Sneak Peek: Paige and Mike

In the Milkweeds

Charlotte & Blair's Wedding Celebration

Meet the Woodwards. Charlotte and Blair met on the first day of school in art class where their first assignment was to draw each other. What a story! Of course their love of art and design influenced their wedding planning making everything unforgettably theirs. Their day was filled with happy guests, wonderful food, an elegant venue, and one couple overflowing with excitement to be together. Congratulations Charlotte and Blair, HERE is your slideshow.

To view, purchase and share images from Charlotte and Blair's wedding celebrations click HERE.

Sneak Peek: Charlotte & Blair's Wedding Celebration

One glimpse of a perfect celebration...more to come Friday.

On Going Back

I took this photo at the gates of Moscow's Red Square in 2005. I remember when I picked up my film I was rather disappointed that the image was both vertical and rather blurry. Today when I looked at the image again, I appreciated it. It really is a great photo. It looks rather vintage which communicates something that I felt frequently while exploring the former Soviet Union. I love the police posted at the gate, something I didn't remember about this photo. I love the opposing profiles of the two police in the foreground.

I have, as you may have noticed, been enduring a stong case of sentimentality and my photo boxes have been re-visited and are in piles waiting to be scanned.

When I found this photo something in me woke up and reminded me to take more photographs for me. This Summer has been, thankfully, so busy and I have had a wonderful time working for other people gathering images that are important to them but I welcome the cool air and slower pace of Autumn as a time for reflection, creativity, motivation, power and new perspective for me.

Take photographs. For yourself.

On Photos

Татиана на юге

When I found this photograph while sifting through a box of my friend Tatiana's I begged her to let me copy it. She reluctantly agreed, making me promise I would never connect this photograph with her. Tatiana is a common name so I don't feel like I am betraying her in any way.

I love this image. I love the little dog looking at the young vibrant girls who play on the beach. I am intrigued by the sassy attitude of the girl in the extreme left. I love the legs in this image. Look at just the legs- isn't that interesting? This photograph was taken in the early 1980s when the USSR was still strong and Russia was an entirely different place than it was when I lived there. That's the thing about photographs-once taken the moment that produced them is gone.

Take photos. Be photographed.

On Family Portraits

We haven't had our family pictures taken in so long.
Oh gosh! Do I look okay?
Really? I don't know- I just don't have the body I used to have.
Can you make me look skinny?

I have heard it all. From requests to extend the length of a neck, to apologies of what once was- I hear you. I hear that things change, I hear the you are apprehensive about the feelings that arise when you look at your portrait and a flood of critique swells in you.

When I look at this beautiful photograph of my Grandparents I do not see imperfections and things that required improvement. I see two people who loved each other. I see the way my Grandfather's hand holds his bride's head in one swift moment that was likely repeated throughout their lives together. That movement reminds me that these film figures are people. People with expectations and hopes, struggles and imperfections. As the granddaughter of these figures, this image is priceless. It is real, captivating, and provides a glimpse into a powerful reality that turns my heart to the people to whom I owe my life.

Opinion

What do you think about THIS list from Wired?
via A Photo Editor

Remarks

The incredible Megan from Remarks from Sparks came along with me to shoot Jessica and Ryan's wedding events and she wrote an incredibly flattering review of her "day in the life". Click HERE for the story. Thanks Megan really, I laughed from beginning to start.

Photographers Notes

When we lived in Houston it rained a lot. As Cade and I made the long and mostly blank landscaped roadtrip back to Utah I took a photo of scattered water drops as they hurried across a pane, forced by the speeds of wind over my car. While I was looking at it yesterday I remembered how valuable it was to acknowledge those drops. Becoming a parent has both resurrected my ability and reminded me of the joy in recognizing the splendor of detail that surrounds us.

While I was editing these I was reminded of something that is both common and profound- you can never take the same photo twice. You can try, sure, you can try all day if you like. You can put the same bride in the same dress at the same location but the photo you shoot can never disguise itself as another. Each of my photographs reflects my mood, inspiration, perspective, understanding of composition, knowledge of the technical aspects of light and its capture. Those elements are in constant flux and contribute only a portion of the final product. A subject's interaction with the camera, the whims of weather, color, and even last nights news inform the very moment we are gathering and that moment cannot be duplicated.

So here are some of my moments. Moments from September 14th as I sat in the back seat of my car with my tiny Dotter at my side watching the valley fill up with rain.

me in you(r sunglasses)

Yeah baby!

Bigler Family Portraits

*Be sure to check out the slide show at the bottom of the post!

Erin is gorgeous. She is also smart (Erin made her dress!) funny, generous, well-written and real. Anyone who knew her at PHS will agree with me. I liked her in high school and though many years have prevented me from spending any time with her I was quickly reminded of my admiration when blogging put us back in touch. Erin recently moved from her home in Georgia to Utah to be surrounded by mountains, family, and friends while her husband Nate serves our country in his second tour of Iraq. I was honored that the Bigler family choose me to document such a great time in their lives.

Want to see a slide show of the Bigler family in a field, surrounded by peach trees and under a setting sun? Click *HERE*. To order photos click HERE.

*Update* Erin loves them!

The Christensen Family

I originally met Kimber and Nick through Etsy. I have met the coolest people on Etsy and the Christensen family are certainly no exception. Their shop Little Sapling Toys lures its visitors with classic toys of updated design and inspires small business owners with their success. I was so excited when Kimber and Nick told me they were coming to Utah and wanted to hire me to shoot their family portraits. I love collaborating with a family to find out what parts of their relationship, their interests, and their individuality should be captured. These images are proof of a family that loves, plays, and works together and it was my honor to collect them.

More? More? More? Yes, there are more. Click HERE for more portraits of the Christensen family.

PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES:
I love my Alien Bee flash. When I ordered it I requested a pink one 'cause I'm cool like that.