tara B photography

I think I May Want to Remember Today

2012-02-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

Our Valentine Date:

The hand-me-down table that my husband set
The baby in the high chair attending our romantic dinner
The lamp instead of candles.
The trains and toys just out of the shot.
The handmade card and cut out hearts sprinkled on the table.
The homecooked meal and martinelli's.
The flowers from Walmart.

I'm the first to say that life is usually less than ideal and that's okay.

But last night,

I just felt like I couldn't wish for anything else.

Valentines Day, Lady and the Tramp style.

2012-02-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

Crew doesn't even know how romantic he is being. He got confused and sweetly said "no?" when I tried to eat the other end of his spaghetti. I think it's time to show him this:

I have a problem

2012-02-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

Someone help me.

C a n ' t S t o p .

The Vow

2012-02-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

Saw this last night with my favorite squeeze (did your grandpa ever call your grandma that?) while we ate raisinets.

Synopsis:
- Rachel McAdams is beautiful. Getting to look at her for 2 hours makes the movie worth seeing. And she can act.
- Channing Tatum . . . . I wish he was a better actor but that's okay. You two look good together.
- Large Screen Bare bum. eeeeewwwwww. Didn't appreciate.
- Will one of my summer brides please wear a short pink wedding dress? So cute.
-It was fluffy and predictable but here is what I took from it:
Love evolves, your Spouse evolves, You evolve, and the strong marriages are ones where you find a way to fall in love with who that person IS that day. Isn't that great?

This valentines week message is brought to you by me. Comments please.

T t-t-t-t-t-t-t TJ MAxx.

2012-02-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

Let it be known that Pocatello, ID, has the best TJ Maxx on the planet. It has saved me from many a boring day in Southeastern Idaho this winter when you can't go outside! Crew actually sees the store from the parking lot and starts saying "no" and "bye-bye," but don't worry, the main reason I go there is the huge selection of Thomas the Train stuff and Melissa and Doug Toys. He likes to just play in the toy section for a while and every now and then I let him bring home a new "choo choo". Of course it also helps that sometimes I find stuff like BYU bleacher chairs, Spode Christmas China and most recently this striped top and green michael kors tote - always at a huge discount because this is, after all, T-t-t-t-t-t-t TJ Maxx.

Baby Miles. 2 weeks.

2012-02-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

Baby Miles, you are a sweetie pie. Craig (Scott's brother) and his wife Jill welcomed this little guy 2 weeks ago, and today we finally got to meet him! Wish I could have snuggled him all day. Welcome, dear one.

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2 Years Old! (almost)

2012-02-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

First of all, thank you SO very much for your comments and sweet emails about my last post. I feel really grateful to have so many people who care about us, and I really really appreciate you reaching out. It was comforting, and I'm passing those words on to my brother and his little family.

Second, I promised something more cheerful today, and that is what I'm going to post! Crew, if you didn't know, has a girlfriend. Her name is Claire and she is his cousin.
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i know i know

2012-02-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

My brother (freshman at BYU) texted me this pic today. A sticky note from one of his cute friends.

That's nice and it makes me feel good that you noticed I was gone.

It's sort of been a horrible week.

I have pictures.

Out of respect for my brother and his family I'm not going to post them yet.

Welcome, Valentine!

2012-02-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Happy February! The month of pink and sparkles and chocolate and hearts - what's not to like about this whimsical holiday? Valentines Day is the BEST holiday. I think I like it because there are so few expectations. Anything you do on Valentines Day is just because you want to do it - not because tradition says you have to do it. I remember making dozens of old fashioned valentine cards with doilies and dried flowers when I was 10 years old. (Not sure who I planning to give them to but I think I was pretending I was my American Girl Samantha Doll . . .ummm yessss. ) These decorations on our front door remind me of those valentines I made forever ago.

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36 hours

2012-01-31T11:28:00.000-08:00

We got to see Scott for 36 hours this last weekend, and it was heaven!! We finally celebrated his birthday by feasting at the Cheescake Factory. Check out Crew's face in these pictures. He is determined to get his hands on that whipped cream.

That's right, Crew. Just keep your eye on the target.

Sun Room

2012-01-30T12:34:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of time in this room over the weekend, rocking (or trying to rock) a squirmy sick toddler. This room is just off the kitchen in my mom's house, and it's sort of a private little family sitting room where we read, play games and rock babies. When I'm in there I get to eavesdrop on all the conversations in the kitchen, but nobody can see me! I love getting to soak up the sun in the winter, and how cozy the fireplace is. And since I'm usually reclined, I also love that the ceiling is fun to look at.

Thin Crust Veggie Ranch Pizza.

2012-01-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

I am not a fan of the casserole they call "Chicago style pizza." Sorry, I'm just not! And I've given it a lot of chances at some of the best Pizza places in Chicago.

It's not you, chicago style pizza, it's me.

My heart still belongs to New York style pizza. Thin crust, fresh, flavorful, light, and chewy. DC has some pretty great pizza places, too (thin crust, of course!!), and this healthy, flavorful pizza reminds me of one I had at 2Amy's in DC.
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A Mission Call.

2012-01-25T20:34:00.000-08:00

When my brother Ben left on his mission, Andrew was only seven years old!! They are the only 2 boys in the family and the best of friends. Andrew had a hard time with his big bro and best bud leaving, but it set an amazing example for him. My mom wrote a story about it that was published in The Friend magazine a few years ago. The story is called "Andrew's Missionary" and you can read it HERE.

Kind of amazing that little boy is now the missionary:

We picked up the call from the Post Office as soon as it opened.
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Snowing Outside and Inside.

2012-01-25T07:53:00.000-08:00

It snowed today. Out my window and in my kitchen.

After trying to frost a few, I became the designated "silver ball putter-onner" That is a fancy title for "let's have her do something no dummy could mess up."

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Parsons Family - Maternity.

2012-01-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

These guys were our upstairs neighbors in our first married place. We just loved them and their cute little toddler. (When they told little Robby I used to live underneath them, he looked under the bed:) ) I've followed their journey with IVF, and I know how grateful and excited they are to welcome Baby Girl to their family!

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Happy Birthday Daddy

2012-01-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Scott's birthday was this weekend, and we had to spend it apart because the roads were so bad with this durned snow. Scott took it like a man and spent the day studying for a test in Idaho, and we skyped with him from Utah. Crew and I celebrated in his honor by going to the Thanksgiving Point Model Train Show, and the BYU Game to watch my brother on the half time dunk-team. Scott has some amazing classmates who brought him a cake and hilarious handmade card. You guys are THE BEST.

I wrestled Crew into sending this visual message below:

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Pinterested.

2012-01-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

I've been pinterested. Meaning, I looked down today and realized I was the product of a virtual pin board. Belt tie tutorial? Learned it on Pinterest! Hair-do? Pinterest! Activity for Crew? Pinterest! What I made for dinner? Pinterest! Please tell me it's not just me. What have you pinned and actually used? I'd love to hear!

Belt - tied a la' pinterest. Hair - styled a la' pinterest.

Everybody needs a mommy.

2012-01-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

How cheesy is that title? But really.

Today when I got back to my mom's house after teaching, she had this for me:
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1st Day of the Semester.

2012-01-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

Remember when you were in elementary school and your mom would take pictures of you on your 1st day of school? Yeah. That's what happened today.

I was so excited to get back and see my students. Those cute BYU girls bring a lot of fun into my life! And not seeing them for 6 weeks means I had a lot of news to catch up on. Isn't it great how many life changes can happen so fast for college age people?

Umm, who told me it was cool to pose by looking at the ground? Not sure where I picked that one up!

I made THESE cookies to give my students on our 1st voice lesson of the semester.
Salt & Pepper Butterscotch Pine Nut Cookies

You can find the recipe at Your Home Based Mom by clicking HERE.

A Painting & A Bunk Room

2012-01-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Our MLK weekend was pretty uneventful because Scott had to study the whole weekend! (I was productive and watched the entire 2 seasons of Downton Abbey Yeah, productive. I'm addicted.) But I did snag him for about 2 hours on Friday night for a "date" (aka "honey, will you please come up with something fabulous and paint these for me?") I wanted something to put over Crew's crib, and liked the idea of a collection of 3 bright backgrounds. When Scott got home that night I told him my idea and he just sketched this up and painted it for me. Did you have a doggy with wheels as a child? I have pictures of me as a toddler with one, and Crew loves to pull his around and make barking noises.
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Pop Rocks

2012-01-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

I knew exactly what Scott had in mind for those pop rocks when he flung them into the cart on our late night grocery run. There was no stopping him, especially since Crew was such a willing victim the next morning.

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Photo Tip: Flattering Faces

2012-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is a basic tip that can be used even for your point-and-shoot or cell phone camera. The people in your life will thank you because they will look so much more attractive!

If you have a zoom lense, step away from the subject, and then zoom IN all the way. Lenses have a natural distortion that, when zoomed OUT all the way, make the center of the picture appear bigger.

For headshots, when, say, someone's nose is in the center of the picture, that's not the best. I have yet to photograph someone who wants their nose to appear larger!

My cute sister was in town today interviewing for grad school, so she became the subject of this tutorial. (Thanks Jen)
Here is the extreme example: (These were taken with my 24-105 4.0L zoom lense)

For the first photo, I stepped back, then zoomed all the way in on her face. My focal length was 105.
Then, for the 2nd photo, I zoomed my lense back to 24 mm, and got really close to her so she would fill the frame.
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Greek Pasta Salad

2012-01-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

Luke Family

2012-01-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

Meet the Luke Family! Rebecca was a winner of my Photo Session Giveaway, and she is such a sweet, gracious person. Getting to photo this family just made me so happy. Her tiny toddler is scheduled for open heart surgery soon, and we were lucky to have surprisingly warm and sunny weather after Christmas to shoot these photos. They just let themselves have fun with each other, and I think it comes through in the photos! Scott made these silly mustache/smiles for me.

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Parenting.

2012-01-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

Clearly, we had/have no idea what we were/are doing.

Yep, those two bozos had just become completely responsible for raising a child. {Crew's Blessing Day almost 2 years
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Our Little Townhouse.

2012-01-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we are headed back to this:

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Kara + Kyoshi. Engaged.

2012-01-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

When Kara got a hold of me, and told me her last name was Bloomfield, I was tickled. My maiden name is Tara Bloomfield. To top it off, she told me that she lived in the same town I did when I was in High School, and she would get calls from my highschool friends who just looked up "Bloomfield" in the phone book. Such a small world.

I was so excited to shoot at Orange Leaf. It's a yummy yogurt shop in Highland, and I just love the lime green walls and fun modern furniture. Especially those orange couches and stools! If you haven't been there, you should check them out!

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A PEACE-ful New Year.

2012-01-01T22:49:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up feeling the lightest feeling. The sun was shining and the weather was surprisingly warm for January 1st. I felt so peaceful. I walked downstairs and saw this:

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Wouldn't That Be So Cool If You Actually Knew Cosmo?

2011-12-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

It would make the games SO much more fun. Like, you would actually go to a sporting event. And stay past the first quarter. You would have something else to watch besides the cheerleaders!

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Christmas

2011-12-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve is also Scott's mom's birthday. So there is a lot of activity and fun packed in to one day. I can't believe I didn't have my camera to take one picture of our Birthday lunch with her! I love getting to see all of both sides of our families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We get to catch up and celebrate with everyone. This year, for Christmas Eve Dinner, we got all dressed up and went to The Grand America Hotel's Christmas Eve buffet. It was such an event! I hope we do it every year from now on.

(I think Crew's face on the left is so funny.)
Before we went we had a little Christmas program at my parents house. The kids read the Christmas story and we we sang the Carols that went with each part of the story.
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minute to win it

2011-12-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

We've loved the Game Show Minute To Win It since it came out! Last year we wanted to do a minute to win it night for Christmas, but just didn't come up with enough games to make it fun. This year, thanks to pinterest and my sister Katie, we had plenty of ideas! It was a blast for the adults and kids.

The Games:
Use only the muscles in your face to move the cookie from forehead and mouth. OBVIOUSLY I am skilled at this one. Cookie to mouth? Yes. I possess those skills.

Use a spaghetti noodle in your mouth to transfer Penne from one plate to another:
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Giveaway Winner Announced!

2011-12-23T20:05:00.000-08:00

I've been collecting your comments all week, waiting for today!

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Red Velvet Cake

2011-12-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

This cake is every bit as delicious as it is beautiful. I chose Red Velvet for the top layer of my wedding cake. It is so distinctive and kind of romantic, I think! With the cream cheese frosting and pecans on top, this one was Southern and Christmas all wrapped into one deep red, irresistable cake. Watch and see...
Before:

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Katie on KSL

2011-12-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

Remember to enter my Free Photo Session and Disc Giveaway! Ends tomorrow (thursday) at midnight!

This is what Crew does when you ask him if he wants to go bye-bye. R-U-N-S for the door. Today we loaded Crew and a couple of his cousins in the car and took them to The Gateway.

We just wanted to "go bumming" as my mom calls it, and it's so festive during the holidays. It was a serendipitous outing because KSL interviewed some of us, and my sister Katie and her husband were famous for 45 seconds on tonight's news!
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Clean Your Closet

2011-12-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

This is the blue velvet treasure I found in a closet at my parents house today, circa 2005. It pays to visit your parents! And organize your closet! PS, Remember to enter my FREE PHOTO SESSION and DISC GIVEAWAY (closes Thursday at midnight)

I feel like I should put the soundtrack to that 70's song "REUNITED" right about now.
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A Surprise Arrival

2011-12-20T10:19:00.000-08:00

**Remember to enter my FREE SESSION GIVEAWAY! (ends Thursday)
On Sunday afternoon, Scott and I packed more things into our little Camry than I ever thought possible, (train table?!) and drove to my parents house for the Christmas break. Just as we were sitting down for dinner, the doorbell rang and we found a clue which sent us on a scavenger hunt all over town. It ended back at my parents house - with my brother and his little family hiding in the basement. They live in a different state and surprised my parents by showing up for Christmas! Lots of tears and hugs ensued . . .

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Merry Christmas! {FREE Session Giveaway}

2011-12-17T12:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday Morning! and Happy Almost Christmas!

Holidays around our house are about family and service, and reflecting on our blessings. We've had a wonderful year, and I've been feeling so grateful.

So to start our Holidays, I'm giving away a FREE PHOTO SESSION. You will receive the session, the disc of edited images, and an 8x10 print release. (Normally $400).

So tell your friends and family, and enter yourself!!

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Become a "Follower" of my blog (top right corner of the blog).
2. Leave a comment on this post.
3. The winner will be picked at random, and I will announce the winner on Friday Dec 23rd.

*Giveaway closes Thursday at midnight.
**I don't photograph large extended family groups.

Merry Christmas!!
We are off to walk the halls of the mall - I don't have any more shopping to do, I just like going there to feel the Christmas cheer!

The morning after finals.

2011-12-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

Today we woke up early to grey skies, a grumpy toddler, and the knowledge that Scott was DONE with finals!! Mammy and Ponk-Ponk (my parents) were in town visiting, so we bundled up and went to a cozy bagel shop for breakfast.

So happy to have daddy around.
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Mint Brownies

2011-12-15T16:33:00.000-08:00

Oh boy. I've made these mint brownies twice this week for 2 different holiday parties. They taste like the Mint Brownies from Normandie Cafe in Holladay Utah. Somehow thinking that they are from a fancy French bakery makes them seem not so bad for me. Nothing french could be bad for you! Right?

Make these if you want to bring a total crowd pleaser to your Christmas party, or if you want to gain 5 pounds and enjoy every minute of it!

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Wall Street Journal

2011-12-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

Oh Nothing, just reading the WALL STREET JOURNAL

Because my photos are on the front page of the Personal Journal section! What?! I'm not kidding! See 'em there in the bottom right?
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Christmas Cottage

2011-12-13T10:48:00.000-08:00

Last Night, Family Home Evening = Family OUT Evening. Crew and I needed some fresh air! Scott got home and we put Crew in his carseat and went for a little drive to see what we could discover in this new little town. And . . . we found the cutest little Christmas Cottage. Green Roof, Red Brick, Swoopy Gingerbread Roof. Christmas Garland. It looked like it should be in a snow globe! We got out and let Crew run around and it turned into an impromptu photoshoot by Scott. I am SO wishing Scott was in these so we could use them for a Christmas card. But someone had to take the pictures.

PS: Date Idea - Take 15-20 minutes and have your husband take pictures of you. I'm serious! It was really fun. Do ridiculous things like pretending you are on America's next top model. Most of these shots looked really stupid, but some turned out. Since it's your husband and he knows you are a dork anyway, you can try anything and might be surprised at what you get - the best thing we got was remembering how squirmy our toddler is and how he HAS to have his "nonald" duck and teddy. And how it was a really fun break from Scott studying for Finals. Try it! And post a comment with a link if you do so I can see them!

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Christmas Ham Balls

2011-12-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Holiday Recipe

I'm still cooking/photographing like a whirling dervish over here, trying to get my family holiday recipe book done! (speaking of which - I was actually taken on a date to see the real whirling dervishes when I lived in New York. That's what they do. Whirl. For a long time. I prefer Broadway but it was a great/dizzying cultural experience.)

Back to Ham Balls. Mmmmm. One of my favorite things about Christmas. I love sweet and savory combinations. The sweet tangy pineapple sauce on top of a juicy meatball made from ham and pork is enough to make me, ummm, whirl like a dervish.

Here's the recipe:

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Crew's visit with Mr. Claus

2011-12-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

We took a trip to the Mall last night. There was absolutely no line to see the sweetest Santa in the world (really he was great), and they let us take our own pictures instead of the lame ones they take.

I had prepped for this because I want Crew to love Santa! My plan of attack:
1. Watch video clips of Santa earlier in the day, while cuddling Crew and coo-ing "oooh, Santa, we love him".
2. Watch Santa talk to the other kids at the Mall, while coo-ing "Santa, he is SO nice."
3. Let Crew play on the trucks in the Mall right in front of Santa's station. Positive association.
4. Bring "Nonald" (donald duck) for moral support.

Did it work?
Well, let's see....

A nice pleasant introduction.

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TIPS: How to Photograph White.

2011-12-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

PHOTO TIPS

I've been getting some photo questions, and I figured I would post them in case any one else is curious. (disclaimer - I am definitely not the end all authority on things related to photography - but here are my thoughts and some things that work for me)

The question I am answering today is:

HOW DO I PHOTOGRAPH WHITE ?!

First of all, I feel your pain! The problem with photographing white is that if not properly exposed, it becomes a glowing white blob with no detail! Or you are left with underexposed skin and a white dress that has detail but looks grey-tinted. Both are terrible options, and it really does take a lot of practice to consistently get it right.

But don't worry, it's amazing what a little practice and a few tips can do! See? The first picture is one I took 3 1/2 years ago. The second is one I took a couple months ago. BAD example vs GOOD example. (Don't worry, I was NOT the hired photographer for that 1st shot. I was brand new and just tagging along to learn.)

BAD Example GOOD Example

Do you like how I labeled those shots? As if anyone might confuse the two?
Read on for tips.
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Double Bridals - again.

2011-12-08T16:42:00.000-08:00

We took these pictures in October. Since they are my sisters, they got stuck on the back burner of editing until I got on top of some client editing. Sorry girls! NONE of these photos were photoshopped. They are either straight out of the camera, or with a few adjustments made in Lightroom.

My sisters had a double wedding a little over a year ago, and I photographed their wedding. You can see those pictures here and here. They are some of my favorite pictures, and actually they were selected for publication in Utah Bride and Groom Magazine 2012.

But . . . I had both of my sisters in town, and I'd just invested in some new equipment I wanted to play with, and I was just itching to do them again. My style and skills have evolved and grown. It was so much more relaxed this time around. I didn't have a screaming newborn, the couples have been married for over a year and there was no pressure on the shoot. It was a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon with perfect light, and I love how they turned out.

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Maple Cinnamon Twist Wreath

2011-12-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

Be Festive

Here is the what I photographed today for our Family Holiday Cookbook. I LOVED getting to make these when I was little. There is nothing more special on Christmas morning than a homemade cinnamon roll, but who wants to get up early enough to make them?
Any volunteers?
This recipe is perfect for Christmas morning because :
1. It looks like a beautiful Christmas Wreath.
2. It has that soft and just a little chewy cinnamon roll texture, along with the tiniest hint of maple. Perfect for breakfast.
3. Can be made ahead, frozen, and warmed in the oven for breakfast, and it doesn't lose any of that fresh taste.

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Mexican Stuffed Shells

2011-12-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

Be Healthy

So let's be honest here, I really like my sweets (maaaaaybe paired with a diet coke?) and since I grew up in Arizona, I also reealllly love my Mexican food.

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Wilkes Family

2011-12-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

I told Cali (yellow coat in middle) yesterday that she is not allowed to graduate from BYU. Ever. She is one of the students that just makes my job there so fun. I've gotten to know Leigh Anne when she's come into town to visit Cali, and especially from her BLOG. I can't plan what we are eating each week without consulting it! Really, she is SO talented, and just as warm and lovely in person as she seems on her blog. She was recently voted Best Blog in Oregon, if you haven't read her blog, you should! Check her out HERE.

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Thanksgiving for Three

2011-11-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

We were so lucky to get some California sun and the smell of the ocean this Thanksgiving. Not to mention a healthy dose of Disneyland and Holiday Crowds. We stayed with my brother's family in Santa Monica, but they left the day before Thanksgiving to be with our extended family. We didn't have the time to go with them because we had to drive back to UT the next day, so we spent Thanksgiving with just the three of us - - and it was so fun. We made dinner, watched movies, and walked on the beach. It was perfect. Thanks Ben and Family for hosting us! We miss you!

Centerpiece courtesy of my nephew Jake who is in kindergarten.

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Featured!

2011-11-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

THIS Beautiful Wedding was featured in BYU Bridal Magazine. I was so thrilled to see it published!

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Kellyn + Glen. Engaged!

2011-11-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

Oh I just LOVE Kellyn. She is one of my super talented singers at BYU and she is smart and sweet and I USED to think there was no one good enough for her. But then I heard about Glen. And THEN I got to meet Glen, who is a Gem. Really, it was so fun to watch these two together. They did anything I asked, and were so relaxed, and laughed so easily. I just can't wait to shoot this wedding in Oakland in May! It can't come soon enough, right Kellyn and Glen?

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Schaack Family - Pocatello

2011-11-16T16:54:00.000-08:00

This little 3 year old just had her birthday party and it was a Toy Story party! Every time I see her she is wearing her red Jessy cowboy boots. It's so cute how much she loves her Jessy doll. It's almost like the Schaacks have 3 little girls - their two plus Jessy the cowgirl doll!

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Baby Coleman

2011-11-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the World, Little Man.

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Crew Bear. Halloween Dragon.

2011-11-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

My Dad, Crew, and me happened to be the only ones at home on Halloween day and the weekend before. We had fun! On Sunday before Halloween we went to the lake and let Crew push his toy car around. My dad helped me get some shots of Crew. Funny - when I started taking photography classes, it was because I wanted to be able to take pictures of my kids. Now I am so busy with client projects, I don't do nearly enough picture taking of my own little Crew bear - at least, they don't get edited and posted. That's a new goal I'm working on.

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The Sing Off

2011-11-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

If you want a Vocal Treat, check out

THIS LINK.

A former BYU voice student of mine is on NBC's "The Sing Off" and one way or another, this girl is on her way to super stardom. Really.

Amy Whitcomb, you go girl!

Jan + Travis. Wedding!

2011-10-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

Jan and Travis held their reception the night before the wedding. It was so fun for me to see all of Jan's sisters and mom, and even a cousin helping her get into her dress for the reception.

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Neeleman Family

2011-10-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

Wright Family

2011-10-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was so thrilled to get to photograph Sarah and Kenneth & kids.

Sarah is an incredible children's illustrator. I'm sure you've seen Sarah Jane Studios (fabric line, wall portraits, childrens book), but if you haven't, click HERE - I go to her blog when I need a good mouth watering!

Kenneth is the Jr. High School theatre teacher you WISH you'd been lucky enough to have.

Magazine Feature - Published!

2011-10-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

We've just received the exciting news that two Bridal Magazines have chosen to feature my work! This is a huge honor and I am so excited.

Be sure to check out

Utah Bride and Groom 2012
&
BYU Bridal 2012

On stands soon.
Yippee!

Witches. Happy Hallowdays.

2011-10-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

'Twas a dark and gloooomy Saturday....

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Christina+ Tanner

2011-10-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things is telling people to give me their america's next top model pose. I shoot the pose, but keep shooting...and I always LOVE those after shots.

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Larsen Family 2011

2011-10-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

new wedding website!

2011-09-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

Weddings has become such a huge part of my photography that I decided it needed it's own website. I have been working around the clock (literally -thanks diet coke!) to get my new Wedding Website up and running.

I will be adding a few more featured weddings to the site in the next few days (a girl's gotta sleep)

In the meantime, Please check it out HERE. I would love your feedback.

Jan+Travis. Groomals.

2011-09-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Wildflowers at Sundance. Oh my. And just the start of fall colors. I LOVE this season.

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Kuuucks!

2011-09-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

I just finished editing my last wedding of the summer! Applause please! This summer was joyously busy with photography, and I'm pulling my head out of the sand just in time to realize that it isn't summer anymore!

Scott is fully immersed in his grad program, and I start teaching at BYU next week. Where did this summer go? I'm so glad Scott spent his summer break assisting me, and that little Crew was a good enough boy to come on a lot of our shoots. I'll treasure the memories of us getting to work together like that. Will that ever happen again? I miss Scott!

A few "on the job" pics of Crew, planted in the middle of temple square, completely fascinated by his book. I was SHOCKED at how long he sat reading this to himself. No wonder - it has TRUCKS ("KUUUUCK!"). Notice the drool. Classic.

Summer 2011, I have loved you. More pics of Crew's summer, coming soon.

Carly + Ryan. Wedding.

2011-08-30T23:22:00.000-07:00

Irving Family

2011-08-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

We shot at 8 am on a Saturday morning and I was expecting some grumpy kids but no - not even close! These guys showed up smiling and goofed around with each other. I was especially impressed by how the teenage boys interacted with the little boys. They got a kick out of them and played with them. Scott and I kept remembering how cute and unusual that was. Love you Irvings!

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Bacon Family

2011-08-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago (what?!) I got to spend about a year in Japan with Melia while we sang for Disney. We learned so much about the world and about ourselves, and I will always love Melia for being my "mission companion". The Japanese would constantly tell her she looked like Nicole Kidman. She's definitely prettier than Nicole though, let's be honest. By the way, Chris is a movie star! Really! Google the movie Source Code and see who composed the Soundtrack. Yep. It's Chris Bacon, Melia's husband. Hollywood star. Basically I'm paparazzi now.

Melia has been in love with Chris as long as I've known her. I heard all about him in Japan. She wanted to marry him and have a family. And she got her dream - just look at her.

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Shelby +Daniel Wedding

2011-08-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sweet Shelby (my BYU voice student) got married last week, and I felt so lucky to get to photograph her and Daniel on their long awaited day! When I say sweet Shelby, I mean it! She would respond to every suggestion during voice lessons with a polite and sincere "thank you!" Some of Daniel's family traveled all the way from Guatemala for this occasion! Here are just a few of my favorites from the day:

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Brooke and Sam. Wedding.

2011-08-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

The thing I kept noticing about this wedding was how MANY people love Brooke and Sam. Their friends were just an extension of their family. We took some Bridals 2 days before the wedding that I am posting here as well. The wedding day was bright and sunny, but the day of Bridals was stormy. We had a 60 minute window when the weather cooperated. Check out the rainbow above the temple. Gorgeous.

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Love Story

2011-08-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, hold on, because here I am wiping away tears as I edit these pictures! I SO want to be this couple in a few (47) years.
50 years ago, these two met, dated for 2 weeks, and got married.

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Rachel and Ben. Wedding.

2011-08-04T21:16:00.000-07:00

Rachel and Ben got married this weekend, and I was the lucky photographer! The Ceremony was at the Sacramento LDS Temple, the Reception took place in the Bride's backyard in Granite Bay, and OH, it was gorgeous. And fun. Rachel is a bookworm, who married a bookworm. Love these two together.

Getting Ready: (Check out her little baptism dress hanging on the wall in the background)

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Jardine Family

2011-08-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Rasband Family

2011-08-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

Rachel's Bridals

2011-08-02T22:47:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this dress? I loved it, it is perfect on Rachel. We took a few bridal shots the night before the wedding. To you photographers out there - Most of these are straight out of camera, with a few minor Lightroom adjustments. I only opened ONE photo in Photoshop, can you guess which?

Rachel's front porch at her parents house:

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Crew and Mama in the Tulips

2011-07-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Scott took these pictures of Crew and I back in May when the Tulips were out. I'm trying to decide which to blow up and frame, any opinions? (Like most pics around here, they were just snapped impromtu - this time while we were waiting for a Client to change clothes during their engagement shoot - nothing planned, as you can tell from our outfits.)

Kerr Family

2011-07-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you, this shoot was a TREAT, because Blythe called me out of the blue and said she would be in town for a few days and could I fit her in. I would have rearranged ANYTHING to see Blythe and meet her husband and her two beautiful boys. The last time I saw Blythe was ....well....maybe I won't give an exact number of years away, but it was in our Young Ambassador days. Yep. Think me and Blythe in black spandex and sparkly button down shirts dancing to Ricky Martin and thinking we were cool. Because we WERE.

It was like getting on a time machine to see Blythe pile out of her car with her husband and boys. Nothing better to see an old friend so happy. Blythe and Garrett, I wish we lived closer. You two are wonderful parents and I just loved seeing you as a family.

Cobbley Family

2011-07-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

When Nanette wrote me a couple months ago to set up their shoot, she knew exactly where she wanted them taken. Years ago, when her kids were little, they had family pictures done at this location, and we just had to do a repeat performance. I'm so glad we did, what a delightful family.

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Bloomfield Portraits.

2011-07-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

We decided we better do a photosession while we had everyone together at the beach. Like our impromptu outfits and windblown (frizzy)hair?

Newport with the Bloomfields

2011-07-06T22:46:00.000-07:00

My parents planned a "family reunion" in Newport. We've been going every other summer since I was a little girl, for our extended family reunions. I have lots of memories of playing with cousins, aunts and uncles on the beach. Now our immediate family has turned into an extended family and my parents ARE the grandparents. I just loved watching Crew play with his cousins in the sand. So much to discover. He kept running for the water at a dead run.

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Heather + Ben. Wedding!

2011-07-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

I adore Heather in so many ways. She is a former BYU voice student of mine, and I was thrilled when she asked me to photograph her wedding, because, well, just look at her, and, well, she has this unusual blend of being driven but really laid-back at the same time. I SO enjoyed getting to capture this wedding. I think she found a definite catch in Ben. Congrats you two.

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Gracie and Big Brother

2011-06-30T11:26:00.001-07:00

Is this as funny to anyone else as it is to me? His mom was just pulling him away from the baby so we could get a shot, but it looks like he's made a fist at her. He's so cute, and it reminds me of that old Little Rascals show.

Gracie T {Newborn}

2011-06-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

We're Baaaack! Oh, we had so much fun at the beach. I am going to post about it, but first, so many client shoots to post! So to get the ball rolling....

Introducing precious Grace. I have been lucky enough to photograph this family (and Grace's older brother) several times, and I am always so happy to see them. Actually, Brittany (the mommy of this sweet baby) was my wedding coordinator at Thanksgiving Point. So, you know, we're close:) It's been two weeks since we took these photos and I bet Gracie already looks different. You just have to freeze those newborn moments while you've got'em.

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gone surfing...

2011-06-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Not really. But we are at the beach, and Scott and my brothers are surfing. I chase Crew as he fearlessly runs into the waves to catch Daddy. Does that count? So very sorry if you are awaiting pics of recent shoots, I promise to post your pictures as soon as I get back! And also some pics of cute babies on sunny beaches. Aren't babies in sunglasses and hats the best? (Or is that just because it is MY baby and his little girlfriend/cousin?) We've been coming here almost every year since I was a little girl, and there is just nothing like some sand and sun.

If you have e-mailed recently, I promise to get back to you soon....until then -

My very favorite picture of Crew *last* year at the beach. My how time flies.

Traci+Curtis. Wedding.

2011-06-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

Meet Traci and Curtis:

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Jessica and Parker. Wedding.

2011-06-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

What a happy day! I just love the Becksteads and Robertson's. Jessica and Parker are both the babies of their family, and this marriage meant that both families are complete! Lots of gorgeous details and adorable nephews and nieces. I can't wait for you to see.

I got to shoot this wedding with the fabulous David Perry as videographer. Brides, if you are looking for a videographer, you should definitely check him out. He does LOVELY work, and is a delightful person to have around.

Congrats Parker and Jessica!!

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Kylee and Tim Reception

2011-06-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

We're back! What a...trip! My sister posted a link about our trip HERE. And who knows, I might get around to doing my own post about the trip if I ever get on top of all these photoshoots! Can't wait to show you.

First stop of our trip...Arizona. The most beautiful reception, at the brides family's orchards. Oh, it was gorgeous. Like a midsummer's nights dream under sparkly trees on a balmy summer night. First, the details...

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Kylee and Tim Wedding (and Groomals)

2011-06-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

That morning....

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Butler World Tour

2011-05-19T00:08:00.000-07:00

Oh I am so excited. Scott and Crew and I are leaving in the morning for what we are calling the

"Butler World Tour"

Really, it's just Arizona, Washington DC, Virginia, and New York City.

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Tashina

2011-05-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Sam. Engaged.

2011-05-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

I really dig Spring in Utah, and I really dig the pictures from this engagement session. Also, Crew was digging the flowers (out of the ground) as we took these pictures. Shhh. Brooke and Sam, you are very very cute together. I'm so glad I got to spend this beautiful spring afternoon with such a darling couple.

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Marin Bridals

2011-05-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

Reasons I adored this Bridal shoot:
1. Marin is a modern dancer. She has the most beautiful way of carrying herself.
2. She danced barefoot in her wedding dress for me!
3. We both teach at BYU. (me = voice, Marin = dance). I have known her for something like 14 years and she is almost always smiling. She is an extremely positive person.
4. She makes a beautiful bride, and I looooved her dress.
5. She likes diffused window light as much as I do.
6. Love you Marin!

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Louisa + Sam. Wedding.

2011-05-07T23:12:00.000-07:00

Ashley, Senior Pics.

2011-05-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of those perfect Utah Spring afternoons when the sky is impossibly blue and the blossoms are in full bloom. Ashley was the perfect model for the day - such an all-american beauty. She reminds me of an abercrombie and fitch model. Athletic and fresh with that perfect smile.

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Kelsey the Senior.

2011-05-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

When I was in elementary school one of my dads cousins came over. He was 20-ish and looking for a wife. He asked me "what is the prettiest color of hair?" Like it was a quiz. My 8 year old self was flattered and said shyly, umm, blonde? And he said "Nope. Red." I guess he was right all along because seriously, check out this Senior's hair. Can we say GORGEOUS!? Sigh. I'll never be a red-headed princess with long flowing red luscious tresses. Oh, and also Kelsey is one of the friendliest people ever. Some people get all the luck.

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yesterday...

2011-05-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got to do this. Can't wait to show you more. Oh, I loooove wedding season.

The Dress.

2011-04-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

All I'm saying is . . . someone had GREAT taste.

Yep!!

Andrea. Senior!

2011-04-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

I got to spend this lovely (windy!) afternoon with this adorable senior. Aaaannnd. . . . the Royal Wedding is happening in about 4 hours! Are you as excited as I am?! I kind of hate to admit this, but I'm definitely excited about it. I't's been on the TV in the background as I've edited photos, and now I know all about Kate and also everything I never wanted to know about Di's jewels. And now off to bed so I can be alert for Women's Conference tomorrow. (Unless I decide to get up at three am to watch the wedding. . . . . )

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Rachel and Ben Engagements

2011-04-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for Rachel and Ben's wedding in July!

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Easter Teddy

2011-04-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

This year, in honor of Crew saying "Teddy" more consistently than he says "mommy," Crew got visited by Easter Teddy instead of Easter Bunny.