{G} fam

I absolutely love this family! I had so much fun working with them, they made me smile and laugh with every shot and after the shoot they graciously took me out to lunch...I know so nice! Love you guys!

{B} fam

okay so pretty much I just love this family. I had so much fun shooting them. I probably laughed the whole time they were that much fun to be with!

{M} fam

Well we texted back and forth the day of the shoot with comments such as:

"I hope it stops raining."

"What if it keeps raining?"

"We'll make it work even in rain!"

"oh no, what if {J} doesn't smile...he's been smiley all day, I hope he smiles for the camera?!"

"he'll smile and if not...well he will :)"

so, the rain did stop and the sun came out (I was hoping it would stay overcast but hey I guess I can't control the weather like I thought) and so the pictures began and let me tell you little {J} refused to smile at the camera, look at the camera, be around the camera or even around any human for that matter lol. Still, he was the cutest thing ever and so fun to photograph! So thanks to my amazing cousin for letting me come capture some amazing moments in their life. I love you guys!

PUBLISHED

you know that moment when you find out that you got the an A on your test, or you got the job you had been dreaming about, or you won an awesome prize in a drawing, well let me just say that every single one of those emotions are flying through me. I just found out that a wedding I photographed is going to be published. I literally screamed out loud WAAAAHOOOO! I am so excited. It is going to be published by DIY Bride. Yeah, I am pretty cool eh lol. As soon as it is published I will post the link! woop woop!

1 year this month

this month marks my one year anniversary since my last open-heart surgery, and six years since my first. time flies. I can't believe it has already been a year and I am feelin' great! I think I should celebrate all month long :)

5 tips

So as you know ty and I had the opportunity to teach a photography class up at Daniel's Summit, in Utah, for a retreat. The class was so fun and we really enjoyed the people and the many questions that came up. I thought I would share with all of you the top 5 tips that we talked about in our class and hopefully they will be helpful when you are taking pictures :)

#1. get down on their level

* don't be afraid to get down on the ground

* move your whole body around not just the camera to get that perfect shot

#2 use a plain background

* the less you have in the background the better

* it helps your audience to focus on what you want them to see

* if you don't have a plain background be aware of what is in the background of your pic & if it is distracting

#3 move in close

* you may want to whole scene but usually it's going to be too busy

#4 lock the focus

* put your focus on the part of the subject you want your audience to focus on

* hold the shutter button half-way down and wait for lens to focus

#5 move it from the middle

* lock your focus point and then slightly move your camera left or right

Love

I was just doing some organizing on my computer when I came across this pic, so I thought I would share it with ya'll. I can't get enough of wedding and engagement rings. I even look at them online and think hmmm I want that one, oh and that one, awe and that one too. They are all so gorgeous and unique, just like every bride and groom that I photograph. Seriously, I LOVE WHAT I DO!

Van Dyke Fam

uh yes they are such a cute family and YES I am related to them and so happy to call them family. I love them all. I have to admit that I was laughing throughout the entire shoot (not because they are funny looking or anything like that but cause they are the funnest people to be around)! So thanks to my awesome fam for lettin me take your family pictures!! Love you guys!