I am a camera carrying, yoga loving, small town girl living in the city running amok. I photograph everything under the Sun and now I blog about it too.
I love these little girls and I love these photos. We had so many discussions on where to take the photos and what the back drop was going to be. Did we want urban, rural, trees, grass or rustic dessert? I stressed and stressed about it, and I’m so pleased with the out come.
It’s no secret I love my job, I can’t say that enough and clients like these girls are why. During our time together I got to know each one of them and fell in love with each of them and their unique personalities. Hopefully they will remember the session as fondly as I do.
As the sun set the light changed as did the trees, what a great session...
Cam threw herself on the bed saying, "I wish I was Sleeping Beauty. I wish I was Sleeping Beauty"...
This week I photographed these adorable kiddos, we had so much fun! Lucky for me this in not the first time I’ve worked with this adorable family. In the past I think I’ve referred to them as The Sunshine Family (it was a coloring book I had as a child). Not only have they been wonderful clients but they referred me another families I’ve loved, loved working with!!
When I was gathering props for their session I realized I still had a basket we placed Cam in when she was a newborn. She is now an adorable four year old with a two year old brother. Walking in to be reintroduced to them, I felt as they took to me like I had been there yesterday. Sweet Cam shared her breakfast with me and Lil’ Guy picked half Mom’s potted plant trying to give me a flower.
As you can see we had a very successful session. The kiddos were so good, I didn’t realize how many photos I had taken of them. There is such a difference when photographing adults compared to photographing kids. When I leave a session like this I’m so wiped out (usually pretty hungry too). But while I’m there I am so caught up in the moment and everything these innocent little creatures have to say and share with me nothing else matters. Working with children is truly something to be cherished and I will always be grateful for.
Occasionally I get asked what type of session is my favorite, wedding, kids, adults etc. Genuinely can not say I have a favorite, all offer me something distinctly different. I will say my clients, big and small are part of what makes my life so satisfying.
**PS if you know this family don't mention the photos to Daddy, they are a surprise!**
Cam threw herself on the bed saying, "I wish I was Sleeping Beauty. I wish I was Sleeping Beauty"...
This week I photographed these adorable kiddos, we had so much fun! Lucky for me this in not the first time I’ve worked with this adorable family. In the past I think I’ve referred to them as The Sunshine Family (it was a coloring book I had as a child). Not only have they been wonderful clients but they referred me another families I’ve loved, loved working with!!
When I was gathering props for their session I realized I still had a basket we placed Cam in when she was a newborn. She is now an adorable four year old with a two year old brother. Walking in to be reintroduced to them, I felt as they took to me like I had been there yesterday. Sweet Cam shared her breakfast with me and Lil’ Guy picked half Mom’s potted plant trying to give me a flower.
As you can see we had a very successful session. The kiddos were so good, I didn’t realize how many photos I had taken of them. There is such a difference when photographing adults compared to photographing kids. When I leave a session like this I’m so wiped out (usually pretty hungry too). But while I’m there I am so caught up in the moment and everything these innocent little creatures have to say and share with me nothing else matters. Working with children is truly something to be cherished and I will always be grateful for.
Occasionally I get asked what type of session is my favorite, wedding, kids, adults etc. Genuinely can not say I have a favorite, all offer me something distinctly different. I will say my clients, big and small are part of what makes my life so satisfying.
**PS if you know this family don't mention the photos to Daddy, they are a surprise!**
By chance we had some left over wood from our home office remodel to make this dog house facade!
My dear neighbor helped the kids with adopting their puppies!
Water balloon toss is always a highlight.
It's a blurry photo but the kids look so animated!
Mark kept throwing balloons "to" my handsome twin bro.
Best game of the day, who can pick up the most water balloon pieces.
Puppy Chow Cake!
One of the fews ddays that there will be an overload of sweets in our house!
So many adorable toothless grins.
Most of the kids at the party and their adopted puppies.
In lieu of gifts Presley asked for toys and supplies for dogs in the shelter.
Every year Presley has three different birthday party's, it sounds excessive but let me explain. I like to have one party for her and her cousins, another for family friends and a party for her school friends. This way I feel she and her guests get to spend time together and it's more enjoyable for all. We tend to do the same stuff each year at each party.
We don't tend to make any of the parties big elaborate events. The cousin's party is dinner and cake, family friends is a sleep over with four friends (this year they went to free event at ASU) and school party is at our home. The school party is always a bigger party because there are a lot more kids than any other of her parties.
This is the first year we had a theme, Presley's Puppy Paw-ty. We had stuffed puppies available for adoption as the kids arrived. We had a dog house for the kids to take a photo with them and their puppy. We served hot dogs and all sorts of puppy desserts. The desserts were shaped as puppies, some were dog bones and we had puppy chow cake and cupcakes. I thought about making some of this myself but the gal we had do them was priced so well (and tasty) I decided to let the professional do it.
Like the previous year we played traditional party games, pin the tail on the donkey (this year it was on the puppy), a water balloon toss and we had a pinata. I was tickled when one of the boys that attended the party both years ran up to me and said, "when are we going to decorate cookies?". As you may have guessed last year we decorated cookies as the guests arrived.
One game that we added was darts! When I first started to ask Presley what type of party she wanted to have she asked if they could play darts. Her summer cousins father have a dartboard in their garage, Presley apparently thought it would be a great party game! I was not really on board until I spoke to a friend and found out there is such a thing as magnetic dart boards... With so many kids we could not play a full game of darts so we had them line up and throw two darts at a time trying to get the best score. I can only imagine what some of the parents thought when the kids went home to tell them they played darts. One of the little boys cousin apparently lost his eye playing darts...
Presley asked me when we were in the planning stage of her party if we could ask guests to bring toys for needy kids. Then as we discussed the party and theme the idea of gifts for dogs in a dog shelter seemed like a better fit! As the day approached I was worried Presley would regret not asking for gifts for herself. But thankfully she did not, she enjoyed opening the gifts for the dogs. And with the few gifts mixed in from us, my parents, uncles and some friends she seemed quite happy.
Let me start by saying, my photos tell the story better than I can...
Presley is in Payson for horseback riding camp during her Spring Break. Today was her first day, we stayed to watch part of her lesson... My heart is so full. Seeing her on the horse, with her horse... There was no denying this is where she is meant to be... That's all... Feeling so proud and tickled that she's having this experience!
I already feel like I'm missing an appendage (being home without her) but I know it's worth it...
Presley drew, puppy love. Not exactly "right" for the contest but hey she wanted in!
Heart reflection, found by Presley.
From a recent wedding I photographed.
A photo from the reception.
It's been a long time since I posted. The time away has been for good reason, my business has been doing very well, my family life is happily fulling and I've found a few hours to work on quilting, crafting and calligraphy. All these activities have contributed to my time away from my blog, but it is something that I’ve missed. Writing is a practice that prompts me to stop and reflect, slow down and try to understand and digest events in my life. It’s an important part of my life experience... I plan on writing lots more this year so stay tuned...
Without going into too much back story, I have taken part in this contest started by Drew Barrymore. She has a new bood out where she has photographed everyday objects that she has found a heart abstractly within. All you have to do to take part is to post your photos on Instagram using the hashtag: finditineverything. If you’ve looked at the photos above you will see that all of them are photos where Presley or I have found a heart in some sort of object or reflection.
Now I have to admit a part of me giggles every time I enter a contest because who wins this stuff?! Definitely not me... But if I put those pesky self-conscious thoughts aside I allow myself (and Presley) to enjoy a small but positive experience together... At first I just thought the contest would be fun to win, but now I’m thankful that for at least a week now Presley and I have found even more love in the world we share... And now that I think about it... I don't even know what it is that you win. ? She had me a photography!
Our Tree... Still looking for the right tree topper.
I have little elves that help me decorate.
And others that play around in the tree.
We all love the unique ornaments we've recieved through the years. ASU ornament from my parents.
From Grammy Sue and Pop Pop.
Pine cones from we picked with Lala & Papa Joe.
This beautiful Silver Leaf (it's a real grape leaf) from The Pence Family... The star is also a paper star I made a few Christmas's ago.
Our first snow globe from The Lopez Family. I love it!
Last years Christmas cards.
Presley had a small tree in her room but it broke. This year I surprised her with a 5 ft tree for her room.
This year I got Mark a big chair for Christmas (an early surprise)! Until now we've had a small (beautiful) amish chair I had since college. I loved it, but it was always hard for Mark or anyone over 6 ft. to sit in comfortably...
I wanted to share a few ideas I had for decorating. You may be on idea overload from Pinterest, but these are just things I feel are easy and work for me. I've tried a few Pinterest projects only to fail miserably.
1. Random decorations. I love having a Christmas tree theme so I struggled on how to use ornaments we received as gifts. Once Presley was old enough to start grabbing ornaments I started hiding them in near the base of our tree. This kept her from taking them and breaking them. Finding them has turned into a fun game we still play... I do wish I figured this out before the first few were broken!
2. Use objects from your surroundings or travels. Everywhere we go Presley comes back with treasures and I do too. On our trips to the beach we have sea glass, sea shells and sometimes sand. On our trips to the mountains we have pine cones and drift wood. Oh and rocks from every where, just haven't found a way to decorate with those! I digress... Where was I... Oh! We now have pine cones from Payson, Rancho Santa Fe and San Francisco! They are apart of our memories and apart of our decor (with a story). Not to mention free and seriously prettier than anything I've seen in a store.
3. Photos from Christmas Past. I place these images through out the house during this time of year. It's an easy way to to send your heart and mind back to the previous years. One of my favorite photos is of my nephew Dominic and myself, he must of been 7 or 8 months old. Looking at that picture I can remember that day vividly.
4. Children's Art. I really go crazy with all the art Presley comes home with. When she was little I decided I would only keep the art that was made for the holidays. I knew I could use these year after year and not just have stuffed in a overflowing drawer. Plus I think you'll enjoy these in the future.
5.Old Holiday cards. So it seems that I'm not the only one that has a hard time getting out my Christmas cards in a timely fashion. I love to display them but some years I get them and a week later it's time to take down the decorations. I also never wanted to toss them but didn't know what I'd do with them. Now I keep them and use them for decorations the following year. So from day one my card area looks full and colorful and I love to see how my friends kiddos have changed from year to year!
6. Homemade decorations. Crafts are something I've always loved but not everyone does. So make them simple! Stay away from Pinterest! I made the garland on the tree from burlap and string. I make a simple paper link garland in the past (in college and once with Presley). I made red paper stars a few years ago, when our tree didn't have enough color and I'm still using them! I've used paper snowflakes and origami boxes out of maps to cover white lights. None of which I saw on Pinterest but all things I learn to do as a child, sometimes I did have to YouTube to teach myself again!...
Whatever you do have fun! And if you have any rock decorating ideas please share.
This photo is a little wonky. I had to shoot from below to avoid the reflection.
The original photo.
*click on any of the images to be directed to her Facebook page.*
This is a post I have been saving for a time closer to the holidays, and here we are- the middle of October. As much as I do not want to wish the days away the sooner I get holiday gifts out of the way the more I can enjoy my holiday. Plus I don’t like giving gifts for the sake of giving gifts. We all cherish gift giving because of the thought put into them, right?
My friend Calie Kilpatrick is an incredible artist, mother and woman. I first became aware of her art a few years ago when she posted some of her drawings on Facebook (one of the great things about FB). She is extraordinarily humble about her talent and on how wonderful her work is.
Art is a very hard way to A. earn a living and B. finding a true value of. Artist are often their worst and hardest critics and it is a job where you’re constantly putting out your work for others to judge and place value on, when there is really no right or wrong way to do art. That is part of the reason I wanted to write about her. Calie’s works hard on her art and I wanted to celebrate her for that. I admire the fact she has pursued her passion when I’m sure at times it seems so easy to give up.
During my studies of art history, during my travels and just my love of the past I thought how cool that people use to commission artists to do paintings and drawings. “Too bad I’ll never have that”, then it occurred to me that I in fact do have a chalk drawing my 1st grade teacher Mrs. Nancy Bingham did of me (hanging in Presley’s room). This then gave me the idea of having one done of Presley...
Earlier this year I finally had the drawing Calie did of Presley framed and hung. I love it. She took a photo I did of Presley when I was learning to use my first digital camera and made a beautiful chalk drawing. Presley was a year old...
Check out Calie’s art page, share it with others support the arts, art makes the world a better place to be. Thank you Calie for sharing your talent and for your desire to master your craft. I am lookingforward to seeing more of your work.
Last minute photo idea for the 4th. She's too cute so the photos just work!
Every summer I look forward to taking a July 4th photo of Presley. It's always been one of my favorite holidays and a time I look forward to. This year I had lost track of time and realized late on the 2nd that I still hadn't take my photo or planned it. What I did know is that I wanted to share some images of a photographer that I admire, Robert Frank.
In the late 1950's Robert Frank released a book, The Americans. The images show the clash in the idea of the 1950's optimism with class and racial realities. At the time the images were not well received, it was so different than what was popular at the time...
The images speak to me and I wanted to share a few.
I always look forward to photographing Charlie. I've taken his photo every year for the past three years. Each spring I start to wonder if I'll hear from his mom and each year I do I'm pleased! She always dresses Charlie in the most adorable outfits and she is open pretty much all of my ideas. Both of those things are part of the recipe for a great photo session.
This year Charlie turned 4 and was a lot more talkative than I've ever seen him. I asked him if he remembered me, he didn’t but it didn’t matter. From the moment he arrived at our location to meet me he was comfortable and had stories to tell. The time we spent together is so special to me, I love seeing this little guy grow.
Taking photos is what I love to do but connecting with my clients is what makes it worth doing.