Kids

Happy Halloween

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  I love holidays.  My favorites are the ones that center around food - Thanksgiving and Christmas - but each has a special role.  Halloween to me is all about being a kid.  It's not so much any more about being scared (I never watch the scary movies anyway), but it's about make-believe, becoming something really really cool, and mostly, it's about candy.  Seriously, we dress up our kids as fictional characters (or sometimes real) and run door to door demanding candy.  How much better can it get?

 

I don't have kids of my own yet, so I left a Facebook post saying I'd take costume pictures of anyone who stopped by this afternoon.  And I had a few takers.

 

A knight.  (Can you see his biceps?  They're in there somewhere!)

 

 

 

A shy Cheetah.

 

 

 

I have to be honest, I'm not totally sure what this kid was dressed up as.  But he had a really cool gun.  And a great laugh.

 

 

 

An angry bird!  The funny thing is, I saw 8 or 9 angry bird this year for Halloween.  These kids don't even know who Mario and Luigi are, I guess I'm getting old :)

 

Cinderella.                                                                                                             And Yoda he is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evans Family- Portraits at Nielsen's Grove

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  I loved this shoot!  Some of the cutest kids I've ever seen, and Lindzey and Branden were the perfect clients.  When I asked them what they were looking for in their family portrait session, they said they wanted one or two traditional photos, and then they just wanted to have fun.  PERFECT.

 

 

Ok, now it's time to play!

 

  

 

Ashton is still working on the power chords.  He does like to rock out on the ukulele though.

 

 

See this?  This is the kind of shoot that I just love.  Fun, relaxed, and a bit silly.

 

  

 

And now, for the piece de resistance.... this is quite possibly my favorite family photo that I have ever taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate & Sofia

in ,

  I shot these two little cousins last fall when we did their extended family portrait session.  This spring shoot was just for them, however.

Their outfits were adorable, but it was definitely a cold spring day and Sofia wasn't especially excited about the process.  I still think her little crying face is really cute though!

Kate was a bit more stoic about the tempurature.

After all was said and done, I loved this little girl!  She was so cute- the perfect picture of a happy, inquisitive toddler.

Sofia had some happier moments as well, usually when Momma was around.

Check out Sophia's photos here and Kate's photos here.

To finish it off, I want to share what might be the greatest expression ever.  When I looked at this photo, I was reminded of how I used to feel when my parents kissed at the dinner table in front of us. Ewwwwwwwwww!

 

 

 

 

 

Old Friends

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We came to Las Vegas to shoot Alexandra & Tyrel's engagements (they will be saying "I do" today, congratulations you two), but also had the privilege of doing portraits for old friends.  Buzz and Cheri were lindy hoppers back in our glory days, and they have now settled in Las Vegas - with two kids full of personality!  They were kind of enough to let us stay with them that weekend and we are so grateful!  

Now, here's the sappy story and a bit of insight into my past:  Thomas and I dated for about 2 years, with a couple hiccups along the way.  About a year in, Cheri and I had a heart-to-heart and she decided that I was in love.  But no!  I wasn't ready to admit that... well, at least for a couple more months.  When I look back at that time, though, I think she was right.  I should probably give her 10% credit that we eventually got married.  And I'm glad for the kick in the pants to start thinking more seriously.  After all, I not only got a husband, but I got a voice-controlled-light-stand.  Who could ask for more?  The truth is, as a person, and as a photographer, I'd be nothing without him.

Jonathan and Zak were so much fun and full of energy.  Reminds me of the craziness and rewarding moments I can I look forward to when I have my own.

Click to see Jonathan's, Zak's, or The Family's photos.

 

 

 

 

Floppy hats, Picnic baskets, and Swedish stuff

in ,

Soooooooo... this was clearly not taken in November.  I was reviewing the photos from this year, and I realized one of my favorite family shoots ever didn't make it onto the blog.  So five months later, here it is.

On a side note- we decided to try something different and shot everything nearby one of my favorite stores ever- IKEA.  I love everything in Ikea, but beware...  the store is Dangerous.  With a capital D.  I plan to run in and grab a $5 thingamajigger, and, of course, I walk out with a pallet cart having spent $300.  I walk inside for a 10 minute errand, and before I realize it 3 hours have passed.  It's the Bermuda Triangle of retail.

I've been lucky enough to shoot Zoey several times now, and I think I can literally say that I have never come across a more naturally photogenic baby.  She is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. I hope one day to have a baby girl with eyes half as gorgeous as Zoey's.