Three Winks Studio Blog

So Long, Farewell

2008-06-09T11:41:00.003-07:00

....to this BLOG. This blog has been good to me. We've been together for 2 years now. It was time for a change.

Change all your links and RSS feeds to my NEW BLOG:

http://threewinksstudio.wordpress.com/

New Music - Week 5

2008-06-05T19:51:00.002-07:00

This week is a tribute to Iron and Wine who has amazing, mellow, beautiful melodies and lyrics. Although I enjoy many of their songs, my all time favorite is The Trapeze Swinger. It's 9 minutes long and every time it ends, I want to play it again.

Please, remember me
Happily
By the rosebush laughing
With bruises on my chin
The time when
We counted every black car passing
Your house beneath the hill
And up until
Someone caught us in the kitchen
With maps, a mountain range,
A piggy bank
A vision too removed to mention

Aren't the lyrics sweet?

Blog Addresses

2008-06-05T13:15:00.002-07:00

I am currently working on a new blog. I felt it was time to give my blog a face lift. One thing that I want to do, is link to more blogs.

Here's where you come in: I want YOUR blogs!

Leave me a comment with your blog address, if you link to me, and how we know each other. I am going to categorize the blogs so it's not one super long list. I'd love to link to you if you're linked to me....so please let me know :)

p.s.

2008-06-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

I just figured out that you can vote once a day on Artists Wanted, so....if you feel compelled to do so, please give me a good rating more than once :) Thank you!

VOTE for me!

2008-06-04T11:26:00.003-07:00

Hey everyone. You know how much I love and appreciate your support, don't you? Each and every one of you, even if I don't know who you are. Your continued allegiance to my blog, your comments and participation, make it all worthwhile.

Well, I need your help again. I've submitted 4 images to Artists Wanted : Exposure. Spread the word and vote for me. (Be honest in your rating, of course).

Thank you, thank you :)

My Mountains

2008-06-04T09:07:00.002-07:00

On Monday evening, I decided to go for a walk up in the mountains above my house. The slight breeze, blue skies, green hills, and wildflowers were calling my name. I love where I live! It was nice to clear my head and get my legs moving. I am so blessed :)

the host

2008-06-03T15:14:00.002-07:00

I started reading 'the host' a couple weeks ago, but usually could only squeeze in one chapter a night before going to bed. It was nice to be able to find more time for reading as I traveled to and from Raleigh. I pretty much read the entire second half of the novel on my flight home -- I couldn't put it down.

Stephenie Meyer writes beautifully in this book (much better, I think, than in Twilight). The character development is poignant and intriguing. She poses the question: what is human? And shows that it is not what we are on the outside, but the inside that really matters. In our lives, you can think of it as any type of label we use to define a person -- race, gender, religious beliefs, prestige, annual salary, etc. What truly matters, though, is our hearts. How much we love and serve others, what we think about, and how we live from day to day.

I fell in love with this book and if you haven't already read it...you should!

Tina and Scott

2008-06-02T15:01:00.003-07:00

One great thing about going to Raleigh was that I had the chance to meet Tina and Scott! I am photographing their wedding in July up in Blackfoot, ID. They are both living in Fayetteville, NC (about an hour South of Raleigh). As soon as I planned my trip I contacted them to see if we could meet up and do an engagement session. I am now even more excited for their wedding!

Tina has dark red hair and electric blue eyes that compliment her fun personality. Scott is in the military over there and has a fantastic grin. They seriously fit together perfectly. It all started 4 1/2 years ago when Scott went to the bar that Tina worked at. Scott was head over heels from the get-go and it only took Tina 6 months before she agreed to go out with him. They've been dating ever since.

These guys are a hoot to be around, especially with Scott's sense of humor. It was all laughter and love. Thanks for taking the time to drive up to meet me :)

the Derrick Family

2008-06-02T14:54:00.002-07:00

The night before I left for Raleigh, I had the pleasure of photographing the Derricks. It is a rare moment when all the kids and grandkids are ALL together, so we had to take advantage of this evening.

What a great family!

Raleigh, NC Miscellaneous

2008-06-02T14:32:00.002-07:00

Remember this?

Well, this is what it looked like the next day:

And, the night before, April took this picture of me and Mendy in front of it:

Funny how things can change so fast.....I'll bet we were the last people to photograph it :)

So, I promised April I would post these pictures on my blog that she took. She said that I don't ever have pictures of myself and she's always taking pictures of me taking pictures. Plus, she is known for her crazy pictures. She always has us posing and making faces to really show what we were feeling at the moment.

This is right after I arrived in Raleigh from my no-sleep, red-eye flight.

This is when we picked the sweet, juicy mulberries that stained our fingers purple.

Photographing the fountain at the Rose Garden...

April wanted to take a picture of me with the dock in the background. Little did I know that the waves would rush up and soak my feet...

These are the poor shells that have been beaten and smashed to smithereens. April wanted me to show 'sadness.'

A little hair washing action...

April LOVES skating!

Here I am playing with the squishy, liquidy, slippery toy that slides out of your hand when you squeeze it. These crack me up!

Enter at own risk...

April on the bridge, scared for her life.

2 buses are careening towards me. This is seconds before they speed by me, shaking the bridge and freaking me out.

Josh

2008-06-02T08:09:00.002-07:00

Back in April, Josh had a layover in Salt Lake. The mountains were looking particularly incredible that day, so Josh decided to stay. He sent out a message on couchsurfing.com and ended up staying in Salt Lake. A couple days later, he ended up at my friend April's house. He came to a toga party with us, met all our friends, hiked on the North mountains of the Valley with us, and became our good friend.

April, Mendy and I stayed with Josh on our recent trip to North Carolina. He treated us so well while we were out there. We all came and left at different times and he chauffeured us every time, willingly, to the airport. He showed us around town, had us meet his friends, and made sure we got to see what a great town Raleigh is.

Josh makes me want to be a better person. He's studying Gandhi right now -- internalizing and applying it to his own life. I feel more calm and relaxed around him because that's the way he is. He lives a simple life, making time for the things that matter most.

The night before I left, Josh reluctantly agreed to have his picture taken so I could blog about him. Thanks for everything, Josh!

North Carolina - Day 3

2008-05-29T13:50:00.004-07:00

Yesterday was an incredible day, to say the least. April and I had been trying to figure out a way to get to the beach ever since we arrived. Being without a car made it a little difficult....so we finally gave in and rented a car for the day.

Katherine, the lady who helped us at Enterprise was fantastic. She recommended that instead of driving to Wilmington, which has a few beaches, we should go to 'Top-Sul.' It was more quaint and not as touristy. We later learned that 'Top-Sul' is actually Topsail, but we made sure to pronounce it like the locals ;)

It seriously was a miracle that we found it. We didn't know the exact exit we were supposed to take to get there....April had the inspiration that maybe we should fill up on gas since we hadn't seen any gas stations in a while....and on that very exit, we saw the signs that would lead us to Topsail. We stopped and bought some fresh strawberries for the rest of our journey.

Although it rained on an off, the weather was pleasant and made for a quiet day at the beach. I was in awe as we drove down the main street of the Island. The tall beach houses are a sight to see: brilliant colors, boats everywhere, and everything just felt like it moved slower. I was in heaven.

I had to take a picture of the gorgeous roads in NC...nothing like in Utah. The trees act as a barrier to the world, leaving you in what feels like a secluded area with rich emeralds, jades, and olive greens to line the lonely road.

On our way home, we stopped at a bridge where a beautiful, black river moseyed. We actually parked next to the river and stupidly decided to walk onto the bridge. With only a foot between the edge of the road and speeding cars, we raced up. I even caught myself screaming as 2 buses came flying by, shaking the bridge and my nerves.

There are always SO many beautiful sights to take in. It's like eye candy ALL the time here!

Raleigh, NC - Day 2

2008-05-27T16:06:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, on the way home from the coffee shop, I meandered around on my own. I was immediately intrigued by the array of colors on every block. From the rust dripping from a window sill, to the colored doors, to a small yellow light on a white wall.

And, all this was within a short, 6-block walk. Incredible.

Last night, we hung out with some of Josh's friends at a BBQ. I felt right at home. Everyone was welcoming and friendly and it felt like we were hanging out with a bunch of close friends. Mendy even gave us a little mini concert and graced us with her beautiful songs. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures because I didn't want to freak anyone out with my ginormous camera -- it can be a bit overwhelming for strangers :) It was a picturesque evening, including eating mulberries straight from the tree. yum....

Today, we went to a rose garden. It was almost a shame that the sun was so bright....well, it just makes my job more of a challenge ;) but the flowers were gorgeous...and it smelled heavenly.

On our walk home, we noticed a small shop named Loco Pops. Curious and hot, we decided to go see what it was. Gourmet popsicles. I had a banana chocolate chip flavored one. It was a perfect treat for a super hot, humid day. Even after coming home, I haven't cooled off. It's like a blanket of heat is always around me, sticking to everything. I definitely appreciate Utah's dry climate :)

Raleigh, NC - Day 1

2008-05-26T10:29:00.001-07:00

I've officially been in Raleigh, North Carolina for 4 hours. I took a red eye last night to Atlanta...don't think I slept at all in the plane because I was in the back and the engine was ROARING loud. We landed at 6am, which meant 4am in Salt Lake. I had a layover for 2 1/2 hours where I attempted to sleep while using my camera bag as a pillow (not very comfortable), and then flew up to Raleigh. I feel like there are lead weights on my eye lids....I will need a nap soon.

Right now I am sitting in a coffee shop, enjoying the company of my friends, soaking in the ambiance of a typical Raleigh coffee shop. It's fantastic. The pictures I'm posting are of where I'm staying -- Josh's apartment (I LOVE his saucy orange velvet couch and wooden floors). Raleigh has such amazing architecture, dripping with history. I'm definitely going to take some time to just walk around and soak it all in. Stay tuned!

Oh, and I'm especially excited for Thursday evening, where I'm doing an engagement session of one of my couples whose wedding is in July. I will tell that whole story when I post their pics.

Happy Memorial Day!

Laura and Jesse

2008-05-25T16:26:00.002-07:00

Laura and Jesse have the best smiles. Whenever I tried to get them to do the 'serious' face, they'd burst out laughing. Made my job easy for genuine smiles :) They were up for anything and were just a joy to be around. They are both working on their degrees at BYU and Laura has spent 8 months living in Romania working at an orphanage. I had a killer time with this duo and wish them only the best!

Cami and Taylor

2008-05-23T10:17:00.002-07:00

Friend: the term of endearment Cami and Taylor use when talking to one another.

Love: the small moments, kind words, and soft touches that indicate great love.

Glow: the light in their smile that reaches up to the eyes on this glorious day.

Well, the day finally arrived. Cami and Taylor are married now and off to Aruba for their honeymoon! I had been worried since the beginning of the week when I heard that the weather was going to be cold and wet. No bride wants a cold, wet wedding. It rained hard that morning, drizzled during group pictures, but when it was time for us to photograph the happy couple, the wind stopped blowing and the storm calmed. It was gorgeous!

Cami and Taylor have those incredible personalities that brighten up anyone's day when they're around. Yesterday was a whirlwind day, but filled with laughter and love. Their reception was at the Old Meeting House. The beautiful arched windows and vintage wood floor make it a killer location. One of the best parts about the evening was Cami's nieces twirling in their pretty dresses.

Miscellaneous Wednesday

2008-05-21T20:59:00.003-07:00

Wow. I'm surprised I could still spell that word. We get so lazy these days with abbreviations for everything that sometimes I wonder how the world is going to communicate 50 years from now....

Today, I finally allowed myself some fun time with my new baby (my second camera, that is). I plopped on my awesome 50mm 1.4 and shot WIDE open. And, now I ask myself, WHY do I not use this amazing lens more often? I love the shallow depth of field in these pictures that were taken right in my front yard. As you can see, tulip season is over...which means Spring is coming to a close...but that means summer is right around the corner!

Tomorrow I have a wedding and I will definitely be using this beautiful lens at 1.4 for my detail shots. You have my word.

Until next time :)

My Style: Defined

2008-05-20T14:48:00.004-07:00

A BIG thanks to everyone who took the time to vote for words to describe my style. It was enlightening and oh so helpful.

Instead of having 3 words, I've decided to stick with 4 because I feel they epitomize what I feel or want to convey when I take your pictures.

Those words are:

Honest
Fresh
Romantic
Passionate

Thank you again for aiding in this discovery :)

Video Blog - 1

2008-05-19T17:49:00.005-07:00

Here's my first attempt at doing a video blog. I REALLY want to start doing this, but don't ever know what to say....I'm thinking after this first one, I can talk about photo shoots, give tips to clients, answer questions anyone may have, share stories about myself or anything YOU want to know.

I just want to point out the cute shirt I am wearing that my best friend Shannon gave me, who is in England right now at the University of Sussex. I miss you, Shanny! (And I love the shirt) Oh, and my voice sounds a little husky to me....I wonder if it always sounds this way....

Please give me feedback: positive or otherwise. I want to know your honest opinions. And if you have any topic suggestions as well. Thanks!

New Music - Week 4

2008-05-18T19:32:00.001-07:00

The music for this week isn't new to me, but I wanted to share it.

Imogen Heap is incredible and this song is one that REALLY got me into her. I found it on You Tube a while back and was MESMERIZED by her musical skills. This song pretty much speaks for itself and I could listen to it any time, any day.

Hope you like!

Jamie, Pat, and Dylan

2008-05-15T22:06:00.003-07:00

Dylan is a rambunctious, silly, candy-lovin' boy who made my night yesterday. I know I've said this before, but kids are seriously the BEST subjects to photograph. They always act how they feel. No fake smiles, only genuine moments. Dylan was a handful, but a joyful one. He was so excited when he saw the water tower and wanted to climb it...he was so stinkin' cute!

Jamie and Pat are sure in for a treat when their 2nd baby is born this August :) Thanks guys for spending time with me so we could capture your beautiful family!

Metaphors of Nature

2008-05-13T15:29:00.003-07:00

If any of you follow my blog at all, you will recognize this artwork. I have been photographing these 3-D images for the past couple years for Brian Croft. He's putting the finishing touches on his second edition of Metaphors of Nature. His art features elements from nature: feathers, bones, coral, wood, rocks, and anything he can get his hands on. People have even started giving him things they've found. It's always interesting to hear about each piece, where its name comes from, and what it's made of. We shot the last 22 images this morning (some are repeats from last year's post with a few tweaks) and I can't wait to see this new book!

New Music - Week 4

2008-05-12T09:28:00.003-07:00

I owe this week's music to my friend Mendy who introduced me to Ferras on Saturday night. I don't listen to the radio much, but she told me their song Hollywood's Not America has been playing a lot recently. Right when I got home that night, I downloaded the album from iTunes. It's incredible! What a glorious mix of moving piano ballads, catchy choruses, and songs that are reminiscent of Keane and other awesome artists.

The song I want to highlight is called Rush. The intense, beautiful piano melody and the passionate lyrics are captivating and I love listening to it loud :)

Cami's Bridals

2008-05-09T12:13:00.003-07:00

Sandwiched between two days of clouds and rain, yesterday was sunny with gorgeous light. Perfect for Cami's bridals.

Cami looked incredible in her wedding dress adorned with dazzling details and her long red hair complemented the rich greenery flawlessly. I don't think I mentioned this in her engagement post, but Cami is a marathon runner. She had to finish her finals almost a week before they were scheduled so she could race in the Boston Marathon. She is an amazing woman who I admire in so many ways.

I'm so excited for her marriage to Taylor on the 22nd!

Allred

2008-05-07T15:39:00.002-07:00

Remember my post a few weeks about about the Ben Folds concert? Well, the very next night I went to hear Allred play an acoustic set down in Provo at Velour. It was just Allred in his crushed red velvet chair, which is where he's written his last 2 albums. I talked to him after the show and convinced him of an amazing photo shoot with his chair.

John is an open book, which is one reason why I think he is such a great song writer. It was intriguing to hear about his life experiences, opinions, and song writing process. I love his freckled face and 7-color-hazel eyes. John is moving back home to Connecticut in June, but promises he will be back for shows. He actually has a show this Friday at the Faces Photo Studio in Draper at 7pm.

Thanks John!

And I have to say that while we were shooting, I did not have a lot of sympathy for John while he smacked away mosquitoes and gnats. I mean, I had to swat them away every once in a while, but I must've just been in my zone. So I get home and it looks like I've broken out in hives. All along my forehead, under my eyes, under my chin and on my shoulders were TONS of red bites. It was pretty nasty out there to say the least so it was probably good that we left when we did.

Bad Luck with Keys

2008-05-07T15:23:00.003-07:00

I am not typically a superstitious person -- except for the fact that I LOVE Friday the 13th -- but I hear that things happen in 3's.... I hope this isn't the case with me.

On Monday at my shoot with Debra, I was constantly putting my keys in and out of my pocket. We drove to 4 separate locations, shot at 6, and we got in and out of the car for outfit changes, too. Somewhere along the way, the keys to my studio fell off my key chain. I spent Tuesday morning in search for them...but it was like finding a needle in a haystack, except I didn't even know WHICH haystack to look in! I finally gave in and had my landlord make me a new set. Bummer!

Last night, I made the mistake of parking at Wal-Mart during a photo shoot (which I will be posting images of shortly). I get back to my car and someone ran a key across the entire driver's side, front and back panels. Seriously! Who does that? Doesn't anyone have respect for other people's property anymore? Did I do anything to them? It looks awful and I try not to think about it. Breathing in slowly and deeply every time I see or think about it helps a little. My poor little car....

Like I said, I hope I don't have any more 'key' catastrophes!

Any of you have any similar stories you'd like to share to make me feel better? :)

Debra

2008-05-06T13:42:00.003-07:00

I met Debra about a month ago at an open mic night where she mesmerized me with her jazzy tune called Waiting. I was thrilled when we set up this photo shoot. It was fun to search out new backgrounds with bright colors, especially since Debra was up for anything. And, I just have to say this, doesn't she remind you of Elizabeth Reaser? Yes, I am a fan of Grey's Anatomy and she will also be Esme in Twilight. Debra has beautiful porcelain skin, dazzling blue eyes, and soft curls that could make any girl jealous. Thanks Debra!

Landon: Sealing

2008-05-05T09:21:00.002-07:00

Saturday afternoon was filled with laughter and hugs at the Salt Lake Temple. Landon was sealed to his parents for time and all eternity. It was joyous to feel the love emanating from Landon's family: his parents, aunts & uncles, and grandparents. Landon's got a great personality, too. He gets a very 'serious' face unless someone or something makes him laugh. So real. So childlike. So endearing.

Oh, and I love Temple Square in the Spring! Everything is in bloom which heightens your senses with the bright colors and fragrant smells.

Landon: Adoption

2008-05-05T09:06:00.003-07:00

On Friday morning, Landon officially became a member of Hallie and Mike's family. I felt honored to be able to attend such a sweet occasion. I wasn't allowed to take pictures during the actual adoption (except for the one quick snapshot at the end with the judge) but I was able to capture beautiful moments of Landon with his loving parents and the people who helped bring them together. I became misty-eyed during the time with the judge and could feel the deep love that Hallie and Mike have for their beautiful baby boy. Congratulations!

Cast a Vote

2008-04-30T14:18:00.003-07:00

I need all of your help.

I am trying to find 3 words that describe my style. I have picked 7 of my favorite wedding images (which was a hard task in and of itself) and now I need to pinpoint how others view my style.

So please, PLEASE vote even if you're a random visitor who I don't know. Every vote is important in discovering how you all see my work. And, I love all of you who have come to my blog :)

After you've looked through the photos, you may vote at the end of the post. Please fill in 3 words, but only vote 1 time.

Liz

2008-04-28T10:38:00.003-07:00

You may remember Liz from last August when I did a shoot for Elisa's bridal gowns. She was a saucy blond back then, but now she's a sexy brunette ;)

My friend Jamie inspired me to go to the Dream Mines from some pictures she took there a few weeks back. I'd seen it many times on my way to the sand dunes, but either I never had the time or the guts to go check it out. This place is incredible! It rests on a steep, rocky mountain. The structure is filled with a variety of graffiti and ruins. Poor Liz was wearing her cowboy boots to hike in which proved to be difficult and she didn't even fall! (I did, however, fall)

I couldn't resist stopping in Eureka for a few quick shots. I loved the Levi's mural and the Union Pacific train. We raced ahead to the sand dunes as the sun was almost ready to set. The wind was blowing fiercely by the time we arrived and it was only 50 degrees. Poor Liz was amazing and still looked fabulous despite the bone-chilling cold. I LOVE the added element of her hair blowing in the wind.

Thanks Liz for being up for anything! You are seriously gorgeous.

And, sorry there are so many images, it was so hard to narrow them down!

Friday Date Night

2008-04-28T09:28:00.002-07:00

My sister and I were excited for our Friday night out with the boys. Grandma came too, which was nice because it gave me time to snap some awesome pics. These boys are a hoot!

Will loved to sit on the contraption where the balls come back up. According to my calculations, he sat there 87% of the time ;)

James didn't quite get the whole 'turn' thing. If he didn't want to bowl, we'd go for him, but then out of the blue he'd grab a ball (a 7 pound ball, mind you). He'd start walking to top of the lane saying 'heavy, heavy.' James was thrilled every time he threw the ball down -- he'd jump and cheer, never looking back at the ball :)

Will beat us all.

Ben Folds at Saltair

2008-04-25T14:41:00.002-07:00

Wednesday night was incredible, to say the least. I went to the Ben Folds concert with my friends April and Mendy. There was an enormous line of hard-core fans waiting for the doors to open -- this photo does not do it justice. Unfortunately, I wasn't discrete enough with my camera and they made me put it back in my car :( so this is all I have to show for the night.

The opening bands consisted of Chris Merritt who plays the piano beautifully, Mesa Drive who reminded me of Maroon 5, but not as pop-esque, Allred who is an incredible performer, singer, and musician, and Ben Lee who's got a great style and fun songs.

Allred was third in line and he immediately grabbed the attention of the crowd (there were 3,000 people in attendance). I am always inspired when I hear him perform.

This was the first time I had seen Ben Folds perform and it was insane. He knows how to involve, entertain, and play for the crowd. I loved every second. We were able to sneak to the front row off to the right of the stage, which was almost a perfect view, next to being front and center.

What an awesome night!

New Music - Week 3

2008-04-24T16:36:00.002-07:00

I love how iTunes recommends songs to me. That's how I find about half of my music. This is Jon Foreman (former singer in Switchfoot). He has a bunch of EP albums, one for each season, that are pretty incredible. Here is one song from 'Winter' that struck me.

I found Amy MacDonald while listening to my Last.fm music player. There's something about her voice that instantly called my attention and got me singing along.

Pics and Kicks

2008-04-23T09:08:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to give a shout out to Natalie Norton Photography who posted one of my images on her 'Today I Love' post. What a fun surprise! Thanks, Natalie!

Fat's

2008-04-22T08:09:00.004-07:00

After Mendy's show, a bunch of my good friends headed over to Fat's to play some pool. We were at a table that was close to the back doors, which were open. After complaining about how cold I was, Keith went and closed them for me. A few minutes later, someone had propped them open again. I was freezing, as was April and Mendy. So this time April shut them. Then the worker guy came back asking who kept closing the doors. Apparently they needed to get some circulation going, as other parts of the pool hall were hot. We had been making him work extra hard that night ;) No, we felt bad and they actually moved us to another table once one was open.

And, I promise that I played a little even though I'm not pictured here. I just thought it looked awesome, so I ran and grabbed my camera from the car. I know, I'm a dork...

P.S. Congratulations to Keith, who has now made my blog (on 2 posts, I might add). He is a good friend of mine, so I'm happy to welcome him to the blog :)

Mendy Magistro: Cafe Marmalade

2008-04-22T07:50:00.003-07:00

Mendy played again this last week. Since this is my third Mendy post, I really tried hard to get some different types of shots. Mendy's shows are amazing and she's building up a fan base. Some guys that heard her at Alchemy Coffee saw that she was playing at Cafe Marmalade and came to listen. Everyone loves her voice and beautiful music.

the Birds and the Trees

2008-04-17T13:08:00.002-07:00

Last Saturday I spent an hour or so sitting in the same place on the same park bench, basking in the sun, enjoying great company, and snapping away. It was nice to attempt to see the same scene in more than just one way: noticing the dark tree branches against the light blue sky, a duck hopping on the water, and the way in which the light reflected on the water. What a glorious world we live in!

And, on a side note, I want to share a story about my Sunday afternoon:

We always eat Sunday dinner together as a family. It's a tradition. When my sister's family arrived, I was lounging in our big, double-wide recliner. Unexpectedly, my nephew Will handed me two afghan blankets. He then proceeded to give me a pillow. What a sweetheart, I thought. No sooner had I blinked before he brought me more pillows, pen and paper to draw with, 8 DVDs, my favorite book, a magazine, my hockey stick, my purse, and even hand sanitizer. He put everything he could think of in front of me for my ease, convenience, and comfort. Will melts my heart. What could've I have done to deserve such love and service?

I want to take the 'Will approach' into my business, so I am feverishly attempting to brainstorm some ideas of how I can make YOUR life more relaxing, enjoyable, and convenient. Any propositions are greatly appreciated :)

Tessa

2008-04-15T08:40:00.002-07:00

The best thing about little kids is that they always act how they feel: they won't smile unless they're happy and you will definitely know when they are sad. Tessa was no exception. She is such a doll! As long as Tessa could run around and play, she was thrilled. She would spin and spin in circles until she fell over. She loved throwing rocks and climbing stairs. And, Tessa loved singing with her grandma and grandpa. There are so many images I adore from this session because they are full of exuberance, just like Tessa.

Cami and Taylor

2008-04-12T19:37:00.005-07:00

Cami and Taylor are the reasons why I LOVE engagement sessions so much! I could've kept shooting all night long. From the very beginning, they were totally relaxed completely natural in front of the camera. Well, it definitely helped with the fact that Taylor has a knack for making Cami laugh with his songs that were reminiscent of Flight of the Conchords. He sang about the people in the park, how tough he looked, and anything that came to mind. Besides the humor and the laughs, these two have such a sweet, deep love for each other. Thanks for spending your Friday evening with me!

P.S. Sorry there are so many images! It was pretty much next to impossible to narrow them down any more ;)

Parker's 18th Birthday Bash

2008-04-08T17:16:00.002-07:00

Don't you just LOVE surprise parties? I think they are the greatest! The excitement of keeping a secret, waiting eagerly for all the guests to arrive early, and the anticipation of waiting for the birthday person to arrive are all so thrilling. This one was no exception.

At Parker's surprise party, it was Mexican themed with amazing food from Rico's and cupcakes from Mini's.

I was taken back to my high school days (these kids even went to my alma mater, West High). They were a little leery of this crazy lady with a camera, but I had a great time watching them interact and recording their memories. I wish I'd had a designated photographer to capture all the events of my life. Even the days that seemed so mundane and simple are priceless when spent with those you love.

Happy Birthday, Parker!

New Music - Week 2

2008-04-06T21:49:00.003-07:00

Ok, I discovered an amazing tool for listening to music this week! It's called last.fm. I'm sure most of you have already heard about it, but it has seriously changed my life. Well, that was maybe a little dramatic, but it really is incredible.

This is how it works: you type in an artist you like, and it plays songs by similar artists. You can mark songs and artists as favorites, or ban them so you can refine the searches. It is really ingenious.

I came across Newton Faulkner and fell in love with a bunch of his songs. I find myself singing to his beautiful melodies and moving my body in time with the catchy rhythms.

Mendy Magistro: Alchemy Coffee

2008-04-06T21:31:00.004-07:00

I could listen to Mendy sing anytime. There's something about her sweet voice, melodic guitar, and her jazzy influences that make her so incredible. This show was particularly amazing because she had 4 new songs. Yay!

She played at Alchemy Coffee, an eccentric coffee shop that sells organic soups and AMAZING pastries. I was lucky enough to try the cheese bread, cinnamon roll, and an eclair, all of which were mouth-watering and tasted like they were made from scratch, with love ;)

I Felt Like a Spy...

2008-04-06T21:23:00.002-07:00

At Mendy's show, I used my nice 70-200 telephoto lens to get some killer shots. The best part was that I was able to get some great shots of the people who were listening and supporting Mendy. Sometimes I felt like a spy because they had no idea how close I was actually photographing them...but I think I caught some sweet moments. Mendy has such a beautiful voice, that it just brings out the love in everyone :)

(I hope no one minds that I'm posting some of these pics)

Oh, and this is Juan. He helped Mendy with the sound and he also filmed her because he's been editing her songs and uploading them to You Tube.

Alchemy Coffee

2008-04-06T19:40:00.003-07:00

On Friday night, I went to listen to the sweet tunes of Mendy Magistro at Alchemy Coffee, a local coffee shop. From the second I entered the doors, I was instantly engrossed in its quirky, fun atmosphere. The exposed brick walls, funky furniture, and all the little details were like candy to my eyes. If anyone agrees with me and wants their pictures taken here...I'm in 100%!

the Studio

2008-04-04T11:51:00.002-07:00

So it's been a week since the Studio has been complete...well, I'm sure I'll be adding things here and there, but for our purposes, it's complete ;)

I know that many of you couldn't make it to the Opening and have emailed me your regrets. First of all, thank you so much for asking me how it went! It really makes my day when you ask me about those details :) Secondly, feel free to come visit me any time! Just give me a buzz to make sure I'm there -- I'd love to show it off to you.

I also just need to add how grateful I am that I have this little getup. It really has been wonderful this week to actually 'go to work.' That may sound trivial to many of you and you're probably thinking, "who would actually want to go to work?' But, it is fantastic to buckle down and work without any distractions (besides the internet). To say the least, I had a very productive week. Yay me!

If you haven't placed an order from me yet, here is a close up of the beautiful box your prints come wrapped in... Doesn't it make you want to place an order just so you can get your own box? :D

the American Academy

2008-03-31T14:35:00.002-07:00

Meet Greg and Rich of the American Academy. The American Academy is an online private high school that serves high school age and adult students worldwide who want to supplement their high school education or earn a high school diploma. With their program, students to choose from 233 accredited courses offered 24 hours a day. It operates through its own NAAS accreditation and through a public-private partnership with the Utah Electronic High School, one of the nation’s first public online high schools.

Greg is the Chief of Operations and Rich is the Marketing & Sales Director.

If you know of someone who never received their high school diploma, you should have them check out the American Academy!

Easter

2008-03-31T12:47:00.002-07:00

Ok, I know I'm a week late on this one....

James (the younger nephew) has been feeling sick lately. He wouldn't sleep through the night. One minute he'd be fine, and the next one he was doubled over on the floor crying. James hardly ate, even if candy or sweets were offered. He was only fine when he was held and cuddled, especially when his grandma (my mom) rubbed his tummy.

When he came to my Studio Opening this weekend he still wasn't back to his usual self, but he was doing better. In fact, he was excited to eat one of the cookies I had out for my guests. I had some special M&Ms I bought down at the M&M Store in Vegas that were in my colors. I got James' attention, pointed to the M&Ms and he immediately jumped out of his daddy's lap. I thought he'd race to the bowl straight away. But first, he ran over to where the cookies were, reached up, and carefully placed his cookie back (don't worry, we took it off the plate) and then he ran over to the candy bowl. It was so cute!

Will (the older nephew) is simply darling and is the sweetest boy I know. He has been such a good brother when James would cry non-stop last week. I truly admire his love and patience. He was so excited when he came to my studio on Saturday because he had his own pack of bubble gum. I shared in his enthusiasm and then forgot about it. At one point, he left with his dad to go check out some of the other art and when he came back, he had in his hand a piece of Bubblicious gum he grabbed from the car. He began unwrapping it for me. It melted my heart!

Turns out that James crying at some point during egg decorating is becoming a tradition.

This is James trying out the easter egg dye, which was made with vinegar. He thought it was funny how we were laughing at him, so even though it tasted gross, he loved it!

New Music - Week 1

2008-03-29T21:46:00.005-07:00

If any of you know me at all, you know I LOVE to find new music. It is a passion, almost obsession of mine. Music speaks to my soul. I love a song that makes me feel an emotion: happiness, love, sorrow, pain, confusion, joy, or makes me want to sing or dance. It's amazing how music can reaffirm and even accentuate the emotions I am feeling.

I have decided that it is time that I share my new music with all of you. I am constantly on the lookout for new artists and new songs, so I will pick a favorite 'Song of the Week'. (For this first post, there are 2 songs instead of just 1)

I was actually just searching for something awesome to start out with, and I came across Lose You by Pete Yorn. I couldn't find a way to embed the song, so here is the music video. Beautiful song.

And, I found this song, Much Farther to Go, by Rosie Thomas as well. I instantly fell in love with the guitar in this song.

Rosie Thomas – Much Farther To Go

Come to My Studio Opening

2008-03-26T08:55:00.002-07:00

Hey guys, this announcement is totally last minute, and I apologize! Things have been SO CRAZY since I returned home from WPPI. I've been putting together a little studio/office to meet with all my wonderful clients at. I painted the walls, installed a laminate wood floor, I bought a big flat screen plasma tv, and I've been to Ikea 4 times in the last 4 days ;)

I've been meaning to get a couple pictures of paint swatches, my couch, and details of the place, but I seriously have not had a spare second. So, since it's only 2 days away, you'll have to come visit me to see what it's all about.

Three Winks Studio's Grand Opening is coinciding with Poor Yorick's Studio Open House. (tons of amazing Utah artists are showing off their art and work spaces)

Friday March 28th from 6-10pm

or

Saturday March 29th from 1-5pm

Poor Yorick Studios
126 W Crystal Ave (2590 S)
South Salt Lake, UT 84115-3021

I would love for all of you who are in the Salt Lake area to come visit me. If any of you are past clients and come set up an appointment with me to view your images, you will receive a discount on all orders you make through the studio. If you have any questions, leave a comment or call me 801-597-1447.

See you this weekend!

Melinda, Brendan, and Rhiannon

2008-03-24T11:11:00.002-07:00

Melinda decided she wanted to have her session at the Salt Lake Library because she is in Architecture and what better location than the library? Although it took a little prodding, bribing, and tickling, we got Brendan to wake up and smile. Rhiannon (re-an-un) was giggly and fun right from the get-go. I love the architectural lines and shapes in the background -- there's always new places to discover. Thanks Melinda for spending time with me and for brightening my day with your 2 beautiful children.

Kanarraville, UT

2008-03-23T18:14:00.002-07:00

This post concludes my pictures from my week in Vegas. As Michelle and I were driving back to Salt Lake, we first saw this old structure, with only 2 walls still standing. Cool, I thought. Right as we were driving past it, we both noticed the beat up, rusty car. Feeling all inspired from the week, we decided to go back and take pictures.

So, we drove to the next exit, turned around, and got off at the previous exit (the one for Kolob Canyon). We followed this awesome red road (didn't take photos of it....) but that road ended because of a small river. We backtracked (again) to the next exit and backtracked (again) to almost the same point where we were before. Is this making any sense? The road to get there was an old paved road, which was 80% dirt and dried up mud with huge tire marks from trucks. Even though it was a little crazy for part of the drive, it was totally worth it!

Here's a quick story from WPPI. Sunday afternoon was the start of the platform classes. I was running a little late and if anyone knows me, they know I like to be on time for almost everything. I was starting to get anxious in the car because I couldn't seem to drive there fast enough (without being a total maniac). I finally make it to the hotel and found a parking space, which was an ordeal in and of itself when I saw Barbara at the elevators.

I had never met Barbara before, but I could tell she was waiting for someone or something with all of her luggage by her side. I can't even remember how we started talking, but I learned that her ride hadn't been able to pick her up from the airport and she'd been hauling her luggage around all day. She was waiting for them to come now, but they were running late. She also wanted to get to the same platform class as me. She was 10x more stressed than me and she'd had a rough day. I insisted that she put her luggage in my car during the class. After a lot of convincing, she agreed.

Anyways, sorry this is so long! I just want to say thank you to Barbara for helping me open my eyes to the world. I was so caught up in my own priorities that day. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to slow down and think of someone else other than myself.

Amazing Influences

2008-03-22T20:14:00.003-07:00

I think the most amazing thing about WPPI is that I was surrounded by amazing photographers who are talented and think outside of the box. A couple photographers who really influenced me were Jerry Ghionis, Kevin Kubota, Joe Buissink, and Michael and Anna Costa.

Jerry Ghionis creates beautiful, sassy fashion weddings. He photographs unbelievable images in ordinary situations. Jerry showed us all of these before & after shots that were just astounding. I guess I can't ever complain any more about bad locations ;)

Kevin Kubota re-emphasized to me the importance of positive thinking, goal-setting, and having confidence. He has pointed me in the right direction and given me many great tools for moving my business forward.

Joe Buissink spoke on Tuesday night. I loved how he told us to "Find the moments." And then "See the moments with your heart." He was so inspiring and reminded us to give back. He published a book called Autistic Heroes, which is beautiful.

Michael and Anna Costa are located in Santa Barbara, a very competitive area, but are thriving. They are a great example for me because they don't let anything keep them from moving forward. I love their style and enthusiasm.

These are pics I took of Michelle while meandering around Vegas on our photo excursion. I wish I had brought a flash with me...as some of these indoor locations were dark...but I love the funky colors that showed up. You're gorgeous, Chelle!

Vegas in Black & White

2008-03-22T19:59:00.003-07:00

While down in Vegas, I figured out how to shoot in black & white mode on my camera. I'd never done it before. Go figure! It was fun trying to pre-visualize and then get immediate results. I LOVE how my camera converts the colors into b&w. I'm excited to use this function more often :)

Ok, so more about my experiences down at WPPI....

It all started on Friday evening.

I had driven down to Vegas by myself because my other friends from Salt Lake couldn't make it to the Business Institute. I had everything mapped out on Google and I was ready to do this part of the experience on my own. As I was sitting at a stop light one block away from the hotel, I heard someone calling my name (I had my window rolled down because the weather was very pleasant). It was my friend Anna from BYU!

We went through the entire photo program together and I hadn't seen her for almost 4 years. It was wonderful to have a friend during the Business Institute, but even better to have a chance to catch up with Anna and talk about our businesses and goals during the breaks. I feel so blessed that we ran into each other again.

We also ran into our friend Jon on Monday morning, who is an amazing wedding photographer who shoots with FILM. I just found out that Jon will be sponsored by Fujifilm. Congrats, Jon! I always feel privileged to know you :)

Inspired, Excited, and Empowered

2008-03-20T21:55:00.002-07:00

I can't believe how amazing WPPI was this year. Maybe it wasn't as good for me last year because I was sick and because I didn't attend the Business Institute, but I really feel like my week down in Vegas was life-changing. The problem is that I have so many ideas and so many things I want to do and I get back home and quickly get thrown into catching up. It's a little overwhelming, but....

it's all worth it! I want to share some of the things I learned, or things I was inspired by. It might take a few posts, and it might take a few days, but I just feel so refreshed in life that I want to share it with all of you :)

On Monday evening, I went to a seminar by Jesh de Rox. If you think the song on his website is beautiful, imagine listening to it live. He has become really good friends with Amy Seeley and she came to WPPI to play for him! It was incredible. It's hard to not be immersed in Amy's voice and the emotion in her songs.

Anyways, Jesh was so inspiring. I must say, I didn't know what to expect of him. I've admired his photography for some time now, and I am sometimes intimidated to meet someone like that. Jesh is so approachable, so down-to-earth, so genuine.

He spoke about how every voice is important. Jesh was so passionate when he described how valuable our relationships are in this life. He reminded us to share, listen, look & see, soak in, explore, and grow. And, he spoke about fear. The fear that keeps us from doing amazing things is misplaced fear.

I am seriously a better person from listening to Jesh speak. I feel blessed that he has touched my life. Thank you, to all of you, who have also touched my life in many ways. I hope to do better at showing my gratitude. I would not be where I am today without all of you!

These are some photographs I took with Michelle. We only walked a few blocks, but I wanted to try new things and be inspired. I was playing a lot with different shutter speeds: showing motion and stopping it.

WPPI: 2008

2008-03-14T22:34:00.002-07:00

I am so excited for WPPI this year. For those of you who aren't geeky photographers, WPPI is a big photo convention held down in Vegas. There's a tradeshow, tons of awesome classes, inspiring photographers, and great networking. I came down a few days early this year to go to the Business Institute. Tonight, we had the first speaker, Jerry Ghionis. Man, I am already so pumped! I could've listened to him forever. I am so excited to implement all the things I am learning into my business.

For your info, I will be checking emails periodically and returning phone calls, but I will get to the bulk of my correspondence with you all when I get back into Salt Lake on Thursday the 20th.

These are some pics I took today of some Joshua trees outside of Vegas. It was nice to actually stop here (I've wanted to photograph them since I saw them from the freeway when I came down in January), stretch my legs, lose my keys, and enjoy the sun. P.S. I'm glad to be down here where it's pleasant and warm rather than Salt Lake, where it's cold and wet.

Cheers!

Tanya and Michelle

2008-03-13T10:19:00.003-07:00

I was so excited for this photo shoot! Tanya and Michelle are the winners of our Who Do You Love photo contest from February.

These girls are a blast to be with and are so cute! I wished we'd had all night to shoot. Plus, I loved the locations we found. In fact, as I was driving to meet them, I saw out of the corner of my eye all these yellow garage doors. Boy, was that place cool or what? I especially loved the bright yellow with their bold red and purple shirts.

And here's a funny story for you. Turns out that Al is Michelle's great uncle. She said that Al is really only 93...I'll have to give him a hard time for lying about his age ;) What a small world!

Tanya is getting married in July and Michelle is attending grad school in Germany, so this was a perfect chance to get photos of these two.

P.S. This is Tanya's car. It holds a special place in Michelle's heart because to get out of the passenger side, she has to roll down the window and open it from outside ;)

Al

2008-03-12T10:44:00.003-07:00

Al and I go way back. When I was in high school, his wife Beverly was my piano teacher. I always loved going over to their house for my lessons -- they always made me feel welcome with a cookie and Al would tell me his latest joke. Beverly loved the color purple. I always chuckled at their twin purple couches set against spring green carpet and walls. Now it is a statement of who they are and I love it.

Beverly passed away a few years ago. Al is now 94. I had a great time taking his picture yesterday. He was worried I was going to use too much film on him despite my efforts of reassuring him that I could take more pictures than he could ever imagine with my fancy digital camera;)

I even got a kiss on the cheek because he said kisses made him smile :) Thanks for being such a great part of my life, Al!

Nellie

2008-03-10T09:34:00.002-07:00

Nellie is darling! She's got this fun, innocent, super cute thing going for her and I loved it. Nellie liked it when she was free to smile and be herself rather than when I was making her be 'serious.' Either way, she is a babe! I was excited when we found this old bus and even more excited when we got inside. Man, it sure was dusty, but it was worth it :)

Jenna

2008-03-10T09:26:00.003-07:00

Here are my faves of just Jenna. She is a gorgeous blonde who is spunky, has attitude, and is also fun and playful. I have to say someting about the images of Jenna next to the orange brick wall....she is wearing a 'tie dress.' What? You might ask. Yes, a 'tie dress.' It's a dress she made out of ties. I think she needs to start selling these because it was incredible!

Jenna and Nellie

2008-03-10T09:11:00.002-07:00

On Saturday, my friend Bethany Jackman arranged a photo shoot with Jenna and Nellie. It was SUPER windy! But, they were tough and just went with it. I love how their individual personalities came out in the pics. They are both beautiful! Thanks for spending your afternoon with us crazy photographers who make you do strange things and sit in dirty, nasty places ;)

P.S. I played around with some textures and colors in Photoshop on a few of their pics. What do you think?

New Portraits

2008-02-29T14:04:00.004-07:00

Something I didn't mention on Camila's post was that she took pictures of me, too! I really hate having my picture taken, but Camila she did a fabulous job. Thank you, Camila!

Since she doesn't have a blog yet (don't worry guys, she knows that it's in high demand and she's working on getting one up), I am going to post some of the pictures for you. I love her vintage, yellowing post-processing look. And, don't you just LOVE her logo?

Which ones are your favorites? What one should I put on my website in my About Section?

James' 2nd Birthday

2008-02-28T14:39:00.002-07:00

Yesterday was my nephew James' birthday. He turned 2. I love this little guy! He's going through a super cute stage. He'll run around the room in circles and say over and over again "Stace, watch me, watch me!" His favorite thing to eat is candy, chocolate, cake, chips, all the 'c' words that are unhealthy. James gets excited about many things and when he does, he has this little giggle. Like when you ask him if he wants to eat treats or watch Thomas the Train or Cars, he'll almost be giggling so much he can't answer your question. But then you'll hear him say "Cars, Cars" or "Thomas, Thomas" in the middle of his laughs.

A couple days ago, he and his brother Will were playing together. Will is a big guy, but has a heart of gold. Sometimes he doesn't realize how strong he is or how much bigger he is than James. He was playing a bit rough and knocked James down, which is why James has a mark by his nose. I thought it was cute and definitely part of a little boys' life, so I didn't Photoshop it out of the images ;)

At our little family party, celebrating James, I was excited because it was the first time I got to play with my new lens! Yep, you heard me right. I got another lens! It's a 70-200 f/2.8. I've never had an awesome telephoto lens so I am stoked about this. It was a little challenging trying to use it indoors in a small room, but I seriously love it already. The last 80% of the images were shot with it. The only problem is that it's SO HEAVY. I will need to start lifting weights or something to buff up my arms....

Camila

2008-02-25T09:41:00.003-07:00

Camila is 8 months pregnant, but I would have to say that she is the most beautiful pregnant woman ever! I had so much fun taking her maternity pictures. She is an amazing photographer in Utah County and I was thrilled when she asked me to do this. Camila's long gorgeous hair and dazzling dark brown eyes are a killer combination and she looks simply stunning. Thanks Camila!

And The Winner Is....

2008-02-23T21:16:00.003-07:00

To precede the announcement, I just have to say that this was seriously a super hard decision! I could feel the love that everyone had for the person they nominated. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who participated. I hope you participate in our future contests.

I have chosen Tanya, nominated by Michelle.

Michelle wrote a 3 page short story about her friendship with Tanya. It was hilarious and I loved reading it. I was able to catch a true glimpse of Tanya through her best friend's eyes. The story was entertaining and endearing. I'd like to share a few snippets with you all (I hope that is ok with you Michelle and Tanya).

"When we get to the parking lot, she can’t remember where she parked. We search among the rows. Luckily, it’s not hard to find her car. It’s a tiny red truck that already had a Tasmanian devil on the tire flap.

I call Tanya a few hours later to ask her about weekend plans. She always seems to be driving when I call her. “What is he doing!? This guy just pulled in front of me! I swear I’m a magnet for lousy drivers!” I shake my head and smile as I picture Tanya driving. She may be one of those people who isn’t outgoing until you break into her shell, but she is one aggressive driver. She doesn’t realize that she tailgates and that the people who are supposedly cutting her off are really getting followed by someone who speeds up when they want to change lanes.

We talk about all the places we want to go to some day, all the food we like, all the books we want to read, and the boys we’ve dated or who we wish we were dating."

I am excited for your upcoming photo shoot together!

You Want a Winner

2008-02-22T09:11:00.002-07:00

I know you are all curious to know who the winner of the contest is. Well, to be honest, it's so hard to decide! I've narrowed it down to 3 contestants - Amber and Trace, Mike and Chelsie, and Michelle and Tanya. So check back tonight or tomorrow and I'll have a definite answer. Thanks again to everyone who participated!

Self Portraits

2008-02-21T16:28:00.003-07:00

I don't know what it is about me, but after a few months of living in the same environment, I need to spice things up -- so I rearrange my room. Last week turned out to be the time that this needed to be done. I love coming up with new ways to do it and I am almost 100% confident that it has never been the same in almost 4 years since I've had this room.

Anyways, as I was dejunkifying some stuff, I ran across a project from my college years, which I did about 4 years ago in one of my final classes. It was a series of self portraits. At the time, I was realizing many things about myself and tried to express them in photographs. This top image was not ever used in the final series, but I still like it.

What do you think?

One Day Left to Enter

2008-02-19T11:23:00.002-07:00

Hey guys,

Do I need to remind you that you only have ONE DAY LEFT to enter the Who Do You Love Photo Contest? Don't procrastinate any longer. It's super easy and quick to do, so you have no excuses. You have until Wednesday, February 20th, midnight. Thanks to those who have already submitted :)

Mendy and Gentry: acoustic show

2008-02-18T16:28:00.003-07:00

This last Saturday night, my good friend Mendy played at an open mic night at Cafe Marmalade in Salt Lake City. I have heard her play many times before, but this time was special because Gentry played with her for the first time.

Amazing. Mendy is an extremely talented song writer and with the combination of Gentry's mad guitar skills, the show was incredible. Too bad they could only play a handful of songs....

Who Do YOU Love - Photo Contest

2008-02-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Who do YOU Love?

In honor of February, the Month of Love, Three Winks Studio is having a contest for all of our blog viewers. The winner of the contest will receive a complimentary 1-hour photo session with a $50 studio credit (a value of $150).

Share with us a person in your life who you feel deserves to have this free session for either an individual portrait session or who you would like to have your photograph taken with (the session will be with a maximum of 2 people).

To enter, please answer the following questions.

1. Your name.

2. The person who you are nominating and your relationship to them (can be family, friend, neighbor, boyfriend/girlfriend, child etc.)

3. Please share a story about why you love them or how they have shown love to you.

4. Provide a picture of them (by themselves or with you) in jpeg format, 350 pixels wide, and 72 dpi.

5. Email your nominations to stacy@threewinksstudio by Wednesday, February 20th. Winners will be picked by Friday the 22nd.

All contestants will receive a gift from Three Winks Studio, so you have nothing to lose!

Lake Mead

2008-02-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

After a grand visit to the Hoover Dam, I drove to Lake Mead. I've been wanting to come here since I flew into Las Vegas at the beginning of January (the Lake looks incredible from above). I had a blast walking around and exploring the Lake. It was incredibly windy -- and icy wind that cuts right through your clothes. Despite the chilliness, it was beautiful.

the Hoover Dam

2008-02-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last week, I spent some time down in Las Vegas. On Wednesday, I took off towards Lake Mead to take some photos. I didn't realize the Hoover Dam was only a few miles past the Lake and decided it was the perfect opportunity to visit.

Amazing.

The Hoover Dam is a remarkable structure that, when it was completed in 1935, was both the world's largest electric power producing facility and the world's largest concrete structure. My photos do not even come close to showing the immensity of the Hoover Dam. Some kids I was next to accidentally dropped a soda pop can over the side and I watched it fall. It took forever for it to reach the bottom and the entire time it was falling, my stomach was doing somersaults.

I spent a while walking around, enjoying the marvelous feat. I do regret, however, that I did not take the guided tour. It seriously would've been incredible to view the Dam from below....next time for sure.

Feel the LOVE

2008-02-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

It is now February, the infamous Month-o-Love.

Three Winks Studio is offering you some great deals for these few short weeks....

Now is the perfect time to have photos taken of your loved ones, with your loved one, or for your loved one. Come to my studio for a couples, family, or individual session for only $200. All portrait sessions are only $200 during this month instead of $250, with a $50 print credit included. This is actually my 2007 price, but I want to share the love with all of you! Sessions can last up to 2 hours, with as many outfit and background changes as we have time for.

Also, for all of my current clients, I know you'd love to get a discount on your print order. When you place your order, type in the code: LOVE08 and receive 10% off your entire order. Offer expires on Feburary 29th, midnight MST.

Please call me at 801-597-1447 or shoot me an email at stacy@threewinksstudio.com to set up your studio session.

Natalie

2008-01-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

It's days like these that I LOVE being a photographer! Isn't Natalie just beautiful?

Natalie kept telling me how she didn't like being in front of the camera and how she was nervous, but she was a complete natural. She has an amazing smile which is a killer combo with her rich green eyes. I had an extremely difficult time narrowing down which shots to put on my blog....

We initially planned on doing the shoot outside, but as the day got closer, we became concerned about the weather being too cold. Instead of rescheduling, Natalie met me at my studio. These were all taken in the lobby area, which actually gave us tons of different backgrounds and surfaces (more than I thought there would be). I am so happy with these photos. Which ones are your favorites?

Dual 1.8 GHz G5 Tower

2008-01-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am selling my G5 Tower because I purchased a new laptop a couple months ago and now I don't really have a need for my G5.

Here are the specs:

Dual 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5
2.5 GB DDR SDRAM
Superdrive
Airport Extreme Card

Apple Cinema Display (LCD)
1680 x 1050 resolution

This is an AWESOME computer and is in very good condition.

Send an email to stacy@threewinksstudio.com and give me an offer, or if you email me a a serious request, I will quote you a price.

thanks!

Amber

2008-01-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

Continuing on with my previous post, here are pictures of Amber from my studio shoot.

Amber has amazing chestnut red hair and striking green eyes. She also has a gorgeous smile. I was seriously so fortunate to get these two on the same night! I was a big fan of the black & white screen that Amber posed in front of...it fit perfectly with her style and outfit.

Thanks again you two!

Sharlee

2008-01-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was lucky enough to have both Sharlee and Amber at my studio. I wanted to play with lights and new backgrounds and I was so excited when they agreed to be my models!

Sharlee is beautiful. Her caramel brown eyes are incredible! I also love her smile, which she probably didn't think so because I kept making her give me a more serious look...but as you can see, when she smiles it's stunning.

Sara

2008-01-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday I was able to take pictures of my little sister, Sara. My mom has gotten on this kick of getting a picture of everyone on the wall (something that hasn't been done since we were all in Elementary School). Since Sara was home for the weekend from college, we decided it would be the perfect chance to go out.

Sara loves the color red. She also loves shoes. It was totally fitting for her to wear red shoes. We started out by the red garage door and then explored some new locations that I've been eying for a while now.

I was also excited that she wore her blue shirt because it really accentuated the color in her eyes. Everyone I know is jealous of Sara and her gorgeous blue eyes.

At the end of our shoot, we were greeted by Dan, a nice man who owns the building we were in front of. He led us inside to an old Harley Davidson Moped from the 50s and an awesome door. I couldn't have done it without his help as my assistant, holding the flash for me. It was fun to go somewhere completely unexpected!

Once There Was a Snowman

2008-01-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I had my nephews come over to build a snowman with me. James was so excited -- after he had his snow clothes on, he tried running around, but kept tripping and running into things (picture the younger brother on A Christmas Story, but not as bad).

Will and James were so stinkin' cute! They kept throwing snowballs at me while I was rolling our snowman together. And they were eating snow like it was candy. We made snow angels and caught snowflakes on our tongues. Playing in the snow is the best!

Nicole and Rich Wedding

2008-01-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Rich had a beautiful wedding on January 3rd. It was nice that we had already taken some great shots of the two of them together a few weeks ago, so they only had to endure the cold for a short time. Nicole seriously looked like a Princess. When we were in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, a little girl even said to her mom, "She's a Princess," while she looked up at Nicole with awe.

You can totally feel the love that Rich and Nicole have for one another -- the laughter, the tender glances, the kindness in how they treat each other. I am so happy for these two and wish them the best in this next phase of their lives!

the Stevenson Family

2008-01-04T15:33:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, the Stevenson Family came down to my studio (which hasn't officially been announced yet). We decided that since the temperature outside was freezing, it would be best to take some inside and then venture out in the cold. These guys were so great to work with. I loved Savannah and Austin's enthusiasm when we took their individual pictures. They've both got mad jumping skills! I was also excited about shooting by this killer teal wall that I've been wanting to use as a background for a while...so thanks guys!

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

Happy 2008!

I have a few resolutions this year. I figured it was best to post them on my blog so that I can be held accountable ;)

1. Go running 3 times a week (or some other form of exercise) and train for a half marathon. I decided that I need a little better motivation other than Lance Armstrong congratulating me on my iPod after a good workout (anyone else have a Nike + iPod chip?) This year I want to actually train for something to help me stay in shape. I think a half marathon is a good goal.

2. Keep my desk clean and go through my mail more than once every two months. I really have serious issues with sorting my mail. I always check the mail to take out the important stuff, but I let my stack build up and then it takes forever to go through...so this year I am going to stay on top of this formidable task.

3. Read more. I have a stack of books next to my bed -- some for business and some for pleasure -- but it takes a long time for me to get through a book. I just don't ever make time for it.

4. Be less critical of myself (and others). I am especially critical of myself. I am not a perfect person, but who is? This year, I will give myself the benefit of the doubt. And, I will have more patience with others, even if they're doing something a different way than I would do it ;)

5. Photograph for myself, not my clients. I want to have at least one shoot a month that is strictly for my portfolio or to try something new. I want to push my creativity and think outside of the box.

6. Play the guitar more. I love playing the guitar. For some reason, I cannot play it consistently. I'll play for a few weeks or months and then I let work and other commitments get in the way. I want to devote more time to this because it's a great way to experess myself and it's wonderful release.

7. Live life. It's easy for me to worry too much, think too much, or work too much. I'm going to live in the present and just enjoy life!

Ok, that's all for now. Can't put down too many resolutions or I won't follow through on any of them ;)