Meredith Photography

ANNOUNCING NEW BLOG

2009-02-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

The new blog is finally finished!!! I hate to change things up on all of you faithful followers/readers, but I will now be blogging at

www.merephoto.com/blog

Check it out! And make sure to update your google readers and rss feeds! You can subscribe to the new blog if you'd like to do that as well.

And feel free to leave comments on the new blog and tell me what you think. Thanks! See you all there :)

Erin + Nate 12.27.08

2009-01-26T17:30:00.000-08:00

This was my last wedding of 2008 and it was awesome! Erin is the sister of Carissa and I just love this family. They were married in the SLC temple and held an afternoon reception at Pierpont Place. Here's a few of my faves.

Isn't Erin's dress fabulous? Once again, she and her mom designed and made it.

To view their slideshow, click here.

Las Vegas Baby

2009-01-20T13:26:00.000-08:00

Or should I say babies? I took a trip to Vegas this past weekend with my mother-in-law and sisters-in law for a little girls trip (well, almost girls trip...I do acknowledge you're not a girl Scott, and neither are any of the babies!). My sis-in-law Connie (who lives in Texas) was heading up to vegas with her boys and husband for her husband's chiropractic convention. Since she just had her second son in December, and we hadn't met him yet, we (me, mom-in-law Mary, sis-in-law Ashlee and her son Daxton) thought we'd drive down and meet them there.

We made quite the entourage as we cruised the strip with two strollers, three kids, and pregnant ol' me. I think I may have walked just a little too much because I was DEFINITELY feeling the consequences yesterday, but we still had a great time.

The first night we went on a little walk down the strip before dinner. Here's Jackson with his new fake smile.
And now his CRAZY eyes (looks like Mary's sportin them too...)
The girls
Fitting in the car was quite the feat. This shot just doesn't quite show how crammed in there we all were.
Bad lighting, but no one cares about that but me, right?
My brother Dave and his wife and baby were also down there that weekend for Dave's business trip, so I hooked up with them one of the nights. Here's Easton playing on the FAO Schwarz piano.

And here's some of Jackson and Daxton having some fun.

I have more pics, but they were taken on my other "real" camera (these were all point and shoot), so I haven't downloaded them yet. I will because I want to post the cute pics I got of my newest nephew Tyson. He's so cute!

Okay, and last but not least, here's couple of pics that Jake snapped the other night with the point and shoot in our dimly lit hallway. They are terrible, but for those of you who are asking for shots of my tummy (ahem, Lindsay), here you go. I'm planning on taking much better ones soon...

Cute as a button

2009-01-19T13:56:00.000-08:00

Check out this cute little 4 mos. old I had in the studio recently. Working with cute little girls like this makes me more excited for my own to come! (Especially on days like today when I feel like I'm 12 months pregnant rather than 6...I'm running out of room in there!)

Flashback!

2009-01-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

I took these of my sister FOREVER ago (obviously since they are maternity shots and her little baby is now several months old!), but I never had time to post them. She just posted a few on her blog, so I thought I'd better get with the program and post some here too. Isn't she fabulously gorgeous?

I'm back! And got a new look to show for it....

2009-01-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

It's official. Meredith Photography is now MEREDITH CARLSON PHOTOGRAPHY. I've been working furiously to get my new website up and running, and I'm finally finished! Woot woot! Check it out: www.merephoto.com It's the same url, but I've now separated into two sites: one for weddings and one for portraits. Next up, this blog. It's getting a complete overhaul. Don't mind that my logos don't currently match, because they will! I was going to wait until they were both done, but I can't wait.

And one of my resolutions for 2009: Blog at least 3 times a week! If I don't, send me a comment and you may receive a little gift! :)

Last but not least, I'll leave you with some bridals of the gorgeous Bonnie.

REMINDER

2008-12-31T14:37:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that today by midnight is the last day to submit orders from any sessions photographed prior to October. All galleries shot before then will be removed from the proofing gallery to make room for new 2009 sessions. Thank you!

In the next week or so, I'll be debuting my new wedding website, an updated portraits website, and a whole new look for Meredith Photography! Lots of fun changes are in store for 2009, so stay tuned!

And on a more personal note, I hope you have the most fantastic New year's eve! I'll leave you with these photos I shot with my little ol' point and shoot. Every time there's a new snowfall, my neighbor sculpts the snow around his mailbox to be a different character, scene, etc., and each time it's incredible! I always mean to take pictures, but never seem to get around to it. Well, I'm shaping up and will start debuting his latest and greatest creations here! First up, Madagascar.

Holiday Giveaway Winner Selected!!!!

2008-12-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to thank all of you who sent in nominations for this giveaway! I've been so touched by all of the stories. You are all so amazing and it was REALLY hard to choose! Everyone is so deserving! Because I was having such a difficult time choosing, I finally turned it over to a panel of judges. The winner has been selected and contacted.

Thanks again to everyone who participated! I hope to do it again next year. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Rachel + Brandon 11.15.08

2008-12-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

I planned on doing some last minute christmas shopping today, but when I woke up to a blizzard I was forced (okay, totally chose) to stay in my warm little house in my jammies, turn on my christmas music, and get to work updating my poor neglected little blog.

Rachel and Brandon are such a fantastic couple. Jake and I loved working with them! They were married in the Bountiful Temple and had a lovely luncheon/reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial building. It was beautiful!

To view their slideshow, click here.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2008-12-16T13:35:00.001-08:00

Finally! I've been waiting for the snow to come. I can't really enjoy it to the fullest this year (no snowboarding and sledding for me--boohoo), but I'm still excited it's here! Nothing gets me in the holiday mood more than a good snow and everything covered in white.

I have so many sessions I could post, I hardly know where to begin! It seems I always get behind on my blogging this time of year because I get so busy with christmas orders. I'm almost done though, and then it'll be time to turn a little focus on my own poor family and get some shopping done!

Speaking of family, I think I'll post just that. Here's a bunch from my sister's family session this year. We decided to go urban this year, and I really loved how they turned out!

Coco was the funniest. She was posing for me left and right and had everyone laughing.

She also had a mind of her own and didn't want to snuggle up to the rest of her siblings, but I love this shot just the same!

Superheros!

Skylar...
Tyson...
and Ryan...
Love them all!

More posts to come! I still have more families, a wedding, and bridals so stay tuned! :)

Holiday Giveaway!!

2008-12-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

Fellow photographer Kristen Kalp began the Giving is Awesome (www.givingisawesome.com) campaign to help share our love of photography and make someone happy this Christmas season. I'm so excited to be a part of this campaign. Please read the giveaway rules below and participate! And please spread the word. This is in no way supposed to publicize me, I just thought it was a great idea and would love to share this gift with someone deserving!

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1000 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Utah. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : merephotography@gmail.com.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Meredith

It's A.........

2008-12-08T13:58:00.016-08:00

GIRL!!!!!!!!

Yep, that's right! Many of you already knew that I was pregnant, but for those of you who didn't, surprise! And for those of you who did, surprise! It's a girl!

Jake and I are thrilled. We're due April 25th (just in time to miss the first bit of the summer wedding season--sorry about that!) We are so so happy though. She's perfect. If I could get my scanner working I'd post the ultrasound pic....ah well.

Deadline Reminder

2008-12-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that today is the last day to place your holiday orders to receive the 20% discount. Also, don't forget that any session shot prior to October of this year will be removed from the proofing galleries Dec. 31st. Please place your orders before that time! Thanks!

Drumroll Please...

2008-12-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Our basement is finally refinished!!! Woohoo! I still have finishing touches to do (i.e. hang all my frames, get a coffee table, and decorate it up a little more), but the main work is done.

As promised, here are the before and afters:

I can't find the before for my office, but here is the after. The before was just as bad as all the rest (linoleum floor, peeling wallpaper, etc.). Now it's a bright cheery yellow. This is the corner where my desk now resides.
And we sectioned off a corner of our furnace room, sheetrocked it in and made it our laundry room.
A big huge thanks to my father-in-law and Jake for all their super hard work!!!!!!

Another newborn

2008-11-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

Isn't this little guy sweet? I photographed his mommy and daddy's wedding over a year ago, so it was fun to meet their newest little addition!

Dad's a baseball player so we had to get one with his mitt.

Gobble Gobble Turkey Land

2008-11-26T17:16:00.000-08:00

Several years back some friends and I went to a resthome to sing to the elderly folks there. It was around the holidays and so we sang a few christmas carols, and then asked if anyone had any requests. A woman in the back shouted "Gobble Gobble Turkey Land!" It still makes me laugh whenever I think about it. Mostly because I would really like to hear this song if it exists. Anyone ever heard of it? If so, please share. It would be a fabulous one to sing tomorrow.

I hope you all have a fabulous thanksgiving and are able to share it with loved ones! Isn't it fabulous that we have a holiday to celebrate being thankful!? I could list 101 things right now that I'm thankful for, but I'll encourage to think of your own right now instead. One thing I will say I'm grateful for is my newest little niece, Norah. Born a month ago and just the sweetest little thing!

Don't you just love that little dimple?

Of course I had to get my snuggles in at the end, so Aly (my sis and mommy to Norah) grabbed the camera and snapped a few.
And one more for my own enjoyment:
Bahahaha! I know I'm a total dork, but I couldn't resist when she posed her hands like this!

This month is such a special month...

2008-11-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

...it's birthday time for me! Hooray! I love all things holiday/birthday whether it's mine or someone elses, so don't mind my excitement!!! I think poor jake secretly (or not so secretly--teehee) dreads my birthday because of how excited I get about it. I think he's scared of letting me down, but he never has! Case in point: I awoke to a fabulous breakfast in bed this morning, followed by him doing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen, AND taking out the trash. As my 2-yr. old niece Ava says, it was "so, so, sweet" (sidenote: Ava's bday was yesterday--woohoo!).

Also, THANK YOU to everyone who has already called, texted, emailed, or actually showed up on my doorstep with a gift in hand (KATIE! I love it! THANK YOU!). Ya'll are the nicest! :)

And now on with the posts. I'm behind as usual, and have SEVERAL family/newborn/wedding sessions to post, but I'll just post this one for now. Meet my fabulous friend Kristyn and her husband Kevin. I think these two should start modeling for real. Don't you?

If you look close you can see our dead little "christmas tree" that we found on the left. If only we had brought along some ornaments!

Kevin's friend showed up with his big dog, so we threw him in the mix for a few ("him" being the dog in this case. But below this next pic you can see the friend!). Unfortunately the dog (what was his name Kristyn?) decided to pee right on Kevin's leg/shoe. You can see Kevin watching him warily here:

Check out the deer behind them

When we had pretty much lost our light, we decided to call it good. But not before handing Kevin the camera so he could snap a few of me and Kristyn together (since we rarely are able to get together). Check out these little gems:

hahaha! what am I doing with my face? I look like scary larry.
Nice. Real nice.

Senior session (and I don't mean for people 65+)

2008-11-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

Check out Chris. He's gonna be a senior in high school this next year, so of course taking his senior pictures was in order.

HOLIDAY DEADLINES :)

2008-11-13T11:08:00.001-08:00

First, thank you so much to all of you fabulous clients who have kept me so busy this year! Bless you! As the holidays are now drawing near, I just wanted to remind you that if you would like your prints/cards/products, etc. in time for Christmas, my ordering deadline is Dec. 4th.

Photographs make fabulous, timeless gifts for one and all, so order now!! And don't forget about your christmas cards! If I have shot a session for you this year, check out the cards we are offering in our card gallery (To access, go to my website, click on Proofing, and use the password "card".

As my early gift to all of you, I am offering 20% off all print/card orders placed before December 1st.

**PLEASE NOTE** To make room for my 2009 clients, all galleries shot before October of this year will be removed from the proofing gallery section after December 31 and will require a re-posting fee of $35 if you wish your gallery to be re-posted. Please place your orders before then if you have not already.

Thank you! I hope you are doing well :)

Denise + Houston 10.11.08

2008-11-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

**WARNING: BIG POST** :)

Okay, how much did I love these two? Denise and Houston are a couple not only with great unique style, but also awesome, fun personalities to match. And Denise can seriously work the camera to boot! (Houston, you're not too bad yourself). I had a blast photographing these guys' wedding! We actually shot around the temple the week before because Denise and Houston were getting married super early on their wedding day, and didn't want to have to worry about trying to fit pictures in since they were heading to a ring ceremony and luncheon shortly after. I met up with them there as you can see further down. Enjoy! (Oh, and be sure to check out those shoes. White converse for her, black for him. Loved it!)

Denise bought this awesome umbrella in Europe and brought it along. I love when couples bring along their own props!I love this image.
And now to the ceremony! They had their ceremony/reception at the beautiful Millenial Falls.

Here's a few of Denise getting ready.

Denise and Houston decided to get their ice sculptures carved as Brontosaurus! Isn't that awesome? You can tell by their faces that they thought so.

Jake took this beauty. Here's the bridal party (minus the awesome parents and flowers girls/ring bearer. To see some shots of them, check out the slideshow. I loved those little kids!)

Their dance was one of the coolest/best I've seen. I wished I could have videoed it.
Loved all the details. Especially the cotton candy! What a fabulous idea...

I think the family had a little too much fun decorating the car....
Thanks you two! You guys ROCK!

To view their slideshow, click here.

Kirsten + Greg

2008-11-07T16:14:00.001-08:00

Loved these two! Must have, because I even had a dream about them. That's right. They were married early in the morning, and had a reception in the evening, so Jake and I were able to go home and rest for a bit between shooting. Sure enough, I fell asleep and next thing I know I'm dreaming that Greg is showing me pictures from their honeymoon in Florida. The highlight? A massive poster sized print of them RIDING FLAMINGOS ON THE BEACH. That's right. Only these weren't normal flamingos, they were ostrich size (think swiss family robinson). And they were still in tux and gown. Aww, it was classic.

Doesn't Jake rock at those candid captures?

Check out these gorgeous sisters/bridesmaids

The reception was lovely. Kirsten's aunt (am I right Kirsten?) did all the flower arrangements. Loved them! And the catering was provided by Utah Celebrations Catering. Check 'em out!

Check out their slideshow here for more!

Sisters

2008-11-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

Check out these two fabulous sisters. Well, first check out younger sister Brooke. I shot older sister Bri's senior pics a while back, so we figured we should give Brooke a little face time as well. Isn't she gorgeous? These sisters are so photogenic is kills me.

And now for the two together!

Rachel + Brandon Engaged!

2008-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, I promised I wouldn't neglect this blog any longer, and then I went and did it again! Life seems to get a little crazier every day, but our basement if finally done (HOORAY!!--I'll post pics soon), I'm getting caught up on all the christmas orders, and the wedding season is at last slowing down. So now I have a TON of posts to catch up on. For starters, check out this awesome couple. Their wedding is coming up in a few weeks and I can't wait! I also shot Rachel's bridals the other day and had a blast. Those will be posted soon....

Melanie + Victor 9.5.08

2008-10-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous couple and another fabulous wedding. Mel & Vic were married in the Rexburg, Idaho LDS temple, so Jake and I once again got to take a little road trip north. Despite being a little bit chilly, the day was lovely, as were the details, the bride, and their guests! Here's a few favorite shots.

All the ladies in the house

Love this shot by Jake

LOOOOVED this field. Isn't it amazing? I feel that "Fields of Gold" song by Sting should be playing in the background
Reception details. My personal favorite? The Jones Soda bottles with their picture on them!
The wedding party

Who doesn't love sparklers at the end?

Thanks you guys!

To view their slideshow, click here.

Blog neglect...

2008-10-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I posted last! If any of you out there are still following this blog, I promise to be better about my updates. Life has seemed to just get busier and busier, and somehow the blog moves further and further down the list. I'm here to repent, however, and promise to be more frequent with my posts. I'll start with a few from a recent family session with the ever fantastic Bennett family.

Stay tuned! I've got several weddings and more sessions to post.

Carissa + Tyler 08.29.08

2008-10-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since we've shot at the Mt. Timpanogos temple, so it was fun to have a wedding there again. Carissa and Tyler are a fantastic couple, and Jake and I had a great time with them, as we knew we would. How do we luck out with all the best brides and grooms?

Love these two that Jake caught. It's SOOO them

Their friends decided to pick Carissa and Tyler up for a shot. It was pretty funny!

Love those details

Isn't this cake fabulous?

To view their slideshow, click here.

Ault Family

2008-09-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast these two little girls have grown! I feel like I was just taking Halle's newborn pics. Now she wants to "walk" everywhere (with mom and dad's help), and Brynlee is as busy as ever. These two really are so much fun, and I was happy to finally include mom and dad in the photos!

chewin' on grass like daddy...

I love Brynlee's face after they kissed...

Whitney + Jason 8.23.08

2008-09-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm back from California and ready to get back to work! What is it about traveling that wears you out? Lindsay's wedding was lovely and so was she. It was SOOO good to see my friends!

OK, on to Whitney and Jason! These two are so perfect for eachother. I seriously got choked up during the toasts at their luncheon. They have so many friends and family who love them and it was so great hearing all the wonderful things they had to say about these two. Here's a few of my favorite shots!

Check out those pink shoes! Love it
Jake's shot. He's so good at those b&w candids...

Some details from their luncheon
They had this awesome table with bouquets of these lollipops, so I thought, what better thing for the ring shot?
So many great details, from the chinese lanterns to the lollipops.

Congrats you two! Thanks for letting us take part...

To view their slideshow, click here.

Kirsten

2008-09-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

I totally loved this session. Kirsten is great to work with and seriously so photogenic! There was hardly a shot from her session that I DIDN'T like, which made it really hard to narrow down to a few favorites for posting here. I can't wait for the wedding!

Who doesn't love a little vintage action?

I loved that Kirsten's mom and sisters kept making her laugh. Love these two images. Thanks for all your help ladies!

On a sidenote, I'm off to California tomorrow for my friend Lindsey's wedding. I'm so excited to see her! I'll be back Monday with another wedding post. Until then...

Laura+Ben Engaged

2008-09-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Ben proposed to Laura at this very park, so we decided it would be a great spot to take their engagements. I wanted to go a little old skool with this session, and Ben and Laura were more than happy to comply! I only wish I could have fit my vintage bike in my car so we could have used that too....

Decided to break out the sidewalk chalk. Don't you miss doing this?

Check out these cute little chalkboards. I've been wanting to use them for a while now, just needed to figure out how. I like it!

Can't wait until the wedding!

Samara

2008-09-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

My friends Sarah & Jamis recently had a new addition to their family. Samara is such a cutie! She looks most like her daddy, but there's a little of mom in there too (Jamis claims she definitely has Sarah's toes).

Why do I love when baby's yawn so much? I think it's so cute for some reason

Of course Sarah and I had to play dress-up for a second to try out her stylin sunglasses
And then Samara proceeded to konk out on us. Must have worn her out with the dress-ups...

Aaron + Kayti 7.18.08

2008-08-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! I'm posting some shots from my little bro's wedding! You may not believe that I actually wasn't their photographer by the amount I'm posting here. They were sweet enough to give me the day off of shooting so I could enjoy everything and everyone, but I still managed to take a billion photos! You may laugh, but I can't help it! I'm addicted! I don't know what to do with myself without a camera in hand. It was great to shoot without pressure though, and just shoot who I wanted and when I wanted. And I actually got to talk and eat and DANCE at a wedding for a change...So so nice :)

Flashing their rings/gang signs?

Check out their awesome kicks
Looks like Easton has some gang signs of his own to flash
Isn't she gorgeous? Stunning.

Some of the peeps
Their reception was lovely. I LOVE the apples and hydrangeas...*sigh*
Kayti had this adorable groom's cake made for Aaron. Two drums and a top-hat cymbal for the drummer!

Don't worry, the event was well-covered
My mom probably won't be too happy I posted this pic, but isn't she lovely? Love her.

I'm so happy Aaron and Kayti are married. We love having Kayti in the family!

Holiday Cards!

2008-08-21T14:19:00.001-07:00

Can you believe that summer is over and we're creeping into fall? And you all know how fast fall flies by....Eeek! That's right folks. With the holidays right around the corner, it's time to begin thinking of family portraits and holiday cards. I've added a few new ones to the product lineup this year. These cards are DOUBLE-SIDED (read: super awesome) and will definitely set you apart from the neighbors with their glossy grocery store cards. I'm posting a few samples below. Oh! And if you haven't scheduled your family portrait session yet, you'd better do it now. Spots are filling up quickly!

To view all the cards I offer visit my website, click on Proofing, and enter the password "card".

Emma & Ava

2008-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

I shot these of my nieces FOREVER ago, but my poor family always gets pushed to the backburner. I'm posting them at last! I know I'm biased as their aunt, but aren't these two so cute? They each have such strong little personalities, it's fun to see it come across photos.

I think this is my favorite

There were SOOO many more I could have posted! If you want to see them all, click here.

And check out my sister's new craft blog. SHE'S AMAZING (but I already knew that)

Lincoln + Marcie 7.11.08

2008-08-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've been so lucky to have such great clients. Marcie and Lincoln were no exceptions. Their wedding was beautiful (albeit a little hot) and Jake and I had another great time with these two! (Funny enough, Jake, not having previously met the couple, realized that he already knew Lincoln! The two of them were in the Business Major together at BYU and worked on some projects together. Small world :) )

Okay, enough rambling...Here's the pictures!

I love this shot

Check out the sweet limo that Lincoln's parents surprised the couple with! Too bad it broke down on the way to the reception...No worries though. The couple was rescued and the rest of the evening went off without a hitch

Their reception was held at the Alta Rustler Lodge. I completely LOVE this location. They began the evening with a ring ceremony...
Check out that backdrop!

Lincoln wrote and performed the sweetest song for Marcie. Look how happy she is

The awesome wedding party!

How awesome is Marcie's ring? Love it!

Details
And the big exit!
To view more of their wedding, click here.

Office closed

2008-08-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Meredith Photography will be closed August 11-16. All calls and emails will be returned on Monday, August 18.

Be sure to check out the two new family session posts below.

Thanks!

Oldham Family

2008-08-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time on this session. My cousin Dan and his wife Saedi have such cute boys and it was such fun playing with them all!

We started the session in their home. I love doing this because what better place to capture a family than in the location they spend most of their time?

I absolutely love this shot

After their home, we headed to their grandma and grandpa's house for some outdoor shots.
The boys expressions in the background crack me up

Dunn Family

2008-08-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a few favorites from this recent family session. The Dunn family is so much fun and reminds me so much of mine in terms of size! We're a huge family too! I was glad we were able to get some pictures of the whole family together. It's been years since I've been able to accomplish that with my own family!

Along with the big groupshot, we did each individual family. Aren't they all such cute families?

All the girls....

And the guysAnd all the grandkids!

Lovely

2008-08-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

What can I say? I love this girl! Carissa is super sweet and fun and I had such a great time with her and her mom during this bridal session. I'm excited for the upcoming wedding :)

LOVE this series

OshKosh

2008-08-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when Jake packs up and leaves me for three weeks. :( Why would he do such a thing, you ask? Well, it's the annual AirVenture Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and AirGyro Aviation is once again part of the tradeshow. I've missed him so much while he's been away! Last year I went out for one of the weeks to visit him, but I didn't think I'd get a chance to do so this year. Luckily, my good 'ol daddy-o decided to fly out for a quick trip to check on things, and invited me along! It was so good to see my hubby again. Can't wait until he returns home in a few days! Three weeks is much too long.

If you haven't been to the Oshkosh airshow, and your even the least bit interested in airplanes and aviation, you're missing out! It's the mecca land for aviation enthusiasts, and boasts to be the biggest airshow in the world. It really is impressive.

Awwww, here's my man!
Here's some shots of the two new planes that AirGyro is selling: the SportHornet and the Outback. Need a plane? Buy one of these! Both great models.

Couldn't resist this shot. My dearly beloved Canon is a sponsor of the airshow, and man are they represented there! You seriously can't turn around without seeing a canon camera strap around almost EVERYONE'S neck. I almost felt like I was at a photographer's convention!

Ashley + Luke 6.28.08

2008-07-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Long before I was married or even had an inkling of an idea that I would really turn out to be a professional photographer, I studied abroad in London. My time there had a huge impact on my life. I came away with priceless experiences and amazing new friends. Ashley was one of those friends. Now, years later, I was so honored to be the photographer for her wedding!

Jake and I hit the road and traveled up to Idaho for Ashley & Luke's big day. They were married in the new LDS Rexburg Temple.

Check out this awesome ring shot by Jake:

After some shots around the temple, we drove up to the Grand Teton Mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous and amazing. I could have shot there all day.

Ashley and Luke were so awesome! They were seriously up for anything--including crossing a freezing stream in dress and tux!

A few little details...

Ashley's grandfather is a cowboy poet and he wrote the sweetest poem for her.

Congrats you two!! Thanks for letting us take part.

To view their slideshow, click here.

Rachel + Sean 6.24.08

2008-07-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Rachel and Sean began their wedding celebration with a reception the night before their wedding. It was held in the beautiful front yard of Rachel's grandparents home that made for a relaxing and quaint atmosphere.

Rachel and Sean's first look at one another.
The exchange of rings. Check out the rings a few shots below. They had them custom made to match eachother and what the photo doesn't show you, is that Rachel's ring fits perfectly inside Sean's. A perfect match.

These two are a couple after my own heart. Their wedding cake was made entirely of different kinds of cheese! Sean is a bit of a cheese conoissoir. I absolutely loved it and it was a hit with the guests.
They also served a few other cheeses along with the "cake".

Sean and his two favorite ladies! (His daughter and new bride)

Rachel and Sean, I had a great time with you both. Congratulations and thank you for letting me be a part of your wedding.

To view their slideshow, click here.

Sundance in the summer

2008-07-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

I photographed this adorable family this past February while they were vacationing here in Utah at the Sundance Ski Resort. We had a lot of fun then, so I was excited when they contacted me and said they were coming out to Sundance again for a few days. Here's a few favorites!

Aren't little misses "C" and "S" cute?

The family octopus!

"C" and "S" were so cute and gave me big hugs after the session was done. It was so sweet!

Thanks you guys! I had so much fun again. Looking forward to our next session.

Melanie + Victor Engaged

2008-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

I had an awesome evening not too long ago with Melanie and Vic. They are both so sweet and drove all the way from Idaho for this session! Having made that same drive not too long ago, I know what a tiresome one it can be, but these two arrived looking fabulous and and ready to go. Here's a few of my favorite shots.

Thanks guys! I'm really looking forward to your wedding!

Summer fun

2008-07-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

As I sit here glued to my computer for the second day in a row (Jake out of town + TONS to catch up on = me working too much), yet another hot summer day passes by. As I was thinking about this, I couldn't help but take a quick break to peek back at the one and only time (can you believe it?!) that I've been swimming this summer. My sister and her three girls were heading to the pool a few weeks back and asked me to come along. Looking at these photos makes me so happy. I have the best nieces (and nephews) in the world! What a lucky auntie I am.

Don't you just love that little purple polka dot bikini?
I regularly get threatened with my life by my sister if I even THINK about posting photos of her on my blog. But I can't help it! Aren't these so cute? Little Coco loves her mommy so much.
Love this one!

*sigh* Back to work...

My little bro's almost married!

2008-07-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the big day is almost here. This Friday my little brother Aaron and his fiance Kayti will be Mr. and Mrs.! We're so excited for them. Last night, in anticipation for the big event, my sisters and I threw Kayti a bridal shower. It was so much fun! Here's a few shots from the night.

My sister Val made these fabulous gourmet cupcakes. And yes, they tasted as good as they look.
My sister Alyson made these adorable matchbook favors. Only rather than matches inside, they contain mints!
Aly also made these adorable monogrammed napkin cuffs.
Check out these gorgeous peonies from my mom's garden! They're one of my favorite flowers
To go along with our cupcakes and bubbly (cherry 7-up in mini champagne glasses), we had cheese & crackers, grapes, spinach cinnamon & strawberry salad, and garlic breadsticks.

And here's the bride to be!
We can't wait until the big day :)

Laura+Uriah 6.19.08

2008-07-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Laura and Uriah's June wedding took place at the Highland House. The lovely weather, gorgeous bride, and handsome groom, made for one great wedding.

A few getting ready shots:

Laura & Uriah not only got themselves ready, but then helped out with the final touches of their wedding party!
Laura takes a peek outside before the ceremony starts

They're married!
I just can't resist a little guy in a tux. Isn't he adorable?
The wedding party was so much fun.

Don't you just love this wedding cake topper? Apparently Uriah insisted on having it. Can't say I blame him! :)
Look at all these adorable kids!
The toasts....
The details...
And they're off!
Thanks guys! Jake and I had a fabulous time!

To view their slideshow, click here.

I'm in love....

2008-07-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

...with my new little nephew, Easton. Can you blame me?

He's got daddy's dimples
b-b-b-b-bad to the bone
this one cracks me up. I can just hear him saying "peace out"

sleepy smile

I'm so in love with this little face!

God Bless America

2008-07-03T22:14:00.001-07:00

Happy Independence Day! To all of those who have fought and served, are fighting and serving, and will fight and serve to protect our freedom: THANK YOU!!!!!

May we always remain One Nation under God

Jen + James 06.07.08

2008-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Jen and James were one of lucky couples to be married on 6-7-8. I absolutely love these two. They are both so kind and sweet, and so fun to work with!

I never got a chance to post Jen's bridals, so I'll start with a few of those.

James came along on the bridal session just to "help out." Isn't that sweet? I just HAD to include him in a few shots here and there :)

And now to the wedding!

James dad was pretty funny.

Jake caught this one. Love it!

Another of Jake's. I thought it was funny how he shot their faces, and then their lower halves to show the reason for their facial expressions.

Jen and James had their reception in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Here's a few of the lovely details.
These two had a whole dance number planned! It was awesome.
Congrats guys! We had a blast!

To view their slideshow, click here.

On a more somber note, our hearts are with Jen's family, as her dear grandmother passed away this past week. I feel so lucky to have met her! Wasn't she regal?

Jeff + Jenn 5.31.08

2008-06-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some of my favorite shots from Jeff & Jenn's wedding. Jake and I had an awesome time and it was fun to be with some of Jake's best friends for the weekend!

Some shots around the Las Vegas LDS temple

And a few from their reception
I thought this girl's little pose was so cute, and check out the bowtie on Jenn's little bro! Jeff tied that himself after watching a little demo on YouTube!

I love this shot of Jenn's grandparents. Aren't they classic?
Gettin' some sug at the candy table
Details details details. I especially loved the hydrangeas (my favorite!) and the awesome guitar player they had play throughout the night. He was amazing!

To view their slideshow, click here.

hot/haute

2008-06-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

That's how I would describe this awesome bridal session with Jenn. Jake and I went to Vegas last month to photograph the wedding of our friends Jeff & Jenn. The day before the wedding, Jenn and I (along with Jenn's sister) went to Lake Las Vegas for a bridal session. It was a super hot day, but Jenn was awesome and I think we ended having one haute session.

Love Jenn's eyes

Check out these shoes. LOVE THEM

Stay tuned for Jeff & Jenn's wedding to be posted soon!

The Fager Family

2008-06-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

My cousin Richard married the fabulous Jenn and I had the pleasure of photographing her awesome family a few weeks back. Here's a few of my favorite shots.

Jenn's parents are so cute. I loved how her dad kept goofing off. Funny

How adorable is this little guy?

Just the kids...

Love this shot of Jenn and Richie
At the end of the family session, we did a senior session of Jenn's little brother. Here he is!

Thanks for a great session you guys!

I'll miss you Grandma

2008-06-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

My Grandma passed away this past Tuesday. It's comforting to know that she is now in a better place, but it's still hard to say goodbye. Her funeral was this past Saturday and each of us grandchildren were given the opportunity to tell of our memories of her. Grandma, I'll miss your wit, humor, and spunk. I'll always remember your love of the reader's digest, perfect manicure, mints in your purse, and all of your wonderful letters. I've saved them all and am grateful to have a bit of you with me when I reread them. A part of who I am came from you, and I thank you for that.

I couldn't resist posting this shot. It's just so her--always adding a bit of humor to everything

Some shots from the funeral:

The oldest grandchild from each family: my brother Dave, cousin Josh, and cousin Eric
All the grandchildren and great-grandchildren
The granddaughters
My dad and Uncle Jim
A happy thing that came from this (and I know grandma would agree) was that my family on my mom's side could all be together! It's been so many years since we've all been able to get together. It was especially fun for me to see my cousin Josh and his wife Linda, along with their five kids. The first four are quadruplets and when they were first born, I was lucky enough to go to live with them in Arizona and be their nanny! They are now 9 years old! I can't believe how quickly time passes. They all quickly bonded with their cousins here in Utah. Here's a shot of the three boys (Tyler--top right, Ryon--lower left, Christopher--middle) along with their little brother Matthew (top left), and my nephew Tyson (lower right).
And here's the fourth member of the quads, (though they hate being called that), Lauren.
And lastly, here's a shot of my oldest brother with his first son, Easton! Isn't he cute? (yes dave, you're cute too)

I feel so blessed to have the family that I do, and am so grateful to my grandparents for the legacy that they have set in place. I love you Grandma--"forever and forever"

Jake's post - Washington DC

2008-06-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry to skip back to Washington DC, but there were a couple personal shots that I thought were really cool. I was glad I was able to travel with Meredith, and had a great time at Lindsey and Tyler's wedding.

So first here are some fun shots I took of Meredith hard at work. On Friday morning we went to the Washington DC Temple where Lindsey and Tyler were married. It was raining some when they came out of the Temple to do their group pictures. Meredith was trying to work quickly so all the little ones wouldn't start crying. She got them all set to go in front of the Temple, and was positioning herself when she stepped back just a little too far, into one of the flower beds. This normally wouldn't have been too big of deal, except they had just dug up the dirt so that it was all soft. That combined with the rain made it a nice mud pit. Sure enough her foot sunk right in about half a foot down, and to maintain her balance she put her other foot in too. Like a professional, she hopped out, took the picture, and acted like it was no big deal! I grabbed a picture a little while later after she had wiped most of the mud off....

Meredith wasn't too happy that I was posting this picture, but I love when it is humid and her hair gets a little frizzy and curly.

One more on Meredith, then I will leave her alone. Meredith has always been great with people. That is one reason why I think she is such a great wedding photographer. Here is a photo to show the service she provides above and beyond just photographing a wedding.

While doing shots around the reception location we found this cool spider. Meredith and Lindsey didn't think that it was all that cool, but I got a pretty good shot of it before we had to move it to a different location.

Finally, my favorite shot from DC. I can't take credit for this one... it was all Meredith.

I had a great time in DC, and am glad that I can tag along with my awesome wife. She is amazing, and very talented.

A day at the farm...

2008-06-18T15:52:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I spent the evening photographing my cousin Robert and his wife Melinda and their four adorable children. We decided to head out to my aunt & uncle's farm in Payson. I had such a great time with them all! I don't get to see them enough these days, so it was fun spending this time with them. Here's a few of my favorite shots:

Love this light!

I was sorely tempted to nab this tricycle from my aunt. I love it!

Love you guys!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE!!! XOXOXOXOXO

2008-06-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

Last week was Jake's birthday! When I found out that I would be at girl's camp last week (I'm a YW leader in my ward), I was sad to realize that I'd miss my hubby's bday! Luckily, Jake was willing to come up to camp on Thursday (last day there) so he could spend the evening with me and we could drive home together. Since I missed most of the day, we decided to celebrate on Friday.

So what present did I get for my main man? A HONDA CRF 250! Jake has talked of nothing else for over a year now. I finally decided to give in, though I didn't let him know that! With the help of my cousin Sam, we found the perfect bike. Trying to keep it secret from Jake was so hard! Especially when he discovered a large sum of money missing from my account! oops! To throw him off, I created a fake cruise itinerary to bermuda and even had a travel agent call pretending to be confirming our reservations! Jake claims that he was never fully convinced, but I think I definitely had him second guessing! Here's a few shots from the day, along with a video clip of his first ride.

And here's his new helmet that his parents gave him, and his new shirt from his sister and bro-in-law

The thing I'm most happy about? Jake can finally drive the rental car! WOOHOO!

Check out his first ride on his bike:

Tyler + Lindsey 5.9.08

2008-06-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some favorites from Tyler and Lindsey's D.C. wedding at last! It's been such a busy summer already, I apologize for my blog neglect. As I said before, Jake and I had such and awesome time with these two and their families! The day was rainy, but beautiful nonetheless (and since mine and Jake's wedding day was rainy too, it brought back good memories!). I can't say enough how much I loved all the the little gorgeous details of this wedding. Take a look:

Jake and I arrived in D.C. just in time for their wedding dinner the night before the wedding. The dinner was held at Maggiano's and the food was excellent. One of the coolest things (in my opinion) was when Lindsey's dad pointed out that their wedding day also marked the anniversary of the meeting of the Union and Pacific Railroads at Promitory Point. Since Lindsey is from the East, and Tyler is from the West, the day would once again mark the joining of East and West!
Now on to the wedding day!

The blossoms on this tree were gorgeous!

A few final adjustments before the reception:

Check out these amazing details! I especially loved the bejeweled candy table.
Loved this little nephew of Tyler's. He was so adorable!
Their reception was held at Oxon Manor. Both the grounds and the building were incredible! I could have shot there all day.

I absolutely loved their wedding party. Lindsey's bridemaids were all so sweet and definitely made me feel like one of the girls.

I loved that they had their guests hold peacock feathers for their departure! I think the best part though, was when they hid one of their friend's little boys in the back of the getaway car. As Lindsey & Tyler drove off, he popped his head up from the back seat and asked where they were off too. It was pretty funny to see those brake lights suddenly light up.

Lindsey & Tyler: Thank you SO MUCH for letting us be a part of your amazing day! We really had such a great time.

To view their slideshow, click here.

Another bride to be

2008-06-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

I had a great session with Amy. We had some great light and it was fun to have her mom and sister there to help out. Here's a few of my favorites.

Aaron + Kayti Engaged!

2008-05-28T12:00:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, remember these two?

Well, they are now officially engaged! I'm so happy that my little bro found a great girl like Kayti. She's awesome and we're excited to add her to our family! It was fun getting to do a real "love" session with these two, rather than one that was just staged for a contest! Here's a few of my favorites

Aaron might hate me for posting this, but I think it's hilarious. It makes me laugh every time I look at it
See, he can smile too

I love this shot. Kayti teases Aaron that he has oragutan arms in it, but I love it just the same.

Love you guys!

Amy + Brad Engaged

2008-05-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

I had a great time with Amy and Brad during their engagement session. We had some great light and it's always fun to get to know couples and hear how they met! Amy happens to be the little sister of one of Brad's best friends, so they've known each other for a while now. I'm happy they found eachother (even if it did take them a while to realize it).

Little lens flair!

Brenda + Aaron 4.25.08

2008-05-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Jake and I had such a great time with Brenda and Aaron on their wedding day. They are such an awesome couple and had a beautiful wedding day. There were so many shots that I wanted to post, it was hard narrowing them down. Here are some of my favorites from the temple. To see more from their awesome luncheon, ring ceremony, and reception, watch their slideshow (link is below the photos).

Aaron and his dad and brothers were pretty funny. Here's one of their crazy poses they came up with.
Brenda's little sister was so cute!

I love this shot of them laughing. It makes me laugh when I look at it.

Brenda & Aaron offered these CD's of their favorite tunes to all their guests. I thought it would work well for the ring shot. The coolest part is that the drawing on the CD is based on one of their engagement photos I took of them!
Congrats you two! You guys ROCK.

View their slideshow, click here.

Time to Graduate

2008-05-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

I have sooo many sessions to blog, but I'll start with this awesome senior. Bri was so much fun to work with. She has such a bubbly personality, and check out those eyes and smile!

Good luck in your graduation this week and your future ahead of you!

One nation under God...

2008-05-20T11:37:00.001-07:00

As I said in the previous post, Jake and I spent last weekend in Maryland. Jake's never been to the nation's capital before, so--after the wedding on Thursday and Friday--Jake and I headed to downtown D.C. to see the sites.

First, check out the place where we stayed! This studio apartment was amazing and the family who own it were such gracious hosts.

Don't let this happy little photo fool you. I'm reluctant to admit that driving in places I'm not familiar with stresses me out, but since I have a young husband (okay, only a year and half younger, but still not old enough to rent a car!!) I was forced to drive. Luckily we had a GPS!
The Washington Monument

Loved these cute little ducks

Posing with Abe
The White House

Capitol
Right as this nice stranger snapped this photo of us, the sun came out from behind the clouds. Nice squinty eyes.
We had SO much fun. I can't wait to show you the photos from the wedding!

Blushing Bride

2008-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Jake and I flew to Maryland to photograph the amazing wedding of Lindsey & Tyler. Images from their wedding are forthcoming, so for now, I wanted to post some images from Lindsey's bridal session. Lindsey was gorgeous and so great to work with. Here are a few of my favorites.

Little Liam

2008-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

Liam's mom Gina is one of my favorite blog commentors! I always appreciate her kind and generous praise, and was so happy when she asked me to take some photos of their sweet little family. Liam was so fun to work with. He was a bundle of energy and definitely kept me on my toes (which is a good thing). Here are some shots from their session.

Loved this series

I don't think Liam liked the sun in his eyes. What do you think?

A Personal Post...

2008-05-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been a while since I did a "personal post", so here's all the latest with me & Jake.

1)Easy as Pie
I got a recipe for strawberry pie off the blog of one of my fellow photogs and inspirations Nichole Van. It really was SO good and super easy. I've never thought making pie was all that "easy" until now! I'm admittedly not the greatest chef, and even I couldn't mess this up. So easy, in fact, I went ahead and made two.

Here I am being Vanna White and touting my own pies.
2) I leaned my back up against an oak
I was given a teeny tiny little twig of an oak tree and was told to plant it in my yard. Unfortunately, Jake and I are planning on tearing up and landscaping our yard soon, so I can't plant it yet. Instead, I decided to stick it in a mug on my window sill (almost sure that it would die since I tend to accidently do that to plants), but lo and behold, it started sprouting leaves! Teeny tiny oak leaves. I know it's silly, but it made me so happy.

Seriously, this thing looked like a barren stick when I got it. Look at all that foliage!

3) The dungeon is being transformed
We have been working on our basement for the past several weeks, and it's so nice to see it coming along! There's already been a HUGE improvement (if you can imagine that from the following photos). Jake and I can't wait until it's finished! I'll post after pics when it's all done.

The living room. The random chair is so we could sit and see how far the projector needed to be from the wall. Yes, we are going to have a projector and big screen! (p.s. don't you just LOVE that red and black checked linoleum floor? Don't get too attached--we'll be carpeting over it)
The stairs leading upstairs and the former laundry room. This room will become a bedroom and we moved the laundry hookups to the furnace room on the other side of the stairs. Jake and his dad knocked out a tiny doorway that was here and made this big open doorway.
An old dumbwaiter chute that we are converting into a shelf/product display area.
My office isn't pictured because it basically looks exactly like the living room right now.

5) THE BEST TWO YEARS
For my fellow mormons out there, I am not referring to a mission or a movie. Rather I'm referring to the best two years of MY life, which happen to be these past two years married to Jake. That's right, yesterday was our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! WOOHOO! I know that all sounds cliche, but if you were married to Jake, you'd know. He truly is one of the greatest human beings I have ever known.

I have a million pictures of me and Jake, but I'll leave you with a few shot on Saturday. We went and hiked the Y. We haven't done it for a really long time, so it was fun to get up there again.

Matt+Melanie 3.28.2008

2008-05-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Matt & Melanie are married! Jake and I had such a great time with them on their wedding day. Melanie was gorgeous and Matt handsome. The day went so nicely and it was so good to see them so happy! I hadn't shot at the Manti temple in so long, it was nice to get down there again. It's always so fun for me to be a part of this amazing day in people's lives. Lucky lucky me.

The wind totally worked in our favor during this shot, blowing Mel's dress and veil perfectly.

Matt & Mel both have such awesome blue eyes, I kept debating whether or not I should change this to b&w. I really like it both ways.
I wish I could take credit for this shot, but it's Jake's. I LOVE IT! This adorable little flower girl's garland kept falling off her head over her eyes. Jake caught this right as it slipped down.
Details, details, details.
The kids were having a great time out back on the trampoline. I couldn't resist this shot of this little guy jumping in his suit!
I love the Matt&Melanie (M&M) used m&m's in their colors as part of their decorations. It was the obvious choice for the ring shot!
Even grandpa got in the photo action. I love this shot of him working his canon camera!

We had a great time you guys. We are so happy for you and your future!

To View their slideshow, click here.