Gray's Anatomy: Light

Photography is about capturing light. Light paired with this delicious baby is other-worldly.

Things that Go.

Namely, one little 15-month-old.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Eat some sugar with your sweet.

Introducing 'Gray's Anatomy' | My 2011 Photo Project

Personal work is the cornerstone of any craft. It is where you find your voice and your vision. The last year, for me, has been a blur of sleepless nights, messy diapers, and endless drool. It has also been filled to the brim with little giggles, sloppy kisses, and pinching cheeks.

I'll be sharing my project in parts. The first part is comprised of baby Gray's most captivating feature. No one meets him without commenting on them. When he looks at me, I feel like he can see right into my soul. The very deepest parts of me. And it makes me want to be a better person.

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

Grasping at straws.

There are always busier times and slow times in this business, and the slow times sometimes get me down. Down on my work. Down on myself. Down on my business. At times I feel I'm grasping at straws, so to speak.

I always try to have a personal project to work on, so that I'm continually improving my craft. Here are a couple test shots from a recent shoot for my 2012 personal project. I'll also start sharing some of my 2011 project soon!

Schooled.

This little business of mine is about to get schooled.

I mean it.

Overhaul.

All in or all out. Details forthcoming.

Did you get engaged over the holidays? Let's create a wedding package that will blow your mind. alli(at)allismiles(dot)com.

My Memories | Review & GIVEAWAY!

Happy 2012! What better way to start off the new year than with a giveaway?! And one that I bet makes many people's resolution lists: doing something with all the photos from the last year.

My Memories sent me their digital scrapbook software to review and share! I'm not one for regular scrapbooking. I tire of the glue, mess, and constantly trying to come up with something creative for every page. Being a photographer, I want my photo albums to be image-focused. That being said, my baby just turned one, and I have yet to actually design and print his birth story, let alone his one-year album. Something about gathering all the supplies, narrowing down which photos to use, and actually sitting down and making myself do it is daunting.

Enter My Memories Suite. This software is simple, easy to use, and actually quite fun. And totally affordable to boot! The menus are user friendly, and they have lots of fun templates if you aren't feeling particularly creative or just need somewhere to start. They even have options for picking a template and letting it auto-fill all the spaces with your selected images--it will do all the work for you. For those extra-busy moms, this would be a great option. For others who desire more creative control, you can either start with a template and completely customize it (changing/adding photos, text, embellishments, etc.) till your heart's content. Then, just export and print, and your book is done.

Here are a few pages I made (in literally a few minutes' time) using the "funky" template.

You can start a project, and if you don't have time to finish it, you simply click 'save' and open it up later. No table full of paper, glue, photos, and glitter to clean up. If you want to add a few more pages, you don't have to run to the store to get more supplies. The basic software package comes with more backgrounds and embellishments than I could ever use, but for the scrapbook extraordinaire, there are additional design packages available for purchase.

My Memories is not limited to just digital scrapbooks. You can also use the software to make photobooks, cards, calendars, and other gifts without Photoshop or InDesign. It's taken me years to really learn how to use those programs, so for someone not in the business, My Memories is a fantastic alternative!

Now for the best part, My Memories Suite is offering one lucky reader a free copy of the software! To enter, visit www.mymemories.com and leave a comment with your favorite digital paper pack. For extra entries...

1. Like All Smiles Photography on facebook (and leave a comment saying you did)
2. Follow All Smiles Photography on twitter (and leave a comment saying you did)
3. Subscribe to All Smiles Photography (and leave a comment saying you did)
4. Share the link to this giveaway on facebook (and leave a comment saying you did)
5. Share the link to this giveaway on twitter (and leave a comment saying you did)
6. Share the link to this giveaway on your blog (and leave a comment saying you did)

This giveaway ends Monday, January 9th at 12:00 A.M. MST. If you don't win, not to worry! My Memories is offering $10 off the My Memories Suite v3 AND $10 to the MyMemories.com store (total $20 value) to all my readers! Just use coupon code STMMMS75953.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

This year's holiday festivities were our busiest ever, as far as family celebrations go. While it was only the second year without finals (hurrah!), it was the first with a mobile baby. And with that mobile baby we were all systems go. For weeks.

Little man was graciously accommodating, finally finding the pack-n-play as an acceptable naptime destination, and maintaining good nighttime sleep despite being transported between said pack-n-play to carseat to crib so husby and I could enjoy the holiday cheer. As wonderful as the last couple months have been, baby boy and I are ready to settle back into our daily routine as husby gears up for another busy season as a CPA.

You may start to see a few more images of baby boy on this blog, though we're still keeping him off facebook. I can't wait to share my personal 2011 project with you--it centered around this sweet guy.

Merry Christmas!

It feels like our first real family Christmas since baby boy can actually open presents this year. The last year has flown, and I'm sure time will keep going faster from here. Here's the Christmas card we sent this year, along with a quick recap of the year.

Snowflake template from here.

Christmas & Pinterest

Anyone else out there addicted to Pinterest? I've actually followed through on a few DIY projects in the last few weeks, beautifying my home for the holidays. Here's proof.

Tree skirt. Mason jar soap pump. Card display.

Get in on the action: follow me on pinterest!

Decking the Halls 2011

Decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do each year. It's amazing how adding a few small things really changes the feeling in our home. I like to add one or two small but meaningful decorations to my stockpile each year, in hopes that one day my home will be fully flocked like my mother's.

I finished off a roll of film capturing a few of our decorations, and I'm determined to go back and recapture everything in color. Until then, here are a few items making our home festive this year.

This little tree, our Charlie Brown tree, acted as our only Christmas tree for our first 4 years of marriage. It has a special place in my heart, and it is now perched on our kitchen island.

I "wrapped" the door to our basement. Once holiday cards begin arriving in the mail, they'll be pinned to the ribbon and taped to the door. It's a cheap, fun way to showcase our holiday greetings.

Nutcrackers are big in my family--my parents have dozens. When I was twelve, I danced in Ballet West's production, and we went every year as part of our Christmas celebrations. I don't have any of the "real" ones yes (someday!). But for now, these little ones bring fond memories.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Far too much to list here. I hope your Thanksgiving is joyous, filled with loved ones and overeating. Mine certainly will be.

On stress.

Sometimes it's easier to focus on the storm clouds and ignore the surrounding beauty. I'm grateful for my faith that helps me through the hard times.

"When in situations of stress we wonder if there is any more in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked. When we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that we were measured before and we were found equal to our tasks; and, therefore, let us continue, but with a more determined discipleship. When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not press upon us more than we can bear." -Neal A. Maxwell

11.11.11 | A Day to Remember.

Many thanks to our troops, past and present. America is still the greatest country in the world.

Remember, book a session today (think, what a great Christmas present?) and get 11% off the session fee.

Looking forward to a lazy Sunday.

I'm taking another licensing exam for the Utah bar tomorrow morning. After that, we're hitting up our favorite restaurant and then spending much of the rest of the weekend lounging with my two favorite guys. Perfect way to celebrate *hopefully* the end of my days of studying. This is what a lazy autumn Sunday looks like for us.

What's your favorite thing to do on a lazy weekend afternoon?