BIG BIG NEWS...merger!

I've got some big news. No, silly, I'm not pregnant-- a different kind of BIG.

drum roll please...

I'm opening a studio/gallery space in downtown Flagstaff! The merger is hosting many new changes coming your way, including a new web site and much more. It's an exciting time, so keep your blog RSS feeds handy...updates are coming. Here's a sneak peak.

WPJA Third place...YES!

I've been a member of WPJA (wedding photojournalist association) since 2004 and I've placed many times in their quarterly contest, 6th, 8th, 4th (I was robbed)-- you get the idea. However, one doesn't get the blasted gold medallion next to your name unless you win a first, second or third-- kinda like the Olympics (then again, not) THANK YOU Scott and Maureen for walking into perfect light... snap, I got this moment and remember seeing the shadow as I was walking behind them. I thought "BOOYA! Contest entry!" I LOVE real moments like this...this is why I do what I do. I must admit, I haven't been entering much over the last year but now I'm re-energized.

(breathe, my medallion is not there yet, give them a time to update their site)

Edie Lynn Hines

My good friend, Wendy, just had a baby girl 10 days ago. Here is a sneak peak.

Shoot Q Video part II

We were laughing in the office today at this clip as well.

Don't you love how I'm willing to show the world wide web my absolute dorky-ness? Stay with the clip... it's funniest at the end.

Sunflowers and Shoot-Q in Flagstaff

Ah the Sunflowers... more sunflower photos. Katrina and Hollye, two of my best friends in the wedding photo industry, came up to Flag for a visit. We don't see each other enough.

When I'm not tending to the baby, attempting to nourish myself, working on my business, shooting photos, or sleeping, I'm mountain biking. I even rode 17 miles this past Saturday. It was 4 hours and yes, I thought I might die during the first hour; however, I pulled through like a champ, came home, put the baby down for a nap, and took one myself. That's what I do on non-wedding-Saturdays while Shoot-Q is working for me. Mountain biking is made possible by my beloved husband, Matt. Thanks honey for babysitting our boy.

There are a few shots of me mountain biking in the sunflowers... Thanks to my local adventure photographer friend, Dawn Kish. She shot some video for the Shoot-Q ad campaign (they asked me to participate). The question I was supposed to answer was "What were you doing while Shoot-Q worked for you?" but Dawn asked me "How does that make you feel booking a wedding through Shoot-Q, and I answer...(this is obviously a blooper)

(if you are wondering, and I know you are... the awesome salmon colored custom bike you covet in this video is a Coconino... get yourself one, they rule!!)

last two photos © 2008 dawn kish photography

Sarah and RJ | Chapel of the Holy Dove | Flagstaff, AZ

If you are getting married in Flagstaff in late July or August, it will most likely rain on your parade. Right now we are in the "monsoon" season. It rains heavily for a few hours every afternoon. This is not always a horrible thing... but Saturday August 16 it rained ALL afternoon and evening, definitely putting a damper on Sarah and RJ's wedding. Luckily they got married in the Chapel of the Holy Dove, which is a tiny little public chapel with a great view of the peaks (if it's not raining). I was really looking forward to my lovely bride and groom in a beautiful field of sunflowers with the peaks as a backdrop. No such luck!

Sunflowers are native wildflowers here but they only bloom once during the entire year and this year they are ENORMOUS. I convinced Sarah and RJ to go back out with me on Monday, but you guessed it, more rain, yet we found some sunflowers and sunshine to go with 'em. I also shot them in the studio, just in case the rain didn't let up for us a second time.

Here are a few favorites from this event... slideshow will post after I finish this summer's kids, babies, and one last summer wedding edit.

Donielle & Bret | Seven Canyons Resort | Sedona, AZ

This wedding was part of my 2008 "Baby Owen Special." I rarely shoot less than a full day (10 hours). It's difficult to fully document wedding events in less time and stay true to my style (which captures moments from preparation to the end of the evening) This year; however, I had Baby Owen and many families convinced me to shoot their event for less time. It pains me to leave early before the reception has even started, but alas, these are the sacrifices you (temporarily) make when you have a little one. Please also enjoy a previous post about this event. If you would prefer to have your own slideshow window open and see it larger, click here.

Cousins

On the way back from Athens to the Atlanta airport we spent the night with Matt's cousin Chris and his wife, Taylor and their daughter, Evy. Evy was very interested in holding the baby, feeding the baby and overall was a great big helper. I heard she cried a lot the day we left. I was at Chris and Taylor's house for a total of 5 hours before I went to sleep, 2 of which had natural light. We got up the next day and left. I promise to take more photos next time I see cute little Evelyn!

P.S Evy is HYPER camera aware. Many four to five year old suffer from this "affliction." It's hilarious-- she is like a little model; however, it does makes the documentary photos hard... see example below -- hee hee.

Summertime: vacation & Owen

If you are wondering where your June wedding photos are... they are coming THIS WEEK! I took a personal vacation for 10 days back East, so I'm about 10 days behind.

We weren't sure we'd make it for our annual trip to Cape Cod with my family this summer. I was very nervous about flying with a five month old. I really didn't want to be the lady on the plane with the crying baby. Turns out that was the least of my problems (he didn't make a peep on any flight). Mostly baby Owen didn't want to sleep in new places. But other than sleep, we had a blast visiting with my Mom & Dad, and my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids: Karolyna and Timmy. We ate lobsters, we walked on the beach... and I ended up napping a lot since Owen wasn't sleeping well. I wanted badly to document Cape Cod and do a photo safari around Harwich but alas, I didn't make much time for it. I did make time to ride Karla's road bike a couple of days and that felt great. In any free time I get, I like to exercise to maintain my sanity and my waistline :)

If you are wondering where the heck sister Kate is... well she is fighting forest fires all summer out West. We have to change our summer beach trip to hang out with Kate and Norm and we are working on it for next year.

lace hydrangeas
Trampolines (they were around when I was a little girl)
Karolyna
lob-STAH

Karla

My Dad with Owen

Karla and Matthew (my brother) with their kids

Owen laughs

good sunset light

Karolyna 5, Tim 2.5 years old

Karolyna on her 5th birthday

the drama of the cake

Matt with his son

Our boy

Jason & Sue | Athens, GA | August 2, 2008

There will be some back blogging, indeed. Sorry, blog-ville, I didn't want to tote my 5 month old AND my laptop and my camera rig on our first baby plane trip. Next time, next time.

Anywhoo, Jason and Sue are married! Our mutual friend Jason "introduced" Matt and I or rather, we met by coincidence at Jason's house 6 years ago. Whatever. We are so happy for Sue and Jason glad they sealed the deal. Needless to say, we couldn't miss this wedding and Matt was a groomsmen...Sue and Jason wanted me to have "fun" at the wedding and not "work" but I took my camera and a couple lenses because I can't just sit there while great moments occur. I ADORE the shot of Sue reaching out to touch Jason as he read his vows. I just shot the ceremony and enjoyed the rest of the evening with friends while Owen hung out with his Gran (Matt's mom lives in Athens). Thank you Gran Sarah for putting our boy to bed and letting us go into a real live bar. We haven't exactly made bar-hopping a priority since the baby was born so that was really fun.

We were in Athens for 2 nights and it wasn't long enough. Next time I'll take some cool shots of one of my favorite towns.