Welcome!!
Here you will find all sorts of things: tips and tricks, book reviews, stories of my adventures, client features, and so much more!
Rebecca Engle, and Family! An ABQ Uptown Family Portrait Session; Albuquerque, NM
I have had the pleasure of photographing Rebecca, Adoli, Nora, and Kyle several times throughout the years, but this is the first time that I’ve met Rebecca’s siblings, their spouses, and their children, and what a fun family! The attempts to get the kiddos to smile were making me crack up!
I'm a Latter-Day Saint
When I do blog, Thursdays are the day of the week I usually reserve to write about whatever I feel like. I do this so that it forces me to let you get to know me a little bit better. However, there is a part of myself that I haven’t shared with y’all up to this point, most because I was scared. I don’t want to alienate anyone, because I want this community to be a safe space for all of us. But, with my faith continuing to grow, and my circle of close friends changing, I know I need to share this part of my life with y’all as well.
Our Trip to Disney World
Justin, Christopher, Joshua, and I just got home on Saturday evening from an 8-day trip to Walt Disney World with Justin’s side of our family. We went to celebrate my Father-in-Law’s retirement. It’s what he wanted in lieu of a huge party. He paid for almost the whole family (we left Andrew at home with my parents) to spend a week at Disney World! It was an incredible gift to all of us!
A Road Trip and a Lesson on the Value of Photography
About two months ago, I took a road trip with my mom, my grandma, and my two-year-old. I know, it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s not. We left on a Saturday morning for a small town in Southeastern Kansas called Yates Center. It took us two days to get there, but we made it. Yates Center is the small town where my grandmother and my grandfather met. Its the town where my great-grandparents and my uncle are buried. Its the town where I spent a few days almost every summer of my childhood. And this trip may be the last time I see the town for quite some time to come.
Taryn and James Thompson- A Farmington, New Mexico Wedding
I have had the pleasure of knowing Taryn from almost the beginning of my business 5 years ago. I’m not sure how she found me, but I’m so glad she did! I have had the pleasure of watching her boys grow up, and getting to know one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Taryn and her family have since moved out of New Mexico, but when she got engaged to James earlier this year, and called asking if I could photograph her wedding, of course I said yes!
American Cancer Society's Relay for Life- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Attend an American Cancer Society event. I challenge you to do so. Because if you do, you will learn what an incredible event and community that the people who regularly participate in these events have formed. These events are both emotional and physical. They are sad and exciting. They are fun and serious. And all that goes on at these events comes together cohesively.
How Can You Trust Me?
I’ve been reading a biography of Fred Rogers, the guy behind ‘Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood’- you know, the children’s t.v. show we all grew up watching on PBS- entitled The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King. In reading this book, I came across a quote from Dr. Margaret McFarland who was one of Mr. Roger's professors at the Arsenal Center of the University of Pittsburgh that has made me do quite a bit of thinking.
How to Tie a Windsor Tie Knot with Justin Bradshaw
Justin was wonderful in helping me create this video tutorial for y’all! He has been tying his own ties for church every Sunday since the age of twelve, when his father first taught him how to tie a full Windsor Knot. Through my experience as a wedding photographer, I’ve learned that not every groom or groomsman knows how to tie their tie the day of the wedding, so we created an easy-to-follow video tutorial to explain how to do it!
Botto/Torcich Wedding- Paradise Hills Golf Course, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Gary and Jacquelyn were married on May 25th, 2019 in a very intimate wedding at Paradise Hills Golf Course in Rio Rancho, New Mexico! Read on below to learn more about their wedding!
To Taos and Back: Day Three
I’m sorry to say that Day Three found us heading home early! We were completely worn out from this camping trip, and our one to Carlsbad not even two weeks before, plus a Cub Scout overnight a few days before that! We were all feeling tired, so we packed up and headed home.
To Taos and Back: Day Two
Day two in Taos found us driving to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico to see the National Boy Scout Museum. The drive over from Taos took us through the Cimarron Canyon State Park, and I have to say, it was gorgeous! There were so many places I wanted to pull over, take out my camera, and start shooting! It was wonderful to see such beautiful mountain landscapes, but we didn’t really have time to stop. The boys were anxious to get to the museum as quickly as possible because this was the stop they were most looking forward to on this trip!
To Taos and Back: Day One
In real life, my boys and I were actually home for about a week between these two road trips, but I’m a little behind on my blogging, so I’m gonna go ahead and start telling y’all about this trip!
We left bright and shiny early on Monday morning, headed for Taos, New Mexico after packing our bag and our camping gear once again. We once again grabbed breakfast at McDonald’s and Lotaburger, and hit the road.
Cynthia's Newborn Portraits
This little cutie is Cynthia. I have had the pleasure of knowing her mom, Kendra, and her aunt and grandmother for a number of years, so when Cynthia was born, I got to create her newborn portraits!
Adam and Milly Little's Temple Sealing
I have known Milly and Adam for several years, specifically since we moved into the Los Lunas Ward in the Los Lunas Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Milly was one of the first Sisters who reached out to me, and welcomed me into the Ward. I’ve never forgotten her kindness, so when she reached out and asked if I could photograph her and Adam’s Temple Sealing, of course I said yes!
To Carlsbad and Back: Day Three
Day Three of this trip found us packing up our campsite and heading home. Which was probably a good thing, because we were pooped! Carlsbad took more out of us than I thought it would. After breakfast, we broke camp and loaded up the car to head toward home. I had a few stops left, though!
To Carlsbad and Back: Day Two
Day two of our Mini Road Trip we spent exploring Carlsbad Cavern National Park. Depending on how fast you walk, this is at least a half-day event. It took Christopher, Joshua, and myself 3 hours to hike down the Natural Entrance and around the full Big Room, taking the elevator back to the surface.
To Carlsbad and Back: Day One
Day one (two weeks ago tomorrow) in our first mini road trip of the summer involved getting up at the crack of dawn (the norm for our house, by the way) and loading the car with our final few items before grabbing breakfast at McDonald’s for the boys and a Blake’s breakfast burrito for me. Then we finally hit the road for Carlsbad, New Mexico.
The Adventure Begins...
Tomorrow the boys and I leave on our first mini road trip of the summer. We’re headed down to Carlsbad Caverns, and a few other places along the way for an upcoming photo project. We’re going to be camping out while we’re down there, which is also exciting for the boys. I’ve been camping multiple times in my life, especially as a Girl Scout Trainer, teaching other Leaders how it’s done. I’ve also been to Carlsbad and the surrounding area before, although it has been a few years.
Defining MY Ideal Client
Over the course of the last two years, I have been working to become a Certified Wedding Photographer through The International Academy of Wedding Photographers. This is an online school with courses in wedding photography taught by some of the biggest names in the industry. We go over all sorts of things: using off-camera flash, branding, photo editing, posing, workflow, and so much more. Part of the reason that I am working toward this certification is so that I can learn how to provide you guys the best services I possibly can.
Easy Posing Tips and Tricks for the Everyday Person
In the art of photography, photographers are responsible for taking three-dimensional (3D) objects and creating a two-dimensional (2D) piece of art that can be framed and hung on a wall. In theory this sounds quite simple: you get everyone posed, and you click the shutter button on the camera. But, in reality, it isn’t so simple. There are some things you can learn to do to help your photographer out, though! Here they are: