PictureMeMine-- Utah Family & Wedding Photography

New Post on the New Blog

2010-02-11T11:08:00.001-08:00

Reminder to update your bookmarks, readers, and favorite links. :) I've posted a maternity session over on the new blog. Go check it out!!

http://blog.picturememine.com

New Bloggity-Blog

2010-02-03T20:21:00.001-08:00

It's sleek. It's shiny. And it's over at http://blog.picturememine.com. So, update your bookmarks, readers, etc. and head on over. I won't be posting here anymore.

Thanks guys!

Newborn Paige

2010-01-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

This little girl was a dream! And check out her curly, black hair. I love it! It took us awhile, but once we got her fast asleep she wouldn't wake up for anything. Seriously every photographer's dream. Thanks for sharing your baby girl with me!

Meladee & Danny: St. George Wedding

2010-01-22T12:32:00.001-08:00

Meladee & Danny were married in St. George on a beautiful day-after-Christmas December afternoon. Due to some scheduling conflicts, they had to push the wedding up from January, and I was so excited to be able to still travel down there and help capture their amazing wedding.

I love the energy & love that just radiates from this couple. I enjoyed photographing their engagements back in September, so I knew the wedding would not only be styling, but also fun! And, it didn't disappoint. They both have wonderful families, and it was exciting to see all the love & support they had.

What amazes me the most is that Danny is in the military and had to ship off first back to Texas, and then to Florida for more training, leaving behind his new bride. I'm grateful for the sacrifice that so many of our military families make. I know you guys will be together soon, and hopefully these will help until you get there. Thanks again for a beautiful day!

The beautiful venue: Villa Gardens

Getting ready:

The ceremony:

Formals of the bride & groom:

The reception & some details:

Up Next...

2010-01-20T20:37:00.000-08:00

It's coming guys, I promise...

Corinne's Family

2010-01-19T13:08:00.001-08:00

Corinne & Dan are two of our friends from school. They were in town for the holidays and asked if I could do a shoot for Corinne's whole family. It was great to meet them! And, just to mix things up I'm going to show you most of them in black & white. Just for fun.

And the whole family:

Plea for Help: Interior Decorating

2010-01-16T10:43:00.001-08:00

It's started. That itchy nesting feeling. I can tell I'm in trouble. In reality, though, we've wanted to re-do these two rooms since we moved in a year ago. There's just been other things to worry about. Here's where I need help: I have no idea what I'm doing. I'd love any/all suggestions you lovely readers can give me.

Let me start with the tour:

Rachel & Andrew's Room (and soon the baby too)
Yes. We are planning on all three in the same room. Is that crazy? R&A's beds bunk, so the crib will go where A's currently is. Things I like: their magnet boards, the color of the dresser drawers & shelf. The woody feel/look. Bright colors. I don't want to go white. Not in love with the picture frames, we just had a bunch already from our old apartment.

What would you do to decorate/remodel this room? The picture rail is obviously going, most likely replaced by crown molding. We have to repaint the ceiling. What color would you do the walls? (I hate the yellow). Would you do it all one color? An accent wall? Would you do any kind of paneling? What about curtains? What color would you paint the rest of the dresser (it currently has a coat of primer that is at least 2 years old). Closet system: with 3 kids where do you put all their clothes?
Would you change their bedding? What would you get for the crib (we currently have sheets only). Would you change the light fixture?

The Playroom
This is why they are all sharing a room. I can't give up my playroom/guest room. It's where Rachel has quiet time (and occasionally takes a nap), and there's really no other space for them to play upstairs while I'm cooking, we're doing dishes, etc. It's just convenient to have all the toys in one place.

This one mostly needs a paint job. Should I make the two rooms similar? I obviously like the bright color look, and I like my canvas jungle animals on the wall. It's just bright & cheery. Can I put curtains on this window? More shelves in the closet?

See, dear readers, why I need help? Are there books you love for inspiration? Websites? Any ideas would be great!

Spencer & Kimber: Utah Wedding Photographer

2010-01-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

I love these two! The chemistry between them just shines through their eyes when they look at each other. I'm so grateful Spencer found such an amazing woman to join our extended family. I'm happy that I now get to call Kimber a cousin! They left plenty of time after their sealing in the Salt Lake City Temple to walk around the grounds and take pictures. I love the wrap Kimber found, and she was so grateful she had it, as it was cold!! Brrrr!! I think these two were the most styling couple on Temple Square that day. Enjoy your preview!

Thanks to David Perry Videography as well. It was my first time working with a videographer and he was a blast! We had a great time. I highly recommend him if you're looking for one!

Lyndi: Utah Newborn Photographer

2010-01-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

Another brand new baby! Can you tell I love them? So fresh & sweet. This cute baby belongs to one of our really great friends. They had her just before Christmas, and were able to enjoy the holidays with their little family. I love that babies even this young have personality. Thanks for coming over!

Apparently she does this A LOT:

Wendy & Jeff Wedding: Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

2009-12-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

This photo shoot was fast & furious. I think we were outside for a total of a 1/2 hour including family shots. You can see as they came out of the temple and got a good taste of the wind that was blowing that day! Wow. I've never seen it so blustery. The wind pretty much directed our photoshoot, as there was places we just couldn't go because I think they would have blown away! I'm so happy with what we did get. Thanks you guys for being such troopers and braving the elements!

Check out these boots!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Spencer & Kimber Formals

2009-12-21T09:58:00.001-08:00

This beautiful couple was married last Saturday, so I can now post these! It seems that when the groom comes along, the session is more appropriately called a "formal" session rather than "bridals". I did get some killer ones of Kimber all by herself though. Stay tuned for pictures from the wedding!

LOVE this one:

And I tried out some new lighting:

Baby Mae--Utah Newborn Photographer

2009-12-18T13:17:00.000-08:00

My neighbor brought her cute 7-day old baby over for me to practice on yesterday. So much fun! Let's be honest though...newborns are hard. What baby wants to fall asleep naked, without their binkie, in a strange place, and then get poked and prodded and molded around into various shapes & poses? Seriously.

This little girl was no exception-- she just wanted to be wrapped up (but with her hands by her face), cuddled, and no way was she giving up that binkie. She went straight for her fists if we took it away. hahaha. However, I'm so happy with what we were able to get. Thanks so much for coming over. Your baby is a dream!

And... on that note. If anyone else is expecting SOON (i.e. next month or so--I'm not a very patient person) or has a baby under 10 days, let's get together. :) I need all the practice I can get before my little one shows up. Contact me and we can work something out.

Snow Fun!

2009-12-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

Everytime it snows, my kids beg shamelessly to go out and play. Because I'm still feeling relatively sick, I usually put them off saying they need to wait until daddy gets home (sad, huh?). Anyway, Saturday was a beautiful day, so I sent the kids out while daddy was shoveling and then got bored by myself in the house and followed them out with the camera. So glad I did.

On a side note--everyone in the state raced for snowpants at the same time and I lost. :( I still need to find Rachel some, and Andrew's been wearing Rachel's old bright pink ones. Yes. He's very manly.

Save Me San Francisco: Vickers Family

2009-12-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

During our trip to CA for Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to squeeze in a little work. Makes it easy to write off the trip as a business expense, so I totally didn't mind. :) This great family was vacationing in downtown San Francisco and wanted a family photo in the city while they were all together for the holidays. Due to both our schedules (Curren Turkey Day was officially on Friday), we ended up shooting on Thanksgiving Day and I'm glad we did as it was a beautiful day!

Yes. They are that gorgeous. :)

The youngest, and a bit of ham for the camera. He was fun!

** "Save me San Francisco" is the title track to Train's new album (and also one of my new favorite songs). Check it out. Seriously. :)

Kelli & Robbie: Mt. Timpanogas Temple Wedding

2009-12-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

Kelli & Robbie were married on a beautiful fall day in October. I loved working with their families and spending the day with them. It was perfect! These have been a long time coming, and they've been so patient! Enjoy!

A few plays with the fisheye lens:

And some from the reception:

Excuses, Excuses

2009-11-30T11:18:00.001-08:00

We're back! We had an awesome time with Sam's family in CA. We spent time in the city, took the kids across the Golden Gate Bridge, rode paddle boats in the park, I had an extended family shoot for a client in downtown San Francisco (way cool), and we all stuffed ourselves silly. I loved watching my kids get to know their cousins and then play like crazy. I wish we lived closer!

Also... since we visited the grandparents and told them in person, we're now spreading the news. We are expecting a baby! Baby Curren #3 is officially expected June 3, 2010, but I'm really hoping for a May baby. :) We'll see how lucky I get.

Now I can officially apologize to my clients and dear readers for being MIA. I get REALLY sick with my pregnancies and the last 2.5 months have been miserable. I've got another 2-3 weeks before morning sickness lets up (usually around 16-17 weeks for me) so hopefully by Christmas I will be feeling better. I apologize for not posting, and for my amazingly patient clients that are still waiting to see their photos, get photos ordered/delivered and anything else I've been slow on. I tend to take naps instead of working so it puts me behind. :) I'm hoping to get caught up this week, so if you're waiting on me, the wait will soon be over!!

Happy Turkey Day!

2009-11-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

Yes. That's right. My vacation starts tomorrow. Muuuuhahahahaha! All editing, returning of emails (mostly-- I'm still kind of available) and phone calls will be returned next Monday. Enjoy your week!

Oh Sweet Sadie! Art & Gift Show: Come See Me!

2009-11-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

It's Oh Sweet Sadie's 5th Anniversary and they are celebrating! Come see the show! It starts tonight with a pre-show (everyone is invited) from 7-9pm and then 4 full days of shopping madness!!

Oh Sweet Sadie Art and Gift Show
November 18 - 21, 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. with a wrap-up party on Saturday from 3 - 5 p.m.
SoDa Row at Daybreak (4821 Littlefield Lane, South Jordan)

Tyler & MacKenzie Denver Wedding

2009-11-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

I loved the opportunity to return to Denver and photograph this couple's wedding. They were a dream to work with. I loved all the details, their colors, and both their families were so nice me! To top it off, the landscaping at the Denver LDS Temple was completed, the fountain was running, and the leaves were a beautiful red/orange color. *sigh* I love my job.

The first time I saw this one, my heart just sang! I love everything about it:

Another play with the fisheye lens:

Who doesn't love throwing a few leaves?

And a collection from the reception:

Enjoying the weather

2009-11-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

We've loved the weather this last week and have been spending as much time as possible outdoors. So, I thought I'd share this picture I used for my class the other week as it reminds me of summer.

Have a great day!

Kleinman Family

2009-11-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

Super fun! I finished editing these tonight and thought I'd share. Bekah's a great friend, and I love photographing her family. Their kids are so cute!

MacKenzie & Tyler: Wedding Preview

2009-10-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

Just had to share this one. I haven't really had a chance to go through many, but I knew this one was going to be fun when I took it. I rented a 15mm fish eye lens for the weekend, and loved it. I've added it to my equipment wish list and am accepting donations... :)

Photographers Be Aware!!

2009-10-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

A close photography friend of mine had all of her equipment stolen today just after a shoot at the SLC Temple. If you're a photographer, PLEASE be aware of this. I've heard rumors of equipment being stole for the last few weeks, but this one hit a little close to home. She's a Nikon shooter, so if you hear of any equipment on the black market... :) Here's her blog and what happened: http://www.heidijphotography.com/blog/

And, I'm calling my insurance agent tomorrow. morning. early. Get your equipment insured so something like this doesn't break your business!

Beautiful Bride

2009-10-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's been a crazy weekend. Someday I'll tell you all about it, but for now I can finally post these!! Kelli & Robbie were married last Friday, so I'll start with her bridals. She was such a trooper heading up to the top of the canyon. Yes. There was snow. And she's wearing short sleeves. Isn't she radiant though?

Spencer & Kimber: Engagements

2009-10-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Get ready for some steamy hotness! This couple totally rocked their engagement session! I loved it! This is my cousin Spencer and his gorgeous fiance. I love that they knew exactly what they wanted out of their session and came prepared. Makes me job soooo easy. Thanks you guys!

Only a real man rides a pink cruiser! ;) Loved that they brought this prop.

My little models

2009-10-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

I was finishing up the prep for a presentation for an Enrichment night that I'm giving with another sister in my ward on photography (tomorrow night! EEK!) and decided to include this little gem:

She's pouty, he's mad at her. Our daily life. Captured.

Talmage: Utah Newborn Photographer

2009-10-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

Isn't he dreamy? Oiy. Can't do too many newborns as it just makes me baby hungry. Talmage was a good baby, although he preferred to be swaddled up tight over naked. Don't we all. :) Thanks for coming over Jodi!

Awesome family!

2009-10-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

These guys were seriously great! I helped Jami out with this shoot awhile back and realized I'd never shared. They are some of my favorites. Such strapping young men. :)

Also- I still have a few mini-session spots open, so if you're thinking about it, now's the time to commit! :) I also have a few more regular sessions available as well.

Thanks for looking!

Christmas Cards

2009-09-29T20:39:00.001-07:00

Yes. I know it's not even Oct. yet (believe me, I've got all the Halloween decorations just waiting for the 1st!), but Christmas will be here before you know it. Have your holiday cards be unique this year! And, here's a plug for the mini-sessions... you get 24 of these printed with a linen finish AND the file (front side only) so you can print more. Nice, huh? I still have spots available, but they're going fast!

So, here's my Christmas card options for this year:

And last year's are still available as well:

McKenzie & Tyler

2009-09-28T20:00:00.001-07:00

Meet McKenzie & Tyler. Super-sweet, totally-awesome, and very much in love. As they should be. They are getting married at the end of October in Denver! Hooray! I get to go back! I'm thrilled and honored that they want me to be a part of their wedding day.

I always get a bit nervous posting engagements before they've picked a picture for their announcements. I'd hate to give away the surprise, you know? So, I tried to pick some that probably won't make the cut for the announcement, but will look awesome in their sign-in album.

Mini Sessions & Availability Update

2009-09-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend at the Oh! Sweet Sadie boutique. Thanks for those of you that stopped by! It was fun to see you!

As promised, here's my mini session information for this year. These are a great way to get updated pictures for Christmas cards without breaking the bank. There's only 8 spots available, so shoot me an email/give me a call ASAP to reserve your spot! Full payment is due upon booking and is non-refundable:

My regular sessions are also filling up fast. My session fee is $85, and I do an in-person ordering session about 3 weeks after your session. These are the session dates I have left for the rest of the year that guarantee delivery before Christmas:

Friday, Oct 2
Saturday, Oct 10
Wednesday, Oct 21
Thursday, Oct 29
Wednesday, Nov 4

I can do sessions into early December (weather permitting), but your pictures may or may not be ready before Christmas.

Thanks for making this a great year!

I love this girl

2009-09-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

Rachel & I had some girl time tonight while daddy & Andrew are on their camping trip. Since she turned 4 this week, we set out to get some updated pictures of her.

I can't believe how big she is! I'll post more as I find time to edit them. Pictures of my kids seem to come last on the totem pole sometimes, you know?

Oh- just because I know you're going to ask. Both dress & hair flower were purchased at Oh! Sweet Sadie today. See? You know you want to come. Last day tomorrow!

Don't Forget: Oh! Sweet Sadie Gift Show

2009-09-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to come visit me! Information can be found here and here. There's a pre-show Thursday night from 6-9pm (anyone can come!), and the regular show hours are Friday & Saturday from 9:30am-8:00pm. Stop by and say 'hi' to me!

As I'm having trouble location the address on Google Maps, the closest intersection to the show is 11400 S & Oquirrh Lake Road in South Jordan. There's a one way street that threads through the shopping center. Plenty of parking, and lots of fun food, games, and entertainment on Saturday!

Also, just a reminder, that for any creative session booked at the show I'll included a complimentary desk calendar.

Family mini session information will also be available at the show. These are a great (and economical!) way to get some updated pictures & Christmas cards! I will be booking these first at the show and then open it up after to the general public. So, you don't want to miss out!!

Huntsman Family

2009-09-16T13:19:00.001-07:00

Aren't they gorgeous? Really, they couldn't take a bad picture if they tried, and the two little boys? LOVED them. We really had a great time at the session and I'm so glad they brought the bubbles! We pulled them out at the end and the two boys went crazy chasing after them. Thanks for a great time you guys!

Personal Upate

2009-09-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

So I've been told I don't post enough pictures of my family and what we've been up to. Sorry, I think sometimes I get so caught up in editing my sessions, I'm too afraid to post my crazy, un-edited pictures of my kids. And, I just haven't had time. :)

Anywho, I've updated the Curren Family Website, and since it took me an hour I'm not going to post them all here. You understand, right? It's past my bedtime. So, if you want to see what we've been up to over the summer, head over to the Curren Craziness and check us out there! There's 4 sets of pictures and included are Sam crossing 1000 miles, 24th of July, hiking, anniversary date, swimming lessons, soccer class, Thanksgiving Point, waterness, birthdays, & preschool!

On a side note- I've really been struggling with carrying my fat, heavy camera around, but not totally satisfied with my point & shoot. So, I bought a new 50mm f1/.8 lens for like $75 (previous 50mm had been bounced on the sidewalk. Doesn't focus so well) and stuck it on my Rebel XTi (which I still have as a back-up camear). Voila! I don't break my back and I still have some control over depth of field. I am a happy girl.

Danny & Meladee: Engagements

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

I love doing engagement sessions. Really. I do. So many couples opt out of hiring a professional photographer to take their engagement photos to save money. They have Auntie Susie do it instead, and while I'm sure they suffice for the announcement, what about documenting this stage in your life? You're only engaged once, right? You're carefree, in love, and totally in-to each other. Plus, they're fun! I love that these two totally showed off their personalities; from her shoes, to his bike, to the crazy faces, and I'm-smitten-with-you looks.

So, thanks, you guys, for letting me capture a piece of your love. You're beautiful.

Because She's Been Patient

2009-09-02T21:21:00.001-07:00

More later, but I had to show her at least one. And they're so cute. :)

Oh Sweet Sadie! Art & Gift Show: Come See Me!

2009-09-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

Come to the hottest art & gift show in the State! The show will be on Sept 18th & 19th at the new retail district in South Daybreak (SoDa Row-- get it?). I'll be there promoting Picture Me Mine Photography, and for any session booked at the show you'll receive a complimentary 5x7 desk calendar filled with images from your session. My whole family has LOVED having this on their desk all year:

Plus, check out the Oh Sweet Sadie blog for awesome giveaways, information & more!

Home Improvement: Front Yard Edition

2009-08-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's finished. I'm so excited. Okay, so it's been done for a few weeks, and I'm just a slacker at posting. Such is life. Here's a refresher of what our yard looked like when we bought it:

And...*drumroll please* the finished product:

This is the front left flower bed you can't see in the above photo:

Not too shabby, eh? New flower beds with mow strips, our roses are no longer taking over the front window, new mailbox, grass on the front strip. I love it. One of our favorite evening activities is to lay on the lawn and let the kids jump over/around us and play on the grass. Ahhhh.... home, sweet home!

For those that are interested: more pictures, commentary, and all the in-between here.

Alarie & Ryan: Denver, Colorado Wedding

2009-08-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to visit Denver, CO and photograph the wedding of Alarie & Ryan. They are genuine, sweet, and totally in love! We started the day off early, with Alarie getting ready:

Ryan patiently waited for his bride by kickin' it playing some ping ping down in the basement with Alarie's little brother. I also took the opportunity to swipe her dress for a few photos:

Coming out of the Denver LDS Temple after their sealing ceremony:

Strapping Young Men:

Lovely Ladies:

And then I whisked off the couple for their photo shoot around the temple grounds:

The Denver Temple is undergoing some construction, so we had to get a little creative, but it's still a beautiful place:

Due to the construction, Alarie had also scouted out a local park for us to head to after touring the temple grounds. It was seriously perfect! Artistic landscaping, a small lake, and a beautiful bridge:

We finished the evening at a gorgeous backyard reception...

Thanks so much you guys! You & your families are fabulous-- it was a pleasure!

My 2 Year Old

2009-08-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how big he's gotten, and how good he was for me taking pictures. Granted, after every studio shot he'd come over and fire the lights (button on top of my camera) and then go climb back on the chair, but still.. I'll take it. ;)

He has such a cute, sweet, and innocent personality, but at the same time he is totally a boy. He loves balls, cars, throwing things, ripping things apart, dirt, water, and digging. His vocabulary consists of a dozen words, and "bee-yo" stands for everything else he can't say. I love his squeezes and when he pulls me in for a kiss when we put him to bed. I love that he stands up to his sister. I love that he's stubborn and wants to do things all by himself. I love that he's in our family! Happy Birthday Bubba!

Richard & Selena: Utah Mount Timpanogas Temple

2009-08-20T13:11:00.001-07:00

By just watching family members & friends wait outside the Timpanogas Temple, I knew this wedding was going to be a blast! Richard & Selena had an amazing amount of support at their wedding. I could tell everyone was excited, and were happy to support this couple on their wedding day. Thanks Richard & Selena for trusting me to capture your day. It was a pleasure!

They had a gorgeous backyard reception in Provo:

I love the look of anticipation on her face!

The retaliation:

They finished off the night with dancing & and an exit with bubbles:

5 Complimentary Family Sessions :)

2009-08-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

I've decided to change things up with my family sessions. Well, all my session really. To give you (my clients) the attention and custom experience you deserve, I've implemented in-person ordering sessions. These are totally low-stress, non-pressure, one-on-one time with me to help decide which pictures to order & how to arrange them once you've got them in your house. I'll show you all my samples, you can see sizes, we'll go over your pictures and you can even get my opinion on which pictures I like. :)

To start this off right, I'm offering 5 complimentary sessions this fall. As in, I'll waive your $85 session fee. Sweet, huh? So, how do you get one of these sessions, you ask? Send me an email/leave me a comment/give me a phone call and let me know you are interested. I'll send over my price list and we can discuss what you need and what kind of look you're going for, and then we'll schedule your session for sometime before Dec 1st. I might even get too excited and add in some complimentary Christmas Cards as well. Yeah. I probably will.

Sound good? I thought so.

Double Wedding Weekend

2009-08-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Selena & Richard

Alarie & Ryan

More to come after I get caught up on my sleep... :)

Mitch

2009-08-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

This is Jami's little boy. He's so cute, but such a mover! This is the first time I've ever gotten a good picture of him and it took both of us! I took family pictures for her last week, and I'm sure we'll both be posting some soon.

Curtis & Danielle

2009-08-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is a great couple from our married student ward at BYU. We had a sub-for-Santa auction last December and I donated a session. These guys won it! I was so excited. They wanted to wait until school was out for the summer and life slowed down a bit so they could enjoy it, and we sure did! Thanks you guys!

Steamboat Springs Get-a-way

2009-07-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

Last year we listened to one of those timeshare spiels and managed to walk away with just the free stay/gas/Olive Garden gift card we were promised on the initial pitch. One of our choices was Steamboat Springs, CO and since I had no idea where that was I looked it up and our decision was instantly made! Kind of a Park City of sorts (for all you locals) with beautiful mountains, local food, and friendly people!

First stop: Vernal, Utah temple. We arrived in time to attend an endowment session, which was great because we'd never been inside this particular temple. Beautiful!

I saw these clouds while were driving across eastern Utah and pulled the camera out. I was quite amazed at how beautiful the drive through the Uinta's was. LOVED it.

Waterfall in Steamboat Springs. It was a leisurely walk, but great for the afternoon after we arrived.

Taking this made me want a macro lens. As if I don't have enough on my wish list already. ;P

We spent a good 5+ hours mountain biking at the Steamboat Springs Resort. WAY fun. We debated about taking the lift (kind of $$, and c'mon? Did we want to be tourists?) but it was worth it. The extra 1000ft we climbed up from the top of the lift was so beautiful and earned the SWEET ride down! We were so bushed afterward that we ditched our planned 10 mile hike the next morning, and lazed around before seeing Harry Potter instead.

It's amazing the things you can do without kids around. Matinees (Transformers 2 & Harry Potter), dinner at 8pm, ice cream at 10pm. Our theme for the trip was how irresponsible could we possibly be (within limits of course;). Thanks for a great trip babes! I love you!

Madsen Family

2009-07-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm slow getting these up, but it's been a busy month. Thanks so much to my awesome friend Bev for helping me out with these. The tripod/timer combination is so overrated. :) Couldn't have done it without her!

Sneak-Sneak Preview

2009-07-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling when you take a shot and you just know you are going to love it? This was one of those. More to come later!

Booking for September

2009-07-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

I know it feels a little early, but fall will be here before you know it. July & August are booked, so I'm now accepting appointments for Sept/Oct/Nov. Time to plan ahead and start thinking about those family pictures! Contact me through my website to set your date!

Sandy & Jacob: Mount Timpanogas Temple

2009-07-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

Such a beautiful, easy-going, and sweet couple! We lucked out with the weather at the temple. It was pouring rain early in the morning and then cleared up and we even got some sun, blue sky, and puffy clouds. Perfect! Unfortunately, the weather came back full-force that night, so they moved the reception indoors instead of risking the chance that their guests would get soaking wet out in the garden. It still turned out fabulous. Thanks you guys for letting me be a part of your day!

4th of July

2009-07-07T14:12:00.001-07:00

I really do love this holiday. Especially now that we don't live on the University Ave parade route in Provo. Ahhhh....

We went camping with the Madsen side of the fam down by Nephi on the Nebo Scenic Loop. For all the camping I've done all over Utah, I'd never been there and it was beautiful!! Seriously. You need to camp there. There was plenty of games, food, hiking, and good times had by all!

Our first day rained on and off, but it made for great lighting. Andrew kept picking up rocks and then looking over at me before he threw them. I knew he was just waiting to get in trouble. hehehehe

Taking Vala (yes, she's named after a Stargate character ;) for a walk.

Uncle Josh taught Rachel how to play "War".

Dutch Oven lasagna, garlic cheese rolls, and raspberry cobbler. Mmmm...

This was the first year Rachel got to hike on her own. She's WAY too heavy for us to pack around. Would've broken my already seriously-in-trouble back. She did great though. I think we went about 3 miles round trip. I was so proud of her! Although- we did learn that hiking is no longer exercise (due to the pace & the length Rachel can handle). Anyone want to babysit so Sam & I can go book it on the trails? Oh- and aren't you jealous of how beautiful I look after camping for a few days? muuuhahahaha!

Hooray for hiking poles with camera mounts!

After unpacking & showering (hallelujah!) we met back up at our house for pizza, fireworks, and more games. We lit off a few before the kids went to bed. As you can see, it's still light outside, but they liked it!

My amazing grandparents!

After the kids went to bed, we lit off the rest and had a little fun with the camera.

ETA: This one was all Sam's idea! And he thinks he's not artistic... ;)

The Madsen Clan

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

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend (yup, my weekend is starting early. wohoo!!). I'll be spending it with these crazy people! Should be great times. See you on the flip side of the weekend!

Ballerina

2009-06-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

I had some time tonight so I edited more pictures from my session with Jami a few weeks back. This girl is auditioning for Miss American Fork and hopes to go on to the Miss Utah, and then Miss American pageants. She's a beauty and is very talented!

Candice

2009-06-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

I know she really wants to see some, so I thought I'd try and get a few done for her. I truly love Candice. Her & her husband are great friends from our BYU ward and he wanted to have some portraits of her so we arranged a session an he surprised her with a gift for Valentine's Day. So sweet huh? We waited until school was out and the weather was to get together. I love how they turned out. She has such a sweet and kind spirit. Thanks Candice for a fun & crazy afternoon!

Oh- and the couch is hers. Isn't it awesome?!! She's letting me babysit it for the summer. ;)

My Birthday!

2009-06-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

First off, thanks so much for all the "Happy Birthdays" I received on FB, Twitter, phone calls, etc. It really made me feel loved! You guys are the best.

Cute Husband came home and surprised me with gerby daisies (which I LOVE) and jelly bellies during lunch time. So sweet! In the afternoon, I went clothes shopping with my mom & sis-in-law (which I really DON'T like clothes shopping, hence the support group) and got some really cute shirts & a skirt. I'm very happy we were rewarded with some good finds for our efforts!

Due to previous church engagements, we weren't able to really celebrate Tuesday night, but last night he took me on the best. date. ever. Total surprise as well, which made it even more fun. We went to the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days Carnival & Rodeo! I didn't even know it existed! We ate yummy food, rode the Ferris Wheel, and then went over to the rodeo grounds. Some of you are probably shaking your heads at my excitement, thinking "seriously? a rodeo? c'mon we've been to at least 10 of those". Well, we had never been, so it was all new and exciting. WAY more fun than I thought, and those dirt-bike-jumper-guys that do back flips with their bike mid-air at least 50 feet up? Yeah. They were cool.

Thanks loves for the perfect date! You are amazing!

Two Cute Girls

2009-06-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Jami had an idea for a pettiskirt session (needed to borrow mine) and invited me to tag along! We had a great time with these girls. They were troopers. It was pretty windy and cold, but they hung in there. Plus, I love Jami's chair! Thanks girl!

New Website!!

2009-06-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm overly excited to tell you about this! New website with updated photos, pricing, client viewing, etc. Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.picturememine.com

Two for tonight

2009-06-13T20:46:00.001-07:00

From my shoot with Jami this weekend. Couldn't resist playing around and had to share. More to come later....

JHS Seniors

2009-06-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

This group of HS seniors (now graduates!) was a blast to work with! I seriously had so much fun. Add in some military fly-overs by HAFB, a lot of rain, and some lightening and we had ourselves a photo shoot! I'm grateful I had Jami there with me, or I don't think we would've made it. That storm moved in FAST and it got dark quick. Being reckless seniors (!) they asked if I would stay and take pictures of them getting soaked in the rain. Of course! Thanks so much you guys and congratulations on graduating!

Cameras & Lenses

2009-06-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Quite frequently I get emails asking what type of camera someone should buy if they're just starting out. I'm more than happy to answer questions, but I thought I'd direct you to a great blog that's dedicated to answering some of these types of questions! The blog is done by Drew B who is a fantastic photographer, but has put together a Mom*tog blog to help all those moms (and dads) out there who just want better pictures of their kiddos. And, let's be honest, who doesn't?

Anyway, she put together two great posts this week, one on camera bodies, and another on lenses. Go check them out!

Brianna Graham Studio

2009-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite parts of the workshop. We got to play with all sorts of lighting setups, and seriously. Beautiful models? Yes please. :)

Mount Timpanogas Temple: On my wall

2009-06-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share! My Mount Timpanogas Temple print came yesterday and I heart it. A lot.

Here's the picture I took/edited:

framed on the wall (I love the swirly texture!):

The whole wall. We did 12x12 mounted prints of my kids (Sam came up with an awesome hanging system. They are about 1" away from the wall. You'll have to ask him to explain though), and the vinyl was done by Bekah Kleinman. You can see her stuff on Etsy here.

Graduation-- University of Utah

2009-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

So, I told them right off that red is definitely NOT my favorite color, but that I would suffer through it. ;) This is my amazing aunt who just graduated with her Master's Degree from the UofU. Her daughters booked me to come take pictures so she would have something to show the grandkids! How sweet is that? She has 5 beautiful daughters, and has done awesome things with her life. Her youngest daughter was married the next day, so talk about a busy weekend! Congrats to all of you!

Her dad (my Grandpa) who is 95 years old. She's giving him her stole of gratitude.

School Pictures: The Country Loft Pre-School

2009-06-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

These kids were great! It was rather last minute, but I'm glad we went for it anyway. All the teachers & staff at Country Loft were great to work with, and I'm very pleased with all the photos. Here's just a few of the kids, aren't they cute?

And one of the classes:

Salt Lake City Temple Wedding

2009-05-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

As promised. This couple was so sweet & genuine to work with. They flew in from back East just to be married in the SLC temple. I really could tell how much they loved each other and how excited they were to tie the knot!

Okay... 2 more

2009-05-27T22:17:00.001-07:00

Couldn't resist!

New lens! 70-200mm f/2.8 IS

2009-05-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I finally got it. I've been meaning to buy this baby for at least a year. Finally came up with the funds at the right time. It's mostly for weddings, but after playing around with my kids, I'll probably use it a lot for child sessions as well. It's pretty fun! This was shot wide open. Love that bokeh!

School Pictures: American Legacy Academy

2009-05-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

I've been working with them all year (Christmas DVD project, remember?) and they have been fantastic! The kids had fun doing pictures as they got out of wearing their uniforms for the day! We also let younger siblings come, so we could get group shots as well. Hectic, but definitely fun!

American Legacy Academy is also hosting a dance event called 2nd Chance Prom on Friday, June 5th. It'll be a fun dance night, so grab a date and join us! I'll be there to take formal pictures, and hopefully dance with cute husband as well!

Brianna Graham Workshop

2009-05-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Over Mother's Day Weekend I went to Brianna Graham's 3 day workshop in Salt Lake City. It was AMAZING. She is so talented! I highly recommend this to anyone that's serious about improving their talent. We spent a day in the studio, a day shooting outside urban, and a day on Photoshop techniques, marketing, & business. I learned so much and am still trying to incorporate it all in to my style. Anyway, so I'll probably be throwing out random pictures here and there from the workshop as I find time to edit. Here's one that I did tonight:

Urban SLC Family Session

2009-05-24T22:58:00.000-07:00

I was going through these images prepping them for my client and realized I hadn't ever blogged them!! We had a blast wandering around Exchange Place in Salt Lake City. One of those days where I wished I had the stamina of a 3 yr old boy. Man, are they ever fun! Thanks for a great session!

One of the two storyboards I put together for them:

Kyle & Madeline Wedding

2009-05-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to show you more of their wedding. For now, here's a preview:

My Mother's Day Weekend

2009-05-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

consisted of this:

And this:

and this:

So... I'm a little behind. Thanks for being so patient if you're waiting on me to place orders/return voicemail/have a playdate/contact me in general. :) I'll get my life back to being organized this week!

Rachel's Dance Recital

2009-05-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Rachel has had a dance class through the local Parks & Recreation Facility for the last couple of months. Tonight was there big recital! She had a blast in both the class & dancing for all the parents. Afterward we did a little studio session. *ahem* mini session-- see website for details :) For those that like the photography:

And for those that want to see how cute my daughter is (*sigh* I love her). She's second in from the right on the front row: Oh- and this video was taken with the 5D Mark II. I need some video editing software. Hmmm....

Graduation!

2009-05-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

In April, we celebrated Cute Husband's graduation with an MS in Computer Science from BYU. It's been such a good experience, but we are SO grateful to be done! He learned a ton, met some great people, and convinced me that I never want to go for a Master's Degree!

I'm so proud of you, honey!

Sam finds almost all of my great photo locations. We've been saving this one for a few years.

Studio Mini Sessions

2009-04-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of requests for something like this, so I thought we'd give it a go!!

The Details:
Cost : $60
* 1 child, each additional child $15
* 30 minutes in our creative studio in Lehi. Lots of clothing changes!
* 10 (or more) fully edited images viewable in an online gallery.
* 3 full-resolution digital negatives.
* 1-8x10 print.
* No minimum print purchase.
* Perfect for milestone events! Baby's, missionaries, school pictures.

The examples:

I still can't get over all his fun facial expressions!! Reminds me of Andrew when he was this age. *sigh* They grow up so fast!

Curren update!

2009-04-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

I guess it's been awhile. So, here's more information than you probably wanted to know...

Our yard: Yes. It's a mess. hahaha we're working on it. Planted some flowering pear trees and some bulbs, rotatilled the garden and the front yard, Sam's working on the sprinklers, and we're growing veggies in pots that are getting way too small. It needs to stop snowing!!

Easter: I was not really looking forward to it, but it was actually really nice. We had a great time, the kids loved finding their easter baskets & eggs (can you see the look on Andrew's face?) and a nice Easter dinner at our house on...

...our new table! Hooray!! We've had hand-me-downs since we were married and finally made the plunge to purchase a new one. We're so happy. We bought the table--double butterfly leaf, pedestal table, seats up to 10-- at Knight's Mattress & Furniture, and the chairs at RC Willey. Plus, I got my vinyl boards from Bekah (she's amazing, check out her stuff) and put the rest of the pictures up on the kitchen.

Spring pictures of the kids. Next up is our living room wall, 12x12 styrene mounted photos surrounding a 32x42 picture of the Timpanogas Temple (which I have yet to take. Stupid snow):

And, just because this one is so her:

I've also painted my studio, and to celebrate, Sam & I took some new profile pictures. And no, my hair is not really that dark. :( It's actually going back to being quite blonde. *sigh*

Anyway, that's about it. Sam's graduating next week, and Grandpa Curren is coming out for a week to help with some projects so there will be more pictures after that!

Newborn Brooke

2009-04-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

The latest of my newborns! These guys were our neighbors back in our BYU ward and are so awesome. I'm so happy for them and the newest addition to their family! This little girl did not want to sleep and hated being naked! She wanted to be wrapped up, with her binkie, in mom's arms, and then she'd sleep. It was amazing. Consequently, I got some great pictures of her stunning eyes. LOVE it.

Studio Maternity Session

2009-04-08T20:08:00.001-07:00

Here's the rest from my session the other night! Isn't she lovely? They're adding a boy to their family in April. Best of luck to you guys!!

Sisters-- School Pictures

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

One of my new neighbors has the cutest girls! She came over for a maternity session, and I asked if I could also borrow her girls to test out some equipment I'm going to use to do school pictures in a few weeks. Aren't they gorgeous? Maternity pictures to follow soon!

Great Family!

2009-04-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

I got to help my friend Jami with a shoot a few weeks ago. It was great! Totally non-stress for me. :) Plus, it's great to hang out with other photographers and help each other learn. Thanks for letting me come!

Photoshop Play

2009-03-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd try and give the ultra-sharpened desaturated look a try. What do you guys think?

Original (normal) edit:

Play edit:

& black/white:

High School Senior Studio Portraits

2009-03-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

My brother missed getting his senior tux picture taken at the high school, so mom asked if I could help out. While we were at it, we re-shot some of his oboe pics from last year (he has a new oboe, I have a new camera/studio), had his friend do some modeling, and generally played around and had a good time.

The Cost of Custom Photography

2009-03-17T13:22:00.001-07:00

I have had clients ask me why custom photography costs so much more. How can I sell prints that are so "expensive" when they are so cheap to print? I found this article through Matt:

Marianne Drenthe has created a fantastic Consumer Guide for Custom Photography over at www.professionalchildphotographer.com that talks specifically to this subject. She has graciously made this info available for custom photographers to help educate people on both what custom photography is and what it costs. Here is her explanation on the investment involved for both the client and the photographer.

Let me know what you guys think!

"Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

"How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at the local drug store?"

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling an hour to your on location session. TIme break down:

* session prep time (30 mins - 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
* one hour travel time TO session
* 15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
* 90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
* one hour travel time FROM session
* 30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
* 30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
* 2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
* 1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
* 2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
* 1 hour sorting through and checking order
* 30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
* 30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
* any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 13 hours to 19 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.

COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500. A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip the intricate details. There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service. According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ "professional" prints if you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough - those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10). The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your "PORTRAITS" are considered the true "loss leader".

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, "SAY CHEESE" experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:

Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part. Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography. Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream? They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..

Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity. The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. This is how reputations get built. Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment."

Baby Lucia

2009-03-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

So sweet and precious! I went to their house for this session, and it was great! We had fun rearranging the furniture too. :) Thanks guys!

This hat is to die for. Mom re-sized one of hers down to fit Lucia. LOVE it.

Viva Las Vegas!

2009-03-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

Sam's brother (and family) graciously allowed us to come visit for a weekend in February, and it was awesome. Except for the fact that I forgot my 5D Mark II battery. Torture! At least I grabbed the camera bag with everything else, so I had my Rebel XTi as back up. Not a complete loss.

Anyway, the weekend was soooo relaxing. Sam got some consulting work in for a wedding chapel on the strip (allowing us to write the trip off as a business expense!), I got to relax with the kids, Jake helped us with welding, and their kids introduced us to High School Musical. Ohhhhh yeah.

The park my SIL took us and the kids to (while the boys were working in the shop). Crazy awesome. Not only is there this amazing slide/play structure, they also have a HUGE sand pit where you can dig up dinosaur bones, a ginormous Triceratops head tunnel thing, the waterfall (above) and duck pond, a smaller play set for the littler kids, and in the summer, a water area where the kids can get soaked. Oh, and it's fenced. With a security guard to prevent kid stalkers. Pretty sweeeeet.

Bottle rocket mania! And our new mailbox posted welded by Jake. Seriously styling.

Baby John

2009-03-03T15:49:00.000-08:00

My most recent newborn. Oh- he was so good. It takes awhile to get them to sleep (as his mom can attest) but once they are out they are so precious to photograph. Thanks for sharing your baby with me. I hope you love them!

18 months

2009-02-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love him. (And my new softbox!)

Newborness

2009-02-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

Is that even a word? "newborness?" Seriously. I sat in on a newborn session my friend Jami was doing and it was a blast (plus, I wanted to see how the fabric I bought would work out!). I wish I could've stayed longer, but had other things to do so this is all I got. Cute though, huh? Newborn sessions just take longer. After they waited to get him to sleep, Jami got some awesome stuff.

Meg & Joel Engagements

2009-02-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

I tried out new location with these two (it was okay, not tons of color), and then we went to the old Sinclair gas station. I love the old cars! They also wanted their dog, Bosco (did I spell that right?) in some of their pictures. Having never worked with animals before I was a little nervous, but he was great! I wish I were able to photograph their wedding in May, but I will be attending a workshop with the amazing Brianna Graham that weekend. Best of luck you two!!

The Flautist

2009-02-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

Meet my little sister!! She's a flautist and is having her junior (college) recital this weekend. I'm so excited to hear her play. You'll do great sis!

Just one

2009-02-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

This is from my engagement shoot last weekend. So fun! She's my cousin, and her fiance served part of his mission in Sam's home ward out in CA under Bishop Curren. Crazy coincidence, huh? :) More to come later so check back!

Snow Fun to Edit

2009-02-12T19:17:00.001-08:00

Hahaha! I crack myself up! I went out shooting with some friends at the beginning of January (yes, it's been that long) and this is the first chance I've had to play around with some of the pictures I took that day. Hanging out and taking pictures for fun is a blast. These girls were so great, they let us pose them however we wanted and it was freezing outside! Such troopers. The guy is a nephew of one of my friends, and yes. I do believe he is single. Anyone want me to get them his digits? ;)

I played around with some different post-processing. Finally found a b&w look that I LOVE. I'm excited. If you think the conversion is awful, tell me now or forever hold your peace! :) Enjoy!

LOVE this one in b&w. LOVE, LOVE.

The Dark Side

2009-02-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

My friend April posted a link from her friend Matt that I found quite intriguing. It's all about the "mommy blogger". He's a good writer if nothing and I might just have to subscribe and read his on a more regular basis. While this blog is mostly dedicated to photo shoots, I do put some personal here and there so maybe I qualify? I don't know. You can be the judge of that.

So, in the spirit of being negative, here are my top 10... err.. 5 things (ran out of time. Yes. I'm supposed to be working) that drive me up the wall about being a mom:

1. Whining. Seriously. Could you please just talk in a normal voice?

2. Being sick. Anybody. Me, the kids, the husband (although he's pretty darn good at taking care of himself when his is. Hallelujah). Having someone sick just drains the life right out of me. Take now for instance. Rachel started returning the contents of her stomach last Saturday night. She's over that (thankfully) but is now coughing like she's going to lose a lung. She wakes herself up from naps screaming and is generally cranky. Exit playdates. Exit going to gym. Enter: boredom.

3. My only ME time is naptime. Or after they are in bed. Has to be divided between editing pictures, reading my scriptures (ummm... does that ever even get done?), reading my newest favorite book from the library, srapbooking, blogging, napping, and anything else I generally feel like I need to do. Oh- and I want to spend time with my amazingly hot husband sans kids. That's in there too. Any time I attempt to touch the computer while the kids are awake, they're suddenly opening the disk drive, climbing onto my lap, punching the keyboard, and playing with the volume on the speakers. Not so productive.

4. Feeling mean. Sometimes I really do. Maybe my kids cry more than most (doubtful) but I hate "making" them cry. "No. You can't draw with colored pencils on the wall." "No. I really don't want to play Candyland for the upteenth time this week."

5. The extra time it takes to go ANYWHERE. I admit. Sometimes I enjoy that it kills time. Like in the evenings before bed, but usually I think how much more I'd get done if we didn't have 9 trips to the bathroom between Rachel needing to go potty and Andrew having a poopy diaper. Last Saturday, I put the kids down for a nap and raced to the bank (yes. Cute husband was home) before they closed. Hmmmm... Payless is right there. I want to look at shoes. I have no kids with me. YES!! Cute Husband calls 40 min later. "Are you okay? Did you fall in a hole or something?" Yes. Yes I did. And I liked it.

Is being a mom worth it? Heck yes. I wouldn't trade them for anything, but it's not perfect. I won't pretend like it is, but isn't that how most jobs are anyway? Highs and lows. Sam has boring workdays, gets frustrated, has to deal with stupid people. Well, so do I. Comes with any job description, including that of "mommy". At least I get to hang out with two amazingly cute kids who so easily melt my heart.

Outside

2009-02-09T22:12:00.001-08:00

It must be a boy thing. Andrew LOVES to be outside. We go to get in the van to go grocery shopping, and he veers straight for his car instead (you know, those ride on, push yourself kind?) and screams when I pull him off to load him in the carseat instead.

Daddy was in the garage before dinner working on a project for me and I couldn't break Andrew's little heart again when he told me he wanted to go out. So, we got all cozied up and played outside in the driveway. He was the happiest little boy I've ever seen. This is him deciding he's done wearing a hat (it never lasts long!).

Utah Draper Temple Open House

2009-02-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

We didn't actually go to the open house today (that will be next week), but I was invited to help play music at the Stake Center next to the temple. After visitors tour the temple, they are invited to the Stake Center to have light refreshments, view some displays and even talk to the missionaries if they have questions. To help create a nice, spiritual atmosphere, stakes all over the valley were asked to provide volunteers to play background music.

My parents live in Sandy and my family is rather musically inclined, so my mom volunteered for a 2 hour time slot. My sister came up from SUU with a very dedicated friend, and along with my brother and I we played. It was great. My mom also plays the violin, so I accompanied those pieces (violin & oboe, violin & flute duets) and also did some soloing. It was fun!

1/125, f/3.5 (not enough, Chels is out of focus), ISO 5000 {I LOVE my camera!}

Casting Call!

2009-02-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

I'm looking to photograph some newborns! If you have a baby (boy or girl) that is under 2 weeks old, or are pregnant and due sometime in the next month and would like a complimentary session, please contact me! I will also provide you with 30% off prints.

The Curren Family

2009-01-31T13:14:00.000-08:00

All of us! Seriously craziness getting everyone together, but it was fun. I really loved the location too. California is so pretty. We put the camera on a tripod and bribed a neighborhood boy to come click the shutter for us. Two words: Rapid. Fire. Such a blessing.

Sam's amazing grandma & aunt (and mom, of course):

And, here's some of mom & dad Curren and Dan. So much easier to photograph. Less kids running around, right? :) They are seriously awesome. Dan turned 12 two weeks ago.

Studio Session Deal

2009-01-30T13:03:00.001-08:00

For those of you looking for something fun for Valentine's or just want awesome pictures of your kids while they weather's cold, this is for you. In celebration of having my own studio space (Hooray!) I'm offering a $25 discount on studio session fees (regularly $75) for Feb & March. All ages are welcome, but studio sessions are especially great for older kids (4+), or babies that can sit up and not yet crawl. So, shoot me an email, give me call, but don't miss out!

**$100 minimum print order required on all sessions. Session is for 1-4 people, additional persons are $10 each.