Lily Louise Born Oct 11th-Laguna Hills, CA

How amazing is my job? Can it even be considered a job if it's this amazing?

Yesterday I witnessed the birth of another baby. I was there photographing all of the "firsts"..and some of the lasts...the last moments before Heather and Scott's' family went from 4 to 5.

One thing that always amazes me is the amount of love I feel for these people as I experience these changes with them. My responsibility as a photographer is to observe, and so I do. I observe everything. Not only lighting and potentially good shots, but I get to observe as these new parents and grandparents go through a whole evolution of emotion. apprehension, fear, letting go, giving in, needing and feeling support, shock, delight and after a baby is born everyone is always in love.

When you photograph a birth the people involved can't help but be real. You never leave wishing they had opened up more. I can walk into the delivery room barely even knowing them and leave feeling like we've become good friends.. I love it. People in situations like that can't help but be real.

One of my favorite parts of lily's birth was watching her grandfather. He was nervous and uncomfortable anticipating his own daughters discomfort and the second Lily was with us, melted into a tender, cooing, tear filled man. He just kept saying, "she's perfect...she's perfect".

Heather and Scott thank you so much for allowing me to be there with you. Lily is as perfect as her grandfather says...and her name... Lily Louise...it makes me want to write a song for her. maybe I will.

Dave & Melanie's Engagements-Millcreek Canyon

Nothing quite like young love...or photographing it up a canyon covered in orange leaves.

Its been a long time coming you two, and in my never to be humble opinion, I think you two are a great match.

Dave I know it was almost like having to get a root canal to have a camera pointed at your face for over an hour, but was it really that painful. Since when is kissing, burrowing and holding hands painful? (OK, maybe in public, but NEVER at the cabin).

I dare say all the cousins will be jealous you were the first to take engagements up at the cabin, but I think they will understand, Dave being the favorite grandchild and all. Can we please share the title?!

Love you guys! Can't wait for December!

this is the reason.

As a lover of the senses..touch, taste, sight, sound, smell...I often find myself searching for the meaning in the tangible and the not so tangible. What gives meaning to my life? It has never been enough for me to be OK with the "doing" without the "why". I want it to mean something to me. I want it personal.

Many times in my career I have contemplated why I choose photography, or why photography choose me. I have wondered about the course I should take with photography and how within that given course I can make a difference, or contribute to something more, something better.

I am still on my journey to finding out all the ways I can and should make a difference with my photos, but tonight one of my reasons was set in concrete.

I was musing through my friend Nikki's blog and came upon a woman's blog. This woman is a photographer and has taken beautiful photos of not only others peoples children, but her own. I started reading and was immediately sucked into something real and something unmistakeably meaningful.

Her daughter Ava at the age of 3 died in a tragic accident. Her blog, started before the death, chronicles a beautiful life before and a beautiful life after. As I read and watched her photos tell their family's story I was..in a trance. I knew that these photos she had taken of her baby were some of the most important reminders of happiness, hope and life that she will ever have.

Read her story and ask yourself the questions that a story like that demands you ask.

What gives meaning to your life?

For me, one of my "meanings" come from trying in my own way to help people remember and cherish the nature of their lives. To document something that is real for them. To be there when important moments happen and try to give them something tangible as a reminder of the intangible things that can only exist and stay deep in the resting place of ones soul.

There is a Native American and Aborigine superstition that taking a photograph of a person steals a part of their soul. Maybe they are on to something. Maybe its less like stealing and more like copying or borrowing. Maybe its the reason so many of us are drawn to beautiful photographs. Maybe.

Talese's Bridals- Millcreek Caynon, Utah

This was one of those shoots that you never want to end. So fun, so inventive, so refreshing. The canyon was breathtaking and Talese was stunning. I loved everything about it!! The colors, the brisk air, the glamorous jewelry, the crimson lips....THE DEAD FOX! This girl was willing to go the extra mile to get the shot, and it paid off. More images to come...Talese I love you!!

Sienna's Birth-Sept 14, 2007

I missed the actual birth by 5 minutes!!!!!! There aren't enough exclamation points to express my frustration with that. Wrong freeway exit, wrong hospital building and running on foot. Man.

I'll tell you what wasn't wrong...that baby. She is perfect. Jackie ended up having her natural which should give her bragging rights for the next 5 years or so...maybe a lifetime of bragging if you ask me.

I loved being able to see mom, dad and aunt ooh and ahh over her and unlike most births I had more than my fair share of holding time. Thank you so much for letting me be there to capture all the "after" moments...those are the ones people really want to see anyway. Love you guys.

Becky & Dustin's Wedding-SLC, UT

Its taken me a while to post these because I have been busy on the new website...These are some of the images from this wedding that are going to be showcased in the new site. Becky and Dustin, the rest of your pictures will be online to view in the next few days.

The best part of shooting this wedding was definitely hanging out with the bride and groom. They were so laid back and open to any idea I had. They were just so easy to work with and I could tell they have a great relationship with each other. At his own reception Dustin was even asking if he could bring ME a drink of water! So thoughtful.

A highlight was watching Becky run back to give her dad a hug after she had gotten in the escape car and drove away. It was such a sweet moment to be there for. How lucky am I to get to experience all these meaningful moments in other peoples life's?

What People Think

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