Sunset

I took this photo of the stunning sunset tonight out of my car (passenger) window on the drive home.  It's unfortunate that this beauty only lasts like 15 minutes at most.  

Straight out of camera. No photo enhancing here!

Kailing Family Preview

More to come soon!

Paulina & Kyle

It was the most beautiful October day.  I was so lucky to be a guest at this wedding.  Their ceremony was one of the most beautiful I've ever been to.  Paulina was absolutely radiant and by the expressions on Kyle's face, he seems so ecstatic that she's his.  Here are a few photos from their day.

Weekend

We have a very very busy weekend ahead of us so I probably won't see you until Monday...maybe even Tuesday.  In the meantime, happy weekend! And don't forget, it is still such a lovely time to have your family photo taken.  Get 25 free Christmas Cards or 4x6's when you schedule a session between now and November 15. See details here.  Don't wait till the last minute to decide what to do for your Holiday card this year! 

Happy Weekend!

Sweet Grandma Lucille Pease

This is a photo of the last time we saw Brant's Grandma Pease.  May she rest in peace.  I only knew her 6 and a half years.  5 years ago I was touched that she made the long car ride to St George to attend our wedding.  As we were leaving the room Brant and I were married in, she pulled us aside, hugged us and with tears streaming down her cheeks she said "This is just so special, the love you two share and you will be together forever.  And I know that I have my Arthur waiting for me on the other side, and we will be together forever."  I am sure it will be a sweet reunion when she joins him again.

  I know that all of her children and Grandchildren have such fond memories of her.  Brant always talks about camping with his Grandparents and how fondly he remembers it.  From what I hear, Grandma loved Taco Bell tacos and was quite the pool shark. 

We will miss your sweetness Grandma.

The Hike I almost didn't make it out of.

It was a beautiful and sunny late afternoon.  My friends Hayley, Sarah, and I were about to leave Moab.  We had talked about just doing one hike before we left.  I hadn't been back to Moab since 2002 so hiking sounded fabulous! I didn't know when I would be back so I wanted to sieze the opportunity! We decided to do the Delicate Arch hike.  It's not too hard or too long and the end result is magnificent!

(Photos courtesy the lovely Sarah Knight)

So we began our hike. Gorgeous and Sunny right? 

3 photographers plus one hike equals stopping every 5 seconds to take a picture of something. Sarah joked that this picture that she took made it look like a Lands End advertisement and that you should "Buy these sunglasses, and you will be cool." haha

We hiked alongside this darling older man who would stop and take a picture of whatever we were taking a picture of and say "Oooh! Nigh shot!"

The clouds started to roll in a little bit. We suspected rain.  Maybe just a drizzle or a slight pour but nothing too horrible cause it was nice and warm out and we would be fine...so we suspected.

I joked with Hayley that "Survivorman" Les Stroud always says "If it looks like rain, it'll most likely rain so take cover."

The most amazing part about hiking to delicate arch is that you have no idea when you have made it.  You can't see it in the distance.  All the sudden you round a corner and like angel's singing it appears.  It is so amazing.

Right when we got to the Arch, the clouds swiftly came in, and it got very very very windy.

Here's one of Sarah, her hair was blowing uncontrollably.

See the clouds? Dark and ominous is right.  We were only able to capture maybe 2 or 3 frames a piece of the arch because we had to take cover. Here's one of Hayley taking a couple shots.

Out of nowhere the wind went wild.  It was probably 60mph.  It was blowing people over.  I was so afraid of getting blown off a cliff.  The wind was blowing so hard that it was picking up rocks and chucking them.  I was so glad no one got hit in the head with one.  This poor woman on the right had to be helped to this little makeshift wind blocker area where we huddled.  I say she is a poor woman because one of her camera lenses got hurled off a cliff by the wind. Here I am trying to put my camera away as fast as possible.

At about this point, it started to DOWNPOUR.  It was like God was dumping a bucket out of the sky.  All the hikers were shielding their eyes from sand, wind, and debris and hugging the rocks to make it down.  I looked ahead of me and saw a woman trying to help her two small children down.  I ran to her as fast as I could and yelled over the hurricane like winds, "I'm a mother! Let me help you!" She gave me the hand of her sweet little daughter and I helped her down.  It was so awful and scary.  The rain was so swift and fast, and in such great amounts it was creating waterfalls off of the huge red rocks in the national park.

We made it down and thank the heavens above we were safe, everyone we saw was safe, our camera gear was safe, and we had dry clothes to change into in the car.  This is what we looked like when we got to the bottom. 

We look like drowned rats but we're glad to be alive!

I love you Sarah and Hayley!

Bri & Steve in Moab

Ok, I have been on some wickedly fun photoshoots, but I'll tell you what...this shoot was F-U-N!!!  Bri and Steve were such an amazing couple to work with.  Their love towards each other just flows freely which makes them absolutely stunning in front of the camera.  When you add an amazing dress with gorgeous scenery, beautiful clouds, and a little wind to the mix, you have a very happy Kate, and hopefully a very happy couple (and mother of the bride).  Here are a few more of Bri and Steve.  Enjoy!

Dear Wind, I love you! Love, Kate

Bri- You are GORGEOUS!!!

Fenton Family

Honest to goodness, Brittany is one of the most gorgeous girls I know.  And what a gorgeous family too!  It was quite the adventurous photography session with these guys.  Little Robby just wanted to play and play and play and not have his picture taken.  Much to his chagrin, I was able to snap some really adorable photos of him.  His big sister Eva May and I had a very in depth discussion about the Disney Princesses.  Cinderella is clearly her favorite.  Brittany and Bubba are such a great couple.  He has a way of making her laugh like no one else can.  Here are a few photos from their family portrait session.

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Delicate Arch

While in Moab, a couple friends of mine and I decided to take the beautiful hike to the famous delicate arch.  It almost ended in disaster that could have cost us great injury, death, and worst of all...damage to our camera gear.  Stay tuned because next week I will share the story along with more photos.

Brooklyn in Studio

I took a studio lighting class.  I love learning as much as I can about lighting.  Your light is the most important part of your photograph.  It makes or breaks it.  Although I do not have a studio, every time I attend a studio lighting class, I find things that I can easily implement in making my outdoor/on location lighting better.  (FYI Clients and friends: If you are interested in having a studio portrait taken, I do have a studio available to me.)  Brooklyn was amazing to work with!  Here are a couple of photos.

Fenton Family Preview

More to come soon!

Fall Foliage

Brant took me on a beautiful drive up to Tony's Grove in Cache County last weekend.  I was astounded by the beauty of the fall colors.  It seemed like every turn we made I would say "STOP!" so I could take a picture. The colors are so bright they almost hurt my eyes!

We went on a little hike...

and played in the mountain lake...

then feasted our eyes on more beauty.

What a way to spend the day!

At the end of our drive, we got to see a cowboy herd some cattle across the road.  Welcome to the Wild West Baby!

The End!

p.s. Don't forget! Now is a splendid time for your annual family photo! Book a family session between now and November 15 and get 25 free Christmas Cards or 4x6s included! Click here for details!