Hardie Photography

Lucy Newborn Shoot

2012-01-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

Little Lucy is an absolute doll! She really didn't want to go to sleep - but we still got some beautiful photos. I also loved getting the chance to photograph big brother while he played in the background. These kids are simply gorgeous.

And yes, I did use the same photo twice in this post. I loved it so much in black and white and color, I just couldn't decide.

McNeil Family

2011-12-12T04:43:00.000-08:00

Another family portrait shoot done this fall. For Christmas cards of course, but also to announce the impending birth of their first child. Congratulations Katie and Cam! You guys are stunning.

Horey Family

2011-12-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

With two energetic boys, we really had our work cut out for us on this shoot. But the Horeys did great, and this last image especially is just killing me! What a sweet moment.

Baby C Newborn Shoot

2011-11-14T12:58:00.000-08:00

Sweet Baby C was such the little gentleman. He slept like a rock through most of the shoot and was just so handsome that it made my job easy indeed. I absolutely love being in a home with a newborn. There is so much love and tenderness. Just look at these doting parents and their precious little one! Truly, it's a joy to capture.

If you are interested in booking a newborn shoot, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Anna May Newborn Shoot

2011-11-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

After being there to welcome this girl into the world, it was a special treat to take her newborn portraits a week later. I rarely use a lot of color images in my newborn work, but Anna May just glowed and I couldn't resist. Get a load of the sweet newborn smiles she gave us too!

Welcome to the world, tiny one.

Anna May's Birth Story - NYC Birth Photographer

2011-10-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

It is such a special experience to be present when a new soul enters the world. It was no different with Anna May. One of the most beautiful newborns I have ever seen. To every family who entrusts me to document these memories for them - I say thank you. Truly, it is a privilege.

If you are interested in having your birth story documented, please contact me at whitneyhardie(at)gmail(dot)com.

Thomas' Birth Story - NYC Birth Photographer

2011-09-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

I arrived in the middle of the night. We hung out, photographed, talked, slept, and waited. Went on a walk in the morning, then waited some more. I left in the afternoon to give the laboring woman some space. When I came back, Thomas had arrived. I may have missed the moment of his arrival, but I was still so glad to have captured the memories of the big day for this family. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

Yes, I did photograph a woman laboring with NYC in the background. One more reason to love my job!

If you are considering having your birth story documented, please contact me at whitneyhardie(at)gmail(dot)com. I'd love to talk with you about it.

Monuments

2011-09-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

With the tenth anniversary of September 11th, I've been thinking a lot about home and country and values. What are the things that I hold most dear? What do I have in common with my fellow man? Here are some images I took this time last year while visiting Washington DC - it felt fitting to share them now.

Colby Family

2011-08-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

These images have got me really missing the autumn weather (and sweaters and beanies). But mostly, they make me miss the Colby's We had to say goodbye to this awesome family a couple months ago and it was a huge bummer. As much as you guys loved New York, I'm pretty sure New York loved you more.

Pallesen Family

2011-04-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, spring is a great time to have your family pictures taken. I'll be sharing a couple sessions I did in the city this fall. Meet the Pallesens and their lovable doggies!

Early Spring

2011-04-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

A few shots from Central Park two weeks ago. Despite what the weather forecast suggests, I just know spring is here. I love the transition in this time of year. The violence of bare branches gives way to softening buds. Winter reluctantly releases her grasp on the world.

I wonder if Todd and Shelly are still together. Can a relationship expressed through defacement really stand the test of time?

Website Issues

2011-04-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Please accept my apologies for the lack of new content. Oh, and I'm sorry the old content cannot be viewed either. I post my images through a website called Photobucket and some of their accounts have been down (including mine) for more than two days now. Ridiculous!

Needless to say, frustration abounds. There are lots of photos coming, just as soon as this gets fixed.

In the meantime I'll be busy crafting a Photobucket voodoo doll.

Hawaii - Part II

2011-03-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Monuments: Pearl Harbor and Punchbowl National Cemetery

So much sacrifice on one small island. I was glad to have visited these solemn sites.
I like how even in a place as awe-inspiring as the USS Arizona, Ellie is still the main attraction. She's that cute, people.

Hawaii - Part I

2011-03-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

It snowed in NYC yesterday. That's really got me wishing I could be here instead.

Why Photograph Birth?

2011-03-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

This is the image that does it for me.

The one that solidifies my desire to document birth.

The one that makes me kick myself for not having someone document Ellie's arrival.

The one that perfectly captures that transforming moment

when a woman becomes a mother.

From Stacey (pictured above):

While pregnant with my second baby, I heard about birth photography for the first time. I thought it would be neat to have photos to help me remember the big day and was lucky enough to find Whitney. We talked beforehand about what I wanted and when the time came, she met us at the hospital. She was very patient and professional throughout the whole process. I felt very comfortable with her and I hardly knew she was in the room during the labor. When I saw the photos for the first time I was speechless. She captured so beautifully both the quiet moments and the difficult contractions, all the while preserving my wish for modesty. And of course seeing a photo of my baby the instant after he was born was amazing. I will forever treasure the photos that Whitney took and am so, so grateful that I decided to have those special moments captured.

Pricing and Contact

2011-03-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Please be aware of my new pricing scheme, effective immediately.

Family Session   $400
          3-5 people
          1 hour shooting
          20+ edited proofs online
          high resolution disc for printing

Couple Session   $200
          1 hour shooting
          15+ edited proofs online
          high resolution disc for printing

Headshots / Individual / Newborn Portrait   $150
          1 hour shooting
          10+ edited proofs online
          high resolution disc for printing

Birth Story   $500
          unlimited coverage
          birth story slideshow with music
          high resolution disc for printing
          *all birth stories are presented in black and white

Pet Portraits   $75
          1/2 hour shooting
          10+ edited proofs online
          high resolution disc for printing

*for a customized wedding quote, please contact me with details of the event
*additional shooting time: $50/half hour
*all prices subject to sales tax

          Contact info:
          whitneyhardie(at)gmail(dot)com
          801.367.0118

Flynn's Birth Story - NYC Birth Photographer

2011-03-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

These images literally changed my life. To be there for the first moments of a person's life is amazing. To see the strength of a woman and the loving support that surrounds her during birth is remarkable. I have so much respect for the birthing process, and to capture these moments for a family is absolutely what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I've finally found my photographic calling. To Stacey, Joe, and little Flynn - thank you so much for trusting me with this sacred task.

If any of you are at all interested in having your birth story documented, please contact me! The first three women in NYC (with a due date before October) to book with me will have their birth story documented free of charge.

Baby Charlie

2011-03-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

Want to see something neat? In the last post (Rachel and Andrew's wedding) there's a photo of my dear friend Katie cutting a rug with her husband, Keith. Just hours after that photo was taken, Katie went into labor! I was fortunate enough to meet little Charlie and photograph him before leaving Utah. Feast your eyes on this sweet guy.

The perfect tiny ears, fuzzy newborn hair, adorable forehead wrinkles. There are so many things you want to remember about your baby's first days. Thank you Katie, for letting me capture it.

Rachel + Andrew Wedding

2011-03-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

Coldest wedding to date! But it was definitely worth it as I got to spend time with some of my favorite people in the world. Andrew and Rachel, thanks so much for having me out to shoot your wedding. It really was my pleasure.

Well friends, my break is over and I am so excited to share with you some of my recent work. For those of you who still check this little blog, thanks for being here. I hope you'll come back often this week for some very exciting announcements.

A Little Break

2010-08-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

This is the image I'd like to leave you with for now. I took Eleanor to play on the swings for the first time and she LOVED it. She just laughed and squealed the whole time - it was so much fun for both of us.

This is where my heart is right now. Having tiny adventures with my tiny daughter. I haven't felt the desire to seek out clients or shoot a lot of professional work right now. And so I am taking a break. I'm going to focus on her, on our home, and on shooting for the pure joy of shooting. And when the time is right, I'll be back.

In the meantime, if you'd like you can follow us on our adventures over at another space I've been cultivating. Making it Here - it's a blog about our life in Manhattan. I can't promise that it will be super entertaining - though it does make me laugh. It will not be professional, it may not be profound, and it certainly isn't always appropriate. But this blog will be full of my thoughts, stories, and of course copious photographs of Ellie. I hope to see you there.

Thank you always for reading. I'll be back when I'm back.

Ode to the Diorama

2010-08-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, where does the time go? Oh well, no excuses. I'll make it up to all you loyal readers by putting TONS of images in this post.

Last month we went to the American Museum of Natural History for Joe's birthday and we had an absolute blast! My favorite part? The super amazing dioramas. There is something absolutely magical about them to me.

Few of you know that I attribute my love of photography to the old view master toys. Remember those? I absolutely LOVED staring into mine. A tiny scene right before my eyes - I could be anywhere, looking at anything, for as long as I wanted. It was thrilling. I had the same experience at the museum, staring through my viewfinder and creating compositions in the scenes before me.

So, now that you've seen my "safari" photos - which is your favorite?

I like my city with a whole lotta sky

2010-07-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

Staten Island Ferry

2010-07-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Home Improvement - Part 2

2010-07-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd stop in and share my latest project in the Home Improvement arena. By the way, did anyone else watch that show growing up? It was a staple in my house.

Back to the project. I refinished a chair that I've been meaning to work on for months and months - and I love the way it turned out. I originally purchased it for $15 at an antique mall and used it in a shoot for my BFA project.

Before

And After

I feel like this chair has new life! I'm very happy with the results and I think the updated version fits perfectly in our new space. This is the first project where I visualized something in my head and then made it happen - it's a great feeling. One of my favorite parts was picking out the fabric. It's from Amy Butler's home decor line.

I'll admit to being a bit of a fabric nerd. Her site makes me really giddy. So that's the latest project around here. We're expecting a rug and couch in the near future. Then just a couple bookshelves later and I should be ready to share our living room with you!

Check back all this week for my latest photos of the city!

Showtime!

2010-07-10T09:30:00.001-07:00

What a fun shoot! This was my last collaboration with Haleh before leaving Provo. Can you believe she made that amazing pink wig? And of course she did the make-up and styling for the whole set. Haleh's talents never cease to amaze me and we had such a great time with this project.

The idea is that these two ladies are circus performers - I like to think of them as circus divas - getting ready in their dressing room. I love how there is a little "frenemy" action going on. Congratulations girls - you pull off freak-show glamour very well.

If you could choose names for these characters - what would they be? I'd name them Hildy and Rosalinda.

H & J Flanagan

2010-07-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

Don't you think initials instead of names is just super fancy? I thought "H" would appreciate that gesture.

I've known Holly since before there was a Jack. In fact, it's hard to imagine there was a time when I didn't know Holly. She's a kindred spirit and a half (if such a thing exists) and I was so happy for the chance to capture the love between this mother and her son.

Want to see how much Jack has grown? Check out his newborn session.

Ray Family

2010-07-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

What can I say about the Rays? How about this:

I can't count the number of times they have fed us.

We stay up waaaay later at their place than we ever do at home.

They introduced us to the glory that is Rockband - enough said.

Joe and Stephanie have been awesome friends to us, and for so many reasons I was very glad to do this family photo session with them. See, don't they just look like a fun couple?

Looks like they've still got the fire - what a couple of lovebirds.
(I wrote that specifically to upset Steph)

We love you guys! To view the rest of this session or order prints, click here.

Land That I Love

2010-07-05T14:12:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Independence Day. I spent the day with family and I felt myself often reflecting upon how very thankful I am to have been born in this country. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the peaceful circumstances in which I live, and for the great abundance with which I have been blessed.

We can always do better and be better, but without reservation I am very glad to be an American.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend and check back for new posts all week!

Happy Birthday Joe

2010-07-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

Today is my Joe's 25th birthday! I know many bloggers do a little tribute to their loved ones on their birthday, full of flattering pictures of the honored person. But on my blog, I like to keep it a little more real.

Here is Joe sleeping - on the morning of his birthday - this is how he looks before the birthday fun begins. So peaceful.

Pssst. Waaaaa-aaake uuuuuup - IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!

One great thing about Joe - he always wakes up with a smile! I love that smile.
Then Ellie decided she need to come to bed to give her dad some birthday love. What a great cuddler she is, so affectionate.

Or maybe she's shielding her father from the stench of her stinky diaper.

Either way, she's a great daughter.

In honor of Joe's big day we're all going to the American Museum of Natural History. Tonight we're ordering dinner in at Carl and Becca's place (Joe's brother and sister-in-law) and watching Avatar courtesy of Netflix.

I think it's going to be a great day. Happy birthday my love.

Harrison Family

2010-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here's another fun family session from the crazy couple days before we left Provo. The Harrisons are pretty awesome people if you ask me. Jessica was my sewing TA in college and she worked her fingers to the bone making the costumes for my Daughters of Eve project.

Now she and Kirk have the happiest baby on the block, and it was my pleasure to photograph them all.

I have a real soft spot for babies who try to eat their mom's face.

Don't mind the blanket - it was just a wee bit cold for the little guy. Plus he pulls it off so well.

To see more photos of this family and to order prints click here.

Home Improvement - Part 1

2010-06-29T13:33:00.001-07:00

I had high hopes of following a week of daily posting with another week of daily posting, but last week found us a little distracted with our first painting project. We decided to transform our living room from plain-old rental to a more sophisticated space...

by painting the walls a lovely shade of gray.
Thank you Apartment Therapy for fueling my gray obsession.

This is what it looked like halfway through. We did finish and boy does it look nice! However, I'll not be showing anymore photos until we have it a little more furnished.
Unless of course you don't want to see at all. What do you think? Interested in the updates of our home improvement, or would you prefer the blog stayed true to professional photos and pictures of Ellie? Let me know in the comments!

Reeder Family

2010-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

This family is awesome! Especially Haley, my dearest walking buddy in Provo whom I miss terribly now that we have relocated.

Sigh. Tear.

Anyway, I was very glad the Reeders decided to take part in the mini-session shoots because their photos are fabulous. Just check out the baby blues on that little guy!

Thanks guys, for being not just great models but also great friends.

1/2 Birthday

2010-06-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

I know it's late to be posting, but I couldn't let the day go by without having a commemorative post for Ellie's 6 month mark. Here's a little something we put together to document her big day:

Eleanor was just as surprised as we were to realize that today is her half birthday.

Six months already!
Where does the time go?

I asked her what she'd like to do on her special day, and she gave it some thought.

She told all she really wanted for her 6 month birthday was to share with you readers a few of her favorite activities.

She asked me to document it in picture form for her.

Of course I obliged. (she is my daughter after all)

I know she has a choice when it comes to photographers and
I'm glad she still picks me.

Throughout the day, Ellie enjoys sitting all by herself.
She finds these brief seconds of independence exhilarating.

though, she's not one to show too much excitement on her face.

Standing up in and of itself is not all that thrilling...

but she uses the opportunity to cut a rug.

And does she ever love dancing.

Ellie assures me that dancing is only a temporary diversion until she perfects her true passion:
tightrope walking

I'm just glad she's found a calling this early in life.

When it comes to baby games like peek-aboo, it's not the big reveal that thrills her.
She prefers to stay covered and have her own party under the blanket.

And who doesn't love a little quality time with one's feet?
I know I do.

But her very favorite thing of all is a

simple.

bendy.

straw.

She's obsessed with it.

All day long she chews,

and chews,

and chews.

I try to get her interested in other things.

"Ellie," I say, "there's a whole wide world out there. Let's go explore the city."

But she just looks at me and says, "Hand over the be bendy straw, lady."
No rattle will hold her interest,
No stuffed animal will do.
Only the straw.

You can see why I'm concerned.

Finally, I'm forced to stage an intervention. I turn to the only thing she loves more than chewing on that straw - looking at photos of herself.

I know she's got a vain streak, but can you blame her?

Here's an old favorite - circa. April 2010

She was only 4 months old.

We look at these photos together and she and I both marvel at how she's grown.

Happy 1/2 Birthday Eleanor Rose!

Thanks for the indulgence - not that you had much of a choice as it is my blog. I promise a return to normal, professional (read: non-baby) posts on the morrow.

Hardie Family

2010-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

That's right - they have the same last name as me. This is my brother-in-law's family and as far as mini-sessions go, they got the "mini-est" of them all.

You see, while the Bloomfield family (see previous post) may have a daughter who loves the camera, Dave and Mandee were blessed with two rambunctious little boys who love to do anything except sit still for family photos. But we still got a few good ones in there.

It helps that my sister-in-law is such a looker.

I know this isn't the photo most people choose to hang on their wall, but I love capturing the moments that say, "This is what having a family is really all about." There's something honest about this image.

What about you? Do you prefer candid craziness or posed perfection? What would a quintessential photo of your family look like?

In ours Joe would be laughing out loud while Ellie chews on my finger and I look perturbed about something. We would all be wearing gray sweatsuits - don't ask why.

Bloomfield Family

2010-06-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

And now for a little math exercise. Here is an equation I'd like you all to memorize:

2 adoring parents

plus 1 darling 4 year old

equals

One Big Happy Family

I just love the Bloomfields. They were our neighbors and still are our good friends. Little Shey keeps me in stitches over the things she says and does. I am so thrilled to have taken these images for them! Thanks guys, your mini-session was an absolute success.

Haleh's Costumes - Part II

2010-06-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

The amazing Haleh is at it again. Can you believe she made this jacket and coordinating vest? We all had such a fun time with this shoot and I am in love with the colors.

Anyone looking for a stylist, make-up artist, or costume designer in Utah right now? If you don't look into Haleh Risdana, you are really missing out.

If you could dress up as anything, channel any personality and have it photographed, who would you be?

In Transit

2010-06-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Although we have arrived here in New York, I still feel a bit disjointed - out of whack. So I tell people we are still in transit. Because it just doesn't feel settled yet.

But not to fear, all this week I have a goal to do a little city exploring every day. By the end of the week, I'm sure I'll feel more at home in my surroundings. So I will be exploring and photographing all week and every day this week you will be able to check back to see a bunch of shoots I did before leaving Provo.

Win. Win.

Megan's Graduation Photos

2010-04-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Megan is graduating from UVU. I am so proud of her. We had a lot of fun taking portraits - I just can't get over her beautiful blue eyes. Congratulations Megan!

This is Megan, channeling the fierceness.

Nothing quite like a crossroads in life, right Meg?

Click here to view all the photos and to order prints.

Spring Mini-Sessions

2010-03-08T15:41:00.003-08:00

Spring mini sessions are happening this Saturday afternoon. I am so excited to photograph the families who have already signed up!

There are a couple slots still open. Email me today to reserve your spot at hardiephoto(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Bouathong + Clark

2010-03-08T15:39:00.002-08:00

Bouathong and Clark are so much fun to be around! I couldn't be more thrilled that they were my first shoot back from maternity leave. Having been married for a few years now, these two wanted to recreate some of the wedding day magic and have some nice portraits made.

[I get this request more than you would think and it is always so much fun.]

It was a wintry and gloomy day, but they didn't mind one bit. These two are full of laughter and smiles - and Bouathong is not afraid to bring the fierceness. I love it!

To see the entire event and order prints click here.

Announcements

2010-03-08T15:39:00.001-08:00

Whoa, quite few announcements to give here, so hang on to your seats.

First and foremost, I'm back! That's right, maternity leave is over and I am ready to work again. So if you'd like me to shoot your wedding, engagements, family photo, pet pictures (whatever), just send me an email - I'd be happy to chat with you. In fact, check back soon because images from my most recent portrait session are coming right up!

Secondly, I'm moving! Yes, Joe and I are packing up little Ellie and a few of our possessions and making the long haul out to New York City. My husband will be working for Citigroup in Manhattan and I am super excited for the big city adventure. We're leaving the beehive state at the end of May, so be sure you keep that in mind when planning the fancy photo shoot you're hiring me to do. It'll have to be in March, April, or May - otherwise you'll be flying me out!

photos by me, 2007

Thirldy, (is that a word?) I'm offering mini-sessions! It's kind of a going away present from me to you. Mark your calendars for April 10th, because that's when the mini-session madness is going down. What is a mini-session exactly? I'm so glad you asked:

20 min. of shooting
5 - 10 proofs
1 5x7 print
Disc of edited images (4x6 print size)
Price: $50

A mini-session is the perfect solution to a number of common problems my clients face:
- your small children have a limited attention span
- your husband has a limited attention span
- your budget has a limited....well, you know.

Mini-sessions are great for a small family portrait, senior portraits, photos of your children in adorable Easter outfits, you name it! Because honestly, it doesn't take much time to get a great image.

Contact me ASAP to reserve your session spot, they are going to go quickly!

How Magical

2010-03-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

How magical would it be if this was the view out of my front window?

This was the most amazing autumn evening at the salt flats a few years back and I felt completely overwhelmed by nature's majesty before me. To this day, looking at these images fills me with gratitude that I was there to witness and capture such a remarkable day when the ground became the sky.

I'm going to try my hardest to conjure these images in my memory when I look out the window, instead of bemoaning the dead grass and scattered patches of snow I see before me. Because you know what? Something just as miraculous is happening outside my window...

Spring is coming.

Yes, slowly but surely it is coming. I can feel it deep inside. I didn't make a single New Year's resolution, but at the cusp of spring I find myself full of ambition.

Be inspired.

Shoot more.

Blog.

Pursue projects.

Create works of art.

Now that the hazy newborn days have passed me by I have renewed energy to create and achieve. And of course, to revive my long neglected blog. What does Spring awaken in you?

Ellie and her Dad

2010-02-09T21:36:00.001-08:00

I just love to see these two together. Melts my heart every time.

These pictures were taken back when she was just 2 weeks old. It's amazing how fast she's growing and changing! Here's a more recent picture:

That smile. I spend all day everyday living for those smiles. No matter how many she gives me it is never enough.

Cross Eyed

2010-01-15T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love it when my baby crosses her eyes - it makes me feel like maybe she's actually as tired as I am. We are compatriots in the land of sleeplessness.

The Reason I've Been Away

2010-01-12T09:41:00.001-08:00

I do hope you will excuse my absence from this blog of mine. For the past month my attentions have been completely focused on this little one:

Eleanor Rose Hardie
Dec. 17, 2009
6lbs. 7oz. 19 inches

Absolutely Perfect

I hope the sweet memories of newborn days stay clear forever. I hope the sting of sleepless nights fades quickly.

No promises about when I'll be back, but I will....

Autumn Wrap-Up

2009-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it's December 1st - my quest to enjoy the Autumn season is officially complete. I feel this was an important exercise for me to do. I found myself feeling much happier this fall as I tried to really appreciate the little things around me.

Crunchy leaves, fresh brisk air, surprisingly warm days, light sweaters...all these things I previously pushed aside in my hurry to hate on Winter. Well, my perspective has changed this year and I have found many things to be thankful for.
One thing I am not thankful for : acorn squash. Or maybe just squash in general. I went on this I-love-fall-time kick and bought all these harvest-y foods at Sunflower Market. Turns out, I hate gourds. No matter how many different ways I tried to make it, I could not come up with a single recipe that didn't make me feel like I was eating baby food. So. Lesson learned.

Everything else about the season turned out fine, though.

Now that the lovely fall colors have disappeared and everything is brown and dreary. I feel ready for the snow to come. I can't believe I just said that! I usually hate snow. But my tree is up, my baby is coming, and I'm ready for a little Christmas spirit.

Bring on the Winter - I'll celebrate that too!

Tonight I made my first advent calendar. It's nothing super fancy, but I found this free downloadable version and printed it out. I've been inspired by the traditions of Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day (a favorite blog) and so I'm going to fill our calendar with ideas and activities for Joe and I to do to get the most from the Christmas season. I hope this will be a new tradition for our growing family. If you get a chance, check out Jordan's list - it's pretty inspiring!

Walker Family

2009-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

This was such a great session. And you know what? It only took 30 minutes. You don't need a ton of time to get great photos. You do need a photographer you trust, a nice golden light, and a baby full of laughter.

By the way - I miss these fall colors terribly.

Mark and Katie, thanks for hiring me - your little family is just beautiful.

See all the photos and order prints by clicking here.

M Family

2009-11-27T13:17:00.001-08:00

This family session was a little different than most. Sarah said she really didn't want her family photos to feel posed and preferred a very natural look. What exactly does that mean for me as a photographer? It means we spent most of the time chasing around this little toddler, capturing moments of her playing with her parents.

It was a different way of shooting for me, but I rather enjoyed it - and I love how a couple of the photos have a fly-on-the-wall feeling to them.

Of course their daughter was the star of the show - with a face like that, who could object?

Because of the fast-paced nature of this shoot, I actually shot most of the images digitally, which is also out of the norm for me. Lately when I think of digital work, the only thought that comes to mind is this:

Please Santa, bring me one of these and one of these. Please, Please, Please.

Thanks to the M family - you guys are a blast!

Hainsworth Family

2009-11-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

What a great family! They are all so photogenic - it was a real dream working with them. The Hainsworths have four handsome boys and three gorgeous daughters in law. No grandchildren yet, but you can bet that when they do arrive they'll be just as dapper as the rest.

I hope you're all preparing to spend a great holiday with family and friends - I just love this time of year!

Done. Done. Done.

2009-11-24T17:25:00.001-08:00

Wow. Things have been very crazy around here lately. How crazy, you ask? Well, here are some indicators:

1. It took me three separate attacks to actually finish the dishes.

2. By the time I folded all the clean laundry that was strung around the study, I needed to wash more underwear.

3. When people would say, "How are you?" I drew a blank. Completely unsure of how to answer.

Yep, it's been a little nuts. But my ORCA project is done. done. done. I am so happy with it. I would like to thank everyone who came out to see the photographs - your support was overwhelming. Now that this behemoth project is finished, I can start getting back to normal.

Hey, here's one sign that life is less crazy now:

Joe bought me these flowers for the opening night and I actually had time to make a nice arrangement out of them. I love having flowers on the table. More signs that life is slowing down:

1. There WILL be blog posts this week. Many of them. Prepare yourself for some great family shoots as well a little virtual tour of my Deaf culture show.

2. I have clean underwear.

3. How am I doing? I'm doing great - thanks for asking.

To all my clients

2009-11-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

If you are wondering why you haven't seen your family photos yet, here's why:

(click to view larger)

Thank you so much for your patience. I promise lots of great photos coming up soon!

Also, I hope to see many of you at the opening reception. Come learn more about Deaf culture, enjoy photographs, food, and conversation.

Brooke + Andrew Engagements

2009-11-04T22:54:00.001-08:00

Brooke and Andrew are very cool people. very. very. cool. She wore a flower in her hair. The minute I saw that, I just knew it was going to be a great shoot. They laughed the entire time and I left that evening with one thought running through my head:

Man, I love my job.

OK, so I was digging the sun flare that day. Can you blame me?

Thanks guys, it was a blast and you were great.

P.S. For you photo nerds out there...this is the first batch of film I've had processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. They come highly recommended by Jon Canlas and Jose Villa. I must say, I am completely sold. Not only is the work beautiful, but their customer service is out of this world! You should check them out.

Hope you had a great Halloween

2009-11-03T12:11:00.001-08:00

I forgot to take photos of our ward Halloween Party decor (I was too busy running around like a chicken sans head), but I promise it was pretty fabulous.

Instead, here is a picture of our cute pumpkins before they were carved. I like them best this way.

There's even a little one for Eleanor

So I got knocked-up in the lock up - you gotta problem with that?

Check back tomorrow for some great engagement photos (not nearly as spooky as seeing my pregnant self in stripes).

"It's a whole new animal!"

2009-10-27T12:14:00.001-07:00

That is what I yelled to Joe as I hung my head out the window, gripped my camera tightly and snapped away. My hair whipping wildly around, barely able to catch my breath - this is the only phrase I could think of to convey the thrill I was feeling at the moment.

He just laughed and continued driving, warning me to watch out for oncoming cars and to please stay in my seatbelt.

"It's a whole new animal."

I was referring, of course, to landscape photography.

I usually consider myself a people photographer. I thrive on interaction and am continually intrigued by the human face. Capturing the landscape has never appealed to me. Landscape photography is early mornings, lonely trails, heavy equipment, and patience, patience, patience. Landscape photography is mastered by the likes of Ansel Adams and John Telford. Old guys. (Don't tell John I said that).

But that was before I discovered the "new animal." Joe and I were soaking up Autumn, driving around Deer Creek Reservoir and I had brought along my digital camera. The fading light, the pinkish clouds - it was all too tempting. I took a couple snaps.

I was hooked! My camera didn't leave my face for the rest of the ride. I'm sure I seemed crazed, but the experience was extremely invigorating. The scenery changed rapidly and I was faced with endless possibilities. I shot until the light was gone and I was too cold to keep the window down any longer. The moving landscape had captivated me - I would never see it the same way again.

This one (above) is my personal favorite. Which is yours?

At this point I would like to make a public apology. One summer I took a Nature Photography course at BYU. I was one of only two photography majors in the class and as such I felt a mild sense of superiority. (embarrassing to admit, but true nonetheless) I studied this stuff full time, afterall. I thought I knew so much.

There was an older gentleman who always presented photos he had taken from his car, while he was driving. Our patient teacher tried to convince him to take the time to pull over the next time something caught his eye. "Yeah," I thought, "any self respecting photographer knows that good work takes time and effort. You can't just shoot this stuff on the fly. At least have the decency to stop the car!" In my mind I criticized this man for his amateur approach.

Dear Sir, please forgive me. I was narrow-minded. I had not yet experienced the thrill of photographing the world at 60+ mph. You were right - it really is beautiful.

Announcement

2009-10-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

There has been a change in CD prices, effective immediately. Please refer to the pricing link for more details.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rowe's Baby Portraits

2009-10-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

This little one is sooooo cute and he was such a joy to photograph. I especially love his precious wrinkles!

Click here to view the entire event and order prints.

A Little Preview...

2009-10-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

...of this little guy. Can't wait to post the rest later this week!

Fall is here

2009-09-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

I thought it was finally time I recognize the arrival of autumn on my blog. Though it officially started last week, I feel now is perfect time to discuss the changing seasons as the first fall storm is blowing in as we speak.

First, let me be frank. I have never loved fall. I hear people say that it's their favorite season and I just don't get it. I'm a spring and summer girl. I abhor the freezing Utah winters and I hate short days and long nights. To me autumn has always symbolized summer in it's death throes - the end of the carefree days, a short precursor to the eternal winter ahead. It's a mere transitory period that always throws me for a loop.

That being said - here is my new goal.

To embrace Autumn. Completely.

I have a number of reasons to feel differently about fall this year:
1. For the first time EVER, I am not a student. Yipee!
2. It is the last season of my life without a wailing child - I had better enjoy the alone time while I can.
3. Everyone in the blogging world seems so jazzed about the change, I just thought I'd hop on board.
4. It really is a shame to feel depressed about entire seasons at a time. Being happy is better.

One of the first things I did to work on this goal was attend the Sundance Harvest Market. It was a blast(though smaller than I had anticipated). The leaves were changing, the air was clear, and there were some great vendors present. Here are two of my favorites.

Windborg Sisters' Design has the coolest decor for children's rooms and nurseries. These canvases are absolutely stunning in person. They use paint and paper to collage these great pieces and the texture is so cool! How perfect would the bird one be for my daughter? I know, absolutely perfect. Go check out their work on Etsy.

There was also some beautiful handmade jewelry there from Silver Linings Studio. It was love at first sight. Nice photography too, don't you think?

I have some other fall-ish activities on my list to help me fully enjoy this season. I want to go apple picking, stop by the Provo Farmer's Market a few more times, and maybe even try making this wreath from real leaves. Cool project, huh? And of course I'll be photographing the changing scenery, the brisk air, and the ever shortening golden light. Here are a few photos to get you started.

Yep, fall is here and I am embracing.

*There are a couple of blog posts out there that really got me in the mood for this tribute to Autumn. CJane's words about the beauty of transitions really inspired me. As did this post about farm life on a great little blog called Progressive Pioneer. Check them out and see if you can jump on board with the Autumn-lovers!

San Jacinto Monument

2009-09-23T22:37:00.001-07:00

So, when you go to Texas you will be amazed at how many places claim to have had an important part to play in the war for Texas Independence. Every teeny tiny town says they are the birth place of Texas. But believe me - this is where it really went down.

The San Jacinto Monument

As a child I learned that this was the actual place where independence was finally won. As an adult I took my husband there to prove it to him.

Sometimes it's fun to play around with spatial perception. You should see this baby big - it's pretty cool.

Two Lovely Ladies

2009-09-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

Each is lovely in a different way - one is a dear friend and the other a super cool mural. Both are works of art. And as we head into the fall time weather, photos of these two ladies serve as a reminder to me of the hottest day of my life spent strolling South Congress in Austin.

Face 2

2009-09-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. - Author Unknown

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. - Mother Teresa

Giveaway Winner

2009-09-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, sorry for my absence these past couple days. Thanks to random.org I am pleased to announce the winner of the giveaway.

And the winner is....drumroll....Karen - who was actually commenting under her husband, Merrill's account. She picked the photograph of the Redlands Temple as her favorite. Congrats, Karen! You'll be receiving your prize soon.
Thanks so much to everyone who participated. It was fun to hear what each person liked and why. I'm definitely inspired to shoot more personal work and do another giveaway soon.

Don't fret if you didn't win - if you saw a photo you just can't live without, by all means, head on over to Instaproofs and order it for yourself.

Train

2009-09-14T16:01:00.000-07:00

This little beauty was taken along I-80, on the insanely long stretch between Utah and California. I make this drive a lot. The scenery never changes, yet there's something different that catches my attention each time. It makes me feel like maybe this is the first time I've driven this lonely stretch.

Want to see more cool photos from I -80? Click here to check out some work by my friend, Weston. Way cool stuff.
Just a reminder, tonight is your last chance to enter the giveaway! See the previous post and be sure to enter before midnight for your chance to win some awesome prints.

100th Post!

2009-09-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hurray!!! Happy Birthday to my blog - sort of. Anyways, to celebrate this little milestone I will be doing a giveaway. I have updated the fine art collection on my Instaproofs site. (a small sampling is seen below) There are all types of photos there, some of which haven't even been seen on this blog yet. Others of which are old favorites. Surely there is something there to suit everyone's taste.

So here's what to do:

1. Follow this link to check out the photos (look in the Fine Art section)
2. Leave a comment on the blog telling me which picture is your favorite and why
3. Wait for me to announce the lucky (and randomly chosen) winner who gets their choice of 1 8x10 print or 2 5x7's!

You have until Monday at Midnight. Good luck and thanks always for visiting!

Santa Cruz - How I love you

2009-09-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

Surfing in the morning, Boardwalking at night. Days don't get much better than this!

P.S. My dear husband is in the first and last photos - I did not participate in either activity.

P.P.S. Tomorrow is a big day for the blog. Check back for your chance to W-I-N something cool!

Labor Day

2009-09-07T16:07:00.001-07:00

Hope you are having a great holiday. My weekend has been looking like this - lovely.

Redlands, CA 92373

2009-09-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

On my trip to Disneyland I was introduced to the awesome town of Redlands. Let me tell you, this place is HA-PPEN-IN'. Thought I should share a couple photos from this super cool town.
The Redlands Temple is beautiful. For more information on the purpose of temples check out this link at lds.org
While I was in Redlands there was this huge bike race. It was intense!

Arguably the best thing to come out of Redlands, this is my dear dear friend Holly! Her shirt is not even joking - Holly really does make it happen.

A long time ago I went to Disneyland...

2009-09-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

And guess what? It really is the happiest place on earth!

(that's right, it's a mall worl - whatever that means)

Using super expired film gave these shots such an old-family-snapshot-look. I love how they feel like memories.

Anyone have any favorite Disney-related memories they'd like to share? I'd love to hear.

Face 1

2009-09-02T14:27:00.001-07:00

Do you see what I see?

Little Grace

2009-09-01T21:45:00.001-07:00

These are photos of my littlest cousin - taken on a walk that lasted literally 10 minutes.

Three things that are great about Grace:
1. Her awesome expressions
2. Her chubby hands
3. The love she gives her baby doll

If you would like me to take photos of your child (or your cutest, littlest cousin) see my pricing and contact info here.

More things I've been doing instead of blogging

2009-08-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

Packing the Houston apartment into our little car
Driving aaaaaaalllll the way back to Utah
Unpacking the apartment
Driving aaaalll the way to California
Vacationing in Santa Cruz (photos to come)
Driving aaall the way back to Provo with little bro in back seat
Oh yeah, and growing a baby

That's right. We're expecting a little girl in December!

Now that we are settled again, it's time to get back to the business of blogging. Check back every day this week for a new post!

Thanks for stopping by, friends.

Desert 3

2009-08-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Probably STILL driving through the desert. Utah here we come.

If we ever make it.

Desert 2

2009-08-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Currently driving through the desert.

Las Vegas

2009-08-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

No offense to anyone who lives here, or to anyone who believes it is an amazingly cool place. Vegas just isn't my cup of tea. Neon lights and gaudy decor don't exactly appeal to my sense of aesthetic.

But if you're going to drive through it, you have to shoot it.

And if you have to shoot it, it has to be expired slide film cross processed.

Hardie Family

2009-07-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

This is exactly why I love doing family sessions like this. Laid back, natural portraits are (in my mind) the best way to capture the loving relationships between family members. Mandee, you did an awesome job picking these outfits! Love the colors, love the light, love the smiles from this great family.

Oh yeah, and I L-O-V-E fujicolor pro 800z.

To view the entire event and order prints, click here.

Pssst....for the first week the photos are up, there is a 30% discount on prints, so hurry over and check them out.

Things I've been doing instead of blogging

2009-07-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

To be completely honest, I've been sleeping. Not the entire time of course. But I sleep so much more now than I ever did in my college years that I feel it warrants mentioning. Aaah, the summer life.

I've also been reading - a lot. Here are some of my favorite reads from this summer:

I love them all for different reasons. If you haven't read anything by Malcom Gladwell, do so now. I am a bit obsessed. Do they sell his books in a boxed set?

I have also been enjoying the perks of my recently acquired Netflix subscription.
I just watched this movie last night and I absolutely LOVED it! It's quirky, surprising, artfully filmed - I was really surprised by how much I liked it.

I have done a few things that actually require leaving the apartment. Joe and I have had a few Texas sized adventures. We've been to the Alamo, San Jacinto Monument, Galveston Island, State Capitol, Houston Zoo, museums - yeah, we've pretty much seen it all here in the Lonestar State.

Image from here

And just because I haven't been tending my blog, doesn't mean I've foresaken the blogging world completely. Here are some of my favorite blogs: (have a look for yourself, you won't regret it)

Design Mom - she blogs about work, life, style and tons of other cool stuff. Her taste is impeccable and her blog is a delightful read.
Jose Villa - my favorite wedding photographer EVER. Everything he does is perfection.
Tara Whitney - her family photos are awesome! And she is just so real. Her blog is a perfect balance of professional and personal and I can't get enough.
Apartment Therapy - because I am obsessed with home design. I have collected so many photos from this site.

OK, OK, you caught me. I haven't just been vacationing the entire time. I have been doing some work. I've been fulfilling print orders and preparing photos for online proofing. Here's a sneak peek of what's coming up tomorrow.

How adorable are my nephews? This family shoot was amazing and I can't wait to post them all.

Katie + Keith Wedding

2009-07-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

My dear Katie was married to her darling Keith in April. It was an overcast day with plenty of low clouds at the Bountiful Temple - but lucky for us, no rain. I can't say enough about how great Katie and Keith are. They are both so generous of full of laughter. It really is a joy to be around them. Thanks to both of your families for being so amazing and making this day a true pleasure!

The reception was at Sun River Gardens in Orem. Let me just say - a greenhouse on an overcast day is a photographer's dream. It was literally like having a giant soft box all around. Awesome!

Congratulations you two! I am really so, so, so happy for you.

To view the entire event and order prints click here.

Independence Day

2009-07-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays! With the added bonus that we have some very dear friends in for the weekend, it's sure to be a day to remember.

Here's hoping my celebrations include a lot of food that looks like this:
Happy 4th of July everyone and God bless America!

Today it is your birthday

2009-07-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

Dearest Joe,

Today you are 24.

It is impossible for me to describe how much joy and laughter you bring to my life.

Thank you for all of it.

I hope you have the best birthday yet - and here's to many more together.

All my love,
Whitney

Little Miss Shey

2009-07-01T08:02:00.001-07:00

Shey is my little neighbor girl and she just couldn't be any cuter! It helps, too, that her parents are some of the best neighbors ever. Shey is full of spunk and smiles and it was a joy to photograph this little one.

I love this photo. Every model needs a little touch up now and then.

View the entire event and order prints here.

I'm Famous

2009-06-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Check out my friend Kelli's blog. She's an awesome photographer and posted cool pictures of my awesomely un-showered self on a walk we took the other day. Yay for underpasses and Houston's morning light.

Desert Beauty

2009-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Somewhere between Utah and Southern California.

Shot from the moving car with my trusty Bronica, expired slide film cross processed.

Haleh's Costumes

2009-06-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

As promised (and finally delivered), here are some shots from a project Haleh and I have been working on. She designed and made these fabulous costumes and of course did all the hair and make-up styling. I merely pushed the button. Way to go, Haleh! They look fabulous.

Look for another installation early this fall. Also, head over to Haleh's website and check her out.

Long Forsaken Blog

2009-05-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog and all faithful blog readers,

Is it possible it has been nearly a month since I've posted? Sadly, it is true. Joe and I have finally made it to Houston. The weather is balmy, the people are friendly, but the lack of internet is driving me crazy!!

I will not waste space on this blog ranting about how much I hate AT&T and their crappy service, instead I will simply promise that when they repent of their ways and finally get me some internet service, I will respond by plastering this blog with all the lovely treasures I have stored up in the last month. Until then, I remain a weekly patron in the computer line at the public library.

Thank you for your patience.

I hope you all are doing well.

I miss you blog.

Haleh, the make-up queen

2009-04-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

Storefront window in Pasadena

This post is to inform you of some amazing local talent. All of the styling (hair and make-up) for my BFA show was done by Haleh Risdana.

Haleh is an absolute dream to work with. So kind and generous and very, very capable. She's available for all kinds of work, from FX horror make-up to face painting at birthday parties.

Check out some of her work at facesbyhaleh.com

We'll be doing another collaboration soon to get some shots for Haleh's portfolio, so check back for those images.

Daughters of Eve

2009-04-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the images from my BFA final exhibit. I was really proud of the final project. The prints are huge (although they appear quite small on this blog) and beautifully framed by none other than yours truly.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me with this project. My dear husband, Joe, my professors, my photography colleagues, a talented seamstress, a wonderful make-up artist, my co-workers at the museum, the HFAC gallery staff, and everyone who came to see the show and share their kind words. I could not have done it without any of you. Thank you all so very much!

Here's a photo Joe took of me and my grandma on opening night. Can you tell I'm the happiest girl in the world to be finished?

Artist Statement:

Daughters of Eve is a collection of photographs that seeks to honor Eve and foster respect and admiration for women everywhere.

Eve, as the first woman, represents the essence of femininity to me. She was the crowning creation of our Heavenly Father, though her role has been widely misunderstood throughout history. Eve has been accused of great pride and is generally considered the weaker of the pair. She is often represented as a temptress – a fallen creature who led to the downfall of all mankind. All of these misconceptions have contributed to the disparaging of the female sex as a whole.

By the light of the restored gospel, we are able to understand Eve’s divine role in the Father’s plan. She made a choice that set in motion the existence of mankind. She experienced the sweet and bitter in life, always seeking to know God’s will. I honor her decision, I admire her bravery, and I stand in awe of her beautiful daughters who continue on in the legacy she began.

Eve and the decision

Eve as an help meet for Adam

Eve with child

Eve as Mother

Eve developing her talents

Eve, a woman of knowledge

Eve, a woman of faith

Eve fulfilled

These photographs really portray the respect I have for our dear Mother Eve. If you'd like to learn more of my beliefs about the Plan of Happiness, the purpose of the Fall, and the role of our Savior, please visit this link or navigate to www.mormon.org

California Dreaming

2009-04-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

It's true, I'm dreaming of California. It snowed here yesterday. In April. Can you blame me?

Rachel + Blake Wedding

2009-04-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Rachel and Blake were married on a surpisingly sunny day in February in the Salt Lake City Temple. I met them for the first time as they came out of the temple and I have got to say - every photographer should be as lucky as I am to have such great clients. They were so easy going and gracious. It was obvious that they were just enjoying the feeling of newly married bliss.

It certainly shows in their photos. Rachel and Blake, you guys have got a lot of class and a great sense of style. Thanks so much for a beautiful day!

How gorgeous is her dress?

Amazingly gorgeous.

I just love this image from the reception: Dad gives his daughter to her new husband with just a few parting words.

Aside from the image of them coming out of the temple, all of this pictures were shot on my Bronica ETRsi. I love this camera!

Click Here to view the entire event and order prints.

Palm Springs

2009-04-14T06:38:00.001-07:00

While I was in Palm Springs, there wasn't a lot of time for personal photographing as we spent all day photographing and packing artwork that is currently on display at the BYU Museum of Art. You should check out the exhibit - Visions of the Southwest - it really is great.

But since we are museum people, we did make time to visit the Palm Springs Art Museum. I took some photos there.

Here are the people who made my trip so fun. Braden, Emily, and Trevor.

OK, so that's not really Trevor. The photo I had of him wasn't very flattering, so I snagged this adorable one of his daughter from his wife's blog. She is a very talented photographer - you should check out her work at www.weightphotography.blogspot.com

Desert

2009-04-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

I took this on the drive through the desert between Utah and Southern CA. Something about it reminds me of Hockney.

First Time to Southern California

2009-03-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Shortly after the coldest day of my life, I went on a work trip with my colleagues from the BYU Museum of Art down to Southern California. Our final destination was Palm Springs, but we had a quick scenic tour through Las Vegas and stayed a day in Pasadena. The weather was gorgeous and it was such a nice change of pace.

Here are some images from a garden we visited at a museum in Pasadena. Green in January? I think I'm in love.

Stay tuned for more photos from this awesome trip.

**Just a friendly reminder - If you want to see my BFA show in the HFAC, this weekend is your last chance. The show comes down on Tuesday. Thanks to everyone who has gone to see it and for all of your support.**

Allison + Brayden Wedding

2009-03-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

Allison and Brayden were married in January in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple and it was the coldest day of my life!!! In the photo below, it might appear to be a nice, sunny winter day but do not be fooled. The wind was bone chilling. Allison and Brayden took it all in stride. Even though her veil was blowing everywhere and they couldn't feel their limbs, they still managed to look radiant.

Way to go you guys - you're a heck of a lot tougher than me!

(click to veiw larger)

Get a load of the groom's brothers - such lookers. Those freckles are just killing me.

If you have a mustache like the one below, please call me RIGHT NOW - I must photograph you.

A very cold bride and groom. And can you blame them? Look at all that snow!

Allison and Brayden, you guys were great to work with. Thanks again! And because you are such good clients, I'm going to use you as an example for a little teaching moment. Humor me if you will.

These two made the very wise choice to hire a professional photographer to shoot portraits of them and their family on the wedding day. I cannot emphasize how important this is. If you are working on a budget, then just hire a photographer you like to do even a small portrait session - you won't regret it.

The cake gets eaten, the flowers die, but the photographs will keep your memories for a lifetime.

Back in Action

2009-03-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

I know I'm posting this very late in the evening, when I meant to have it done days ago. I know I've been completely MIA lately. Would you like to know what I've been working on?

I just finished hanging my first solo show, Daughters of Eve, which opens tomorrow at the Harris Fine Arts Center on the BYU campus. I have been working on the concept for this show for quite a while and the last two months of my life have basically been devoted to executing these photographs. I do hope you'll come and see it. It will be on display until March 30th.

There's an opening reception tomorrow (Wednesday, March 18th) from 6-8pm. There will be delicious refreshments, great people, and artwork - the quality of which you may decide for yourself.

And of course, yours truly will be there. If you're in Provo - I'd love to see you. I promise more pictures of the project later, but if I put them all up now, you'd have no reason to see them in person.

Here is the artist statement if you'd like to know more:

Daughters of Eve is a collection of photographs that seeks to honor Eve and foster respect and admiration for women everywhere.

Eve, as the first woman, represents the essence of femininity to me. She was the crowning creation of our Heavenly Father, though her role has been widely misunderstood throughout history. Eve has been accused of great pride and is generally considered the weaker of the pair. She is often represented as a temptress – a fallen creature who led to the downfall of all mankind. All of these misconceptions have contributed to the disparaging of the female sex as a whole.

By the light of the restored gospel, we are able to understand Eve’s divine role in the Father’s plan. She made a choice that set in motion the existence of mankind. She experienced the sweet and bitter in life, always seeking to know God’s will. I honor her decision, I admire her bravery, and I stand in awe of her beautiful daughters who continue on in the legacy she began.

Katie + Keith Engagements

2009-03-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

My dear, dear Katie is engaged! Katie and I were roommates for two years and she is such a great and loyal friend. It makes me so happy to see her with Keith. As you can tell from the photos, they can't stop smiling - yes, they are adorably in love.

Congratulations you guys, I'm so excited for your wedding!

To view the entire event and order prints, click here.

Jack Attack

2009-02-27T23:06:00.000-08:00

I love Baby Jack. I love his expressions and his toes and the way he squirms when his mom tries to kiss him. I love being his honorary "Aunt Whitney"/crazy neighbor lady. And I especially love his way cool parents.

Introducing, Baby Jack.

If you also think Jack and his parents are the coolest people around, let them know in the comments!

To view the entire event and order prints, click here.

Summer Relocation

2009-02-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

As I have already started receiving requests for summer weddings, I guess it's time to let you all know that Joe and I will be in Houston this summer from mid-May through the end of July. He has an internship down there so I'm heading back to my roots. I'm very excited for a new adventure and a change of scenery.

Do you live in the Houston area or somewhere nearby? Know somebody who does? Need a photographer? Then it's your lucky day.

The first 5 readers to contact me about doing a photo shoot in May, June or July will receive their choice of the following:

1. 50% off an individual portrait session
2. 30% off a bridal or engagement session
3. 25% off a family session
4. 20% off any wedding package

Contact me by leaving a comment on this post or email me at hardiephoto(at)yahoo(dot)com

This discount applies to sitting fees only - it is not available for prints.

Click here to view pricing.

Happy commenting. See you in the Lonestar State!

Mannequin Madness

2009-02-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

My good friend, Cate posted about the studio's most lovely model a while ago and I thought I should share some of my photos of the lady as well. This doll face helps us in the studio while we figure out lighting, and I have more photos of her than I can count.

Here she is standing in for some of my most recent shoots.

And this is my all time favorite image of her. Yeah, she's cool.

I know she's a beauty, but don't be fooled - looks aren't everything. This girl is not the nicest I've worked with in the studio, not by a long shot. Not only does she refuse to laugh at my lame jokes, (and she is completely hollow) but she even went so far as to attack me a couple weeks ago.

After a very successful studio session, I was returning her to the top shelf of a tall book case when she decided she wasn't done being in the spotlight yet. Mannequin wanted to come down, but I wanted her to go up. As her head swung toward me, I held tightly to the bottom of her frame. Consequently she headbutted me with full force, knocking me to the ground and leaving me slightly dizzy. You should have seen the goose egg on my forehead. I think perhaps she was feeling used by all of us. She's tired of working hard for no recognition. She wants publication for sure.

Here you go, Mannequin. Please don't hurt me anymore.

How about you? Any other BYU associates have photos of our lovely lady? Leave a comment if you do - I'd love to check out your blog.

Smith Family

2009-02-20T08:38:00.001-08:00

I know, I've been a VERY BAD BLOGGER. Believe me, I am ashamed. I've been spending a lot of time shooting in the studio (something I usually avoid) in preparation for a very exciting project which will be announced later this month. I do hope you will forgive my long absence and just enjoy these beautiful photos of the Smith Family. How cute is their little girl?

I absolutely love the bright colors Kileen chose for their Christmas card photo shoot. And I love the snow. And their interactions with each other. Come to think of it - I love the whole thing.

To see the entire event and order prints click here.

We've probably got a couple more good storms this season. Anybody interested in a winter fun photo shoot? This is especially great for families - let's get some awesome photos of the kids playing in the snow!

View pricing for family shoots here.

Janelle + Andrew Wedding

2009-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Being in Palm Springs really got me reminiscing about warmer weather. (I'm obsessed, I know) I remembered this wedding from August, the last one I did for my internship with Jonathan Canlas. I just love Janelle's classy sophisticated style. And of course I love the dreamy look of film and summer.

Don't get too comfortable in this climate just yet - up next is a family Christmas portrait! Snow and all.

A Quick Note

2009-01-24T14:33:00.001-08:00

Sorry I've been absent for a while. I was gone all week for a work trip to Palm Springs, California. 80 degrees in January? Yes please! It was nice to get away from the dreary weather for a while, but I did miss my blog.

I shot some pictures while I was out there and look forward to posting them soon. Stay tuned - there are many photos to come.