Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it's been a long week- my daughter was sick and of course I was destined to get sick too!

Thankfully since I saw it coming I was able to drink lots and lots of vitamin C!!! My cold only lasted three days while my poor little girl is still toughing it out. I was trying to stay positive and thought she might be well enough to join the turkey feast but with 8 more little ones under the age of seven I think it's better if we don't spread it around. I'll make sure to bring lots of leftovers for her and tons of the fabulous pie me by Aunt HeHe! (by the way, that' toddler speak for Tiffany and it was so cute it stuck!)

So I have been pretty busy and the reason I didn't blog last week is because I was away at an awesome retreat with a few fellow photographers...

Work Less, Live More!!!

It was so awesome! Four photographers drove up to Pinetop, AZ. It was beautiful and the fall colors were great (because as you may know, here in the Phoenix area we just don't see that!) But alas, we spent most of our time inside working! Each night we went over one photographers business plan and portfolio for critique and redirection. It was awesome! So be on the look out for some new things coming from me. I've been bad about posting the new work on my website mostly because I'm getting a new one!!! I'm so excited about it! I just can't wait to get started! :0)

So here are a few images from the long weekend!

Sara, working at her laptop...


Michelle, working(?) at her laptop :0P (are you noticing a theme here???)


Me, after someone stole my own camera away from me laughing "you won't be blogging this!"
Fine! :0P


We posted up words that describe our images and where we want to go with our business. Mine were Fresh, Organic and Natural. (Aren't organic and natural the same thing???) Hmmm... sounds like I'm describing a dairy product!!! I had modern in mind but the girls thought those three really fit my stuff. Let me know what you think!


And here, once again- stealing my camera from me! FUN! :0)


I have so much more to blog about but it will have to wait. So thanks you guys! You helped so much and it was a blast hanging with you (even though my back was sore from working at the laptop too much!) hehe! :0)

Horsin around with Bruce :P

Forgive the blog title, I just couldn't resist!!! :0P

But I had a great time with my friend Bruce this weekend! He came into town and we got to shoot together again- a beautiful wedding on Saturday and a gorgeous horse on Sunday.

You wouldn't believe the amount of work that goes into getting a horse prepared for a show or in this case... picture day!


Here she's staring to get restless because all the other horses were being fed!

And at the end of the day, all the braids and rosettes had to be taken out! All that work for a few hours! Bruce and I were joking around how it really is like a bride getting ready- the horse had makeup done too. Seriously.

Then we met up with a few other friends and fellow photographers, Rachel and JT. I was pretty tired by that time, I kept yawning!! (damn I'm getting old- I mean I was home by 10:30!)


But it's always fun no matter how tired I get!!

Jessi & Matt's wedding at Monterra

I had such a great time shooting with Kim Jarman the other weekend! So easygoing to work with! :0) If you're saying who's Kim? She used to go by Michelle Allen Photography. Her work is awesome!

We started out with the girls getting ready

gotta get those shoes!

Then I headed over to hang with the boys

This couple decided to see each other before the wedding ceremony- she had a special book to present to the groom! Kim did a boudoir session and wowza!!! :0) I was talking with a few of the guests- and we all agreed, what a great time to do something like this.

How do you guys feel about meeting before hand?
I searched a couple of posts over at the knot just to see what brides thought- check it out!
bride and groom seeing each other before hand
intimate moments before the ceremony


I couldn't resist one of Kim shooting while I was on the balcony! :0)


The nice part about seeing each other beforehand is getting the pictures done with lots of time and low stress!




So we headed over to Monterra at West World for the ceremony and reception.

Awww... the father daughter dance :0)

What a fun group!!!




So thanks Kim I had fun! I love shooting with other photographers and seeing how they do it!

Oh and on a side note... I put on my pants last weekend and there was a rip in the seat!!! So if anyone has to witness me bearing my undies at this event I truly apologize!!! haha :0)