it's been a busy few weeks with lots and lots of pictures being taken. i've loved it! this evolution into photography has been an adventure for me. i haven't really known what direction i'm going with it. and i'm still not sure where it's headed. but for now, it's a hobby that makes me happy and i hope makes other people happy too. i hope you don't mind me posting a bunch of photos lately. like i said, it just makes me happy. so i might as well!

it all started last year with this family. and here they are a year later. still just as beautiful!

🙂

she's got it. 🙂

i spent a morning with this family a couple weeks ago. they have two little boys that are just cute. is it okay to call boys cute? well, i am. because they are just that. so, so cute! mom brought along some cars for the boys to play with. i thought the cars were so cool. then she told me they were from her husband's mission in spain. even cooler.

a little game of peekaboo together.

still cute.

thanks again for a fun morning!

when i say i love these families i've been taking pictures of lately, i truly do mean it. here is another family that just oozes goodness. jeff works in the scouting program with scott, and they spend many a weekend together tying knots and singing camp songs. (i dare you to ask jeff about his camp songs. yes. go ahead and ask him to sing one for you.)

aside from that, i really feel grateful to know such good people who are such good parents. and i love to be around them because they make me want to be good too.

here's a little more from them.

oh my goodness, this little girl is cute!

yes, stephanie, you are gorgeous!

i love some good mama loving!

the sky was absolutely breathtaking that night. crazy clouds and awesome colors!

love you guys!

after the family piled out of the car, mom told me that the littlest was having a bit of drama (i have no idea what that is like 😉 ;)). the teddy bear was clutched close to her side and it looked like there was absolutely no chance of prying it from her cute little fingers. no problem, i thought. everybody needs a good teddy bear to make it better sometimes, right? so teddy came along. and i'm glad it did!

as i was looking through their pictures this morning, this one made me smile. 

and this one. teddy bear and all…i think it's absolutely perfect!

lots of stuff to share this week. stay tuned. 🙂

so here it is. some very very good stuff. not because of me. no, not
at all. but because of a wonderful family that let me follow them
around with a camera for a while. i can't seem to put it all into words
but i just love watching families be together. i love watching how a
mom takes her boys by the hand, how a dad hoists silly boys onto his
shoulders, how a mom tickles and makes them laugh, or how a husband and
wife look at each other. for lack of a better word…it's just simply
good stuff.

i love this family for lots of reasons. one of them
being that they took a chance on me. took a chance on me when i wasn't
really sure of my abilities. it's amazing what you can do when someone
believes in you. they did that for me. and i love them for it.

here's some more of their beautiful family.

this little guy is ella's buddy/crush. you should see how she's already playing games!

when we finished, dad lined up with the boys for a race. on your mark, get set…

thanks again!!

spent some time with this beautiful family again this past weekend. so glad they came back for more! hoping to share more good stuff from them later this week.

p.s. i love in the top image how mom & dad are behind watching boys be boys.

i guess it's officially family picture season. and i can't wait! lots of good stuff happening this year. it's gonna be fun.

editing pictures from this family's session. this one is definitely my favorite. love the picture…but i love the family even more! i'll share more soon.

i was standing in the kitchen with my sister-in-law when her phone rang. she picked it up and from the conversation i could tell something was terribly wrong. she began to cry. my heart began to pound.
whatever had happened, i knew i needed to help and support her.

she hung up the phone and told me her newborn niece had been diagnosed with down syndrome. rather than sadness, a feeling of peace rushed through me. i knew that a beautiful and valiant daughter of God had just come to earth. and i couldn't wait to meet her.

we talked for a while about the challenges ahead. it still hurt, but there was comfort. a comfort that came from realizing we have the opportunity to love her. an opportunity and a blessing indeed.

i'm pretty sure this sweet little girl will have more love than she knows what to do with!

big sister is a cutie too.

a few years ago i wrote down some dreams i want to accomplish someday before i am old and bald (i'm convinced that i will go bald before jeff. dallin actually believes this too. he's concerned for me. hah!)

i've been chipping away at some of them. others still remain untouched and will for a long time. and that's okay. i know there is a time to forge ahead and a time to be patient.

this past weekend i was able make another dent in my quest to be a "crazy good photographer" (i've got the crazy part down) by soaking up some knowledge from one of my fave photographers nicole hill gerulat. i love her simple and fresh style.  

i continue to be amazed at the power of light and what you can create by manipulating it. here are a few shots i took during the lighting demo. it didn't hurt that this girl had the most incredible eyes and skin either!

now hopefully i can pull out these little tidbits and put them to good use…someday.

and that someday will obviously be after baby buddy comes to town. he's the first someday on my list!

p.s. thanks again for all the love about our family video below! 🙂