I had really good intentions of getting a full blog post up for you today, but my girls think I need to play with them. And I think they’re getting big way too fast, so they’re probably right. I tried to take their pictures this week and it was a total bust. So I’m going to try again on Saturday. Wish me luck. They’re by far my hardest subjects.

In the meantime, it’s Sam & Britney week. The Utah Bride Blog is featuring their Blacktie session today. So hop on over there and see what they have to say about 2012 wedding trends. I can tell you one thing, this years trend, inspired by the royal wedding, are totally up my alley. Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to read posts from this week on the Salt Lake Bride & Groom blog. They’re doing a series on Something Old & Something New and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’m thrilled to share with you Ashlee + Todd’s Real Wedding feature in the latest issue of Utah Bride & Groom Magazine. This is one of my all time favorite weddings, as you’ll see below (it’s one of my new sample albums for 2012). What I loved most about this wedding wasn’t just that it could be in a magazine, but that the people behind the story are so genuinely kind I can’t say enough good things about working with this family. They made me feel like a life long friend. And THAT is why I love my job!

Now that you’ve seen the images UTBG chose to feature, I thought you’d like my take on the wedding. Ashlee’s parents surprised her with a copy of this album for Christmas. Can you say best present ever?!?

As you may have seen, I asked some of my past brides to give their take on the wedding photography experience. These responses are featured on my website. Ashlee sent me her response along with a thank you note after Christmas. To bring things full circle, I thought I’d share her responses with you here:

Of all the photographers in Utah, why did you choose Liz to work with?

I saw the maternity photos from a friend of mine that Liz did. I loved the vibrancy of the colors, I love the blend of contemporary and classical, I loved the unique framing, I thought they were beautiful. They told a story they weren’t just shots, they were alive and they caught true moments rather than being staged photos. We looked at some other contemporary photographers in the city but once I found Liz their photos just fell flat and seemed boring. My brother got married in Utah about 10 years ago and used a big name photographer, who will remain nameless and the photos, even of the wedding day were just stock portrait footage. In Liz’s photos she captured who the people were and their uniqueness and I have to say that she did that for us too and with every person at our wedding.

What’s one thing that surprised you about working with Liz?

She just becomes part of your family. She is always there catching the most awesome moments and she is just part of the family. She makes everyone feel comfortable and you never feel like you’re wedding has tuned into a paparazzi, it was intimate and comfortable. It also allows her to get such intimate photos. She has a photo of me when I was left in the room by myself right before we got married. I didn’t even know she was taking it, but when I see the photo all the thoughts I was having in that moment come flooding back and I am in that amazing moment again. She has one of my brother and my dad from the back, and it is moments before the wedding and it is just beautiful to see them and the emotions and the connection they were having that day too.

Why is high quality, artistic wedding photography worth investing in?

I had a sister who died at twenty-two, it is something you never expect to happen like most of life. And when it did all we had left were memories. And photos have such an amazing way of helping you remember the things you forgot or might have forgotten. They are a treasure. Your wedding day is such an amazing day. Literally the best day of you life to that point and you have all the people you love with you, I wanted to remember it forever and liz helps you keep the memories as your heart saw them on the day. Her photos tell a story that help you remember the little things and the big things that you might have forgotten or might not even have known about in the whirlwind of the day. I remember at the end of the night being sad that both sets of family and friends would never all be together again and the time we spent together was priceless and liz has helped us keep that magical time forever.

If you invested in a wedding album, looking back, do you wish you’d spent that money elsewhere? Or are you surprised by how much you love it?

We didn’t do it at first. And then for Christmas my mom gave us one. It is so beautiful and now our memories our out for everyone to see and enjoy rather than stuck on a computer. I love it!!!

What advice do you have for brides choosing a photographer?

Honestly, spend the money to get what you want. In my mind the list of important things on the day:
1. You get married
2. Your family and friends are there
3. You have the photos to remember that amazing moment with the people you love.
In ten years the cake is long gone, the favors have been thrown way, the dress is in a box etc. etc. but what you do have is the marriage, the memories and the photos. Also, to have access to all the digital photos is invaluable. We have used them for everything: Christmas cards, gifts, facebook, websites, calendars etc. etc. and it makes it so you don’t have to choose between the photo of your nephew sticking out his tongue and the photos of you in your dress before the wedding. You get to have them all!!

Any other thoughts about your experience working with Liz that you’d like to share?

It is just so wonderful, she is so passionate about what she does, she is determined to stand in the rain and work all night to capture the moment for you. She isn’t in it for the pay check, she is really trying to get you the best wedding photos you could have. Some photographers, like at my brothers wedding treat you like a number. We didn’t know Liz before this day but we knew that our wedding was special to her too. We loved her so much and she will always be a part of our family because of it!!