White Out

One of my favorites things during the Christmas season is snow. When I was a little girl I would love to watch the snow falling, as we would drive home on Christmas Eve from my Grandmas' house. I still love that peaceful feeling as we drive and can see snowflakes falling in the street lights. When my sister asked for me to do her pictures I could tell I was in a "White Christmas" Mood. I was thrilled to be able to use my new white background! I love the mood this creates for both pictures, and it helps to have such a beautiful person in the pictures! Thanks A for being such a sport, even with all my crazy instructions!

As we approach closer to Christmas, I am grateful that this was my last session before the holiday. We are not only looking forward to Santa coming at our house, but for the birth of our third child. The last blog of the holiday will be our Christmas Card, so look for that in a couple of days! I hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful Holiday!

Wishes Coming True

As I wrote the title of this blog, I thought about how cheesy it sounds, and that I should have singing mice prancing about, but really the wish that came true was mine. For so long I have wanted to do a family session down at this location, I just have not had the opportunity. When T called and asked me to do her family session I knew that I had the perfect family for the location. This family has such a posh look about them, I knew the cold mountains would not do them justice. It was such a joy to do their family picture. I had to include the picture of the parents, because I love seeing how in love they are! Thanks T & T for letting me have so much fun...even if I did make T do a little too much "pole dancing"!

Happy Turkey Day!

I have to say, I really love my job. I love being apart of your family memories. Thank you so much to all of my clients who allow me to help create their family memories. The A family was such a treat to photograph. Even though we were locked out of the first location, and then bumped from our second, they were real troopers. I still can not believe that we were up in the mountains of Bountiful, and we still have no snow! I feel like the picture season has been really extended, and it has been nice for the last minute family sessions. The A family really dressed well. Knowing what to wear can always be the biggest thing for family pictures, and I just love how well this family pulled it off. Way to go guys! The sun seemed to set earlier than we would have liked so stay tuned for more of the A family coming up in another posting...

I really feel like these images speak for themselves. Little J was the easiest baby to photograph. He slept when we wanted, and had the greatest expressions. I am so proud of both parents. The baby room that they have is done in all giraffes, so it will be fun to see little J incorporated into his own room! I love you three. Congratulations on your cute little bundle!

As a little reminder:

Reorders for Christmas are due by Monday December 1!

Wedding Bliss

What a gorgeous day for a wedding! I couldn't have been more thrilled with the outcome. I don't know what the degrees were on November 1st, but wow, it felt like a nice spring day, and not the start of winter. Usually I would expect to have snow on the ground, but it was wonderful to still have Autumn leaves on the trees. I had so much fun doing this wedding. I can honestly say this is the first wedding where I had to be in some of the pictures, as well as take them. I found it really amusing to bounce roles. My Mom came down to the pre-reception pictures to take the shots I had to be in, and like I have said to all family groups "parents don't talk to your kids" well, you would think I would know better, but my mom had to "Heather, don't talk" a couple of times.

I know that a lot of people had to work really hard for this wedding, and it was a great success! Way to go D&B. T&T, C&A, and K&L! And mostly, it was so great to have had the new S couple! I couldn't have had such a great time these past couple months if it hadn't been for the both of you. Thank you for humoring me so many times. It was an awesome experience.

Something in the Water

Wow, three sisters pregnant at the same time! There is a baby due in November, December, and January. It is going to be one busy family! There are already three grand kids in this family, so I know their Nana is excited to have her grand babies double by the first of the year, and they are all boys too! She keeps saying that her three wise man are joining the family for the holidays. What a great time of year to have babies!

It was such a neat experience to be the person in front of the camera. It was hard to give up the control of pushing the button, But A & S did a great job! The best part for me was taking pictures of them individually. They are beautiful women, and just as beautiful with their cute little bellies! Thank you so much D and J for letting me have some extra fun! You are wonderful!

To Veil or not to Veil...

I don't think I could have more fun at these bridals. We took these on October 4, when it was pouring rain all day. I thought for sure the weather would be typical Utah rain, (let up every five minutes) but it just never seemed to quit. I am glad that a downpour of rain didn't stop this couple. We had a blast going in and out of the capital building. Before we had the bridal session the bride really contemplated not having a veil. Well, I think the pictures speak for themselves on how wonderful she looks, and her veil really adds to her whole look. Also, when I asked her if the groom was joining us for the bridals she looked at me like I was crazy for wanting to break tradition. Later she called me and told me how she wanted him there. I told her he would be a great "accessory" to her ensemble. Honestly, I think he couldn't have been more wonderful to have in these pictures. If anyone is thinking about whether or not to have their groom in their bridals, remember that he gets to see you in your dress for more than just a couple hours on your wedding day, and I promise, if I can't get that perfect smile from you, he will be able to!

Deadlines

When I took my children's pictures last week, my main thought was on Christmas Cards. Now I was thinking of the Cook family Christmas Card, but I did realize that I need to get some deadlines out there so everyone knows what to expect for the holiday season.

Sessions done for Christmas reorders need to be taken by November 20, 2008

Christmas Reorders are due by November 30, 2008

The last sessions I can book for the year will be December 20, 2008

If you have any special requests or questions, please let me know soon, so we can get those dates on the calendar.
Well the pictures of my children are a slight sneak peek at our family Card this year. I didn't want to give away images from the card, so I am posting some of Adam's favorites. (Expect an unveiling of our Holiday after Thanksgiving) I debated about whether or not to put the first image on my blog. I know how sad they look, but I just couldn't take my eyes off the image. I keep thinking about words to describe it and I can't even do that. If anyone has any suggestions on how they would title the picture I would love to hear it. The other two pictures are to reassure everyone that it is possible to get heartwarming smiles from any child!

Rushing It

Normally when I take a photo session, my goal is to process the photo, and go through them and blog my favorites. Well, this wonderful couple is getting married the first of November, and she really wanted fall leaves. So we pushed having their engagement session until the last possible minute, and on September 20th, we had the session, and they had to make their final decision two days later so we could get everything done for the printer. So, in my rushing it (not the session, the processing) I didn't get to take the time to find my favorites. Well my opinion kind of changed as I went back and looked at the photos, and I decided I would share a little of everyone's favorites. So I love the first one, the mother of bride loves the second, and the bride loves the third. The one thing I love about every picture is that they tell a story about the two of them and how truly in love they are.

I am particulary fond of the bride, because she is my wonderful sister-in-law, who has always made me feel so much like a sister. Which leads me to thank my in laws for having me take the pictures. It is so fun to take pictures with people who trust me so much with such priceless memories. Thank you for everything. I know even with "Rushing It" The C family is going to have a remarkable wedding!

Say "CHEESE"

I have been thinking a lot about why we ever use the word CHEESE when it comes to getting our children to smile. I know I have had this conversation with other photographers, but I don't think anything could be funnier then a picture of a two year saying the word "Cheese." Even now I know you are saying it to yourself, or thinking of your child saying it, and your eyes are squinting and your mouth is abnormally wide, so why did this become the phrase to make our children smile? I am guilty of saying that I have even said it my own children, but now I wish I could put out a ban on first time parents teaching their kids "say cheese" to smile. Now that I have a rambled I will make my point. As a photographer, and as my many years of being a photographer's assistant I learned the best way to get a child to smile is to completely embarrass myself. That usually seems to work the best. With little H in our garden session I had a grape tomato on my head balancing, and as soon as I could not accomplish the task H thought that was hilarious! H has one of the most angelic faces, and I am completely jealous of her natural curly hair. Thank you so much H's mom for trusting me to take these pictures. Your little girl gets cuter every time I see her. and I love having the opportunity of taking her picture!