Melinda Smith Photography

Can You Handle This Much Pretty?

2012-02-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

Photography classes have been SO much fun!!! I've enjoyed every minute of it. :) I thought I'd share some photos of our models from the Indoor Field Class. They were a.maz.ing. Thanks again, Nicole and Lexie! Love you both!!

I'm Just Me

2012-01-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

I'm going to spill my guts a little bit here... and I hope it's okay with all of you. I want you to know who I am, because when I take your picture, I want to know who YOU are... the deep down you. So, this is only fair, right?

I recently read an article from another photographer, Jodie Otte, where she talked about trends and fads in photography, and how she actually keeps her head buried in the sand when it comes to other photographers. It struck a chord with me.

Sure, I've been inspired along my photography path by so many photographers, and I would definitely say that without the help and inspiration of many photographers, I wouldn't be where I am today. But on the whole, I have been blissfully oblivious about what goes on around me as far as photographers go. I find that, for me, the more I immerse myself in checking out what "the competition" is doing, the less I am me... the less authentic I feel my voice, my eye, and my work, is.

I find that, instead of getting inspired, and wanting to try new things, and be better... I get discouraged, and I feel like if I do anything, I am merely copying. But then... I get worried. I start to see what other photographers are doing, and I wonder if what I am is enough... if I'm doing enough sessions, being creative enough, doing enough of what my clients might want... if I'm charging enough, giving enough, spending enough time, spending too much time, growing enough...

And social media... ugh. In my little bubble of my own little reality, I don't give a flying hoot how many "likes" my page has on facebook, although I appreciate every one, because I know each like is from someone who comes to my page and "likes" what I do, and that gives me warm fuzzies. But then, I worry... that other photographers have more likes, and that people will think that I'm not worth as much, because I'm not as liked. Sure, there are ways to "up" my like count really fast, and I've thought about it... but when it comes down to it, I can't... because it doesn't feel like "me". The warm fuzzies would be gone. It would then just be a number that meant nothing to me.

I love love love teaching. I love it. Teaching photography seemed like a natural next step to me, and I started teaching classes and mentoring a year ago. I've had a lot of people react with surprise... why would I want to create competition for myself? Why would I want to teach others what I do, so they could potentially take business from me? Why would I want to teach them my "secrets", because then... what would set me apart? It's simple for me... it's because I love photography, therefore, I want to share it with others. I would talk to anybody about photography endlessly, if they wanted to hear it. I try not to talk about it to family members, or close friends much, because I'm pretty sure they want me to never mention it again. ;) And I don't think anyone will ever become "me"... it would be impossible, because they don't see the world the way I see it. Every person I teach will take what I teach them and make their own art, and share their own vision.

I find that I am happiest when I am encouraging others, rather than competing with others. I went for a very long time without knowing much about the "competition" around me, and I still feel like I'm pretty oblivious... so if someone I teach becomes competition, I probably won't even know it. ;) I'm just happy to see people find something they love in life, and happy that I can do something I love and get paid for it. What's better than that? :)

I hope this doesn't come across all wrong. I've just come to realize that I'm a little bit different than the average artist. I guess what I'm saying, is that I hope I'm enough. I hope that what I see through my lens is enough... enough to keep clients coming to me, and telling their friends about me, and coming back again and again... because I just can't do the big social media scene "right", and I can't always do what everyone thinks I should be doing with my business (anything I do that ends up being "good for business" is purely an accident... I really stink at it ;), and I can't take pictures that aren't my style, just to follow the adorable trends of the moment. I just can't. I have to be me, or else I lose everything that I love about photography...

And if that ever happens... if I ever lose that love and passion... I'm done.

Here's to staying true to myself. I hope you stay with me along the journey. :)

Lindsey

2012-01-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

I loved Lindsey's senior session. We had so much fun together, and hello... she's gorgeous!! (The best thing about Lindsey is that she is even more beautiful on the inside... so now you know what an amazing girl she is. :) And... can you believe these were taken in JANUARY? This has been the strangest winter.

I Heart Faces: By the Book

2012-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

I knew just the photo for this one... I love little Ryann, and her cute chubby hands holding onto those books. And she wanted them ALL... it's obvious that we've got a bookworm on our hands here. ;)

I Love Valentines Day Minis!!

2012-01-18T16:57:00.000-08:00

SESSIONS WILL BE AT MY HOUSE... SEND ME A MESSAGE IF YOU NEED THE ADDRESS. :)

So, I've been trying to think of how to do these Valentines Mini sessions... thinking of elaborate sets I could set up, trying lots of different fancy card designs... and then it hit me. K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple, Silly. ;) (And what's more perfect for Valentines than a KISS??) So, I decided to do what I do best... simple, clean, and focusing on the personalities, not the fluff.

Here's the deal:

$25

*3* poses sent via dropbox or email (you choose b&w or color)

*10* 4x5 Valentines Day cards in the above template (with your kid's name on it. :)

Extra cards are $10 per 10.

Contact me soon (email, facebook, comment, text, call) to reserve your spot!

Tuesday, January 31

3:30 Jen
3:40 Jen
3:50 Lacy
4:00 Lacy
4:10 Marcie
4:20 Jackie
4:30 Melissa
4:40 Lily

Wednesday, February 1

3:00 Kristin
3:10 Kale
3:20 Marci
3:30 Nicole
3:40 Kiara
3:50 Karlyn
4:00 Emily
4:10 Megan
4:20 Katie
4:30 Cassie

Just Chillin'

2012-01-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

This cuter than cute family lives in California... and scheduled a session with me while they were here in Utah. I said, great! We can do photos outside... it's so WARM! (It's been unusually warm this winter here). I was wondering if I even needed a coat... and then realized that this poor little family was freezing their buns off. Even our warm winters are no match for beautiful sunny California. ;) We took the rest of the session indoors, and carried on. They've said that family pics with me will be a tradition when they come out here. :) I can't wait until our next session!

UHS SWIM TEAM!!

2012-01-12T20:44:00.000-08:00

A. Seniors: #1(top) #2(middle) #3(bottom)

B. Sophomores: #1(left) #2(middle) #3(right)

C. Freshmen: #1(top left) #2(right) #3(bottom left)

D. Blocks Team Pictures: #1(top) #2(middle) #3(bottom)

E. Team Pictures: #1(top left) #2(top right) #3(bottom left) #4(bottom right)

F. Coaches: #1(top) #2(bottom)

G. Captains: #1(left) #2(right)

H. Cheers: #1(top left) #2(top right) #3(bottom left) #4(bottom right)

I. Individuals-Blocks #1(tyler) #2(cristellis) #3(brett) #4(john)

J. Individuals-Blocks: #1(matt) #2(jadein) #3(danielle) #4(brayden)

K. Individuals-Blocks: #1(gabby) #2(shauntel) #3(aubrey) #4(krychelle)

L. Individuals-Blocks: #1(josh) #2(karrie) #3(sage) #4(sapphire)

M. Individuals-Blocks: #1(nick) #2(kylie) #3(potter)

N. Individuals-Blocks: #1(andrew) #2(joshj)

O. Individuals-Pool: #1(brett) #2(john) #3(brett) #4(brayden)

P. Individuals-Pool: #1(jessica) #2(lindsey) #3(jessica) #4(lindsey)

Q. Individuals-Pool: #1(shauntel) #2(audrey) #3(kaitlyn) #4(audrey)

R. Individuals-Pool: #1(sapphire) #2(potter) #3(pace) #4(matt)

S. Individuals-Pool: #1(mansfield) #2(natalie) #3(natalie) #4(natalie)

T. Individuals-Pool: #1(karrie) #2(kaitlyn) #3(krychelle) #4(lindsey)

U. Individuals-Pool: #1(krychelle) #2(sage) #3(kylie)

V. Individuals-Pool: #1(riley) #2(jadein) #3(aubrey)

W. Juniors: #1(top) #2(middle) #3(bottom)

{How to order: Letter and number. i.e. Silly Juniors Picture would be W3.}

I'm Here!

2012-01-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'll admit it... I kind of forgot about my blog for a little bit. I hope this post makes it up to you. :) I loved this little guy, and I got to rock him and snuggle him and feed him a bottle. It was heavenly, and almost... almost... made me want another baby. ;)

His big brother was adorable too... I loved all of his expressions! He's a photographer too... how cool is that? ;)

Finally!! Photography Classes!

2011-12-30T01:05:00.000-08:00

All classes are full, except for Level 2 DSLR February 9th! If you'd like to get on the waiting/cancellation list, contact me. :)

Okay, OKAY!! I am finally ready to stop giving evasive "January sometime" answers to those of you asking me when the next photography class is. :) I have finally pinned down the dates, and I'm ready to sign you up! I'll have 3 classes to choose from in January, so read carefully... you can sign up for one, two, or all if you'd like to. ($10 discount for each additional class you sign up for after the first one! :)

Beginning DSLR

Tuesday, January 17
OR Tuesday, February 7

7:00-9:30 p.m.

$60

Learn the ins and outs of your camera... how to get out of auto mode and take control. Learn how to take great photos... composition, lighting, etc. If you just got a camera for Christmas and want to learn how to use it, or if you've had your camera forever but haven't dared take it out of auto mode... this class is for you! If you've taken classes before, but want a refresher course, here it is! I've had people come in the past with point and shoot cameras who have felt that they benefited greatly from the class, so anyone is welcome. :)

Level 2 DSLR

Thursday, January 26
OR Thursday, February 9

7:00-9:30 p.m.

$80

If you've taken my DSLR class before and are hungry for more, this is the class you'll want. You can also take the beginning class this January, and sign up for Level 2 right after it. If you feel like you already have a pretty good understanding of your camera, this might be a good place to start. We'll go more into depth learning about the exposure triangle, lighting issues, more framing, posing, and creative helps, and have more time open for questions from you.

In the Field... Indoors

Saturday, January 28

1:00-3:00 p.m.

$80

Most of you are taking photos of your kids indoors, and wanting them to look better... or maybe you want to take great photos of food for your blogs. Maybe you're having issues with getting the lighting right, or your photos are blurry. I'll teach you the tricks to get great photos indoors... how to find the light, what lens to use, and more. Here's your chance to learn how to take advantage of the winter months to perfect your photography skills. You'll be able to watch me in action with a model, try some shots for yourself, get instant feedback and ask oodles of questions.

Class size is LIMITED... I want to keep them small enough that you'll be sure to get all of your questions answered. Last time I offered classes they filled up in a matter of hours, and I had a lot of disappointed people. ;) Sign up NOW for classes so you don't miss out!

You can comment, email, facebook, call, or text me to hold your spot.

Still can't decide? Read here and here to find out what people are saying about classes from Melinda Smith Photography. :)

Still undecided? Well... maybe some photos will seal the deal. ;) Here you go:

p.s. Watch for online photoshop classes... coming in March! You can live anywhere and take these classes!! If you want to get on the waiting list for those, let me know... details to come. I know some of you have been waiting forever for this... the wait is almost over. :)

Back to Real Life

2011-12-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful... we went to a cabin and relaxed, enjoyed time together, and had a great time just being family. I think my kids are pretty great, even if I do say so myself. ;)

I thought I better post a few pics of these adorable girls before Christmas is too far past... they're little Christmas angels, aren't they? :)

I have so many fun things planned for 2012... I'm doing another beginner dslr class, a "next level" dslr class (for those who took my class previously and want more, or those who are past beginner), and some photoshop classes... I'll be announcing those early in January, so be watching! (Last time they filled up so fast my head spun... I think it was just a few hours?)

What a great year 2011 has been... and I just know that 2012 is going to be even better. :) I've got some great goals in mind for the new year (yes, I'm a resolution-maker) for photography and life, and I'm so excited for a fresh start. What goals do you have for the new year? I'd love to hear them!

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

To all of you who have let me be your photographer, all of you who have encouraged me through this year, and all of those who call yourselves "fans" :) ... I love and appreciate you so much! Thank you for making 2011 my best year with photography yet!

{Merry Christmas!!}

Happy Friday!

2011-12-16T10:19:00.001-08:00

Love at First Sight

2011-12-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

That Sweet Face!

2011-12-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

They don't come cuter than this. :)

Mega Saturday... Round 2

2011-12-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

Oh, it was so cold during this session! 9:00 a.m. is a little bit nippy in December, that's for sure. The kids were troopers, and held their breath so we wouldn't have breath clouds in every photo. ;) What a great family!!

Mega Saturday... First Installment

2011-12-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

I had a huge shooting day last Saturday... my last one of 2011. I LOVED every session!! I had so much fun, and actually wished that I had let more people be on that day. (I didn't think we'd have enough light to fit more, but hey, 8:00 a.m. was wide open. ;)

I'll be showing you a bunch more from that day, but for now, enjoy the beautiful Misty and her adorable kids!

Yeah, you're going to have to do better than that on a pout, Mister. ;) I can see that smile coming through...

Welcome!!

2011-12-09T16:51:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my new and improved photography blog!! I'm so excited that you're here. :) If you want to see my photo print comparisons, scroll down one post. (And wow... sorry it's so wordy! I had a lot to say, I guess. ;) I've also added a few new posts, so don't miss those! There are lots of new things to look at here on the blog, so make yourself at home and stay awhile.

Prints, Prints, Prints

2011-12-09T14:54:00.001-08:00

So, the news you've all been waiting for... the results of the big PRINT COMPARISON!!

I sent 6 photos to 4 different companies:

1. My professional lab

2. Snapfish

3. Walgreens

4. Walmart

I ordered an 8x10 of each of the 6 prints from each company (and if I did this again, I wouldn't order so many, and I'd order from a couple different companies than the ones I chose... this ended up being pretty darn expensive, and overkill on the number of comparisons. I guess that's how I do most things, though... go big, or go home. ;)

The first thing I noticed was that #2, #3, and #4 were all pains in the you-know-where to order through. All of their ordering systems were the same, and all of them made me want to say words that I shouldn't say. I decided to have all of the photos shipped to me, because I felt too lazy to actually go into the stores to order (which is another thing I would have changed about this experiment... details later.)

The second thing I noticed is that the photos from my lab came 3 days before the rest (Tuesday). They're fast. Really fast. All of the other three companies came on the same day (today, Friday). They're not as fast. ;)

So, here's the first surprise: Snapfish, Walgreens, and Walmart use the same printing company when you order online. (Yeah, I wasted a lot of money... ;) Snapfish and Walgreen photos shipped from the EXACT same address in Maryland. Walmart shipped from Arkansas, but the return label was in the exact same format. (So, I'm 100% sure Snapgreens (or Walfish) is the same lab, and 90% sure Walmart is affiliated). Interesting, no? I feel really bummed (and kind of dumb) that I chose the three companies that are the same to do my testing...

The second surprise: None of the photos were as bad as I thought they would be. Is that bad that I was a bit disappointed? ;) This is what I think, though...if I hadn't had them shipped to me, and had had them processed at the local lab, the results might have been different. (But the results would vary widely from place to place, so that wouldn't have really been that helpful to all of you anyway.)

Although... all three labs, other than my pro lab, failed on the one b&w photo I sent.

So, onto the detailed descriptions of each one:

1. My pro lab: The first thing you're going to notice is the paper quality. There's no question that these prints are thicker, sturdier, and better quality. The colors are true, the sharpening and contrast is true... exactly matched to what I do on my computer. The black and white photo is just as it should be... all consistent and black and white. ;)

2. Snapfish: These were the only ones that came back glossy. I didn't even notice a place to order matte vs. glossy? There very well could be, but like I said before, difficult to navigate. I didn't even know I was ordering glossy. The paper feels really thin and cheap. The colors are slightly saturated and orangey (all three non-pro labs had the same color problems). The black and white... strange color cast on their chins, which I can't figure out, since it's not on my edit, and it's not on the one from my pro lab... but it's on ALL THREE of the others.

3. Walgreens: These came back matte... but were ordered the same way as Snapfish's. The paper seemed the same as Snapfish, but was stamped Walgreens on the back. Everything else, colors, the b&w photo fail... were the same as Snapfish.

4. Walmart: I've gone back and forth on this, but I think their paper might be slightly better, but it's slight enough that I'm still not sure if I'm imagining it. (Their paper says Kodak on the back, the others don't.) Everything else the same.

So... my conclusion? They weren't as bad as I thought. Not by a long shot. If you just looked at them, and didn't go over them with a fine-toothed comb like I did, you'd think they looked nice. (I'm still unsure about ordering black and white though... I have no idea why that orange color-cast happened, and don't know if it was that one particular photo, or if they just can't handle b&w photos.) I wanted to take photos to post here to show you the difference, but they're not different enough that you'd really be able to see in a photo of a photo. I would be happy to show anyone in person that would like to come handle them all.

I saw one of my photos in a big print (24x30) on a client's wall today that they ordered through mpix, and it looked great. So, if you'd like to order yourself, I've heard (and seen) good things from them.

If you're still confused about what to do, here's a quick guide of what (in Mindy's opinion) is best to do:

Best: Order prints through me. They'll be cropped correctly by me, they'll be printed by a professional lab that does nothing but photos, you don't have to worry about something funky happening (like a color spot in the middle of your b&w photo), they'll look exactly how they're supposed to look, and they'll last well. You can get texture on your photos, larger photos will be mounted on quality foamboard, they all come with a protective uv coating, so they'll last, and they're guaranteed.

Good: Order through mpix. Order their BEST quality. I would STRONGLY suggest getting any print larger than 11x14 mounted on matboard, or foamcore. This will prevent future rippling of the photo, and will help protect the print. I wish I had ordered a sample through them, but I saw samples for myself (and have heard good things from others), so I can recommend them without worry.

Okay: Order smaller prints (up to 8x10) ONLINE through those regular companies, if you don't really care much about paper quality and perfection. If you're okay with a bit of inconsistency... because I've heard lots of stories of mess-ups, you could go order from the local Walmart or Walgreens. If you are ordering a big print for your wall, I don't even think those companies offer that service, so you wouldn't have that choice anyway.

I'd love to hear any experience that any of you have with different printing companies! (Especially if you have ordered from Walmart or Walgreens locally... how is the quality when you're getting the one-hour printing, for example? Is that even available for 8x10s?)

I may try the same prints (or a few of them) through some more labs for direct comparison. I'm thinking mpix, I've had a request for shutterfly... any other specific requests?

Sweet Babies... Can't Get Enough of Them!

2011-12-07T08:25:00.001-08:00

How could you not fall in love with this baby?? I already loved his older brother, and now I'm officially, head-over-heels in love with them both.

I am loving these indoor sessions... it's a whole different challenge from doing outdoor shoots, but I love it. Discovering light in a stairwell, on a table... you'd be amazed where we find these spots. :)

Avoiding the Chill

2011-12-07T08:07:00.001-08:00

We wanted to get photos of these two beautiful kids... but their mom wanted to avoid too much of the bone-chilling outdoor stuff. So, we found some pretty light in grandma's house, and captured these gems. :)

Texas Cuties

2011-12-07T07:42:00.001-08:00

This adorable family is from Texas... but we were able to meet up in Idaho for a family session. Rachel is a dear friend who is also a very talented photographer... and she's been brainstorming like mad to figure out how to get me to Texas to do their family photos! Well, the stars aligned, and we both happened to be visiting in Idaho at the same time (although Rachel had to drive way out of her way... thanks for the sacrifice, Rach!) I'm so glad it worked out! I did feel bad for these poor kids, who were used to the mild Texas weather... it was freezing!! They braved the cold anyway, and we ended up with some great images! Oh, how I love this girl and her family!

Thanksgiving... in Pictures

2011-11-28T13:32:00.001-08:00

Kiss the Girl!!

2011-11-21T13:00:00.001-08:00

I love love love capturing love. :) I'm on a quest to get even better and better at it... so I'll work hard at photoshoots to make sure I catch it.

Sometimes couples don't want to kiss, and that's okay... I'll never make them kiss... but I had some fun experiences with kids encouraging their parents to kiss last Saturday. It made me laugh... kiss her, Dad! Kiss her! And then.... oooohs and aaaaaahs from the kiddos. :)

The thing is... kids need to see that. They need to know that their parents are deeply in love. I know some couples feel awkward showing pda (public displays of affection) in front of their kids, but I'm a firm believer in making sure your kids see some affection. I think it's vital for them to feel confident in their parents' love for each other, and important for them to see that married love is good, fun, and real.

They see so much on tv... romantic love between people who aren't married, and they might think that once you get married, love is boring, or just stops. I loved this hug... totally spontaneous and real. :)

And this... you'd never believe that kiss lasted maybe 1/4 of a second. The kids were egging them on to kiss, and Dad thought he would be funny and make it so fast that I couldn't catch it. Ha. Who's the joke on now? Yes, I'm that good. ;)

So, like it or not... sometimes you're going to feel a little bit awkward during our sessions... but then you'll realize that hey, I really do love this person! I really do want a picture of that love for my kids to see and KNOW that their parents are deeply, madly, really in love.

Forever. :)

I Heart Faces: Autumn Splendor

2011-11-14T13:07:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't love autumn photos?? Go check out some more at i heart faces!

Giving Back

2011-11-12T10:23:00.001-08:00

Awhile ago I had a little contest on facebook to celebrate that 200 people "liked" my photography page. I had people nominate a deserving kid for a free photoshoot... and I got so many great nominations that I cried. There were some really amazing stories... it was so hard to choose!

I ended up choosing Emmee... a five year old girl with Down Syndrome. She's had multiple open heart surgeries. I saw the scars on her little chest during our photoshoot. But do you know what I saw, even more than the hard things she's gone through? I saw a little girl... who had SO much joy in life. A little girl who blew kisses from the bottom of her heart! A little girl who liked to put pez candies in her mouth and spit it out as soon as she saw a fresh pez candy. ;) A little girl whose mom AND dad came to the shoot because they were so excited... and you could see their love for that cute little girl.

The problem is this: I did this to give something back... to say "thank you" to everyone who has supported me and loved me and helped me with my photography journey. But guess what? I got so much out of meeting Emmee, that I STILL feel overly blessed. I will never, ever be able to give enough to be even. :) Thank you, Emmee, for showing me your sweet love and letting me be part of your life!

More Rain

2011-11-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

I had another session in constant rainfall... and I'm actually grateful for the rain. The photos have a whole different feel to them, and I am in love with the whole session! Dani was amazing, and didn't let being wet, muddy and freezing stop her from being beautiful. :)

Adventures in Photography

2011-11-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, at the risk of humiliation, I'm ready to share the adventures of the photoshoot with this family. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... but fortunately the best far outweighed the worst.

Everything was going fantastic during the session. The family was beautiful, the light was dreamy, just perfection all around. Then... I had my little session with Ben, and I decided I wanted him to sit in a certain spot... and he willingly sat exactly. where. I. told. him. to. Unfortunately there was a CACTUS in that exact spot. Yes, I directed this poor unsuspecting boy to sit on a cactus. His dad had to pull barbs out of his... um... sitter, but he was the best sport about it. I'm pretty sure "the time the photographer made me sit in a cactus" will be a story he'll be telling for awhile.

Then... oh, the horror. I still shudder at the horror of this. I inadvertently reformatted the card that had their session on it... before I had uploaded it to the computer. When it dawned on me what I had done, I prayed soooo hard that somehow I had uploaded it and just not remembered, but alas, I had not. I called to schedule a reshoot, feeling so sick to my stomach, and just knowing that this magical session was gone... and who knew what we'd get the next time around? They were so sweet about it, but I felt like the worst person on the planet. Then... a miracle. I didn't think it would work, but I bought a program and tried recovering the files. And... it worked! So, the good news is, I learned a very very good lesson about being careful and thorough with my files, and... if, heaven forbid, anything happens again, I now have the program to try to recover files. Whew. What a horrible day that was. I could not believe that I had done something so very stupid.

So, the moral of the story is this... I am so lucky (and grateful) to work with such awesome families! As I was editing their session, I was thinking about every photo... what a tragedy that would have been if this had been lost forever! Thankfully, even after all that... this family loves the photos and says they're coming back to me next year too! :) (And next year... I promise to not make anyone sit on a cactus, and I promise to upload immediately upon walking in my front door. ;)

Mothers and Daughters

2011-11-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

I've been editing this family's photos today... and there are so many beautiful ones... I just love them. I have so many stories to tell about this session, and I'll share them, I promise.... but right now I have to share a story of my own.

Yesterday my teenage daughter, Aubrey, was in a little car accident. Everyone was okay, but it shook her up pretty good. As we were crying together last night, I just kept thinking over and over again how grateful I am to have her in my life every single day. She is my only daughter, and she's also a best friend. We share hugs, we share clothes, we share frustrations, and I can't imagine my life without her.

As I was editing these photos of another mother with her only daughter, I was thinking how much we limit ourselves when thinking about what constitutes a "photo session". I'll shoot a few with mother and daughter(s) when we're doing an entire family shoot, but these two were so beautiful together that I kept thinking how much fun it would be to do an entire mother/daughter photoshoot... how much fun it would be to do one with my daughter. These moments are fleeting... life just flies by, and we forget what it was like now. I've really been thinking about things... and I'm hoping to do more "different" sessions in the near future... break outside of the traditional photo session ideas. Do you have any ideas for some great sessions? Shoot me a comment... I'd love to hear your ideas!

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T19:30:00.001-07:00

Not everyone appreciates a cute costume. ;)

A REAL Princess

2011-10-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm convinced that I got to photograph a real live princess yesterday. You can't convince me otherwise. :)

Last Chance Saturdays

2011-10-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

This fall has gone so fast... I am trying my hardest not to blink, because I know if I do... it will be gone! It's been a fabulous fall for photography... the colors have been breathtaking, the weather has been (mostly) fantastic, and I've been busier than I ever have been. It has been wonderful!

I've got two Saturdays left with session openings for 2011... and that's it. So, if you're thinking you'd like to get photos done for Christmas cards, or Christmas gifts, or you want to get in before the end of the year, here's your chance! (and p.s.... my rates will go up in 2012, so this is your chance to get in on the current rates... just a little inside info for my fans. :)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19th I will be shooting in the WASATCH FRONT area. I'm not sure on location yet, but it will be fabulous, I promise. :) I'm almost booked for that day, but I could fit one or two more in, if you're out that way and have been waiting for your chance. Let me know asap!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10th I will be shooting in VERNAL. I will guarantee that you will get your edited photos back before the 17th of December, so you would still have time to put Christmas cards together and get them sent back. Any sessions after the 10th of December I will not guarantee Christmas delivery. ;) I do have a few weekdays left in the Vernal area if you don't need a Saturday, but I am almost completely booked for 2011, so call soon if you need them this year. :)

Thank you to all of my beautiful, sweet, wonderful clients... who I now consider part of my photography family. :)

Somethin' to WEAR!

2011-10-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Remember this photoshoot from awhile back? With the adorable little girl with the adorable little pettiskirt and the crazy-talented mom who sewed it herself and sewed her beautiful top herself too??

Well, she's opened up shop and is now selling them! (I told her she HAD to... the cuteness was too much not to share!) So, go over to Heartstring Things and check them out!! If you need a cute outfit for a shoot... there you go. :)

A Couple b&w Favorites

2011-10-26T08:53:00.001-07:00

I Heart Faces: Let Them Be Little

2011-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Head on over to i heart faces to see more adorable little ones!

Love Some Red!

2011-10-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

Do you think the little one will be blessed with red hair too? :)

Rain, Rain... Don't Go Away

2011-10-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

The day we had scheduled for this beautiful family's session was rainy rainy rainy... really rainy. Instead of rescheduling, we shot with umbrellas and in a covered area. I LOVE this session! Enough that I hope to have another rainy session soon. ;)

One of My Favorite Families

2011-10-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

I love this family... but I have to admit that I am especially in love with this little guy:

Thank YOU!!

2011-10-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

I have been so blessed with photography, I can't even express how grateful I am. Recently, I received so many "likes" and support on my photography facebook page, that I decided I should give back in some way... so I started a little contest where people could nominate a great kid that they felt deserved a free photoshoot.

Well, let me tell you... the nominations came pouring in, and I shed many tears reading the stories. So many great things... from something simple to kids that were the nicest kids a sweet little girl knows, to kids that shaved their heads in support of their grandmother with cancer. I had nominations for kids who have gone through huge trials, and come through stronger, kids with autism, kids who were born early, who were miracles, whose parents are young and struggling, but love them so much. Kids born with defects, but the parents only see beauty. Kids who are choosing to be baptized, and who are so excited about it. Kids who are just plain old cute and fun and GREAT!! Can you see my dilemma??

I chose a little girl named Emmee... she just turned 5, and was born very early with Down's Syndrome. She's had multiple open-heart surgeries, and has more in her future. That's a lot for a little girl to deal with. :) The doctors are amazed at how well she has done... she wasn't expected to make it this long. Boy, are we glad that she's doing so amazingly well! Emmee and I will be doing a full session together soon, and I will definitely show you the photos! I can't wait!!

So... as great as Emmee is, and I feel like she's the perfect choice, I really wanted to choose everyone who was nominated! As much as I wanted to, I can't... but I want to give all who were nominated a chance to still get that photoshoot, so I came up with this:

For anyone who was nominated, I will do a session for $75. (That's half my regular price). If anyone wants to sponsor them, and pay the $75 for them, that would be great too! Just contact me and let me know you'd like to pay for them, and we'll get it all taken care of.

Thank you so much for all your love and support, and thank you for helping me give back a little of what has been given to me!

Catch Up? Maybe Never...

2011-10-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

I am soooo behind. I'm sorry I haven't been updating... and I have so many things to share, but it's just going to have to wait. :) In the meantime... enjoy sweet kisses.

Sweet Family Hugs

2011-10-08T23:28:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I'm loving this fall! So many fabulous sessions... and I have a new camera and lens now that I love so much that my hubby thinks I love them more than I love him. Now, that's not true, of course... but it's a close race. ;)

Don't forget to let me know if you're interested in Halloween Minis... information is on the post below.

And... I hope your fall season is fantastic! (And that we all get a little more "fall" weather before winter really sets in...)

Halloween Minis are Back! Eeek!!

2011-10-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun last year seeing all of the adorable kids in their very very clever costumes!

So, of course, I have to have another round of Halloween Mini Sessions this year! (It's honestly and truly my favorite thing about Halloween. Okay, I'll be really honest... it's like the only thing I like about Halloween. ;)

You've worked hard to put together great costumes for your kids, and you've just got to remember how cute they look!! So, here's the deal:

Halloween Minis

$25

includes mini session and 5 edited images

But wait! ;) If you sign up for more than one spot, each mini session will be $20! OR if you are a returning client (you've had any photography session with me before) your mini will also be $20!

So... ready to sign up? Here are the days and times:

Saturday, October 29th
2:00 Emily
2:10 Emily
2:20 Marquita
2:30 Misty
2:40 Melissa

Monday, October 31st
3:00 Nicole
3:10 Nicole
3:20 Nicole
3:30 Michelle
3:40 Michelle

Comment, facebook me, email me, call me, text me, or send me a telegram letting me know which day and time(s) you'd like, and I'll get you signed up! If you don't see your name next to your time right away, don't worry... I'll keep them in order of when I receive the request.

I can't wait to see what costumes come to my house this year!!! I've already been brewing up some great backdrop ideas... :)

Color vs. Black and White

2011-10-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

What do you think?

As Promised... More Lexie

2011-10-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

Lexie, if you don't either become a real model someday, or at least do something amazing in the fashion industry... I'll be shocked.

Meet Nicole

2011-10-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

Nicole is my Senior Rep for 2011-2012. She's stunning, sweet, gorgeous, fun... I'm so happy that she'll be representing Melinda Smith Photography. :)

We had THE best photoshoot last week! She brought her friend, Lexie, and between the two of them, my camera has never been happier. :)

And... this was my "old" camera's last session, so I'm glad she could retire on a photoshoot like this!

Enjoy the rest of the photos!! I'll be posting some more of Lexie tomorrow.

Senior Season Has Officially Begun

2011-10-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've been spending every spare minute today editing these two amazingly gorgeous senior girls. We had such fun on our shoot... I felt like a fashion photographer, and I'm pretty sure Nicole and Lexie felt like real models (because they sure as heck looked like real models!). I'm almost done with the editing... then I'm going to bed!

If you want to see more, I've posted a bunch on my facebook photography page... go check it out!

New Friends

2011-10-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

I recently met Shannon... she's new to the area, and we have a mutual friend who told us we had to get together... and am I ever glad that we did!

I'll admit, when I first met Shannon, I was like, "Wow! She's gorgeous! And tall! And I'm not....", but then I remembered that even gorgeous, tall, beautiful people like to have friends too, so I decided to not be insecure about it. ;)

I was so excited that she wanted me to take her belly pics!

See? Stunning, huh? And if you met her... you'd see her personality matches the outside. Beautiful.

I'm so grateful for my friends, new and old. :)

I'll show you a few more of this adorable little guy soon!

Like Family

2011-10-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

So, I have to tell you a little bit about Brittney and Dave... we've been friends for awhile, but we've actually spent real life time together very very rarely. (Funny story: last year we did a session together and I met Dave for the first time... I forgot that it was the first time, though, because I "knew" him so well from reading Britt's blog.) Anyway, Brittney is an amazing photographer herself, and it's such an honor that she trusts me to document her growing-up family. I love love love our yearly sessions.

The first thing you'll notice about Britt and Dave... they are in love. Like seriously. Like they're magic together. I could photograph them together all day and never get bored.

And then... they make beautiful children. It's just a fact. Beautiful. (And they even have a well-behaved dog.)

And, not only are their children beautiful, but they're sweet. I got an "I love you" from this one... and I loved her right back. :)

Sweetest little guy. Ever.

And the kisses and loves were abundant. Have I mentioned how much I love this family?

Britt and I both decided that we're "like family"... and I couldn't be happier to be included in this bunch, and to call them my family too. :)

And this girl? We're kindred spirits. I love her to pieces. You know... if I wasn't a photographer, I'd miss out on experiences like this, on friendships like these... and that would be tragic. I am truly truly blessed.

Weddings... My Thoughts

2011-10-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

Weddings... some photographers shoot them, some don't. Some are amazing at capturing them... some... aren't. ;) I love to shoot some parts of them, but there are other parts that I personally think are useless to pay someone lots of money to shoot.

Lots of people get their aunt/neighbor/dad/cousin who has a good camera to shoot their engagements and bridals, and then they want to hire me to shoot the wedding (or at the temple after the wedding) and the reception. Here's the problem with that: which photos are you sending out for everyone to see? Which photos are you printing up to display? Yep... the engagements and bridals. Doesn't it make sense to put your money towards those?

If you need photos of the actual wedding, then by all means... hire me for that part! You don't want to miss a thing there, and you don't want to leave it to someone who doesn't know what they're doing. Let's talk for a minute about receptions in church gyms... you're not going to get great photos there... the lighting is bad, and it just isn't the place for gorgeous photos you're going to print and hang on your wall. That is the place to get some relative or friend with a point and shoot to capture your memories. Let's talk about family group photos at the temple after the wedding... every relative there is trying to snap the exact same photos I'm setting up with their own cameras... it kind of gets a little ridiculous. (It is, however, a perfect time to hire a photographer to take photos of the couple right after they get married.) I don't want to discourage anyone from doing what they want, and hiring a photographer for what they want with their wedding... but I just wanted to tell it to you straight... because I promise, as your photographer, I'm going to make sure you get the best for your money.

So, this is how I price weddings... it's an a la carte set up, so you can decide where you want to put your wedding budget money.

Engagements: $200
Bridals: $200
Wedding Ceremony: $200
Couple Photos at the Temple: $200
Family Groups at the Wedding or Temple: $200
Reception: $200 (2 hours of coverage, all photos, no editing)

If you want me there for your entire day... to shoot anything and everything you want me to shoot (wedding breakfast, getting ready for the wedding, rehearsal, etc... you might want this:

Complete Package... Engagement Session, Bridal Session, and All-Day Wedding Coverage including all photos (I only edit my favorites, the rest are unedited): $1500

Newborns... Can't Get Enough!!

2011-09-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

I have this thing about newborn sessions... I LOVE the black and white. Love it. I probably edit more black and white than usual for a newborn session, just because I love it so. :)

I think it just takes all the distractions away and makes you really see every single thing that makes a baby so incredibly sweet. Those hands, those ears, those lips.

And it really brings out the emotions in a photo... don't you think?

But then... sometimes the color edits... sigh. I can't get enough of those either!

It makes me want to just pick those babies up and smell them and nuzzle their cheeks.

I guess I won't stop doing color for newborn sessions completely. A bit of both is about perfect, I think. :)

Canoe Love

2011-09-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

Over-Sharing? Impossible!

2011-09-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

I've had so many photos I want to share lately... but how do you not share all of these? How?? Hopefully you enjoy looking at them as much as I do. :)

Dream Session

2011-09-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

You want me to come to your beautiful cabin to photograph your gorgeous family? You want to do pics in the canoe? No need to think on that one... YES!!!

I'm going to have a lot more to share from this session... I can't help myself.

I'll try to wait until tomorrow, though... even though I want to share everything right now!!

More Lullaby... For Those Who So Kindly Ask

2011-09-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lullaby

2011-09-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm having so much fun editing the photos from this newborn session... I can't wipe the smile off my face. He's perfection... sigh. :) Do you know what one of the best things was about this session? I got to rock this little guy to sleep in my arms.

Sisters

2011-09-22T13:41:00.001-07:00

Ryann is Walking!

2011-09-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

How amazing was this idea for a photoshoot? Ryann just learned how to walk... and it was so much fun to capture those wobbly steps. :)

I Heart Faces: A Touch of Sun

2011-09-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

For more great sunshine, head on over to i heart faces!!

Saturday Gone Wrong

2011-09-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

I had such big plans for this Saturday... I was going to get a lot of stuff done, get the boys' room all rearranged and cleaned up (so I could actually do laundry in there without wanting to scream... yes, yes... the laundry room is IN the boys' room... that's what happens when you live in a house that is over 115 years old). Most of all I was just going to have fun and spend time with the family.

Well... the boys are still trying to get along and get their room clean, Brandon is on call and has been working all day, I lost count of how many loads of laundry I've folded, and I'm so so soooo tired. To the bone tired.

Oh well... there will be other Saturdays. :) In the meantime, enjoy looking at this cute little family. :)

Part of My Family

2011-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

This photoshoot was one of my "regulars"... I love love the families that come back to me again and again... the ones that call me up for their yearly family photo, or for milestones in their children's lives. I love watching them grow, and change, and I love seeing the different stages these kids go through. These families are truly "my families".

Last night I had a shoot with a family... our first time together, and we clicked so well, and I just fell in love with them... and then today I got to photograph a sweet little newborn boy and his two adorable sisters... and I fell in love with them too. I realized that when someone is allowing me into their lives like this... to capture who they are... and they are trusting me with something so precious, and so important to them... it's not hard to feel like they're part of "my family", and my heart is automatically opened to them.

It's hard to explain this... but photography for me is so much more than just having a camera and clicking a shutter and taking a picture of someone. It's striving to capture their heart, their relationships, the beauty that they are. I want to capture something that will make people feel. Every time.

Cross Country Prayer

2011-09-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

Feel free to click on the photo to bring it to full resolution... then save and use for whatever you'd like... just please make sure to credit me. :)

How Old Are You, Maylee?

2011-09-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

Exactly. Very good. :)

Families are Forever

2011-09-08T07:17:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Sweet Maylee!

2011-09-07T09:07:00.001-07:00

Feels Like Monday

2011-09-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

That's what happens when you have a wonderful carefree holiday day... you still can't escape the Monday. :)

Love This Face

2011-09-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

Growing Up

2011-09-04T09:15:00.001-07:00

Can I Take Her Home With Me?

2011-09-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Shut. the. Front. Door

2011-09-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

Awhile ago I was watching "What Not to Wear" as I was folding laundry. I love that show, and I really really love Stacy and Clinton. So, this girl walks in, all re-done and Stacy says "Shut. the Front. Door". I loved it. It made me laugh, and I couldn't get it out of my head. So now, whenever I'm taking photos of someone who is looking especially fabulous, I'm saying it in my head. One of these times it might just pop out... thank you, Stacy London.

It's September... in Any Language

2011-09-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

One of the first things I said to my daughter this morning is, "It's September"! And she said, that's funny, because my first thought when I woke up was, "It's Septiembre"! Don't ask me why my daughter wakes up speaking Spanish.

My Day Yesterday

2011-08-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday... it was one of those days that I just lost it a little bit. It started out great... working out at the gym with a friend, going to lunch with another friend... but quickly went downhill. It's kind of funny now, really... but what kind of mom goes to the middle school to pick up her 8th grader (who is now in junior high?) I got all the way to the office, asked for Tyler, waited for her to find him... then realized my blunder. Yes, I was embarrassed. By the time I got to the junior high to check him out for our dentist appointments, the after-school crowd of cars was there. Tyler's reluctance to go and dilly-dallying didn't help the situation, and we had a 35 minute drive ahead of us to do in 20 minutes. Needless to say, we didn't make it in time... and they couldn't get us both in anymore.

Add to that a huge windshield chip, stupid drivers, and life crap just weighing me down, and I wasn't coping very well. Then... I thought Cooper had to go to a birthday party at 6:00. At 6:10 we're rushing to their door, me thinking "who IS this girl who is late to everything?? It can't possibly be me"... just to find out that the birthday party is tomorrow. Yes, I think I've reached my quota of feeling stupid in one day for sure. My house was (is) a mess, and I had apricot picking drama added on top of everything else. I might have cried a little... not because my life is so hard or so bad, but because I feel like silly things like this should be easy for me to handle, and I wasn't handling it well.

Finally I sat down and just edited... I knew that one of the stresses weighing me down was the sessions I have coming up... and knowing that I still had sessions on the editing block was worrying me. It helped... a lot. I loved the little surprises of a great expression, or the light hitting just so. I loved the soothing feeling of going through the photos one at a time, choosing the ones that spoke to me. It lifted some of the weight off to know that I am caught up... for now... but it also made me realize that I have to step back and remember why I do this. Because I love it. Because it is me.

Now, if I could only find my brain...

I Heart Faces... White

2011-08-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

I usually do the "for fun" photography stuff over at my regular blog, but I thought my photography business fans might enjoy seeing the fun too. :)

This bride was exquisitely vintage... I was in love with her whole look!

Head on over to iheartfaces to see some more great entries!

Those In-Between Moments

2011-08-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

I love the times I can capture those in-between moments... like a sleepy little boy just leaning on his mom.

He sees me, but he doesn't care that I'm there. He's not posing. I didn't tell him to do this. These are the moments that make my heart skip a little beat.

Beautiful Jess

2011-08-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Mr. Cutie

2011-08-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ryann Reads Curious George

2011-08-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Nothin' Wrong With a Little Fun

2011-08-25T08:56:00.001-07:00

The Rest of the Family

2011-08-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Remember yesterday's post... with picture overload? Well... it's going to happen again. I'd say that I'm sorry, but I don't think you'll be sad... so I will say... you're welcome. :)

If you were wondering how that baby got to be so cute? Yeah... wonder no longer. Look at these two!!

Happy Birthday Adorable Girl!!

2011-08-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

This is going to be picture overload, but you tell me which ones you'd leave out. See? Impossible. :) Enjoy! I'll have to share more of the family later.

A Day on the Boat

2011-08-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

Wish Upon a Star... Again

2011-08-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this one in b&w too. I think I like the color a little better, but I keep coming back to this one. :)

Wish Upon a Star...

2011-08-20T12:53:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Brightly!

2011-08-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

This photo chokes me up a little bit... these adorable siblings are sending a balloon to heaven to celebrate the first birthday of their angel sister, Brightly. I'm so honored that I got to photograph their special moment. :)

On the Boat

2011-08-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when this family came to me with the idea of family photos on the boat... we had such a fun time, and captured them doing exactly what they love to do together. :)

Smiles at the Park

2011-08-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

My Mady Sunshine

2011-08-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

This girl has called me "one of her moms" ever since I met her... she's just one of those girls that gets in your heart right away, and you never want to let go. She's going to get married, and I was lucky enough to get to shoot some pics of gorgeous Mady & her sweet fiance. Thank you, Mady! Love you. :)

Beauty

2011-08-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Heart Hug

2011-08-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

You can see the love this family has for each other... they even form a heart when they hug. :)

If you are interested in mini sessions, either here in Vernal, or out along the Wasatch Front, scroll down the blog and get all the info! Time is running out. ;)

Back to School Minis in Lindon

2011-08-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

I know this is kind of last minute, but I'm going to be out along the Wasatch Front (yes, again... it's neverending... ;) on Tuesday the 16th. My amazing friend Marci is going to let me do some mini sessions at Fallow Field Farm on that day!! It's such a beautiful little farm... the perfect spot for portraits!

So, here's the deal:

$25 for 5 edited images on a disc.
Yup. Only $25. If you want more than 5 photos, book 2 or more spots. Only individual portraits for this one... no groups please. :)

I'll only be there in the morning, so I won't be able to do a ton of them. Please be right on time for your session. Let me know asap if you're interested, and pass the word along to your friends, please (because if you wait too long, Tuesday will be over. ;)

Back to School Minis

2011-08-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes... shockingly enough it's almost time for school to start again... and time to capture what your child looks like this year. My daughter is going to be a junior in high school... I know, it's impossible. I forced her to let me take a few photos, and I'm going to have to make her do it again when she thinks her "hair is good enough" and "she's wearing the right thing". ;) Actually, I'm not supposed to post these on the blog, but we'll just keep this our little secret, okay? I love them. :)

So, to the point... I'm going to be shooting some back to school minis... because I know that you want more than the standard photo that comes from the school (not knocking those... I just know there's more to capture. ;) You can jump in on this deal even if your kiddos are still too young for "real" school.

I bet you want to know how much... you're going to like this, I promise. :)
$25 for 5 edited images on a disc.
Yup. Only $25. If you want more than 5 photos, book 2 or more spots. Only individual portraits for this one... no groups please. :)

I'll be shooting at my house on these dates and times. Let me know in the comments or email which time you'd like, and I'll put you down. If none of these work for you, let's talk... I will see if I can work something out. :)

Thursday, August 18th
5:00 Lacy
5:15 Lacy
5:30 Lacy
5:45 Meggan
6:00 Meggan

Monday, August 22nd
2:15 Jess
4:00 Nicole
4:15 Cami
4:30 Carrie
4:45 Kristin
5:00

If you want great high quality prints, I've got a deal for this... 8 wallets, an 8x10, or 2 5x7s for $5 each. You can mix and match and add on as you please. Each of them can be a different pose (8 wallets all have to be one pose). This is in addition to the disc you get... so you still have printing rights to print more if you'd like.

Happy Saturday

2011-08-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Newborn Photography

2011-08-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

There are so many different styles of newborn photography... and that's a good thing, really. That way everyone gets to hire the photographer that captures their newborn the way they want. If a photographer shoots newborns differently than how I would that doesn't mean either one of us are wrong or bad... we're just different. :)

I read this article today from an amazing photographer, and I was nodding my head in agreement. Sometimes I see babies put in poses that scare me just looking at the picture. It doesn't feel cute, or natural, or pleasant to me. It feels uncomfortable. There are those who love lots of props and crazy balancing or hanging acts, but please... if you have to do that, be safe!!

I'm a little different with my newborn photography than a lot of photographers. I'm not a big fan of weird nude shots, and I'm not a big fan of unnatural props. A little bit goes a long way with either of those things, I think. I like to capture those things that I remember loving about my babies. The toes, the fingers, the sweet cheeks... the love and adoration in a parent's eyes, the wonder of an older sibling... the more natural things.

Thank goodness for the clients who love what I love and let me capture it all the way I see it. :)

Sweeeeet!

2011-08-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Yeah, this is how I spent my morning. No, not catching air... just catching photos of people catching air. Awesome, huh? I can't wait to show you more of this shoot... but I've got other sessions to do first. :)

A Little Bit of What I've Been Up To

2011-08-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun stuff going on for me and my trusty Nikon lately... here's a little taste. :)

Salt Cycles is revamping their website... and it will now feature photos by... me! Yup. I loved our first shooting session. These guys (and girl :) are so awesome & pretty much the best bike freaks you'll ever meet. If you're ever in Sandy, go in, check out the amazing bikes and say hi to Chris & Amy from me.

I'm working on the editing for this super gorgeous family. The mom told them to wear whatever they wanted to... didn't even specify a color. Can you believe how great their color coordinating turned out? It just goes to show that sometimes the less you plan, the better things go. :)

My brother (who gave me a great start in photography... he patiently taught me the ins and outs of my camera among other things) blessed his new baby boy this last Sunday. I think I need to kiss those cheeks (not my brother's... the baby's, for pete's sake!!)

I got to do a super fun mentoring session with Amy over at Super Healthy Kids. She was so cute and fun... I loved our time together. We got her shooting in manual, and shooting with lots more creativity. She has an amazing blog... I can't wait to use her ideas with my kids! Plus... she got to workout with Bob from Biggest Loser. How freakin' awesome is that??

And what's a post without baby feet? Look at the way her toes curl around the other foot. Too cute!

Well, there's a bit of what I've been doing the last week... remember to let me know if you want a session out along the wasatch front next tuesday... and I'll be posting about my upcoming mini sessions in the next few days, so keep watching!!

Miss Me?

2011-08-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

I was right on track with my once a days... and then went out of town to do a few photoshoots & mentoring sessions and missed a day, darn it. (But oh boy, was it fun!! I'll have to post about those later!) But now I'm back (for a little bit). :)

Tuesday, August 16th, I'll be out shooting again along the Wasatch Front... and this is the last time this summer. So, if you want a mentoring session, a photography session, or whatever, let me know asap! I can fit in a few more while I'm out there.

Also... anyone ready for some mini sessions again? It's been awhile, hasn't it? I've got some ideas brewing... I'll post soon!

Wake Up Call

2011-08-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

I read this blog post this morning... and it really hit home. I am a photographer. I love love love taking photos, yet I rarely take any of my own kids. I have no photos of my kids printed in my home (gasp. I know! I've been meaning to forever, but I'm stuck at which ones to print, and I'm being stupidly indecisive). My kids are growing up so fast, and I know I'm going to eat up every photo I have of them when they were little. I vow to change that. I'm going to try to post a new photo of one of my own kids on here at least a couple of times a month. You heard me... now I've got to do it. :)

Number Five

2011-08-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

My sweeter than sweet friend Katie just had her fifth baby... in like, 5 years. She's such an inspiration, and the best mommy you'll ever see.

I loved loved loved that I went to her house to photograph the newest little angel and when I asked if there was anything in particular that she wanted from the session, Katie said, you do your thing. I always love what you do. And she let me hold, gaze, sigh, smile, and snap pictures of her baby for the next little while. It was heaven.

I'm hoping she has at least a dozen babies... and that I get to photograph every one of them. :)

Rain

2011-08-04T09:13:00.001-07:00

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.

Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

Gilbert K. Chesterton

Little Boys

2011-08-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

For you see, each day I love you more

Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

~Rosemonde Gerard

That Little Smile

2011-08-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,

yet we forget that she is someone today.

-Stacia Tauscher

Day at the Park

2011-08-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very

splendid or wonderful or exciting happens,

but just those that bring simple little pleasures,

following one another softly,

like pearls slipping off a string.

-L.M. Montgomery