Sarah Stiles Photography

New Backdrop!

2012-01-20T15:04:00.001-08:00

I am super excited! I just got my new backdrop from Lemondrop Stop! I have been wanting a brick background since FOREVER! It has been tough finding one I really like. This one is perfect:-) And it looks even better paired with my dark wood floor.

This background will work great with just about any subject - newborns, kids, seniors, and pets! Here is my pup Orion showing off in front of it.

Find Your Sexy - Boudoir sessions!

2012-01-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, ladies. I know the truth. I have BEEN there! You are feeling tired, stretched thin, and under-appreciated. How are we supposed to still feel like beautiful, attractive women after all that? Well, I am here to help!

Nothing feels more empowering, nothing will make you feel more like a woman, and nothing will help you feel your sexiest than a fabulous boudoir session! With three session types available (studio, home, or hotel), I will help you Find Your Sexy!

And boudoir photos make the PERFECT Valentine's gift for your man!

Matt & Rachael's Wedding - {Utah Wedding Photographer}

2012-01-06T14:11:00.001-08:00

Yay, Matt and Rachael are married! These two are so perfect for each other, so it is great to see them starting their lives together.

The day of the wedding promised to be a beautiful day, but during the ceremony the weather took a turn for the worse. By the time we got out it was bitterly cold and WINDY! Even though the sky was clear and the sun was setting, we had to limit our time outside before we all froze to death, lol. Poor Matt was so cold he had turned bright red! Yeah, those Vegas boys aren't good for cold weather;-)

They had their reception the following evening. I was amazed at how my fabulous sis-in-law, Laurel, was able to transform an ordinary gym into a sparkling reception hall. I LOVED her drop down ceiling, and all the little details. I think my fave was her use of old sheet music. I am thinking I need to swipe the ideas and put them in my house;-)

Near the end of the reception, Matt surprised his bride by playing a song for her on the piano. So touching! Um, so yeah, music is kinda important to them, in case you couldn't tell. But I love when weddings feature things that are important to the couple - not just pretty flowers everywhere, things that have real meaning.

Yummy cake! The "wedding cake" was actually a really cool French creme puff cake. Hmm, I could sure go for some of those right now. . . They had another small cake just for cutting. I took a little taste, and it was yummy, too;-)

Suzanne - {Utah Bridal Photographer}

2012-01-04T16:20:00.000-08:00

When people think of a wedding, almost always one vision pops into everyone's head - a bride in her wedding gown! Some women go to great expense to have THE perfect gown on their wedding day. I know I did! When I went to try on wedding gowns, I actually went with my college roommates, since one of them was also getting married (in comparison, 5 of the 6 guys in my husband's apartment were also getting married, and most of us all on the same day!). I remember trying on several, not really feeling it, and then turning around to see the most GORGEOUS gown on my roommate! It wasn't really her style, but as soon as I tried it on myself, I knew I had found MY dress. I was IN LOVE with it (and still am!). Sadly, I had very few photos of my by myself in my dress on our wedding day, and those that I had were not very flattering. I was heartbroken, but I had a plan! Several years after I was married (and already had my son), I decided to do a full bridal session to really showcase my fabulous dress:-)

It's kind of funny how often I hear similar stories from other brides. Suzanne was one of them. She has been married for a little over a year, but like me, her photographer (not me!) was unable to capture her in her wedding dress. She had seen other bridal photos from friends and family, and knew she needed to have some, too!

The day we went out it was COLD!! No, really. FREEZING!!!! Even with my heavy coat and gloves on, I was starting to lose feeling in my toes and fingers, and I could hardly stop shivering. And here was Suzanne in her pretty (but thin!) wedding gown and peep-toe pumps! What a trooper! But she has the most gorgeous smile, and the sweetest personality, which made for some more-than-fabulous bridal photos. Better late than never, for this awesome bride:-)

I love her personality here! She is so dang CUTE!

You just gotta love these shoes:-)

I don't normally do a lot of textures on my images, but I felt this one kinda needed something a little extra special;-)

Santa Session 2011

2011-12-09T15:06:00.000-08:00

This year I was FINALLY able to invite Santa to my studio - something I have been wanting to do for years! The set was beautiful, and there was hot cocoa and cookies for everyone:-) Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get Santa until the last minute, so there was not a whole lot of information sent out about the session. I am so sorry if you missed out, but be assured that we will DEFINITELY be doing this again next year!

The idea of this session was to guarantee a beautiful image with Santa Claus. Taking the kids to the mall can be soo stressful! The long lines, grumpy kids, and tired Santa are hardly worth it sometimes - especially if you have a young child who is afraid of Santa. So the goal here was to set the kids up, then secretly bring in Santa. Not one of the kids knew Santa was there! We got some amazing images and everyone had a lot of fun:-)

This was one of my favorite images from the whole day. I think it is so perfectly innocent and sweet.

And right after we got this shot the little girl saw Santa and totally flipped out. She refused to have anything to do with him! Her brother, though, was fascinated with Santa, and we got some great images of their interaction together.I love this family! They are a wild little bunch, but we all had a blast, and they loved getting to spend quality time with Santa. The oldest two have autism, and are as sweet and innocent as little children. Meeting Santa was a magical experience for all of them, and I am so glad I was able to share it with them.

All I want for Christmas is. . . This is my own son, and you can tell he had some very serious thinking to do when Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas, and whether he had been bad or good this year, lol.

Couldn't let Santa go without a couple pics with my favorite pup! Although, Orion didn't feel that way. He was so nervous he just sat there shaking in Santa's arms. We tried some with the cat as well, but he flat out refused, and just hissed and spit. Must have been the red suit, lol.

Axton - {Layton Utah Newborn Photographer}

2011-12-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

I LOVED having this family in my studio! I worked with several extended members of this family for a while (you may remember Garrett and Ashley's wedding from earlier this year). I was so excited when Summer announced she would be having her first baby, and couldn't wait to meet him! I was able to take baby Axton's first portraits while in the hospital, and then a week later they came to the studio for a much more extensive session.

One of the things I love best is Axton's relationship with his daddy, John. My heart melts every time I see a father doting on his children, and it was plain to see that John just LOVES his baby boy! John's family is from Scotland, so we had the idea to do some Scottish themed portraits in kilts. A baby in a kilt? Could there really be anything cuter?

Axton was pretty wide-eyed during his session, and never really settled into a deep sleep. But this turned out to be a good thing, because we got to see his personality shine through. I swear this kid has more facial expressions than Calvin & Hobbs!

Hmm, favorites, favorites. So hard to narrow them down. What can I say, this kid was just so dang cute! But here are a "few" that I really loved.

Matt & Rachel - {Utah Engagement Photograper}

2011-11-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

We were so excited when my brother-in-law Matt announced his engagement to Rachel! They have been dating for a while, but Matt had said he wanted to get a few things in order before jumping into marriage (yes, he really is Mr. Responsible!). Happily, things came together for him much sooner than expected, so he is taking his sweetheart to the alter.

Both Matt and Rachel are very quiet and conservative. I admit, this posed a challenge when we planned their engagement session. I wanted to be able to tell a story of the two of them, but I needed to keep it simple and fun.

We headed to BYU campus in Provo, UT. Things have changed a lot since I went to school there (nearly a decade ago, now!). The campus was always beautiful, but now it is even more so. I loved the boardwalk around the duck pond, and all the new features all around the south end of the campus. BTW, on a side note, I helped plant a lot of the botany garden around that end of campus. It was my responsibility to take care of a lot of it and oversee the daily care of the plants, many of which we had imported, or I had grown from seed. So fun to see how much it has grown! Go check it out if you ever get the chance:-)

Okay, back to the happy couple:-) Due to some really yucky traffic, we got started much later than I had planned, and unfortunately lost the light very quickly. No worries, though, as I had three portable lights to work with, so all was well!

I am really looking forward to their wedding, which takes place in a couple short weeks! Yay! Here are some of my faves from their session:

If I were his mom, this would be my favorite image:-)

I love the relationship these two have. So sweet together!

Lightpainting

2011-11-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

I love going out and shooting just for fun. I get to use all my creative juices to create something beautiful or cool. And it can also be very therapeutic!

I recently went out with some guys from the Photographix club here in Utah. In the past they had done some cool lightpainting, but I was never able to attend. But this time I was able to squeeze it into my schedule:-)

What is Lightpainting? Have you ever drawn pictures in the air with a sparkler? If you are using a camera with a really slow shutter speed and a tripod, you can create some really cool things. Lightpainting is like that, but you can take it to a whole other level! We used a lot of fun stuff to create some really unique objects. My fave was the orb, which seems to float mysteriously in the air. Spooky!

Here are a few of my faves from the night:

Garrett & Ashley Married! - {Utah Wedding Photographer}

2011-10-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

I have really had a BLAST working with this couple! They are so sweet together, and so much fun to be around. LOVE them!

They were married at the most beautiful venue, Aspen Landing, in West Jordan. The building itself was gorgeous, but the gardens were equally beautiful. A photographer's dream!

We had a scary moment shortly before the wedding. Somehow, the flower order got cancelled, so when they went to pick them up - no flowers! Poor Ashley was in a state of panic. Fortunately, the florist pulled through, traveling around the valley to find all the right flowers, and delivering them right on time! Whew!

I admit, I teared up a little during the ceremony. I couldn't help it! Seeing these two wonderful people commit their lives to each other was so beautiful. Their love for each other just radiated around the room. Seriously, YOU try not crying under the same circumstances!

Here are some of my faves from their special day.

Jonathan - {Las Vegas Senior Photography, Utah Senior Photographer}

2011-10-06T10:15:00.001-07:00

Photography is not just about snapping a shutter. There is sooo much that goes in to a great photo. And possibly one of the most important elements is lighting. Lighting can make or break an image. Every Master Photographer that has ever lived all had one thing in common - they all had a clear understanding of light, and how to find and manipulate it to their purposes.

For a long time I have been working with only one light, and it worked very well for me. But I am a HUGE fan of light, and I always wanted a little more. Earlier this year I was able to acquire more lights, so of course I started thinking of ways I could use them:-)

I wanted to try some really dramatic lighting, and happily my brother-in-law Jonathan was a willing model. Jonathan is a Senior at Basic High School in Henderson, NV. He has always been really big in to running, and has done very well. Me, I am NOT a runner, but I admire those who do. It takes a lot of work and discipline to keep going! He is also an incredibly talented musician, so doing night shots out in the desert with his guitar was really fun.

Overall, I think this experience taught me a little more about the nature of light, and how I can manipulate it just a little more. Since doing this session, I have been able to use my multiple light set-up for many other sessions, and I have loved how they have all turned out.

Here are some from my session with Jonathan. Please tell me what you think!

This last image I created as an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image. I wanted to really bring out all the details, and I loved the artistic feel with this particular image.

Cameron - {Utah Children's Photography}

2011-09-07T16:00:00.001-07:00

All year long I take pictures of many different children. Some are younger, some are older, and they are all a lot of fun. Sometimes I admit I will have a child who can be a little bit harder to photograph. They are shy and don't like the camera, or maybe they are very rambunctious and never sit still. Some just look at me blankly. In the end, patience and perseverance wins out, and I get lots of smiles and beautiful images.

But of all the children I have photographed, the very hardest I have ever photographed just happens to live under my own roof. Yup, I am talking about my son, Cameron. Why, oh why, is is so hard to photograph your own children? I know I am not alone. I have heard some of the top children's photographers in the world recite tales of woe when it comes to photographing their own children. I really dislike when a mom gets frustrated and impatient with a child who will not smile for their pictures. It only puts the kids on edge and makes the session harder for everyone. But as soon as I try taking photos of my own child, I turn in to EXACTLY that kind of mom! Ugh! Still, anyone who knows me, knows I will not rest until I am fully satisfied with the photos. I never settle for second rate.

Every summer the Black-eyed Susans bloom all over the state. They most often grow along the highways, which is really not an ideal spot for portraits, especially for a child. But there just happens to be a large empty lot right near my house that is just full of the bright yellow flowers. Perfect! Cameron kept wanting to run off into the flowers, but I was a little afraid of him getting lost in them. He made a lot of funny faces the whole time or refused to look at the camera. He really made me work for those smiles.

Ah, but when they came, my heart sang! He has the sweetest smile, and the most contagious laugh. While editing all the photos, I would just stop and stare at certain images. I am reminded of the time that has past, but I look forward to the young man he is becoming, and look to the future with joy. How I love this little boy! Well, not quite so little anymore, but he will always be my "Baby Boy", and I love every minute we are together.

Here are a few of my most favorites from his session:

Aiden Turned ONE! - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2011-08-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know. I am way behind in my blogging. I could list some excuses if you want, but really, I know you are not interested in them. You just want to see awesome pictures, don't you? Mmm, Hmm. Well, here we go then!

Aiden has been coming to my studio since he was a wee little newborn. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly children grow and change in the first year. First year portraits are some of my favorites to do, because the child's personality really starts to shine through. Aiden was a little uncertain at first, a little hesitant, but then really started to warm up to me.

For the first half of the shoot we headed outside to the stream behind my house. It is a very quiet, woodsy spot, perfect for a photo op. I think Aiden was more interested in the great outdoors around him than me, but that made it all the more fun:-)

After some time outside, we headed in to me studio, where we got to do a Cake Smash! Like always, I baked and decorated the cake myself, and presented it to the birthday boy. He really had no idea what to do with it at first, but with a little coaxing from mom he got it all worked out. He really tore in to the cake! And yet, his face stayed pretty clean. I have to say, he is the neatest little eater I have ever seen. Which makes for boring smash pictures. So we helped him out a little there, too;-)

Here are some of my faves from the session:

More Puppies! - {Utah Pet Photographer}

2011-08-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

I LOVE working with puppies. So much rolly-polly cuteness! This is my fourth time working with this family's puppies, and sadly, they last. Momma dog is getting tuckered out having so many puppies (she always has large litters for her tiny size), so they are retiring her. But we still had lots of fun with these little guys.

We thought it was funny how the largest of the litter, who we call Big Boy, and the runt, named Midget, are so different in size it looks like they came from two different litters. Seriously, Big Boy is twice the size of his sister! Bu what she lacks in size she more than makes up for in personality. Love her!

In the past I have gone all out on some of my puppy session, but we decided to keep this one sweet and simple, and I think it went remarkably well. The puppies were very cooperative and highly photogenic:-)

Here are some of my faves:
Can't get enough of this cuteness? Check out their full gallery password: puppies4thlitter

Maddie & Maia - {Layton Childrens Photographer}

2011-07-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am a little behind on my blogging, and I apologize. It has been a very busy time of year for me, and it seems I seldom get the chance to just sit down and breath!

I have always loved working with this family. I have been doing Maddison's pictures since she was brand new - and now she has a new baby sister! Maia was a sweet and perfect little model. And so sleepy! Often newborn portraits take a little time because little ones can be a bit fussy. Not Maia - slept through almost the whole session!

Here are some of my faves - too many good ones, so hard to narrow it down to just a few!

Garrett & Ashley - {Utah Engagement Photography}

2011-05-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

I have worked with Garrett's mom for well over a year now, and I have had to opportunity to do several photo sessions with their family. When Garrett and Ashley announced their engagement, I knew I wanted to do something extra special. I channeled my inner Ghionis, and pushed all my boundaries to really rock this session!

The day of the engagement session it was stormy all day, but I didn't want to let that stop us. We went up to one of my favorite parks above Layton, UT which overlooked the whole valley. Gorgeous! We planned a sunset session, and we had HUGE ideas for Garrett's totally awesome '69 Plymouth Roadrunner (which he bought when he was only 12, and it was just an old shell!).

The session started out great, with the valley bellow, and the sun setting behind them. Breathtaking! The we moved on to a different location, and that was when the trouble started. For some reason I could not get all my lights to sync up at the same time. One would go off, but the others wouldn't. Frustrating! By the time we got it all figured out, it was really getting dark. And worse yet, the wind had picked up. A lot. We were right at the mouth of a canyon, and it felt like a hurricane! We watched in horror as my lights crashed on to the rocks and pavement again and again! I finally made the call to finish the session another night. Besides, by that time it was pitch black outside.

A couple nights later we headed back up, and the wind was nice and calm:-) We got TONS of great images, especially with Garrett's car. Ashley was totally rockin' in her little sundress (and freezing!). I still had trouble syncing my lights, but when it all came together, it was magic! I have to say I am immensely proud of this session. It was a lot of hard work, from beginning to end, but the final results are just what I had envisioned:-)

There were so many awesome images from their session, it is really impossible to narrow it down to just a few. So this is a larger share. Enjoy!

Thoughts on Pricing

2011-05-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

I have spent a good deal of my time this year on education. I can not stress the importance of education in whatever career path you choose. The only way to succeed is to continue learning all you can, and applying what you have learned to your business.

One of the big topics I hear a lot about is Pricing. Every seminar, convention, webinar, etc I have listened to have all talked about it. And all the pros are saying the same thing - raise your prices. Their theory is that when we raise the prices of our goods and services, we are increasing its perceived value. Also, by raising our prices we will be cutting out the "price-sensitive" buyers - those just out looking for a good deal (and can often be a nightmare to work with!). We will be bringing in fewer clients, but more high-end, so we will actually be making a higher profit.

All this makes sense. There really is a TON of work that goes in to a great photography session. You can visit here to find out just what goes in to an average session. Yeah, I really do spend that much time and energy on all my sessions! So, if a photographer is offering a full one hour session with a disc of all the images for $50, how much money do you think they are actually making (or even how much time are they spending making sure all your images look flippin' awesome?)? The answer, of course, is none. They are actually paying to take take your pictures! That might seem nice to you, but really, lets face it. Photography is a business, and if we don't make a profit, we can't stay in business!

But then I see this other side of it. If we have all these photographers raising their prices and catering to those high-end clients, what about those left in the middle? I know of lots of great people who are not particularly wealthy, but they still want great photos (hey, I am one of them!). These are people who recognize and enjoy great quality work, but simply cannot afford to go to a high-end studio. Trust me, if I could, I would be taking my family to Busath Studios in a heartbeat! Maybe someday.

I am a little concerned about the options for these middle class folks. They can either save up their money and go to the high-end studio and get a few exceptionally nice prints, or they can pay a small fee for an entire CD of so-so images. Where is the middle ground? What if these people want great photos and great service, and they want more than a couple of nice wall portraits? Where do they go?

This has been tumbling around in my head for some time. I won't lie, I would LOVE to be one of those "high-end" photographers that makes a 6 figure income. But I am a LONG way off from that! But at the same time I feel I have some exceptional clients who I thoroughly enjoy working with. I know that if I started charging much higher rates, I would probably lose all of them, and I don't want that to happen!

All this being said, I have recently felt the need to raise my prices a little. Not too dramatic, mind you, but enough that I can make a profit and stay in business:-) My new price list will be going live on my website shortly. Even this small increase was a tough decision for me, but in the end I have to do what is best for my business, and even my small expenses outstripped my income.

So what are your thoughts on this topic? According to the pros, all photographers should be striving to cater to high-end clients only. Do you think this is right? Or do you feel there is a successful market in other income brackets as well? Can there be a "happy medium?"

Jessica - {Layton Maternity Photography}

2011-05-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy is really the highlight of being a woman. It is something special that only we women can accomplish, and it is absolutely miraculous. Being able to document such a time in our lives can be a beautiful and personal remembrance. And a little scary, too.

I know when I was pregnant with my son, most days I did not feel particularly beautiful. Mostly I felt like a beached whale! So I can understand how many women balk at the idea of doing a portrait session when they may be feeling the least attractive.

Jessica was one of these women. She was pregnant with her first baby, a little girl, and the doctors told her it was a miracle she was pregnant at all, due to some health conditions. Still, she had never considered doing a maternity session, until her sister convinced her she just HAD to do one. When Jessica contacted me, she was so sweet, but very apprehensive, and worried that she did not have the "right" body type to be able to do beautiful images. I assured her that nothing could be further from the truth.

Her session was simple and modest, but we had a lot of fun. By using creative lighting and posing, I was able to bring out her best features, and highlight her cute baby belly. Her portraits are fabulous, and I am so glad her sister convinced her to do them. Every woman is different, but we are all so beautiful, and no one should pass up the opportunity to do a portrait session because they think they are flawed in some way. Don't let the important moments of your life slip away because you are too afraid to try!

Here are some of my fave's from Jessica's session.

Wyatt - {Layton Utah Children's Photography}

2011-04-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Soooo much fun having Wyatt in the studio again! I love seeing these little ones grow. When he first came in he was a teeny little newborn, and now he is 6 months old!

His mom, Ashley, and I had some really great ideas on what to do for his 6 month portraits. Funny, he had different ideas, I guess. I had my good friend and fellow photographer, Vanessa helping me out in the studio, and even with all three of us women acting like a trio of goofs, Wyatt just refused to smile. He mostly looked at us like we were idiots (which was probably true). His daddy just sat in the corner silently laughing to himself.

Despite his unwillingness to present us with big smiles, we did get a few small ones, and plenty of ADORABLE images. He did have lots of fun in the tub trying to catch the bubbles:-)

Here are some of my faves from the session!

Kade - {Layton Utah Children's Photography}

2011-04-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I have been bad about blogging lately. We are definitely getting back in to the busy season! Lots of new sessions coming up, and a few weddings, too! Spring always gets me so excited. Winter is just blah - cold, dreary, and eternally slow. Spring brings sunshine, flowers, and fresh new ideas! Be watching for some cool stuff!

My husband Craig works at an office supply company in the account department (and yet he still won't do my taxes!). One of his coworkers has an absolutely adorable little boy, and they asked me to do his one year portraits:-)

Kade is a pretty serious little guy, and we had to work for those smiles, but his enormous blue eyes just melted my heart. His easy going nature made it easy for us to create some stunning portraits that I know his family will treasure for years to come.

At the end of the session we did a smash-the-cake series. For anyone not familiar, this is a really fun series where we put a real cake (which I personally design and bake) in front of the birthday child, and just let them do their thing. Some kids dive in with gusto, and others are more hesitant. Kade was the hesitant type, and was not at all interested in getting his fingers yucky, lol. But we loved seeing his reaction, and it was so much fun for everyone.

Here are some of my favorites from the session!

CERTIFIED!!!

2011-03-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

It's official! I am now a Certified Professional Photographer!

As most of you know, this has been something I have been working towards for quite a while. Years, in fact. The test is difficult, and the image review not any less so. I studied for years, and worked hard to improve my skills. And now it has payed off!

So what does this mean for all of you? Well, you can just feel good knowing your portraits where created by a photographer judged to be above industry standards. I take my work very seriously, and I am not satisfied just giving mediocre quality products. My clients are awesome, and they all deserve the BEST!

And folks, this is only the beginning! Good things are coming, so stay tuned!

Thanks to all who have given so much support and encouragement along the way. You guys rock!

Vanessa - {Utah Boudoir Photography}

2011-03-08T16:56:00.001-08:00

While I was in Vegas for WPPI a few weeks ago I stayed with my dear friend Vanessa. Once upon a time we worked together at a wedding chapel in Vegas. She was a florist (and a very talented one!), and I was, of course, a wedding photographer. Shortly before I left she made the switch to photography as well, and she has been there ever since:-)

We had a blast together all week, and we even got to work together on a couple of newborn sessions:-) The one thing I really wanted to do was a boudoir session with her. She was very hesitant at first, but I gently coaxed her along. She finally relented and agreed to a session. And, I am pretty sure she doesn't regret it!

We started out very simple. I could tell she was a little nervous, and I wanted to ease her in to the session gently. After a little while, she started to open up a little more, and pretty soon the images were just flying. It was like magic!

I was so glad to be able to do this for her. A huge part of what I love about photography is being able to help others see themselves in a new light. Everyone is different, but we are all special and unique, and that is what I try to express in every session I do.

Here are a few from the beginning of Vanessa's session. For privacy reasons, I will not be showing the more intimate images. But so you know, they totally rocked;-)

Aiden - {Layton Children Photographer}

2011-02-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post this blog for a while, but I have just been so busy!

The first time Aiden came to my studio he was only about two weeks old, and he did NOT like having his picture taken! He was fairly fussy the whole time.

Now he is seven months old (has it really been that long?!?!), and he was ALL smiles:-) Seriously, he has the kind of smiles that can light up a whole room. We had such a blast in the studio, and we got some AMAZING images.

As a bonus, his daddy is back from Iraq, and was able to join us in the studio for some family portraits. Yay!

And the results are in. . .

2011-02-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

I got my test results from my CPP test today and. . . .

I PASSED!!!!

There were 100 questions, and you need 70% to pass. I got 77%! I would have liked at least an 80%, but it was a HARD test. Even some of the top photographers in the industry did not pass on their first try, so I am feeling pretty good about myself right now.

I am only half way to certification, however. The next step is the image submission. Some people are great at written exams, but don't know how to apply the information in real life. For others the opposite is true. They want you to be able to pass both, so they know you have the knowledge AND can apply it.

I will be turning in my images this week, so keep your fingers crossed! Judging can be pretty harsh from what I hear.

Harrison Family - {Utah Family Photographer}

2010-12-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

I work with a lot of great people every day. One of those people is Annette. For Christmas all her kids and grandkids were coming in town, and she really wanted a nice family photo of everyone together.

She wanted to keep the photos simple, just nice enough to put on the wall. Of course, I never do anything "simple", lol. Annette has a large family, with many grandchildren. I decided to try something a little different.

I had heard about doing Panoramic family portraits from another photographer, http://www.busath.com/, and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. How it works: Each family is photographed individually. This makes it easier for everyone, since I have far fewer little ones to focus on, and it is far less stressful. There is also and added benefit. One of the son-in-laws was not able to make it to the shoot with the rest of the family. But he and his wife were able to come to my studio the next day to have their portraits taken, so that the family portrait was complete. Once I had all the family portraits done, it was a simple matter of stitching them all together in Photoshop. The result is a really cool panoramic of the entire family - something far different than the traditional wall portrait. Sorry the image quality on here is not the best, but you can click on it to see a sharper image.

We also got one of the whole family together for a more traditional portrait. The gentleman on the far left was absent for the shoot, but by photographing him later I was able to stitch him in to the group portrait. While it is not a perfect solution, it works well for times when you just can't have everyone together.

Isaksen Family - {Utah Family Photographer}

2010-12-30T16:42:00.000-08:00

Even though I have been doing photography professionally for over 5 years, I do not get the opportunity to do family shoots very often. Working with families can be both fun and challenging. I love interacting with so many people, but sometimes the little ones would rather be interacting with someone else!

This shoot was done at the American Fork Amphitheater. This was my first time down there, and I LOVED it. Such a gorgeous area. Of course, a lot of other photographers felt the same way. I think in the short time we were there we saw about 5 or 6 other photographers with various sized groups. It is a big place, though, so we did not have too much trouble finding some good spots.

The troubling part was that it was COLD!!! The poor kids were just freezing. They had fun at first running around on the large stone benches, but pretty soon the cold got the better of them. We were not able to do as much as I would have liked, but I still think we got some amazing images.

Dachshund Puppies! - {Idaho/Utah Pet photographer}

2010-12-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to photograph another litter of dachshund puppies. For those that don't know, my sister breeds dachshunds. There were originally seven in this litter, but the runt had FTT (failure to thrive), and passed away a week after birth. Very sad:-(

But the remaining six are very healthy, and VERY wiggly little pups! There are four girls and two boys. This time I brought my pup, Orion, to meet all his new brothers and sisters! Orion was one of the pups born in the first litter, and he is almost two years old. This makes his momma's third litter. Orion was not too thrilled with all the puppies. Actually, one sniff of them and he turned tail and ran away! He did enjoy seeing and playing with his parents again. I often wonder how good their memory is, and if they remember him as one of their pups.

A lot of other things were going on at the same time I was trying to do the puppy portraits. As a result, I had to put off the shoot until very late at night. But once we got going, it went together very quickly, and I was able to get some ADORABLE shots of all the puppies.

The hardest part was getting all six together. This is always very tricky, because they never like to hold still. However, since it was so late, it was well past their bedtime, and they really just wanted to sleep. I lined them up in a row on my soft bean bag and they fell right to sleep - except for one. Stubborn little girl would NOT go to sleep. We could see she was so tired, but she was really fighting it. We finally managed to get her to lay down, though, and the resulting image just melts your heart!

So without further ado, here are some of the best from the shoot!

That little thing at the top of my blog

2010-11-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

I am pretty dang excited. Did you notice that little logo near the top of my blog? The one that says "PPA"? That means I am an official member of Professional Photographers of America!

Wait, what does that even mean?

PPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of photographers. By joining this organization I have pledged to follow a specific code of conduct, and to continually seek education opportunities to improve and build upon my photographic and business skills.

When I first started doing photography professionally, some five years ago, I knew I wasn't going to be happy settling for "second best". While I have always enjoyed photography as an art medium and a great way to express myself artistically, when I actually started doing it as a business, I really wanted it be more than something fun I do "on the side".

Over these last five years I have poured heart and soul into this venture. I have spent hours and hours reading books and articles, attending seminars, and practicing the techniques I have learned about. I want to be able to offer my clients something truly beautiful and unique, and I knew it was going to take a lot of work on my part to do that.

And I am taking it even one step further. As I have mentioned before, I am studying and preparing for my Professional Photographer Certification test this coming January. This is now light-hearted test! The questions are challenging and designed to test a photographer's knowledge of the technical aspects of photography - lighting, exposure, post processing (both film and digital), etc. The second part of the exam is an image review, which will prove to the judges that not only can I talk the talk, but I can walk the walk. I can apply what I have learned to real life situations.

Photography is not just my hobby. It is my way of life. And I am dedicated to making it even better.

Family Mini Sessions! - {Layton Family Photographer}

2010-10-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Have you been putting off your family photos? Is your budget tight this year? Do you dread the thought of a long photo session?

This is the perfect opportunity for you and your family! Through the month of November I will be holding family mini session at my studio. Sessions are only *30 minutes! You can choose an indoor studio session, or an outdoor session at the park.

And best of all, this session is only $25!!

Don't let this opportunity pass you by - book your session today!

Call 801.635.6884 or email sstiles@sarahstilesphotography.com

*Session only. Prints and products sold separately.

Wyatt - {Layton Newborn Photographer}

2010-09-30T16:50:00.001-07:00

Wyatt was soooo cute! He was also WIDE AWAKE. This was great in the first part of the photo shoot with his family. I love when babies look right up in to my camera:-) The problems started when we tried to do photos of him by himself. He was quite happy being cuddled by anyone who was willing to hold him, and would even fall asleep. But the moment we tried to set him down his eyes would pop open, he would realize what was going on, and the screaming would start, lol.

Fortunately, I have worked with plenty of babies with similar personalities, and I knew that the solution would simply be to have patience. The session ended up being four hours (long even by my standards!), but the end results, well, you can see for yourself that it really paid off!!

The DeMille Family - {Utah Family Photographer}

2010-09-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Cheryl is a lactation consultant at one of the hospitals where I work, and we have become great friends. A few months ago I had the opportunity to do photos for her newest grandchild just a day after he was born:-)

Cheryl's whole family was getting together for a weekend, which means a great time to do a family photo shoot! She knew right away that I was the right photographer for the job. The shoot was scheduled right in the middle of the day, which means some really tricky lighting. Fortunately, I have had a lot of experience shooting in mid-day light. Not my favorite, but I can make it work.

We decided to head out to Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake City. This is a very popular spot for photography, as there are just so many great nooks and crannies to photograph in. It was actually kind of funny. I arrived on sight an hour early to scope out some great spots. There were very few people there, so I was pretty free to roam and around and take my time testing my lighting and so forth. By the time the family arrived, a few other photographers could be seen with families in tow. And by the end of our session? Photographers everywhere! There were LINES for the prime spots! I think I counted at least a dozen photographers during the course of the afternoon. Crazy!

Despite the bright sun, high heat, and uncooperative kiddies, I think we got some great images!

Tuesday Tips &Techniques - Wedding Etiquette

2010-09-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is such a touchy topic, and I know a lot of people can take offense. Please know that I only have the best interests of the bride and groom and their wedding party at heart. It is their day, and they should be treated with the utmost respect.

In this digital age, when prosumer cameras are so easy to come by, everyone wants to bring one along to document life. Nothing wrong with that! In fact, in most cases, I encourage it. I love that so many people can enjoy all the little moments of life by reliving those memories through pictures. But there is a time and a place for everything, even for picture taking.

When I did stage acting back in the day, before any performance the audience was informed that no flash photography (and some times no photography at all) was permitted during performances. Why? Because it is INSANELY distracting and unnerving. When you are up on stage the lights are pretty bright and you can't see much. But you definitely CAN see the bright pops of light from flashes. And when you are trying to remain in character and remember lines, etc, those bright pops can just be so annoying. Also, some of our performances were being recorded, and all those bright pops interfered with the video, not to mention the click-click-click of cameras. Who want to listen to that during a performance? It's just as bad as people whispering.

The same is true for a wedding ceremony. This is a very personal moment between a bride and groom, and they have invited you to share it. When I first started doing wedding photos, I would have brides and grooms complain that it was hard for them to concentrate on each other because the whole room would be filled with people taking pictures. Those bright little flashes again. The couples were VERY aware that they were being watched and recorded, and they simply could not "live in the moment".

There was another problem. There are some moments that are so extremely important in a wedding - the bride's entrance, exchanging rings, the first kiss, etc. These moments happen very quickly, so the photographer has a very small (sometimes even instantaneous) window to get the shot. But what if everyone else with camera is trying to get the same shot? All those other flashes will start popping at the same time, and the result will be an image that is severely "flashed-out". And no amount of photoshop can fix it. Sad to say, I have had several otherwise great images ruined by too many flashes going off at the same time.

The logical idea would be to simply ask people to turn off their flash. This is actually a requirement in many churches. Simple, right? Well, you would be amazed at how many people do not know how to turn the flash off on their camera. Before any given wedding I would have to walk around the room helping people turn the flashes off on their cameras. The problem with turning the flash off, of course, is that many cameras simply do not function well in low light, and you are likely to get a lot of motion blur.

Here is another little problem, one I face regularly. I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to do photos of the whole venue, only to have someone STANDING UP to take their own pictures!! Right in the middle of the crowd! Not only does this ruin the shot for me, but it is also annoying for guests sitting around and behind that person.

Here is a great story. One day I was shooting in a wedding in fairly small venue. It seated about 70 people, but there were about 120 in attendance (the bride and groom thought they would not have that many people show up!). So it was very crowded, with people standing at the back of the room, and even some outside the doors. I kept the central aisle open, as it was the only place I could move around to get my shots. There was one man in particular that was causing me problems. Although he (and all the other guests), had been asked to remain seated throughout the ceremony, and to turn off flashes), he felt he was somehow above this. Several times he would pop up out of his seat to get a better shot. I kept giving him pointed looks, which I know he saw, but he ignored it. The finally straw was at the end, right before the couples kiss. I was standing about half way up the aisle, ready for the kiss, when all of a sudden my field of vision was blocked by someone's head. The guy had actually moved right into the aisle, right in front of me so that HE could get the shot! With his little point and shoot camera, no less! I was not about to have one of the most important moments of the wedding ruined by a wannabe. I quietly reached around him, grabbed his camera, and gave it to a woman sitting across the aisle. Then I looked at the man and pointed to his seat. There were a few chuckles, as others knew he had certainly earned it. And I did get the shot.

Some photographers do not mind if others take photos during the ceremony, but there have just been too many times when things go wrong. So for me personally, I usually request that no photography of ANY kind is permitted during the ceremony, and there is a sign at the door to remind people of this.

What about after the ceremony? Everyone is getting set up for those great formal shots, and you want to get in on the action. Folks, that is just plain rude. There is really no other way to say it. If your friend hired a professional contractor to remodel their kitchen, do you then show up with your little tool box? Hopefully not. The couple paid a good deal of money to hire a professional to capture those special moments of their day. They have a much harder time getting great photos if their groups are looking every which way at a hundred different cameras. Furthermore, during the bridal portraits, the photographer is trying to capture the intimate relationship between the bride and groom. This is infinitely more challenging when everyone else is standing around watching and taking their own photos. Best to leave them alone and check out their wedding album later.

Some photographers do not mind having a few groupies hanging around. They allow family members to get the shots they want, then ask them to step aside so he or she can do the professional shots. If this is the case for you, please be polite and put your camera down when the photographer steps in. And do not EVER think you are more important than the hired photographer. Yes, I have actually had guests push me out of the way so they could get their shots. Unbelievable. Puts me in a bad mood, which makes the rest of my photos not as great as they could be.

Finally there is the reception. NOW you can bring out your camera! Take LOTS of pictures!! I don't think there are any photographers that discourage others from taking photos during the reception. There is often a lot going on, so there is always SOMETHING to take a picture of. Just be aware of where the hired pro is so you are not in their way, especially during certain events, such as the first dance, cutting of the cake, and bouquet toss.

I know it is hard for some to learn that they shouldn't take photos during the wedding. Particularly if it is close family member, such as a sibling, cousin, grandchild, etc. But remember, the wedding is all about the bride and groom, and I am sure everyone will agree that we want their day to be the best possible, and we hope they will have the best possible memories to cherish.

If you are not sure what the rules are, talk to the bride and groom. But really, it is best to leave the camera alone until the reception. Just relax and enjoy the day!

Jessica - {Burley Childrens Photographer}

2010-09-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

I have been doing Jessica's portraits since she was a little newborn. The thing you need to know about Jessie is that she does NOT like cameras. Every time she sees one she screams bloody murder until the camera is gone. Last year when she turned one we actually had to reschedule her session because she was just too upset. This is in stark contrast to her big sister, Krystal, who is a total ham in front of the camera.

This year we decided to try a different approach. We thought if we took her to a nice park and let her run around, she would be much more comfortable. And it worked! We got far more smiles, and far fewer tears, although she was still not interested in the camera, or in having her picture taken. In fact, she was far more interested in playing in the water, the sand, or the grass, lol.

But when she did look up and smile (mostly at my crazy antics), her smile lit her face like sunshine, and her pretty eyes sparkled. And it is those moments I live for. I work hard, so I can get those little glimpses of pure, unadulterated joy.

Tuesday Tips &Techniques - Autumn Portraits

2010-09-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

There is a crispness in the air, and a chill in the mornings and evenings. Autumn is almost upon us! For many years I lived in places that had no Fall season. It was just hot and hotter. And sometimes just cold. No in-betweens. I love seeing all the fabulous fall colors, and I LOVE the smells! The smell of falling leaves, spiced pumpkin, apples and cinnamon - Mmmmmmm.

This is often the time of year that many people think about having family portraits done. The fall leaves offer a beautiful and vibrant setting, and really it is just plain fun! But there are some things to consider when planning your portrait session.

The first thing to consider is the best time to schedule your session. Here in Utah, Autumn colors start appearing in the canyons by mid-September, and by mid-October the whole valley is awash in reds, oranges and yellows. Timing is everything. If you book your session too early, you will have very little color to work with, other than green (which can be beautiful, but is probably not what you are looking for). If you wait to long, the leaves start to drop and you will end up with bare looking trees in the background. Even if you still see leaves on the trees, they will show up pretty bare in your photos. Because the window of opportunity is so small, it is a great idea to book your session as soon as you can so you can be sure to get a prime spot. Remember, this is the busiest time of the year for portrait photographers, and they book up fast!

The second thing to think about is light. The sun is setting a little earlier, and the golden glows of sunset can result in some breathtaking portraits. Plan your session early enough to get plenty of light, and BE ON TIME!!!!!! No one can keep the sun from setting, so it is super important that you plan to arrive even a little early if you are planning a sunset session.

You can also plan sessions at any time of the day, if your photographer is skilled to work in any lighting situation. When you are looking for a photographer, take a close look at their portfolio. Does the photographer have a good understanding of light? Do the subjects have good highlights and shadows to add depth and dimension? Is the light soft and clean, or is it interrupted with dappled lighting from the trees (a common mistake among new photographers). Are the images well exposed and the colors vibrant? Or does everything look a little drab?

Many photographers use portable lighting to enhance their images. The biggest advantage of this is that even on the brightest day or in the deepest shadows the photographer can produce fabulous portraits, without having to rely on natural light alone. However, if you are looking for a photographer who specializes in natural light, make sure you find one that is very experienced and knows how to find great light.

Posing is another thing you should be thinking about. Do you want formal poses, or are you looking for lifestyle portraits that show a glimpse in to your family - a day in the life of, so to speak. Different photographers offer different styles, so make sure you look at all your options and decide which would be right for you. If you do choose more formal portraits, make sure you photographer is skilled in working with groups. The poses do not have to be stiff, either. A more relaxed image with a looser composition can be beautiful.

Finally, think about what you are going to wear. Yes! Clothes are important! Many families choose to have matching outfits where everyone is wearing basically the same thing. You could also choose to have complimenting outfits. You are all wearing different clothes, but the colors compliment each other. For example, you could choose a color pallet of red, brown, tan, and green. As long as everyone is wearing some combination of those colors, you will all look unified, without looking so formal.

The colors you choose should match your location. For Fall portraits, stay away from pastels and light colors, as these tend to clash with the Autumn colors. Neutrals are always a good way to go, bt you could also try bolder colors - reds, blues, greens, and browns. Make sure there are no distracting elements on anyones outfits, such as bold stripes or large logos or graphic designs. And make sure everyone has the proper footwear!

If you keep these ideas in mind, then you will be sure to have a successful photo session, and gorgeous portraits for your home!

Ashley & Kevin - {Utah Maternity Photographer}

2010-09-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

When Ashley saw my image of The Protector, she knew she had to have THAT image hanging on her wall. The problem was, she was already only two weeks away from her due date! Fortunately, I was able to squeeze her in:-) Even though Ashley and Kevin really wanted some great patriotic images, we were also able to do a lot of other fantastic images.

Ashley had the most perfect baby belly, and the CUTEST little preggo outie button! Most of us other women can only dream of looking so fantastic at 9 months pregnant. Me, I looked like I had swallowed Thanksgiving dinner whole. Not that I minded. I think all pregnant women are gorgeous, myself included;-) It is a beautiful time in a woman's life, and should be celebrated.

So how about some pics?Is it even legal to be this cute? Ashley, you are making A LOT of women jealous right now.

Work it girl!

I told you it is the cutest little preggo outie button EVER!

Anyone wanna guess what she is having? LOL

Just a little something fun:-)

The Protector. This image has become somewhat famous. Even though it is an image that I created, I still tear up when I see it. I am so proud to live in this country and to have the freedoms I am blessed with every day. And I salute those who serve, who lay down their lives so we can be free.

American Baby:-)

I can't wait to meet Wyatt in a few weeks! Ashley, I wish you the best and smoothest labor. Good luck to both of you!

Tuesday Tips &Techniques

2010-08-31T15:45:00.000-07:00

PRACTICING vs. PORTFOLIO BUILDING

This is a big topic that is so often overlooked by new photographers. And it could make or break you as a business.

So often today I see new photographers get their fancy new camera, set up a website, and start charging money. BAD IDEA!! That's almost like buying a table saw and then setting up shop as a general contractor. It takes time and effort to learn a trade - any trade! And there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

Even new photographers know there is a stage we like to call "portfolio building", where they charge a minimal fee to bring in as many clients as possible to build up their portfolio. But so often overlooked is the "practicing" stage.

This stage is super important. Practicing means just that. You practice, practice, practice. This is the time to learn everything you can. Lighting, exposure, posing, compostion, etc. If you plan to really make this a business, it is also a VERY good idea (i.e. critical to your survival) to learn all you can about the BUSINESS side of photography as well. If you think you can get by without learning about business, think again. More businesses fail in the first five years (often less), because they did not learn how to run the business. There are tons of classes available, and countless books. Things to look in to include how to set up the business with your city and state, taxes (yeah, I don't like it, either, but it has to be done!), marketing, sales (ooh! a big one!), etc.

During the practicing stage, find whoever you can to practice on. At this point you may not know what you want to specialize in, and that is okay. Ask around and try to include as many different categories you can, and find out what you like doing best. If you don't like it, don't do it! I have many photographer friends who will not do infants or pets, because they can be very challenging and time consuming. There are also many that refuse to do weddings. Did you know that wedding photography has been listed in the top 10 most stressful jobs? If you would like to try your hand and wedding photography, NEVER EVER attempt to do your first wedding alone, especially if you are still in the practicing stage. Remember, there are no do-overs for a wedding, and even the smallest wedding is important to that bride and groom. It is much better to find a well-established photographer you can shadow or "second-shoot" with. This will allow you to get your feet wet and decide if this is what you want to do, without having the huge pressure of getting it all perfect that first time.

When you are practicing, you should not be charging your "clients", except for what it may cost you to give them a CD. Let them know you are only practicing, so they know what to expect. You can put your services for hire on various sites like Craig's List or Facebook, but you should not have an official website at this point.

There is going to come a point when you feel your images have a consistency that is of an acceptable quality. The keyword is CONSISTENT. One or two good image per session is not consistent. Your entire session should have all the important elements coming together. Once you have reached this stage you can being to build your portfolio. You can start charging a little more for your services (because now you know you have really earned it!). You do not want to price yourself too high or you will lose all your clients, but you also want to make it fair for yourself. A lot of work goes into producing great images, and you don't want to sell yourself short!

You can continue to advertise among your friends and family, or through social media sites. You may want to think about starting a website as well, though it is not necessary at this point. Many people start a blog at this point, so they can show off their work, but without paying the high fees of a professional website.

Because you are charging money for your services, you should also be charging sales tax. Even if you are not earning a lot, you are still required by law to pay sales tax. You will also need a business license. Call your state and local agencies to set up your business entity.

So, you have a great collection of images, and business if going well. Now what? Now you can set yourself up as a professional photographer and charge full prices with a full range of products and services available for your clients. Remember to keep learning and growing!

Now, if you are looking to hire a professional photographer, keep this ideas in mind. Ask how long they have been doing photography, and how long they have been in business (remember, these can be two different things). Take a look at their portfolio. Is the quality consistent throughout? Is there a good variety of subjects? Does the photographer have a good grasp of lighting, posing, and composition? Or does it look like the images were merely "fixed" in Photoshop? You know what your personal tastes are, as well as your budget, so find a photographer who suites all your needs.

Well, that's all for today, folks. I hope you have learned a few new things. Tune in next week for more tips and techniques!

Tuesday Tips &Techniques

2010-08-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

I want to try something new on my blog, and hopefully it will help others improve their own photography skills, or have a great photography experience. My goal is to help raise the bar of what great photography should be. This first installment is really neither a tip nor a technique, but rather I am going to explain what it means to be a great photographer, or to have a great photography experience.

I have a little confession. I really like meat. I mean, I REALLY like meat! I did much of my growing up years in Texas, so I know what good meat should be. I even spent a few months as a hostess for Ruth's Chris Steak House, a favorite of the San Antonio Spurs. Brisket is my favorite, but I love a good juicy steak, medium rare please! But I also enjoy a good hamburger.

Shortly after I came to Utah I was invited to attend a barbecue with a friend and her family. No respectable Texan can turn down the offer of b-b-que! I was, of course, thinking of brisket, or chicken, or some such delicious meat. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and discovered that their idea of b-b-que was hotdogs and processed hamburger patties - they did not even hand make the hamburger! Horror! For the record, this would be called "grilling", since no b-b-que sauce was in sight. And sometimes it merely seems like a way to warm up the "meat".

So how does this apply to photography? Think of photography like meat. You can have frozen hamburger patties, or you can have a juicy steak.

The former would fall into a category that many pros have dubbed "shoot-an-burn" photographers. These are people that will do a session at a very low cost, then give you all the images on a CD. These photographers are VERY popular, simply for the reason that they cost very little. When you are on a tight budget (and who isn't these days?), hiring this type of photographer seems like a very good idea.

I do want to clarify something. There are many photographers just starting out that need "practice". They should ALWAYS mention this to their clients. If you are just getting started, it is okay to ask family and friends if you can borrow them from time to time for some sessions. In return, you can offer the images at very low cost. Once you have developed consistent quality in your images, you can start to build your portfolio and charge a little more. And yes, there is a HUGE difference between "practicing" and "portfolio building" which I will discuss next week.

A shoot-and-burn photographer generally will not spend much time editing your images. Editing is very time intensive work. A good photographer will spend HOURS working on only one session, making sure everything is perfect. A typical SnB photographer will also not offer much in the way clothing advice, or ask what your personal preferances are, or really dig deep on what you are really looking for in your images. This is not always the case, but usually is.

Many times these photographers are not particularly knowledgeable in the technical side of photography. They likely do not have a clear understanding of lighting, exposure, composition, or posing. And this shows in their work. Some will try to "fix" the issues in Photoshop. Photoshop is a terrific tool, but it should not be seen as a way to "fix" and image, but rather it should enhance what is already there.

Bottom line, this type of photographer is like the frozen hamburger patty. Cheap, fast, and will sustain you, but is completely lacking in flavor and originality.

Now how about a nice juicy steak? Sizzling, flavorful, hot! What can you expect from this type of photographer? These are those that go the extra mile for you. The offer a pre-session consultation to get to know you and learn as much as they can so they can offer the very best experience. They listen attentively to you. They offer advice on what to wear, where to go, and what to expect throughout the session. They show a genuine interest in you, and the images consequently reflect your tastes and personality.

During your session it is clear that these pros have a very clear understanding of how to pose people in a pleasing and engaging manner, how to find and use great light, and how to work in any condition, whether it be a bright sunny afternoon, or a rainy day.

After the session your photographer will spend post-processing your images, making sure everything is perfect and presentable. They know exactly what types of images are sure to please, and which ones will not make the grade (such as images that are out of focus, odd expressions, blinking eyes, etc). Then they may invite you to review the images. Some will add the photos in an online gallery. Others will invite you to a special "viewing session", where you can review all the images together. The great advantage of a viewing session is that the photographer may have much more to offer than just prints. Albums and books, gallery wrapped canvases, photo bags, jewelry, keepsake boxes, greeting cards and announcements - these are all products a pro often offers, and seeing them in person gives you a clear understanding of what they are, and how they look and feel.

Many pros today even go a step further by packaging your products in beautiful gift bags and ribbons. Some may even add a few gifts of appreciation and a thank you note - a personal touch that is sure to go a long way.

So which photographer are you? Or which experience would you rather have? Frozen beef patty or filet mignon? The former is certainly much cheaper and far less time consuming. But the latter will give you so much more, and you are likely to come away feeling well satisfied. Which one you choose is ultimately up to you to decide, but I hope you are thinking about the latter. And hopefully through this blog I can help you become that photographer and have that fabulous experience!

Bryan & Laurel - {Layton Engagement Photographer}

2010-08-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

This session was extra special, because Bryan is my little bro. Well, brother-in-law, really, but I still see him as my brother. When I first met Laurel, I kept my mouth shut, but inside I was practically screaming, "She's so awesome, I want her as my sister!" I think everyone else was thinking much the same thing;-)

Bryan completely surprised Laurel when he proposed to her. She was in the process of finding a new place to live in the fall, so Brian had to act fast, lol. He took her up the mountain and proposed on a big rock, while one of his buddies recorded the whole thing from the bushes:-) So sweet!

We went to Union Station in Ogden for their engagement session. I have done quite a few sessions there, and it is one of my favorite locations. The irony is that I am DEATHLY afraid of trains. I had a panic attack only two days before this shoot because they were talking about trains at church. For some reason I am able to hold it together when I am actually at the station. I actually think trains are really cool, as long as they are not moving.

We were running quite a bit behind, and we lost the light FAST. As a result, most of the session was done in pitch dark. In fact, it was so dark I had trouble focusing on them. Thank goodness for off-camera flash! We got sooo many amazing images, and we did not even get around to doing some of the ideas I had.

BTW, I should mention that right before the shoot, Laurel said she always felt awkward in front of cameras, and was not very photogenic. I have to disagree. Maybe you will, too.

I had a really hard time narrowing down which images to show on the blog. But since they are my family and I love them, ya'll are going to just get an extra big helping:-)

My First Bridal Show!

2010-07-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

This past Thursday I received a call from Jan Schuurman of Shoootz Photography inviting me to participate as a vendor in their Fantazy Bridal Show which took place at the Wight House in Bountiful. Except the show was this past Saturday!! That gave me only 36 hours to put everything together. I have never participated in a bridal show before, and I had NO studio samples of brides or weddings. A little odd, yes, but everything I have is of portraits. Pretty much the only thing I had was my business cards.

Thanks to the fabulous people at Inkley's in Layton, UT and to Chester at Postnet in North Salt Lake, I was able to pull together a nice presentation. I still did not have samples of albums and such, but I still think my booth looked nice. And I had an added bonus in that my booth had a very large flat screen TV with a DVD player so that I could run a sideshow of some of my favorite weddings.

Saturday was a very hot day, and I think there was another bridal show happening elsewhere. So maybe that is what kept the brides away. At any rate, there were really not a lot of people in attendance. I am not sure if anything will come out of it for me, but I still had fun.

My booth was right next to the best cake decorators ever! Tricia of Sweet Perfection had the BEST tasting cake I have ever had!!! Her Tuxedo cake was really an out of body experience. And her cakes were beautiful as well.

I sat across from Rusty Sessions of Sidewinder Photography. We had a great time bantering back and forth and strutting our stuff, lol. It was all in good fun, though. I did find out that Rusty was one of the judges at the Davis County Fair last year that awarded one of my images with Best of Show, so I give him a big kudos (even if he IS a Canonite!).

Here are some images of me and my booth. In the future I may try some of the bigger shows as well.

Aiden - {Layton Infant Photographer}

2010-07-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to play with little Aiden the other day. Aiden's daddy is stationed at Hill AFB, but is currently serving in Iraq, so this session is especially important.

I just love having little boys in the studio! It always seems like I have so many girls, so having a little boy is a special treat for me. Of course, they don't always see it that way, lol.

Aiden was a little stinker. He had a really tough time settling down. The slightest touch sent him into a fit. I pulled out all the stops with this one, trying to get him to calm down. Nope, he was going to be stubborn! But I'm stubborn, too (no really, ask my family and they will totally agree!). I don't give up easily, and I am hardly ever fazed. After almost 1000 babies, I have come to know all their moods and little quirks. Just par for the course! It also helped that Aiden's grandma was there to help. She was so amazing at relaxing him!

So, with a little work and a lot of determination, we were still able to grab some awesome shots. Not all that we wanted to do, but that is okay. There is always so much I WANT to do, that unless the session lasted all day (yeah, right), there is no way to fit it all in!

So here is a little sneak peek at some of my faves from the session!

Krystal - {Layton Children's Photographer}

2010-06-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

Krystal is one of my very favorite subjects to photograph, and I am not just saying that because she is my niece. She has so much spunk and sass, you can't help but love her! She is an excellent little model, full of smiles, and just loves to pose for the camera:-)

Krystal loves to dance, so her parents signed her up for a dance class (ballet and tap). Her little dance costumes were soooo cute! She's totally rockin' the sequins, but I think she would have been happier if she didn't have to have her hair done.

We did both indoor studio portraits and outdoor portraits. I am not generally a fan of shooting in full daylight with a subject dressed in white. It is very tricky trying to get good exposure. If the shirt is well exposed, it often means the rest of the image is going to be very dark. But if you expose for everything else, the shirt becomes a bright white blob. Not cool. Fortunately, all that time spent doing weddings in Vegas has taught me a trick or two;-)

At one point I had Krystal in front of my beautiful wild rose bush. It is a MASSIVE bush, taller than the house, and loaded with white blossoms. It makes a great backdrop for little girls. So she was standing in front of it, posing cutely, when she looks down and exclaims, "Oh! Ants!" We rush over, and sure enough, she was standing on an ant pile!! She was fine, thank goodness (though I can't say the same for the ants), and we just moved to a different spot. We have such an ant problem in the area. I think the woods and the stream keep them thriving. But fortunately they are not the dreaded fire ants I grew up with in Texas. Nasty things!

So here are some of my faves from the session. Hard to pick just a few faves, because they are all so cute!

Ella - {Utah Children Photography}

2010-06-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about my job is being able to watch the little ones grow. I started working with Ella's family when she was just a tiny newborn. Then we got to play again when she was about six months old. Now she is a little over a year, and she has really grown! She has such beautiful blond hair, and yes, those blue eyes are still just to die for:-)

Ella has recently learned how to walk and RUN - something she did a lot of today, LOL. By the end of the session, I think we were all a little worn out trying to get her to hold still long enough for a good shot. I have been told that Ella is quite the little flirt around the boys. The problem is, I'm not a boy! I really had to work to get those cute smiles. At one point I even asked my son, Cameron, to come help. As soon as she saw him, her face just lit up, and she ran to give him hugs (not sure how Cameron felt about this, but I think he is used to getting used to hugs from the girls, lol).

Whether she has a bright smile on her face, or has a more contemplative look as she smells the flowers, there is no denying that she is one little cutie pie!

Teddy - {Utah Pet Photography}

2010-06-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

Teddy was so easy to work with. He is in his golden years of life, and is blind and deaf now, but he was just so sweet! He was also recently diagnosed with cancer, so his mommy, Teri, wanted some great photos to remember him by. Teri had never had a dog before Teddy, so he has an extra special place in her heart for him. So special, in fact, that she now does Yorkie Rescue.

Being both blind and deaf made it a little tricky at first to get him looking in the right direction. He was not responsive to any hand signals or calls. What to do? HOT DOGS! He may not have great vision or hearing, but his NOSE and TASTE BUDS are in perfect working order:-) He was hooked on them from the first nibble, and was the best little subject, as long as I kept those hot dogs coming!

Here are some of my faves!

This one is my absolute favorite! I think he is so cute with his little puppy!

Sadie - {Utah Pet Photography}

2010-05-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sadie is such a gorgeous kitty! Sadie was a rescue kitty, and is very loved by her new family. Like most cats, she was very curious, and was more interested in checking out my studio than in having her picture taken.

Cats can be a little tricky because their eyes are so light sensitive. Cats look better when their pupils are wide open, but that means turning the lights down low so they open up. But then when the flash pops, they tend to blink. Fortunately, if you have fast lights you can usually catch them before they blink.

Here are a few of my faves. You can check out more on my Facebook Fan Page.

Levi - {Utah Baby Photographer}

2010-04-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

What fun! What joy! I have a new nephew! His name is Levi, and he was born just a few weeks ago. So very cute!

I was almost afraid we would not be able to get him in to the studio to do his infant photos. One thing after another kept coming up, and we had to keep postponing. But, we were finally able to work it out:-)

Levi was a real trooper. And a real pooper, lol. Even before I had taken the first shot he gave his all - to his mom! But don't worry, he saved some for his dad, too;-) I tell all my new parents that there is a 99.9% chance that someone is going to get wet, and I am rarely disappointed!

We got so many great images of Levi. Once he was asleep, it was pretty easy to pose him, and we were able to do a lot of fun things. We also got some great shots with bright eyes wide open. Hard to chose just a few faves to share here, so you get a bunch!

The stocking hat is a new knitted creation by yours truly, as well the the brightly colored crochet blanket. And the cute little suit he is wearing? Made with love by his mommy:-)

Wylie - {Utah Pet Photographer}

2010-03-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Meet Wylie, winner of my January Cutest Pet contest! This pup was ALL energy when he came into the studio. So many smells! But despite all the fun things to explore, he never wanted to be far away from his "mommy", Jen. Yup, he's a momma's boy, through and through!

After a little bit he started to calm down (or maybe it was the hot dog treats!), and we were able to capture some great smiles, and even a wink! Near the end, we decided to show off one of Wylie's tricks, which is a spin in the air! He had a had time of it at first - he just wanted the hot dog, dang it! But then he gave it his all, and this dog could really catch some air!

Very cute little pup, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to photograph him!

Lydia - {Utah Baby Photographer}

2010-03-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to meet Lydia! The last time Matt & Ann were in my studio, Ann was looking so cute with her prefect little baby bump:-) But Lydia arrived in late February, much to everyone's delight! She has TONS of dark hair! And she was so cuddly - she really loved being rocked and held, but did NOT like being nakey, lol. But I keep the studio nice and toasty, and with a full belly full of milk, she soon nodded off and we were able to get some super cute images of her. Thanks Matt & Ann for choosing me as your photographer, and letting me share this time with you!

I love hats!

2010-02-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

Yup, I admit it. I am CRAZY about hats! I have always been a fan of textures. When I was about ten years old, my om taught me how to crochet. Since then I have made several large afghans, and a few other little things. But hats are my favorite:-)

Last year, I got into the Knifty Knitter craze. That was fun, but I was still feeling a little limited in what I could do. Meanwhile, I fell in love with the work of other yarn artists, such as a Heather Bauer and Jennifer Rodriguez. I knew I needed to learn how to knit like a big girl!

Here are some of my KK creations:
And here are some adorable works of art from Heather:

I have always been a little apprehensive about knitting. Those two long pointy needles are kind of scary! And let's face it. I am not very coordinated. But I was determined. So I picked up a kit on how to knit, and learned the basics.I won't lie. It was HARD!!!!! I can't tell you how many times I dropped a stitch, and not knowing how to fix it, I would have to unravel the entire piece. Ugh!! My fingers ached from working at it for hours on end. But I kept going. I would NOT quit!!!

And. . .success!! I did learn the basics (including how to pick up dropped stitches!!), and I finally made this:
I can tell you are TOTALLY impressed:-) Maybe even more so when I tell you that this was entirely my own design. I just kind of started knitting, and let the art happen. Kind of cool, huh?

And what do I use these cute hats for? Photo props! There is nothing cuter than a baby sporting a soft knitted hat, or a diaper cover, or a cocoon, etc. Texture is fun, and adds tons of interest to any image:-)

Right now I am working on a large afghan to use in the studio - lots of bright colors in this one! I can't wait to put a little baby on it:-)

A special shout out goes to Baby Aub (don't ask, my kid named him!), who was such a good sport, even when I put him in the girl hats:-)

Jennifer - {Utah Boudoir Photographer}

2010-02-14T16:53:00.000-08:00

*Warning* - this post shows a lot of skin!!

I just did my very first boudoir session! These sessions are really a lot of fun. I did one last year for Valentine's Day. I gave my husband a crash course in photography, and then we took lots of pictures of me! We both had a blast.

But this was my first time doing this type of session for someone else. As a woman, it can be very empowering, and liberating. We live in a time where there is so much stigma on exactly how a woman should look. We find fault in ourselves. But this is a time to fully embrace who we are. We are women! And every curve is gorgeous!!!

I did family photos of Jennifer some times ago. That was a lot of fun, and her little girl is growing up so fast! And now she is expecting #2!!! BTW, Jennifer, I was picking up some serious "boy" vibes from you;-)

Jennifer's hubby is kind of a cowboy at heart, so we knew we wanted that as one of our themes. I think she pulled off the look remarkably well! We did a lot of other fun stuff, as well! We put on some tunes and just had fun.

Here are some of my favorites from the session!

Matt & Ann - {Utah Maternity Photographer}

2010-02-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

I love being able to do maternity portraits. This is the epitome of being a woman!

Ann had the cutest little baby bump, and she had such a sweet personality. But she and Matt were TALL! Those of you that know me, know how tiny I am. I think these two were both over 6 feet, so I was up on my little step stool for most of the session, lol.

Matt is in the military, so of course I had to incorporate that into the shoot. And their nursery is a jungle theme, so we did some wild animal prints for fun. We will continue those themes when their baby girl arrives. Less than a month to go!

Here are some of my favorites!

Win a Photo Shoot for your pet!!

2010-01-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

Animals are some of my FAVORITE subjects to photograph. Sadly, I feel like I never see enough of them in my studio, yet I am BURSTING with new ideas all the time! So, here is your chance to win a photoshoot AND a photo package of your pet!

Here's how to win:

Just send me an email telling me why your pet is so special to you. It can be something funny, something moving, something completely out of the ordinary - whatever you feel makes your pet unique and special!

What qualifies as a pet? We're not just talking dogs and cats here. ANY animal that you love and is a part of your life qualifies! Maybe you have a bird, or a snake, or a fish. Maybe you have a horse, or a rabbit, or a llama. Fur, feathers, fins, or scales - all are welcome to join in on the fun!

On January 15, 2010, I will pick one lucky winner to receive the prize - a FREE one hour photoshoot AND a photo package (1 8x10 and 8 wallets)!* That doesn't give you very long, so be sure to send in your entry today!!

Send entries to:

sstiles @ sstilesphotography.com (remove the spaces).

I can't wait to hear all the great stories!

*Non-transferable, no cash value

Kindra & Jason, Post wedding session - {Las Vegas Engagement Photographer}

2009-12-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

Remember Kindra and Jason? Yup, they're back! I took them out for a post-wedding engagement session. They had not done any engagement photos before the wedding, and we had so little time to do photos of just the two of them together at the ceremony, this seemed like a great solution!

We went out to the fabulous and gorgeous Lake Las Vegas. If you haven't been there, GO!! I have been there many times for weddings and various photoshoots, and I love it every time I go. It was a little chilly this time, and we lost our light pretty fast, but we were able to do a great series of images, and we had a blast doing it!

Kindra and Jason are a great couple. So cute and in love! Reminds me of my early married life:-) Jason has a super quick wit, and Kindra is just spunky and full of life. They are so great to work with!

Here are a few of my faves. So many good ones! It is always so hard to narrow it down:-)

Kindra & Jason - {Las Vegas Wedding Photographer}

2009-11-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

I have done a lot of work for family members over the years. Years ago I was always the one called on to do cake decorating. It is such a creative outlet, and tons of fun. Unfortunately, my hands started to really ache (Thank you, Mom, for passing on the arthritis gene!), and, quite frankly, I really hated cleaning up the mess, lol.

Nowadays, I am called on for my photographic skills. Kindra has done some photography herself, and has actually assisted me in several other weddings. So it was really quite an honor to be able to photograph her own wedding. And may I say, Jason is AMAZING:-) His quick wit kept us all rolling in the aisle (not literally, of course, unless you count the little kids).

This wedding proved to be a challenge in that I was not allowed to use a flash during the ceremony. Even the the brightest chapels, it can be quite dark for cameras. Thanks to modern technology, very light sensitive cameras are being used by photographers to avoid these difficult situations. I don't have that equipment yet (hey, it's a recession, people - food is more important than toys), so I had to be very creative.

Now, sometimes, even the best photographers make mistakes. I am not the best, so I think that allows me a few extra, but I am not sure. At any rate, my big UH-OH was in not checking ALL of my gear before heading to the wedding. Shortly before the ceremony I realized I needed to change the battery on my camera (it is always a good idea to change to a fresh battery before the ceremony, so you can be sure not to miss any important shots). But alas! No battery was to be found! My extra batteries AND the chargers were sitting in my room, half an hour away. There was no time to go back for them. So I did what any normal person would do. I cried.

Then an angel came, bearing gifts:-) One of the guests, and a good friend of the bride's family, happened to have a full camera set-up, and offered to loan it to me. Hooray! My battery actually lasted the entire ceremony, so I had TWO cameras at my disposal. What a delight! Aside from nearly choking myself to death with two cameras hanging around my neck, it could not have been any better.

The ceremony was beautiful, the reception was tons of fun, and the cake was delicious. Kindra and Jason, congratulations on the beginning of your life together. I truly hope you will always find joy in each other all the days of your life.

And, yes, OF COURSE, there are pictures!

Carson - {Las Vegas Baby Photographer}

2009-11-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

Every baby I photograph is special. Each one unique. They each have their own little personalities, bundled up in just a few pounds of person. And I love every single one of them!

This weekend I had the immense opportunity and pleasure to visit with a dear friend of mine from back in my Chapel days. Vanessa is also a photographer, but she let me come in her home and photograph her brand new baby boy:-)

Carson was a dream. He was heaven. I have NEVER had a baby sleep so incredibly soundly, lol. We were posing him in all sorts of fun ways, and he just slept through the whole thing! I was able to try out a few new ideas, and improve on a few skills. The whole session went beautifully. Vanessa, I hope I was able to teach you a few new tricks about photographing babies! I hope we can get together again soon and play again!

This session went so well, I only have about a GAZILLION favorites, lol. So you all get a special treat - lots of cute baby pictures!!
For those of you wondering, these next two poses, which are hugely popular right now, are ridiculously HARD to pull off. For the first one, we had to somehow get him to prop up on his hands. He stayed fast asleep, but he kept leaning over to the side. For the second, he kept wanting to spin around backwards, lol. It was no easy task getting him to stay in the sling. But patience and persistence pays off!

They had the funnest bedroom I have ever seen. Layers of brightly colored tulle adorned the walls. You can't see it, but the bedskirt was actually several Twister games! It all made a great backdrop for some unique images:-)

Cutest little lips ever!

Fall Colors

2009-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I went with a small group of my photographer friends to Big Cottonwood Canyon. Our goal was to capture some brilliant fall colors. Unfortunately, much of the foliage was still green, but you could see hints that the colors were changing. So Friday evening we headed out again. This time we were not disappointed.

The colors were fantastic! Reds, yellows, oranges, and greens - all the colors fall should be:-) The sun was casting some beautiful golden reflections in the water, and everywhere we looked was a new scene to photograph. We shot until it was too dark, and my battery died.

I learned even more than I did the first time we went out, and I am super thrilled with these images! My favorites are the slow captures of the water. At times I was leaving the shutter open for almost 30 seconds!

Charity Model Search!

2009-10-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sarah Stiles Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Family and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives a new car!

Model Search Special:

$45 entrance fee includes a 30-minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Call 801-635-6884 now to enter your family in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

Ella - {Utah Children's Photographer/Utah Family Photographer}

2009-10-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am OBSESSED with this girl's chubby cheeks! And those BLUE eyes. Seriously, they are to die for:-)

You may remember little Ella's newborn photoshoot. Some of those are still some of my very favorite images:-) Now I have had the immense pleasure to photograph her again! She is now just shy of 8 months, and, as you can see from the pictures, she has the BLUEST eyes, and the CHUBBIEST cheeks:-)

We headed up to Mueller Park Canyon, where the leaves are just starting to turn color. It was a little chilly, but not too bad. I loved that they brought their little dog, Wes, along. He is such a sweet thing, and soooooo soft. He's just the kind of dog you want curled up on your lap on a chilly evening:-)

Ella was not in a very smiley mood, but we still captured some incredible images. She is just an adorable little girl, and I can't wait until her one year portraits!!

Scenes from Big Cottonwood Canyon - Take 1

2009-10-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I went with a few photographer buddies to photograph the fall colors up in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We were a little disappointed that the colors near the base had not quite turned, but further up most of them had turned and dropped already. So I will be heading back there this weekend to try and grab some shots with more color.

We still had a lot of fun, though. It was brrrrrr cold, but we put on a brave face:-) I learned a few new tricks, thanks to Mike K. Always great to learn something new! It was great seeing some color, too. It was something I really missed when I was in Las Vegas. Not really looking forward to the snow, but I guess it will help me appreciate the beauty of the other seasons more.

I had soooo many "favorites", so you just get to see a whole bunch (as if that is anything new!).

Jessica Reshoot - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-10-11T20:03:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while, things just don't go as planed during the shoot. Sometimes the kids come in a little grouchy. Or in this case, they just really HATE the camera. Really. She would be smiley and happy and giggly, then as soon as she caught sight of the camera, she was all tears and total meltdowns. Still, we thought we would give it another try. Kudos to Jessica's mom for making the two hour trip AGAIN! Happily, things turned out much better this time.

Yes, there were still some tears and general leaking of bodily fluids. but half-way into the shoot we discovered she really liked to bang on things. So I got out my new bench (yay!), and let her bang on it to her heart's content. It worked! Happiness and Joy!

Until we got the cake out. You would think she would love being fed a mound of sugar. Nope. Hated it. H-A-T-E-D it. She played with it a little, then took a bitty taste. And the screaming ensued. Go figure. It was CHOCOLATE cake, too. I can only scratch my head in wonder. She did like the container it came in, though. Why? Because she could bang on it, of course!

Jessica - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-09-30T15:17:00.000-07:00

In my profession, I have learned that children are very unpredictable. You never quite know how they will perform in front of a camera.

Some children just give you strange looks, like you are some kind of crazy person (which is probably true, anyway).

Some children would rather NOT have their picture taken.

Or play dress-up.

There are some who simply act silly.

And others are only there for the food.

But in the end, they all come out with a smile.

They do a little happy dance.

And leave with a twinkle in their eye.

Dachshund Puppies! - {Utah and Idaho Pet Photographer}

2009-09-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

I LOVE doing pet portraits! I know that lifetstyle portraits are very popular right now, and I do those, too, but there is something so very fun and unique when I do studio portraits of pets. I have heard some people say that studio portraits of pets are "stiff" and "formal". I find this to be absolutely untrue! I think animals can show their personality no matter where they are:-)

These puppies were incredible. For the most part, we set them into place, I clicked the shutter once, and we were done. I wish all my subjects were that easy! We spent much more time setting up and taking down the sets, lol. Even the group photos were not too bad. The hardest was the group shot of them in the hammock. It was right at the end, and they were all so sleepy, they just wanted to curl up (wouldn't you if you were swinging peacefully in a hammock?). But, we were able to grab the shot, and then we sent them back to momma for a nap.

In case anyone is wondering, yes, these are all younger siblings to my own dachshund, Orion. There are three females (both black and tans are female) and two males, and all are looking for a good home. If you are interested in adopting one of these cuties, please contact me at 801-635-6884 for more info.

The "Sack of Potatoes" shot has become very popular with baby photographers, thanks to Kelley Ryden. I decided to try it with one of the puppies. He LOVED it, and fell fast asleep as soon as I had him wrapped up, lol.

Sweet Little "M" - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-09-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun with my "niece" the other day when she came to the studio. M is a very girly girl, and LOVES princesses, so I knew the pink tutu was going to be a hit! But I think she loved the parasol even more. Seriously, what little girl wouldn't?

M was like any typical two year old. She was happy to play for a few minutes, then was off doing something else. She did get a little camera shy, but she loved my bubbles and fruit snacks:-) Still, her favorite part of the session was playing with the box of toys during her "breaks", lol.

Cameron - (Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-09-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I really cannot believe that my little baby boy is turning FIVE! How did this happen? I still remember that "little" baby I held in my arms. Seems like just a short time ago. But I have enjoyed watching him grow up. He has quite the personality, and his smile and laughter always warm my heart.

For his five year portraits we took him out to Wheeler Farm. I LOVE that place! Everywhere you turn is a new photo op. We tried to keep things very simple and moving quickly. Still, Cameron is the type that makes me work for the shot! Maybe it's just because I am his mom:-)

Cameron loved getting in the old truck, and I loved the pics I got! Of course, that was BEFORE I spotted the GIANT hornets nest hiding right behind his head inside the truck! But Cameron was not being very rambunctious, so the hornets did not seem to be disturbed by his presence. Still, we got out of their pretty fast, lol.

Here are some of my faves:-)

Hudson - {Utah Infant Photographer}

2009-09-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Believe it or not, Hudson was my FIRST infant boy in my studio. I have been doing professional photography for four years now, and while I have photographed baby boys in other studios, I have never had the opportunity to photograph one in my own studio.

Little Hudson was the cutest little guy - so easy to fall in love with. I LOVED all of his facial expressions. I was trying hard at time not to start cracking up, because we were trying to get him to calm down and fall asleep.

Hudson was really a good baby, and slept quite a bit. He still got a little fussy at times, but that is certainly normal. I was able to try out a few new ideas, as well as work in some traditional shots. He was just so good that I felt I could have kept photographing him the rest of the day. But I am sure his mommy and daddy would have been too tired to keep up;-)

Here are a few of my favorites:

I stole this wild fabric from my mom:-) I have just been waiting for a little baby to try it out with. I love it!

Don't you just love that little foot poking out?

My very favorite shot of the day!

La Vie En Rose

2009-08-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

I have been working for some time on a photography course. At the time I started, I really did not know much about photography, except point and shoot:-) I've really learned quite a bit from the course - it is very comprehensive.

So the unit I just finished is on lighting. Lighting is perhaps the most vital aspect of photography - if you do not know how to use it, you will never have decent photos. Photography is all about manipulating light.

For part of the unit, I was asked to do two different images - one with a reflector, and one without. I thought I would post the images here so that others can see the difference. I use reflectors often to help open up shadows and pop some highlights into the eyes. In this case, using the reflector helped open up the shadows on the leaves and petals.

Tommy & Wyatt - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-08-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

I had the immense pleasure of photographing my two nephews this past week. I photographed their little sister, Krystal, a little while back. Like all boys, these two are in to anything that moves - trains, planes, cars, and boats. So we knew there was not better place to do their photos than at Union Station in Ogden. I have been here several times with my boy, Cameron, who also loves it.

I decided I really wanted to go with a themed portrait session. Since we were around the trains, I thought a "hobo" look would be great. Old suitcases, button down shirts, page boy hat. We wanted to make it as authentic as possible, and I really think it payed off!

The boys were awesome! They were great at posing, and even came up with a few ideas of their own. They both had a lot of fun. I had a little trouble, as I am deathly afraid of trains myself, but fortunately I made it through with only one mild panic attack:-P And it payed off, because these are AWESOME portraits!

Davis County Fair

2009-08-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

I decided to enter some of my work in the Davis County Fair this year. Last year I entered one of my images into the State Fair, and I was very disappointed by how it was judged, and by how much it cost just to enter. I decided to try something on a smaller scale this year.

I entered three of my favorite images, which you have undoubtedly seen here if you have been following my blog for any length of time, lol.

The first was a picture of a dragonfly. Dragonflies are my very favorite insect - they've been around since BEFORE the dinosaurs! I love their jewel colors, and their little zippy movements. There are TONS of them all around my house, sometimes in large swarms. It is neat to watch them, and of course, any time they decided to land, I take a picture:-) What I wasn't aware of, was how popular dragonflies are as photography subjects. There were sooo many dragonfly pictures at the fair. Mine won a third place ribbon, which in translation means, "Thank you for entering". It is just a consolation prize, but that is okay.

The second image was of one of the dachshund puppies I did earlier this year. His name is Syrus, and he is actually owned by my brother now. This picture won a first place ribbon, which is really neat! It was such a cute picture, I am glad it won a ribbon. FYI, another litter was just born last week, so I will have more puppies to play with soon!!

The last image was one of my all time favorites of a mother and her baby. The eye contact is fantastic from both of them, and lighting and focus are spot on. For me, it is an incredibly powerful image. I knew when I took the picture last year that I wanted to enter it in contests. This was the first time I entered it in anything, and it won . . .

Best of Show!!!!

It was so cool seeing that big ribbon hanging on one of my own photos, especially one that I love so much. It is just gratifying to see that my hard work and skills have paid off, even just a little bit. And, it encourages me to work even harder, to push myself to new limits.

All three images will soon be displayed in my studio, so if you miss seeing them at the fair, just come on over to check them out!

Utah Peas - Trash the Dress! - {Utah Senior Photography, Utah Teen Photography}

2009-08-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

We had a special meeting this month, so we could meet fellow Pea, Chell, who hails all the way from Phillie! We headed to Saltair for a fun Trash the Dress shoot. We had several other models there as well.

I always have fun working with teens and young adults. Jessica pretty much hammed it up the whole time, so we got lots of pictures, and LOTS of laughs! Her sister came along, so we got some fun sister shots as well. I thought Jessica was very brave to get in the Great Salt Lake. Eww! At least the smell was not near as bad as the last time we visited!

For those of you not familiar with Trash the Dress, this is where dress a model in her wedding or prom dress and take pictures with the intention of getting dirty! Normally, we take very good care of our gowns, but sometimes you want something really different, and really fun. Most of the time, the dresses are not really ruined, they just get a little wet and dirty - nothing a good dry cleaner can't fix.

There were so many great images from this session, I had a hard time narrowing it down to only a few, so you get treated with LOTS today!

Ava - {Utah Baby Photographer}

2009-08-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

Ava was just as cute as can be with her big, dark eyes and all her dark hair. We were so excited to get some amazing images. But Ava had other plans, it seems. She was not at all happy to be in the studio today. Sometimes babies come in that are simply having a bad day. We all have them, right?

Despite her mood, I was still able to grab some gorgeous images with her and her parents.

Funnest Wedding Ever!

2009-07-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

I found this little gem on another photographer's blog, and I just had to share it here. This totally reminds me of some of the crazy, but totally fun, weddings I was a part of in Vegas. Not sure I would do this in an actual church, but I still think it is way fun!

New blog!

2009-07-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

As you have probably noticed, I have made some major changes to the blog. I think the new format will allow others to view the images a little easier, and I think the colors are in keeping with my company brand.

Please tell me what you think!! Post a comment to let me know what you love or hate:-)

Erin - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-07-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I met with all my Utah Peas (a photography group) at Wheeler Farm. For those who have not been to Wheeler Farm, I highly recommend it! It is just a fun fun place to visit. Lots of animals, barns, and fun places to run around and play. it is also a very popular spot for photography!

Our plan was to learn about shooting in bright sunlight. But wouldn't you know, the clouds rolled in and gave us a nice overcast day. Normally, overcast is good for photography, as the light is beautifully diffused like a giant softbox. But it was much harder to teach what I needed with the weather being uncooperative. Still, I think the others learned a lot, and I learned a few new things myself!

We had three fantastic models with us. After the lesson, we broke into groups and photographed the models all over the farm. It was so much fun! I had the lovely Erin, who, believe it or not, is only fifteen. She was a PERFECT model, and had such a natural grace. She was also pretty willing to go along with whatever we wanted, which can be both fun and interesting:-)

Next month we are doing a special get-together at Saltair to meet the fantastic Chell, an out-of-town Pea! But here are a some of my favorites from Saturday. I had a REALLY hard time narrowing it down this time. I told you, she was a fabulous model:-)

Orion & Lily - {Utah Pet Photographer}

2009-07-06T17:30:00.001-07:00

Here is the solid proof that a hunter and its prey can actually become friends! It was challenging to get them together for the photos. They mostly just wanted to run around, lol. But if I got Orion into position, I knew that Lily would soon follow, because she goes everywhere he does:-) It is so cute watching them together.

Lily the Duck - {Utah Pet Photographer}

2009-07-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

I am always in search of fun new subjects to photograph. I found this little orphan duckling while out on a walk with my dog. I brought her home, and i will be raising her until she is old enough to return to the pond.

So far she is doing very well. This is not my first experience raising a duckling, so I am confident that she will thrive.

She is also learning to get along with my dog, Orion. Or should I say, Orion is learning to get along with her! They have taken naps together and seem companionable, although I would never leave the two alone together.

FYI - I am very skilled at working with animals and understand their behavior. DO NOT attempt to introduce your dog to any form of wildlife without first consulting a professional. Also, for the record, ducks do not make good pets. They are cute when they are little, but they grow very quickly. They are quite messy and smelly. Baby ducks must be fed every four hours, morning and night. Yes, it is a lot of work!!

Okay, now I that I am done with disclaimer, on to the pictures!
Do you have an unusual "pet"? You could qualify for a FREE photo session! Send an email to sstiles@sarahstilesphotography.com or call 801-635-6884.

Back in the Day - {Utah Children's Photographer}

2009-07-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

I love getting happy comments about my work. I always get the warm fuzzies when someone tells me what a great job I am doing:-) Maybe because I know I have come a long way, and I know those comments are well earned. I know I am still not the World's Greatest Portrait Photographer, as I aspire to be, but I am doing pretty good, I think.

I thought I would take a walk down memory lane and show some of my very early work. Yeah, i am really putting myself out there for this one. It is okay to laugh, I do it every time I look at these images. He's my own kid, so of course I think he is cute, but the pictures themselves often leave a "What was I thinking?"

Vicki & Jason - {Utah Wedding Photographer}

2009-06-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

I have been working with Vicki and Jason for several months now, and I have really enjoyed every moment, and I hope they have, as well. And I really hope they love the images I have created for them!

V&J were planning to get married right on the Davis Park Golf Course, which had GORGEOUS views of the mountains, cute little copses of trees, and of course, wide green fields. I was sooo excited for this wedding!

But, as fate would have it, it rained! And rained. And rained. Utah had really had a good soaking this spring. I have never seen it rain so much here. I am really not sure who was more disappointed about the rain - me or the bride!

They ended up moving the ceremony in to clubhouse, which had a lovely fireplace at the front. The ceremony was FAST. Now, as a former wedding photographer in Las Vegas, I know a fast wedding, but this left those in the dust, lol. I really had to book it around the room to grab all the shots.

My favorite part of the ceremony was when the little ring bearer and one of the flower girls headed back up the aisle, right as Vicki and her Father were walking down, lol. They held hands and were practically skipping! It was just too cute!

Sometime in the evening the rain stopped and the sun dared showed itself. I was hoping for a rainbow, but it just wasn't coming. However, I was able to take the wedding party out for some nice group photos, and then I took V&J up on the course for some really pretty photos of just the two of them.

I have to give a little kudos to Celeste, another photographer who I was training. It was a crazy wet day for training, but now she knows how to work in bad weather, so if she is blessed to work in good weather, it should be a snap!

Here are some of my favorite images!!

How To Create Sunflare

2009-06-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

By popular demand! I have had a number of people ask me how I got the sunflare effect in the last set of images I posted. Since a fellow Pea was good enough to share this technique with me, then I will happily share it with all of you!

The trick to a fabulous flare is to set you aperture to a very small setting, say f/22. Adjust ISO and Shutter Speed as needed to expose the image properly. The sun should be just peeking behind something - tree, lips, a building, a person, etc. That is all there is too it. Very simple, but very cool. Now go out an try it!

Another Pea Adventure! {Utah Wedding Photographer}

2009-06-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

My Pea friends recently got together to practice some bridal photography. One of the Peas brought her friends Shane and Whitney to be our happy couple:-) They were a great couple! I know it must be so confusing when you have no less than 6 photographers trying to take your picture from all different angles, lol. And they were so willing to play! That's always fun for photographers. Sometimes we just feel inspired, and need to do something a little out of the ordinary:-)

Big kudos to Pea Shantel (I think that was who it was!) for teaching us how to get some fantastic sunflare! I have been trying for ages, never quite getting it right. Once we had it figured out, I just HAD to try my "magic kiss" shot again! And it worked! I am giddy with excitement, LOL.

So here are a few of my faves! And feel free to leave comments! I never get enough of those:-)

Pint Size Cowgirl - {Idaho Children's Photography}

2009-06-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

What is more adorable than a girl and her horse? This is my niece, Krystal, and she LOVES horses. For her birthday this year her parents got her her very own mini saddle! At the tender age of three, she is already quite the little horseman. I think she may even be better than me, lol. Of course for her birthday portraits we had to head to the farm so we could show off her spunky personality and her love of equestrians:-) Here are some of my faves from the session!