Impromptu photo shoot - of me!

My mom cracks me up sometimes. I was all dressed up to go to a party when my mom looks out the window and says "hey - that lighting is perfect, let's go". So I followed her outside where she spent about 3 minutes photographing me. She tells me, "I'm just playing with... how do you say it?... bo-keh..." Add some backlighting to the bokeh for a result that looks like this:

This photo is my favorite of the set, but I uploaded it into photoshop because I felt that the color of the shirt was distracting. So I masked it and ever-so-slightly de-saturated it's blue color. It fits in so much better now.

No photoshop required for this one. Thanks mom for the impromptu photo shoot! I like how my hair has a red tint in this one, like yours. I guess we can thank the Arizona sunset lighting for that.

-ness

Long Arm Quilting

This is Carol Poulson. She is a professional quilter and more importantly, my Mother and Jenesse's Grandma. She pieced this amazing quilt as a gift for Jenesse's graduation from ASU's nursing program. Then she let Jenesse quilt it on her Gammell long arm machine.

The lighting here is not the best. She has a VERY bright overhead light above her machine.

It turned out BEAUTIFUL! To see more of her quilts and this one finished, go to:

http://qualityquilter.wordpress.com/

You won't be disappointed. :-)

Morning Photo Session, Downtown Phoenix

I am excited to post some of the engagement photos of Domanique and her fiance, Derek.

She wanted two different styles of photography, so I took her downtown Phoenix for a crumbly-old, urban feel. Lucky us - it was a beautiful morning after a stormy night.

I do like to add small enhancements (sometimes significant) to my photos, and so most of these have elements of photoshop.
-jenesse

This one I used cross processing for a different take on a portrait.

For this next one, I loved the framing of the crumbling bricks and concrete, but the background received quite a bit of photoshop help.

These two met in their LDS mission in Oklahoma. They are ideally framed by a random old door that reminds them of tracting. Reminiscing...

Just hanging out - got to love that.

Romantic? Yes!

This one seems to say to me: contentment. I love it.

Congratulations you two! By the way - I LOVED spending time on your engagement photos. Thanks!

Derek and Domanique's Engagement Portraits

These two are getting married in June this year, so first off: congratulations! And secondly, we're hoping you enjoy the results of your engagement photo session! - kimber

I can't say enough about this perfect lighting.

Doesn't he just look incredibly happy?

Thanks for letting us be a part of your wedding planning - we wish you two all the best!

Spontaneous Photography

Happy New Year!

While traveling to visit my grandfather (their great-grandfather) we spotted these train tracks and just knew we needed to get out and take pictures...

That snow really does reflect the sunlight.
Four out of five of my kids. We'll be sure to e-mail it to Jeff in Spain. ;)

Just like last year

If it happens two years in a row - does it automatically become tradition? This year my family begged me to come along, citing their need for a photographer at the bottom of the slope.

Jillian's first attempt at skiing - ever. She did great.

It was too just too cold! But I have to admit, it made for some great shots...

Thanks to a passer-by for this shot:

Sneak Preview...

Today I had 2 photo shoots with this lovely couple: one with just me, taking advantage of early morning lighting in Downtown Phoenix, and the second was in the late afternoon with my mother joining us for a slightly more formal look.

This is a preview of my urban-style photo shoot in the morning.

They both enjoy watching baseball games - so it was only fitting to have the ballpark as part of the background. I love it.

I absolutely loved spending time photographing these two. *sigh*

Classic black and white. Just you wait until I've put in my time with photoshop and the lovely photos I have of these two! Watch for another post at a later date for that!!