I am an "on location" portrait photographer based out of Conifer, Colorado. I serve Denver, Littleton, Golden, Pine, Bailey and surrounding areas. I have recently relocated to the area as of April 2020, so all of my work is going to be from Tennessee in my galleries at this time. I will add to my portfolio as I shoot sessions here showing Colorado landscape. So, if you are wondering why my work doesn't look like Colorado, that is why :) I will travel within a 30 mile radius (mileage fees apply over 15 miles). My areas of interest are newborns, toddlers, children, seniors, families and maternity. I shoot children's birthday parties on a limited basis. I do not shoot weddings.
I am an artist. I spend a lot of time creating my photographic art from the locations I choose, choosing the time of day for the light I want, the wardrobe suggestions, the posing, the composition of my images, the lenses I choose, and of course the editing to finish the vision in my head. I hand edit every image in your gallery so it is a true work of art you will cherish for a lifetime. I limit the number of sessions I take each week, so I can spend ample time on each and every session never feeling rushed to get the job done.
I do prefer to shoot outdoors if age appropriate and weather permits. I also have a full mobile studio for in home sessions with numerous backdrop choices and lighting as needed. I also shoot at my home studio on a limited basis. Almost all of my newborns are done there as I have an amazing space that works perfectly with my tiniest clients and allows the most flexibility for set choices as we have my entire prop collection to choose from. In home newborn sessions, while convenient, do limit your choices as I can only travel with so much gear. Another option is a lifestyle session where we just use the natural beauty of your home if you want a more casual look for your portraits. I have a great selection of props, headbands, hats, outfits, etc. to make your sessions fun and stylized.
A special note about maternity photography. If you are on the fence about doing it, just do it. There is no other time as unique and special as growing a baby in your belly and having portraiture to remember it by is important. I have never had someone tell me they regretted having it done, but lots of mamas that didn't who wish they would have. Even just a quick mini session, 10 proofs, quick and easy but documented!
I shoot in a very casual manner, photo shoots with me are very laid back and low on the stress scale. I am not going to be giving you tons of stiff instructions, especially if you have young children. We work around them to keep them smiling and happy. I let them play and we work around what they want to be doing. This makes things relaxed for everyone which is very important to get real smiles. It always seems like a bit of chaos since most of my families have multiple children under the age of 5, but the beauty of those imperfect moments is that they are real life. I want you looking at your kids, I want your kids looking at each other, giggling, being silly. My style is very consistent, so what you see in my galleries is what you are going to get. I realize that every family has a unique style, so I am happy to work with you to create the look and feel you want for your shoot. I have been working with children since 2007 and have three of my own, so I understand the challenges of working with children. I am often told I have the patience of a saint, ha! You just can't be in rush when working with children. It is all about secretly getting them to do what you want without them realizing what you are doing ;) I have worked with many children with autism and some other special needs kiddos, so I welcome them with open arms and encourage parents to not be scared of doing a session with them. We will work together to make them comfortable, happy and to make it a positive experience.
Now, my public service announcement. Mom and Dad you NEED to get in the photos with your kids. The pictures you get of them are for you, the ones of you are for them. They want to see you in photos with them. They need to see you in photos with them. I always hear excuses about needing to lose 20 pounds, my hair isn't done, etc. No child has ever looked at a photo with their mother and said, geez I wish my Mom wasn't in that picture because she looks heavy or my Dad is going bald. NEVER HAPPENS! I know it is hard to see yourself if you are not the person you are hoping to be physically, I get it, I really do. BUT this is your life, these are your children and you need to be there. These are their memories and it really is unfair to not include yourself for personal reasons. You are their world and they love you unconditionally. They will not remember a lot of their childhood without the pictures to remind them. Pictures are the only way they will be able to see what it was like to be a little one. Our memories all fade and you will want to remember what it was like to be able to lift them over your head, how they would giggle when you blew a kiss on their cheek, how they would hold onto your finger for those first wobbly steps, you know, all those awesome things about getting to be the Mom and Dad to these little people. This is all important stuff even when they are big kids too! Capturing when they are up to your waist, then your chin, or when they finally are taller than you :) And God forbid something should ever happen to any of us and those photos become the lifeline, the things they have to hold onto to remember. Life is precious but sometimes short and tomorrow is never guaranteed, document it, not just with professional portraiture but you should be in front of the camera at home ALL the time as well. Document everything, it is all your life, their life. How blessed our children are to live in a digital age where it is possible to shoot as much as you want. They will get to see their entire lives in such detail. That is crazy cool! I am uber passionate about this because it IS important. I have lost a parent, so I speak from experience in saying the few photos I have of me and him when I was little mean everything to me. Makes me feel like a little girl again, Daddy's girl, and that is just not a feeling that could be elicited any other way.
A few things about me as a person since it is fun to know a little behind the scenes info. I am into natural living and organic eating of real food as best I can, though I do have a pretty vicious sweet tooth I struggle with. Buttercream icing, banana pudding and chocolate chip cookies are three of my weaknesses :) If I was dying and had a request for a last meal, it would definitely be chocolate chip cookie dough, a giant tube of it! I can honestly say I am pretty happy there is now "safe to eat raw" cookie dough as I have been living on the edge for many years. My favorite color is mushroom. I love to talk about birth stories and will definitely ask about yours, so humor me. I love boots (I have over a dozen pairs), blue jeans and t shirts. I have completed two sprint triathlons, both in 2013 after I taught myself to freestyle swim at the age of 37 (who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks:) I hate being under 5 foot tall. I speak really fast and my husband likes to make fun of my "work voice". I take ballet classes and am in my fifth year of pointe. I am a busy body and always have too many things on my to do list to complete. I have a hard time sitting down and relaxing, I feel guilty, probably because of that long to do list. I love German Shepherds but after my last one passed away we got an Anatolian Shepherd. I have been married 18 years as of 2021 and have three wonderful kids. I really wish I could have a fourth, but my husband is not on board and admittedly I am now too old ;) I love things made of old wood and iron and love to DIY around my house. I got a cordless brad nailer for Christmas, so I am pretty stoked about that. I was born and raised in Texas and went to Texas A&M (class of 1997 and 2000 for graduate school). I am a veterinarian and a certified veterinary medical acupuncturist, I still practice in addition to my photography, again busy body, one career just wasn't enough. I love getting to be both sciencey and artsy. We moved from Tennessee to Colorado in the spring of 2020 and we absolutely love it! Like LOVE it, we feel so lucky to be living here.
