I’m a little behind on blogging my sessions. Okay, I’m WAY behind!!! Better late than never right?

This is the very beautiful Meredith. She is an absolute dream to photograph! The weather was perfect, the location was perfect, the horse cooperated, (kind of!) It was a great session!

This image is probably my favorite from 2016

Class of 2017 it isn’t too late! Contact me ASAP to get on the schedule!

I made it out alive!! Not one bear sighting! I’m not sure if I’m disappointed by that or overjoyed, I was so certain I was going to encounter a bear while trekking around the wilderness that I had myself quite worked up over it. I literally spent days reading about bear attacks on the internet and what to do in case you do come face to face with one. (by the way, did you know that you don’t actually play dead? Nope, you are supposed to make a lot of noise, avoid eye contact, and make yourself look big by waving your arms and holding a jacket out wide, all while walking slooooowly backwards and out of the way) See there, my extensive research may  have just saved your life!

While we were away I posted a few snaps on my instagram and facebook feeds. I also started getting a bunch of messages from friends who are interested in taking a similar trip and wanted to know the details of ours. Instead of messaging everyone one by one and repeating the same information, I thought I’d do a rather extensive (long)  blog post about the trip and what we might do differently next time. Can you believe I said “next time”? This city girl is ready to go back. Who knew!!

We started the process by sitting down at the computer with the map in our hands and a rough idea of what we wanted to see. We also started this process at 9pm which is something I don’t recommend you do. Since it took us several hours to decide upon our route, search hotel options, book plane tickets, hotel rooms, and rental car,  we ended at close to 1am and we were exhausted. Also, because of the late hour, we made some questionable decisions that we later kind of regretted. (more on that later…)

Here was our plan: Thursday- fly to Salt Lake City and look around. Friday- Drive to Cedar City for the night. Saturday- Zion National Park and drive to Kanab for the night. Sunday- Grand Canyon and drive to Page for the night. Monday- drive to Cortez and stop by 4 Corners. Tuesday- Mesa Verde National Park. Wednesday- Arches National Park and drive to northern Utah. Thursday- drive to Cody Wyoming. Friday- Yellowstone National Park. Saturday- more Yellowstone and the Cody Rodeo. Sunday- drive back to Salt Lake City. Monday- fly home

okay.  So all of that sounds simple enough, right? What we didn’t consider at midnight when our brains were hurting was the fact that we were driving from southern Colorado to Northern Wyoming in 2 days. We also didn’t consider that most of the trip would be spent winding up and down mountains and we were stuck going 30-40 mph. Needless to say, two 10+ hour days in the car were a bit taxing! And, once we got out of Utah, it was all wide open spaces (cue the Dixie Chicks….) and flat land. Which translates into….nothing to look at!!! And to make matters worse, zero! and I mean zero!! cell service. So I couldn’t even play on my phone to pass the time. (first world problems!) But you know what, all of that was okay after all. We had some nice conversations and lots of quiet time to think and we were all pretty content just to be together. So, perhaps our late night planning wasn’t so bad after all. But I will say this, I missed my Toyota seats in a massive way after 20 hours in the car!!!!

How about I stop rambling and post some pretty pictures now. And as my friend feared, there are lots of photos of orange rocks. I tried to narrow them down a bit but the sky…..it was so gorgeous and blue and big!  I couldn’t resist!

no trip is complete without the cliché cloud photo!  And those are the Rocky Mountains on the right with snow on the peaks.

After our 4 hour flight we drove around in search of food. Joey thought it would be good to take me to the salt flats since that is one SLC sight I wanted to see. I didn’t realize it was a 2 hour drive from the city center one way. We were well on our way when I found out so we quickly aborted the mission and turned around. (disclaimer: I had 3 hours of sleep the night before, we got up at 4am to leave for our flight….I was a little bit tired and 4 hours in the car didn’t sound good) but I did take a few snaps from the car

On Friday we went to Temple Square. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was on the road so they had an organ recital every day at noon. This organ has 11,623 pipes. It was pretty amazing! (my 15 year old says that I’m officially old now)The organist played the song I walked down the aisle to so that was pretty special, and well….I think Emalee might be right.

this is the face your husband makes when he realizes that he parked in the $10 parking garage instead of the cheap garage. I think the tabernacle looks like Disney World in this picture. I keep expecting Mickey and Minnie to come out and say hello!

it was hot! Well over 100 degrees. I know it is a “dry” heat but man oh man, it was toasty! In the food court at the mall there were fountains everywhere. I had to resist the urge to walk through them!

how about this food court view? amazing!

on our way to Cedar City we stopped for gas and I saw my first (and only) bear

after dinner we drove through a neighborhood on this large hill. It was close to sunset so we decided to hang out and watch the sun set over the mountains. We sat there for about an hour just watching the sun drop and looking at all the huge houses. I’m sure the neighbors wondered what we were doing

It was 103 degrees on the day we went to Zion. The heat index was higher and the UV was max extreme. We were a little ill prepared for the day nutritionally and the altitude was an adjustment. But these views were amazing!

we hiked down to see this waterfall. I took a picture of the sign so we’d know what we were supposed to be seeing. oh by the way, see that frog there on the sign….if I had actually seen that you would have heard me screaming all the way in France. I hate frogs with a passion!

this is what we actually found at the end of the hike. That would be a trickle of water……

it’s hard to argue that all of those orange rocks are pretty amazing!

The weather at the Grand Canyon was a balmy 90 degrees and crazy windy!! I mean, crazy! It was 40-60mph sustained wind with 80-100mph gust. It was a little scary for me, I was certain someone was going to be blown into the large hole in the ground. Those wind gust would literally almost knock you off your feet. After we entered the gate we encountered a large herd of buffalo trying to cross the road.

we visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is a little less crowded than the South and personally, I liked it better. Not to mention this amazing lodge with chairs to sit in and take in the view. That is where Emalee and I stayed by the way, I was not looking to be the one idiot who blew into the giant hole. We sat in the chairs and enjoyed the view while Joey did a mini hike

before leaving town we had a quick stop at Lake Powell. It was amazingly blue! We took a quick peek at the dam and I snapped a few photos. Apparently birds grab the fish and carry them up to the hillside to feast since there were fish bones everywhere

next stop: 4 corners. Where you are in Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona all at once. Also where they  served fry bread! My friend is from New Mexico and she told me before I left to stop for any bread that the Navajo Indians are serving. Since I have Navajo in my blood line I knew I would for sure stop and try it out. It was super yummy by the way!

Mesa Verde was one of the stops on our trip that I was looking forward to. Indian dwellings built into the cliffs thousands of years ago and perfectly preserved. We were able to hike down to see one of them but the main sight named Spruce House was closed because they’ve  had some rocks falling and it isn’t safe. We were able to see it and take photos though. Truly amazing!

also on tap in Cortez…..laundry!! even on vacation mom duties have to be tended to.

because we had a long day in the car ahead of us, we did a quick hour at Arches National park. We were afraid that because it’s the 100th anniversary of the National parks that it was going to be super crowded everywhere we went. Zion was crowded and getting into Arches was crowded. After that, everyone kind of dispersed once inside the parks and it wasn’t too bad.

balanced rock and delicate arch

when you drive with these views you just have to stop and take a photo!

hello Wyoming!

11 hours in the car. You tend to get a little stir crazy

Yellowstone National Park, you are a true beauty!

this sign was on the napkin dispenser. It didn’t help my bear phobia!

Old Faithful. Emalee was not too impressed and she was really not impressed that we waited an  hour to watch “water spurt out of the ground”

I wouldn’t mind this view outside my window

The grand prismatic spring. This Emalee was excited for! A bacteria pool!! That’s okay, it is pretty cool!

that one time we got too close to a buffalo…

Yellowstone Lake, you are so lovely!

after an 11 hour day inside Yellowstone, I couldn’t go back again the next day. I was tired! All the travel had caught up with me and I needed to sit in a hot tub and swim in the pool. Joey took off with Emalee’s camera and he saw some amazing waterfalls. He didn’t do too bad photographing them either!

however, when he returned I was rested up and ready to attend my first rodeo. I loved it!! Who knew rodeo’s were so patriotic?!? It was a great evening, even though Joey wouldn’t let me ride the mechanical bull. In his defense, I’m not the most graceful or coordinated person, so it was probably for the best.

Our vacation had finally come to an end. This poor rental car took a beating! 3100 miles driven, thousands of dead bugs on the front of the car, 5 states, 5 National parks, lots of laughs and memories….. priceless!!!

if you’ve hung on this long and you’re still reading, here is what I’d change. I would reconsider the Wyoming part of the trip. Not because Yellowstone was a waste of time, but the drive was brutal! Although in hindsight it’s hard to say I’d change anything. It was all pretty great and all that time in the car unplugged…..it was rejuvenating and a tad relaxing. Plus, all those miles traveled…we saw a ton of this amazing country. So, you can’t really call that a waste can you?

It’s here!!

Natalie’s Wild West Adventure 2016 is happening!! well, technically not for another 48 hours but it’s sooooo close!! The office will be closed from July 6th-July 20th. I’ll be sure to blog all the exciting things we did when I return. I’ll be adding a few (or a million….which is kind of the same thing..) iPhone snaps on my facebook page so be sure to check those out.

Here’s something pretty to look at while you anxiously wait on my return.

I’ve been friends with his mother since we were in 7th grade. I remember when he was a little boy with bright blue eyes. Now he’s a grown up with bright blue eyes and a kind disposition. He plays on the baseball team for his school, is active in church, works hard on his family’s land, keeps a watchful eye on his younger sister, and he loves his family. He is quick with his laughter, says ma’am and sir, and opens doors for ladies. All in all….he’s the total package! His parents are super proud of him and they have every right to be.

I met them at their house an hour before sunset and we hit the ground running. He was gracious enough to allow his family to crash his senior session. It’s always fun to watch a family interact with each other and capture a few candid photos that I know they’ll cherish forever because it shows the love and laughter they share.

And trust me, a teenaged girl is always happy to point out when you have lipstick on your teeth. Isn’t that right Jennifer?

The top photo makes me laugh!

I learned that when you are a teenaged boy, all your money goes into your car or truck. Pimping your ride is very important!

I have the luxury of meeting the most fantastic people! Every time I meet with clients I’m just so thankful to be on this journey with them. It really doesn’t matter if they are high school seniors or a family of 3-10, each portrait session is a wonderful time for me to make new friends and get to know people from all walks of life. I try very hard to meet with my clients before each session to discuss your vision and to share my thoughts on wardrobe choices and locations. I also like to chat for a bit to get to know you and to give you the chance to get to know me before we embark on the stress that is a session.  I’m a mother so I fully understand the stress of getting your family coordinated and to the location in one piece, all while trying to keep your sanity in check. I also understand how nerve wracking it can be to be 18 and not completely sure what you want in your session other than looking great and not feeling awkward.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ashley at Starbucks a few weeks before her session. We spent 20 minutes planning the specifics of her session then another 10 talking about music, what she does in her free time, and what her plans were after graduation.

The weather on the day of the session was perfect and our time flew by. Before I knew it, our 2 hours were up and I had a ton of great images of her. I’m sharing a few of my favorites. They were hard to narrow down folks! She is truly beautiful inside and out and I know her parents are extremely proud of her. Thank you Ashley for enduring my impromptu dance moves, stupid jokes, and occasional singing. 

the image on the right…..love!!

her boyfriend is in the service. He couldn’t be there but she wanted to include him. So, we did!

how gorgeous is this yummy light? “golden hour” is my favorite time to photograph people and this is why

hey y’all!! Can you smell it? Spring is right around the corner!! whoo hoo!!!

Class of 2016, you still have time to get your photos done before school is out. Contact me ASAP and we’ll get you on the books.

Spring sessions are always popular and go fast. Don’t wait until you see the trees changing to schedule your session, it may be too late. There is typically a short window of prime “bloomage” on those spring trees so we need to act fast. I’m looking forward to hearing from you, it’s been a long winter and I’m ready to come out of hibernation. Plus I bought some new toys that I’m chomping at the bit to use.

I have a ton of stuff to blog so keep checking in.

In my business, we are always looking ahead. Planning and scheduling months in advance. This sometimes makes it difficult for Type A personalities to focus on the here and now.  My busy season is right around the corner. I love this time of year! Fall and Winter are my absolute favorite! What’s not to love? Cooler weather, beautiful leaves on the trees, fire pits, boots, and fleece! I love everything about September-December. The kids are back in school, we’re back on schedule, structure returns to my world and I get to do what I love while not sweating like a construction worker in Dubi. Believe me, it’s hard to look ladylike and professional when it’s 98 degrees and 100% humidity during a photo shoot and your hair has taken on a life of it’s own!

This summer my body decided to tell me to slow down and smell the roses. I’m perfectly healthy it turns out, but it was a good reminder to stop, unplug,  breathe in the air, and to appreciate all the beauty surrounding me. I’ve made a promise to myself to take time to get centered when I let my Type A personality get too crazy and I’m on hyperdrive. This past weekend I went hiking with my husband. The funny thing is, I’ve hiked this trail several times by myself and I always get lost! I’m not sure how really. The trail is pretty clearly marked and I take a map with me, but somehow I  end up far from my intended destination. My husband went with me to make sure I made it out alive and to make sure I didn’t fall down and injure myself. (also a problem. I’m not always graceful…)

It was a hot, and a lot of traversing down hill in the beginning (which means…..lots of up hill at the end..) My knees and back have reminded me of my age for a few days following that hike! But it was all worth it because it was very rejuvenating, peaceful and quiet. I have several sessions coming up and I have a tendency to obsess about new poses, locations, new ideas and endless planning. It was nice to shut off my brain and focus on making it down the rough terrain without tripping over tree roots and rocks and appreciating the beauty of the woods. I struggled with the idea of lugging my camera with me or being in the “here and now”,  buuuuut….I’m a photographer, so you already know I took my camera! I decided I would take a few snaps and not get carried away worrying about it. If I took pictures, great! If I didn’t, that’s okay too!

I’m excited for the Fall season and I can’t wait to get behind my lens! I have only a few dates left in October so don’t hesitate if you are wanting to book a Fall session.

It’s always fun to photograph someone you’ve known for years and years, especially when you’ve watched them grow up. I met this young lady when she was in the 3rd grade and now she is getting ready to graduate! Crazy how quickly time has flown! She is super busy so I haven’t seen her much the past few years, so it was really great to spend a few hours talking to her. She has already completed several college courses and has decided where she will be attending school in the Fall. I have no doubt that she will be very successful in her endeavors and I know that she makes her family very proud.

We met at Shakertown and poked around for a bit. There are so many great places to take pictures tucked in and around there, and you never know when you may get chased down by a quacking duck or two. And because of said ducks……watch your step. ;)  We had a great time and it was a gorgeous day! Thank you Sarah for choosing me to capture your senior memories and for spending the afternoon with me laughing at my lame jokes. Have a great freshman year of college! I know it will be great!!

Sarah, you are beautiful! Ok, that’s all……

I love growing up in Kentucky for a lot of reasons. The fact that I drive by several horse farms daily is probably in the top 5. I love this time of year because they turn the horses out into the field for longer each day since it isn’t too hot or cold. Every morning when I drive my cherub to school we pass by my favorite field of horses and they look so graceful as the sun rises over the hill as they graze. I photograph these particular horses often because they are so friendly. On the morning I took these pictures for instance they were out in the field, but when they heard the click of my shutter, curiosity got the better of them and they came over to check me and my camera out. They were reaching so far over the fence that I couldn’t get a clear shot for most of the time so I put the camera down and leaned on the fence talking to them. I just love these “gentle giants”. Every time I look in their eyes I see such gentleness and compassion (and flies. Lots and lots of flies!)

There are days that I need to indulge in some of these personal projects to refuel my creative spirit. I spent and hour with these horses and I was calm and inspired for upcoming personal projects. I’ve just sent out a casting call for ballerinas on my facebook page. I’m planning on a dance series and I’m most excited about it!!

If you are thinking of Fall pictures, it’s time to schedule those. Weekend days are booking FAST! I’d love to capture your memories!