One of my Oldest Friends Ever

This amazingly beautiful girl is my old roomie... In fact, before we were roommates, we met and become close friends/pen pals at a church camp when we were 15 years old. We have officially been friends longer than we haven't been friends. (Starting to feel super old here!) I ADORE her!! And her true love. They are so stinking cute together and they are PERFECT together. I am so glad I got to take their pictures. I know these two lovebirds are going to have a long happy life together filled with over analyzing and rehashing. :)

Current Favorite Picture

This picture is my current favorite for so many reasons.

1. It's my family.

2. Look at my Grandma's face. Absolute JOY!... despite being surrounded by these bafoons.

3. It's so real. I mean, it's posed, of course, but you can see the laughter in their eyes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE pictures like that. Pictures where you can tell that while people know there is a picture being taken, they are genuinely having fun.

All that being said, the busy background is driving me batty. But it's a wedding. Lots of people around. :)

Muscle Man

I'll post more of this mini Superman and his super fam when I'm not crazy busy, crazy lazy, and crazy tired. But seriously, how awesome is this picture. He's my little Tag-man!

Sisters...

I love this girl. When I met her she was a cute little 10 year old... and now... well, clearly she isn't 10 anymore. I am so very grateful to count her as one of my sisters. One of the MANY benefits to marrying into Bryan's super aw some family.

I love that this picture says 2010 in the graffiti... totally random, right? So cool.

Distance Sucks

I just adored these two little long distance love birds. They did a bit of giggling and I couldn't help but tease them. Nate was MORE than willing to wrap his arms around his girlie and SUPER cooperative when I asked for a kiss. (Clarification: I was asking for him to kiss HER... I was NOT asking for a kiss for me...) I can already tell these two are going to have a blast being married. They laughed so much. That's a good thing in marriage. :) They are a beautiful couple and I can't wait for them to be married so they can live in the same state! Honestly don't know how they do it.

This is not one of the images they chose but I edited it anyways because I love it. I love the way she's looking at him and how sincere his smile is. The nice thing about editing a picture you aren't being paid to edit: I can do it however I want. :)

This was another personal choice. I love that there are hearts on her shoes...

Single Looking to Mingle

That's right. This cute thing is headed off to college in a few months and ready to meet some new boys. The best news is that the inside matches the outside. She is such an amazing girl and I get to work with her every week at church. It makes me happy to know that the future of this world and our church is in the hands of girls like her. She's so fun, cool, beautiful (obviously), motivated, and sees the whole picture. I had SO much fun going out and playing with her a few days ago!!

A Family Affair

I did a shoot at the PRE crack of dawn for these little love birds. Aside from it being (Arizona's version of) FREEZING, it was nearly pitch black when we got there at 6:00am. The picture above was taken right when I got there. Needless to say, we shot the breeze and got to know each other for about 30 minutes while it got light enough to shoot.

The wait was worth it. These two were SO darling and are anxiously awaiting the day next month when they tie the ol' knot! I'm excited for them! We even saved a little bit of time to snap a few of his BEAUTIFUL sister for her High School graduation pictures. It was so much fun! I love my "job"!

What? No they didn't... I don't know what you're talking about.

Such perty light...

Beauty runs in the family, obviously.

I didn't include their actual announcement picture so people will be surprised when they get it in the mail.

Saddle Up!

This beautiful family is the product of my amazingly beautiful old roommate and the fabulous man she married. I cannot begin to tell her how very proud I am of the woman she has become and the family she is raising. She is doing her radiology residency and is probably the most non judgemental person I have ever met. She definitely has a "whatever makes you happy" attitude I envy greatly. And don't even get me started on her husband. He. Is. Perfect! Perfect for her. I just adore him!! I can tell from the little time I have spent with him that he is an involved father and attentive husband. I hope she likes the pictures...

What a Babe!

I have beautiful sister-in-laws... this one is one of the 5 prettiest of Bryan's sisters. And, boys, she's available! :) She's the whole package: smart, tall, athletic, funny, natural, and clearly: BEAUTIFUL!

Slacker

Not this baby... and not this baby mama... ME. I can't help it. I'm tired. I'm overworked. I'm easily frustrated. I have a constant headache. I. am. tired. I am going to try to do better with updating my photog blog but I always promised myself that photography would never become my life (business-ly speaking). My family is my life and I am trying my darnedest to keep it that way. My family. My church calling. Then, my passion: Photography. I love them all!

Such a sweet big sister! She's the oldest of the five kids; he is, obviously, the youngest.

Ok, this one is my favorite one. I LOVE it!! I love the hat. I love that you can't see his eyes. I just love it!Prettiest new mommy around. I love this girl. She is, and always will be, one of my very closest friends!

"Too close... a little too close."

Name that movie...

Aladdin... very beginning. Right after "Arabian Nights." Great movie. One of my faves.

It's time...

The time has come for me to start really trying to sell prints. I have had a few clients lately want to buy big images. They are SO beautiful!! So, I am going to really start trying to sell them. I don't think (in fact, I know) people do not see their family pictures as art. When in reality, pictures of your family are the most beautiful pieces of art you can put on your wall.
I also know it's hard to spend a fair amount of money on a canvas or a large print (I'm talking 24"x36") so I am also doing story boards. To show everyone how cool story boards are, I am going to start posting my previews in story board form. They are so pretty and tell such fun stories!! Let me know if you are interested in ordering a canvas or story board and I'll give you a price.
So, that's my soapbox. :) Without further adieu here is my super duper awesomely cool cousin and his family. They have been featured more than once on my blog and I'm sure will be featured for years to come... unless they fire me.... (which probably won't happen since I give them a screamin' deal!)

Bradley and Jessi

A long time ago when Bryan and I met, his baby brother decided he didn't like me. (He now denies this but actions spoke louder than words.) It took me a while to win him over but I finally did and he has had a special place in my heart ever since. (Carter is named after him, in fact.) He is just as much a little brother to me as my own brothers, if not more so because he's so much younger than me. I have told Bryan so many times it's been fun watching Bradley grow up because I some how imagine that is how Bryan was, although Bradley is definitely more confident than Bryan was at his age. It's like getting a little peek into what Bryan was like as a teenager. I can't believe the days of watching him grow up are all gone... now he's a real life adult making really important decisions. Scary!

This is Bradley now, and his darling soon-to-be wifey. She's so very sweet (and obviously beautiful) and we are all excited to get to know her. I seriously canNOT believe that Bradley is old enough to get married. Sometimes I still can't believe he can even drive. Yesterday we went out and spent a few hours taking pictures. These are some of my favorites. The reason I posted these ones is because, aside from the first, they are not "announcement" pictures. I will post some more once they pick their favorites.