Remember the Moments

Baby G

2011-03-29T10:03:00.000-06:00

I love newborns. I haven't had a lot of opportunity to photograph them, but when you have your very own, they get subjected to a lot of photos.

These are my first attempt with my new baby, and there are a lot of things I would love to learn about newborn photography, but for now, I kind of like what I got.

a First

2011-03-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

This was my first opportunity to photograph a birthday party, so it was a learning experience for me, but I couldn't have asked for a better first try!

Happy Birthday, Baby G!

Check out this cake!! It was made by my talented friend, Kari (who is also the kind woman who got me this gig!!)

I could NOT get over these eyes!

M Hsiao Family

2010-11-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

This was by far my favorite photo shoot. It took place on a Saturday, and the conditions were absolutely perfect: overcast and 65 degrees without any wind. These photos were done in "magic light."

That combined with the adorable family made it really hard to choose just a few for the blog. This is seriously only about half of what I wanted to put up here!

Enjoy!

Davis Boys

2010-11-04T11:54:00.000-06:00

I hope these are everything you wanted, guys!!

Miss Missy's Retakes

2010-11-04T10:10:00.000-06:00

Child 1:

Child 2:

Child 3:

Child 4:

Child 5:

Child 6:

Child 7:

Child 8:

Child 9:

Child 10:

PM Class Photo:

Miss Missy's PM Class

2010-10-15T10:30:00.030-06:00

Child 1:

Child 2:

Child 3:

Child 4:

Child 5:

Child 6:

Child 7:

Child 8:

Child 9:

Child 10:

Miss Missy's AM Class

2010-10-15T10:00:00.001-06:00

Child 1:

Child 2:

Child 3:

Child 4:

Child 5:

Child 6:

Child 7:

My Sweet Neice

2010-10-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, I got to spend some time outside the Manti temple with my four kids and my niece, E while my husband and his brother (E's dad) went to a sealing inside.

I caught a few pictures of E looking adorable and wanted to share them!

Neff Kids

2010-10-07T16:17:00.000-06:00

Shooting kids can be challenging sometimes, but mostly only when you're trying to get several to look cute all at once . . . individuals are a cinch.

Things were definitely made easier by these kids' mom who knew exactly what her kids like, and when to yell out things like, "boogers!" "farts!" etc. She had these kids rolling with laughter at times!

We got a little bit silly:

But we also got some good shots for mom and dad!

I hope you like them, guys!

Catenzaro Family . . . again!

2010-09-27T15:08:00.000-06:00

Remember this?

December 2008

And this?

September 2009

So far, I've been able to shoot this family once per year, and besides being great friends, it's really fun to be able to look back at old photos and watch their kids grow up!!

Ashe Family

2010-09-27T14:32:00.000-06:00

You may recognize a few of these people from the last family shoot. They took care of business and coordinated extended family pictures for both sides of the family all at once! Knowing how much work that is with one family, I was very impressed that they accomplished it with both!!

These three boys were some of my favorites of all time! They were cool as can be--not too anxious to have their pictures taken, but when it came right down to it, they did everything I asked of them with charming smiles on their faces.

These two really made me laugh. I don't know how many years they've been married, but let's just say they're veterans. Despite the number of years they've been together, they still know how to laugh and play with one another. I found it very endearing!

This is my new friend, C, and she was a sweetheart. While waiting for a specific shooting location, she showed me everything in her precious backpack she carries with her, and she was happy all the time! She has a new special place in my heart.

I thought this picture was too precious for words. I love little A's squished, happy little face while she tries desperately to escape the two people who love her most in the world!!

This particular father of his family didn't like to smile. When told to smile, he gave mostly smirks, but at one point he broke this amazing smile out, and I couldn't figure out for the life of my why he doesn't pull it out more often!!

Mr. Ashe thought he was so funny telling jokes in the middle of his pictures! This just goes to show that whatever you do during the session has a chance of being immortalized. I believe his exact words to his wife were, "Whoa! That's not the woman I married!!" He is quite a joker!!

Thanks for letting me do these photos with you, guys!!

As Promised . . .

2010-09-27T14:17:00.000-06:00

. . . more pictures of the Schrank Family.

I had so much fun with this family, and as with most extended families that I shoot, I found myself wishing I was a part of their family too. (Not that I would give up my own, just adopt another.)

A Sneak Peek

2010-09-07T16:14:00.000-06:00

Here are just a few of my favorites. I will post more when I get them all done!

My Own

2010-07-27T14:22:00.000-06:00

I wanted to take my own family photos, but I knew that just turning on the timer and running back to my place in the photo just wasn't going to work. Here were the dilemma's:

Dilemma #1: S - he's nearly 7, and that means the most awkard, bizarre smiles when left to his own devices because he's trying too hard.

Dilemma #2: X - he has what my husband affectionately refers to as "shiny object syndrome," and surely would have found something more exciting to look at in the 10 seconds between me telling him to look at the camera and the shutter actually going off.

Dilemma #3: R - she's defiant and will purposely not look at the camera because that's what she was asked to do.

Dilemma #4: Z - what can I say? He's 9 months old, and in love with his Mommy. He would have been looking at me, and not the camera for sure.

So, what to do?

I took photos of two members of the family at a time and then pieced them together in photoshop to create the illusion that my children are miracles with a camera timer.

Before

After

Before

After

My husband and I, however, are miracles with a camera timer. ;)

And one last one that I thought was cute. My husband captured me trying to get S to give us a genuine smile.

R & S

2010-05-25T16:11:00.002-06:00

Sorry these took me so long to get up, guys! Thanks for letting me take pictures of your adorable little ones!!

Mother's Day Gifts

2010-05-25T15:51:00.002-06:00

My sister called me in April to take these photos, but I couldn't post them until after Mother's Day because they were a Mother's Day gift, and my mom views this blog.

I am so lucky to have such an adorable niece and nephew!! What a fun day this was at Wheeler Farm!

What is a little boy to do when he's all done taking pictures, and the adults just won't listen? Pull up your shirt . . . that'll do it!

If that doesn't work, just climb in the basket with your baby sister so that neither of you can have your picture taken!!

Wesley & Kaitlyn's Wedding

2010-05-25T14:26:00.005-06:00

What does one do in the two weeks between basic training and shipping out?

Why, marry the love of your life, of course!!

Congratulations, Wesley & Kaitlyn.

Thank you to your little family for all you sacrifice so that mine can be free.

Coming Soon

2010-05-01T15:06:00.004-06:00

Wesley & Kaitlyn's Wedding

6 Months

2010-03-31T22:35:00.003-06:00

My youngest turned 6 months old, and is finally thinning out, but you'd never know it to look at his cheeks!

Baby L

2010-03-27T13:26:00.004-06:00

My new niece, L:

Fall Colors

2009-12-06T22:57:00.003-07:00

These pictures are a few months old, so I debated about posting them, but I still love the colors and the "fall" look so much that I wanted to share. Besides, the models are adorable.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

2009-12-06T22:51:00.003-07:00

Don't let her angelic little face fool you, this girl is pure trouble!!

Tall and Handsome

2009-12-06T22:48:00.001-07:00

My handsome six-year-old . . .

Fun at 4

2009-12-06T22:35:00.002-07:00

My four-year-old in all his colorful, fun-loving glory!

My Latest Addition

2009-12-06T22:31:00.007-07:00

All that chunky squishiness just means more to photograph!!

Williams Family

2009-12-06T21:52:00.009-07:00

Do you see this wonderful woman?

She is the matriarch of this incredible family.

They were so much fun to photograph, and all these personalities made for a really fun afternoon!

Wadman Family

2009-10-09T11:20:00.006-06:00

As my final shoot before having my baby, I photographed the little Wadman Family. I can't even tell you how amazing their kids were! They were such troopers, letting me drag them all over Memory Grove. Thanks so much for such a fun morning, guys!

And, just because I bleed red . . . I had a little fun with the flag in Photoshop!

Jensen Family

2009-10-08T16:48:00.010-06:00

In September, I got the chance to photograph the Jensen Family at Wheeler Farm, and let me tell you . . . what a fun family! They were incredibly flexible and accommodating of my rapidly growing tummy and waning energy!

Evans Family Pictures

2009-07-28T09:25:00.006-06:00

What a fun family! There was a lot of energy when you get all those little families together for one big family photo!!

Here is just a sneak peek of how that energy looks in photographs:

How much do we just LOVE this little girls' eyes?!

Ford Wedding

2009-07-28T09:14:00.006-06:00

These pictures are also from May, but I've been slow about getting them up!

This is my cousin, and his cute fiance on their big day! Thanks for letting me be a part of this, guys!

The wedding party:

The parents:

The moment it all became official:

Shortly after the reception started, the clouds started to look threatening.

A happy bride:

An equally happy (although slightly more enthusiastic) groom:

When this happy couple left, their family and friends had of course "decorated" their car. Look closely . . . that's right, folks, those cans on the back of the car were fully loaded!!

Hsiao Family Pictures

2009-07-28T09:07:00.005-06:00

These pictures are from May of this year, but for some reason, I've been slow about posting them. This is my sister, and her cute family:

The wind proved to be a bit of a problem, so not many of the pictures were usable for printing, but still cute pictures, nonetheless!

My most adorable nephew, X!

Dazzle Dayz Preschool - PM Class

2009-05-08T19:01:00.008-06:00

Eight (count them, if you don't believe me!) little boys and one girl!! Miss Leslie sure has her hands full with this class. There's a lot of energy in that one little classroom when they're all there!

Our biggest challenge on this shoot was not containing all that energy, it was that it was 1:00 in the afternoon, which meant the sun was right behind my head. Trying to convince a group of four- and five-year-olds that they want to look into the sun without squinting was difficult.

Class Picture:

Child A:

Child B:

Child C:

Child D:

Child E:

Child F:

Child G:

Child H:

Child I:

Just for Fun:

Dazzle Dayz Preschool - AM Class

2009-05-08T12:26:00.007-06:00

I can't even explain how quick and easy these kids were! They seemed to have a knack for looking cute!

Class Picture:

Child 1:

Child 2:

Child 3:

Child 4:

Child 5:
Child 6:

Child 7:

Child 8:

Child 9:

Miss Leslie:

Just for fun:

Miss Missy's PM Retakes

2009-05-06T12:39:00.004-06:00

The afternoon class had two little girls who needed retakes. They were so adorable, and so excited to be having their pictures taken again!

Miss Missy's AM Retakes

2009-05-06T10:07:00.006-06:00

As with any group of 3-4 year-olds, there are just some kids that don't want to look their very cutest the first time round, especially since it was cold and rainy outside the first time we took pictures.

For the morning class, J was the only we needed to reshoot. Her little sister, J2 also decided it would be okay to take pictures today. What a lot of personality these two have! I don't think they could have not posed if they'd wanted to!!

J1:

J2:

Sisters:

I couldn't decide how I liked this cropped, so I thought I'd put them both up and let their mom pick.

Miss Missy's Preschool - AM Class

2009-04-21T10:18:00.011-06:00

This session started out a bit warmer than the PM group, but it grew rapidly wet and cold, too. Again, the kids were so cooperative and great!

Class Picture:

Child 1:

Child 2:

Child 3:

Child 4:

Child 5:

Child 6:

Child 7:

Child 8:

Child 9:

Child 10:

Miss Missy's Preschool - PM Class

2009-04-21T09:35:00.010-06:00

This was my first preschool, and after postponing once, we decided to tough it out and try to take class and individual pictures in the rain. It made all the colors and the lighting almost ideal, but it was definitely wet and cold!

The kids were such troopers! The did their very best to look cute in the cold and rain, but for some, it was just too hard not to squint. We'll probably have to do some retakes on a warmer day!

Class Picture:

Child A:

Child B:

Child C:

Child D:

Child E:

Child F:

Child G:

Child H:

The Davis Brothers

2009-03-23T19:14:00.009-06:00

This past Friday, I got the opportunity to photograph the same family that got this all started. Their little P just turned a year old, and they needed new individual pictures of the boys.

This session went very well! The boys were happy, cooperative, and good as gold. They smiled easily and did everything we asked them to. Props go out to their parents for having them so well prepared!

There were tons of good pictures, but these are some of my favorites as a teaser for their mom!!

P (12-months-old):
C: (3-years-old):
Brothers:

My Kids

2009-02-12T22:09:00.006-07:00

What is the point of having a nice camera if your own kids don't reap the benefits? We went to Memory Grove today to take a few pictures of my kids. It was cold, and had started to snow by the time we got there, but they were good sports about it, and my oldest even played peek-a-boo with his sister to help her smile and focus on the camera!

There are tons of pictures of R (15 months) because she was kind of all over the place:

S and X just wanted to be done taking picture because it was cold, so they stood for a few poses, but once I had a couple of good shots of each, I gave in and we got back in the car.

X (3 1/2):

S (5):

the B Davis'

2008-12-22T22:13:00.010-07:00

This is the family of my best friend, Tonia. They flew me down to Texas this past week to do this (at least, that was the excuse!)

The individual pictures of their daughters turned out well, but the family and couple photos didn't turn out as well. We ran out of light, so they all look like we took them in the dark, even though it wasn't as dark as it looks in the photos. They're coming to Utah to visit in the spring, so we'll get some better ones then! (I promise.)

Their oldest daughter, E:

Their second daughter, A1:

Their third daughter, S: What a lot of personality!!

Their youngest daughter, A2:

Sisters:

Family and couples (they look really dark, don't they?):

Besides the dark family and couple pictures, I really loved this shoot. I just wish those pictures had turned out better. On the bright side, could you find little girls any more photogenic that these?

the J Catenzaro's

2008-12-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

This was my second attempt. It went better than the first, but I still have a lot to learn. This time, three-year-old J was a little more willing to sit for pictures thanks to the bag of mini-marshmellows in my pocket! (I totally stole that tip from my friend, Lynette, by the way.) One of the challenges this time is that it's getting cold, so the kids didn't want to be as patient as they might have been in warmer temperatures.

Overall, I felt like the shoot went okay. Thanks again to J & A Catenzaro for letting me take your pictures. I hope this is what you wanted . . .

the T Davis'

2008-12-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

This family was the first to let me take their family photos. I learned a lot, and appreciate them being so patient with me as a stumbled my way through my first shoot. It presented all the expected challenges - where to go, what time, how to get three-year-old C to want to have his picture taken? In the end, I think we got a few usable pictures:

Getting Started

2008-12-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

I love taking pictures, and I finally have a few friends who have let me use them and their families as victims!