Paigisms and other noteworthy happenings

New Blog

2009-12-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I know it has been a while since I have posted something new, I have been SWAMPED! Evidentally when I say I am taking a hiatus, I don't mean it, but the flurry of photo activity has finally started to slow and I can turn my work efforts to other things, such as my new blog (I know, I was supposed to have it up in November, but then there was the ghost in my photo and I got all distracted, I even considered switching careers and joining up with the utah ghost hunters society but they wouldn't have me, something about me being to odd, and so I am back). If you would pretty please click the following link and also maybe if you like me bookmark it and visit it other times as well, I would be super happy, and so will one of you, since I am sponsoring a contest for one random comment sender. So get ready, get set, click here now!

http://blog.carriebutlerphotography.com

Notice there is no www at the beginning? I am not sure what that even means, but less typing for me so I guess it is good news, right? Ok, now click the link....

Sixty Five Percent Sure it is My Sweatshirt...

2009-11-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

I went to Elizabeth C. Price elementary school in Humelstown, PA for the third grade, and my class room was in the basement of a school that according to Brad Something or Other (who was also in the third grade) was built on the ruins of an old Indian Burial ground and was naturally haunted by Elizabeth C. Price herself. I spent an entire week not sleeping because I totally believed Kimmie C. when she said she had gone into the bathroom where the ghost was known to be and said "Elizabeth Price, are you there?" and in response, she heard a very ghostly whisper, "Yeeeesss". Scary, right? What eight year old would not freak out, I ask you? Anyway, aside from the time I was showing an estate sale home to some clients and while we were in the basement we heard a giant crash upstairs and my client told me she knew it was the ghost of the man who had passed away there, I have had very little to do with the supernatural. (incidentally, they did not buy that house, we ran out of there like wild dogs were nipping at our heals.)

Well, you will remember my post from back in May about the Memory Grove ghost (if not, click here. ) Now every time I go to do photos at Memory Grove I make really dumb jokes about the ghost and last week with the Cassity family it was no exception. Jen was wearing a purple sweater so of course I had to point out that the ghost would probably appear and check her out, to which her husband responded, "ya, I can definately feel something strange up here." I shut up after that because I was starting to scare myself a little. We finished the shoot, and that was the end of it. Until of course I got the text from Jen after I put the previews up on my blog. Please keep in mind that the whole house was dark, everyone was asleep but me and the text said "carrie, you got the ghost, call me right away!!". I am not going to lie, dear readers, I came pretty close to peeing my pants, and since it was so late I didn't dare look at the pictures that I knew she must be referring to until the next day. I am sure many of you have seen the picture since then because I spent the better part of the day showing people and asking their opinions (including but certainly not limited to Jim from Real Estate.com and the receptionist at Paiges Karate school.) But in case you haven't, here it is again.

Its a face, right? to the right of his head and just below the door handle? I spent the better part of Wednesday googling the memory grove ghost, going over the other photos from the shoot and trying to logically determine what it could be. And after all of that, I have come to an either or conclusion. Either it is an unfortunately shaped reflection of my sweatshirt or it is a disembodied face, looking directly at Jen and her purple sweater. Jen pointed out to me that she was standing directly in the face's line of sight at the time the photo was taken, we know this because I had her on deck to hop the fence and get in the photo with her family right then. So what do you think? Is it a ghost? All the other pictures in that same location show my reflection in the window panes on the right door, but this one doesn't show any reflection at all.

I put in a request for answers with the Salt Lake Independant Ghost Hunters Team, (yes, its real) I guess we will see what they have to say, in the mean time, YIKES!! But I am still going to shoot at Memory Grove this week, the light up there is amazing!!

The minis and more

2009-11-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my friend Jen about doing some family sessions for some of her friends before the holidays, and since I was a little short on time, she came up with the idea to cram four mini sessions into a two hour block of time so we could fit everyone in. I have photographer friends who do mini sessions all the time but for one reason or another I didn't think I would be able to pull one off and although I had my doubts, I thought it was one of the more exciting photo sessions I have done in a long long time. Of course I had my right arm and sidekick Linda there with me which was wonderful, and even though one family that came to the session knew her name but not mine, I tried not to take it too personally, I really need to get my ego in check and remember that although I think it often, I am not a superstar:) It was a fun fun night and I would love to start doing mini sessions on a regular basis, so if anyone is interested in setting one up, please let me know, I will be booking sessions again soon, I promise..(incidentally, if you are wondering, minis are easier on the wallet, too).
Mini session families, you guys are AWESOME!!!! Linda and I could not stop talking about how much fun we had on this shoot, please please please lets do it again sometime soon!!!

As a secondary note, I have a brand new blog coming to a google reader near you! My very talented friend Derek has been putting it together, and is patiently awaiting my switch, but if I can be frank, dear readers, I have been hesitant to switch because I am not sure all four of you would make the move with me. So I have to ask, will you? Pretty please make the switch? As bonus incentive, I am going to have a contest on my very first blog entry at my new digs, so be ready to leave a comment, you who read my blog and write nary a hello...(you know who you are, but I won't name names)

I used a fill flash on this one, I almost never like using a flash but this one I thought turned out pretty cool.

Funny faces.

This has to be the last photo because I LOVE it! and it was accidental! I wish I could say that I meant to light them this way, that it was all part of my awesome raw talent, but here is what happened, I was swearing as usual at the stupid flash, because it wasn't firing, and then I forgot it was on, since, like i just said, it wasn't firing, and while it was pointed at the black concrete, it went off, and bounced up, and voila.

Kristen, again...

2009-11-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

Welp, it has been brought to my attention that I have been doing pictures of Kristens kids for four years now, and I am shocked. A lot has changed since the first day you brought sweet Sophie over to the basement half studio, Kristen, but it really really moves me to know that you have stuck with me as your family photog through all the dust and change, I love your family, and I love that you like my pictures. And I love that the pictures are the reason we met and that I consider you to be a great friend. Thank you thank you thank you, a million times over, for coming to me!!!! The illustriuos Linda caught these pictures of cute Duncan, who for some reason likes her way better then me, a small blow to the ego, but since it is Linda and she is fabulous, I will get over it.

Music

2009-11-10T14:37:00.000-08:00

I have background music. Have I written about this before? Well, you are getting it again, because this weekend I had AWESOME background music and I need to share it, readers. Should I explain that my background music is just like a movie soundtrack and frequently changes according to my moods? I don't know how many people experience life soundtracks so I don't know if it is normal or not... I even have background music in my dreams, like that time I was dreaming I was walking through a dark parking lot after it rained and the lone street lamp was reflecting on the wet, black asphalt as I slowly approached an unknown horror at the other side? The soundtrack for that was "Hazard" by Bryan Adams. Anyway, my background music is usually at its loudest during my best photo sessions and this weekend, while I was doing Carolyn's pictures, I was accompanied by my old friend Al Green and Lets Stay Together. It was fantastic. And while I was editing the pictures, it was still playing, over and over, like it was on repeat. Mike was in the kitchen, I was on the couch, both of us entrenched in our own heads, the room filled with productive silence, and suddenly, like a faulty speaker, poor Mike would hear "Yoouu make me feel, so brand newwwww..." and then back to the silence... did he know he was choosing a lunatic to be his bride when we got married? I don't know, but I think he likes me this way... Here are some pictures from the Al Green shoot... Carolyn, you are smokin hot, and I am so happy I finally got to meet Mia!

The super hero

2009-11-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

She has always known she was super. And I don't mean super as in the stamp you used to get on your homework assignment in the second grade. I am talking full blown, larger then life, more. Super. She got invited to "super hero training camp" last month and could not contain her excitement or her curiosity about finally getting to see what she was made of. And she made it all the way through training, with flying colors. She got a pink cape, a pink mask, pink wrist shields and a certificate with her new super hero name on it. (she made me promise I wouldnt' disclose that name to the general public but rest assured, it does have the word "pink" in it)(also, as long as I am pausing the story with parenthesis, how cool is my friend Kim for throwing her son a super hero training camp birthday party?)

After the party, we went to the mall to pick up some hold items, and she asked if she could wear her newly aquired "uniform" inside. I hesitated. I mean, it was only September, wouldn't people look at her like she was that weird kid from the Santa Claus line in "A Christmas Story"? You know, the one with the goggles? But I let her wear it. Pink mask and all. And she walked into that front door with her head held high and proud, because she knew who she was. We finished up our shopping, got stopped by the tricksters at the curling iron kiosk, and as I was getting my hair magically curled, Paige suddenly took off in a sprint, her cape waving behind her. I called after her, I caught up, I demanded to know why she had taken off like that, didn't she know she could have gotten lost? "yes," she said, "but I thought I saw a kid about to fall from the second level and I needed to catch him." I hope she always knows who she is, as surely as she knows she is super.

Cody's Family

2009-11-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

They all have the most remarkable eyes! And Cody was so sweet and such a wonderful mom, and the kids were so accomodating, it was a great shoot! I hope you like the previews, Cody, thank you so much for calling me, I hope you guys had as much fun as I did!!!!

As a side note, I will be taking a "sabatical" after next week, for the month of December, or at least until Brett's treatments are underway, I have one slot left for next week so if you want it for a family shoot, or head shots, or whatever, please holla back!! Oh but don't worry, I will still be here on the blog to regale you with tales from the Butler household!

Jessica and Kenny Part One

2009-11-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

I felt like I had known Jessica for years the first time we spoke over the phone to discuss details of her October wedding, and after hearing the pure love that their friends and family had for them, I was sure I had met a truly remarkable little family. Their day was gorgeous, the details were exquisite, and the best part? Linda flew out to shoot with me! I haven't even started on the reception pictures, so those will be coming along, but I couldn't wait another minute to share with you some of my favorite shots of the day...

I loved this moment between mother and daughter, I can't remember what song it was, but I loved the joy on their faces...

This is definately the most calm maid of honor I have yet to see, and I was really moved when she put her hands on her friends back to sooth her before she went to meet her husband...

Sorry, I tried and tried to move this picture down in the order but I am giving up...

right before she saw him... so so sweet!

The Mambas

2009-10-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

"Better bring some Mambas." He said it almost matter of factly as he hung up, after telling me that Dr Rich wanted to meet with him and go over his "salvage treatment" plan. That first day, back in June, when they said "stage three testicular cancer" we had mambas, then on the day of his first surgery we had mambas, and the first time they hung that iv bag full of the venomous bliomyocin, we ate mambas. So I grabbed some on the way to the meeting and we ate em up, as Dr. Rich talked about bone marrow transplants and more rounds of chemo.
Today we met with the organ transplant people up at LDS hospital, Celeste, the receptionist greeted us with an almost overly kind, "Brett, we are so glad you could make it" followed by offers of soda, water, cookies, a mask, an isolated room, whatever he wanted, and we knew that we had crossed into something that was bigger then mambas. Brett filled out paperwork, I spoke with a guy battling Leukemia, and then we went to see the doctor. He talked about the procedure, about the weeks leading up to the big event, when he would be poked and prodded, when he would do a bone marrow biopsy, and when he would take shots to build up his marrow, and how they would hook him up to a machine and hit a button and his stem cells would be harvested. He talked about the three weeks in the hospital immediately following, and how he would have two weeks to recover, only to start the process over again. Brett said he needed a day, just a day to take it all in, and then he would feel ok about it. I believe him. I think maybe I will bring him some mambas tomorrow though just to get him through.
I have to be honest, you four blog readers, this feels pretty serious now. We like to joke, talked about getting him an engraved Brass Ball ("RIP old boy" is what it would read) but there isn't a lot of joking on the organ transplant floor. So I am asking, please dear readers, if you pray, please pray for Brett. I think his salvage chemo starts on Tuesday and the rest begins right after Thanksgiving.

Yvonna and Charles

2009-10-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

We spent the evening at Wheeler Farm, it was a blast! I met Yvonna earlier this year at Nicole's wedding, she was one of the best maids of honor I have seen yet, and I cannot wait to see what she can put together for her wedding! They are such a fun couple, they are so in love!

Saras Family

2009-10-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of time to post right now, I am on my way to shoot Jessica and Kenny's wedding in Oceanside, but I wanted to hurry and upload photos for Sara and her family to preview, I appreciate their patience, it has been one CRAZY week! We had a great time and I have to say that her boys are ranked amoung the best behaved I have ever photographed!!

Donald Trumps House of Wings

2009-10-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone ever seen that SNL skit? The one with a bunch of the cast dressed up in chicken costumes singing to the tune of "Jump" by the Pointer Sisters? "Trump! you know our wings will make you happy, Trump! You know our wings will fill you up, Trump in! If you want blue cheese it will be a dollar extra, Donald Trumps house of wings"? Anyone see it? It cracks me up to this day, but I can't find it on anywhere on the Internet. And as luck would have it, it has been stuck in my head for weeks now and has been the background music to numerous activities including photo sessions, airplane rides, and date nights. I need to see this skit before I burst out in song at the grocery store and do a little chicken dance (oh Amy Poehler, your chicken dance makes me laugh out loud) So if anyone at all has access to it, please, please let me know! I spent the better part of today trying to find it via google to no avail. Anyway, so that's whats going on with me these days. I definitely was humming it at the shoot with the Torgersons. These little ones are so so cute! And I love what they dressed them up in! So precious! Megan is in my Sunday school class and don't let her fool you, she is a sassafras deep down! Love you, Megan!

Digging in mommas purse..

This little sweety was so spent, she had been all smiles for an hour and a half and then we made her sit and take just one more, I love the look of exasperation on her face, beautiful little thing!!

Linda my love...

2009-10-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

I like to bring a giant bag of gear to different shoots with me. Sometimes I don't even use the gear, actually most of the time I don't use the gear, but I feel like if I have the gear, I will feel much more legitimate in case I run into another photog while I am out. Generally speaking, I lose about one item on average per shoot. Sometimes it is lens, sometimes it is a flash, most of the time it is a lens cap. One time, I made a list of all the things I brought to the shoot so that I could go down the list and pack them back up so I wouldn't have to go crawling around on my hands and knees looking for my lens cloth, battery charger, flash or keys. Wanna take a stab at which item was first to be lost on that shoot? Thats right, the list. I would like to think that it is the artist in me, that I am so focused on my work that I can't possibly be bothered by mundane things such as cleaning up after myself, but unfortunately this behavior poors into my life as well. It is the reason I don't carry a purse as a matter of fact. If I carried a purse I would lose it and everything in it all at once, guaranteed. Anyway, due to my inability to remember my head if it wasn't attached to my body, I decided to seek out some help. And help came, in the form of the best assistant/second shooter on the planet, Linda. She is AMAZING, a great photographer, a great support when I am feeling down, and perfect for remembering to grab whatever it is that I put down on a picnic table and forgot to grab again before we switched locations. She and I make a wonderful team, she gets the most amazing shots and angles, things I never would have thought of when we are shooting a wedding. She is so amazing that she is coming out to shoot a wedding in San Diego next month and I can not wipe the smile off my face thinking about how we are going to rock that shoot together. I do feel a teeny bit bad that she has to work with me, just yesterday we were comparing working with me being a lot like working for Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada because I just drop my stuff and don't even turn around again to make sure she has it all...but I sure have loved photography more and more since she came to be such an integral part of Carrie Butler Photography. We went up Mill Creek canyon with our families for a picnic and to try capturing some pictures of them while the leaves are beautiful, check out the cool pictures she took of us! And check out how beautiful her family is! I love Linda!! You can check out her photo blog by clicking here.

Hardee Boy

2009-10-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Remember the Hardy Boys? Those books were awesome, I loved them, and then choose your own adventure books came out and I never looked back, I am so fickle! Anyway, I shot the Hardee family the other night over at Wheeler Farm, and I must say, this little dude had the most beautiful blue eyes ever! It was a blast hanging out with them, and then Paige and Mia met me there for more fun while daddy went for a boys night at a Jazz game, Wheeler Farm is so much fun right now, if you have kids, there is a little campfire, and a wagon ride and halloween lights, I highly recommend it. Anyway, Amy, here are your previews...

Nielsons

2009-10-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

Well, first I was their realtor, then we were friends and now I do their pictures, see, when you hire Carrie Butler, you just can't get rid of her. Although don't let that discourage you from hiring me, I am lots of fun, just ask Monyca Albondega.

Robin and Seth

2009-10-14T15:09:00.001-07:00

Have you ever watched the e harmony commercials and seen a couple so fresh and so fun that you wished you could find them and become best couples friends with them? You know, have game nights, go on trips, celebrate important milestones? That is what it is like to hang out with Robin and Seth, they are so fun, and so sweet together, and so genuinely loving. It was a really fun afternoon, as a matter of fact, I had sore cheeks from smiling so big! I cannot wait to party with them for the New Years Eve wedding! Thanks, Robin and Seth, for a wonderful afternoon, and seriously, if you ever want to get together and play cranium, call us!

He slid down the railing under the assumption that I would give him five bucks for it, and had a sore backside. I owe you, Seth.

Secrets...

Gorgeous ring, designed by his best friends girlfriend, sweet, right?

Yum, cupcakes...

Grace, age 6, future portrait photographer extroardinaire

2009-10-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

I had a great time with Teresa's family, particularly her six year old daughter, who had some AWESOME pose ideas for me, it was great, I hardly even had to work at all! Not to mention the whole family is beautiful so again, not too hard to do all the work. It was a lot of fun and a reminder to me that I cannot wait to get our family pictures done, and pitty the fool that has to take them, because man, my kids are fast!

Seriosly dad, you better not drop me.

Playing some ring around the rosy..

We were at the Salt Lake Library so we pulled up a seat and grabbed some books, these kids LOVE to read, their sweet mommy brings them to the library every week and it shows.

The Paper Route and other memories

2009-10-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

"Papers."
"Hmmmhm?"
"Carrie, your turn for papers, time to get up."
"UHgghhehheehhh."
And so began the hour and a half at 4:30 AM before even the rooster crowed in which we got up and delivered the Vacaville Reporter to eager readers all across the sleepy city. In the summer when it was nice, it really wasn't so bad, we would chug through town in our old VW van with the door wide open, chucking papers into driveways, running papers up to porches and fishing papers out of bushes (I was a really bad shot and my dad insisted on perfect paper placement). The balmy dark air would blow in, keeping us in a state halfway between asleep and awake as the oldies station played Elvis's "Can't help falling in love".
My brother Trevor lives in one of the apartment complexes we delivered to, there are two lion statues guarding the entrance and after we delivered (to apartments 8, 10, 20 and 22) I would almost always run into one on the way out.
Although at the time I hated getting up, (I lay in horror at night at the thought of any of my friends catching me hanging out of a van at that hour in my pjs, and to this day I can't stand the smell of softsoap because it reminds me of trying to scrub the newsprint off my hands lest one of the aforementioned friends see how dirty I got working to help put food on the table,) I think that I my love of vacaville may have come in those wee hours of the morning. Driving around the rolling, velvety brown hills dotted with oak trees. The little cafe whose most common patron is a down home local who remembers when Vacaville was only a small farming community. The Black Oak restaurant, with what once was the tallest sign in the area. While in town this week, we took the girls over to the newly remodeled Nut Tree. I was happy to see that the old oversized rocking horses had been included in the childrens play area. I was also very happy to see that along the top of the new carousel were depictions of old Vacaville, as the town must have been in the beginning, when it was a friendly agricultural center. Although it looks as though it has been hard hit by our sagging economy (as evidenced by the missing Bakers Square and Lyons, where I learned to dip my fries in milkshakes) I am happy to report that downtown is just as beatiful as ever.... Which is why I decided we must do a photo session there. And now I am hooked. The Kuic building, Vasquez Deli, the barber shop, all perfect backdrops for baby Owen to play around with mom and dad in. Here are a few of my favorite shots. If you are from Vacaville, or have ever been to Vacaville, would you take a moment to leave a comment and include your favorite memories.. One of mine is swimming in the Buck Mansion pool with our old neighbors and thinking we saw ghosts inside while we were changing in the bath house. Another is roller blading across town at three in the morning with Jamie Johnson to go sit on Andy Borges porch swing. And of course, my very favorite memory of all was driving home from the paper route with the doors still open, the warm wind on my face, listening to "wise men say only fools rush in...."

I feel a little bit cruel posting this picture, but I just thought it was so adorable, with him in his little man jeans, reaching out for his daddy.

yum, hair product.

baby feet

2009-09-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

I love em, it is amazing I didn't eat Mia's feet up, they were so cute. And baby Cohens feet are just too good not to post here for you four sometimes five faithful readers to enjoy! And a couple others besides. Isn't Erica the most beautiful, vibrant mom ever?

Haslams

2009-09-21T21:09:00.001-07:00

I got to go hang out with a long lost friend and his amazing family this weekend at Silver Lake, it was a blast! We ran around the lake, saw a dead moose, played some games and had a grand ole time. I made off with a bunch of very delicious cookies which incidentally I ate before I even got out of the parking lot. I also managed to leave behind my flash, my reflector and my lens, but thanks to some quick thinking by Rob, I got them all back safe and sound. Sorry I am a ding bat guys. My brother in law once told me that that is the price I pay for being so talented artistically speaking but i think he was just trying to make me quit whining for being a big dummy. Anyway, here are some preview pics, Haslams, I hope you guys had as much fun as I did.

Kaley and Brad

2009-09-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE doing the First Look with couples? You know, when they have a chance to see each other before the wedding, have some time to talk and laugh and hang out in their wedding best without throngs of people all around, trying to get a little piece of attention from them? I cannot say enough about this newfangled way of doing wedding pictures. It makes the whole day go a bit more smoothly and it is such a wonderful chance for the bride and groom to take a breath and enjoy eachother. I wish we had done a first look, heck, I wish all my brides would do it. Not to be pushy, but hint hint, if you happen to read my blog and are considering getting married in the next while and are also considering hiring me to do your wedding photography, I may or may not try and cojole you into seeing your mate before the wedding. But enough unabashed plugging for first looks, lets get on to Kaley and Brad, who chose to do their wedding pictures two weeks before the big day and it was RADICAL (don't like me using 80s slang terms? You will have to take it up with Brett, he is the one that got me saying it. It may or may not be better then hearing me say "off the hook" though, you be the judge) I felt like I was watching a fairy tale unfold before my eyes as Brad saw his bride for the first time.

I love this photo, Brad had just realized that there was an inscription in his ring to him from his new wife, it was such a sweet moment!

In case you are wondering, she is laughing because I acidentally said a swear word.

Sassafrass!!!

Tell me this dude does not look like the bachelor at a rose ceremony!!

Kaley and Brad, I love you guys, you have been such a blast to work with! I hope you enjoy your previews.

Two Miracles

2009-09-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

It is officially fall and while I will miss the summer and be cursing the state of Utah come first snow fall, I am excited. Paige is in school, Mia and I will be attending Mommy and Me classes at the library and I am back at the gym. Some other reasons to celebrate? Thursday night t.v. is back on (oh how I have missed you, Tina, Alec, Tracy, Jenna...) there is a new Olive Garden down the street and they have some cool new soup containers for take out (do any of you really know how much I love soup? Especially the fatty cream soups loaded with buttery calories) (don't worry, I am back at the gym) and most importantly, Brett is done with his Chemo treatments. He got a long anticipated call this morning from the beloved Dr Rich saying that his tumor markers are now within levels of normal. WOO...HOO! I can't seem to find an accurate way of expressing all of the emotions that this news brings with it, but I can tell you about the last day of his chemo and how we were skipping through the halls of the hospital singing zip a dee doo dah.. I can say that during his last round of chemo we saw how truly ugly cancer treatment can be. And I can definately say that it is a miracle that after only three months of treatment, the "inumorous" tumors in his lungs are no longer growing, that he can breath normally and that he does not have any permanent damage to his lungs. We now move on to the part where they try and figure out how to remove all the tumors without cutting him from the top of his collar bone to the bottom of his abdomen, but after this summer I have absolute faith in the doctors and I know they will be successful. I have to say, again, I am so moved by the kindness of people involved in his care and the friends and family that have rallied to his aid.

Now about this second miracle, as you know, at the beginning of the summer Brett was uninsured. Though the hospital has been remarkable in his care and treatment during this time, (his urologist, Dr. Oldroyd never even sent a bill for the surgery he performed) the bills were piling up. For some reason, and I guess we may never know why, his cobra benefits were reinstated, and set to be retroactive beginning at a time before he was diagnosed. Although there is still a financial responsibility for Brett, the mere fact that he is insured has opened up a door to different treatment options concerning his surgery and his post surgery care that simply weren't possible before. So there it is. He is halfway through the process and the outlook is very very positive. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

I was asked to do some pictures for a friend of Mikes parents, who are going to school here but are from Russia, I was honored to be part of their day and really impressed by what beautiful people they are, here are some preview pictures. The little girl in the pictures is Mia, she came with me to help carry my bags. Isn't she a doll of a toddler?

Jon and Alanna

2009-09-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

You may remember Jon and Alanna from this post but let me re introduce them as husband and wife.

The first day we met, I couldn't help but notice that Jon placed his hand on Alanna's back and leaned in to listen when she spoke, and I knew I was witnessing true love. The wedding was nothing if not perfect affirmation of that love, his smiling face as he waited for her at the end of the aisle, the way she fit precisely into his arms as they danced, the way he sang to her as if they were the only ones in the room... It was beautiful.

So without further ado, here they are...

To see the slide show of the rest, please visit

www.carriebutlerphotography.myshowit.com/jonandalannawedding

What a Week!

2009-08-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

It has been nuts this week, the kind of week where your kids eat spaghetti three nights in a row for lack of time to cook anything else. The kind of week when you are constantly catching yourself saying "oh no, I forgot to do (blank).." and "I wish I could find time to (blank)". You know the one I am talking about, right? The week that you hear yourself saying to your spouse, "honey, I will pay you a thousand dollars if you make the phone calls for founding parent board this week..." or"the garbage disposal is broken baby, but I can fix it if you just tell me what to do..what? you want me to go all the way out to the garage to get a wrench? Never mind, i don't have time, i will just wait for you to come home." Yes friends, it has been insane around the Butler household. But in a good way. We went away for our anniversary, we saw Def Leppord and Poison, had a ton of really great photo sessions and finally deep cleaned and de cluttered the kitchen (it was a necessary evil, I was afraid we were all going to get staff infections if I let it go any longer.) I learned a lot of interesting things about myself this week that I would love to pass on to you faithful readers.

1. A hotel room with windows that look into the shower from the bedroom is awesome. And not for the reason you think. When I first saw the room all I could think was "great, now i have to suck in the whole time I am showering" and I did, but I also discovered that if you stand just right, you can watch tv while you shower, awesome, right?

2. I am a Fuh Reak (that is 'freak' but pronounced emphatically) about nachos. And cotton candy. If nachos are on the menu, I am ordering them, and even if the chips are stale and the chicken doesn't look cooked all the way, I will eat every last chip. And cotton candy? There was a cotton candy guy at the def leppord/poison concert and I made Mike buy me some, and I ate it all, every last fluff of it, before Poison even took the stage.

3. If your littlest child has diarhea and a butt rash from said diarhea, it is not a good idea to let her butt "dry out" before putting a diaper back on, but if you must let her run around in her birthday suit, at least be smart enough to let her stand on a blanket for easy clean up. Because she will poop on the floor.

4. If your child asks you very loudly whether the person helping you in the drive through is a boy or a girl, you should just assume that your food got spit in because it probably did.

5. When Paiges pet dies, it is ok to cry with her.

6. If you are shooting an anniversary party and during a key moment when the father is reading a touching tribute to the couple, and you lean over the table to get a good shot of the emotion on the couples face, you should check and make sure there is not a burning candle where your hair is. Because seriously, nothing can ruin the timing of a lovely poem like hearing, "do you smell something burning? Oh my gosh, its my hair, ahhh!!" True story... Just happened about three hours ago.

7. Tripods are friends. With a tripod on a pretty night, you can get a shot like this.... Sorry there is no cute border with my name, too lazy, but did you see number six? my hair caught on fire, people, I am going to bed!

Jason and Christine

2009-08-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Christine and Jason were married on Friday at the Salt Lake temple. The day was hot, the temple was crowded, and you could not wipe the smiles off of their faces. This couple is so much fun, and so happy together, it was a joy to shoot their wedding photos. Surrounded by some mighty spunky family and friends, they danced the night away at the South Mountain Golf Club to the musical stylings of The Sensations, an amazing, talented group that quite honestly knocked my socks off with their abilities. I must stress the fact that I would invent a reason to throw a huge party just to invite these guys back to play, they were fantastic. Please note, if you are planning a wedding or party of any kind to which I will be invited (either to shoot or to regale you with my hilarity) consider hiring this band, it will make all the difference in the world to the fun level of the event. Click here to visit the website.

I think I must list a few of my favorite parts of the day, in no particular order (you may note that most of them have everything to do with me, but I can't help it)

1. I got toasted at the wedding lunch.

2. Christine has lovely taste, I adored how the reception was decorated, I adored the dress, I loved everything.

3. They blew my pictures up and displayed them all over the room.

4. Jason's friend Brian and my brother Brett helped carry our stuff around during the shoot and I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants at their antics.

5. My assistant Linda took some incredible photos which were way better then anything I could have gotten and I love her to pieces.

6. the clouds rolled in at exactly the right time and place to make it easy to do pictures on the golf course even though there was no shade as far as the eye could see.

But enough chit chat, lets get down to the nitty gritty, the preview pictures.

Jason and Christine, Thank you, it was a pleasure.

Linda got this shot, LOVE YOU LINDA!!!

And this one..

Why do I love making people dressed up in their finest jump in the air so much? It is truly an illness of mine...

First dance as Mr. and Mrs.

Isn't Jason dapper?

As Promised...

2009-08-11T15:56:00.001-07:00

Here is the slideshow for Kaley and Brad, the music was written and performed by the very talented and lovely Stephanie Smith Maybey, if you are interested in getting the music, contact me, I have connections!!:)

http://carriebutlerphotography.myshowit.com/kaleyandbrad/index.html

Playdate preview slideshow...

2009-08-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

We had an AWESOME Save Brett playdate last night, arranged by Amber Packer of Bloomin Memories , we went down to one of my favorite spots by these docks with a big party load of kids and mommies and we had a blast!!! A big thank you to all those who participated, and big kisses to my lovely and talented second shooter, Linda, and to Kayla who volunteered to baby wrangle, I feel so lucky to have you.
Here is a little slideshow preview for you moms anxiosly awaiting. Amber, FYI I was not up till 4, just 2:30 getting this ready. (it wouldn't have taken so long but I got tricked into watching Paul Blart Mall Cop, which incidentally is like a really bad version of Die Hard, only there is no hot Bruce Willes to distract you from the story) The rest of the pictures will be uploaded to my gallery in the next few days and you will get an email with your links, mommies... Until then, I hope you love the previews!

www.carriebutlerphotography.myshowit.com/amberpacker

LOVE!!!!

2009-08-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

Love. Love, love love!! We had such a great shoot last night with Kaylee and Brad, it was one of those hot, still, August nights, you know the kind when the sun is throwing off an amber glow and the world is quiet? Very romantic, and this was just the couple to fit that atmosphere, both sophisticated and sassy, I don't like to play favorites, but this couple is definately at the tippy top of my list:) Stay tuned for the slideshow, there were too many favorites so I have to put one up!

Look at all the sass... Love it!

I don't know what he was saying but she kept cracking up outta no where.

Grandma's Potato Salad

2009-08-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

I made potato salad to bring to the Butler Family dinner today. Not just any potato salad, but the special potato salad that I learned to make at the feet of my mother, as she learned to make it at the feet of her mother, and so on. Ever since there has been Hellman's Best Food mayonnaise and Lawry's season salt the women in my family have made this hot German potato salad. And it is D-E-Licioius, if I do say so myself. So awesome in fact, that as kids, we would sneak downstairs after bed and steal bites out of it where it was cooling in the fridge. My mom would invariably wake to find the foil pealed back and at least 8 spoonfuls missing. The potato salad is not easy to make, it takes a lot of literal slaving over a hot stove, although as I made it today it occurred to me that while a task of this length would ordinarily drive me to swear, I enjoyed every second of peeling those hot potatoes straight out of the pot. With every potato I was reminded of being a kid, of watching my mom on Fourth of July morning armed with her kitchen towels and paring knife.
A house with 8 children and two parents is bound to have its fair share of turmoil, and our home was no exception, it seems as though we kids were always getting up to something. Like the time we filled up water balloons and hauled them up to the tree house and pelted our neighbors grand kids that were there visiting. (the sissies ratted us out) Or the time we let out our dog out and she bit the kid that lived down the street. There was the time my brothers got caught hauling shopping carts to the roof of the library and throwing them off (trust me, not the worst thing they got caught doing as crazy youth, or even the dumbest for that matter..) Or when we girls talked the otherwise innocent neighbors into forming a toilet paper posse and sneaking out to TP the *Smith home (*name has been changed to protect us from them ever finding out who it was..) so badly that the home was unrecognizable from the street. There were times when we would all 8 get sent to our rooms at the same time and we would make up songs about getting out and shout them at the tops of our lungs. (I think I better teach Paige to sing the "can we come out, can we come out, can we come out, rockin, rockin" song, it was awesome) There was that time that in an effort to hide from his church teacher my little brother climbed up onto the basketball hoop and had his buddy raise it up till he was stuck on the ceiling.. and no kid that lived within a two block radius can forget when we filled up an old water bed mattress with air, put it on the trampoline and paid kids to jump onto it from the balcony. Couple these things with the intricacies of running a household on a tight budget and lets just say my parents did their fair share of yelling.
Yes there was a lot of turmoil in our home. But Potato Salad day? That was a good day. Was it because we were so happy in anticipation that we were better then normal? Was it the ritual of my mom feeding that first spoonful to my dad to see if it needed more onion? Was it the proud look she wore knowing that she had just made something so delicious that it would postpone even my brothers from the days antics? The world may never know, dear readers. But as I made my very own potato salad this morning, guess who wanted to learn how to make it? Paige and Mia. And they were so good the whole time! Anyone want the recipe?

Amazing Grace.. or How Chinny once was lost but now he's found..

2009-07-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

We have a hermit crab at our house that is Paige's pride and joy. We got him for her because she was begging for a puppy and at the time he seemed like a cleaner alternative. She got him soon after I told her the story of the three little pigs which is where he got his name, you know, as in "not by the hair of my chinny chin chin"? Anyway, she loves the creepy little guy and carries him everywhere, often builds him homes, draws pictures and tapes them to his aquarium so he can enjoy them, and tries to call and check on him when we are traveling. He has become a part of our family because she loves him. (Now I should preface this story with the admission that Chinny is actually Chinny the Second, but she doesn't know it. The first Chinny died while we were out of town and after seeing her reaction a few months before that when Mickey her fish passed on, I sent Mike immediately to the store to find a replacement before she noticed)

Last weekend she was playing with her beloved pet and set him on the counter without putting him in his cage. We didn't notice and left the house for a couple of hours. When we got home, Mike noticed that he wasn't in his cage and asked Paige where he could be. She immediately started to panic, and cry. Loudly. "where could he be? This is all my fault. He is such a little guy, he doesn't have any food, he doesn't have any water, we have to find him.." We grabbed a flashlight and started hunting. We looked under every piece of furniture, pulled out the washer and drier, checked behind the couches, we were all over the house, even Mia put some time in, calling out, "sinny, sinny, whay ah you??" to no avail. Finally after an hour, I told Paige it was time for bed. She began to sob. I have never seen her that upset before, her little body shook as she lay on daddys lap. It was heart wrenching to watch. I felt so helpless. Mike and I were sure we would find a dead Chinny in a few weeks while we were cleaning out the closet or something but I didn't want to tell her that. Finally, I suggested maybe we could say a prayer to help her feel better. She said "ya mom, but you say it, I need to rest my voice from all the crying", so I did. I prayed that Chinny would be blessed, that he wouldn't feel hungry and that Paige would be able to sleep well despite her heartache. She finally cried herself out and I went to spend a few minutes updating my status on facebook to announce that we were missing a brother at our house. All of a sudden I heard a tap tap tapping on the floor at my feet. Sure enough, there was Chinny, underneath the computer tower. How he got there I will never know, it was only a quarter inch off the floor, and how I didn't find him when I looked there earlier is beyond me. All I know is that we couldn't find him, we said a prayer and then we found him. Now, as I sit here, a few days past the event, I cannot say with any certainty that we had a miracle in our home, but that night, as I set Chinny in his cage and ran to wake Paige and let her know that he was safe, I felt very strongly that even though losing a hermit crab seemed to me to be very insignificant in the grand scheme of life, it wasn't to her. And it wasn't to Him.

Save Brett Picture Playdate previews and Update

2009-07-26T15:23:00.001-07:00

Hey ya'll!

I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures from the Save Brett playdate we had last week. I had a great time so thank you for attending and supporting Brett!

Update: Brett is doing well, he is still pretty tired, but the tumors are still shrinking (HOORAY!)

He is supposed to start his third round of Chemo this week, but there have been a few complications with some of the medications he has been on, ie, he has a really bad cough that doesn't seem to be going away. He has seen a pulmonologist and they think that one of the meds is burning his lungs and leaving scarring. We will find out more tomorrow, he has another catscan and if all comes out well, will resume chemo on Wednesday.

I cannot express how 1)grateful and 2)amazed I have been at all the support that you have shown to him during this time and it is with a humble heart that I say that thanks to donations from family, friends and sometimes total (but much appreciated) strangers, we have almost enough money to pay his living expenses for the next several months so that he doesn't have to worry about those things and can focus on getting better. I will be staging a few more Picture Playdates during the summer but I would love some feedback, should I do an evening playdate? If you simply cannot do a morning playdate, holla back and I will try to schedule an evening one to accomodate. Also, along those lines, I am considering making playdates a monthly event to support other college students faced with similar health issues as Brett, but only if the interest of the community is there, what do you four readers think? Think it would work?

Stay tuned for a post about our crab, Chinny, until then, happy viewing!!

Keddie Wedding

2009-07-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Kacey and Eddie, what can I say? You guys sure know how to P-A-R-T-Y! That was without a doubt one of the best weekends ever! From seeing Kacey dance with Selena in drag (to clarify, Kacey was not in drag, selena was, please see previous posts) to hanging out with Eddie's Grandma and Aunt at Seaport Village, we had the time of our lives. The wedding was beautiful, warm, meaningful, emotional. The reception was a dream, the vibrant colors, the setting sun creating an amber glow throughout the room, the bride and groom running through a tunnel of sparklers compiled of family and friends that love them to board the boat adorned with twinkling lights to take them to their honeymoon, it was amazing. Thank you thank you thank you for letting me document your exquisite wedding.

(as a side note, for anyone photographing a bride and groom who are having a boat send off at Marina Village, be sure and bring a key with you down on the docks, because man those guards are unhappy about having to come rescue trapped photographers in the dead of night..)

We love you, Kacey and Eddie, heres to a long life of incredible San Diego weekends together~

Worlds best made of honor, right here, ladies and gentelmen, lets hear it for Mal!!

Is that your daugther, Carrie? the one with a nickel in her eye and her dress all covered in dirt? why yes, yes it is...

Dom, this was for pictures only, Tony wanted me to inform you that this cannot be used as a continuous shoe rack:)

A big thank you to the trolley driver at Balboa Park for accomodating us on our picture taking quest! And thanks for letting them ring the bell!!

To see a slideshow of more of my favorite images of the day, please visit www.carriebutlerphotography.myshowit.com/kaceyandeddie and stay tuned, the rest of the wedding pictures will be coming to a gallery near you (aka, my website..)

Picture Playdate for Brett

2009-07-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hey all, I have Wednesday the 22nd in the am blocked out for a picture playdate. If you are interested please email me at carrie_butler@msn.com to reserve a spot. The location is still tbd. I am going camping until Sat so if I don't get back to you I apologize! Hope you all are having a wonderful week!!

Carrie

Jessica and Kenny

2009-07-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

I just got back from one of the best trips ever to San Diego and I brought with me a new not- so -secret -since -I- am -posting- it- for- all -the- world -to- see ambition in life that I share with my older sister Dom, and that is to one day become performers at LIPS. Now, I know what you all are thinking , "but Carrie, isn't LIPS an all male dinner theater type show in which a few select men dress in drag and lip sinc to specially choreographed music done by both living and dead world renowned divas, all while telling jokes and saying funny things on stage?" to which I must reply "YES!!! Thats the one! What is the point in dreaming if you can't dream big? It was so, so fun and I highly recommend it to anyone celebrating in San Diego.

I also finally got to meet Jessica and Kenny who are getting married in October. I have been speaking to Jessica for a few weeks by phone hammering out some details of her wedding and was so happy to spend some time with them in Carlsbad at the very spot they met. They are such a vibrant couple and so in love. Here are a handful of previews from the evening!

Christine

2009-07-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

I met Christine a couple weeks ago at her engagement shoot and to be honest, I wasn't sure at all that she liked me. I liked her instantly of course because she has an amazing sense of style and can pose like there is no tomorrow. Turns out she didn't feel well, which is why I thought she didn't like me, because my jokes aren't funny when you have a head ache, as it turns out. I am glad we had a chance to start afresh for the bridal portraits because she is an amazing girl, and so was her mom, who incidentally would make a killer assistant, in case she wants a job...So without further ado, here is Christine, and PS if you are reading this, sister, I cannot wait to shoot your wedding it is going to be Ah mazing!!!

Incidentally, Brett will be starting his second round of Chemo this morning, please keep him in your prayers. It seems like it may actually be working, he can now button the top button on his collar when two weeks ago he could not because of the tumor. So YAY for chemo. And BOO that he has to do it three more times. Love you, Brett.

Angela and Spencers wedding and Save Brett picture playdate announcements..

2009-07-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

I had never been up that way in Draper before so I was astounded to be in such a beautiful location for Angela and Spencers wedding, although the astonishment came second to absolute panic because when I got out of the car my shirt was immediately blown all the way up over my face by the crazy south mountain wind. I am no exhibitionist but I was silly enough to leave the house without a jacket of some sort despite the enormous black rain cloud billowing over head and despite the rumors that I had heard that the Draper temple is the windiest place on earth. Silly me. I solved the problem by tucking in and pinning up but not before flashing a few very old men and women along the way. (I am sure that is the LAST thing they expected to see when they woke up this morning..) As I was waiting to start the shoot, the storm blew through and the clouds went from pitch black to billowing white, or "bart simpson clouds" as my second shooter Linda called them. It was remarkable, the sky was unbelievably blue and the back drop was unbelievably green, I felt like we had been transported from Utah to the set of Sound of Music. Later that night we were once again acosted by the wind and rain, but the most beautiful and complete rainbow came out after it passed through and I think it was worth getting wet. As a matter of fact, I pulled the couple out of their line (sorry again about that people that had been patiently waiting) and took them to get some shots under it. People were oohing and aahing and remarking how lucky it was for the couple. One of Spencer's grandma's pulled me aside when I was done and said "you are the best photographer I have ever seen" and I had to laugh and remind her that although I was good, I did not actually create the rainbow, that was God...I crack myself up sometimes.

Also, if anyone is still reading this, I am going to do the first Save Brett picture playdate on Monday, the 6th in the AM at wheeler farm. I can take 12 kids, and I think I am going to do a first come first serve type thing, if we don't fill up with more the 8 kids I will postpone for a couple weeks till I get back from San Diego. Does that sound ok? If you would like to reserve a spot, please email me at carrie_butler@msn.com and let me know how many kids you will be bringing. Thanks again, everyone for all of your support, it has been tremendous! Also, we created an event on facebook to have a central location for donations, and also to track his progress. If you would like to recieve an invitation to this virtual event, please email me or facebook me, whatever is easiest.

Angela and Spencer, I hope you are having a wonderful time in Mexico, and I hope you LOVE your pictures, I sure had a wonderful time with you two..

This first is one that my friend and back up extraordianaire took, don't tell her but she is way better then me and woefully underpaid:)

The wind kept catching her vail so we decided to just let it fly..

Clarification

2009-06-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

The picture playdate will be at a park or other beautiful place, while your children play we will take them one at a time and do some posed pictures, as well as candids, the pictures will be posted to an online gallery. You will have access and printing rights and each child will have between 5 and ten pictures. Sorry for the confusion. Please feel free to forward this information on to anyone you think may be interested, and to see some sample playdate pictures, please click this link.
www.carriebutlerphotography.myshowit.com/playdatesample

Some things I will never forget...

2009-06-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

...like the way the radiologist suddenly spoke so gently to us as we waited for a bigger ct scan. Or the way the uvu clinic doctor couldn't control her tears as she spoke about treatment options. Or the way we ran from one doctor to the next as if getting there that instant would save his life. But mostly I will never forget how when I fought to get control of my emotions so he wouldn't see how scared I was, he, he, the one who had moments ago been told that the tumors were throughout his whole body, said "I am so sorry, Carrie."

It's strange, really, how quickly we acclimate. Two weeks ago I woke up every morning thinking "oh good, it was just a dream.." to realize that it was all too real. Only two weeks ago I couldn't see the produce at the supermarket through the tears. But today I am a little stronger, and I am ready to help him fight.

I will be hosting bimonthly picture play date fundraisers to help pay for his medical treatment and living expenses (He has been putting himself through school at UVU but was forced to resign from his job and withdraw from classes after his first surgery, unable to continue with the work load during his chemo treatments. Also, he is uninsured, does not qualify for medicare and although the doctors have been unbelievably generous along with the hospital, he will still most likely be hit with staggering medical bills when he beats this.)For anyone interested in helping Brett in this way, the cost will be $12 dollars per person, usually it is kids at the playdate but you are welcome to come if you need some headshots, we aren't picky. If you have ten or more people we can schedule a playdate just for your group, if not, don't worry, I will be setting a date and time for next week, and will take reservations. Please email me at carrie_butler@msn.com or post a comment with your contact information. All proceeds will be donated to Save Brett.

Thank you all for your prayers and support, it is truly overwhelming.

Joey

2009-06-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

So you know how I think I am funny, right? (the correct answer to this would be "who doesn't think you are funny, Carrie?) Well, I met Joey to document his college graduation and guess what? He is way more funny than I am. And ordinarily I would be slightly intimidated by that but not in this case. He is so nice and easy going that I really didn't worry too much about it. And as opposed to shooting girls pictures when I am naturally and consistantly wanting to put them at ease, I felt like Joey just melted into the camera without much encouragement from my end. It was a great shoot, hope you like the slideshow. (yes slideshow, if I can get the darn program to work that is. )
Update, no I cannot get the slideshow to work, I am tech challenged. So if anyone is interested, here is the link, instead.

www.carriebutlerphotography.myshowit.com/joey

Switching roles..

2009-06-20T23:17:00.000-07:00

My brother in law was in town last week and agreed to go down to Provo castle with me to help on an engagement shoot. It ended up getting rained out but we took some time while we were down there to get some practice time in with our cameras. Tony used me as his model. I gotta say, while it was terribly uncomfortable at first, and reminded me why I like to be the one BEHIND the camera, I think he got some pretty good shots and we ended up having a great time. So here I am, ratty flip flops, ripped jeans and all. Thanks Tony! It was a great excercise for me to be able to empathize with the one getting their picture taken.

The Boise Wedding

2009-06-13T22:31:00.000-07:00

I LOVED shooting this wedding, it was amazing. The rain was pelting us all morning long, but just as soon as everyone was gathering together, the sun came out, the sky was blue and there were big billowing white clouds in the sky. Absolutely stunning, equaled only by the bride and groom. They are two peas in a pod and I loved spending time with them. Congratulations on your wedding, and I know I took extra long on getting a blog post up so I hope you don't mind but I threw in a few extra preview pictures besides my standard five or six... Thanks so much you guys for putting your trust in me.

Shelly had this crazy idea to jump in the hotel pool. I was sure we were going to get busted but the security guard that approached us just laughed and walked on by!

Photographers and the poor children that have to live with them..

2009-06-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

Got a new flash, needed a subject to try out the zoom on. Paige was no where to be found, and Mia was at her own request, sitting on the potty. Poor baby!

Preview for Tauny

2009-06-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

This little dude cracks me up!!!!

Nature and how I don't like it.

2009-05-23T21:53:00.000-07:00

I got to meet Becca last night at Memory Grove which you four will remember from a few posts ago, because it is haunted. A ghost lives there, an actual ghost that ghost hunters have caught on tape, (please google "memory grove ghost" and get the youtube link if you are interested as I am still too terrified to watch it or look it up) yet that isn't the scariest thing that exists at Memory Grove, at least not for me. But I will get to that in a sec, first let me tell you about Becca, because she deserves a shout out and I absolutely loved her. She is a girl after my own heart, she loves history, she loves to read, she is totally grounded in reality and she can rock a pair of green rainboots. She doesn't mind going barefoot, she doesn't mind when I make her change her outfit in the middle of a public park and she is really into photography, which I think is awesome, even if she is going to buy a Nikon instead of a Canon:) Also, she babysits. Which is a big deal because good sitters are hard to come by in this day and age. She is a great girl and we had a wonderful time doing her senior pictures. That being said, let me get back to the story and the title of this blog post.
So there we are, Becca, her mom and I, walking on a PAVED sidewalk (an important element to the story because I am so skittish whenever I am in the grassy or off -the- beaten -path areas) and I am making some small chit chat when all of a sudden I hear "MOM, there's a snake under your foot!!" And in less then a millisecond I was gone. I mean, across the street screaming and hopping from one foot to the other and probably swearing, all while trying to erase from my mind the image of the thing squiggling around on the ground underfoot. Becca of course is cracking up (obviously not afflicted by the same phobia as I am) and her poor mom is just trying to get a sense of why her photographer has just taken off screaming down the road in hysterics. For the rest of the shoot, and this is not an exaggeration, folks, I made Becca's mom keep watch for the snake while I tried to get my body to calm down enough to take a steady photograph. Which brings me to the title of my blog. I need to reiterate that we were walking on the SIDEWALK when all of this occurred, not the forest, not the grass, the sidewalk. Where we human beings belong. I try to do that as often as possible lately because of the Bee Incident of 08 (please click here for more details) and guess what? As it turns out, it doesn't help me avoid nature any better then if I had been traipsing through the woods with a basket and a snake charmers horn. To be fair to the wretched snake, it really didn't do anything to us, but as I may have mentioned, I am a little on the crazy side so it really doesn't matter. Mike still had to check under the covers when I got into bed last night and as I type this I am sitting with my feet tucked safe and sound under my butt lest there be a critter coiled up under my office desk just waiting for its chance to pounce.

PS, I told Paige about the incident and she laughed, and then she said "wait, mom, was it a poisonous snake? Did you see a rattle? Did it have red stripes down its back? Well, good, it wasn't poisonous, you don't need to be scared of the little guy.." I gotta stop taking her to the zoo.

Stephanie Smith

2009-05-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

This girl has got more talent in her little finger then I can even begin to imagine. I am so proud to know her, so amazed at her songwriting ability and so blessed to have her as a friend. Check out her music here and get ready for her new album because it is going to be incredible. I got to hear a few of her songs live a couple of months ago and they were so catchy that I find myself with them stuck in my head after one listen. Stephanie, you wail, girl!! Oh, and you are beautiful to boot. The whole package!

Teaser for Nicole

2009-05-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give Nicole a tiny taste of her pictures so she would drool about the rest, but I couldn't choose just one photo, so here are ten or so. What a beautiful wedding, an amazing day, perfect weather, fairy tale location, surrounded by family and friends. It was lovely. And Nicole. Nicole was stunning. What a beautiful bride! Enjoy Nicole!

Chalese

2009-05-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy lately doing last minute high school senior pictures and I have been dying to post some, so I quickly got a few ready. Lucky you readers, you get to meet Chalese via photographs. She is spunky, funky and adorable! (and she loves bags.) I loved spending time with her over at Memory Grove and some places in downtown Salt Lake. And guess what?? Memory Grove is haunted!! By a real ghost that likes the color purple. She hangs out in this old reception hall that used to be a USO dance hall and that is where she does her haunting. Its true, an old guy at the park told us about it and I came home and googled it. You can watch videos of people on ghost hunts on You Tube at Memory Grove park, but I was too scared to watch them so if any of you check it out, let me know what happens. Anyway, Chalese, I hope you love your pictures, you are a knockout!! Spain is one lucky man!

Mothers Day and other things.

2009-05-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day! In honor and celebration of this yearly event I would like to share one of my favorite memories of my own mother. I was only seven or eight at the time, and we lived out east. We were driving under a canopy of trees, I know it was fall because all the leaves were brilliant orange, red and yellow. The late afternoon sun was illuminating the falling foliage as we zipped along in our car. I don't remember exactly but I think it may have been the banged up spoon car (if you are curious about that, please see me for details later) because in my memory the setting was more intimate then the one of two volkswagon vans we used to drive around town. We were listening to Oldies like always when on came "Barbara Ann", the Beach Boys version, and my mom started singing her heart out. She knew every single word. And she sang it high, just like those Beach Boys. She was spilling out happiness and to an eight year old, it seemed like everything was right in the world. Thank you, Mom for giving me that memory and an endless love for the Beach Boys!! Happy Mothers Day!

Also, I was tagged, at least I think I was, even if I wasn't, I would still do this because I think I looked hot on that particular night, to post a prom picture. I went with Nick Trejo, I wore a red dress and gloves, and I felt like Pretty Woman. Sorry about the paper stuck to it, it was the best one I could find.

One more thing, we went to Moab this weekend with the kids. We had a blast! Paige and I stayed up late playing brick braker on my cell phone, we went on a little hike, we went swimming, we ate at Pasta Jays which I love, and we went and looked at the Moab Movie Museum and saw props from Thelma and Louise. I have a little video of the girls oohing and ahhing as we are driving through Arches, I thought it was so cute! I also only brought my point and shoot camera, which I bet Mike was thrilled about because he usually ends up lugging it around, but I think that cannon has got some awesome color capabilities, plus it takes video.

I don't know why she was making this face, maybe I was too stinky from all the hiking? Or maybe she was mad that Black Puppy got to be in the picture, he loves to be in photos!

Here is Black Puppy again, monopolizing the frame! That darn dog! Oh, sisters!! So cute!

Ericas Super Fab birthday party!!

2009-04-30T21:08:00.001-07:00

Erica turned 14 and to document this occasion she chose to have a picture party with her girlfriends in Balboa park. I loved pretending I was 14 again and hanging out with them. It was a LOT of fun, although I have to admit, they are much much cooler then I was at that age, or at this age. Thanks girls, for letting me hang with you, and I hope you enjoy your preview!

Oh, and one of these pictures, Erica took of her mom, I gave her my camera and let her go nuts. Sorry mom and dad, but you are definately going to have to enroll her in a photo class, she has a really good eye. And her little sister is amazing at coming up with poses!! I should start bringing them to work with me and having them help out!

TARGET!!!

Alanna and Jon

2009-04-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

They are so genuine, warm, kind and beautiful. The kind of people that help you to feel at ease from the moment you walk into their home. We did a beach shoot a few blocks from their home and I was so impressed at the love these two share, the way Alanna whispered in his ear, the way Jon softly moved her hair away from her face. I left the experience knowing that I was fortunate to do what I do, just so that I could have the chance to meet them.

I will tell you four sometimes five faithful readers something I bet you didn't know. I graduated top of my class at the Goofy Foot Surf School while on vacation in Maui about 10 years ago. Yep, its true. I have a certificate and a polaroid that I paid $25 dollars for in my scrap book to prove it. After being such an obviously talented surfer, it was a little sobering to realize that although the water looked very pretty, the last thing on earth I wanted to do was get in there with a surf board, foam or otherwise. When did I become so old?

Alanna and Jon, thank you a thousand times over, it was wonderful, and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. A special thanks to Erin for all the help, you were fantastic!

Isn't she so beautiful!!

I just had to put this one on here, she has the cutest legs and feet!

And my strange fixation on shoes. Those who can't buy cute shoes photograph them, as the saying goes.

Lucky.

2009-04-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

The year was two thousand and.. I don't recall exactly, but it was a while ago. Mike and I decided to go snowboarding with some friends. (I know, me snowboarding, what a joke) For those of you who don't know, I am crummy at two main sports related things, balance and endurance, which are both "must haves" in the field of snowboarding. Needless to say, halfway through the day and immediately following my fifteenth fall, my muscles decided they had had enough and refused to aid my body in getting off the ground. I was cold, I was frustrated, I was ashamed and I may or may not have said some swears (who am I kidding, I know I said some swears and I know which ones I said.) So there I was, laying flat on my back, with this crippling board strapped to my feet, wanting to sink into the snow and stay there when all of a sudden, a silent Mike effortlessly slid over to me, picked me up and sat me on his lap. He just held me there, knowing instinctively that all I needed was his reassuring comfort to feel strong enough to get back up.

Fast forward eight or nine years. Things are not going as planned this week. Kids are really sick, no one in our home is sleeping and a quick trip that I was counting on was rearranged so badly that none of the original elements of the trip even exist anymore and no one at the airline can manage to tell me any good news. I am frustrated, tired and I may or may not have said a few swears in the midst of my grown up tantrum. And there is Mike. He silently takes me in his arms and holds me there until I can get back up. Thank you, Mike, for being my rock. I love you.

(this photograph was taken by Tessa at Grin and Share it Photography)

Brown Eyed Girls

2009-04-21T20:47:00.001-07:00

I may be biased, since Kenzie is Paiges best friend and all, but these are the cutest kid pictures I have done in a long time. Even if I do say so myself. Their mommy wanted them for Easter but alas, when shoot day came they were all sick so we rescheduled and I am so glad we did. Today was so gorgeous, the grass was so green, and those baby spring leaves were just starting to come out on the trees. Audrey and I traded kids for the morning and I think I may have gotten the better end of the deal because when we met to trade back, Mia had pooped in her diaper and Paige sat in duck diahrea. Kenzie and Kaitlyn on the other had had no such incidents. We love you Brown girls, thanks for hanging out with me this morning.

Angela and Spencer

2009-04-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

I met Angela a few weeks ago, we shared smoothies at the Tai Pan cafe, (I highly recommend it by the way, but if you don't have a lot of money to spend on say, household decor, I would walk in with my head down, go straight to the counter, order your stuff and high tail it out of there, otherwise you may get in big trouble with someone, perhaps a husband..) and ever since then I have been looking forward to meeting the man that won her beautiful heart. She is so sweet and so put together and she has some amazing incredible curls. I got to meet her along with her husby to be at Liberty Park on Saturday in the midst of the Salt Lake Marathon and I LOVE them as a couple, their personalities go together like a hand in a glove. They are both so easy going, they were up for anything, including but not limited to begging some kids at the playground to come and swing on the swing sets with us so I could get a shot. Angela and Spencer I hope you enjoy your preview!!

Jillian and TK

2009-04-14T13:19:00.001-07:00

Jillian and TK' s day was this past Saturday. They chose to have a "first look" before the ceremony and it was absolutely beautiful. Jillian was timeless. Her hair, her dress, everything was stunning and I wanted them to be able to really soak that in together before the insanity of the wedding began. Although the morning seemed like one big rush, from getting her hair done, to getting her makeup on to getting dressed to speeding up to the meeting spot, as soon as he turned around and she was in his arms, everything melted away for a precious few moments.

This is the hotel they were staying in before taking off for the honeymoon, in case anyone is interested in the backstory.

I just love the look on TK's face as he saw her for the first time!

And I love the look on her face as she rounded the corner and saw him standing there waiting for her. (incidentally, this was how she looked after nearly being assaulted by the locals, she had a small mob of people following her to get a better look on her way to TK)

Couldn't this be Cinderella running to her prince?

Patiently awaiting the arrival of his love.

I love her shoes!

Also, look at the rings, so pretty!!

Thank heaven for cell phones. Multi tasking with cool and level head getting her makeup done.

When I say "jump"...
I have so many more pictures to go through, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and I can't wait to post some of Lindas pictures, she was kind enough to assist me and her pictures are amazing!!

Time goes by

2009-04-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

This morning I did Mia's hair in little pigtails just like I used to do with Paige. The girls went down to the playroom and when I walked in Mia was sitting with her back to me playing with some stuffed animals. All I could see were her tiny pigtails and hot tears suddenly came to my eyes. It looked just like a toddler Paige sitting there playing. I vowed when my girls were born to never wish away the time with them, waiting for them to be bigger, wanting them to be more self sufficient. I promised myself i would enjoy every minute of the journey. That was when they were infants. You know, all cute and cuddly? The innocent time before potty training and learning the word "NO!"? And now I find myself guilty of wondering things like "when oh when will I get to sleep in?" and "hmm, when Mia is in Preschool and Paige is in Elementary school, oh the time I will have..".

Walking in on a little flashback vision of my pigtailed Paige reminded me of my earlier commitment. Time goes by. The only thing we can do about that is enjoy every second, every phase, every hair style (even if it does take an hour just to get pigtails in because one is tugging on your shirt to come get her breakfast and the other is fingerpainting on the mirror with lotion).

I love my little princesses...

Laura FUENTES (to be said with a heavy fake accent)

2009-03-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

I got to see a couple of my dear friends while I was in AZ, one of whom was Laura Florez, now Laura Modrell. I can't actually remember why I call her Laura FUENTES (with an accent) or why it is funny to me, but I do and it is hilarious. (to me, probably not to anyone else, but I am ok with that) Anyway, to make a long story short, we went to the park to shoot a few pictures of them playing, and all of a sudden Paige had to go to the bathroom and while ordinarily she is a pee camel and can hold it like you wouldn't believe, I felt bad for the kid because she was doing the pee pee dance in front of some older boys she was trying to talk into letting her play. We had to call the session on account of potty breaks. No worries though, although I didn't get what I wanted I still got on film the very important fact that Fuentes is still one of my hottest friends (she is a knockout) and she has a beautiful family. They treated us to pizza afterwards. Mia ate it from the cheese in. And Paige got to drink punch and she actually played with a barbie doll. We had a great time! Kevin and Laura, I have said it before and Iwill say it again. WE NEED TO LIVE CLOSER!!!

Dback stadium!!!!

2009-03-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

We flew to Arizona this weekend to catch a spring training game and to do Kacey and Eddies engagement session. It was amazing! It was 90 degrees and gorgeous although I have to say that Paige is my delicate little flower in the sun, the poor kid just wilts when it gets above 85, poor little thing. We loved seeing Kacey and Eddies new house, hanging with Samson and soaking up the heat. (well, by "we" I mean Mike, Mia and I, poor Paige was melting)

I loved shooting this engagement session. I have been wanting to give them this gift since the day they got engaged. They are bigtime baseball fans so they suggested we go to the dbacks stadium to do some pictures. Now I am not the biggest baseball officionado in the world, but I have been to a ballpark or two, including Fenway park, and I gotta say, this place blew my mind! I loved it! Is it crazy of me to say that there is something so romantic about baseball? Maybe I watched The Natural one too many times. or maybe it was Field of Dreams. or it could have been all those free A's tickets we earned as kids from the book mobile, but I love love and baseball.

Here is my take on Kace and Eddie, (and by the way, from here on out, I will be referring to them as Keddie, too lazy to keep typing out both names.) They really enjoy eachother. Each of them has a passion for life, and each of them are so dynamic and together they make a power team. We can't wait for your wedding you guys! Thanks for such a fun weekend (especially the hospitality basket) and Keddie, we love you!

While we were shooting the picture below, this guy walked by a few times just cracking up at the fact that I was laying on the ground and then generously offered to get into the picture to help us sell more photos. I loved how loud Keddie was laughing at this dude!

Jillian and TK, (DKNY)

2009-03-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Jillian and her family hold a very special place in my heart, I have known her since she was four years old and she served me home made root beer at her house. I loved her at first sight, its kinda hard not to. Just ask TK, her fiance. I absolutely loved spending time with them and getting to know them as a couple. Jillian would kiss this guy on the cheek and his eyes would close and he would automatically get a huge grin on his face. It was a knee jerk reaction for him, seriously! I have never seen anything so adorable. They are getting married in a few weeks and I am really looking forward to spending that time observing how they interact. Thanks for meeting with me you guys!

Nicole and Hayden

2009-03-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

They met four years ago and it was love at first sight, despite the fact that Nicole was "bumming around in sweatpants" that fateful day. Although at first meeting you may think they are opposites, these two fit together like peas in a pod. Hayden can make Nicole laugh at the drop of a hat, as a matter of fact, we had a hard time getting her to look serious! I love this time of year when little signs of spring are showing up all over the place, the grass is beginning to grow, the days are longer, and even though there are still winter hurdles to cross, the promise of blue skies and icecream trucks are right around the corner. Nicole and Hayden, I had a wonderful time with you, congratulations on your engagement and I can't wait for your wedding!

They are nascar fans, I thought it was so cute that they had matching jackets!

These are the geese that for the record were not scared of Hayden in the slightest.

Paige's religious education

2009-03-05T14:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know it is my fault because every time she asks a question I don't know the answer to I respond with "well, its just magic, Paige", but you have to hear some of the things this kid is coming up with lately. For example, a few days ago in the car:
"Mommy? When Jesus is in heaven, why doesn't he just float into space? I know, maybe he ties himself onto a cloud." Or a week after my surgery, when it was suggested we say a prayer and ask the Lord to help mommy feel better: "But how? Can he magically shrink down and get into your skin and fix your tonsils?" Or yesterday when I was talking aloud about how some people are so crazy.. " Mommy, did Jesus make a mistake? I mean when he was building (yes that is how she refers to the creation of people) those people why did he make them crazy?"
Her questions mystify me. Its not like I really trusted myself in the first place to give her a quality Christian education, but really, do I have to explain reincarnation to a four year old? Because I am pretty sure that is what she thinks we are celebrating on Easter. Last week I told her I wished I could play "pirates" with her and her friends and do you know what she told me? "Oh, you can play pirates after you are born again and are old enough, just like me, Mom." (Me)"What??" "you know, when you are born again? after you die and you come back to life?" Mystified.

Jada

2009-03-02T20:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, I was hoping she would make her appearance before WPPI but she was stubborn, then I was hoping she showed up before tonsil surgery but she wanted to keep cooking. Finally, I was just praying she would come out eventually and she did, a week late but I bet her parents will tell you she was worth the wait. Jada is the prettiest little thing and I am so happy to finally have met her. Congratulations Linda and Tyler on your lovely little baby girl.

Oh, a little tip I learned at WPPI, newborns are much more cooperative when you photograph them as young as possible, and I think after you see the green and white bowl picture you will agree that Jada was very very cooperative. So even though I went over to do the pictures while still on painkillers (don't worry, my mother in law drove me, I did not operate heavy machinary while under the influence) we got some pretty cool shots!

As for the surgery, I know many of you are waiting anxiously to hear the final count, 8 pounds. Thats right folks, I am now into my skinniest jeans. The ones that I have been saving since 2001. The ones I used to wear when I was wooing my poor husband. Yep, they fit. At least until I start packing back on the weight as my throat progressively feels better and I can eat the cheeseburger I have been coveting ever since I have been relegated to eating Sonic ice and blended up beans and rice. A big enormous thank you to all of you who helped out so generously and unselfishly during these last two weeks, I am so grateful to all of you Thank You!

One last thing, I told Linda I would print them a small canvas picture of Jada in the bowl if I can get fifteen people to comment on her bowl picture so if you like it, let us know.

WPPI and Tonsils

2009-02-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

I only have a few minutes to write, as I am leaving for the slaughter house/surgery center in a little while. I am having my tonsils removed and fed to the sharks later today so anyone who really dislikes me when I am sick (its ok, I know, I am extremely unpleasant, just ask my sister Kacey) feel free not to call but I do appreciate prayers and positive energy. If you can stand my sarcastic and whiny attitude, I will gladly accept and respond to text messages since it has been brought to my attention today that I may not be able to speak. I am sure Paige will be in heaven when she realizes I won't be lecturing her about anything for the next two weeks. I am trying to stay optimistic, and am in my mind considering this as a tonsilectomy/weight loss procedure. My doctor said he had a guy lose twenty pounds last month when he had his out. TWENTY POUNDS! I will keep you posted on how things go in that department if you are interested.

On to WPPI, it was fantastic, but it didn't start out that way. I got a speeding ticket on the way to the airport. I of course imediately texted Mike to tell him the good news, and he relayed the message that I was being pulled over to Paige, who instantly said, "she was probably driving too fast again, daddy." (tattletale) Then at the Las Vegas airport, a parking ticket. And on top of it all, I wasn't eligible in my $35 dollar hotel credit at the MGM because of some fine print. After some swears (you know I love my swears) we girls decided to put it all behind us and have fun, and we did. We went to some fantastic classes, got a ton of free stuff and walked about a million miles. I felt really inspired by the women I was with and I feel really grateful for all of the support and friendship, we laughed and cried and had some wonderful girl time. OH and now for the best news of all, I won $$ at Roulette! Not a lot of money but some money, thanks mostly to the very strategic advice my friend Michelle gave me which was to choose numbers that corresponded with my childrens birthdays. Couple that with crossing fingers and toes and doing a "please please please" dance and you cannot lose, it is foolproof!

So all in all, an amazing time! I love all you girls and I am already counting down till next year, hopefully to be joined by a few more of you workshop gals! Ok, here I go to the gallows....

Ty and Linda

2009-01-31T00:05:00.000-08:00

Linda and Ty are the nicest people on Earth. I am proud to post some previews from our session this afternoon. We went to the International Peace Gardens and although I thought we may end up throwing Linda over a chain link fence, nine months pregnant and all because the gate was locked, we managed to find a way in. We had some delicious light, and of course Linda is the most beautiful pregnant person, she absolutely glows so I thought that some of these pictures were entirely appropriate with the sun blazing behind her gorgeous belly. Not one stretch mark, although Ty did come close to losing his life by trying to point one out:) I know I have said it before but I need to reiterate how much I love it when people laugh at my jokes, funny or not, and these two did not dissappoint. So thanks you two, for humoring a vain woman! You are going to be wonderful parents and we can't wait to meet baby Jada!

Some pictures I forgot to post

2009-01-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

I was just going through and backing up some of my old files and realized that I have a ton of pictures I did this fall that I didn't post, so now, since everyone deserves to see their pictures on a blog that isn't theres at some point in their lives, here they are.

Man, its just one of those days..

2009-01-22T19:02:00.000-08:00

Ever feel like swearing at your computer screen for no good reason? Ever have your four year old feel the need to tell you ten to twelve times that we don't say the word (fill in the blank) because you can't seem to stop being irritated? Thats me the last couple of days. Is it because the afore mentioned four year old told her teacher on their way to a fieldtrip that her car was filthy and she better clean it out soon (followed up with "oh and your windows are disgusting, don't forget to wash them while you are at it..)? Is it because my baby ate too many mandarin oranges and due to a tummy incident I not only had to scrub her down but the entire changing station in the middle of Paiges karate class? Is it because I have Lost fever and am now withdrawing until next Wednesday? I don't know, it could be a combination of all of these things but I will tell you one thing, I have the winter blahs. Any of you moms out there relate with me this week? Don't be shy, share a comment with the class. Even Mia is feeling it. I had to snap this picture of her playing with my phone yesterday in between bouts of grumpiness, her look sums up how I feel.

Lost is Back!!

2009-01-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

I know, I am a total nerd but I love Lost and I don't care who knows it. I am not big on reality shows, have never even watched an entire episode of Dancing with the Stars, I have never even seen an episode of CSI but ever since the very first episode I have been hooked on the fate of those unaturally beautiful castaways on an inexplicably dissappearing/reappearing island off the coast of who knows where. An island full of polar bears and sadistic disembodied voices where food drops from the sky and wounds are mysteriously healed without medicine. I love Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Jin, Sun, Charlie, Claire and Hurley and all the rest of them. You may remember that my second daughter is named Mia Claire and while I cannot honesly say that she wsa named directly after the Claire in the show, we do say the name with a touch of an Ausralian accent becuase it sounds so pretty. So there you have it faithful readers, my winter passion. Anyone interested in a Lost party?

David and Rachel

2008-12-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

I posted beautiful Rachel's bridal pictures HERE a few weeks ago, and her wedding was this last weekend. Although it was freezing cold the couple was absolutely radiant. I am so impressed by the kind and genuine people I met at this wedding, on both sides of the family and am so happy for this couple. Together they lit up a room. I feel so lucky to have been able to take part in your wedding day, thank you so much and may you continue to be blessed in all of your endeavors!

I asked Rachel if she was cold, she said "nope I switched shoes". I assumed it had been with one of her girl friends, until I heard some giggling and turned to see her brother in her high heals. I am not sure who swithed shoes with whom, but whatever the case, I am glad poor Rachel had some nice cozy boots to wear around the frozen tundra that is Salt Lake City this time of year.

These are Rachels grandparents, I had to put this one on because when I asked for the grandfather to move forward a bit he did and made a face like this, which of course we all thought was hysterical. He wanted to see the photo at the reception but I told him he would have to wait till it went public, so here it is, I hope he gets to see it!

Baby Tessa

2008-12-23T12:24:00.001-08:00

I have a new niece! She is so tiny, I love it! She had a short stint at Primary Childrens Hospital and as a result does NOT like to be naked so I had all these naked baby picture ideas that didn't exactly turn out the way I had anticipated, but here are some previews of the ones that did. She is so precious, I just can't get enough of her. Congratulations Dave and Dionne!

Snow Day

2008-12-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

I had Paige try on her new boots to go get the mail and she liked them so much that we stayed outside and played for a while. I admittedly and a snow hater, but I even had a good time pulling the girls around the yard on a sled. It was quite a workout so I totally deserve to eat a heaping bowl of icecream tonight while I watch the news, right? We came in the house and had cocoa and marshmallows with Mia of course dumped on her lap. All in all not a bad day. I feel so lucky sometimes when I get to hang out with my girls, they are the best!

Heather and Dominik

2008-12-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

Here they are, pretty Heather and her handsome Dom! They were married last weekend in Manti, UT and you get to see the previews! Manti is in the middle of Utah, not a lot around, but some amazingly blue skies and a really peaceful atmosphere for a really beautiful wedding. Hope you like the pictures, thank you so much for letting me have a part of your day...

2008-12-10T16:08:00.000-08:00

Rachel

2008-12-06T21:23:00.001-08:00

I got to meet Rachel and her mom at Memory Grove to do some Bridals for her upcoming wedding. Can I tell you how much I love this particular aspect of my life? I love meeting new people and the Hortons did not dissappoint. We had a blast up there, the light was really pretty, Rachel and her mom laughed at all my jokes, I could not ask for more. Also, this is the first time I have shot an entire session in manual mode on my camera. What fun!! What creative control! What a pain to remember that that is what i am shooting in. Thank heavens for digital cameras and the chance to look at a mini version of the picture! I hope you enjoy the previews, Rachel and Kathy, it was such a pleasure meeting you, I had a blast!

new pics

2008-12-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

Here is baby Tristan, she was so sweet, and has the biggest baby eyes ever before seen! She was a good baby and did not poo or pee on any of my things which is great news for my things. Thanks to Suzanne for bringing her over, I LOVE doing infant pictures. I have to restrain myself from standing outside the womens wings at hospitals to flag new mommies down so it is always great to have a friend volunteer to be a guinea pig!

Paige turns 4!

2008-12-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

She has been anxiously awaiting her birthday to arrive and it finally did! Our little pink is four years old and she is loving it. We had a little pirate princess birthday party at our house on Saturday complete with treasure hunt and a pirate ship cake which I am proud to say I made myself with a little help from the Family Fun website. Pretty crafty, I know, it is so unlike me, but what do you do? Too bad the pirate and princess wouldn't stay standing. I made Paige pose for some four year old pictures which as you can tell, she was not willing to do, but at least I caught her goofy personality. Speaking of which, here is a paigism for you five to seven faithful readers.

Paige: Mom, I am going to start praying and asking the Lord to not let me grow up.

Me: What why?

Paige: Because I really really don't want to go to the hospital and have a baby.

Me: Honey, just becuase you grow up doesn't mean you have to have a baby.

Paige: Well, also, I really really don't want boobs.

We love you to pieces, little Paige, every minute you have been in our lives has been better!

Playdate with Jenny

2008-11-25T09:59:00.001-08:00

We had a crazy playdate this weekend up near sugarhouse. I think the moms may have left the park more exhausted then the kids, but despite it all, I had a great time, and was so glad to meet these great women!
Jenny, thanks so much for introducing me to your family, and once again, thanks so much for the help with my living room, it feels so much more cozy, I can't wait to finish it up.

Katie

2008-11-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

What an AMAZING girl!! I had the best time this moring shooting some senior pictures for Katie up at my new favorite place ever, Memory Grove park. We stopped to check out the county building on the way and got a few shots there as well. This girl is really a remarkable young lady, I have always been impressed with her since I met her at a family photo shoot a few years ago, but it was great getting to spend some time getting to know her a little bit better on the way. I can't wait to see what things she is going to contribute to this world!

Battys, Walls and Watsons

2008-11-19T20:42:00.001-08:00

Niomi

2008-11-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

I met Niomi when I was pregnant with Mia, she was looking for a house and aside from the "ferret incident" (if you don't know what I am referring to we need to chat so I can catch you up on this dark history in my real estate career) we had a great time getting to know eachother, turns out she is as sarcastic as I am, which of course in my book equals instant friends. Anyway, she came over for a maternity session and we had the best time! Her man Ryan claimed he doesn't like his picture taken but he did pretty well despite his pouty disposition:)

Here are some previews from the shoot. Good news too, I finally broke down and bought Kubota V2 and I am LOVING it! Thanks to all my gals that recommended it, I can't get enough!

Steve Fogarty

2008-11-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

Just got back from a photo shoot with Steve Fogarty, he was kind enough to let me watch him work while he set up a shot for his beautiful family this afternoon at the county building downtown. This guy really knows his stuff about lighting and it turns out he is the instructor on a lighting course with the University of Utah and over at Pictureline. I am for sure signing up, my only regret is that it doesn't start until spring. I met Steve last year when I was enormously pregnant with Mia and offered to help him with another session he was setting up. Unfortunately I wasn't much help since I couldn't lift anything and I had no idea how to set up his incredible equipment. Today I was a little more agile and he let me use is pocket wizard and now I have to have one. I loved it. You know how I am kind of lazy? It was just the thing for someone like me, I could just stand there and push the button while the camera was on a tripod. (I actually didn't just stand there, I did the crazy dance and played peek a boo with a spiderman toy, but at least the kids were smiling a little). Seriously, I am going to have to start selling my plasma to get some of these things that I want and need for my business. If only I weren't so afraid of needles and getting a staph infection, I would go to the donating place right now.

The weekend.

2008-11-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

My sister and brother and law and their son Andrew came to town this weekend and we had a great time. They are really great people that we have admired and frequently tried to emulate over the years and it was great to have them around for the weekend. We went to some great eating establishments as seen on the Food Network, such as Moochies Meatballs, and the Red Iguana.

We also took a little tour of East High where much of high school musical was filmed. My nephew loves that movie and it was a really cool tour, for those of you who have seen it, they even have Sharpey's locker painted pink still as a nod to the character.

Although these things were great fun, the best part of the weekend was that Mia took her first steps and my photographer extrordinaire brother in law was there to capture it on his digital camera. It was a very exciting time for all of us, especially Mia. Enjoy the video!

Memory Grove

2008-11-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

I had heard about this really cool park so I went up there with my friend Heather to shoot her bridals a couple weeks ago. I fell in love with the place, it is breathtaking. I have been looking for houses in the area, now all I have to do is convince Mike we should move there. I have since been back twice, and I can't wait to go back again. It is a great place to take pictures but also a great place to come and contemplate life. I am going to post some of my faves, some are of Paige, some are of a family I did pictures for this last week.

By the way, at the time of this writing, there are only three and a half hours to go before our world changes one way or another. I have my opinions which I won't post publicly here but I will say that I am praying for our country, that we can come together in this uncertain and unprecedented time, that our children's children will learn about this spot in history that it was a turning point for a more peaceful and prosperous future. That being said, bring on the elections.

Mia Claire turns 1

2008-10-27T19:41:00.001-07:00

Isn't she so cute? Happy Birthday Mia!

I Love Wheeler Farm!

2008-10-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just met some new friends for a picture playdate at wheeler farm, and we had a blast! I love this crisp autumn weather, and I can't get enough of the color! This year we didn't see anything much in the way of bright reds and oranges in the leaves (Mark Eubank from chanel five attributes it to the dry summer) but the sky is still that amazing blue, the pumkins are brilliant and the grass is really green. It is hard to believe that any time now it could be snowing, but until then I will be out enjoying every moment that I can! Here are a few of my favorite pics of the cutey kids I snapped while we were out.

Melissa and Neeley

2008-10-23T23:02:00.001-07:00

Cuz these puppies are SICK!

2008-10-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Is what Nixin said when I asked him to show me his muscles. He is so cute I could eat him up. You few readers will remember the bee incident, well we went to a much more bee free environment for the retakes, I wanted to post a few of my faves really quickly so that Erica can get a little glimpse. My guess is the next time we do family photos with the Williams family we will be doing them indoors since every time Jack and I saw a bug we were ready to run for the hills in case it wanted to sting us.

Parsons

2008-10-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

I gotta put some pictures up of one of my favorite families, I love taking their pictures, they are such warm and kind people and genuinely fun to be around, not only that, little Sofie always takes great pictures. I could not coerse a smile out of her this time but she is still so beautiful that I don't think it matters much. I hope you enjoy the previews, I can't wait for next time!

Melissa

2008-10-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have been begging my friend Melissa to let me take her pictures for months now and we finally were able to set a date. We decided to go to Gardner Village and even though it was teaming with witches and small children, ( it was witchapalooza tonight, big party, lots of good smelling food and guys on stilts) we managed to have a pretty fun time. I promised I would get some pictures up for preview tonight and I still have 41 minutes left before it is tomorrow, so go me. Melissa I had a great time tonight, you are such a beautiful girl inside and out. And thanks so much to your mom and Cassie for keeping tabs on the "unexpected visitors" who helped us with the shoot. Incidentally, Paige came in while I was editing these up, she thinks I need to add a little more purple. Always available for her useful input, my little assistant...

Gorgeous baby boy alert.

2008-10-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

Do you guys have friends that you really truly value and for one reason or another can't manage to keep in touch with? Like maybe a person that you share a really important part of life history with that you never ever see? (please tell me I am not the only one who sucks this badly at keeping in touch) Anyway, I was so lucky to get to see one of those friends yesterday, she brought her gorgeous new son over and we did some pictures. I was just working on some from the session and just had to post some previews for her. This kid is amazing, he absolutely adores his mom and his dad, his face just lit up when he could see both of them together.

I inadvertently got this shot, it cracks me up. I bet when his parents do this when he is several years older he may be making this same expression. Thanks so much, Cass! You have such an amazing family. I hope you like the pictures! .

This last shot was inspired by Chelsea, thanks for the tip, that is a really hard shot to get when the baby obviously would rather be kicking like crazy, those rings went flying across the room a couple times. I'll have to try that again when I get one that takes a little nap during the session!

Disneyland

2008-10-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am sure you five faithful readers have been waiting with baited breath (is that the right way to spell that?) for my vacation report, so here it finally is. We took the girls to Disneyland for several days, we spent a couple days at the beach, and some time visiting my grandfather. We had a lot of fun, the girls loved the beach, Paige loved getting her little character book signed by disney characters, and Mia loved all the new sights and sounds. I do have to say that it was not as easy this time with two kids as it was with only Paige, but I would not have missed seeing Mia's reactions for the whole world. It was so nice to have some time to reconnect with my family and escape the real world for a while, and we can't wait till our next vacation. Anyone have any good trip ideas when you have little tiny ones?

What do you do if...

2008-09-27T20:25:00.001-07:00

You are doing a family photo session and you and the family are attacked by a swarm of angry wasps? Because that is exactly what happened to me and the Williams family last night. There we were, at the base of Little Cottonwood canyon (.."oh yes, Erica, we should do your pictures there for sure. What? Yes, of course it will be a safe place for your kids..") minding our own business, when Chad (the dad) gets stung by a wasp, twice. "Great," I think as he runs off, presumably so his kids don't hear him swearing from the pain, "I wonder if he is coming back? I don't think I can photoshop him in.." when all of a sudden we are all being swarmed by these bees. And we take off, running back up to the parking lot, screaming like the scene from Tommy Boy. (your firearms are useless against them!) The poor brave five year old, Jack, was covered with them, and was stung several times. I got stung once, and am ashamed to say that I swore. A lot. So there we are, running and screaming (and in my case swearing) up this trail when Chad starts flipping out because one has gotten in his pant leg. And here is what I yell. (hysterically, might I add) "Just take your pants off, take them off!!!" Because I can't help but think that this is a better solution then getting stung in the pant area. It drew some stares from the people standing around us, who oddly enough continued to stand there as if we were insane rather then come to our rescue, but they probably thought we were. We hopped in the car and sure enough, just as we are all getting settled and counting up our wounds, one of the kids starts screaming "WASP!!" and four doors fly open and the five of us come pouring out of the vehicle waving our hands and screaming.

Eventually we were able to get in the car, but not without everyone going in the same door, and sitting on the same side of the car until we were sure that the little creep was gone before buckling in and getting the hell outta dodge. We saw another photog there about to head down the same trail so we warned them through a crack in the window, and they looked like they didn't care that there was a swarm of killer blood thirsty monsters on the loose. Evidentally they did not see the scream fest earlier.

Anyway, two slurpees, four bags of ice and some benadryl later, we decided we would redo the pictures in a more urban environment after we have all recovered from the shock of it. A big thank you to Chad for the benadryl and topical ointment, and a big hug to Jack and Nixin for being so brave! (And I forgot to ask, but Erica, if you are reading this, were you running up the hill in your picture shoes? Because if you were, that was some fancy footwork, my friend, great job!!! )

Playdate at the Castle

2008-09-26T15:57:00.001-07:00

Wow, today was one of those days that makes you happy to be alive, the fall colors are coming, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, blue! I did some pictures of the most beautiful little kids ever today and wanted to post a few of my favorites for preview! I was so happy to meet these two families, I had a great time with the kids and I loved meeting the moms, I was so impressed by how fluidly they handled chasing two walking children while still taking care of the babies! Thanks you all for letting me spend some time with you!
Incidentally, did anyone else know that there was a beautiful pond on top of the castle place in provo? I had no idea.

Martinez Family

2008-09-23T20:59:00.001-07:00

I got to hang out with Kendrick and Desiree Martinez, a very cute couple with a four year old girl and two year old twin boys. We had quite a time running around Wheeler Farm and got some pretty cute pictures, although it is kind of hard not to, these guys are gorgeous!

Sidewalk Chalk

2008-09-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

The girls got themselves so messy today playing with sidewalk chalk. Mia mostly ate it, but she also got it all over herself, I just had to get out the camera.

PS.. I also learned how to add a watermark to my images, yahoo! Now the next step will be how to get them off, any suggestions photoshop enthusiasts?

Paige is playing soccer...

2008-09-21T18:46:00.001-07:00

and I use the word "playing" ever so loosely. Mostly she is meandering on and off the field asking things like "can I go play on the playground" "why are my legs so itchy" "what do we get for snacks" and my personal favorite, "when do I get my trophy?" Mike ended up coaching her team because there weren't any other volunteers and he seems to be having a blast with that. Paige is getting better, she drew me a little chart with squares on it so I could put a check in each time she kicks the ball. So far she has one check. Maybe she will be a really great swimmer... For now, I thought you may get a kick out of this one picture I shot after all of ten minutes at the first soccer game.