Slice of Life Saturday: Eden, UT

Went on a couples' retreat with some of our friends this weekend!  I was busy having so much fun that I didn't get around to taking too many pictures.  I think that I'm still trying to get over my anxiety about getting used to a new camera but I'm getting there.

Puppies in the Snow

I took my puppies out for a couple minutes today to have some fun. They loved being outside and playing in the yard.

I love her swish-y little tail!

I love her little pink nose!

I love this little swirl that he has in his fur.

Snow on His Nose

Eating his favorite thing in the world!  SNOW!

I love playing with my pups AND taking pictures of them!

Slice of Life Saturday: Staying in Bed

Today I wasn't feeling that well and so I relaxed most of the day with my puppy in bed.

I'm glad that I have this little dog to keep me company!  She is the best snuggler in the world.

Keep Moving Forward

I'm really really excited about this next year's photography.  I have some projects that I want to work on that are going to be a lot of fun for me and get me out of my comfort zone.

I've also got something else to be excited about.

I bought a NEW CAMERA!!!

All last year, I was saving up so that I could get a new camera.  I got a Canon Rebel XS more than two years ago.  I bought it because I loved photography but I was scared to put too much money into a hobby in case I didn't stick with it.

But it turns out that I loved photography just as much as I thought that I did.  And as my skill has improved, my desire to get the best equipment that I could afford grew and grew.

I bought a Canon 7D.

It is such a HUGE jump in quality that the Canon website doesn't even let you compare the two cameras together.  They are like 18 steps/cameras apart from each other.

The day after I got this camera I read in a book that I'm reading (Visual Poetry by Chris Orwig), "We read about a new and shiny camera.  Eventually, we buy one and hold it in our hands.  The model is so impressive we don't really know what to do.  So we give in and switch the camera or our mind-set to automatic mode."

This is how I felt.  I finally got this new shiny camera in my hands and I was instantly afraid.  There is so much to learn!  What if my photography doesn't keep improving and I just put my mind-set in automatic?

So with this camera, I'm going to work harder to keep improving.  I'm going to push this camera to its limits!  As Walt Disney said, "We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

P.S. I'm still thinking about whether or not I want to sell the Canon Rebel XS.  An extra $400 would be nice...but so would an SLR that I can take kayaking without being scared if the worst happens, I'm out of business (not that Aaron would ever let me take it near water!).

{R & J} Engagements

A couple months ago, one of my oldest family friends got engaged.  She is basically family at this point.  I've known her since she was a baby and I was only a toddler.  She has since grown into a wonderful woman who is full of beauty and charm.  She is such a kind hearted person and it was such an honor that she asked me to take their engagement pictures!

Congratulations on the engagement! I hope you have a long and happy life together!

{C & G} Insch: Wedding

My dear friends, Clarise and Geoff, were married on December 28th in Houston, TX. I'm so lucky that I was able to take pictures at the temple that day.

Best of 2011- Work

This second batch of Best of 2011, are work that I did.  Either projects that I collaborated on with others or was paid for.  This year, I loved having some fun and creative photo shoots with my friends.

(1)

(2) Kodak 400 Color Film

(3) Kodak 400 Color Film

(4) Kodak 400 Color Film

(5) Kodak 400 Color Film

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

(16)

(17)

(18)

(19)

(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)

(24)

Stay tuned for 2012, because I'm sure that it is going to be a fun and amazing year.