are priceless. I will love them (and you) forever. :)

Clarissa and Javier Engagement sneak peek

2010-11-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

This time last year I did an engagement session in a blizzard. I didn't know I was going to make it an annual event! Here's another over-loaded sneak peek for you all...we knew there was a possibility of snow but Clarissa and Javier didn't mind the forecast, so we went for it, and I'm so glad.

Besides, lets face it. Snowball fights are AWESOME....

...When you are behind the camera and not getting clobbered.

And I may have shouted something along the lines of "Tackle him!" and other helpful phrases.

hehe. I do what I can for art. :)

The Sandberg Family sneak peek

2010-11-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

The second session from today our weather condition was rain. And then more rain. And then snow. And the sad part is, we were originally scheduled for Tuesday, but switched it to Saturday because of the weather (which of course cleared up just at the time we were supposed to be shooting but weren't). We got a lot of family shots before the weather made a turn for the worse (thick, wet snow) and then ducked into a tiny shop that was kind enough to let us photograph baby Julia in a back corner out of the weather. Loved how it all turned out...