b e a u t i f u l • utah children photographer

In one of my last posts someone commented that I have the most beautiful clients.... well, I have to agree!  These girls are no exception.  I was able to photograph them just over a year ago and was thrilled to pieces when their mom asked me to do it again.  The oldest is a piece of pumpkin pie to photograph & is a super poser.... the youngest was quite a different story.  With a trip to the gas station, a little hot chocolate and a one on one time with me we were finally able to get some great ones out of her :)

Now I can't wait to photograph their baby brother when he arrives!!!  Looking forward to it Steph!

B f a m i l y • utah family photographer

Finally, a long awaited sneak peek for this cute little family.  Loved hanging out with you guys and honestly, your kids were a breeze!  So easy to work with, so cooperative, and absolutely darling!  Here's just a sampling of what we got..... you'll have to wait a little longer to see the rest {{{sorry}}} :)

h o l l a, c l a s s o f 9 7 • utah children's photographer

Yes, that's when I graduated... that makes me old, I know.  But it also makes the parents of these cute kids old too because I went to school with them! ;)  I just turned 30 in August & people say that 30 is the new 20 but I want to know why, if 30 is so fabulous.... why do I keep wishing I was 20 again?  Anyway, back to these peeps...  It was so much fun to see these guys after 10+ years & to meet their adorable kids.  Turns out we both have Easton's & their kids are pretty much little mini-me's of their parents.  They were super easy to photograph, totaly cooperative, totally cute, and super expressive!  Thanks M & E for a great night!  I'll have your gallery up very soon :)

Also, an update on my fall mini-sessions - I only have 3 spots left and they are first come, first serve!  So email me and get yours booked!

m i n i - s e s s i o n s • utah family photographer

I should add that these are the last sessions I'll be doing for the year so if you want your fall pictures and Christmas cards - this is your chance!

d a n c e • utah commercial photographer

Last Saturday I had the pleasure to work with the most incredible models and dancers!  They belong to Elite Dance Academy who hired me for some commercial work.  It was a really long day for both the dancers and myself but so so so worth it!!! They were all extremely beautiful and so fun to photograph.  There are so many image that I love from this day, I've had a really hard time windling it down to show for a sneak-peak.  I've tried to include all of the girls, but if for some reason I've forgotton one - I'm sorry - there were 18 of you :)  Give me another week or so and I'll have your gallery up!  Enjoy.

my silly kids

I went out with the kids looking for locations for a fun Dance Studio shoot that I just had (that post coming shortly).  I had to post some of these though because my kids make me laugh.

 Easton lately has been real into superhero's, specifically SpiderMan.  He is not giving us the rock*on sign all though it looks like it.  He's really being spidy and shooting webs at us :)

I did not ask him to do this BTW... it's all him!  This next one just shows how much Miss Molly looks up to her brother.  If he can do it..... so can she!

Do you love her knee high's or what?  Buy them HERE. (I love them so much I'm tempted to buy the other pair).

t r i p l e t s • utah newborn photographer

They are my first & hopefully not last.  These tiny-weeny babies belong to my husband's cousin but I count her as one of my own.  They are her first babies and they all came at once!  I was so excited when she asked me to photograph them!  I was also terrified :)  One baby can be a challenge, let alone 3..... HOLY COW!  They were as sweet and beansie as ever.  The smallest weighed 2 lbs when she was born and now 5 weeks later is weighing in at 4 lbs.  They were in the NICU for 3 weeks and got to come home A LOT sooner than expected.  I'm so glad Julieann, that you are doing well & couldn't be happier for you!  Please call when you need an extra pair of arms, I have NO problem with taking a little drive :)

one boy : two girls

the girls:

and brother:

and on this one I pulled back and filled the frame with a bunch of empty space just to show how teeny they all were (and she wasn't even the smallest).

peanut butter cal-zones

I have NO clue where East picked up this little phrase but my crazy kids think it's hillarious!  That's how I got this picture of the two of them.  We were hanging out this morning and I pulled out my camera.  They had been singing "peanut butter cal-zones!" all morning and so when I had them situated in front of my lens I sang "peanut butter cal-zones!".  Oh did they laugh and laugh and laugh.  They thought I was so funny and it entertained them long enough to capture this!  Oh how I love my little wild things.

and to those of you who think that it's no big deal.... well it is.  Photographers kids have their own little syndrome when if mom pulls out the camera you run away and refuse to look at it.  Easton has had this his whole life (until recently) and Molly is slowly becoming more resistent to my "tricks".

ETA.... so I'm back to add a few more pictures.  They kill me!

angels, skaters, & cowboys...... oh MY! • utah children photographer

I have the best clients EVER!  This is the 3rd time I've been able to photograph these boys and they are just superstars!  This time their mom wanted so "theme" shots to document and display what the boys were into at this time in their lives.  This was so much fun to do.  They are not your standard stick-a-bat-and-glove-next-to-a-child-and-say-cheese type of pictures.  We turned their interests into personal art which I couldn't be more thrill about!  Check these cuties out!

The oldest is really into baseball and loves the yankee's and when his mom mentioned that "Angels in the Outfield" immediately came to mind.  And since I live right next to a field of corn it was PERFECT!

So his little bro was all decked out in skater gear... how cute is he!  In the bottom right picture some "real" skaters went by at just the perfect time!  It's one of my faves from the session.

and the baby of the family who isn't a baby anymore.... sigh .....one of the coolest cowboys I know.

when will i be in texas?

Good question.... I'd love to go to Texas.  In fact my husband always talk about moving there but we probably never will.  You better call me Melissa next time you're here because I'd love to finally meet you :)

So to answer the first official question:  How do I process my B&W's?

My b&w processing is pretty basic.  I use a gradient map adjustments layer once I've finished with my color processing.  It usually needs a levels or curves adjustment but that's all I ever do.  Here are some examples:

this is the finished color processing.

color processing with only the GM adjustment layer.

For a more airy b&w I used 2 curves layers... one to darken the shadows, the next to bring back contrast and a little lightening.

For a litte more drama I first darkened the shadows by using levels.  It looked like this:

I had to go back and erase back her eyes, the shadows on her arms and other shadows I thought were too dark.  After this step I did 2 more curves layers... one bumping the highlights and the 2nd by doing a slight s-curve.  Simple, simple.

Thank you so much for your questions everyone!