Serene Baby Sweetness

I am one of those people who sees a brand new baby and I just wish I knew the parents so I could sneak a minute or two of baby sugar. I think I have been this way as long as I can remember. Even as a mother of three, that need for a baby fix hasn't worn off. Each time I see a teeny tiny one I swear my own baby {M} grows about 2 more inches. Thankfully I have a reason to hold and swoon over those sweet little ones as a photographer.

Beautiful baby K was no exception. The first second I saw her I felt that impulse to grab my camera. She is the product of two amazing parents! She is blessed with an equally beautiful older sister too. Her mom is one of those people who just AMAZES me. She endured 9 months of sickness to get this healthy baby here . . . and without further ado, some of my favorites from our session:

{beautiful sisters- they are a great match!}

Thanks to the B. fam for allowing me to soak up some baby sweetness! I look forward to seeing your sweet babe continue to grow!

Red Riding Hood

{My Little Red Riding Hood}

This shoot has been in the making for a long time. I had to reinvent my limited (and rusty) sewing skills to make the cloak and apron. I also had to convince S. that being this character was a good thing, and I think she got into it once we went on the shoot. This image is a contender for another storybook canvas, hopefully to be created very soon!

Today and tomorrow one of my canvases is on display at the Lehi Roundup Boutique.
The boutique is set up like a carnival and there are yummy treats and great little booths to find some fun treasures. Check it out!!

Can't Help But Smile

. . . when you see this shot, I hope. Two of these kiddos belong to me, and the others are children of some of my best friends EVER {my college roommates}. There is something about summer, kids, and the feeling that of sticky "otter pop" juice that dripped onto my forehead while I took this shot. . . that does it for me. By the way, I thought I'd commemorate the grand arrival of the summer solstice with a new blog header. It definitely goes along with the sticky popsicle theme. We've really gotten into making our own popsicles with leftover fruit smoothie in the mornings. YUM.

Fairy Promotion

Below is a new banner ad I designed for the storybook canvases. Please click here to go to our website with more details. More updates to come, as well as examples! Stay tuned . . .

Orem Summer Fest

Hello everyone, hello neglected blog. We spent a good portion of the day preparing to go to the Orem Summer Fest and consequently participating in the OSF with our financial contribution spent on tickets to be used on the carnival rides, $1 bills to be spent ever so casually, and the last of our cash reserves to furnish a cup of sprite and a billowy pink serving of cotton candy. Mmmmm, sugar!

I didn't even bring a camera to document our expenditures, and more importantly, M. on the carousel with a grin from ear to ear. Also noteworthy, and photoworthy: A. backing her way off of the Indiana Jones adventure climbing/ slide contraption with a sudden burst of tears as she couldn't quite figure out how to escape the ride entirely. More reasons I should have brought the camera: the three kiddos sat inside a real fire engine and ambulance with no emergency at all. There was plenty of sliding on the standard playground equipment (for free, even better!) and because I had earned my stripes and we were all famished, we indulged in a comfort food meal at Cafe Rio (didn't we eat there last week?). I have to say all of this was done with out the assistant of VIP (very important parent), AKA DH. Yes, I was feeling quite adventurous. Next time I am definitely bringing the hubby along!

Also- a shout out to my great and talented friend Britt! She's got some beautiful hair accessories
for sale in her booth at the OSF and graciously allowed me to display one of my fairy canvases in the booth. I will include a link to her website shortly. The OSF will continue the whole day tomorrow.

Also coming soon: plenty of pictures of the latest storybook canvases. I am SO excited about where we're headed with these . . . I have lost sleep over it!! Here's a spot with more information previously posted about the canvases. Click here for the first fairy canvas images.

A Great Thought

A good friend of mine sent me this quote recently. I just love it- and I love the author, Marjorie Pay Hinckley:

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."


Isn't that great? For me it is so visual, and I can especially relate to the part about being covered with grime.

For our weekly photo news and updates . . . I have a TON of photos to process, SO MANY to blog about, and we are on the mend from a sick spell at our home. In fact, I began the day with my little M. getting "sick" on me at 5:00 a.m. Soooo- as soon as I am able, I will get everything done (in order, right?) and it will be lovely. The fairy canvases turned out amazingly well- I am so excited about what will come next with these designs. Photos of the installation and exciting business updates on the way.

{Sometimes they really act like they love each other to pieces! Other times . . . not so much. I am so happy to have captured this image earlier this evening as the sun was setting.
Technical settings: f/8, SS 1/320 @ 500 ISO. Lens- 70-200mmL (focal length set to 70 mm)}