A Perry Happy Birthday

I had the privilege of meeting David Perry last December.  He's an incredibly talented videographer and an amazing person.  I am most impressed with how he treats the bride and groom through the wedding process.  He views the wedding day as a celebration of the marriage and the beginning of a new family, not just a big production and another day at work.  He is one of the rare few who is actually successful at doing what's best for the client, not just for himself.  You cannot find a more genuinely caring and nice individual.  If you are looking for videography, or just need another blog to stalk, do yourself a favor and check out David Perry Films.
I had the opportunity to hang out with his family to photograph his youngest son's first birthday party.

David's wife Danielle made this beautiful cake herself, and the rest of the decorations were hand carved! Oh, to be that crafty one day....

You can already tell Hudson has the camera bug.  In a few years, maybe he'll be shooting your wedding!   :D

Warner Family

The Warner family was a joy to shoot, as they were a group made up entirely of good-looking adults who were easy to give direction to, and babies who were absolutely adorable.  I seriously could have shot the older baby all day!  She was so photogenic and just unbearably CUTE that I was tempted to try and make a break for it with her!

Happiness and lots of light make for a good family portrait! You can see the entire Warner family gallery here.

Just look at this face.  My heart just melts looking at her expression....

Baby Benton

Charlene's wedding photos turned into maternity photos which turned into baby photos.  Now she has a beautiful son, Benton.

Baby Sofia

Every once in a while for one child I will do a "mini-session".  There are advantages and disadvantages in the shorter time frame, but it's amazing how much variety you can get in expressions and moods from a kid in 30 minutes.  Fortunately, Sofia tended towards the happy-playful-curious variety instead of the unhappy-crying-tantrum side, so she was a dream to shoot.

Maggie

We scheduled a shoot for Maggie and family, but did a mini-shoot of just Maggie a week earlier for her 1 year photos.

Charlene

Some of you might remember Charlene, my very first bride. I shot her wedding a year and a half ago on February 13th (Friday the 13th!), and recently had the privilege to work with her again.

It so much fun to see my clients after they get married, as they grow as a family. Sometimes, they just grow and grow and grow and grow! These photos were taken just a couple of weeks before Charlene gave birth to her beautiful baby boy, Benton. I know you're all thinking "Did she give birth at five months? Was he premature?" Nope. A full-term baby, Benton was born after nine months. ....And his mom fit into size 0 jeans for her maternity shoot.

Charlene was asked to model for a maternity clothes company a few months before this. She jokes that she's the only person in the world who is a better model when she's pregnant. I'm secretly jealous- she's gorgeous!

Take a look at the entire gallery here.

Studio Day Minipost #6- Baby Lindy (Hop)

I first met Alan and Lexi at a local dance event (actually, it was all part of the same dance community where I met Thomas). We both danced Lindy Hop, a classic social dance that started in the 20s and 30s and is still going strong today. It's also the form of dance known for "exchanges", a wonderful tradition where dancers fly or drive to cities (often across the country) with other dance communities and stay up all night for several days to dance nonstop. Aside from being an excuse to take road trips and dress up in vintage clothes with people as crazy as you are, the idea is that dancing with people from all different places, with all different styles, will make you a better dancer. Lindy Hoppers like to dance anywhere, with anyone, as much as possible, so even when there wasn't an exchange to attend, Alan went dancing at local venues every week. It was at another venue here in Utah that he met Lexi, who originally started out primarily dancing West Coast swing, before she got hooked on Lindy Hop. They got married and shortly thereafter they had a beautiful little girl. Although I'm always thrilled to have more babies to shoot, something was extra great about this one. Really, what is more appropriate a name for the daughter of two passionate Lindy Hop dancers than "Lindy"?
She is beautiful.

So is her mom.

This may not be a vintage skirt, but she does look excited about the whole dancing-exchange-road-trip idea. She definitely has the sleep deprivation thing down.

By the way, I promise that while I love crying babies, this is not intentional.
Really.
(But it is darling.)

Is it bad that I want to pack her up in this and run away with her?

I won't though, I guess.
...Swing dancers are fast.
For the full gallery, click here.

Studio Day Minipost #4- Baby Bridger

Aaaaand a little over a month after the actual event, I'm still finishing up these mini-posts from the studio photography day. I thought by keeping them "mini" I'd get them done faster. No dice. Between the preparations for the Provo Bridal Fair last Saturday and all the engagement and bridal shoots for the weddings that are coming up in May and June, I've been swamped! le sigh...
Anyways, here are a few photos of little baby Bridger. He is the new addition to Liz Chapman's family, and this is actually the third time I have taken photos of him. I took photos of him as a newborn as well as before he was even named! By the by, you can click here for the full gallery.

I love the lighting in this one, and how he's just curled up in the basket with Teddy...

I've said it before, but I love love love baby photos where they are crying or in some kind of distress. Should I be concerned about this? :)

Such beautiful clear blue eyes...

Studio Day Minipost #3- Baby Lina

Gotta love the baby blessing dress....
Who's ready for a picnic?


I love crying baby photos.... LOVE THEM.

Lina's older brother Xander came along and wanted his photo taken.... he was pretty happy about seeing all the flashes go off.

Take a look at more photos from this gallery at smugmug here.