CALL FAMILY.

The Call family has 3 of the cutest little girls EVER! They were very patient with camera although it was clear they really wanted to be climbing trees and chasing each other around in circles. We took a few pictures on Main St. in Bountiful, where there are some cool textured brick buildings. Such a sweet family.

GRAY FAMILY.

Shooting the Gray family earlier this month was so much fun. Their two daughters are absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for letting me you guys!!

Before shooting we got to see a few real reindeer penned up at the front of Thanksgiving Point, which was especially rad because neither Chase nor I knew reindeers actually existed up until this point. We carefully examined their antlers, half expecting to find some hot glue spilling over from where they'd been attached to heads of these deer. We found no answers... thus we've concluded that reindeers are, in fact, real. (Everyone else already knew this). Verdict's still out on Santa Claus.

almost to the coast.

"On soft spring nights I'll stand in the yard under the stars - Something good will come out of all things yet - And it will be golden and eternal just like that - There's no need to say another word."

-Big Sur, Jack Kerouac

Sometimes I think I had things better figured out at 14 than I do now (though I'm certain I have a dozen family members who will assure you that's just not true). In either case, I'm delving back into my roots of Kerouac, Thoreau and, ahem, Incubus. Driving through Big Sur in September brought Kerouac's novel, named for the stunning coastline, to my mind. His writing is so organic, so alive. If you've never read On the Road, pick it up and experience my adolescent handbook (read: my personal Twilight).

We camped at Half Moon Bay on our way out of San Francisco, and our night went eerily well. We pulled up to our campsite, set up our tent and were roasting marshmallows within less than ten minutes. We slept like babies, woke up to a beautiful sunrise and some cookies saved from Tartine Bakery for breakfast, and began the drive down the coast. 

And it was gorgeous. All of it. Miles and winding miles of cliffs and blue ocean and sky.

To once again borrow the words of Jack Kerouac, I felt

"Happy. Just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running--that's the way to live. All alone and free in the soft sands of the beach by the sigh of the sea out there."

I am landlocked in Utah and feeling homesick for the sea (I guess that's seasick for you). I've never craved salt water and salty skin as badly as I do now. 

I could write a book of love letters to the ocean.

ROB + CARISSA

I met Rob my junior year of high school, in gym class. Because of this, I will forever picture Rob wearing obscenely short shorts and a terry sweatband. Turns out we've both grown up; Rob is now studying finance at BYU and is engaged to the beautiful Carissa, also a BYU student. I was lucky enough to photograph the happy couple this weekend! I brought my own love along as my assistant, but Chase quickly told me he felt awkward because of all the kissing. I thought it was adorable. 

I remember so vividly what it feels like to be engaged-- such a sweet time. We're coming up on our own first anniversary next month :) And our best friends Skee + Roxy got engaged over the weekend! WOOT WOOT! Chase and Skee are friends for life, so I'm pretty stoked he's marrying such a rad girl who loves surfing and the sun as much as we do.

DANNA + ERNESTO

I had the opportunity to photograph Danna, Ernesto and their adorable daughters this weekend in downtown SLC. The hardest part of this shoot was catching 18-month old Sophia without a Dorito in her mouth :) I'm sure if you look closely you can spot some cheesy remains on her lips. Her older sister Aaliyah, on the other hand, seems fated to be a model by the way she was throwing her hands up on her hips. Danna + Ernesto, you have a beautiful family and I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to snap a few pictures of you!