I'M MOVING!!!!!

My blog is moving to type pad! Thanks to everyone who comes and visits my blog! Come on over and book mark my new blog! Click HERE to get to my new blog!

It's time...

For your chance to feel Simply Beautiful! We are having our Simply Beautiful photo session at the end of this month! {taken from the Simply Beautiful blog} Tammy and Melissa met in March of 2007 and became instant friends. Besides having a lot in common, they share a love for photography. They are both very excited to get this project going! We all have moments in our lives where we ABSOLUTELY feel and look beautiful, such as: Prom night, graduation day, and especially your wedding day. You MAY even have photos documenting those special times in your life. HAS LIFE'S BUSINESS KEPT YOU FROM HAVING A SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL MOMENT LATELY? As women, we need more of those special times where we feel Simply Beautiful! THIS is where Tammy and Melissa step in and HELP you feel just that. The process is simple. For $100, you will have a 30 minute, photo session with both Tammy and Melissa. You'll receive a CD with 6 full resolution images of your choice (along with the same web sized image for emailing to friends and family, posting on blogs, or posting on your Myspace page). You'll also get fun goodie bag and have the chance to win a $30 gift certificate! This is your chance to feel Simply Beautiful. It would be a fun girls night out or a chance to surprise your husband with some great pictures! Most of the time, we have pictures taken of our families or kids, but this is a great chance to have professional pictures taken of YOU! After all, WOMEN are important too! If you are interested in participating in this project, please email jartahuana@hotmail.com (Tammy Jarman) m@melissadavisphotography.com (Melissa Davis). You can also leave a comment with your email address and we'll be sure to get right back to you. The available times are to your right. We look forward to working with you! You may also want to check out our blog for this: Sign ups are for August 24th and 25th! http://www.tammyjarman.typepad.com/simplybeautiful/

Exciting news ~ sneak peek

I am giving my website, blog, colors, logo, etc a totally revamp! A few weeks ago, I was working on my website and accidentally saved my thumbs and my images (don't ask my why I was so stupid) but 90% of my images needed to be redone! hours of work ahead of me... So, I decided to ask one of my fav photography boards where I could find a good web designer (just thinking it might be fun to go totally new) and a very generous and great photographer/designer told me she was starting some new web templates and If I would be her guinea pig while she worked on them, I could have one of her sites at a discounted price. (no names yet....I'm not sure she is telling anyone about her web design as of yet). Anyways, here is a sneak peek at my new colors! I've got a logo that I am loving. My other blog is ready (but wont go live until my website does).... So remember to check back for more details...it could be a month or three months before everything is ready to go....

My nieces

I went to my sister-in-laws house today and was going to be taking some pictures of this beautiful baby girl, but it didn't end up happening. So, my nieces decided to jump in and help me out. They all have the most beautiful eyes and were more then wiling to be my models (well except for little Lexi who was mad a her bike for not working lol). My sister-in-law was at the hospital for her knee that she hurt this past week, so It was just me and the kids. It's so much fun to just be with the kids, do what I like as far as photography goes and have no pressure that the clients will love or hate them. They were so much fun! so beware, lots of pictures to come! (oh and my sweet daughter was nice enough to let me take FOUR pictures of her..with a bribe for a cookie even! Little stinker).

New born sweetness

This little guy spent the first two weeks of his life in the hospital and was able to come home just yesterday. He must have known he was going to get his pictures taken LOL. He was the sweetest little thing. Such a good sleeper! (mom and dad are lucky). We tried for about 30 minutes to get him to wake up to show us his cute eyes...he just kept on sleeping. guys, I know you are awake tonight (oh the joys of having a new born) so here is a little sneak peek for you! Thanks for letting me come to your home and take pictures. I had a fun time!

More...

Beautiful family!

My little sister's friend is here visiting from Alaska and wanted some pictures of her sweetie pie little girl. It was a pleasant surprise to have her sister and her 5 kids there too! They were sooo cute! Here is a sneak peek for you guys! I had so much fun, thank you for letting me take pictures of your beautiful families!

Simply Beautiful

Tammy and I have set up a blog for Simply Beautiful and would love if anyone who reads this blog would pass the link on to friends and family! We want to be able to take pictures of woman and have them KNOW they are simply beautiful! We also want it to be AFFORDABLE! The blog is in the beginning stages right now, but if you'd like to check it out, please do! We are offering a 30 minute photo session with Tammy and I, 6 high res and low res images, and a goodie bag for $100! (A couple lucky girls will take home a gift card to somewhere fun!) I just think this would be so fun, as I've had Tammy take my pictures, and LOVE that I actually have some professional pictures of ME! It's usually family pictures, or pictures of the kids, but when do women ever just get great pictures of themselves? And wouldn't this make a fun girls night out?! Grab a couple of your friends and let them know about this! Our first Simply Beautiful sessions are August 24th and 25th!

Want to feel sexy and beautiful?!!

Hey all!

My friend Tammy and I are going to get a group of girls together and take pictures of them. We know that most girls do NOT have any nice portraits of them and we know how to make girls look sexy and beautiful. Now.... what Husband or Boyfriend wouldn't want a awesome, sexy, beautiful photo displayed at their work of their significant other?!! And for all the moms out there, I can bet money on it, that your kiddos would love to have a nice photo of their mommy!

Tammy and I are going to get together this week to work out the details, but wanted to know if anyone would be interested.

Here is a rough draft of what the package might include:

$100 would include your session fee, 6 full res images of your choice, 6 of the same web sized images, a goodie bag to take home and some lucky girls will be winning a gift certificate to somewhere cool!

This is a great deal and a fun way to have some professional pictures taken of yourself! Email me (m@melissadavisphotography.com) or comment here if it is something you might be interested in. Tell your friends, it will be a fun girls night out!!

Stayed tuned for updates!!! :)

Show some love!

I'd love to know who visits my blog! Show some love and leave a comment if you come here often!! Also new and old clients, keep yours eye out for new Christmas cards I'll be making for this coming Christmas Season! I'll be offering some fun Christmas specials this year, so mark your calendars and remember to book a session with me for your family Christmas cards!!

Baby slings!

I was chosen to be the photographer for two sisters who are starting their own baby sling business. We did a big photo shoot on Saturday and it was a lot of fun! There were gorgeous moms and babies there...what else could I ask for?! I wanted to share a sneak peek! Thanks for a fun day ladies! When their website is up and running, I'll post a link for anyone who might be interested in these CUTE, CUTE, AWESOME, slings!!

(click to see them a bit bigger)

poll fun!

a few more...

I finished proofing this session and I just had so many that I personally loved! So I wanted to share some more.

Fun engagement!

This engagement session was so much fun! These guys were great! I love going into a session and feeling like we were long lost friends ;) and getting along with them really well! Thank you guys for a GREAT session...hope you love your "sneak peek!"

Flash back...

As my daughter gets ready to turn three, I am having a fun time looking through some old pictures on my photobucket account. I had always loved to take pictures, but it wasn't until she was born that I decided I was interested in photography. I thought it would be fun to have a flash back of my work as I started out. So sit back, grab a drink, and get ready to laugh so hard that drink comes out of your nose! he he....(click images to see them just a TAD bigger).

This is the picture that people started telling me that I was good at photography! gotta love family who's willing to lie to make ya feel good ;)

gotta love the flash and BURN pictures lolOkay, so this one IS cute...look at her!

and those chubby cheeks! Sepia AND selective coloring...wow! Can you tell that I ADDED my son in there? Come on, can ya? and...I cloned in my OWN catch lights! They look pretty real, don't ya think? So there ya have it! I'm sorry I had to make you laugh so much tonight...but I couldn't resist!

Technical difficulties

I'm sorry to say that my website is having some technical difficulties! I'm about to go nuts tonight, and I'm not sure I'll get to it this weekend. So hang tight! If you need me, my email is m@melissadavisphotography.com

Sneak peek

"C", I'm sorry that my server isn't working to get you your gallery yet, but I wanted to post a little sneak peek of your session! I hope to get the problem figured out with in the next few days....so hang in there with me! lol...

And me...

Jennifer asked to see me...so here ya go... These were taken by Tammy Jarman of Tammy Jarman Photography (she's got a couple posted on her blog). I was able to have fun and edit these myself...Nice to have a good friend in photography! So, here is me...

A friend

A friend and I got together the other day to take pictures of each other! It was so much fun to be silly and (sexy) and not feel weird in front of each other! I wanted to share a few of my friend...she's a hot momma!

Some fun!

A group of my photography friends got together this past weekend for an over nighter in Provo. We spent a few hours at Chilies talking and laughing! What a fun group! We went back to the hotel and spend more hours chatting! My friend Shay and I (after everyone had left and gone to bed) spent longer chatting. We didn't get to bed until 4:00am(ish). It was a blast! We spent the next day shooting with some great people who were willing to come be our guinea pigs! I wanted to share some...

(click to enlarge)

Mother's day weekend

This past weekend, my sister and I (and our three kids) were able to go down to St. George to stay with and visit my mom and we also surprised my grandma! She hadn't seen my kids in almost two years and It had been a year since I had seen her as well. It was nice to be able to stay for a long weekend... While I was there, I was also able to do a photo session with this beautiful family! We had a session scheduled for the Saturday I had planned on being in St. George and with a little working around our schedules, we were able to do our session in their home town of St. George. They were visiting from Salk Lake! Here is a sneak peek for you guys! (I know your anxious to see "C")...I hope to have your proofs done in a day or two!

Fun family!

I met mom and little J and right away knew I was going to have fun. Dad had to park the car and sure enough, he was just as cool as mom! They were really fun and laid back! Little J was the cutest darn little girl! Her little red cheeks and bright blue/green eyes were just too cute! Here are my favs from the session! LOL, so much for a sneak peek though...I've already got their gallery up on line! I hop you guys like them!

Photographers!

I posted last August a welcome packet that I was working on. You can see it HERE I was asked by a lot of people if I was going to sell the template, and it wasn't something I was going to do because I didn't measure any of the pictures and I had just thrown it together for myself. The other day I decided to spend the time to go back and see how big each image was and I now offer the template for only $15. If you'd like to check it out, the link is right here: Welcome Packets

OK a few more...

I finished up today, so I thought I'd share a few more...Rachelle, I hope you find something you like!

Fun girl!

I had a session today with Rachelle Call. She's an Christian singer and needed some pictures in a hurry! Well, I'm always up for pictures in a hurry, so we spent a few hours taking pictures...and I'm proofing away. I am actually headed to bed, but wanted to share some favs from the proofing...I'm sure I'll show more! (Rachelle, you are going to laugh at me because when I opened these, they were ALL great....I guess the 4 or 5 extra "stops" weren't really that necessary lol).

Cousin fun...

I rented a lens for a photo session I was supposed to have yesterday and my family and I went to Provo to see some family. I got a call from my client wanting to reschedule to Saturday, so I decided to have my own little photo session with all the cousins! Lots to come...we had fun!

Some pretty girls!

So can I just say that I'm loving being a photographer and meeting new people! I recently became friend with such a fun girl, named Tammy! She called me out of the blue and said "hey do you want to come with me to Logan today?!" Well, how could I pass that one up?! So, 2ish hours later, we were in Logan with another new friend, Jeremi, taking pictures of our kids! How fun ey? I didn't manage to get any of my son (stinker!) but I got a few of my daughter!

Fun family!

I had a session with this family today! oh my, great family. I couldn't have asked for a better group of THIRTEEN! The kids were adorable. the grown ups were fun (not to mention all good looking!) I've been proofing for a few hours now and I'm tired! I thought I'd share a sneak peek!

LLP Get together

A friend, Tammy, and I started a new photography board a few weeks ago. We had a small get together today with some ladies and our kids (well most of the kids). My kids of course hate the camera, but Tammy's cute little daughter ate it up! I wanted to share a few...

Cousins!

I had a session yesterday with four cousins...ALL boys under the age of four! I spent the first little while taking pictures of the oldest. He just ate it up and I got many pictures of him. By the time his two cousins came over, I think he was done...which made for an interesting time taking group shots! Little boys crack me up! No chance they ALL wanted to sit and take a picture! Anyways, here are some from the session...Gorgeous boys by the way!

Special Spring offer!

Click to enlarge

Spring

My kids and I went on a walk the other day and I took some pictures of some pretty things that reminded me of Spring. I love this season! It's not too hot, the flowers start blooming and it just seems so much more happy then the winter!

Fun girls...fun session!

I had a fun session today! It was with the girls from the CMT Music city Madness contest! They are one of EIGHT groups left after hundreds of contestants! You can check them out, and vote HERE! They are the 2nd down on the right...Aubrey Howell (keep in mind this video was 6 years old and it was for a music class in college...it's a little out dated). Anyways, it was really fun today, and I thought I'd post a sneak peak!

My nieces

I realized that some of you who visit my blog, may not visit my Project 365, so I decided to post these pictures of my nieces. They have some gorgeous eyes!

Pencils down....

The contest is OVER!! WOW, we had some fighting moms, but one...fought 'till the death! Cherin (picture J) is the winner of a $200 gift certificate to Melissa Davis Photography and a free 11x14 inch portrait. Congrats Cherin! More contests and specials to come....(including a Mother's day special). so BOOK MARK this page and check back often!

A CONTEST!

Why am I having a contest?! Well because I love giving things away and I love to have photo sessions! So..it's a win-win situation right?! So, here's what's going on! I had SO MANY sessions I loved from this past year...there was just no way for me to decide which ones to throw in the contest. So I choose my favorite photo from each session, put the names into a bowl and had my kids choose 11 for me! It's not very scientific, but it worked for me! :) The WINNER will get: $200 gift certificate to Melissa Davis Photography and a free 11x14 inch portrait. Alright guys, for the last day of this contest, if you want to vote, leave a comment to this post! We've got a tight raise between a few of the images and I'd love to have LOTS more votes! So...tell your friends, tell your family, tell your co-workers...tell anyone you know to come vote!! Only ONE more day until I announce the winner! (The contest will end on February 27th 2007 at 10:00am). Have fun voting and good luck to those in the contest!

Sneak peak!

I had a photo session today and I had such a fun time! I always get nervous when I'm meeting new people, but after 10 minutes of being there, I forgot they were strangers and I felt like they were old friends. It helped that they were really nice and up for anything. So, S and J, here is a sneak peak of your photos!

A few more.

I got done editing some more pictures from the Utah get together, so I thought I'd throw them on here...

Some friends

I am a part of a photography board and today we had a Utah get together! It was a lot of fun! Here are some images from the day. I really love taking pictures of adults...so if you know any seniors, engaged couples or women who need some pictures...I'm here!

Happy New Year!

OK, so it's half way through the first month of the new year, but I still wanted to kick this year off with a great deal! If you book a session from now until February 28th, you will get 1/2 off your session fee and 30% off your entire order!! If you refer a friend, and they book a session you will get a free 11x14 from your session pictures! This is my way of saying THANK YOU to my 2006 clients and HAPPY NEW YEAR to any new clients! I hope this year is a good one for every one!!

Project 365 ~ New blog!

Starting today, I have made another blog JUST for this "project 365" The link will be over to the side...so if you are interested, you can check it out!! Here's my picture for today!

George

OK, OK, so this isn't the coolest picture in the world LOL. I was working on DOF, and I need to work on exposure! George was an available subject, so he got used he he..

Alissa

This is my beautiful 2.5 yr old daughter! I'm sure you'll see a lot of my kids, because...well I love them and I'm with them all day long! he he. This morning I was taking some "before" pictures for a weight loss competition I am doing on my mommy board, and of course the kids were in watching me. They were loving the timed beep...beep...beeps that my camera does. So Alissa runs over to the wall after I'm done and wants to hear the beeps and get a picture of herself. This is what I got. Her little face and eyes, just melt my heart! She's most definitely going to be a beauty!

My daughter and I

Today I had a doctor's appointment and I was planning on brining my camera. On the way from Salt Lake to Orem (about 40 minute drive) I have seen this really cool tree that I have been wanting to get a picture of! I was going to leave early, drive off the free way and snap a shot. I think EVERY time I pass that tree, I think "I REALLY should have brought my camera". Well, after getting ready, and having a good hair day LOL, I decided to take a few self portraits. About 2 minutes into my "attempts" my daughter came in crying. My son had been mean to her (what else is new?) and she cuddled up to me...and I thought "awe, ha...this is the picture I want!" So I snapped a few of her and I. This is the one I wanted to share today.

Happy New year!!

So, I was inspired by a friend who is doing a thing called "Project 365". She is going to take (and post) a picture a day on her family blog. I thought that sounded like a fun idea. I've noticed when I'm not having photo sessions, I tend to not pick my camera up much. I'd really like to pick it up every day and take a picture of "how I'm feeling" that day, or take a picture of something that inspires me during that day. The first photo I wanted to share is a picture of (some of) the Christmas cards I got this Holiday season! I'm grateful to have friends who care about us! Happy New year all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'll make this short and sweet because I've got to get to Christmas with my family! I hope eveyone is having a good Christmas!! BRENDA!! is the winner of my first drawing and will be getting ALL of my Christmas and Sweet Babe templates! CONGRATS BRENDA! Brenda email me at m@melissadavisphotography.com with your email address so I can get those to you! TRICHELLE!! is the winner of my second drawing and wins a $300 gift certificate to be used towards a photo session with me!! CONGRATS TRICHELLE!! MONICA!! is the winner of the last drawing and will get to choose 3 of the pictures I posted below! CONGRATS MONICA! Email me at m@melissadavisphotography.com and let me know which ones you would like! Congrats everyone! Merry Christmas to you all!

Oh Christmas tree! lol

The winner of the Christmas tree contest is Jeanette LeBlanc! She was the only one who sent me a tree picture LOL. Congrats Jeanette! Wow, I just looked and realized that I didn't even say what the winner will get he he he...oops! Jeanetter, you get the choice of 5 holiday or sweet babe templates. Email me and let me know which ones you would like!

This is Jeanette, her tree and her family!

The winner is . . .

Ok, well because of some changes of plans, I am going to post the winner of this contest! Nicole Barczak was closest with her guess of 2lbs 4oz! Congrats Nicole! Let me know which templates you want ($50.00 pays for 12.5...so I'll give you the extra .5 LOL! so 13 templates of your choice!!) Here I am with my mom! 2lbs 10z 15inches long! I was in the NICU for 6 weeks, but was perfectly healthy! I just needed to be there until I gained the weight needed to go home!

Today is my birthday!

My son is sick, I had to cancel my birthday plans, and I'm tired because my kids woke up 3 hours earlier then they normally do! So to make me feel better, I am going to have a little give away. 26 years ago today I was born 2.5 months early! Who ever can guess how much I weighed (or the closest one to it) you will get a $50 gift certificate to be used towards a session fee, prints...or for photographers, my card templates! I'll post the winner later tonight! Good luck!

Is your name on this list?

I think you will want it to be!! These names are entered into my big Christmas day drawing that I will be doing on Christmas day!! I guess I should clarify (if you didn't see the post below). To get your name on this list, all you need to do is make a comment on my blog! Cherin Haylee Trichelle Katie Kellie Chelo Jen Shay Sharon Ryan Nicole Donna Brenda Mindy Kim Cheryl Christi Casey Amanda Anna kristi Joanna Lisa Monica Melissa Ali Stan Jess Jeanette ATT: If your name is on this list, will you please reply or send an email to m@melissadavisphotography.com and let me know if you are in Utah (utah, davis or salt lake counties), if you are a fellow photographer, OR if you just follow my blog!? So now it is time for me to tell you about my Christmas drawing!!! If you live in the Utah, Davis or Salt Lake counties and your name is drawn, you will win a $300 gift certificate to be used towards a photo session with me!! If you are a fellow photographer, you will get my entire collection of Christmas card and Birth announcement templates!! (a value of about $170!) If you are neither a photographer OR some one who lives in Utah, Davis or Salt Lake counties....and you just fallow my blog because you like to LOL....You will get your pick of three of these images in 8x10's with white ditial matting. (click images to see larger view). If you fall into 2 or even 3 of these categories, and your name is drawn, you'll get your choice of the three! (or two if you are not a photographer)

(prizes redeemable after the new year)

Photographer give away!

Hey all! If you are a photographer and you read this blog...this one is for you! I want to see your Christmas tree and YOU! Send your pictures to m@melissadavisphotography.com. My favorite (and of course my kids will help me choose) tree will get to choose four of my card templates! It's almost 10:00pm and I'll announce the winner tomorrow night around this same time! There have been NO takers on this one....but I'll leave it going until Saturday (my Brithday!)

A fun day

I got the chance to take some pictures of my little sister, her husband, and their new little baby boy! My kids came along and I took a few snaps of them as well. It's always good to have my kids get out and run around!! And I was iching to take some pictures! So it worked out just right!

Our first winner...

Cherin! A 2006 client! The song is called "The Spirit of Christmas" What a great song!! and what a good, funny movie.

'Tis the season...

for holiday give aways! Stayed tuned for your chance to win lol! Ok, I can't resist...This first give away is for my 2006 clients. One of my favorite Christmas movies is "National Lampoon's christmas Vacation". The first 2006 client to post a comment and tells me what song was playing when Clark gets stuck up in the attic will get one FREE 11x14 portrait from the pictures from their session! Good luck! Also, anyone who leaves a comment on this blog from now until Christmas Eve will be entered into a drawing for my big Christmas give away! There will be a drawing for those of you who are in the Utah, Davis and Salt Lake Counties and one for any fellow photographers who read this blog! (oh I wanted to add. If you leave a comment, let me know if you are in my area, or a fellow photographer!)

Introducing Sweet Babe announcements!

I've started working on some birth announcements! The link it over to the right side. Just some of my favs so far...More coming daily! (**the baby boy in these cards is my sweet nephew, Ben! I just used them as examples**)

An old friend

This is "T" and her cute little family! until today, I hadn't seen "T" in 5 1/2 yrs! They came down from Ogden to have their family pictures taken for the first time! Cute little "I" was such a little cutie! From her chubby cheeks, to her cute little voice while she was saying "cheese", it couldn't have been a better session. And of course it was good to you you "T" and meet your family! This first picture I love! I had them go up to the top of a hill so I could try and get a cool shot. I snapped only TWO pictures and realized what I was going for wasn't really working. When I downloaded the pictures...I was wowed by this picture and it's now my fav!

More....

the rest can be seen HERE. You know, it's so fun to have a little new born right by me (my sister lives in the apt. under me!). I just love to hold new babies and kiss their soft little heads!

My sweet little nephew

Just one for now! Isn't he the sweetest? more to come......

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to wish everyone a

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I've been very luck and I'm thankful that I have had the chance to photograph so many special people this year! It's been so fun and I really enjoy getting to know new people! I've got some awesome clients, so that makes it even funner!

More pictures to come this weekend! YAY! I get the chance to photograph my sweet new little nephew! He is the cutest thing! And I also get to reconnect with an old friend and take pictures for her beautiful little family! I'm excited....so stay tooned!

I'm going to be an aunt!

This is my little sister! She is going to have her first little baby boy this next week! She was put on bed rest, but decided it would be a good idea to get some maternity pictures of her HUGE baby belly before that little guy pops out! The little guy inside that big belly is going to be my first nephew! The best thing is, my sister and her hubby live in the apartment below me, so I'll be able to live vicariously through them! yay! (and of course I'll also have a little baby to photography! I'm so excited!)

Yay for friends!

This is an old friend! She and I grew up together and were best buds when we were little. We recently saw each other after many, many years and have been keeping in touch ever since! She is also a photographer and she came down to take my family's pictures today. I got the chance to pull out my camera for a little bit and get some pictures of her! She was feeling me in on some great tips she got from a work shop she just attended. I was practicing shooting wide open (for some reason it scares me to go all the way open! 1.8 baby....pretty scary). Anyways, here are a few snaps! Man, I would love to have more chances to practice like this! you know....trying new things, shooting new angles......NO PRESSURE to do good. he he... At my photo shoots, I stick to what I know, that way I know what the results will be! This was fun to do something I don't normally do and see the results!

Family

This is J (the mom) and her family! J is a friend of mine...we go back to our visiting teaching days in my old ward. I also had A in my primary class in my old ward as well. They are such a fun family! Trying to pose and take pictures of two adults, 3 teens and 1 pre-teen is quite the adventure. But the dad is a hoot and had them laughing most of the time. And don't you love how they even have their cute little doggy in the picture?! They are fun! I hope you like your pictures J!

Unintentional High Key

So after a diaper and poop experience with my daughter yesterday, I decided to get her dressed (when she is less likely to take off her poopy diapers). She is always wanting me to put the hoodies on and she just looked to cute to NOT take pictures! Since things are slow with my photography right now, I couldn't pass up the chance to snap a few and get some sweet shots of my sweet daughter. I took these pictures and thought they'd look great in b&w. During the conversion the wall behind her blew out. Even though I wasn't going for they high key look, I am really liking it now. I'm just excited I figured out a place in my apartment that the hight key look will work!

Website make over!

After getting some much needed constructive criticism about my website, I decided to do a total color make over! I have spent the past few days coming up with something that I am really liking! I went from clasic black, to fun and upbeat white! it's so much more ME! Check it out! You can find the link HERE or at the top on the right.

Beauty

I got the chance to spend the afternoon with a friend yesterday. We headed up Hobble Creek Canyon in Springville, Utah. I lived up there for 5 years until I got married and moved out. It's beautiful and so peaceful up there! My sister in law watched my kids (which made it just THAT much more peaceful!). We stopped about 5 or 6 times to take pictures and I just soaked up the beauty. Isn't it the best to be in a beautiful place with a good friend?!

Click to enlage and read! Click HERE to view the Christmas card templates! (I've gotten a few questions about the cards. They will be 5x7 prints with envelopes. Not folded cards.)

little heart breaker?

I THINK SO! This is my two year old little girl! She's a beauty...with additude! I don't share many personal pictures on here, but I had my camera out practicing yesterday, so I thought I'd go ahead and share these.

Working on Christmas cards

I've started making some very simple 5x7 Christmas cards. check them out HERE! I haven't made very many, but I'm slowly coming up with more. I hope they aren't "too bad" and that my clients will like them!

Head shots

I've never done head shots before, but it's quite easy with an adult who sits still lol. I love how a face can tell a whole life story! Can you tell he is a happy man?!

Family

This was a beautiful family. The little guy didn't want his picture taken, but what a cutie! He'd run around and his little legs and arms flapped all over the place. I think it was the cutest little run that I've ever seen. He was so full of energy! The older son was such a good sport...chasing his little brother around, always having a smile on his face ready for the picture to be taken... He had braces with black and blue bands on them and it brought me back to the 7th grade (same grade he is in) where I would be really excited to choose the colors of the bands on my braces! LOL. (memories...) Well back to my point. This is a beautiful family and I enjoyed our session!

Nature's beauty

I really love getting out and being able to take pictures of things that I find to be beautiful. I think I love bright colored flowers the most! I'm really thinking of giving my self some sort of "challenge" that will help me to look out side of the box. Maybe something fun like an ABC challenge where I'd take a picture of something that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Who knows though. I'm still brain searching a fun idea, but I'll be sure to post the pictures here when I start my challenge!

I can't take credit for this one. My husband took this!

Thank you

I wanted to say thank you to my clients! I have had so much fun these past few months and have learned so much from all of you! I have loved meeting new people and having fun with you and your children. I have to say that I am lucky because everyone has been so nice and your kids have all been beautiful! Thank you for choosing me to take your pictures! Also, because of you it was possible for me to upgrade my camera and I am loving it! I can't wait to have my first session with it! Anyways, I just wanted to share a few new pictures of my kids. Taken with my new camera!

Happy September

Well not much is going on today and I really wanted to share something to start out this new month. August was AWESOME in terms of my photography. I had so many fun photo shoots, I got lots of practice and got my biggest order to date! Good times! On my photography board, Ilovephotography.com one of the girls posted a fun post today. It is titled "Turn and Click!". She asked us to "Grab your camera, wherever it is, turn around and take a picture.. Don't adjust the lighting, don't pose, just take a pic of whatever catches your eye." My first thoughts were "oh no, my camera is up on the fridge and the boring stove it right behind it" And then I noticed I had put my dry flowers back on the stove after cleaning yesterday. So I'm sending you all some flowers to make your September a good one! Happy September everyone!!!

Welcome Cedric Lee to the world!

My sweet friend, who I just took maternity pictures for, just had her baby boy today! What a sweet little thing! I love getting to hold and cuddle with new born babies because they are just such miracles. They are so soft and smell so good. Congratulations Eric and Susan!

Fun with friends!

I spent the evening with two of my good friends taking pictures! Susan is due with her first baby on Saturday, so I wanted to get some shots for her! And for Holly's birthday I told her I'd get some pictures of her! My brain was empty last night as I was trying to take pictures of Susan, so Holly was posing and fixing clothes LOL. I told her she should come be my assistant ;)

These were just for fun. As we were getting close to leaving, we noticed these HUGE windows and thought it would be fun to take a picture of the three of us in the window.

Another family session

Family sessions are fun! It's so fun to see how families interact together! I had a session last night with this family and they were all just gorgeous and so nice. I threw together a fun collage of my favorite shots! Mom and dad had a sweet new born baby girl and it made me want to have another. The two year old was JUST like mine and wanted nothing to do with pictures...what a cutie! And the oldest couldn't have been better. What a great family!

Wonderful family

I was contacted by a girl from my favorite photography board, ILP and she was going to be visiting Utah for a few weeks. She wanted some family pictures taken and so I got the chance to get some practice with families! What a fun time! What a fun family! The twin boys were adorable and so good. Mom and dad couldn't have been nicer! They'll be returning to CA this weekend...it was good to meet you guys!

Cutie pies!

I had a practice session with my friends nieces tonight and boy are they cuties! Can I just tell you how much I like taking pictures of subjects that do what you tell them to do? LOL. Anyways, it's late and I'm headed to bed, but I thought I'd share a few of my favs that I've been able to proof tonight.

First new born (2 weeks old)

I just had my first new born session last night and let me tell you...it was a challenge! The home was beautiful, but I had a hard time finding the light. The little sweetie slept pretty good for us, so I was able to get some sweet sleeping shots. I think that I completely lose my mind when I got to a session, because there were so many ideas that I would have liked to do, but didn't because I was stressing over the lighting (or lack there of). But all and all, this was a great learning experience to slow down and think things out!

My kids...a rare moment...

A rare moment captured on camera! Not the hug, but the two of them together! It is SOO HARD to get a picture of the two of my kids together and it happened! Go figure it was after they were playing in the water. Gotta love little ones in swimming suits and sandals!

This picture was taken after a very nice bribe of ice cream!

I'M DONE! (well almost...)

I have been working for weeks now on a "welcome" packet for new clients! AND I JUST finished! Well almost! I need to have my husband proof read, as I KNOW I made a lot of spelling errors! So, if you want one...You're going to have to book a session with me LOL! No, I'm just really excited because I think it turned out lovely! Next step is to print one up and see how it looks! Here's a sneak peak!

Beutiful blues

This little guy gave me a run for my money! (well, walk for my money...he walked all over the place and didn't stop too often!). But he was a cutie, I enjoyed meeting mom and dad, and who could resist these baby blues?!!

Jumping on the blog wagon!

I wanted to start a blog for my photography! It seems to be the "cool thing" to do and since I really like to blog, I thought I'd try it out.

I am fairly new to photography! I got my first SLR last year around March and have been practicing on and off since then. I would like to think I've gotten better, but I know that I still have SO far to go to become the photographer that I want to be!

This June, I posted an add for a free session and 8x10 and I spent the vast majority of July doing 8 sessions! I got a lot of good experience and found that I really enjoy going out and meeting these new people and their kids! Being behind my camera makes me forget that I'm feeling self conscience and scared, and I am able to let loose and have a good time!

By no means, has this been an easy journey though! Photography is not just picking up a "good" camera and taking pictures! It's about having the eye for good composition! It's about getting the right exposure and getting things in focus the way they should be. It's about shutter speeds and aperture and figuring out how they work together! It's about photo shop and how to make those colors pop! It's about sooo much more than anyone could imagine! BUT IT'S FUN!

Well, to start off, I thought I'd add my favorites from the free sessions I did!

(Well at this point, I've spent about an hour trying to figure out how to get images posted the way I want...but it's all backwards LOL. My first session you can find at the bottom and follow them up to recent. oops, I think I'll figure it out soon!)

My last free session was with this cutie! She had a little cold and wasn't too happy. I got some tender moments between her and her mom/dad.

My free sessions were now coming to an end. This was my seventh free session! This guy was a character. Can't you see it in his eyes? He was a sweetie pie (which you can also see in his eyes!). Mom and dad where fun too! On to my six session in a matter of 2 weeks! This guy started out full of smiles! You'd say his name and he'd cheese it at you! After a few minutes of that, he was off and wondering! He was very smart for a one yr. old! And he was already walking...which meant his momma and I got to follow him around every where! (this seems to be the theme of a lot of my sessions. Little ones walking (or running away) and me trying to chase after them LOL)

This was my...wow, what # are we on? fifth session! Isn't he just cute?! This little guy was only a couple months old, which is a hard age! They are not that little new born that sleeps all the time, but they aren't strong enough to sit up on their own! I found he was happiest when mom or dad was holding him! I really enjoyed chatting with dad too. He was super nice! Anyways, this is my forth session! This little guy made it EASY! He was full of smiles...THE. WHOLE. TIME! And because he couldn't walk OR crawl, we just sat him down where we wanted him! I also enjoyed his mom and talking to her durring our session.

My third shoot was this sweet new born. He did a lot of crying and being cranky, but I was able to capture some really good shots while his momma was talking on the phone! LOL, go figure he smiles so sweetly when his momma is talking on the phone!

This was my second shoot, with twins. They were just over a year and couldn't walk...but they could CRAWL! I left thinking I didn't get many good shots because they just didn't sit still, but I ended up with some ones that I really liked!

My first shoot was with these beauties! This little one was a dancer! She danced, (and ran), and then danced some more! But with with those gorgeous eyes and beautiful hair, who could complain?!

So there you have it! ALL of my free sessions! WOWZERS! That was a lot of FUN (and work)! I learned a lot with these sessions, but I also have SO MUCH more to learn! I feel that I have found "my style" of photography, although I feel like it is still a little borring with now "wow" factor! But with time, my technique will improve and I'll improve! I can't wait to see where I will be in a few months...years! HOW FUN!! I wanted to add this one last picture. This was from my first on-location shoot! I went, NOT knowing what to expect. Not knowing the lighting situation! But I really enjoyed this session and look at this little guy! What a cutie! The little grin, the head tilt...too cute! Of course, if you want to contact me, you can find all my info on my photography site!!