English Photography

New baby, new family

I am not sure how many newborns I have photographed, each one a completely unique experience.  This little family pulled a first out for me, that in hindsight, I can't believe I didn't think of sooner.  Usually, I suggest  parents to wear all black or all white, often times they come prepared for both.  But this is the first time I have had mom and dad wear all brown and ask for their images to be in color.  I loved the warmth this added!  I know that doesn't sound like an earth shattering revelation... but I felt like it was.  The tonal quality of these images in color makes me feel like I am experiencing this for the first time all over again.

(For those who have taken my background painting class... this first images showcases the very first background I ever painted more than 7 years ago.  Now I want to see your images on your first backgrounds...hint, hint, nudge, nudge)

 

 

 

Thanks so much R & M, I felt so lucky to spend the morning with you and your beautiful baby, who really does look like Uncle M in the B&W image.  Thank you so much for sharing little N with me.  I can't wait to get the images up on the walls in your new house.  Thanks for your patience!

Nooks & Crannies ( Park City Family Portraits)

I very belated happy birthday to this wonderful mother.  She was celebrating her birthday weekend when we captured these family pictures.  What a perfect way to mark the occasion.   We had such a blast discovery the millions of nooks and crannies up on main street.  I tell you i can find new little gems every time I'm up there.  I had  so many images I wanted to post showing all the places we found but, as always, I am awake later than I should be and just need to wrap up my work evening.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks J for your patiences, it might take me the whole day tomorrow to get your gallery up.  Hang in there, it's coming.  I loved spending time with your family.  I have loved watching your kids grow up through my  lense. Thank you, thank you!

Not just a family, but a group of friends

I had the wonderful opportunity to reconnect with another blast from my past in the high school days.  I love catching up with old friends.  So much has changed in the last 15 years, we have all accomplished so much. But I think if we were honest with each other.. we really don't feel a day older than our 18 year old selves.  (We have a lot more responsibility and we drive bigger cars, but we are still young at heart.)

It was an absolutely pleasure working with this cute family!  It is not often that I come across kids as well behaved as these three.  I love this family image because it feels more like a group of friends hugging for the camera than a family portrait.   Is there anything better than a family that loves hanging out together?

 

Thanks so much C family for your patience with the blog, your image catalog should be soon.  I can not tell you how honored I was to capture these moments for you.  I had so many I could have posted but thought I would surprise  you with the rest.  They are worth the wait!

Happy Halloween

 

 

As a child, the goal of Halloween is to accumulate as much candy in one day as possible.  As an adult, the goal of Halloween is finding ways to get rid of the candy as fast as possible.  From now on, I will buy just one bag of candy and just recycle the pounds and pounds of candy my kids bring in.  For some reason the candy I stole the most of out of my kids collections were Butterfinger..... that's a first for me.  Usually I steal the heath bars and rollo's..... I guess I'm getting old?!?!  I have already packed up and put away my sewing machine since I have finished my annual costumes.  Jonas has had some complex costumes in the past 2 years so he just got one I order from Chasing Fireflies.  Mr. Mario and Madam Butterfly were my labors of love this year.   I have come to realize I can't make all three costumes every year so I always rotate who gets my blood sweat and tears.  Now I will rest for another 330 days before tackling the next ones.  Happy Halloween!

A special note to all my local professional photographer friends

I know I owe all my wonderful clients a huge explanation as to my major MIA.   First, I'll just say a very humble THANK YOU for sticking around with me.  I have beautiful sessions that I can finally pay attention to and can't wait to share.  But before I return fully to reality, I want to put something down on paper.... and commit myself to a new goal while I still have the fire to inspire myself.   (Because come morning time all the priorities I've set aside for the past 10 days are going to come crashing down on me and I am going to forget my excitement, and this time I don't want to forget.)

I just wrapped up our Local Intermountain  PPA convention which also included the regional print competition.  After several years of taking a break from print competition, I decided to jump back in with both feet...  I decided to commit to recommitting.   I don't want to really explain everything involved with print competition but 2 of my 4 prints merited (which is the most important accomplishment)   One of my merits was for a baby album that I slaved over for weeks.  I am thrilled with my results- but far from satisfied.  I have 6 months to make two new prints before the next judging panel for review and then send them off to National Competition in May.   (You must always submit 4 prints.. so I'll keep two and make 2 new ones.) 

So here's the deal-  I know there are many of my local friends also working their way through print competition.  I am proud of each and everyone of you for subjecting yourself to the harsh acceptance and rejection process of print competition.  We all share the anxiety of sitting in a dark room with our hearts racing in our chests as a panel of experts judge and critique a little piece of our soul.   But what we gain from such trauma is the chance to be better and learn from our mistakes.  The real test comes after print competition when we glue back the piece of our shattered pride and start the process over.  The good news is that we never have to start at the beginning again, we know just a little bit more than when we started. 

I am extending an invitation to all those photography professional who want to  join me in my quest for creating stronger images for print competition.  If you interested, starting in January, I am going to put together a once a month meeting to work towards preparing for Aprils print competition.   We will all work together to inspire and push our creative boundaries. 

Here's the list of what we will do:

1. Monthly photo assignment

2. Share your monthly submission in a print competition finished digital file. 

3. Of course we'll meet and bond over some yummy food.

Requirements:  This is for serious professional photographers, you must be a member of IPPA and/or PPA.  You must be willing to push yourself....  because I want to push myself too.  

Why am I doing this?  Personally, because everything is always more fun when you have someone to share the experience with.  I don't want to pick my print competition prints 2 weeks before the deadline.  I want to be intentional and ready, not scrabbling and stressing.  

This is for me, but this is also for everyone who always asks me to help out with their print competition prints.  You ask for my opinion and help, now I am asking you, "Are you up for the challenge to really push yourself?"  Let's do it!

Drop me an email through my website ww.englishphoto.com on the contact page and let me know if you want in.  First meeting will be in January and we'll meet every month until print competition in April.  What do you think?!?! 

Here's the title page to my 1st place award winning album, Can't post the whole thing just yet.

I'll get some real images posted soon. Thanks for hanging on.

Stunning family.... stunning location

About 2 weeks ago I had the opportunity to head high up into the mountains to capture some sweet family pictures in the Autumn leaves.  As this session progressed, the temperature was dropping and the wind was picking up.  That night, shortly after we left, the snow hit and ended the leaves in this location.  (It has been such an unusual fall, very unpredictable.)  I am sad that I only was able to use this spot once this year.  Next year I will definitely take more advantage of the unique lay out and landscape. 

I feel terrible that this didn't get posted sooner since I am absolutely in love with these images.  Thanks deeply C family for letting me more than just a photographer but a friend.  It is amazing to think how much progress can happen in one year and I'm glad we have  it on film to prove it. 

 

 

I can't even find the time to blog

I am working as hard as I can and I can't even find the time to give a little love to the blogesphere.  I am so sorry!  I have some stunning sessions to post... hang in there with me.

I am headed out of town this minute and just wanted to share the tiniest of sneak peeks to this wonderful family.  I had so many I wanted to share but absolutely no time.  But let's just start by saying how much I treasure this family.  It's obvious from the images below I am pretty darn funny when photographing.  I'll post more later.

Just to give you a heads up I will be doing one more "Snap it up" session soon with another amazing location that I have my eye on.  I absolutely loved the last Snap it up, and a big thank you to those that took advantage of an awesome opportunity.  If you missed out on the last one, maybe you can grab this upcoming one.  I can tell you it will probably be a saturday mid morning session down in Salt Lake at a killer new spot... just waiting for the Ivy to change colors.   Just keep check in occasionally.

Family art in the leaves

I had the amazing pleasure of photographing one of my best friends and her beautiful family.  I got married right when these two started dating and we have great footage of them dancing during my reception.  That was almost 12 years ago, but my memories of this mom go back to when we were both 16 years old and she was telling me about taking the test to get her drivers license.  Let's just say it's been a long time and I am sure lucky to have shared so much of my life with such a great person.  (With many more years to come!)

I was so exited to create these family pictures  because I just knew it was the perfect place for her gorgeous red haired kids.  Although we got started a little late in the evening, we couldn't have had more beautiful light.  True magic was going on during this session.  Thanks so much P fam!  I hope you enjoy these half as much as I do.  I am so thankful to have you in my life and so grateful you let me capture the beautiful family that you are.

Weekend update- snap it up

For many reasons this weekend didn't go as I had anticipated.  It was SO much better than I could have pictured!  First,  I think I was suffering from creativity withdraw and needed to do some serious venting.   My husband had been out of town for almost a week solid and I needed to take a break from my beautiful and lovely rugrats.  I needed some Allison time to NOT be a mommy.  (Don't get me wrong... nothing is better than the kiddo's, but sometimes I just need a moment alone so I can appreciate my time when I am with them.)  At the very last minute, my one session in my new location turned into 3 very unique family sessions.  Each family had such a different flavor and I was so thankful to have them because the location was just AMAZING!  I know they all would agree with me. 

I am sure this cute family is excited for their peek.  When I was thinking about this family, I really wanted to capture how much fun it is to have a 3 year old.  I loved all the laughter, exploring, leaf picking and rock finding we did.  What a blast!  Thanks so much R family, I was truly honored to photograph you again.  (Believe it or not, I photographed this mom and dad's wedding like 7 years ago.... I can't believe it's been THAT long.)

SNAP it up.... last minute special

In Park City the fall leaves are prime.  Park City trails the SL valley all season in the blooms, but we lead when it comes to fall leaves.  This gorgeous location is just around the corner from me and I am dying to haul my brown couch and take somebodies family pictures.  Well, I was thinking about this and thought of the travel industry.. you know all the last minute deals they run???? Well, I'm going to take their lead and create a "SNAP IT UP" special.  This a last minute opportunity mainly because in just over a week this stunning location will be way past it's prime and will have faded away. 

So here's the deal.... I would love to give just ONE family the opportunity to create their portraits in this stunning location THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th around 5:30 or 6pm.   YUP, it's yours, NO CHARGE! That's a $200 gift.  The only string attached is this is only available this FRIDAY.  (MAYBE it'll last until Tuesday.. but no promises since the nights are COLD up here)

This is first come... first serve.  One One session available.

I just took these images several hours ago... does it really get any better than this???? Can't you just image your family or kids here??  Can't you just picture your amazing holiday cards to go with it.  I CAN!  So drop me an email here www.englishphoto.com  on the contact page or give me a call.  

Maybe I'll start doing a weekly "SNAP IT UP"!  Stay tuned. 

Please, leave me a comment and tell me what you think about my crazy ideas.