In My Own Backyard

As you may remember, I've been visiting all the National Parks, with a plan to photograph all of them by 2020.  This has been an incredible adventure, a chance to prove the world is a beautiful place, to really open my eyes and share it!  But every time I travel, I am even more impacted by coming home.  I get to rediscover my own backyard, to see it as though I had traveled miles to get here.  I have mountains as a backdrop to my life!  How much better does it get?  

 

Well, this particular Sunday, I visited a place I knew well, somewhere I often shot for engagement photos.  3 or 4 years ago when I lived in Utah County, Utah Lake was one of my favorite sunset locations.  I had no clue it was a State Park at the time.  In fact, I had NEVER even visited or photographed it other than during an engagement or bridal session.  I got to explore somewhere I'd already been, but never really seen.  To discover something I already knew, but never acknowledged.  I sat on the rocks and wrote, I walked, dipped my toes in the water, watched the clouds move across the sky.  I even started singing songs!  It's inspiring to be surrounded my nature like this.

 

Family Photos

Thank you so much for all the submission in our contest.  We have chosen the top 10, and from now until Thursday morning, you can vote on our Facebook page.

And now, today's post:  a mini session of a mother with her 4 kids at a park.  This location was dynamite!  It's the Novell Children's Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove.  Made me want to move to Pleasant Grove when I have kids.  A great place for photos, but also just a great place to play!!  Amy wanted to do these photos as a Christmas present for her husband.

 

My favorite thing about this shoot was how much they loved to laugh!  Amy is a wonderful mom and it's just awesome to see such a happy family.

See more of their photos here.

Kandis & Greg - Part 1 (Formals at Sleepy Ridge)

  Kandis and Greg were married yesterday!  I loved getting to hang out with them and their families. I could completely tell where Kandis and Greg got it from, because each of their families were as cool as they were.  They are just some of the nicest, relaxed, and genuinely positive people I have ever met.

 

We actually did a two part formals shoot for Kandis and Greg, and the first part was where the reception was to be, at the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course Reception Center.  I believe I have already mentioned how much I love this venue- it's absolutely gorgeous!

We did a "first look" with Kandis and Greg in the upstairs ballroom, or the "Sunset Room".  For LDS weddings in particular, a formals session that includes a first look can be a huge advantage, and a source of some fantastic memories.  At the beginning of the photoshoot, we'll set up the groom and then let the bride come out and turn him around.  Because it's just us, we can take all the time we need and get some great photos of the groom seeing his future bride for the first time in her dress.  It's awesome, and I can't recommend it high enough if you get the opportunity.   Greg and Kandis were particularly cute with their first look.  Greg just looked completely dumbstruck, and they both took their time together, just enjoying the moment.  I'm pretty sure they actually forgot Thomas and I were there for a bit- and I loved it!

Because Thomas and I met dancing and it was such a huge part of our lives for so long, we are both suckers for a really beautiful (and danceable!) wood floor.  The floors in the Sunset Room are to die for.  And the really high arched ceilings aren't too bad either... ;)

Sleepy Ridge not only has this gorgeous reception hall, but being right on the golf course means there are some really great views for outdoor shots as well.  As it happened, we got some really wild colors in the sky that night, and the wide open vistas were really able to show them off.

  

One of my favorite times to shoot is what my friend Kenneth Linge calls the "blue hour".  It's the time right after sunset where the reds, oranges, and yellows have all gone, and we just start getting these deep blues in the sky.  It's so romantic, and just creates a mood that you can't really get any other time of day.

  

Congratulations Kandis and Greg!  You guys were so fabulous to work with yesterday, and I hope you have a fantastic honeymoon in Las Vegas!   I'll be posting part two of the formals shoot from the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square tomorrow, so be sure and check them out.

It's a boy!

  Elizabeth just had a beautiful baby boy, and we did a maternity shoot less than a week before she was due.  She was lovely, and brought her beautiful family along!

  

  

  

This photo reminds me of something.... something awesome.

For anyone who hasn't seen this... you're welcome.  To everyone else who has seen it already... you should watch it again.

Shereen and Wayne: Utah County Engagements

  

   

Gardner Family

  The Gardners recently had an addition to their family and we had the opportunity to help them update their family photos.

This picture of Sam and Katie just made my heart melt.... Sam seems like an awesome big brother.

We told the kids that if they were good they'd get a treat at the end.  :)

Diamonds are this girl's best friend

I love being a photographer.  I get to meet new people, hear their stories, and find a way to best portray their personalities through the photos.  It's a challenge, and it's always something new.  

When planning engagement ideas with Danica, she had no doubt in her mind that we'd need some on a baseball diamond.  Both she and her fiance are devout followers of this American game.  Ryan said "think of the most baseball obsessed guy you've ever met, then think of the biggest Red Sox fan.  Combine those two and you've got me."

So on the shoot, I was searching for ways to perfectly show this part of their relationship.  And I got it.  Literally screamed for joy when I got this photo.  Between the sky, the lights, their pose... it was perfect.  So I had to share right away!  You can look forward to a post with the rest of their photos next week.

Brides & Baseball

Brittany and Jordan got married in the LDS Timpanogos Temple January 29th.  We lucked out a got a beautifully sunny and warm day for mid-winter. It makes it a little easier to have those natural smiles when you are not worried about your extremities freezing and falling off!

We actually got through the entire wedding day without realizing the entire baseball significance for Brittany's family.  Brittany's brother, Bryce Harper, was the 2010 first round draft pick and plays for the Washington Nationals, and her other brother Brian is a pitcher for the South Carolina Gamecocks.  We just kept seeing this bat floating around!

I loved this wedding because the people in it were so expressive.  It makes it a lot more like just hanging out with friends and recording what they happen to be doing as opposed to "I'm-here-to-shoot-the-wedding-so-stand-straight-everyone-hands-in-pockets-now-SMIIIIILE!"

Brittany and Jordan were great to work with, and we got a great variety of emotions in the few minutes we had for newlywed photos before the reception.

Check out the entire wedding and all the full galleries here.