| Hey friends! Thank you to everyone who has reached out for photos this fall. I am so grateful to all of you for supporting me, my family, and my small business! Details for Utah and Bay Area Mini Sessions! Utah Salt Flats – $315 September 24th – 5:20pm-7:20pm Bonneville Salt Flats Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery Reserve your spot  Jordan Pines – $275 October 8th – 4:40pm-6:40pm Jordan Pines (Big Cottonwood Canyon) Fall colors Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery Reserve your spot Bay Area, CA Natural Bridges State Beach – $399 Friday, October 21st – 4:20pm-6:20pm Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery Reserve your spot  CA Filoli Garden – $399 Sunday, October 23rd – 10am-12pm Entrance fee per person into Filoli is not included. Purchase your entry ticket and spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the gardens with your family.Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery Reserve your spot *There will also be availability for 2 full sessions. Saturday night October 22nd and Sunday October 23rd at sunrise. Reminders for booking:-Make sure you book under your correct time-zone. -Mini Sessions are FCFS. -Bookings are available for the dates on the calendar. If you want a different date/full session, please email me. -Your session time will not be reserved or held until payment has been received. -Details and other instructions will be emailed 1 week before the shoot to those who have booked. -Mini sessions include: 20 minutes, 15 images, printing rights, Family Style Guide, and an online downloadable gallery Book Now! |
utah
Belnap Family | Utah Photographer
Excited to share another extended family session! I will always recommend when your whole family is together to get updated photos. Extended family sessions come with a big group photo as well as individual family pictures. A great way to update all different groupings.
We shot these out at Daybreak and it was once again a beautiful location and the weather was wonderful for the photos. I recommend having a clean location for a big extended family session.
Moncur Vow Renewal | Utah Photographer
The Moncurs, married 10 years ago, wanted to renew their vows with the family they had built together. Next to a bridge with a beautiful view of Oquirrh Lake at Day Break, I was so excited to be a part of such an important part of their life. It was absolutely stunning.
For the service, they only had their kids in attendance, one of whom acted as their officiant. As a spectator to the event, to see their son officiate was such a sweet touch to the whole experience. I loved seeing this because I found the children felt invested in the experience, and what better than to have your children a part of your commitment to your spouse and family. The kids made promises to their parents and to the family also as a part of the ceremony.
There are so many ways you can renew your vows and this was just an example of how they made it unique to them. They had a rose jar where they put their vows after they made their promises, which provides another symbolic and lasting representation they can remember forever.
It truly was such an intimate experience, and I was honored to capture them as they committed themselves once again to one another. They gave gifts to the kids at the ceremony, said a few things to one another, and made their promises. I am so honored that this is my job and grateful for the beautiful memories.
8+ Fun Photo Ideas to do with Kids
One of my favorite things about photographing families is the interaction with little kids. I love getting a good mix of both candid and posed shots to capture their spirit and personalities as they grow up!
I put together a list of 10 ideas you can try to get kids to come out of their shells and feel more comfortable at your sessions. These have worked for me time and time again, and while I know it’s different for everyone, they are worth the shot to get those emotion-filled images.
- Kids Run Under Blanket: Having a prop can help distract them and give them something to play with, but also can help mom and dad not feel like they are having to keep the kids in major control and tied down!
2. Dance to Favorite Song: This is a favorite for little kids. When you have kids who just won’t listen, try a little of their favorite music to get their attention and to get their little bodies moving! It’s so fun to see them do little dances and you often get such darling images from it.
3. Puppet Master: Mom or dad will hold them up as a puppet and make them do silly things! This one is fun because you can get the parents in the shot with the kids.
4. Bring Personalized Props: Like I said earlier, having some type of prop really is great for little kids to keep them distracted and great for older kids because it’s something they love. I had a darling group of boys who LOVED soccer, so we brought their soccer ball and got a few shots. The boys loved it so much, they kept saying how they will totally do this again next year!
5. Ring around the Rosie: Another great one for siblings. If you have little kids, this gives a way for the big kids to be involved and do something with them! As kids age, I know some people can feel a little more uncomfortable with asking them to do things, and this is a great way to get older kids to play with younger kids!
6. Toss Them Around: This is great for mom or dad to do with the kids! Kids love being tossed around! Plus, this is a great strategy for kids who won’t hold still – the parents can toss them in one shot and then the kids are already in their arms to hold still for more serious shots.
7. Have a Pretend Picnic: Kids love getting to play and adventure out in nature. This is a perfect way to get them interacting with you during their “picnic” to distract them from the actual photoshoot.
8. Throw Leaves: During fall time, find a spot with leaves so that you can have them throw the leaves up in the air. This is a great way to inject motion into your images as well.
9. Running Away From and Towards the Camera: These are some of my favorite shots because you get a genuine smile of them “racing” or feeling like they are super heroes. So many ways to encourage them to do this and get them invested with you.
I hope these tips help you to create some magical sessions for your and your families!
Orvin Family | Utah Family Session
This family was so fun and the kids were so attentive and well behaved. In her questionnaire I asked her something about her kids, and she told me that the boys love soccer. At the end of the session, I surprised them and pulled out a soccer ball, and we had them play soccer for some images.
This family is also a great example of what to wear for your family shoot. They had such a great choice in colors, styles for the kids and mom and dad. I would absolutely recommend using them as inspiration for your own photos.
I left this session truly loving my job even more. Not only were they beautiful but the the boys were so sweet and I love how sassy the girls were!
Elise Newborn Lifestyle Session Utah Photographer | Taynee Miller
It’s always an honor when another photographer asks you to do their photos. In this case Kelsey is great friend of mine, and a photographer with a great eye for detail! Her baby Elise was born during Covid and she wanted to wait a few months to do newborns to let things settle down, and have a more interactive and alert baby! We did her photos at 3 months when she was awake, smiling, and still in that sweet cuddly stage!
For baby Elise we did her photos at their home in California. It was so fun to capture her with her siblings and getting those special moments with their family. We focused on more of a journalistic approach, which was so special and you still saw the ups and downs of motherhood and bringing a new baby into your home!
Throughout my time there I was able to get intimate moments with their new baby as well as mom consoling her other children and a lot of genuine connections. During the shoot, one of the older kids got hurt, and I was able to capture mom spending some one on one time with them also, which I know as a mother I would love to have that imagery as well. With both parents there I also got to see some of dad with the babies. I loved watch Dad dancing with Emaline, it was such a special moment to watch them interact together!
I love all newborn shoots but this one really felt special to me! I hope you love getting to see a glimpse into their session! 🙂
