Bella Blu Photography

SWEETHEARTS

2012-02-23T20:52:00.001-08:00

I love the evolution of Dance Pictures. I remember the studio shots at the Local High School with the awkward pose, un-comfortable expression or the look of complete WTH as the Photographer would say something they would normally say to a 3 year old trying to make you smile.

But now you have another option. You can stick with the studio shots or else you can hire a local photographer to get real portraits as well as candids of that special night. Outdoor at a fun location being YOU. Not being forced to hold an awkward position, turn your head just right and say Cheeze all the while HOPING that your one and only shot doesn’t have your eyes closed.

Anyhow, I had so much fun with this group and can’t wait for Prom as I hope to shoot many more couples. If you are interested in getting your Dance Pictures taken, please let me know as the spots fill up fast considering the small time frame we have to shoot them in.

We laughed, we made fun of the cheerleader and we stopped traffic with these gorgeous girls.

Here are a few of my favorites.

2012 SENIORS

2012-02-02T20:13:00.001-08:00

I started booking 2012 Senior Sessions just a few weeks ago and am already near full. I only have one Saturday left in the month of April and then a few weekday evenings. If you are thinking about Senior Pictures please email me as soon as possible if you would like one of the spots. I’m not opening up the month of May until the end of March but will only be shooting Seniors the first week of May as you will need time to get your invitations ordered in time for Graduation.

please email me @ deniseharkey@ymail.com for dates available

Here is a re-cap of a few of my past Seniors

Did I mention that I LOVE SENIORS and all of these Gorgeous Girls!

A HANDSOME LITTLE MAN JUST TURNED 3

2012-01-31T21:02:00.001-08:00

It’s not very often that I get to spend one on one time with this handsome little guy. So when his Big Sister was at a Dance Dress Rehearsal and he was home with dad I stopped by to steal him away. He was so cute and SO EXCITED! I buckled him up in the car and he sat quiet as a mouse as we drove down the road but each and every time I turned around to ask him a question he had the BIGGEST GRIN on his cute little face. He was Happy and felt Special, it was then that I realized that I need to do this more often.

I hadn’t got him a Birthday present so the plan was to go shopping so that he could pick out his gift. But first he needed a few 3 year old pictures. We drove around and found the perfect spot and one that I had never used before. He was so cute and so good and loved getting his picture taken. Afterwards we went to the store to roam the toy isle for the perfect toy and found it. A totally Awesome Batman Transformer car that talks and transforms and even has a Batman figure that fit inside. He loved it and was so happy.

We had such a Great Time together

I love this sweet and handsome little man who has such a cute little mischievous and loving personality and I can’t wait to spend more time with him.

SWEET SIXTEEN

2012-01-18T20:28:00.001-08:00

I was so excited when this Beautiful Girl’s mom called me about doing a Secret Sweet Sixteen Session for her daughter on her sixteenth birthday.

Throughout the day Kylie received 16 gifts and if I remember right I was the 6th gift. I was so thrilled to have been part of her special day and had a Blast with she, her beautiful sister, mom, grandma and grandpa.

I hope you had the Most Wonderful Birthday Kylie

xoxo

I had to share this song because throughout the session I kept singing “sweet sixteen”

Now enjoy a few of my Favorites from her session

The BIRTHDAY GIRL

JUST LIKE MOMMY

2011-12-02T21:40:00.001-08:00

I have some pretty Awesome and I must say Very Beautiful friends…

and here is one of them. I’ve been photographing Melanie and her Adorable little Cutie since she turned ONE.

I still can’t believe she is THREE but I am so Lucky to get to see her, tease her and make her laugh for her yearly pictures.

We had so much Fun and luckily chose a location where we could go inside and warm up because it was quite chilly outside.

This is easily one of my Favorites.. Just like Mommy

Being Very Silly

HANGING OUT AT HOME

2011-11-30T21:15:00.001-08:00

Chelsey and I went to High School together so when she booked a family session with me, I was Excited that I got to see her and meet her adorable family. Then.. she told me her ideas on the shoot and I was Thrilled!

A shoot at home, creating memories and doing things that they do all of the time while capturing it on film is Priceless.

We had such a great time between playing with toys, riding a rocking horse, reading books, playing ring around the rosey, cuddling, having a Justin Bieber dance party and baking cookies.

We got it all.. as well as managing to get a lot of posed shots as well. Thank you for inviting me into your Beautiful Home and being able to be a part of these priceless moments. I hope you love what we got.

It was so hard to choose which ones I wanted to post on this session, there are a lot but I promise I narrowed it down quite a bit from what I began with.

and of course they looked Fabulous as Chelsey is the co-owner of the 56 West Salon and Boutique.

You can check them out on their facebook page here or on their website here

she had a Blast putting snow on her daddy’s head

and then they baked some Yummy Cookies and sent me home with a plate of them.

I have to say they were the BEST chocolate cookies I have ever had. Not sure if it was the recipe or the Love and Cute Little Tiny fingers that helped but they were Delicious.

she got into the chocolate chips and was all GOOEY CHOCOLATE smiles

LOGAN + ALISON

2011-11-09T19:54:00.001-08:00

This couple cannot get any more Adorable. It’s so fun to see a young love, the sweet looks to each other from afar, the little smirks, the giggles and the happiness that explodes when they are with each other.

These two have been dating for a long while now and I wish them all of the Happiness in many years to come.

Plus they are both graduating this year. HOORAY!

Here is their Slide show

Song: You Got Me

By: Colbie Caillat

LOGAN [CLASS OF 2012]

2011-11-06T15:21:00.001-08:00

Yes I really do shoot Senior Boys as well. See… I have Proof!

I seem to get mostly girls (which I prefer) only because that is what I’m used to. Boys are so foreign to me as I grew up with all girls and honestly have no idea what to do with a boy along the lines of posing. But I think I did pretty good being that this is only the 3rd Senior Boy I have ever shot.

Anyhow this guy had such great manners, was so fun to work with and was such a trooper considering that we shot on 3 different dates. Most guys don’t last an hour let alone 3 or 4.

Congratulations and Good Luck Logan, you have a Bright Future ahead of you and I have no doubt that you will do something big.

A Favorite

ALISON [CLASS OF 2012]

2011-11-06T14:46:00.001-08:00

This Beautiful Girl is the last of the kids in this family to Graduate and I am the Lucky one to have taken ALL of their Senior Pictures. Such a Great family with Great kids who I’ve been fortunate to get to know throughout the years. But.. honestly time flies as it seems like this Beautiful Girl should not be graduating.

Anyhow I wish you the best of luck with Graduation and with all of your exciting plans for the future. You’re a Sweet Beautiful and Talented girl with a Bright future ahead. Congratulations Alison!

She and her boyfriend each purchased a Senior Package and wanted their shoots together with lot’s of pictures separate as well as together so it was fun to meet up a few times at several different locations.

Her Cute boyfriend and the shots together will be posted shortly.

Her Beautiful sister tagged along so we had to get a few of her as well

pretty much mandatory as I miss shooting my Past Seniors

A Favorite

KELI & TY [SALT LAKE TEMPLE]

2011-11-03T19:30:00.001-07:00

This Beautiful Couple got married on October 6, 2011

They say it’s good luck for it to rain on your wedding day which means this couple got LOT’S of good luck on their Wedding Day. It was not only raining rain drops but what seemed more like BUCKETS of rain. I was soaked, there were puddles of water everywhere and it was freezing.

Prior to shooting a Wedding the Nervous feelings that I experienced on my own Wedding Day 6 years ago come back to me and I stress about weather, about being able to capture it perfectly and about mother nature deciding to do exactly the opposite of what we picture our wedding day to be.

As you can see… Mother Nature was not so nice and I felt Terrible that we didn’t get very many shots of the Bride and Groom on their Special Day. I told Keli and Ty that after they got home from their honeymoon that we could meet back at that special place to get some pictures of she and her groom.

Here are a few that we got on that Rainy Rainy Day

just 2 weeks later we chose the most BEAUTIFUL day

I absolutely love how these turned out

such a beautiful and happy couple who I loved getting to know a bit better.

As you can tell… we had fun

One of my Favorites

and a little Fun

Congratulations Keli and Ty, you make a Beautiful couple and I wish you the best of luck for a long and happy life together.

THE [B] FAMILY

2011-10-15T23:28:00.001-07:00

I took this Couples pictures a year ago and now I got to photograph them with their Darling Baby Girl!

Congratulations Stacey and Ryan, you make Beautiful and Happy Babies.

Those eyes, that smile and that Happy personality made me so baby hungry. As if I wasn’t already but that much more. I loved her and seeing how Stacey and Ryan interacted with her was absolutely Adorable.

We had to reschedule the session but honestly this date was perfect, we could not have asked for a prettier day.

Enjoy a few of my Favorites

Such a Good and Happy baby

and then we added the other family members into the mix

Greta and Sully

I love these dogs, especially Greta who is HUGE! Seriously the Biggest dog I have ever seen and one that definitely makes a scene when in a park. Which happened at their session. It was Hilarious there was about 20 people ooohhing and aweing at her, taking pictures, asking questions and scared to come near her.

I think we all deserve a Gold Star for this shot. Mom, Dad, Baby and two dogs looking at me at the SAME TIME

and here is snapshot of the crown checking out the Big Dog

DESIRAE [CLASS OF 2012]

2011-10-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

One thing that I love most about shooting Seniors is that eventually I get their little brothers and sisters too.

Desirae is the sister to one of my Favorite Seniors Jessica. I shot her Senior Pictures in 2009 and then some for her modeling portfolio the year after. You can check them out here and here.   So of course when they scheduled Dez I told her to tag along because I’d love to see her and take a few shots of them together.

Now Dez is also one of my Favorite Seniors

We had so much Fun even with the HUGE spiders and webs that filled the boat marina and made us feel like the cast of the movie arachnophobia and the swarms of mosquitos that decided we were tasty.   In all it was a lot of Fun and a whole lot of Laughs.   We also got lucky that he guy who always lets me use his sail boat was there so that we could get a few shots on the sail boat.

Dez is Beautiful, sweet, Talented and smart a girl who has a Bright Future ahead of her.   I’ve also heard that she is a very talented basketball player and will be shooting her again in action this Winter.

P.S. Desirae has now broke the record for bringing the most outfits to a Senior Session.. haha!   Her sister Jessica was the leader but now it’s safe to say that Desirae has won by a landslide.   She even brought a suitcase. I love it!

Enjoy a few of my Favorites from her session

I LOVE her freckles.. absolutely Beautiful!

GO UTES!

EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER–DAYBREAK

2011-10-02T21:07:00.001-07:00

Last June I had the opportunity of helping at the Extreme Home makeover site as they built a new home for the Gomez family. When I saw the need for volunteers I decided to sign up for a day. Working full time as well as doing Photography part time made it hard to find the time but after I signed up I wished that I had signed up for more than one day.

My day fell on the day after they moved the bus so my part was helping with clean-up of the property and getting the home ready to hand over to the Gomez Family and of course meeting some really great people. I had a Blast and have to say that this was one of the best experiences of my life to date.

While watching the Show which aired tonight I was in tears. What a Beautiful Family who deserved this so much and that Jonah is Adorable.vvI loved his comment when talking about the Real Soccer Team “they are my boys”. Too cute!

Also, I just have to add Kyle Beckerman is a HOTTIE!

See what I mean

{Image from the Real Salt Lake Facebook Page}

I’m so happy for the Gomez Family and I hope they find a bone marrow match soon.

My part in this experience was minuscule compared to the hundreds of hours of hard labor that the designers, camera, production, construction and finishing crews put in but I’m so glad that even my tiny bit of help was needed as I feel that it was more rewarding for me.

There was a very nice “behind the scenes” Designer in the home the day I worked who took us on a tour, told us about the products used, let us know the ideas behind some of the amazing designs and let us try out the Surprise in the Crows Nest. We were even able to take some pictures though were told not to post them until after the show aired. This was SO HARD as I couldn’t wait to share but knew that the home needed to be a Surprise for all those watching so I tucked them in a folder hidden in my computer so that I wouldn’t be tempted.

Here are a few, all I had was my little point and shoot as it needed to fit in my pocket but they turned out pretty good.

The House

The Family Room & Hallway

Jessi (the mom) private patio, hot tub and Master Bathroom

Ellie’s Little Mermaid Room and Jonah’s Totally AWESOME room

Ellie’s Room and Bathroom… ADORABLE and I loved that Treasure Chest Jewelry Box

The very nice “behind the scenes” guy who took us on the tour… and see the shot on the right.

There he is headed down the spiral slide

and lookie here…. I went down the slide not once, not twice but THREE TIMES!

It was a Blast! I want one of these in my room.

Yep, that’s me and Yep I’m short

The Kitchen and Dining Room

The Indoor Soccer Field

and the Real Gomez Snack Bar complete with an oxygen bar

They were also filming portions of it while I was there

I loved this Experience and wish that I could do this every single day.

Being part of something so rewarding would be an honor.

Thank You Extreme Home Makeover

LITTLE BLACK BOOK

2011-10-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

OUR NEW HOME

2011-09-24T21:11:00.001-07:00

Please make sure to change your links if you have them saved someplace as the old blog will be deleted. This is the new site for Bella Blu.

www.bellabluphotos.com

and since a post isn’t a post without a picture

BRITTLYN

2011-09-20T21:16:00.001-07:00

My friend KaCee and her daughter volunteered before I even thought about asking anyone to help for my Homecoming Pictures. I honestly could not have done it without them, THANK YOU!

For helping I insisted that I do a Mini Session of Brittlyn in trade.

They didn’t have to spend the afternoon helping me, so it was the least I could do. And honestly.. shooting Beautiful Girls is the best part of my job.

I can’t believe how grown up Brittlyn has gotten, I remember her in pony tails in my dance class and now look at her.

Enjoy a few of my Favorites

IT’S GOOD TO BE ONE

2011-09-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

My nephew is quite possibly that HAPPIEST little baby in town!

always laughing & always smiling

Happy Birthday Cutie, I hope you had a Fabulously Fun Birthday!

see… I wasn’t lying ALWAYS HAPPY!

But for some reason EVERY SINGLE TIME I take his pictures, it rains so we had to stop.

But not before we got him clapping, which he LOVES to do.

LITTLE FAIRIES & PIXIE DUST

2011-09-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

This little Cutie can talk her Aunt Neece into just about anything with that cute little smile, big beautiful eyes and sweet little voice.

Several months ago I thought she would be Excited to see a picture of her with Fairy Wings. So, I did a little photoshop magic, added wings and printed the picture for her to hang in her room. SHE LOVED IT!

So when Aunt Neece showed up at her house on Saturday with a trunk full of dress-up’s and costumes for her to play dress up in she decided that she wanted to play Fairy and that she wanted me to put wings on her again. I’ve had a closet full of dress-up’s for a year now and no little girls to play with them so I decided that they needed a vacation at her house for a while. She loves them and and has insisted that she wear a BIG POOFY BRIGHT RED SEQUINED tu-tu to Pre-School a Leopard Tu-Tu to a Birthday Party and I’m sure so many more. Too Cute!

So, we created a woodland fairyish photo shoot complete with Pixie Dust.

She was BEYOND EXCITED and played it up as she was a Real Life Fairy for at least 20 minutes.

without the Wings

TAELOR

2011-09-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

Taelor was also a Winner of my Summer of 2011 Contest with 530 Votes. The two were so close in Votes and both worked so hard I found it only fair that they both get a Photo Shoot.
We met up together at the Carnival and from there went our separate ways. Taelor plays softball so we ended her session with pictures on the field. I love how they turned out and we had so much Fun! I used to teach Taelor Dancing but hadn’t seen her in about 7 years so it was Fun to see her again.
I told her that I was going to photoshop a Yankees Logo over that Red Sox Logo but I was nice and left it as is.
But… just so you all know we are Yankee Fans at our house.
Here are a few of my Favorites!

Her boyfriend brought her to the shoot so we took a few of them together

On the Baseball Field

THE [H] FAMILY

2011-09-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

I don’t shoot families as often as I used to so it’s always Fun when I get a Family Shoot.

Especially when their kids are as Fun as these kids are.

I’ve known Adrie for years as she is good friends with my little sister. I also used to teach her oldest daughter Dance but I haven’t seen them in years so it was so Great to see them again. They chose one of my Favorite locations and I’m so glad they did as their color scheme went together Beautifully.

I found a NEW FABULOUS location, which may be the location for my Salt Lake Mini Sessions.

This place will be GORGEOUS with the Fall Leaves.

we got MUSCLES

the one on the right is one of my Favorites. She was giving her mommy a sun flower

BRIANNA

2011-09-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Remember my Summer of 2011 Contest???
Oh my, how could you honestly forget if you were on facebook that week.
Anyhow this Beautiful Girl won the Contest with 542 Votes!
Well Done Brianna and Family, you earned it and you deserve it.
We had a Blast at her Session. First Stop was the Carnival and then to a “secret location” that one of my good friends always let’s me use. She is one of the Sweetest Girls I know and a Talented Guitar Player. I always like to throw in something original and true to personality in with my sessions so we made sure to take quite a few with her Guitar.
I hope you love them Brianna, here are a few of my Favorites!

Her Cute little sister and dad tagged along so of course we had to get a few with them as well

HOMECOMING PICTURES

2011-09-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

School has begun, Football Games are a weekend necessity and School Dances are in Session.

Do you want Fun – Unique and Original Homecoming Pictures this year??

If so, I will be doing Homecoming Pictures this Saturday September 17, 2011 in Payson.

You will receive your prints and CD (if purchased) on September 28th

I have 12 spots available and 4 already taken so let me know ASAP!

Text, Email or Call

deniseharkey@ymail.com

801.361.2498

BACK TO SCHOOL

2011-09-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

I love that I have a cute little model who loves her picture taken every time Aunt Neece wants to try something out.

She started school this year and LOVES IT! She asks her mom several times a day when she gets to go back.

We had about 10 minutes to take these in between all of the Craziness of Labor Day weekend so she and I snuck in my moms backyard for a mini shoot and I’m loving the results. I borrowed the desk from my sweet mother in law and put together the rest of the props over the last week.

If anyone is interested in back to school pictures, let me know.

I will be posting mini sessions soon and can always bring this set-up along.

TORI [CLASS OF 2012]

2011-09-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this Beautiful Girl so it was Great to see her as well as her mom too. We had such a great time talking and laughing. Also, I know there is a first time for everything but this first never really needed to happen.
We were walking over to do the next shot in a new area when a SNAKE slithered right in front of my and in between the rock we were about to sit on. Yep, YUCK! I will now make sure to wear something rather than flip flops when I use this specific location.
Tori is one of the Sweetest girls that I have ever shot, one of the Prettiest and I LOVE that red hair. She has a bright future ahead of her and I wish her all of the luck in the world.
I hope you love my Favorites from your session.

I JUST CAN’T WAIT

2011-08-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

until my new Niece is here…

I don’t have kids of my own so when my sisters have babies it’s a Big Day for me. I get to be the Favorite Aunt again! A job that I take very seriously. I Rock at being an Aunt and of course they all love me. Who wouldn’t right???

Sleepovers, camping at the Zoo, outings at the park, ice cream, movies, play forts in the family room, play fishing in the living room, lot’s of pictures, laughing at everything, singing really loud in the car to silly songs I have just to make them laugh, running around, rides in wagons, haunted houses, crazy stories, being silly etc…

I love being an

Aunt.

My beautiful sister is almost due with her 2nd and I’m so Excited for her family and for me

Here are a few of my Favorites from a Mini Maternity Shoot we did. There are also a lot of her cute little man who shocked us in wanting his picture taken here, there, everywhere.. Most of the time even posing himself. Such a cute little man.

I brought my husband along to play with the little man in between so that he wouldn’t get bored. E said he won the water fight but from the looks of it I’m not quite sure.

DANDELIONS

2011-08-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

After annoying a lot of people on facebook during my Summer of 2011 Contest I decided to give away a free mini session to one of the people who voted for a contestant in the contest. Hopefully I’m forgiven now

I did this by having people interested in a session comment on a particular status post and then chose the winning comment by random #. The random # just so happened to be #39 which belonged to this Beautiful Family

We had such a great time, the location was Beautiful and we even had deer prancing through a few times.

Their little girl was the cutest most adorable little thing who sang me “I’m a little Tea-pot”, held my hand as we walked, giggled with the most contagious laugh and chased grass hoppers while trying to catch them.

Enjoy a few of my Favorites.. I’m not normally a Sepia kind of girl but with this session I definitely was.

I really Dislike Dandelions in my Yard.. But LOVE using them in pictures

MICHAELA

2011-08-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

I loved this Teen Session with the Beautiful Michaela. Such a Beautiful, Talented and Sweet Girl who was so much fun to work with. She is also a Dancer and we all know how much I love shooting them.

It was looking like rain but we went ahead with the shoot anyhow and I am so glad we did. We shot for about a half an hour and then Mother Nature decided that it was time for a Summer Thunder Storm. Thankfully there was a cute building nearby that we were able to shoot in until the rain turned into a downpour. We then took cover in her moms car and waited out the storm. Hopefully I didn’t talk your ear off as I tend to babble on and on about everything during shoots. When I say talk I really mean…. NON-STOP TALK! haha
We had so much Fun and hopefully when she is in fact a Senior, I get her Senior Pictures as well. I hope you enjoy a few of my Favorites

The lighting and sky was un-believable after the storm. Dark Skies in the distance but blue skies above. Which is part of the reason why I LOVE this shot!

ANDREW + APRIL

2011-08-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

I shot this Beautiful Couples Engagements on Friday
It was so Great to finally meet them, we had a Blast, laughed just about the entire time and I loved how Giddy and In Love they are with each other. Such a Beautiful Couple with a long future ahead of them.
Congratulations Andrew & April
Enjoy a few of my Favorites from their Shoot

SUMMER OF 2011–CONTEST WINNER

2011-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

First of all I want to say… HALLELULAH this Contest is OVER!

I’m so sorry, I have never done a contest like this before so I had no idea the impact it would have and never in my Wildest Dreams did I ever think that these girls would Battle it out as hard as they have just for a Photo Shoot with little old me. I was thinking that each Contestant would have around 80 “likes” but never did I think that well over 500“likes” was even possible.

To say it is Flattering does not even cut it. I am un-believably Amazed and Honored that people love my Photography enough to spend almost an entire week Marketing and Advertising themselves for Votes. A local business was even giving away a Free Peanut Butter Bar in return for a Vote. It consumed me as I checked the count hourly so I can only imagine what a time consuming, intense, anxiety filled and stressful week these girls and their families have had.

BUT, we made it…

I made it

the Contestants made it

their Families made it

YOU made it (and are still here.. YAY)

and hopefully we didn’t annoy you too badly in the process.

My sister sent me a text last night;

“NEVER I MEAN EVER HAVE A CONTEST THAT LAST’S THIS LONG!

ALL I SEE IS BELLA BLU ON FACEBOOK!”

Yep… she was annoyed but Hey isn’t that what sisters are for???

Anyhow, all of the Contestants are Beautiful and I am the Lucky one that they entered my contest, liked my page and wanted a shoot with me. I would be honored to shoot them all, and honestly hope that I get to one day soon.

I just wish that I was able to give away 6 photo shoots.

Each Contestant is going to receive a $50.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE just for entering to be used towards a Senior/Teen Session in the Future. No Expiration Date as some of these girls have a few years before Graduation.

The Gift Certificate can also be used towards a Teen/Senior Mini Session. I will be posting Details very soon.

Great Job to Everyone and Thank you so much for entering!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE…..

and the Winner of the Summer of 2011 (Payson & Salem High) Contest is…

Brianna & Taelor

CONGRATULATIONS!

These two went Above & Beyond in this contest. Not an hour went by where I didn’t see a post by them, their family or one of their friends trying to get votes. They tagged people to pictures, messaged and posted to friends walls, created a Voting Event and invited their friends, accepted new friends to help out as well as one girl’s place of employment was advertising for Votes as well as giving away cookies in return.. etc.. It was Intense as they went back and forth battling it out for 1st Place and I still have no idea how one gets that many votes but somehow these two pulled it off and did so very well.

Because of all of this I only felt it fair with their numbers being so close that they both win the Grand Prize. It didn’t seem right giving it to only one so I hope you all feel the same as these two truly fought for the Win and deserve it.

I will be in contact with you to set up the shoot which will be scheduled on either Friday, September 2nd or Saturday, September 3rd.

I am Beyond Excited!

**********

Now for an extra.. Since so many of you helped these girls out by liking their Photo I am going to do a drawing for 1 FREE Mini Session on my Facebook Page. Definitely not a “liking” game, all you need to do is comment on the post that you are Interested. I will then pick (by Random #) one comment and that person will win.

So Simple and a LOT LESS annoying! To qualify all you had to do is Vote for any one of the Contestants during the Contest.

Please only one comment per Profile

MINI SESSION:

30 Minute Outdoor Session

Can be used for a Child (no newborns), Teen, Senior, Couple or Family (8 people max) Session

Disc of Edited Images with Image Release

Must be used between now and November 1, 2011

If you win this and would like to gift it to another person, you are completely Welcome to do so.

***************

We can co-ordinate schedules together once the winner is announced. However, if you would like to use a location in Utah County you must schedule during a time that I will be shooting there since I am located in Salt Lake. But if you would like to drive to Salt Lake and use one of my Awesome locations up here, that is completely fine.

The Winner will be announced Sunday Night around 8:00. So make sure to comment before then.

Good Luck!

CHEER!

2011-08-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

What kind of aunt gives her Niece Cheer Pictures for her Birthday???

Well that would be me!

Yes, my Beautiful Niece is a new Cheerleader at her High School so to document this, we took Cheer Pictures as well as a few others. Congrats on your hard work, I can’t wait to watch you cheer at the Football Games this Fall.

100% ALL BOY!

2011-08-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

I love this little guy who is “almost” getting used to the fact that his Crazy Aunt ALWAYS wants to take his picture

THE [D] FAMILY

2011-07-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

This little Cutie was a model at a Commercial Shoot I did last year so when her mom messaged me about family pictures, I was beyond thrilled. Check out a Few of my Favorites…

She is such a Girly Girl who loves dresses, looking pretty and getting her picture taken. This is my kind of girl!

We made friends very fast as she was holding my hand after just a few minutes. Awe… I love that I have that affect on little kids as sometimes I think I am one

who also happens to have the Sweetest Mom and Dad I have ever met

and of course her “puppy” too .

I kept calling her dog a puppy and she kept asking her mom where the puppy was. I guess since she is so Darn BIG!

Their Beautiful Family

Daddy’s Girl

Picking Flowers for Mommy

Thank you for making my Evening so Great and I hope you love your sneak peek.

JAKE + ANGIE [the wedding]

2011-07-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

I shot this Wedding on June 25, 2011 and it was BEAUTIFUL!

the Location was the Market Street Grill – Cottonwood and could not have been more perfect. I loved the location, the simple but beautiful decorations and of course the Bridal Party.

I am so Happy for you Jake and Angie and Wish you all the Best! I see a lot of Fun, Laughter, Love and of course UTE Games in your future.

Here are a few of my Favorites.. I know, there are a bunch but I had a hard time narrowing it down. So sit back and take a peek at their Special Day!

THE PANDO FAMILY

2011-07-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

You know you did a Great Job on a Wedding when just a month after the Wedding you are hired by the Groom’s Sister to take Couple Portraits, followed by the Groom’s Mother to do Family Portraits.

I loved this Family and had so much fun with them. Though… I’m thinking they have got to be sick of me by now!

The weather turned out perfect, the location (which I always get lost finding) worked out Perfect and if it weren’t for the Darn Mosquitos everything would have been PERFECT!

Here are just a few of my Favorites

A+K [AT THE BEACH]

2011-07-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

Just so you all know… Themed Shoots are my FAVORITE and always will be. I have so many ideas in my head of Images I would like to create so it is Very Nice to have willing Couples who let me take control with my ideas.
I met Kinzi in 2009 when I did her Family Pictures. Since then each time I have an idea, some free time and want to shoot I send her a message. She lives close, is so Sweet and always fun to be around so why not… Plus it gives me a chance to shoot for Fun. No Pressure, just Fun, Laughs and the ability to create an image as I had pictured in my mind.
This Evening turned out Perfect, She and Aric were Perfect and I could not have chosen a more Perfect Location than where we went.
I hope you Enjoy! Now for all of you… your shoot doesn’t have to be Traditional. Be CREATIVE! Think up something that you and your family/boyfriend/husband/kids LOVE to do and roll with it. Be Unique, Be Creative and Be Original. Afterall my most favorite pictures are always the Goofy Ones, the Creative Ones and those that you look at and go huh???
This is Part One… Part Two will be up Shortly

These two made me Laugh… REALLY HARD!

A+K [LOLLIPOP’S & PROM]

2011-07-07T19:00:00.000-07:00

I love the color YELLOW! I’m actually a bit obsessed with it. I’m not sure why but it may be due to the fact that with my skin tones I CANNOT wear it. Well, I can but when I do, I look like I am deathly ill.
So of course when I see a Beautiful Prom Dress in the Perfect Shade of Yellow I have to shoot it. Throw in a colorful lollipop, a handsome boyfriend, suspenders and a cute little bow tie and we have exactly what I had envisioned.

Lollipop Kisses

BABY FACE

2011-07-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

My Friend Kristel has a new Grandson and he is HANDSOME!!

and NO I’m not old enough to be a Grandma, Kristel is a bit older than I am as I have friends of all ages though I’m pretty sure that I should have became a mom long before I had a BFF who is a Grandma.

NOTE:

I don’t shoot Newborns so please no emails asking me for pricing.

I have a post coming up explaining why I don’t take them. Though if you need some recommendations on Newborn Photographers I do know of some Very Talented Photographers who I can refer you to.

Anyhow.. he is a Cutie, we had Fun and he was so Good… Enjoy and Congratulations to the new Mommy & Daddy

he likes his legs and arms stretched out.. so cute!

Expressions… LOVE THESE!

In Daddy’s Hands

and last of all… A 3 Day Old Baby in my Flower Bed. That doesn’t happen too often.

ELIZABETH & HER HANDSOME LITTLE MAN

2011-06-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

I was honored that she chose me to take this Handsome Little Man’s Pictures and I was So Very Flattered that she drove to me all of the way from Moab. (3 1/2 hours)

This might be the longest travel time yet for a client of mine and I appreciate it so much. Though we may have had much better luck had I just driven to Moab as Mother Nature apparently did not want this session to happen. We had re-scheduled it twice due to rain and on this evening could have re-scheduled it a 3rd time but we didn’t.

We made the wind work, the FREEZING COLD temp’s work and the overcast skies work. And I am so glad we did!

As soon as I met this little man, I knew we were going to have a BLAST! He told me his Favorite thing to do was to get his picture taken and it shows.

As they were driving off his mom said that he asked “when do we get to do that again mom”

So Cute!

He couldn’t stop laughing! His laugh made me laugh and a part of me wanted to record it as my ring tone because I know that if I had a bad day and heard it, I would definitely laugh a smile.

we kept trying to get him to give his mama a kiss but he would never give in. Hugs and Holding Hands NO PROBLEM! But Kissing now that is what “little” boys do

What a Beautiful mom he has too. I made her take a few as well

GOOFY little guy

I was calling him Farmer Joe in this one

I had so much Fun with you guys! Thank You so much for driving so far to see me and I can’t wait to do it again. though hopefully this time in Moab!

A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNON

2011-06-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

To have a Creative Shoot with 3 other Photographers and some Gorgeous “soon to be” Seniors!

Thank You to my new friends and fellow Photographers

Angie, Celeste and Rayni

and a Special Thanks to all of the Gorgeous Models that we were able to shoot…

Kinzi, Aubree and Keylee you were so much Fun!

BUGS & SLING SHOTS

2011-06-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Growing up with all sisters, we learned from our Boy Cousins how to play like boys. Which meant, Sling Shots, getting Muddy, Collecting Bugs, Creating a Pet Hospital for hurt animals found on the mountain and building forts. We all had so much Fun and Created some of my Best Childhood Memories together.

This Little Guy is ALL BOY and loved this Cute Little Set-Up, especially the Butterfly Jar.

More to Come but I could not wait to post these ones first

TONY & STARLIE

2011-06-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

These Beautiful People were part of the Creative Shoot that I, and a few other Photographers did together. It was So much Fun to meet many of them and to see them in action.

Angie Clayson brought these models as well as some props for a 50’s styled shoot. I am so Happy she did. They were un-believable to work with and are true professionals when it comes to modeling. I have a Strong Feeling that one day you WILL see these two in Print Work or on Film.

These two are Best Friends so making them be Serious and Lovey Dovey created a lot of Laughs… But that is okay as these are my Favorite kind of Pictures

I love how these turned out… Just out of the 50’s playing Jax on the porch

TOM & MELANIE

2011-06-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

I met this Beautiful Couple at the last Wedding I shot. Melanie is the Groom’s Sister and was Interested in setting up a Session with she and her husband.

I am so glad she did! We had such a Great Time, a lot of Laughs and I wish them Luck in their New Adventure moving out of state as Melanie attends Graduate School.

Here are a few of my Favorites from their Session

UP-UP & AWAY!

2011-06-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Celeste Grover brought these Fun Balloons as part of her set-up.

I’ve always wanted to shots with Balloons but it seems that each and every single time I have tried, it was WAY TOO WINDY! Though, this evening was perfect and we had a little bit of fun with them.

These Images remind me of the Movie UP. One of My Favorite Movies.

I kept joking that they looked like a 5 year old headed to a Birthday Party!

KELI

2011-06-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

I posted the first part of this VERY WINDY session last week but wanted to share the rest as well.

Such a Beautiful and Sweet Girl who I was Happy to get to know a little bit better.

CUTE SHOES

VINTAGE LACE

2011-06-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

I always have Images floating around in my head of something I want to Create so it is always Fun when you can get a Beautiful Model and Create it.

This is where 3 other Photographers and 5 Models come into place. Thursday Night we met up and shot til dusk. It was Great and Fun to see their ideas as well. We were all supposed to bring a creative set-up and this was mine.

I was going for a vintage look, lace tent and soft frilly fluffy pillows.

I ended up getting exactly what I wanted and am So Excited to post the rest from this shoot.

Aubree was the Maid Of Honor at the last Wedding I shot, so after visualizing what look I wanted, I realized that she would be perfect. And she was! Thank You Aubree

I now have this set-up so if you have a future shoot with me and would like a similar look, let me know

SAIL AWAY

2011-06-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

I took this College Graduates Pictures on Wednesday, we had rescheduled it because of the weather and finally we had a perfect day for a shoot. Other than the Crazy Wind that about blew us off of the dock.

I will share the rest of her session later but I just loved these that we did at the Marina. A Very Nice Guy also let us climb aboard his sail boat for these and I’m so glad he did.

STACEY & BRONSON

2011-06-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

I’ve known Stacey’s Brother ever since I met my husband 6 years ago so when I finally got to meet her, it was about time. She is a Sweetheart and now I can say, I have a new friend. I was even more Thrilled when when she booked a session with her Handsome Little Man as I knew we would have a Blast.

Bronson was such a Funny Kid who reminds me so much of his Uncle Justin. He had me laughing the entire time.

Here he is being SO COOL

Thank You for such a Fun Evening. We laughed and laughed. LOVE sessions like this!

BLAKE & BROOKLYNNE

2011-06-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

What a Beautiful Day, Beautiful Couple and a Beautiful Wedding.

I loved everything about it and am So Excited for the New Mr. & Mrs.

I was also able to work with a Videographer which is a first as every other wedding I have shot, the Bride didn’t hire a Videographer. Most of you know how Obsessed I am with documenting life, preserving moments and capturing priceless memories on film. This goes for video as well. For my own Wedding I spent the majority of our budget on our Photographer and Videographer as these are memories that you cannot replace.

If you are in the need of a Videographer you have got to check out Kale Fitch Productions. He was so Wonderful to work with and such an Amazing Videographer. Here is his facebook link as well. Because we all like to Facebook Stalk our Favorite Artists… don’t we??

Check out his same day edit of the Temple. You might cry (I did) and you might just watch it 10 times in a row (I did) but there is no question that this is not one of the most Beautiful Wedding Videos I have ever seen.

I wish it was mandatory that if you book me for your wedding that you have to book him as well.

blake + brooklynne {sde} from Kale Fitch on Vimeo.

I was also able to work with Celeste Grover with Studio C Photography. It’s fun shooting weddings but even more fun when you have someone to hang out with. I met her at a Photography Seminar a few years ago so when she agreed to second shoot I was so excited as we could get to know each other a bit better. She is a Doll and So Talented.

Now onto the Wedding.. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. I know there are a lot of pictures but I could not decide on which ones to post.

Their Reception was held at Noah’s in South Jordan. Such a Gorgeous Venue

A Detail Shot by the Second Shooter Celeste with Studio C Photography. She was Amazing and so much Fun to work with!

Check her Out Here

Brooklynne teaches dance so a lot of her Cute Dance Girls came to the Wedding

now that is how you get the garter… this couple surprised us all day. They were HILARIOUS!

My Most Favorite Wedding Picture Ever

Blake and Brooklynne told me that they had a B?IG SURPRISE at the Wedding. One that would shock everyone but honestly I had no idea what it would be until their Romantic, Slow First Dance as a New Couple was over…

Look how Sweet

and the music changed to a club dance type song. They had choreographed a dance together that was ummmmm….. shocking and HILARIOUS! I cannot wait to see this one on video as the videographer captured it. Another reason why you want a videographer… for priceless and un-forgettable moments like this.

These were shot by Celeste Grover

In all this was a Beautiful Wedding and I loved being part of it. For a day I felt like part of the Erickson Family and loved every minute of it.

and of course I cried a little during the daddy daughter dance as I always do

but mostly just laughed as these people were crazy fun

Congratulations and Good Luck in Everything you Do

BROOKLYNNE ~ BRIDALS

2011-05-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

I’ve been meaning to post these for quite some time but after getting behind, it was so hard getting caught up. But.. after my computer crashing on Monday, having to buy a new one, up-load all of my programs, settings, pictures etc… I am just about 100% caught up.

There will be a few posts tonight so make sure to check back.

Now to the Beautiful Bride