Kara & Stephen

It's been a while since I've been able to shoot an engagement session. It's just not the big thing to do in Connecticut, so most of the weddings I shot were strictly wedding... I don't know why they leave out the best parts of getting married, the engagement and bridal shoot... (They've never even HEARD of bridal shoots, at least some people get engagements) Anyway, I had a great time with Kara and Stephen. I shot Kara's senior pictures way back in the Have and now she's out here attending BYU where she met her dashing fiance. Stephen is in to ballroom dance so I told him to teach Kara a few steps while we were shooting. I of course love ballroom dancing, particuarly Latin, which was my specialty in college. I had to bring my step ladder to shoot these too. Usually I'm taller or equal to my subjects, so I can get the best angles. But there was no hope without my ladder with these two. And I'm not complaining. My brothers are all six foot something, but they date short girls. So high five to Stephen for picking someone his own size (Not that I hate tall guys who marry short girls, it's just that there's a limited number of good men in this world, and an even fewer amount who clear six feet, so I feel like they should be reserved for all girls 5'9 and barefoot, let alone in their wedding day heels.)

Well, enough complaints. All I was trying to say is Stephen gets an A+ and I'm so excited for these two!

(I'll warn you now the post is rather long, but what else is new right? We just couldn't stop until the sun went down...)

























































































Oh, and Happy Halloween early to everyone! This is me signing out for the weekend. We're headed up to our parents for some holiday fun. Halloween is just better when you're five so we're going to hang out with my little sister and the rest of my siblings who are all still eligible to trick-or-treat. (And now that we have a kid, doesn't that reinstate our Halloween privileges...We're taking Ella around to a few houses anyway, even if she has no idea why she'll be wearing her fairy wings again.) Pictures to come next week I'm sure.

Yeah for a happy weekend!!!

our Finao party

So let me first say that I am a cruel sister. But it's only out of love and for the good of a surprise. You see, my poor sister has been waiting ever patiently for me to post her femininity session that completely rocked!! But, I made a killer sample album from the shoot and haven't wanted to spoil it until I was able to post pictures of the actual album, along with the layouts and some other fun pictures from her session. Well, guess what arrived in the mail today! But before you get too excited (this being directed to Laura) know that because I love you so much I want you to see it in person first... and so, there won't be any pictures of the album, at least none that give it away. But, as you see in the picture above, it came packaged so nicely that I thought I would at least share those pictures. I know. I am mean. (Sidenote: My sister once gave me a plaque for Christmas that reads "I smile because you're my sister, I laugh because there's nothing you can do about it.") So anyway, this weekend my family is all getting together for family pictures which means I'll be taking the album to my sister. So, next week tune in for the fabulous album pictures, layout, and her killer session.

But wait, don't go anywhere. There is more to this post that just the "wrapper" of her album. Today I also got in a bunch of my other sample albums. I work with the company Finao and love what they do! I use their Element books for my art albums. They have so many gorgeous fabrics and leathers to choose from there are unlimited possibilities for a completely custom album, which is why I love them. I want all my clients to have something completely unique to walk away with, which is why I rarely shoot in the same location twice, and also why I team up with Finao and WHCC (I'll be posting about their awesomeness in the near future. They supply my Life book and many other wonders...).

So when the FedEx man arrived today with two huge boxes, I decided to make a day out of it. My studio manager and I had a party unwrapping our presents. (Yes I have a studio manager. As far as my schedule is concerned, whatever she says goes.) Below are the details. Check it out and remember that far more fun comes from making a mess than keeping your house clean. And having kids gives you the excuse to make fun a daily priority.











A lot of other photographers offer these types of albums (flush-mount) to their wedding clients, and I do too. But I also decided that they would be equally awesome for my femininty clients. And if I'm going to have a sample album around forever (because that's how long these are built to last) it might as well be my sister. And hers is "special" with her own artistic touch which I'll disclose next week... But these arrived from Finao (it's their One album) all assembled and ready to go for life. They do the mounting which means they're flawless. It also means they're pricey, but in many situations (weddings in particular) they're so worth it.






Okay enough of the "wrapper" and Laura's album. On to the fabric and leather swatches to see the possibilities for your custom creation (you being my clients, present, past and future). There are way more swatches than I show below but I figured you didn't want to be here all day ...





















Okay, so now that we've seen the great options, how do they look put together. Well Ella, open the box and let's find out.




(Each package of Elements comes with a "surprise". My studio manager was particuarly fond of today's...)



















The colors are so rich and bold (I love it!), but the best part is how each cover feels...





As of right now they're all empty inside (except Laura's) because they come ready for me to put together (which means they're less pricey than Laura's and a perfect fit for most of my portrait sessions). I love the quality of the books, even though they're self-mount. They're still top notch! Now if only I had Kohleen's mounting skills...

Can you guess which session gets to go on the pages of this one... I'll give you a hint. One of the dresses she wore matches the cover perfectly and she greets you first everytime you stop by...