Lenni Stratton Photography

maddie. again.

2011-11-03T21:24:00.000-06:00

I will never tire of photographing this beautiful girl. Though she is very quickly ceasing to be a beautiful girl, and becoming a truly gorgeous woman.

So here she is (again), because every so often my sister and I decide to do a random photo shoot.

Maddie.

Saundra & Dave

2011-10-23T15:41:00.000-06:00

On Friday I had the opportunity to get out in the open air East of Logan, Utah and shoot a beautiful, intimate wedding ceremony on the shores of Tony Grove Lake.

The bride & groom literally took the plunge, rappelling off a 100 foot cliff before joining their families lakeside to exchange their vows.

I'm still sorting through all the images, but here is a quick detail shot for you all! Their wedding bands were engraved with the Spanish word "siempre" meaning "always."

my baby sister {bridals}

2011-08-20T16:00:00.002-06:00

My beautiful sister is getting married today.

a preview for britt

2011-07-18T14:08:00.000-06:00

preview {abbie & scott}

2011-05-11T22:00:00.000-06:00

My beautiful sister and her fiance. More to come!!

zion national park {landscapes}

2011-05-11T21:33:00.000-06:00

We made our annual trip to Zion National Park this year in March this year, and I was able to get a few slightly different views of the park. Turns out, fog and snow in Zion are just as gorgeous as the bright sunshine and deep greens of summer.

a christmas engagement

2011-01-16T10:46:00.001-07:00

This Christmas Eve was an eventful one for us. It heralded a new addition to our family, and lots of exciting plans for the year to come. Remember Abbie & Scott from just one post ago? Well, they are finally tying the knot! Believe me, I've been waiting for this announcement for a while now, and I'm so happy for my sister and her fiancé. Theirs is going to be one awesome wedding!

So, I'll let the photos of the proposal speak for themselves. (p.s. she was totally shocked--in a good way!--and by far not the only one in the room crying!)

Congratulations, dear sister, and welcome to the family Scott!. Well, officially anyway. You've been a part of our fam for a while now! ;)

christmas portraits {abbie, scott & doobie}

2010-12-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

So, my sister finally let me take photos of her with her boyfriend. Guess that's what getting a new "baby" right before Christmas will do for you, right? ;) She was very specific about them not being too "engagements-like"--how did I do??

So, meet little Doobie Brothers, the cutest little puppy-nephew we could ask for! (And he was quite cooperative too!)

And Abbie & Scott, with their new little baby boy:

christmas special!

2010-11-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

If you're family is anything like mine, this time of year is the perfect time for portraits.

Every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas, my family all gets together to have their photo taken. Some of them grumble about it, but mostly they accept that it's a necessary part of family life. ;)

So, in honor of this family tradition, I'm offering:

A Christmas Special!

$150 portrait session

(that's 25% off!)

includes an hour and a half of shooting time in the location of your choice

online viewing and ordering of your photos for three months

1 11x14 mounted print of your choice

Email me for more details, or to book your session today! You can also call me at (801) 215-9704.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

xoxo, Lenni

And, just so you're not left without a photo... here is one more of me and my lovely hubby from our fall portraits!

cold weather, warm hearts {cassie & mario}

2010-11-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

Though I didn't get to spend much time with this couple (I only met them the day of this shoot), it was completely evident from first look that these two are crazy about each other.

We braved the freezing winds of Saltair for this shoot, though I think Cassie took the brunt of it. While she bared her arms in her beautiful lace gown, I was tasked with wearing her hoodie and wool coat, on top of my own jacket. The things we do for clients... At least I was able to keep it a bit warm for her to wear between shots!

Congratulation, Cassie and Mario!

Thank you, as always, to Jacque Lynn, for letting me tag along.

jacque's pink chair

2010-11-15T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Pink Chair has been through a lot in the last little while.

Found on KSL, purchased especially for photo shoots (mine, to be exact... but you can't see those photos on the web), it's made the trek out to Saltair a fair few times in the short while it's been in Jacque's possession, and I daresay it will again.

So, here is a short ode to the Pink Chair. It's a pretty awesome chair, no lie.

senior portraits {maddie}

2010-11-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

crystal child {maddie}

2010-11-11T20:16:00.001-07:00

I cannot hardly believe that my baby sister is a senior. Some days I feel like she should be seven years old again. But I wouldn't trade this young woman for any seven year old! She is one of my very best friends, and has grown into one of the most beautiful (inside and out) women that I know.

There are many more from this session to come, but I wanted to share just these few with you tonight.

commemorating fall 2010

2010-11-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken by the lovely Jacque Lynn. I absolutely adore this girl! Richard and I wanted fall portraits, and so the three of us ventured up the canyon and got some amazing shots. I just had to share this one. Isn't my hubby adorable??

millcreek, up close

2010-10-23T13:07:00.001-06:00

My dear friend, Jessica Montana, and I headed up Millcreek Canyon last week to take in the fall beauty and see what we could create. I do love me some detail shots. Here is how I saw Millcreek, that day: up close and personal.

blog action day 2010

2010-10-15T13:41:00.001-06:00

Today is Blog Action Day 2010.

(You might remember my post from Blog Action Day 2009.)

The theme of Blog Action Day for 2010 is simple: WATER

Water is such an integral part of our everyday lives. It plays a part in so many things during an average day, and some days mean more water than others. But can you imagine a day without water? Can you imagine not having access to clean water to drink? To bathe in? To wash your hands? To flush your toilet? As Americans, most of us cannot. We live comfortably in our fully-plumbed homes, we turn on the water when we need it, we (hopefully) turn it off when we don't.

But what if we couldn't?

There are millions of people around the world with no access to clean water, if they have access to water at all. Their water doesn't just look gross (would you drink brown water? green water?), it is actually poisonous. Their water can kill.

Do you ever worry that your water might kill you?

Probably not. These people, and their children, have to consider that reality every day.

When I heard what the topic of Blog Action Day 2010 was going to be, it got me thinking about how easy water is for us. And about how much we use each and every day. So I visited h20conserve.org to find out.

My conclusions: I use too much water. Way too much water.

Luckily, they were helpful enough to provide me with some tips to conserve. My to-do list:

Want to find out how much water you use? Check out the handy calculator here. And be prepared. Do you use as much water as I do?

I am very grateful that water is such a plentiful resource for me. But I have to recognize that just because it is easy for me to get and use water, does not mean that I can disregard those who have to go without it, or who have to struggle every day to find it, and clean it, before they can drink it or use it in any way (would you bathe in poisoned water?).

There is something we can do. Visit Water.org (I'm going to) and donate $25 to provide clean water for life for one person. Just $25. That's a new top, or dinner out. It's a trip to the movies, or a week worth of Starbucks. Is it really that hard? Will you even notice that $25 in the long run? No. But those who benefit from water.org's life-saving help will notice.

Believe me, they'll notice.

blog action day 10/15/10

2010-09-30T11:53:00.000-06:00

Join the cause!

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

downpour {hilary & jayson}

2010-08-28T20:46:00.002-06:00

They say rain on your wedding day is good luck.

If that old adage is true (and I have reason to believe it is), Hilary and Jayson will never lack for luck in their lives!

The forecast called for scattered thunderstorms. Well, those "scattered" storms were centered over Ogden, Utah yesterday! But despite the rain (and perhaps because of it) Hilary and Jayson's day was a day packed with love, laughter, happiness and hope for the future.

Congratulations, Hilary & Jayson. I love you both!

My cute cousin, Taylor. Sorry girls, he's taken.

I LOVE how this photo turned out. I'll admit, it was an accident. ;)

And check out this ring shot!

Yes, these votives are full of water!

This is what the sky looked like when the rain finally stopped.

Family & Friends: log in here to view the complete wedding.

simply more {kimber}

2010-08-16T20:18:00.001-06:00

Special thanks to Jacque Lynn Photography; I learn so much each time you let me tag along!

simple beauty {kimber}

2010-08-13T22:51:00.000-06:00

So excited about how Kimber's bridals are turning out! Here's a quick preview, probably my favorite from the session (and that's saying something!).

Thank you, as always, to Jacque Lynn Photography for letting me tag along... again!

all smiles {debbie}

2010-07-23T22:56:00.001-06:00

Debbie and I met in a college photography class. Fitting, right?

We'd never even seen each other before that first day in class, but within a couple of weeks our fellow burgeoning photographers were asking us which high school we'd gone to together; were we cousins; did we live next door to each other as children?

We clicked right from the start, and we've been friends ever since.

Highlights of that semester together include entertaining the other students by singing songs specifically to get them stuck in each others' heads--I think Debbie ultimately won that war--and just generally letting the dark room chemicals get to us in ways that made Allan laugh and shake his head at us.

We had far too much fun in that class.

That class was one of the first steps I took on the way to discovering myself as a photographer. And ever since I embarked on this adventure, Debbie and I have said we should do a photo shoot together.

We finally got that chance today.

Debbie is just one of those people. You know, the kind of person you just have to like. The kind of person it's impossible not to be happy around. Her smile is infectious; her laugh even more so. And she is doing both constantly.

If Debbie isn't smiling, worry.

In fact, I don't know that I've ever seen her hold a straight face for longer than a few seconds.

She just loves life that much.

So, Debbie: thank you for being the beautiful person you are. Thank you for bringing your zest and enthusiasm for life into my life. The world has too few people with your level of genuine joy in the little things, and the world is so much a better place for having you.

Much, much love to you, and thank you for letting me capture that gorgeous smile in these photos.

(disclaimer: There are a lot of photos here. I know I should have narrowed it down more than this... so sue me.)

To see all the photos from this shoot, click here.

summer afternoons {jeremy & ashlynn}

2010-07-22T22:17:00.000-06:00

Another shoot with the lovely Jacque Lynn.

fresh mountain air {mcgee family}

2010-07-21T22:42:00.002-06:00

Last weekend, The Hubs and I took a quick trip up past Kamas to Christmas Meadows so I could meet up with the McGee family. They were having a bit of a family reunion, and wanted portraits to document the occasion.

Be sure to check out the photos of our trip to Lily Lake this same day.

classic elegance {katelyn}

2010-07-21T22:15:00.001-06:00

A million thanks, as always, go out to Jacque Lynn Photography for letting me tag along on this shoot.

new gallery {prints for sale}

2010-07-21T18:51:00.003-06:00

I've decided to offer prints of some of my photos from some recent trips of mine for sale.

Boca Raton, Florida

Zion National Park

Lily Lake, Uintah Mountains

See anything you like? Visit my store or shoot me an email.

And, because every post is better with a photo, here is one of my baby boy!

p.s. You can't have this one as a print. He's mine! ;o)

day trip {lily lake}

2010-07-18T21:41:00.001-06:00

Richard and I had the opportunity to head up into the mountains today for some fresh air. I had a photo shoot up at Christmas Meadows in the morning, and it seemed like a perfect chance to get our of the S.L.C. for a few hours. We have our friends' puppy, Zoe, this weekend, so we packed both dogs into the car and headed up towards the Uintah's.

Richard loves to fish, so we did a bit of off-roading in our Jeep and settled ourselves next to gorgeous Lily Lake. I put my camera to good use, and worked on capturing some of the breathtaking, untouched beauty surrounding us.

These are only a sample of what I captured.

on the wedding day {cassie's bridals}

2010-07-16T18:00:00.002-06:00

I couldn't really post these before, but right now Harrison is FAR too busy being nervous and excited about his wedding day to peek at these!

Isn't she beautiful? Right now we're getting ready to send her off down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams.

Good luck in life and much love to you, my dears.

Congratulations, Cassie & Harrison.

(I had a lot of fun with textures on these ones. A little more post-processed than my normal style, but I was having fun. Enjoy!)

shoot the moon {an experiment}

2010-07-04T10:02:00.002-06:00

As you might be able to tell, from the frequency of posts over the last day or so, I'm getting caught up on my editing. :) Lucky you, right?

A few weeks ago, I went with Jessica from Jessica Montana Photography up into the mountains to try our hand at full moon photography. Photographing an extremely bright full moon on a semi-cloudy night presented us with some unique challenges, but I think we were able to make some pretty cool images.

Plus, we weren't eaten by werewolves, so I'd call that a success. ;)

And since we were up there, we played around with the city lights a bit.

Zion National Park {vistas}

2010-07-03T17:42:00.001-06:00

Zion National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the opportunity to visit. In fact, "beautiful" does not begin to cover it. It is truly breathtaking. Photos cannot begin to capture the stunning vistas found at every turn, around every bend, from every point. I cannot wait to go back.

Here's my own paltry attempt to capture the beauty and grandeur that is Zion National Park.

for information on purchasing prints of any of these images, please contact lenni@lennistrattonphotography.com

Zion National Park {family}

2010-07-03T17:32:00.000-06:00

One of a couple of posts from our Zion National Park Trip in June. We had so much fun, even though it was windy and HOT. I absolutely love it down there; my dream is to retire to Springdale and run a bike rental shop or something. Ahh, heaven. :)

Enjoy!

Zion National Park {a preview}

2010-06-22T07:35:00.001-06:00

Many more photos to come from this trip, but wanted to quickly share one with you: a shot from The Narrows, Zion National Park's famous slot canyons.

because sometimes we all need a little texture

2010-06-14T13:15:00.000-06:00

Not my usual style, but was playing with Photoshop a bit this afternoon. What do you think?

xoxo
Lenni

just one {matt & emily}

2010-05-25T08:43:00.000-06:00

Just one this morning, from a gorgeous wedding I shot with Jacque Lynn Photography last week.

nature shots {capitol reef national park}

2010-05-23T09:26:00.002-06:00

Though it means a pound or so of extra weight, I love bringing my camera with me on our hiking trips. My husband and I recently took a quick trip to Capitol Reef National Park, near Torrey, Utah with some friends, mostly just to get out of the "big city" for a little while, and as a warm-up act to our weeklong trip to Zion planned in June (stay tuned for photos of THAT trip!), and this is a little bit of what we saw.

For information on ordering prints of any of these images, please email me.

go team! {walk ms slc}

2010-04-29T13:42:00.000-06:00

I received this email yesterday from the National MS Society:

Dear Lenni,

Together with the support of a record-breaking turnout of over 4,500 people we turned downtown Salt Lake City into the movement for a world free of Multiple Sclerosis. So far - and we're still processing donations - we've raised over $240,000 putting us on track to meet our Salt Lake fundraising goal. That's no small feat!

So give yourselves a big round of applause and know that thanks to all of you who walked, raised funds, volunteered, donated and cheered us on - Walk MS 2010: Salt Lake City presented by Questar was a great success!

We are continuing to work towards our statewide goal of $415,000 with Walk MS Events coming up in Cedar City (May 1) and Vernal (May 8), so please spread the positive energy from this past weekend to friends and family in these areas to help us continue the momentum. We look forward to sharing final results, more good news, updates and photos over the next few weeks, so please stay tuned! In the meantime, please check out the many amazing photos on flickr.com.

From all of us here at the National MS Society, Utah State Chapter - We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

- Your Walk MS Team

Thank you to everyone who participated, and everyone who came to walk with us. Big plans in the works for next year, so stay tuned!

Remember, you can still donate through June 9, it's not too late!

photo courtesy of the National MS Society. My photos of our team to come soon! I promise!

-xoxo-

utah engagements {cassie & harrison}

2010-04-28T08:20:00.000-06:00

More of my cute friends, Cassie & Harrison. They'll tie the knot in July. Their engagement session a couple weeks ago was so fun. And we didn't even feel the earthquake... haha. :)

Special thanks to Jacque Lynn Photography for letting me tag along. Again. :) xoxo

join the cause! {walk ms slc}

2010-04-19T17:28:00.003-06:00

Hello internets world!!

As you may or may not be aware, my husband and I have created a team for the National MS Society's Walk MS SLC event this Saturday, April 24 at the Gateway Mall. The purpose of the team is to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis, and to ultimately get us that much closer to better treatments and a cure.

We would love for you to join us!

There are a couple of ways that you can help. Any donation, no matter how small (or how big!), be it time or money, will be accepted. Our team goal is hefty at $10k, but every little bit helps and even if we only raise $50 this year we'll have made a difference. And we'll have a goal to top next year! Donating is really easy! Just click here to make a secure donation in our name. all donations are being made in the name of The Ride Project.

We would also love it if you would join our team and walk with us on April 24. The walk is a 3-mile loop that will begin and end at the Gateway Mall in downtown SLC. It is leisurely, no racing involved, and is a great way to get involved with the MS Society, support a great cause, and meet some amazing people. If you'd like to join team theRIDEproject, all you have to do is click on the link below and fill out a couple of items. It's easy!

Click HERE to join team theRIDEproject!

Thanks much, guys!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions! :)

*********

Event info (from the Walk MS event website)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Gateway Shopping Center, Grand Hall
90 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT

The Gateway is the only open-air contemporary destination for shopping, dining and entertainment. Visit the beautifully restored 1908 Union Pacific Depot and the Olympic Legacy Plaza featuring the "dancing waters" of the Olympic Snowflake Fountain that is overlooked by a classic clock tower.

Walkers will meet at the Grand Hall for check-in, then move to the Olympic Legacy Plaza area for pre-walk festivities to include: continental breakfast, Kids Zone, Mission Tent, Team and Sponsor Tables and more followed with a short program.

From there we will kick-off Walk MS: Salt Lake City where the route heads north. Snacks, festivities, and bathrooms are available at rest stops along the route. We will end Walk MS to the cheers of supporters and a huge "Thank You”!

Timeline
8:00am: Check-in Begins
8:00 - 9:45am: Continental Breakfast & Festivities
9:45am: Program Begins
10:00am: Walk MS Starts
Walk lengeth approximately 3 miles

changing camps {cassie & harrison}

2010-04-15T20:51:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm switching from Team Edward to Team Jacob here...

I shot with an extra camera of Jacque's tonight, and I think I'm in love. Honestly. I knew I had to choose between them before I bought another camera body, but I didn't think I'd be swayed quite so easily. But I was. So it's official. I'm a Canon girl. Uh oh... :o)

Here's just one from Cassie & Harrison's e-session this evening. What do you think? Can you see a difference??

spring shooting {a & n}

2010-04-10T19:30:00.000-06:00

I am so lucky to get to shoot with such a great photographer. Thanks, Jacque, for everything you teach me and for letting me tag along on fabulous shoots like this morning's. Isn't Ashley stunning?

I just love how this one turned out and had to share it.

easter cutie {little m}

2010-04-05T19:44:00.002-06:00

I got the chance yesterday to photograph this little cutie while she collected Easter eggs.

Isn't she just the most adorable little girl ever?? Thanks, Christa and Tom, for letting me capture this little beauty on camera!

She heard the neighbor's dog barking, and thought it was her puppy. "Ted??" lol.

drenched {florida}

2010-04-04T13:56:00.002-06:00

I had the opportunity at the beginning of March to spend some time in South Florida. I didn't get much time to enjoy the scenery (was working most of the time) but I spent my last morning there exploring the hotel courtyard in the rain. Florida rain is so much different than Utah rain, and I loved it. Everything was drenched, both in water and color, and I was able to capture a few very cool images before heading off for the day.

Enjoy!

All photos in this post are available for purchase. Contact Lenni here for ordering information.

abstract wishes

2010-03-24T16:50:00.000-06:00

Just a quick photo today, something a little abstract (no pun intended, if you know who is featured in this photo). This is what I am ready for! Sunshine, water, sunglasses, tank tops... yes! Bring on spring, bring on summer. I am ready for WARM.

silver lining {unframed photographs}

2010-03-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

This morning our car broke down. Overheated. Stupid car.

While walking out of the building where my husband's office just moved, after having picked him up from the broken car in a car that works and taking him there, I stopped for just a moment. Enduring the looks from the woman clearing out the trash cans in the parking lot, I used my trusty little phone to snap this photo. Little Cottonwood Canyon was being dumped on with snow, but Big Cottonwood (pictured) and where I was standing were enjoying a beautiful Spring morning. It was even relatively warm.

So that's my silver lining. The car broke down, but if it hadn't I would never have gotten to take in the beautiful sight looking out over the Cottonwood Canyons.

There's always a silver lining. You just have to look for it, and be ready to see it.

Happy Wednesday.

textures {dante}

2010-03-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

Today I've experimented a little with textures.

Honestly, though I can definitely appreciate them and they can be a lot of fun, I'm not sure how much I'll really use them. I just think that I'm a much bigger fan of the SOOC look. Don't get me wrong, I could definitely have some fun with textures (and probably will), but don't expect there to be one of these in every shoot I do. I'm just not that kind of girl.

But what do you think?

If you remember, this is one of the photos from a shoot with Jacque Lynn Photography back in January. Thanks, Jacque!

last week's photo {unframed photographs}

2010-02-25T08:15:00.001-07:00

Last week's photo is a bit late, I know. In fact, I'll be posting this week's photo tonight or tomorrow. But I took it last week, and that's what counts, right?

My sister moved into a new little house last week, and we "helped." I say "helped" in such a way because I was slightly incapable. Couldn't lift much, due to an injury sustained during my attempt to learn how to snowboard. Lovely, right? Anyway, everything was packed up at her old house and we headed over to the new one. First off we need a tour, right? The before-everything-if-moved-in let's-check-the-place-out tour. You know.

It's cute. Small, and very retro, but cute. Some very cool rafter-like elements on the living room and front bedroom ceilings (stained woodgrain, juxtaposed with the white ceilings), a built-in vanity in one of the bedrooms, and a bathtub (which their last home lacked).

My favorite part though? Cue the photo.

more archived footage {abigail}

2010-02-12T18:00:00.001-07:00

new plan {unframed photographs}

2010-02-11T18:00:00.001-07:00

Alright, Internet World. The 52 weeks of photos thing isn't really working. I'm four weeks behind. :(

So I've decided to revamp it a little. I'm so not about setting myself up for failure, but if you think this counts as cheating I probably disagree. Instead of set themes every week, I'm going to let loose a little bit. Each week there will be a photo, but the photo will not have to conform to a pre-set theme. That's much too structured for me, apparently. Each week's photo is going to be something that strikes me, for some reason or another, and something I want to share with the world, oh Internet World.

(quick note: I'm not going to promise great quality with these photographs. More often than not, they'll probably be snapped with my camera phone. But, the best camera is the one that's with you so you'll just need to bear with me!)

To start us out on this newly-revised project, here is photo number uno: Determination.

It was snowing rather a lot this morning, and so I assumed that conditions would decidedly unfavorable for my now-daily lunchtime jog. Spent most of the morning telling myself I wasn't going, but I'd make up for it. Even started to eat my tuna sandwich before noticing that it was no longer snowing, in fact almost sunny, out in those great outdoors. (It should be mentioned that my desk has no view of the outside world.) So I went for it. And I'm glad I did! I feel much better about my day when I've gotten a quick run in, and today was no different.

Walking up to the corner where I start my run (always have to walk to a corner. preferably one with a stop sign. Thanks, girls high school track!), I noticed something. A short patch of snow covering the sidewalk, criss-crossed and tracked through with dozens of footprints. And in that second of glancing at that patch of snow, I felt like it symbolized my run for the day. Heading out into the day, regardless of a little bit of snow. I added my footprints to the lot, and snapped this photo with my phone.

a splash of color {jacque lynn photography}

2010-02-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

Remember how I love the detail shots? :) Here are a few from a wedding I shot with Jacque Lynn Photography a few weeks ago. This wedding was full of fabulous details, bright pops of color, and plenty of smiles! Jacque risked her life a couple of times to get her usual perfect shots, and I, of course, learned a ton from her like I always do!

Thanks, Jacque!

from the archives {abbie}

2010-02-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

new layout {ls photography}

2010-02-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's just time for a change.

After going back and forth with layouts, playing with code, messing with header images, this is what I've come up with.

So what do you think???

high drama {jessica montana}

2010-01-27T22:32:00.001-07:00

I have been itching for a shoot to share with you, Internet World, and this past weekend I got my wish times three!

Saturday evening was a wedding with Jacque Lynn Photography.

Sunday morning was this shoot, again with Jacque Lynn Photography, this time with my very own stunning sister. You've seen her here, and here, and here but never quite like this. (More of that coming soon, I'll share the link as soon as it exists!)

And Sunday afternoon, I headed out to the Great Salt Lake with Jess, of Jessica Montana Photography for a bit of black-on-black drama. We wanted drama, and drama is definitely what we got! Check out these photos I caught of her. Talk about rock star sass!

And you can check out a bit of what she saw through her camera here on her blog. Enjoy!

possibly my favorite image from the whole shoot:

learning curve {jacque lynn photography}

2010-01-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know, for the last several months I've been "interning" with Jacque, of Jacque Lynn Photography. I've gone along with her on several shoots; weddings, formal shoots, and family portrait shoots. Mostly weddings.

And I've learned a ton. Let me reiterate--A TON. Just by watching Jacque's technique, how she works with her camera, how she works with her clients. Shall I say it again? A TON.

A few weeks ago, we spent some time with Dante & Brian, an adorable couple who tied the knot in Las Vegas last week. Dante wanted a very vintage feel for her photos, and I think we got it.

You can see many more photos from the shoot here, on Jacque's blog, but below are a few images that I captured that day.

p.s. Everything was working for Jacque that day, and her images are truly stunning. Some of the best I've seen of her work. I hope that even an inkling of what she was able to capture that day rubbed off on me. I don't know, what do you think?

the list {52 weeks}

2010-01-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Beginnings
Love
Travel
Delight
Light
Shadow
Sun
Framed
Bottled
Small
Close
Child
Parent
Friendship
Home
Glitter
Water
Fire
Smoke
Life
Learning
FAshion
Form
Fancy
Whim
Culture
Nature
Favorite
Breath
Delicious
Emotion
Laughter
Tears
Floral
Joy
Birth
Death
Power
Money
Weather
Road
Now
Later
Athletics
Heart
Mind
Chaos
Micro
Kitchen
Apex
Skill
Absence
End (there are 53, because the last week of the year is a partial week!)

the beginning {52 weeks}

2010-01-16T21:56:00.002-07:00

I was reading the blog of Jessica Claire one day, and came across her list of 101 things to accomplish in the next 3 years. And I instantly fell in love with the idea. I've been toying with this idea of creating a list of things to accomplish in 2010, but why not expand that idea? Why not give myself a larger time-frame, a longer list? Why not? I can do it! So far, I've not even been able to reach 101 in number, but I'm working on it. And I feel like the list contains some very admirable and varied goals (like #10: Raise and donate $1000 for medical research, or #33: clean out the basement), and I'm excited to accomplish them.

I don't intend to share the whole list with you, Internet World, but I do intend to share bits and pieces with you. Mostly my triumphs, honestly. Like #23: Visit the dentist! And one goal/project in particular. #43: Complete my 52-week personal photo challenge for 2010.

What, you may ask, is this "personal photo challenge"? Well, it is exactly what the title implies. For every one of the 52 weeks of the year 2010, I have established a theme. And for every one of the 52 weeks of 2010 I am going to take a photo that "fits" that theme (how closely, abstractly, or aptly will be determined by yours truly--that's the perks of it being a "personal" challenge!). Each of these photos will be accompanied by a brief description of how I felt that the photo fit the theme.

The idea here is two-fold: for me to branch out with my photography and challenge myself in both photo composition and editing, as well as to challenge myself to explain (relatively) accurately how I meant each photo to fit its corresponding theme.

I'd like now to share with you the fruits of my photo challenge for the first 3 of those 52 weeks.

Week #1: New Beginnings

This photo was taken on New Year's Eve, and so by its very date of capture fits my theme. But my meaning goes a bit deeper than that, in that this photo portrays a newlywed couple, a newly-engaged couple, new friends, and individuals embarking on new adventures in life in a number of ways. (Bonus points if you can correctly identify who is whom!)

Week #2: Love

I could have been quite a bit more cliche with this photo had I been so inclined. I of all people am frightfully unopposed to having more photos of myself and my beloved husband on this blog. But for this project, I wished to convey a different kind of love. That of our beautiful German Shepherd, Havoc, and his papa, my husband. Richard treats our puppy as his child, and Havoc often treats Richard the same. They take care of each other in many ways, and the love they have for each other is unconditional. It's truly a beautiful thing to behold.

Week #3: Travel

Here is where we get a little bit abstract (I know, I know, it's only 3 weeks in but bear with me!). The theme of week three is travel. Now, you may be thinking, I could have taken a photo of a set of keys, a suitcase, a train ticket. Perhaps even the car, a Trax train, or an airplane. But where would the fun in that be? I've already gone for one cliche photo this round. So, you may now be thinking, what's with the cocoa mugs?

Every so often, Richard and I embark on what for us amounts to a bit of a trip. We travel the approximately 23 miles from our home to one large blue and yellow building in Draper, Utah: IKEA! We really do enjoy IKEA far too much, and always find little items that we just have to have. Friday night (our most recent trip), that item was these two fabulous cocoa mugs. Not only are their interiors a fantastic shade of blue and do they come with their own matching saucers, but they probably hold about a half-gallon of cocoa each (okay, maybe not a whole half-gallon, but close). I fully intend to use them for soup at some point. Point is, it's quite a trek for us to make it out to IKEA, but we never come back empty handed or even regretful of how much $$ we ended up spending!

happy new year

2010-01-01T14:41:00.001-07:00

I was headed to the basement last night to grab my outfit for our little New Year's get-together, and noticed the sunset through our neighbors' backyard. I just had to grab my camera and try to capture that image. Of course, this photo hardly does it justice, but still I tried.

Happy New Year, internet world. Here's to a wonderfully prosperous, love-filled, beautiful 2010.

dancing the night away {steph & tom reception}

2009-12-21T13:31:00.001-07:00

Clearly I felt that black and white worked for this reception... :) Enjoy!

Family and friends: to view the entire collection of photos, or to purchase prints, please click here.

la dolce vita {steph & tom}

2009-12-11T16:30:00.002-07:00

When I got to the house early Saturday morning, her hair was up in curlers and she stood in her mother's bathroom starting on her makeup. When I asked her how she was, she gave me an anxious smile and just said, "Nervous!" She needn't have worried.

Stephanie was radiant all day, in her fabulous Impression gown from A Bride Beautiful and with those gorgeous golden eyes. And every time she set eyes on her new husband, she became even more beautiful with her face lit up in the most stunning smile.

These are far from all the images I captured that day! And not even all the images I'm going to blog.

I loved her gown, especially with all the little crystal details Steph had added to it.

And her shoes were to die for... so cute!

A generational detail shot: from left to right, Stephanie's mother's wedding rings, Stephanie's weddings rings, and Tom's mother's rings.

Okay, so I love detail shots!

The girls and Tom's mom were sitting around waiting for Steph before heading to the church, and reading copies of Utah Bride & Groom magazine.

The dress zipped. But then they also had to hook each and every one of these little tiny buttons... Mary brought along a crochet hook to help!

This girl's face lights up every time she sets eyes on her love. It's adorable to watch, and I'm so grateful to have been given the chance to capture it!

and coming soon.... the reception!

impatience {steph & tom}

2009-12-09T07:28:00.003-07:00

I wanted to wait and just post this whole wedding, but I got impatient. So here is just one from the beautiful wedding I captured the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The bride was radiant, the groom quite dashing, and both of them splendidly, perfectly, completely in love! I hope to have captured even a miniscule fraction of that in some of my images.

Many, many more to come very soon. This promises to be my largest post yet... :)

♥Lenni

family photos {abbie & scott}

2009-12-02T19:48:00.002-07:00

Just one from our casual, mini Thanksgiving family portrait shoot. :) Love how this one of Abbie and Scott turned out.

off to the church {steph & tom}

2009-11-28T09:00:00.002-07:00

Stephanie and Tom are getting married today!

I had so much fun shooting with Steph and Tom back in October, I can't wait to help shoot their wedding today. They are such an adorable couple, and so obviously in love! I'll be shooting alongside AA Professional Photography, and I'm excited to work with someone new! Always good experience to pay attention to how other photographers shoot. :) Steph and Tom are getting married in the gorgeous St. James Catholic Church, in North Ogden, and celebrating their nuptials at Comfort Suites in Ogden.

In honor of their wedding today, I wanted to post one of my favorites from their engagement shoot. Enjoy! I'm sure I'll have plenty more to post after today's festivities!

a preview {steve}

2009-11-27T09:17:00.003-07:00

I admit, with the holiday, I'm not quite finished with these yet. Headed up to my mother-in-law's for a bit of after-Thanksgiving fun (since we spent yesterday with my family here in SLC), but I wanted to post some of the images from Steve's session last Sunday. He was such a ham, and working the camera constantly! More to come, I promise!

Family and friends: view more photos and order prints here.

loveliness {georgia}

2009-11-24T20:38:00.002-07:00

Sometimes the black-and-white photos just work. This senior portrait shoot was one of those times. Georgia photographs quite beautifully in color, but there is something about the black-and-white images of this gorgeous girl that is just stunning. But be sure to check out those beautiful golden-brown eyes in the color shots!

Thanks, Georgia, Sue and Steve: I had a blast on this photo shoot. You guys had me laughing the whole time! Stay tuned for shots of Georgia's brother, Steve, coming up soon!!

Family & Friends: to see more photos from this session and to view and order prints, click here.

best friends {maddie & sam}

2009-11-24T18:07:00.001-07:00

Ever willing to model for me, my sister Maddie and her friend Sam wanted some friendship photos of the two of them. We got together one cold afternoon last weekend, and played around a bit downtown then at the Capitol. Here's what we came up with:

This is what they do. Constantly. And I love it!

This may well be my favorite shot of Sam. Ever.

Love these action shots. She was awesome! My favorite one is posted here in case you missed it.

the jump {maddie}

2009-11-22T07:28:00.001-07:00

Just one of the fun shots we got yesterday. Stay tuned for the rest, and a few from the shoot today.

my gma {Lola}

2009-11-18T19:41:00.004-07:00

I've been thinking about my grandma a lot lately.

Tonight, as I made added extra cheese and extra milk to the macaroni and cheese I was preparing for my husband and I {yes, we eat Kraft macaroni and cheese for dinner sometimes} I was thinking about how we always used to ask Grandma to make our mac & cheese just a little more milk-y and a little more cheese-y... and she would.

I remember sitting in front of the lazy susan in the corner of Grandma's kitchen, turning the shelves half because it was fun and half because I wanted to know what canned goodies she had this week for me to munch on. It was always canned goodies at Grandma's House; rarely did she have food that could be eaten right out of the box. Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup {or if we weren't looking, Cream of Mushroom}, or canned new potatoes to be pan-fried and devoured. Ramen noodles that will always remind me of my cousin, Colby, because he loved them so much and would sit at the kitchen table every day and eat them for lunch. Or Grandma's fried eggs, that always had plenty of pepper on them, served with greasy hashbrowns and soggy toast, because Grandma never bought real butter. The awesome popsicles that I've still never been able to find other than in Grandma's freezer: the round stick ones that she broke in half and made me share with my sister-- I'm fairly certain they were actually intended to be shared with your sister {though if we really couldn't agree on a flavor, Grandma would usually let us each have a half now and leave a half in the freezer}.

I have so many memories of Grandma's House. I spent a good portion of my childhood there, not least of all during the times when we lived in her basement {do not ask me house a family of six lived comfortably in Grandma's basement--I still don't know}. Both of my parents worked when I was young, so Grandma "tended" us between school and when Mom and Dad got home. So I probably spent 78% of my time at Grandma's House between the ages of 6 and 13. I spent summers there too. We'd sleep in til about 10 or 11, then call Patsy to come pick us up and bring us to Grandma's House. It was the same every summer. Sometimes there were other kids there, other kids Grandma was an adopted grandma to.

As I got older, I spent less time at Grandma's House. During high school and the beginning of college I rarely visited. I was living between South Ogden and Salt Lake, and 21st Street was a long drive. I made it up there every once in a while, and always there was my smiling, white-haired Grandma, welcoming me with open arms and a warm, bright kitchen. We'd sit at her kitchen table (it was always the kitchen at Grandma's House. rarely did we sit in the living room), and talk about what was new. What new classes was I taking, what sports was I playing. Later on it was how is my fiance, how was work. But always she'd just let me talk, ask lots of questions, and smile a lot.

Later on, we moved back in with Grandma. It was even tighter the second time, with two mostly-grown girls, my adult brother, and both my parents. It was cozy, to say the least. But I loved getting to see my Grandma every day. It was nice to be able to spend so much time with her again, and I am very thankful that I got the chance to do that before she left us.

I lost my grandma almost two years ago. It does not feel like that long ago, at all. I remember the night she left us, and I will probably never forget it. The whole family gathered at Grandma's House, and we knew that it was going to happen soon. Sometimes she was there with us, and sometimes she wasn't. Sometimes it seemed like she wasn't, and then she'd react to something someone said with such an endearing awareness. We struggled that night, but in my heart I knew she was ready and I was willing to let her go. Near the end, she was in pain and struggling and all I wanted was for her to be free.

She stayed with us for most of the night. Sometime around 4 a.m. or so, when we were all asleep scattered around that tiny house of hers, my sister woke up to the sounds of my Grandma's last breath. And then the whole house was awake and awash in the chaos that is calling the bishop, the mortuary, and the making of all of those funerary plans. I really believe that she waited to say goodbye to everyone and to give us our peace, and then she left us. She was always one to make sure everyone else was taken care of first, and then to maybe think about herself. She was the one who was not at the table when everyone else was almost done eating, because someone still needed the salt, or a drink, or a napkin. And even there at the end, she waited until everyone else was taken care of, and then she moved on.

I sometimes feel like I could drive up to Ogden and stop at that little white house on 21st Street--the one with the evergreen's out front and the two big picture windows--step into that bright, warm kitchen and catch up with my Grandma. But I can't. I know I can talk to my Grandma any time I want to; she's always with me in some ways. But I miss my Grandma. I miss her a lot. I wish I could share my life with Grandma in ways that I cannot. I wish I could share my newfound passion for photography with her. I wish I could take her photo. I wish that my Grandma could have been at my wedding. I wish my grandma was going to be around for the birth of her great-grandchildren. But I know that she is always here. I just hope she knows that I love and miss her.

I never really got to take my Grandma's photo. I wish now that I had been able to. I have this one picture of her on my computer (I actually pulled it from an old MySpace photo album) that I wanted to share with you. I didn't take it, but I love it.

p.s. Maddie, don't ever feel like you shouldn't comment on my blog! Love you, little sis. :)

p.p.s. I know I've been posting a lot of writing lately, but I promise there will be more photos very soon! Lots of exciting things in the pipeline!

awestruck

2009-11-11T21:42:00.001-07:00

Today I was in awe of the sheer grandeur that is present right in Salt Lake's own backyard. I have grown up close to the mountains, close to the beauty that makes up the Wasatch Front, but lately it's really been hitting home for me. On my trip up to Ogden, for example, and again tonight.

On the way to a dinner with co-workers up at Kimi's Mountainside Bistro at Solitude Mountain Resort, I drove Big Cottonwood Canyon for the first time in my life. Despite the failing light and needing to concentrate on the road more than the scenery, I was still in absolute awe of the world unfolding around me as I drove up that canyon. I wanted more than anything to have with me a camera, a pen, a computer, so somehow I could capture what I was seeing and feeling, what I was feeling, what I was incapable of truly absorbing.

I had none of these. And so now, hours later, I can only try to conjure the ghost of a feeling to convey it to you. I will fail miserably. I know this. But still I must try, for in not trying I do more than fail.

We spend our whole lives familiar with the world around us, and yet utterly blind to it. I have seen these mountains, lived in their shadow, my entire life and still there are moments when I feel as if I am seeing them for the very first time, and I stand in complete awe.

good morning

2009-11-11T07:18:00.002-07:00

I ♥ mornings.

I often wish that the time between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. could last longer than just a couple of hours. It's at this time that I'm my most productive--as long as I get out of bed. Lately, taking care of my dad has had me up at 6 a.m. every day. I finish his antibiotics, and I come back to my computer. I often waste the time, checking up on Facebook or reading email. But it is at this time that I feel most productive. If I have something to do, it's going to get done between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

The world is still mostly asleep, even the dog is still chill from the night's rest. It is quiet, no tv, no phone. I can just sit at my computer and do as I wish. Sometimes I'm productive in other ways. Sometimes I'll clean, or do laundry. But usually I just sit here. I accomplished almost the entire redesign of my website during one morning between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. And when you accomplish something that early in the morning, you feel accomplished all day.

But after 8 a.m.: that is when the world really wakes up. It's when the hustle and bustle of the day really begins. Everyone is up and about and moving around. People are leaving for school and for work, and the day really begins. I can get far more done in the two hours before the rest of my world wakes up than I sometimes feel like I can all the rest of the day.

There is something about morning light that gets me too. That sort of half-light that sits in the air at about this time (7 a.m.). The light that lets you see just about everything, but it's not quite the right color just yet.

My other favorite time of the morning is just before 10 a.m. (as long as I am not sitting at a desk). It's all about the light during that time too. It's at that time that--as long as I'm not at my eight-to-five job--you can almost pretend the world has gone back to sleep. Everyone is gone, off to their places for the day, and the house is quiet again.

And the light. The light is simply amazing. When you get one of those gorgeous sunny fall days like we've been having, and the whole world has a bright golden tinge to it. It's different this time of year. During the spring, the light is more white, summer I feel has almost a blue tinge to it. And winter. Winter is just BRIGHT. But Fall, Fall has a beautiful blonde, golden glow. It's breathtaking.

I think that my love of that time of day goes back to when I was in college. One semester I remember, I had a class that did not start until 10 a.m. I had been able to work my schedule so that my 10 a.m. class was the first thing in my day, but all of my roommates had early classes or work. So every day, I'd wake up around 5 or 6 a.m. to talk to my now-husband as he got off night-check in Virginia, talk with him for about an hour, and then start my day. My room was positioned so that the morning light hit just right and lit up my whole room. I could sit at my desk, do homework or bum around on the internet and enjoy the peaceful slow pace of morning (unless there was a paper due that I'd forgotten... a situation that happened at least once!).

I often miss those days, and hope to have them back soon enough. I hope to be able to enjoy the slow pace of morning, because when the pace is slow I get far more done.

(By the way--I'm also awake by 7:30 on Saturday mornings, and all the same applies!)

And as a reward for having read this whole post... here is another photo from the summer archives. :)

by my lovely husband {lenni}

2009-11-08T17:50:00.003-07:00

My darling husband, Richard, took these photos today so that I could have some images of myself for my website re-design. I think he did really well for it being his first time really using my camera!

And I was able to snap just one of him, and I actually got him to smile! I love this man! :)

mountain formals {abbie}

2009-11-07T15:12:00.002-07:00

Despite the ridiculous cold (ridiculous for early October) and rapidly failing light, my lovely sister Abbie and I were able to capture these images a few weeks ago up Parley's Canyon.

a glimpse of love {cassie & harrison}

2009-11-07T14:22:00.004-07:00

I was going through some photos from shoots over the summer and found this one. I wanted to share.

thoughts?

2009-11-05T07:35:00.002-07:00

It isn't finished quite yet, but since it's published and I don't have more time to work on it now I want to know what you think so far. Comments??

I have to give a special thanks to Tiana for helping me so much with this! Never would have been able to do it without her help. :) Thanks, Tiana!!!

making good on missed opportunities

2009-10-31T08:39:00.000-06:00

Nearly every day for four years I stood in this parking lot. I could have, might have, looked up at these hills and out across this valley every day. Sometimes I noticed them. Sometimes I saw their true, majestic beauty. Sometimes I marveled at how close they were, how I stood right in the center of such beauty. Probably I didn't notice nearly often enough.

Last week, Richard and I had the opportunity to visit our alma mater. His sister is a senior at the tiny Catholic high school we both attended for four years. With work and life getting in the way, it's hard for us to get back to Ogden to visit the school very often, but I'm always glad when I take the time to visit. With his sister in the school's production of Macbeth, Wednesday evening was a perfect opportunity to make the drive up to Ogden.

This time I took a minute to take in the gorgeous scenery, and thank my lucky stars I had my camera with me. I got to talk to my old track coach too. We went to Javier's after for a classic dinner (tacos don antonio for me, please!), and even got to see Javier (another of my track coaches) and his family for a few minutes. Oh, and the play? Very good, and I was quite impressed with the students' ability to perform Shakespeare.

I'm glad we live in Salt Lake now. But it's nice to get back to where I came from every once in a while. :) I hope you enjoy these photos I was able to capture during our quick visit. I'm still in awe that these are photos of the views from the St. Joseph Catholic High School parking lot.

p.s. Each of these photos is straight out of the camera. The only editing I did was to shrink them for the web and put my logo on them.

happy halloween! {richard}

2009-10-26T19:53:00.004-06:00

One of the things I love most about my amazing husband: his unfailing sense of humor. He is just so adorable when he is being goofy! Here are a couple of pictures from our pumpkin adventures this Halloween season:

the problem with computer screens

2009-10-23T08:52:00.002-06:00

So, when I look at these images on my Mac, they look too dark. Like ALL of them look too dark. When I look at (and edit!) these images on my PC, they look perfect. Can I blame Blogger? A little frustrated with the fact that my photos don't look quite how I want them to look on here, even though I know at some point (and on some monitor) they looked exactly how I wanted them to look. :(

more {maddie}

2009-10-22T20:29:00.006-06:00

I can't get enough of this shoot. Here's more for you!

To view the complete slideshow from this shoot, click below:
View Slideshow

almost cheating {maddie}

2009-10-17T00:05:00.006-06:00

I swear, it's almost unfair for me to feel proud of photos I've taken of this girl. There is just something about her that makes it so that nearly every single photo I ever take of her ends up just being truly stunning. And she is so easy to work with. Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that we've been doing these kinds of photo shoots together since she was about 12, but something just works--every time. For one thing, she's drop-dead gorgeous. But there is more to it... let me know if you know what it is!

I could not narrow down the photos I wanted to post from this shoot. I want to post every single one. I'm definitely going to post even more than this. But for now, here's what we're getting. It's probably about the longest post I've done, and I love every single photo in it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

And if it's possible that there is anything that makes this girl even prettier than she is usually, it's when her whole face lights up in a laugh. The sound of my baby sister's true, genuine laugh of fun and happiness is a sound I have long cherished. I am honored to think I may have captured one of those moments.

Love you, sis! And you just wait...there is even more to come from this shoot!

p.s. Abigail, we're re-doing your shoot sometime soon when it's not so d*** frigid outside... sorry I put you through that the other day!! :) Love you!

Seriously, how lucky am I to have two such gorgeous sisters who are willing to let me make them my models? Thank you, ladies! You are the best!

better late than never {siara}

2009-10-16T22:26:00.006-06:00

I've been such a slacker, and kept forgetting to get these up on the blog. Here you go, Siara!

the changing skies {blog action day}

2009-10-15T06:47:00.007-06:00

The sunsets here in Utah throw off shades of pinks, oranges, blues and purples that you wouldn't believe. Even early sunset, when you cannot even see the sun, is stunning. It sometimes takes your breath away. Sometimes during a Utah sunset you can't help but stop and take note. To stare up and out at those multi-faceted layers of color and wonder.

And sometimes you have to wonder, just what makes those colors appear the way they do? Is it just the changing light from the sun as the angles change? Or is it something just a little bit less idyllic?

Just to the north of us, nestled in a lovely little box of industry, sit the Salt Lake City oil refineries. Native Utahns spend much of their lives driving past these spires and torches, rarely taking time to even notice them. My whole life I've watched those jets of flame and billows of smoke and steam and wondered, where does all that disappear to?

The truth is, it doesn't disappear. It leaves that place and takes up residence in our air, in our atmosphere. And in our homes and lungs, our very beings. It all becomes a part of us, we can't help but take it in.

Our atmosphere breathes it in the same way we do. It draws all that smoke, all that exhaust, all that dirt and mess, up into its very being and makes it a part of itself. Is it this new element of the air that creates our fantastic Utah sunsets?

Beyond our sunsets, beyond the pure aesthetics of this problem, tell me this: did you ever sit at your window during one of those torrential downpours we had this June and wonder, has it always rained like this in June? Or have you ever watched a snowstorm fizzle out in the middle of December and think, remember those crazy snowstorms we used to have when we were kids? I remember snow 6 feet high in my grandma's yard every year when I was younger. And now? Well, we've had a lot of snow in the mountains... It feels like winters are getting shorter. Springs are getting longer. We nearly skipped Fall entirely this year.

What is causing all of these changes? I'm the first to admit that I don't really know. In fact, I can't tell you for sure that these changes are really changes. It just feels like there is something wrong. And it's not all media hype. The planet is really going through some serious shifts, and its about time we as human beings started to make some serious shifts ourselves. Perhaps we can't reverse the environmental damage we've already caused, but we can certainly take steps to refrain from causing more.

Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas are making great strides to help its citizens help the Earth. Have you noticed all the public transit opportunities being installed? Or the buses and cars powered by clean natural gas? Have you been out to Spanish Fork and seen the windmill farm? There are changes being made to positively impact our environment, and we each need to do our part--however small or large--to impact the environment ourselves.

Take notice, and take stock. How are you personally contributing to the problem of negative human impact on environmental and climate change in our world? Perhaps more importantly: How are you personally contributing to the alleviation of the problem of environmental and climate change in our world?

So, what part will you play?

I wrote this blog in response to a call-to-action by the people at BlogActionDay.org, powered by Change.org.

Their goal, in their own words:

"First and last, the purpose of Blog Action Day is to create a discussion. We ask bloggers to take a single day out of their schedule and focus it on an important issue.

By doing so on the same day, the blogging community effectively changes the conversation on the web and focuses audiences around the globe on that issue.

Out of this discussion naturally flow ideas, advice, plans, and action. In 2007 on the theme of the Environment, we saw bloggers running environmental experiments, detailing innovative ideas on creating sustainable practices, and focusing their audience's attention on organizations and companies promoting green agendas. In 2008 we covered the theme of Poverty, and similarly focused the blogging community's energies around discussing the wide breadth of the issue from many perspectives and identifying innovative and unexpected solutions. This year we aim to do the same for Climate Change, an issue that threatens us all." (quoted from the website, which you can check out here.)

the salt lake temple

2009-10-12T19:51:00.007-06:00

I helped Jacque shoot a wedding at the Salt Lake Temple (my first) this past Saturday. As we made our way around the grounds with the happy couple, I took a moment or two to capture a few shots of the stunning architecture that makes up the Salt Lake Temple. Despite the fact that I live and work within miles of this building, I rarely stop to truly admire its beauty. But it was a gorgeous day, the light was amazing, and the building looked absolutely stunning.

Take a look through my eyes.

homecoming 2009 {maddie}

2009-10-12T19:25:00.005-06:00

Sometimes I really can't handle how amazingly gorgeous my sixteen-year-old sister is. (Yes, she's only sixteen.) She got all decked out for Homecoming last Saturday, and I snapped a few shots of her before I had to take off to help Jacque shoot the rest of the wedding we worked that day.

And seriously, don't her shoes just rock??

preview {abbie}

2009-10-07T07:20:00.001-06:00

simply love {steph & tom}

2009-10-03T19:35:00.010-06:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Steph and Tom last weekend. They'll be getting married at the end of November, and asked me to take some engagement portraits for them. They are such an adorable couple, and so obviously head over heels in love with each other! I had a great time taking these shots. And can you even get over how gorgeous her eyes are?

Family & friends: to view and order prints from this session, click here.

view complete slideshow

slacking

2009-09-26T13:23:00.002-06:00

I'm sorry, I've been a terrible terrible blogger. Here are just a couple of the photos I've shot in the last couple months.

Enjoy!

exciting things are happening

2009-09-12T10:14:00.000-06:00

you just wait!

failure... and success!

2009-09-08T21:42:00.003-06:00

I spent more than 30 hours this weekend working on a wedding for Riehl Events. Needless to say, I didn't get around to much editing or photo-taking this weekend! Hopefully I'll have time this week to shoot Richard's photos. :o) And Jacque Lynn has offered to let me assist her at a wedding this weekend. I can't wait to really see her in action from that angle, and to help her any way I can. It will be an awesome learning experience for me, and I'm so grateful to her for this chance to learn from a pro.

In other news, Jacque Riehl has assigned me as the behind-the-scenes photographer for Riehl Events. That means that I'll be the one who takes photos of all of our design sets, for ceremonies, receptions, corporate events, conferences, etc. I love the work, and I love that Jacque has given me this opportunity! It's great to be able to use my talent to showcase our beautiful work. Set photography is so much different from portraiture, it's a lot of fun to play with camera angles and lighting angles and everything to really make our work pop!

sneak peek {siara}

2009-09-04T21:03:00.003-06:00

posts to come

2009-09-04T18:43:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I've been slacking. I actually do have new photos to post. Hoping to use my Labor Day weekend to get caught up on things. I am doing photos of Richard on Saturday evening, and editing photos the rest of my free time... I've got Siara's to post too. So, stay tuned!!

maybe redheads have more fun {sam}

2009-08-11T22:11:00.006-06:00

This shoot was definitely one of my favorites so far. It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and Sam was so willing to just let me play. I got to experiment with some great camera angles and close-up shots. I feel like we got some awesome images, and I hope she thinks so too!

I feel like I usually lean towards the black-and-white shots-- but Sam has such amazing color, there were only a couple that I ended up liking in b/w:

still-life

2009-08-05T22:19:00.001-06:00

a little something of the non-portrait variety.

more love {cassie & harrison}

2009-08-04T16:38:00.002-06:00

a bit more {abbie}

2009-07-31T17:53:00.001-06:00

love {harrison & cassie}

2009-07-30T17:13:00.001-06:00

My good friend Harrison and his adorable fiancee Cassie were kind enough to let me take their photos the other day. Here's what came of it.

just gorgeous {abbie}

2009-07-30T17:11:00.001-06:00

I really do have the most gorgeous sisters...

playing with black-and-white

2009-07-25T21:23:00.001-06:00

coffee

2009-07-23T21:56:00.001-06:00

These two are from a collection I shot to promote Baxter's Cafe.

today, I figured out how to post large photos...

2009-07-23T18:17:00.001-06:00

These first few are shots from my recent honeymoon in Zion National Park:

This past spring, I took advantage of some gorgeous Sunday-morning light and caught this photo of the tulips in our neighborhood right as they were at their most beautiful.

portraits {maddie}

2009-07-18T11:31:00.003-06:00

I absolutely love these shots of my sister, but then she's so gorgeous that I can't really take any credit for how the photos turn out. I'm sure you'll see much more of her in the photos to come.

investment

2009-07-01T19:25:00.028-06:00

Lenni Stratton Photography offers customized portrait photography, as well as wedding and event photography and custom printed products.
Please email me or use my contact form to request complete pricing information.

lenni@lennistrattonphotography.com

(801) 215-9704

Lenni Stratton Photography also offers fine art prints for sale. Visit the gallery here. For more print options, email me directly.

a brief biography

2009-07-01T08:27:00.002-06:00

photo by Jacque Lynn Photography

contact me

2009-07-01T08:12:00.022-06:00

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