Tickled.

Yesterday we celebrated S.'s last day of school with a cozy book read in our big leather recliner. All three kiddos piled on the chair with me and we read the first three chapters of Charlotte's Web. Snuggly and perfect? Yes. Until M. was completely bothered at having to share Mom with his two big sisters, and A.'s foot was in his face and then he and A. were just squabbling and crabby toward each other. Typical? Pretty much.

Then, to my sheer astonishment and utter surprise, M. held A.'s foot and said, "tickle, tickle, tickle." Of course A. laughed and then we all laughed. We didn't know M. knew how to tickle--but we continued to enjoy the rest of that chapter from that point on. Cute kids.

{This little guy is full of antics lately, I tell ya!}

Today was a busy day- we got the family up early and made the trip to Scoffield, UT to meet up at the cabin of a client of mine. We've been in the planning stages for a big project Big, as in very large scale and high up--yet I can work on it from home. What could it be? More details and pictures to come. I am excited to get to work on it. It will be spectacular!

I also tried and failed at my wannabe attempt as a National Geographic photographer. I don't know how they do it--photographing wild, flighty animals with out being noticed. There were some lovely white pelicans on the Reservoir today. I thought surely they wouldn't notice me sneaking across the muddy flats towards them-- I only wanted to snap picture or two. But nooooo, they had to paddle away and then had the nerve to completely fly away to the other shore. C'mon, my lens is big . . . but am I really that threatening? Not so. The pelicans in my photos are so far away and tiny it is embarrassing, so I am not likely to post those pictures.

DH and I had a little better luck in shooting some pictures of the old, dilapidated buildings in the pseudo-ghost town that is Scoffield, Utah. (keyword: inanimate objects). It is a quaint little place with about 1/2 of a business open at one time. Don't go there to find anything hustling and bustling . . . but if you'd like feel cool while driving on Myrtle Street this is your place. I spotted so many awesome backdrops I'd love to try with seniors or families or kids . . . only they're a nearly two hour drive from here. Oh well.

Fairy Delight

Here's a sneak peak of the designs for two fairy canvases I recently created for a client . . .
the canvases will arrive next week and I am SO EXCITED!! I wish I could show you all of the detail in these images, but you'd have to view them at full size (24"x 24" and 24" x 36") to see all of the details! These images show the entire image--the outer edges will actually wrap around the sides of the gallery-wrapped frame (1.5" thick). They'll arrive with a paper backing and hanging hardware, ready to take their place on the wall.

{Lily of the Valley Fairy}

The Lily of the Valley Fairy is delicate yet strong-willed. Sweet yet sassy. She prefers a soft leaf as a resting spot, and doesn't care for the prickly grass. ;) She's the fairest of them all.

{English Rose Fairy}

The English Rose Fairy loves exploring, collecting and dancing. She has an affinity for all things sparkly. She has long, flowing hair and cheeks the color of a blushing rose. Her world is a painting, colored with every hue.

I will post some photos of the actual canvases when they arrive!! Each canvas has the girl's name hidden in it too, for extra personalization. Many hours go into each one, making it a unique piece of artwork. The Lily of the Valley design involved a qwest to find the most elusive flower in all of Utah! I LOVED creating these--to me, this is the culmination of all creative things I love: photography, nature, children, painting, photoshop, and storytelling! :)

A Fun Bun

Here's S's little friend, Andy the rabbit. This polaroid was concocted using a fun PS action found here: polaroid generator. Polaroids are all the rage right now, but they are becoming extinct as Polaroid will no longer be manufacturing the film. (Perhaps they'll drag this out for a while thanks to the surge in popularity of the vintage/ retro photo look).

Andy is a 2-year old miniature lop. S. recently did an animal report for school, and she chose the rabbit as her subject. She also constructed a rabbit diorama featuring a burrow with baby bunnies (made of pom poms). Here are a few fun facts (courtesy S.- our resident kindergartener and rabbit specialist):

1. Rabbits are called kits or kittens when they're a baby.

2. Some rabbits could be brown, or white, or broken orange.

3. All bunnies jump really high.

4. They eat grass, clovers, and lettuce, carrots, alfalfa, and that's all. [eta. most of which grows in our backyard!!] . . . oh, and they drink water.

5. They are fast. They could live in a cage or in a habitat underground.

6. My bunny is broken orange and white. He jumps high too. That's all.

20 years ago today . . .

. . . my sister Debbie and her sweetheart Bruce were married! A big congrats to the two of them and their beautiful family. They have always been a tremendous example of a solid, strong, devoted couple. Each of them brings something unique to the table, and they really balance each other out. Way to go, guys!

Could It Be?

It is no secret that photos are important to me. Perhaps my photography obsession in began the day I realized how few baby photos exist of me. I've got 3 from the day I was born, and about 2 or 3 more for the rest of my first year. There are more images of my older siblings . . . I think they must have used all of the Polaroid film up before my I was born. At about 8 years old I acquired my first camera and I've been making up for lost time ever since!

My Dad recently traveled to his home state of Texas. While there, he reunited with a brother he hasn't seen for . . . hmmmm, 20 years (or more?). I have only personally met two of his siblings, and this particular uncle is one I have yet to meet. He also met a distant relative who is a lifelong photo enthusiast and genealogist (he also happens to be 91 years old and still driving!) This relative gave my Dad a disc of family photos of many generations of anscestors. Priceless!! So upon returning home, my Dad received a surprise package in the mail sent by his brother Frank. It was a family album, put together by my Grandmother! (I only met her one time before she passed away, and never really had any relationship with her). I didn't know she even kept track of us, and yet here was the proof.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to look through this photo book with my Dad . . . there were so many images that were new to me (most of them before my time). I was floored to discover this little gem:

{Could this really be a baby photo of me? Yes! That is me at 6 weeks old with my cute 5 year-old sister Kim}

Along with many treasured photos, there were even a few homemade cards I had sent my grandma when I was a child. Wow. This photo makes me think: 1) My own babies were chubby like this at 6 weeks. 2) I always thought I was a bald baby and this photo would suggest otherwise. My babies were born with tons of hair . . . I never knew that was from my side of the family! 3) The serious-furrowed eyebrow look my kids give me can be traced back to me. 4) My Grandmother cared more about me than I thought she did. What a treasured photo!

Family is the essence of why I am a photographer. I feel such the sense of urgency to document and record life through my lens. Which images captured now will be treasured decades down the road? What stories will be remembered from the images I create? Hopefully plenty of them! Too many to count . . .

Fabulous Senior Session

Alive here . . . and well. Sorry about the lack of posts. I have written many in my imagination, and just haven't had the time to make them real. I have restructured my day a bit, and it means less time on the computer during primetime-kiddo-time. So far it is going well, but it means that during my work time I have to get down to business, and there's not a lot of time left for blogging. Anyway-- I have been SO excited to get these pictures of beautiful P. up here . . . enjoy!

{The front side of her postcard insert- part of her graduation announcement}

{ . . . and the reverse side including P's favorite quote. I enjoyed designing this card.}

{Isn't she radiant? The breeze picked up JUST as I clicked the shutter. }

Thanks to P. and her lovely sister assistants- her mom and sis . . . it was such a great shoot, and I am thrilled at how many stunning images we created! Good luck with graduation this upcoming week!!

Technical stuff: all of these shots were captured with a canon 5d, 70-200 f/2.8L, in natural light between 7-8pm (most of them in the shade with the use of a soft gold reflector to bounce a little bit of light back into her eyes). Yes, I am in love with the new lens--it is a dream. I have quickly forgotten that it weighs 3.5 pounds. :)

~Amy

On the Eve of Eighteen

D. was pretty excited about turning 18 the next day, and about going to prom the day of our shoot. He was all decked out in his black tux--but he left his tie at home for a bit more dress-casual look. Then again, maybe he just forgot it? ;)

So we set off on an urban adventure. The shoot even included a few images with his lovely camaro. One really fun thing about seniors is that they are ready for an adventure, and they don't usually have a notion of how a shoot is "supposed" to be. It makes it all the more feasible to create unique images for them, all the while allowing their individual personalities to shine through. This was certainly the case this day.

{one of my favorites: no left turn}

{Congrats D. on your upcoming graduation!! You really are a neat guy--and I appreciate your willingess to have a little fun on your shoot!}

Mama Mia

Happy Mother's Day to all, and especially to my Mother.

She is young at heart. Beautiful.
She used to carry me on her hip.
I quickly grew to be five inches taller than her.
She is an only child.
I am her seventh child of nine.
She is a grandmother to twenty-two.
Great-grandmother to one.
She is an artist.
Mom allowed me to get messy with paints, pastel chalk and fabric.
She allowed me to find my way.
Encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Still does.
She managed to find patience with me and all of my sassiness.
We've grown closer since I've become a mother.
I'm beginning to come to an understanding.
I still wonder how she did it.
So glad she chose to be a mother.
Thanks Mom. I love you.