i adore my sister...

isn't she the cutest pregnant woman you have ever seen? she glows, literally! (check out the last picture. ;) she is the most adorable mom and little ty-dog can't wait to have a little brother.
yet another promise for additional pictures. i just had to get a few up. i'm starting to sound like a broken record!

i'm trying to play around with light. it is my friend! some of my very favorite pictures have sun-flare. i love it and i can't get enough of it. so i'm trying to get better. hopefully we'll become better friends in the future, but for now, i'm content.

yes, her dad is in big trouble....

the girl is beautiful! i had such a hard time deciding which pictures i wanted to post. i usually try to post only two or three. (and this is a feat because I could possibly be THE most indecisive person on the planet.) so i am posting a few today and and possibly a few more tomorrow. :) enjoy!

here's a little teaser!

and i don't mean the girl...i kid. i kid.
how annoying are one-picture posts?! sorry! i had to at least put up one and the rest will come soon.

photography: writing with light

i am reading the coolest book called "eye on art" {the photography edition} by stuart a. kallen. my dad actually found it for me for like $3 and i've been loving it. it's kind of refreshing because it's all about the artistic side of photography, putting the technical stuff aside. sometimes i feel like, as a photographer, we get caught up in the technical jargin and "rules" of photography and forget why we're really doing it. yes technicalities matter, but it's the impressions and emotions we capture that are what people recognize and appreciate most, i think.
while explaining art as a whole, the back of the book reads: "the creative impulse is an ancient and enduring feature of human expression. art serves many purposes: to beautify, record, reflect, enlighten and celebrate our existence." i love that explanation! isn't it perfect?! that is exactly what drew me to photography in the first place.

so a challenge: while taking pictures this week, try not to get mixed up in the settings of your camera or equipment, but focus on your "artistic impulse." what drives your photographs, or even you as a photographer? what is the point to your photos? do you recognize yourself as an artist?
these are questions i'm asking myself, so i thought i'd throw them out there.
i'd like to know your thoughts, experiences and outcomes. let's talk!

left my heart in dixie!

i'm pretty sure it's a rule to get some shots of the redrock when taking pictures in st. george. dixie rock is absolutely gorgeous and next time i'm there i want to watch the sun rise from the top. ambitious, especially for me, but oh so worth it!

yeah, we're friends and stuff

my beautiful friend britt drove down to st. george with me last weekend for a much needed girl's trip. she tagged along with me on my shoots, as she bought a new camera and is learning how to use it. so, i made her pose for me, because, well, look at her! she prefaced the photo shoot with, "i have no idea what i am doing and am so awkward in front of the camera!....yeeeaaaah. after the shoot i told her to never fib, because she may just get struck by lightning.

i know you're anxious to see these, alisa!

ok, so every photographer knows the "fake smile" every kiddo masters due to shyness or too much coaching from mom in front of the mirror... (gasp!) But, every photographer also knows how to get away from the dreaded faux grins and get those belly-laugh smiles none of us can get enough of!
just talk to them, make them laugh and make them forget they're in front of the camera, and wahlah....



and again...


mmmhhhmmm...


....aaaand again...i think they like each other.

two is always better than one.

my all-american boy

cutest family ever

this is one of my husband's friends from high school. it was so fun to finally meet her and her adorable family. her baby was so easy to photograph, so happy and beautiful! can't wait to hang out with you guys again soon!