Fashion Photography

utah commercial photographer | test shoot for a commercial client

This was a test shoot/model casting thing I did before I did a shoot for a Luxury Blanket Company, careAboo.  It is so different when you get a child behind a camera, I think all children are so beautiful and special in their own way, but some kids tense up behind the camera and have a hard time getting candid.  I usually can get the candid feel out of most kids, but during commercial shoots, unfortunately there is not time for this, so I wanted to get them behind the camera first before I recommended which models would be best for careAboo to use.  They actually all ended up doing great, so it really came down to their heights, etc. and what three would work best together for this commercial client’s photography purposes.

It was a crazy day that day though, I had this amazing spot picked out to do the shoot and right before everybody was to meet up, there was a huge fire in Alpine, very near where we were going to shoot, it was on the mountain side but coming towards the houses, so of course we couldn’t be anywhere near the fire.

With models, parents and everybody in their cars we drove to this house I knew of that let’s me take photos there, the problem was it is a very “shaded” house and at the time we were shooting there was not a lot of light at all, one thing to know about “candid photography” and “group shots” is you need light, otherwise all of the movement will look blurry, etc. And you don’t want to go too low on your aperture if you are shooting multiple kids in a shot so all of the faces are in focus… so basically did my best to work with what I had.

I had Mia Belle Baby send some clothes for the shoot so they could get some cute photos from it since I was doing the shoot anyway.

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Utah Family Photographer

Family Photography by Utah Family Photographer, Amber Bauerle | J & A Family

This was a family photography session I did last summer, I love this field, I love this family.  ”Young” families make the best candid portraits, and that’s a lot of times your only option when you have kids under the age of 5 running around… but that’s my favorite type of photography anyway. This session was a quick 30 minute Family Photography Session, many times kids won’t last longer than that, so I have to be on my toes ready to take the photos as the kids will sort of let you know when they are done.

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Children Photographer

children photography | Starr

This past Summer I took my beautiful little neighbor, Starr up to my favorite field in the world and played around, I had to snap some photos for Royal Sisters Boutique, who do these amazing head bands/ bows, etc.  So that was the purpose – but how could I not just take some fun candid stuff too? Although I do so much photography, I can never get enough of it, give me a sweet, innocent child and a beautiful field with white flowers and you will literally have to drag me away until I can’t go any higher on my ISO settings… I am SO, so, passionate about what I do and every day feel so lucky to actually be making money at doing something that is so much fun.  When I am at photo shoots, I go into a world where I don’t think about anything else except the shoot at this moment, there is really nothing else that allows me to do that…

I had my little Belle up there with me and was able to get a couple cute ones of her too, so I included those.  I LOVED the cute dress that Starr was wearing when I saw her that afternoon, I need to ask her what brand it was, if I forget to comment and somebody wants to know, remind me.  But I wasn’t planning on taking photos of her, I just knew I had to get these headbands shot  and when I saw her it inspired me to take her to this lovely place and take some photos.  I love that her hair was so natural and not perfectly curled, etc.  That is my favorite look on a child.

There are wild apple trees at this place (not in these pics), and it is the ONLY location I really keep to myself, I have never seen another photographer there and if the word got out I feel like there would be a million photographers there 24/7 because of it’s beauty and variety. I like to go there with my kids in the summer, sometimes in the late afternoon or sometimes in the middle of the day, just to run around, throw rocks, etc.  They named it officially, “Apple Crisp” park.  It is where I have taken some amazing fall color pictures I get asked about a lot… I think I get asked hundreds of times a year where this place is… I can’t wait to go there this Spring… hmmmm, just thinking about it sort of put me in a trance of “wanting summer and no more winter”… it gets hard every year in Utah for me around March, when you are craving Spring and Summer and sort of done with the snow.  Although, I’m not a “winter hater” like some around here, I actually love the whimsical white beauty of snow and the cold doesn’t bother me.

Okay, so back to the photos…  so we really only spent about 15 minutes taking these and it was later than “golden hour”, so normally would have shot them earlier, but I still think they are pretty.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW PHOTO’S FROM THIS POST!

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Utah Family Photographer

family photographers in utah, the “t” family

OK. So when it comes to Family Photography I get asked a lot about how my pricing works, what you get with my family photo sessions, etc.  Many people don’t realize the HOURS I spend on my shoots, all photographers spend different amounts of time on their shoots and photos and have different levels of experience. Many of the photos I see on the internet are not edited, or retouched, maybe a quick “contrast boost” click and that’s it, this is fine, however very different than what I do so the pricing is different.

Often most of my clients are people that have knowledge about photography, if you don’t know or can’t tell the difference between good photos and average, then you wouldn’t understand how I charge for the photos perhaps.  My family sessions are not simply going somewhere for 20 minutes and clicking a couple of photos.  This particular family ended up with a thousand proofs, BECAUSE to get TRUE candid photos, you can’t stage the photo quickly.  Sometimes the first 20-30 minutes of a shoot we are getting to know each other, laughing and I’m casually clicking my camera.  Every family is usually a little stiff and uncomfortable at first, typically the parents have just been yelling at their kids to behave in the car, etc. ;)  So it’s important to get them warmed up.

So some things to think about is not only are you paying for a photographer that has the skills to take photos from the right angles with the right lighting and exposure but also a photographer that knows how to get a family to relax and interact, it is actually pretty difficult and not everyone can do it.  Plus remember the hours that are spent afterward having an eye to choose the best photos and then editing them to perfection and then there’s Photoshop – which really differentiates photographers.  Last year I edited out a little girl’s wet jeans on 20 photos because she had a potty accident and we were not near a bathroom… :)  It’s not as easy as it looks, and no matter how good you get, it’s still time consuming.  You can’t just “color” over the jeans that are wet, you need to keep the same textures, etc.

I have thought over and over and over, talked to my husband and tried to come up with a “mini family session” or something, but what happens is it somehow just turns into a regular one, because I am still spending the time setting up my studio or driving around looking for outdoor locations, either way there is much time spent before the shoot has even happened.  And then I usually end up getting so many great shots and then well… I just can’t leave great photos unedited – I just can’t help myself.

While looking at these photos, see if you can notice the candid shots, lighting, posing variety, angles, creativity, the post editing, the brightness of their eyes, the lack of shadows all over their faces, etc.  Okay, so enough about that – I mean this is my blog, so thought it would be a good idea to educate any people out there that don’t understand the difference between photographers, pricing, etc. ;)  And there are MANY AMAZING photographers out there, I’m not saying that there aren’t.

Okay now for this family…

I love family photos in an orchard, I normally don’t like “formal” clothing for family photos, but when the mom wanted to do it I knew she could pull it off.  I want to know colors, clothing, accessories before any shoot, that is part of the consultation call that I do to give tips and help develop the location/concept, props, etc.

This family’s oldest son is getting ready to leave on an LDS Mission for 2 years and so I highlighted him and did some “mission photos” as well. For those of you reading this that don’t know much about the LDS religion, all young men at the age of 19 are encouraged to serve a 2 year mission, they fill out paperwork and then wait to hear where they will be going!

And YES, I am obsessed with sun flare.

click below to see the family photos from this session…

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Utah Senior Pictures

teysia | utah senior portraits photography

I am very tired right now, which is good otherwise I would go on and on about this shoot, this girl, her clothes, hair, everything.  Her eyes are the most amazing green color I have ever seen, the lighting and the way it bounced off of her hair was unreal.

When we first talked about doing her senior photography session, she said she is so “vintage”, that is “Teysia”.  So we wanted to do something that reflected that style, which ultimately reflected her of course.  I was so in love with her lace dress I made her put it back on after we did some shots of her in the blue dress (which I loved as well), but there was something about the cream lace dress that worked so perfectly with our location, her look, etc.

It’s amazing how many incredible photos you can get with 1 location and 1 look.  I find so many times that when people want “outfit changes” it often not only takes time away from shooting, but it doesn’t allow the looks to totally get developed, many times it’s best to stick with the one look and go with it.  I know, I know, seniors out there want more than one look, that’s fine… I was just saying…

For rates and details for senior portraits, visit my: senior portraits photography page.  I love doing shoots with a theme, or concept, or with an editorial type feel.  I do a lot of post editing (still keep the person looking like themselves of course), but I do a lot of things to make the photo basically just look better, more grabbing, etc. SO with that said, if you want some quick shots leaning against a tree smiling, I’m probably not your girl.

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Utah Engagement Photography

snapped at a family shoot | destination wedding photographer | engagement photographer

These are a couple of photos I snapped at a family photo shoot, I thought they were so cute I wanted to highlight them.  I actually don’t know if this couple is even officially engaged, it was kind of like an extended type family shoot, so she was close enough to the family to be apart of it… I’m really putting the pressure on him now though if they are reading this and he hasn’t popped the question.

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Utah Family Photography

family portrait photographer

What a fun family!  One thing I love about my job is I get to make so many new friends, hear about their lives, and help them capture their special moments and interactions with each other. I have not done any head swaps on this shoot yet, most of the time in when it comes to family shoots, head swaps are common to get everybody smiling at the camera, but when it comes to extended family photos – it’s usually impossible to get everybody smiling perfectly at the camera all at once when there is little kids involved. :)

This was kind of an extended family, but only 10 people, so not too bad.  I currently don’t do large extended family shoots as it is hard for me to maintain creative control of the situation, but just one kid married, etc. is usually doable.

I am totally in love with the antique shop photos and the whole junk yard feel, etc.

I KNOW I post a lot of photos, I don’t post all of them from any session believe it or not, but I think it’s important to not just post “my favorites from a session” but give the reader a feel of what types of photos I do with each unique session, how many, individuals, variety, etc.

Click below to see photos from this Family Photography Session.

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Witney Carson | Utah Senior Pictures

witney carson senior portrait photography session

I have to say, I am totally obsessed with this senior photo shoot. When I have something in my head and it comes to life in the exact way I wanted it to, it is the best thing ever. When Witney called me we talked about some ideas and the horse thing just stuck. I was thinking something “whimsical” feeling and wanted a white horse to go with her white hair and then have her wear a cream/white dress. Well, Witney brought exactly what I was envisioning for the clothing, she did great.

She had mentioned that her Grandpa owned horses so I just assumed she had ridden before, nope, she had never even been on a horse! Her natural grace and beauty overshadowed any insecurities she had on the horse. She was so amazing to work with and I had so much fun.

There is something magical and whimsical about a white horse, she looks like she is in a fairytale.  Thanks to Maddy who is the horse, Willow’s owner… she was so patient and willing to do whatever we needed.  She was actually standing in some of the shots, but I took her out… you would never know though.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!  Love you Wit!

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