These girls are FABULOUS – gorgeous inside and out!!!!  We had a great afternoon at the studio with music, makeup artists and great food from Ciao Mambo.   I got to spend a little one on one time shooting each girl, we took some fun group shots downtown then we headed over to Apricot Lane for a quick commercial shoot so they could check out the hot new summer looks and model the latest fashions.  I am so excited for my models this year, they are great girls, be sure to ask them about their experience if you see them around.  I had so much fun,  this year is going to be off the charts! I can’t to spend more time with them during their full sessions this summer!  Stay tuned for their hot individual shots, (these girls can work a camera) as well as the shots from Apricot Lane!

I was very honored when I received a call from Trish and she explained the type of session that she wanted.  She had been diagnosed with breast cancer the previous week and was headed in the day after our session for a mastectomy.  She wanted to be sure and capture the special, playful, tender relationship with her amazing hubby, her rock.  She wanted to do a session before the mastectomy and then after the prognosis, treatment and after she beat it.  She is a get it done kind of ranch gal, she doesn’t hold anything back, says it like it is, after talking with her it seems like this is the way she approaches most things in life.  Let’s take care of it, do what we need to do and get it done.  An amazing attitude when hit with a hard diagnosis.

It was important to Trish to have great art with the love of her life, their story is quite amazing, they met as teenagers when he was working on the ranch, she ignored him, time passed on, they both went their separate ways, had their own families then met up again later when the time was right,  she says they wouldn’t have worked when they were younger, they needed to grow into the people that they are now, now they are meant to be together. Life’s experiences have molded them and helped them become each other’s best friends and rocks.  They are sarcastic, playful, love to laugh, but sweet and loving at the same time, there is complete adoration when they look into each others eyes, a deep love and respect that has developed over the years.  They are amazing together, I’m so happy for them that they found each other again.  Trish’s surgery went well, I spoke with her a couple of days after and she was up and running around doing physical therapy, ready to beat this thing.  They removed a tumor that was much larger than anticipated and had only effected one lymph node, they had caught it just in time, the doctors told her one more week might have made the difference.  She will undergo various therapies, they weren’t sure exactly how they were going to tackle it until she had healed a bit more from the surgery but she was optimistic, thankful that she went in when she did, that she listened to her gut.  Thankful for her rock, as well as friends and family support.  Our prayers are with you over the next few months Trish! I was amazed how great you looked a few days after surgery, you are an amazing women with a great man by your side, thank you for letting me into your life during this time!

This may be one of the cutest sibling newbie pics ever, I was kind of obsessed with how cute big bro was, then add in a gorgeous momma too, talk about a good looking family!  This baby girl is going to be a knockout!  She was so little and perfect, so sweet!  You really couldn’t ask for anything more.  Congrats!!!

Congratulations to our Prom Kings!! Zach from West High & Connor from Shepherd High School.  After getting to know them during their senior sessions it’s not surprising at all that their schools would vote them Kings!  Nice work boys – Congrats again!!

Check out this gorgeous young lady from the Class of 2014 – Baker High.  She was stunning even with the frigid temps.  She looked glam in a fab dress by the water and I doubt camo ever looked so good, super impressive!!  Thanks Jordan for a fun morning!

Are these two not the cutest ever? We had such a good time on their shoot!  They were so sweet together with just a touch of silly, a great combo.  They love to laugh.  I can’t wait for their wedding this fall!  It is going to be gorgeous!!!

I was so happy when Alis called and told us they were expecting, I shot their beautiful wedding almost 3 years ago and have an image on canvas from that day hanging in the studio so it feels like I see them daily :).   They are such an amazing couple, they are some of the sweetest people I know, they were high school sweethearts and are still completely enamored,  it is so wonderful to see them start their family.  They are going to be fabulous parents, they are kind and considerate and have terrific families as well.  I can’t wait to meet this baby in just a few weeks, she is one lucky girl to come to such fantastic parents.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Kirsten for a few years now through her fabulous family, I was over the moon for her when I heard that she was engaged to a great guy.  I was so excited to work with them and see the two of them together, all lovey dovey.  It was obvious that they completely adore each other, he was quite the gentleman without even giving it a second thought, it was a freezing, icy day, and he always had an arm out lovingly there to guide and protect in case she slipped, I don’t know if she could even see, but it is the best type of love to witness, a deep respect and gentle love that is very dear.  They are a great pair.   They grew up together as friends and were crowned high school royalty,  it is straight out of a fairy tale that their paths have crossed again.  I am so happy for them and the wonderful life they will share together.

When my friend Robin found Pure Barre, fell in love, and told me how she thought it would be the perfect fit for Billings a couple of years ago I was so excited for her, then in true Robin fashion she made it happen.  She joined forces with Kait, the owner of the Pure Barre in Bozeman and they brought it to the Magic City.  I was invited to shoot their Grand Opening and it was quite the evening.  They held a wonderful event with delicious food from The Field House Cafe, great raffled prizes and amazing offers to take advantage of.  Robin does all types of exercise and had told me that this is the one thing that she has discovered that had toned everything and lifted all of those areas that seemed impossible to get in other ways.  I finally made it to my first class early this morning  –  WOW I was feeling the burn. LIFT TONE BURN is their motto and after one class it is obvious why this is the new rage.  Fabulous teacher, good vibe,  I can see why Robin was so excited to share and have no doubt her instincts were spot on, anyone that tries this will fall in love and be back.  Congrats Robin and Kait!!!  See you soon, I am thrilled to add this into my workout routine and get lifted in all the right places. 🙂

It seems so strange we were returning from this warm, fabulous sun filled place where the kids even complained a few times about how hot it was just one week ago!  Coming home and being welcomed by freezing temps and tons of snow just made us realize how lucky we were to have our little trip away and to feel the sun on our faces, play outside, ride in golf carts, hike, spend relaxing time with family and lather on sunscreen poolside, it was heaven!

People always assume my kids are the most photographed kids ever, having a pro photographer as a mom, sadly that’s not the case.   I was going through images from 2013 trying to put together our Christmas card a couple of months ago and it was tough to find anything – it was kind of devastating.  I spend so much time photographing other people’s important moments and families, something I love, but when I get home the camera gets put away.  I have thought for the last couple of years that I was doing myself a favor, living in the present, enjoying each moment instead of being worried about capturing everything, trying to separate “work” and homelife. I think there is some truth to that but have realized there has to be a balance, it was so sad to realize that I haven’t used my skills to capture my own children’s everyday moments the way that I should have, I haven’t taken them out enough to just grab a couple of quick shots every few months to see how they are changing.  Taylor is getting braces in a few weeks, I looked back at iphone pics and noticed how much she had changed just since the fall when I grabbed a pic on my phone as she was headed into school with her bday donuts for her class, that was one of the moments that made me teary, they are getting big so fast! Way too fast!  They are changing almost before my eyes and my goal this year is to document it a little better, it doesn’t matter if its technically perfect, the lighting doesn’t have to be ideal, I just need to be able to have those missing teeth grins, the moments when they are playing and laughing together.  I’m also going to try and grab a few where they actually have their hair brushed and the light is beautiful, they deserve to have at least one beautiful shoot a year.  I thought the Phoenix desert and it’s golden sunset light would be the perfect place to start.  Were the kids complaining and grumpy at the thought of a shoot?  of course! a shoot with “mom” isn’t like going to a shoot with a “photographer”, they have always been good when we do our family shoots with others.  They were not ideal at the beginning, I started with Taylor by herself,  took her to the side, we got going and I showed her her shot on the back of the camera she finally saw how beautiful she was, how everyone else sees her.  I do this for others but to do this for my own daughter was  beyond words. We both got quiet, teary and hugged.  It was magic.  This is going to be a good thing.