Boise Family Photography: Hawley Family


When Candice wrote me, she said that she hadn't taken family pictures without a tripod EVER! I was immediately giddy with excitement when she sent me a picture of her little girls...a red head, blonde and brunette!! Are you kidding!? This family is perfect! From the moment we got there the girls were running and throwing sticks into the pond! It was the most perfect evening. This is how I want my family sessions to be! Enjoy!



 






















Boise Engagement Photography: Joe+Ashley

 They met each other 5 years ago. Ashley's girlfriend had met someone online and finally wanted to meet up with him in person, she asked Ashley to come with her. Joe's friend also wanted some company on his first date with his online girlfriend. After the night was over Joe told his friend, "I will be with Ashley someday." He was even dating someone at the time! 5 years later here they are...engaged!!
I was giddy when I saw them walk up hand in hand. They were adorable! Half way through the session I had to ask her if she had ever modeled and she said no. I couldn't believe it! She is stunning! I can NOT wait to shoot their wedding in October!!

Boise Child Photography: Woodland Fairy, Polka Dots and Balloons! Veronica Turns ONE!!!


 I am always so excited to spend any amount of time around kids! They are so silly and fun and pretty much don't care what they look like or what they do! Just my type of people! Veronica was a little hesitant with me at first but by the end of the day she finally warmed up to the camera. Grandma Patty was the most gracious and fun host, she was coloring with the kids and laughing!! This day everyone was having fun! When the cake was set in front of Veronica she very daintily touched it and when she got something on her hands she would cry for a napkin. She was definitely the cleanest one year old Ive ever been around! Here are some photos of the birthday party!



Boise Family Photography: The Progression to a Perfect Family Photo

 I always have in mind what I want a group photo to be..."real". To be honest, that is a really hard thing to accomplish. So when I get something like this, I am truly happy. These are the moments that will make you smile for years and years to come. Its not the forced weird uncomfortable smiles that you will want, so get ready to be silly and fun so that you can have a family photo that will always make you smile!! (and all this because I had mom and daughter hold hands!! )
 Thank you Christina! You have a beautiful family! What a fun shoot!!! I am very blessed!!

Running your business on Biblical principles {Boise Idaho Photographer}

Hello!! I hardly ever post a blog without pictures but when I find something that means a lot to me I can't help it!! I just ran across this blog post by Matt Hollingsworth, a guest blogger who attended a workshop headed by Mike Larson in 2010. Mike Larson is a well known Christian photographer who I admire. I was instantly drawn to this post and wanted to share this with you. I pray that I am "salt and light" in my business and that I make an impact on those around me. This post really helped me keep the right perspective. If I lose my God-centered perspective, I'm "lost". So, here you go! :)

"Did you know that the Bible has more to say about money than about any other single topic? God doesn’t necessarily place a greater importance on money than on other truths, but our attitudes about money and the way we use it indicate our deeper spiritual condition. Since business involves the exchange of money, it stands to reason that God places a significant value to the way business works.

Indeed, today we really saw that a business run by Christians should not just be better than other businesses, it should be totally different. If Jesus is really at the center of our own individual lives, or if we aspire for Him to be, then our lives should reflect changes as we grow and allow Him to refine our character. And then, as business owners, as our individual lives change to become more Christ-like, our businesses should also become more Christlike.

What, then, is a Christ-like business, and why would we try to have such a business?

The answer to the second question actually answers the first question.

A big revelation for me today, something that completely resets my approach to “work” – especially as a new business owner – is this big-idea truth that Mike shared:

Business is a tool that God uses to refine our own character and to glorify Him in ways that our personal lives may not allow us to do.

As I let that sink in, it changes how I see what I do. Business for the Christian isn’t just making better products, isn’t just sending invoices and receiving payments more efficiently, isn’t just becoming the market leader, isn’t even just giving people something great that they will treasure for a lifetime.

Business is about God’s deeper work in us and the people around us.

This means that God is ultimately more concerned about our character than our profit. Of course profit is important and necessary in a business. Without profit, there is no business and you just have a nice hobby that doesn’t provide for your needs. But at times God calls us to sacrifice in the area of profit for the sake of doing what is right so that He can shape our character to be more like Him. Profit and the money the business produces will be a by-product, or “symptom” as Mike put it, of a business run on Godly principles.

This means that as a business owner, I have a not just the opportunity, but the responsibility to lead and develop the character of the people that work with and for me. Wow. Have you ever thought of your position as an employer as including the responsibility to help employees personally develop, and not just do their job? Jesus set the example for us as a leader by pouring His life into the lives of those around Him.

This means that as the leader of our businesses, we take ownership of communicating the style, the values, the principles by which we conduct business to everyone on our team. We ensure that everyone is on the same page and we take the initiative and time to train each person. We provide both correction and praise to people who work with us, just as God does to us – all in a backdrop of patient love.

And this means that we deal with and understand people not in terms of their status – “boss” vs. “worker”, or “$400k revenue business” vs. “$40k revenue business”, or “been shooting weddings for 7 years” vs. “I’ve shot 2 weddings”, or “my camera costs $x” vs. “your camera costs $y”, or “client who makes $500k a year” vs. “client who makes $35k a year”. All these things simply promote pride and arrogance, which are only obstacles to our growth. All people are equal in God’s eyes, and when we relate to our staff, our vendors, our peers and our clients we must honor them as individuals rather than as categories.

Pretty challenging, isn’t it? But if business is a tool that God uses to develop our character and to glorify Him, it will be different than just going to work.

Mike also talked about six symptoms of business bondage – signs that your business may not be in line with God’s ultimate purpose for it. These aren’t death sentences, though. Just like pain in our bodies, they are signals that we need to change in some area in order to experience God’s best for us.
1. Superiority, which is really just pride and arrogance. Do you compare yourself to others and either think you’re less of a person when you don’t measure up, or more important and valuable when you come out ahead of someone else? The answer to this is humility and esteeming others higher than ourselves.
2. Selfishness, which we can understand as greed. In place of greed, we need to give.
3. Overwork, which is an indicator of financial bondage.
4. Excessive use of credit means that we’re not completely trusting God to provide for us with what He has already given us.
5. Disorganization, which has at its root laziness.
6. Trying to get rich quick – this indicates our love of money above our love for God.

Finally, we talked today about some practical strategies to implement these ideals and qualities in our lives and businesses, and to address some of the root problems that the symptoms of business bondage bring to our attention.
Here are the highlights:
  • Pray – praying is a muscle. If you don’t pray when you don’t have to, then you won’t be able to when you need to. Pray specifically for wisdom and direction each day.
  • Make mentoring a priority in your life. Find a person or people who agree to spend time with you regularly and give you part of their lives – their experience, wisdom and knowledge. Be open to their guidance and to learning from them, putting aside your own pride.
  • Know your vision for your life and your priorities and write them down. Make your life vision the lens through which you make your everyday decisions.
  • Have people around you that hold you accountable. Ensure there are one or more people who have the ability to stand up to you when you need to be corrected or instructed. Don’t surround yourself with “yes men” and be humble enough to accept the correction.
  • Ensure you have time each day for prayer and connection with God in your own personal life.
  • Spend quality time with your family. Compartmentalize work so it does not take over your life.
  • Debt is bondage, so avoid it wherever possible.
Today I am renewed in my approach to work. I not only have a better understanding of God’s true plan for business, but a vision of how amazing and fulfilling a business could be when surrendered to God. Business can bring growth to my character; strength to my family; blessing to people who work with me who may not have otherwise been blessed. It can give me the chance to learn through sacrifice and giving.
It may or not bring a lot of money, but it can be something that brings me closer to God."

http://www.mikelarson.com/blog/2010/02/

Boise Children Photography: Twin Brother and Sister

 OH MY GOODNESS!! I literally squeeled when i saw these kids!  I was so happy to hear from Amanda again this year to do pictures of her twins, this time for a surprise Father's Day gift! We decided to go try a new location out of town advised by a photographer friend of mine and it was AMAZING!! Grandma and sister came to help be silly and make the kids laugh! I am so happy that Amanda brought such cute outfits to change them into! All and all it was a super fun shoot and I couldn't ask for a better day!

Boise Wedding Photography: Amber + Alex

Have you ever met someone and instantly knew you were meant to be friends?? Well when I met Amber it was just like that! She is hilarious (like me) lol, she makes silly faces like I do and I LOVE it! When we booked her wedding I had no idea how much I would love working with her. We got together before the wedding for a boudoir shoot and HOLY MOLY she is gorgeous! Alex is seriously blessed :). Sadly they are moving out of the state on Saturday and I will miss her pretty face. Congratulations to you two and God Bless YOU!!!
 Thank you!!!!

Working for Urban Liason Magazing Nampa {Boise, Idaho Food Photographer}

If you ever get into my car you will hear 94.1. I love to listen to the Word and one particular day I listened to an interview with The Marketing Goddess and Cheryl of Urban Liason Magazine. They were talking about how the magazine helps the local market. This is a free magazine comprised of local business ads and does full features on chosen restaurants and small businesses. I immediately called and asked to be a part of it. Cheryl of Urban Liason Canyon county called me and we did a couple restaurant reviews.

I am not perfect at this type of shoot but I want to stretch my creativity and im always striving to get better. Here are a few from that day!

Boise Child Photography: Gabby gets serious!

 So I believe that I have successfully infiltrated the "police department"! My bestest girly Sonia Lopez works for dispatch at the police department and can't seem to keep her mouth shut about me, I just don't know why! LOL! I am so thankful for her and all the ladies that have chosen me for their family photos. 
Crystal called me as a referral from another client there and needed to get pictures of her little girl Gabby.  We decided to keep it simple and head out to the field near both of our houses- she lives a stone throw from me. The second we got her out in the field, she stayed very serious. As she watched the cars drive by, Crystal and I probably sounded a little crazy with our high squeeky voices and looked a little strange waving our hands around to get her to look and to smile. All in all we definitely showcased little Gabby on that day. She is absolutely adorable.

Boise Family Photography: Mandy and her little gentlemen!!


I am always so thankful when I get to meet a new client- especially when they are a referral. A referral is the best compliment I could ever receive. First of all, a client must really have a great experience and love the service to share that with their friends or family. And that is simply the greatest gift to me. SO with that I introduce Mandy Haynes and her little boys.

Mandy is a referral from Debbie Lehnert. I shot Debbie's family a couple months ago and received the most amazing feedback from her! She loved every proof picture and had to have every one of them! I still smile thinking about that day. Mandy and her husband attend the same "core group" as Debbie through Calvary Chapel Church, which so happens to be the church Aaron and I go to. So we were simply destined to meet! 

 Mandy is B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! I joked with Aaron saying "She looks like a cover girl". They all look like models. I can't wait to get her husband out next time to shoot the whole family.  Check out these pictures of the day!!











Boise Family Photography: Debbie and her Boys!!

I got a call from Debbie a few weeks back and we scheduled a family shoot for her and her boys. I didn't know her so of course I snooped on facebook and checked her out to see if I recognized her or anyone she knew. The first thing I saw was red hair and blue eyes, on everyone! Wow! What a beautiful family! We were both so excited that we could hardly wait!

 I typically have the little kids run and play while occasionally stopping for a photo or two with mom and dad. Since her youngest wasn't old enough to run we all watched as Kyler ran, jumped around and played. As we walked we both realized that we go to the same church! I am so thankful to have met Debbie and her family! Here are a few from the day!!


Boise Wedding Photography: Dane + Sylvia

Last year I was searching craigslist, which I did daily, and came across a photographer that was quitting her business and had a ton of equipment to sell. I immediately called her and met up at her house. Her name was Trish Scott. She had worked in the industry for a long time and had built up a clientele that she was sad to leave. I picked her brain and we discussed all kinds of photography topics. It was a really fun time. She told me that she would refer me to her clients as they came to her.

I was very happy to hear from her recently as she had a client that was having a short ceremony over lunch and wanted her to shoot the event. She had moved on from photography so she emailed me if I would be interested and of course I said yes!

His name is Dane Meuler and her name is Sylvia. We met at Starbucks and discussed the day. I asked questions and they laughed together. They were flying to a much warmer climate for their honeymoon where they would take their official photos but still wanted the ceremony captured. I was happy to do it!


It was a Friday and we met up at Asiagos restaurant downtown Boise. The sun was out but a cool breeze kept Sylvia in goose bumps during the outdoor photos. The ceremony took place in a small room with one end lined with wine bottles. Such a romantic atmosphere. Dane and Sylvia were so appreciative and easy going that it was a literal dream to do.  Here are a few shots of the lunch hour ceremony.

Spring Sessions are filling up!

Hello friends! By the looks of the weather yesterday you would NEVER think that spring was around the corner! Snow flurries and rain....geez! But today is absolutely beautiful, nice and sun shiny, go figure! So with all that...I wanted to let everyone know that if you are interested in some fun spring family photos, my Saturdays are FILLING UP! I just love being a photographer, especially when the families that I have shot already, come back for seconds and thirds! Wow! So please make sure and call me to book your spot early! Here is my calendar as of TODAY:

April:
9th- AM/PM OPEN
16th- FULL wedding
23rd- AM OPEN
29th- FULL
30th- FULL wedding

May:
7th- AM/PM OPEN
14th- Open for 1 session
21st- FULL wedding
27th- AM OPEN
28th- Open for 1 session
29th- FULL wedding

June:
3rd- FULL wedding
11th- FULL
18th- FULL

PHEW!! Ok so please note that the weekends ALWAYS fill first so if the weekend you are wanting is full lets meet during the week! :) I have TONS of days open then! Thank you for your support and I hope to talk to you soon!!!