Posts Tagged ‘Daybreak photographer’

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Tonight, we had our family home evening and made our resolutions for the new year.  Mae Mae made a goal to read 100 books by June and started working toward her goal right away.  She read 6 books tonight and is ready to go back to the library to pick out more.

I like to set goals at the beginning of each year.  I like the determination I feel to better myself.  Some people don’t like to make resolutions as it is hard to keep a goal for an entire year.  I don’t look at it that way.  Not all of my goals even require action every day of the year.  Some are just short term goals.  I guess it takes me back to the days when I was in young women’s.  When I made a goal to work toward and actually accomplished something.  It is so easy to let time slip away and realize that the time was wasted.  No improvement was made.  So, I am thankful for the tradition of New Year’s Resolution and for the motivation I feel to become a better person.

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Every summer of my childhood included some time at the family ranch in Pinedale.  While we were contained (haha) on the ranch, we spent hours learning how to french braid hair, swinging on tire swings, zooming down the zip-line, building pine needle forts, searching for arrowheads….  Okay, the list could go on and on.  We just spent good old-fashioned time developing relationships with our family.  At some point, my cute Grandma coined the term “cousin power” and it stuck.  To this day, whenever we get together with cousins, we call it a cousin power party.

I recently had the chance to photograph these cute cousins.  And it takes me back.  Swinging.  Climbing.  Singing.  Learning that family is always there….

Here are a few favs from their session:

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Well, the Bub pulled over half my keys off my keyboard today…making it VERY difficult to type on.  Thus, I will save the post regarding his MANY misadventures for another day.  So, for now.  Just a few.  Of this handsome guy :)   Tomorrow: pictures of his darling little sister (the Foof’s best friend)…

And the baby of the family…

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She was not excited to have been woken early to get all fancy, just to come sit in the cold and look at me.  Not happy at all!  But, as long as one of her big brothers or sisters held her, she would let me look at her without crying.  It was so sweet to watch her teenage siblings love and care for her.  So, even though she is SO CUTE and I really wanted to capture some images of just her, I am still happy with these pictures.

And finally, a photo of all the kids together:

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Still posting pictures from that recent family session….   Remember that family of 6 children?    Here is cute little “A.”   Love her expressions!

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Still adding favorites from this recent family session…  Also, update on my life:  So, tomorrow we have family coming in town to stay with us for our big weekend (Missy is getting baptized on Saturday!).  But, I have been editing sessions non-stop ALL WEEK!  So, as you can imagine. ..my house has suffered.  I wondered how I was realistically going to get everything done.  How would I have time to clean 4 bathrooms, wash bedding/towels, vacuum, mop, dust, etc.  I literally needed to clean my entire house.  Then…this morning, my parents and sister showed up on my doorstep and told me that the cleaning crew was here.  In a little over an hour, we had my entire house sparkling clean!  And, my Dad fixed two of my sinks that were not draining well too!  Thanks for being such an amazing Mr. Fix-It Dad!  Then, Tressa and I went to Costco together and I got stocked up on food and got a new vacuum (old one did not work anymore).  Went straight to the school to volunteer in Mae Mae’s class for their walking field trip.  I had four kids in my group and we walked around our neighborhood and the kids got to take pictures of the  “signs of Fall.”  As we were leaving the school, Mae Mae was complaining that all she got to do for her field trip was walk around with me and take pictures.  In her words: “I ALWAYS have to do that!”  The other kids, however, thought it was great.  I guess it is not always fun being a photographer’s daughter.  :)    Back to Tressa’s to pick up the Bub and Foof who had been napping/playing at Tressa’s…stayed for dinner – leftover night. (Thanks Tress)  Then, back to Costco with my Dad to return my dryer that NEVER worked.  Well, maybe it worked for a week or two.  Then, not so great.  I had to run every load for two entire 70 minute cycles!  Huge waste of electricity, not to mention the fact that I could not keep up on laundry when the dryer took half the day to dry one load!  Can I just say how much I love Costco?!?  No problem!  Here is store credit in the amount of the original purchase price.  Go pick out a new dryer that actually works.  Thanks!  Home now.  And…you guessed it. .. Editing sessions :)

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I have been editing pictures like crazy lately…which means that my carpel tunnel is acting up.  In fact, last night BJ was even following my directions to edit for me.  Then, all day today I just used my left hand, which is HARD!  So, I won’t type much…but wanted to post a couple of my favorites!  Also, I wanted to put in a plug for my Bellissima Portraits facebook page.  I recently figured out how to add a business page, but so far Bellissima Portraits only has three fans.  And I am one of them.  That is pretty sad.  So, if you have a second, hop on over to Facebook, search Bellissima Portraits and become a fan.  Please?  Thanks.  :)

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Today, we drove the Alpine Loop to enjoy the fall leaves in all their glory!  We met Tressa and kids, Becca & Brandon, my parents and my Grandpa for a picnic lunch and a few leisurely strolls through the foliage.  Of course, we took pictures…which I haven’t even downloaded from my camera yet.  So, for now…we’ll have a tribute to summer.  Coming from Arizona, I never really “got” what summer was about.  But, now that I have experienced a beautiful summer, I now understand.  Summer is a time for running barefoot through the grass, taking a picnic down to the beach, playing a good old-fashioned game of horseshoes in the backyard while waiting for the 4th of July fireworks to start.  And, yes.  I finally understand why summertime is considered “grilling season.”  It is because you actually want to be outside in the summertime.  It is not pure torture to walk outside long enough to get the steak on the grill!  You can even get in your car after it has been sitting in the parking lot the entire time you were in church and still be able to breathe without a heat wave knocking you right over!  I have really loved this summer.  Even though I am excited about pumpkin bread, and cozy story-time by the fire and long-sleeves (I do love wearing cold-weather clothing), a part of me is having a difficult time saying goodbye to an idealic summer….

Here I am thinking I am so clever with my title for this post.  You see, my neighborhood is called Daybreak and I took the picture at dusk.  Ha!  So, here is a little glimpse into the Utopian world I live in…wm web_MG_9798 crop 5x7

I have been working on a big project to photograph all of the temples in the Salt Lake Valley.  While out taking pictures of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, I happened to glance the other direction.  As soon as I saw the clouds, I simply had to take a picture of the street view of the neighborhood.  Aren’t those clouds amazing?!?

Keep checking back in to see the temple portraits I have been working on.  On the day that I release each temple picture for purchase, I will announce it first on my blog and even offer a discount!  Think huge wall portrait.  Or Christmas gifts.  I have spent many recent sunrise and sunset hours focusing (literally) on the temples and am in awe of their beauty and majesty.

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