Stranded at the Bonneville Salt Flats

I’ve been capturing this family’s photos for a few years now and look forward to getting to see them. When Ashley first contacted me about doing her photos I was so excited! She, herself is a super talented photographer. I was so nervous for our first session, but we knocked it out of the park and have been going strong ever since. I’m so grateful for our friendship!

This last time around She wanted to go to the Bonneville Salt Flats, which are about 2 hours away, so we decided to drive together. I met her at her studio downtown salt lake and hopped in the car with her entire family including her Mother in-law and their chocolate lab. On the drive down we were deep into some pretty good conversation when she realized that she had forgotten to stop for gas.

If you’ve ever driven from Salt Lake to Wendover, you know that there is NOTHING once you pass Grantsville Which is nearly 100 miles (96.3 to be exact) to the next gas station. We had already gone too far to turn back and were chasing the sun, so we decided to just keep driving as far as the car would take us. We finally sputtered off the side of the road about 15 minutes from our destination, and had to shoot where we’d landed.

Luckily it was still very pretty, but there was also 50MPH cross winds. We managed to get these beautiful images despite our hair and clothing flying everywhere, whipping in the currents. Once the sun went down, it was time to figure out how we were going to get home. We had called triple A before we got started shooting, but there was an issue and they never ended up coming. Someone happened to pull over close-by to take a photo of the gorgeous sunset, so Zack asked him for a ride to the nearest gas station. He would then have to hitch another ride back to where we were stranded with a giant gas can full of fuel in tow.

While we waited for him to return, it was starting to get cold and the and hunger kicked in. So Ashley turned on a movie to cut the chill and keep the kiddos distracted from their rumbling tummies. When we finally spotted Zack darting across the highway, unsure how much time had passed the car shut off. Did we kill the battery!?! and just before our rescue?

We put the gas in the car and by some miracle got the car to start. We made our way to Wendover to fill the tank and our bellies. I finally made it home around midnight, happy to see my sweet babies snug in their beds and calm my anxious husband as my phone had died right after telling him we were stuck on the side of the road. I love my adventures with Ashley, I hope they don’t end anytime soon! Do you have any funny stoies about your family photos? If so, I’d love to hear them! please share in the comments below.

What to Expect When Booking a Birth Story

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You’re entertaining the idea of documenting the birth of your child. This is such a momentous time in your life and is literally the beginning of a brand new life, it most definitely an occasion deserving preservation! Birth stories are some of my very favorite things to capture, every one is a uniquely beautiful and indescribable experience.

No matter how you felt through out your labor and delivery, Imagine re-living only the best parts! That flood of emotion after seeing your baby’s face for the first time, taking you back to the feeling of their delicate newborn skin upon yours. The sound of their sonorous cry as they take those initial breaths.

Sounds amazing! But there are so many variables and every pregnancy and occasion is different. Even planned inductions can be wildly unpredictable! knowing what to expect is nearly impossible, but luckily I can give you an idea of what to expect from me as your photographer/ videographer.

We will set up a consultation either in person or on the phone to make sure we’re on the same page, and answer any questions you have. Even though it’s often irrelevant in this field, I like to get some insight in hopes that it’s helpful in my preparation. Things like is this your first child, if not, how were your previous deliveries. Do you have a birth plan, are you wanting to go unmedicated or will you be getting an epidural? Are there any special circumstances , or family concerns that I should be aware of. Who will be in the delivery room and what is your vision for how the day will unfold. Will you be wanting a follow up or fresh 48 session for your older children to be there or will they be present during the delivery

I normally try to play an observant role in my documentation, but if I see something that I think you would love I might stage a few things to aid in the storytelling. I am not one to be up in your business at that moment of truth, but I’m not opposed to getting in there. If you’re wanting something a bit more raw, I’m not afraid of delivering that (no pun intended) I’ve seen my fair share of tits and jay, and I’m unfazed. At this point I’m almost as comfortable with it as your nurses, and OB. To me It ain’t no thing, it’s just part of my job and I would not share any of it without your consent!

I will be on call 24/7 for the weeks surrounding your due date. We will want to be in contact about your progress and you care providers thoughts on how things are going. If you go into early labor I will do everything in my power to be there. I also have backup photo/videographers that I can call on if I am unable to get there. You will want to inform me as soon as possible once it’s go time. When you are in active labor and at least half way dilated, I will head over and capture the unfolding of this magnificent life event! I normally stay and shoot for another 30 minutes after baby arrives.

Post processing can last 4-6 weeks as finding the perfect song for a film can be time consuming. I will send you some sneak peeks to tide you over until then, and your photo gallery will be delivered within 3 weeks. You will receive a downloadable link to your song length film (3-6 minutes) and around 100+ images with basic edits delivered in a private online gallery. Be sure to save the files in a couple different places for safe keeping.

If you’re wanting a tangible keepsake, I do offer professional printing services. Although you are free to use the service of your choosing print, canvas and album orders through me come with hand retouching and color match calibration with my printers to ensure the best possible quality. This is such a tremendous occasion and I am absolutely delighted, and obsessively grateful to be trusted with capturing it for you!

Anything For You / A Snowy Utah Session

You know those times when watching it snow seems so magical. When jumbo sized flakes beautifully drift to the ground all around you, like glittering confetti falling from the sky? This was actually not one of those times.

Sue and I had actually planned to do her family photos in the fall of last year, but things got changed around and postponed a couple times. By the time our session date rolled around (again) she was very prepared to get it done even though there was the chance of a winter storm.

I actually enjoy shooting in diverse conditions. I love how it amplifies the mood of the images and it’s just fun to step out of the norm. But we didn’t expect it to be quite so stormy! When we got started it was snowing quite a bit and the clouds were very thick, but within no time it was a full on whiteout! We decided that we would just be as quick as possible

It was to the point where we weren’t sure if we should continue, when I hear little 4 year old Carter say “ I would do anything for a family picture” it warmed my heart so much that I almost didn’t feel sting of the cold on my skin while we braved the rest of our session. Even though we were being pelted in the face with ice crystals that were soaking us to the bone.

I love how their photos turned out and had so much fun playing in the snowstorm with this sweet family that I’ve gotten to know over the last few years! Obviously Carter has such a sweet demeanor and huge heart. I will continually be jealous of Zoey’s gorgeous coiled ringlets and just look at that angelic face. Hunter is such a big brother and was was pep talking his younger siblings while trying to keep them warm and dry the whole time. It was really touching to see their connection and love for each other! I am so appreciative that they chose me to be their photographer and braved this blustery adventure with me.

Preparing For Your Session

Yay, you’ve decided to shoot with me! What now?

Let’s start by setting clear expectations on exactly what we’re wanting to achieve with this session. First I will have you tell me a bit about yourself and your family. Names, ages, personalities and current interests. If I don’t know you already, I like to know who I am working with, it helps me prepare prompts that we will use to achieve sincere and candid images throughout our shoot.

Then, we will decide upon a location that’s fitting for the vibe of your personalized session. Depending on the season, and the sentiment that we’re going for, this could be in the comfort of your home, the magnificence of the mountain range, the golden glow of an open field or even the bustle of a cityscape. There are so many great options!

The last and most important part is to get into the right mindset. From trying not to get too caught up in what to wear or the need for your children to hold still and smile perfectly while looking into the camera. Although we will attempt to get at least one of those, that isn’t going to be our focus. Do set clear expectations with your family, let them know what you want from them. Tell them how meaningful these photos will be to you and let them know that it’s only a short period of time.

To simplify they styling process i’ve teamed up with https://styleandselect.com/ to help you decide on a color scheme, and outfit for everyone in the family. You can read more about that here .

Although I love a good Pinterest board for inspiration, I love having some images to be sure that we’ve got the vibe right… but we aren’t trying to re-create anything here. The goal is really to compose a visual representation of the relationships that you cherish the most. The love you share for each other and all the little details of your now. What are the things you most want to remember when you look back o n these photos. The dimples in their tiny hands, the scrunches in their nose when they grin…

From the moment we schedule our session I want you to begin visualizing that you’ve easily found the perfect outfits for everyone. Something that shows each of your personalities, and makes you feel confident and comfortable. Imagine everything going smoothly, you’re having a perfect hair day and the husband and kids are excited to spend some family time together.
If it just so happens that things don’t go as planned and you feel like you’re at a loss for what to wear, it’s ok!
Life can be messy, and so can your photos! Embrace it. When you look back in 10 years, you might realize that those were some of your favorite images! Not because they were perfectly planned out, but because they were true to where you were at that time in your life.

The words Family picture day don’t need to be associated with stress and anxiety! I have so many stories from clients about all of the things that have gone wrong while getting ready for pictures. Things from spills on the clothes they were supposed to wear to getting burned with the curling iron just as they were about to walk out the door. The tension usually runs high as mom is screaming to get your shoes on and make sure that everyone looks (and acts) their best. Or maybe that’s just me? The thing is that doesn’t need to be our expectation, nor should it be.

I understand that you’re investing in these photos and you really want them to look great, but I wan to put you at ease. You session should be something to look forward to! Take a few days to appreciate all the sweet memories that you’ve made with each person in your family and encourage them to do the same. Ask them what their favorite moments together were and the things they enjoy doing with you. The emotion of these thoughts are what we want to portray in your photos. Relax and enjoy each others company!
I can’t wait to capture it for you

Vineyard Utah Family Photos / The Parsons

This session was one of my very favorites, it was my first time shooting at this location on Vineyard Beach. I actually didn’t even know that there was such a place as Vineyard Utah. I was a little nervous to shoot at a new location, but also excited because I knew that it would stretch my creativity.

The sky was overcast and the ground was wet, but by the time we pulled up, the sun had broken through the clouds. It felt good in the crisp clean air and I was delighted to meet this family! I’d come across Miranda on Instagram, she makes the cutest house beds (That you can find here) and I was looking into getting one for Collins. In a surreal demonstration of the law of attraction, she just happened to also be looking for a photographer and sent me a DM.
It’s so great to have this community at our fingertips that makes it so simple to connect!

Luca’s was the first little face I saw, as he came around the corner of the car. He had the sweetest little grin. Followed by his Dad Ryan chasing after him and Miranda got little Jett out of his car seat. She had thought ahead and waited until they got to our location to get him dressed, she was fully aware that babies like to spit up all over right before picture time! Before we got started, Miranda informed me that he has a neurogenic condition called angelman syndrome (AS) and was worried that he might not be too cooperative. I tried to reassure her that I was just going to focus on the love between them, and that doesn’t require too much on his part.

We walked down the stairway into a perfect scene, it was so beautiful. The blue sky was peaking through the clouds and the water was glowing. These little boys were adorable and so well behaved! It was making my heart swell to see the biggest smile on Jett’s face almost the entire time. He was just beaming! And little Luca had so much fun running around in the mud. I knew with every click of the shutter, we were capturing this sweet phase in their lives and I felt so much appreciation to get to be the one preserving it for them!

For more information on AS or to donate towards finding a cure you can visit
CUREANGELMAN.ORG

If you loved this session as much as I did, please comment down below, or hit subscribe to keep up to date with my recent work. I am obsessively grateful for your support! Thank you
XOXO-ShaiLynn