the session that almost wasn't...

this was the session that just wasn't meant to be...

scheduling conflicts,

leaves that didn't change colors,

and a brother getting hit by a car and taken to the ER the morning of our session

(I am told that all is well with him now, just a little sore...don't want you to worry)!

...but I am so glad we made it happen anyway!

The Wood family is so dear to me.

I can call them in a pinch and I know that they will be there to help.

If my kids are getting restless being cooped up with Mom all day,

I can call them and a playdate/lunchdate/mommy break materializes!

If I am feeling like the whole mom job is way to hard,

she is there to commisserate with me and listen to me whine!

So, it is no wonder that it was a fun session...

it was just hanging out with dear friends!

two spunky girls

(and I think these two might even like each other)

and two fabulous parents

having lots of fun together

Dancing with dad...

laughing with mom...

Love them all!

mission pictures - 18 months

This sweet girl is heading to Brazil in a few months to serve her church for 18 months.

no cell phone, no texting, no tv, no radio, no friends or boys or dating or family...

just 1 girl from Salt Lake City, one companion she has never met and the spirit of service!
And she is up for the task!

I am so excited for this new adventure on which she is about to embark!

She is beautiful inside and it shines through on the outside!

Thanks for letting me share in your mission experience, Janessa!

We'll be rooting for you back home!

Gift Cards Now Available

I love giving gifts, but finding something someone will really love can be hard!

So, I have a solution: the perfect gift for anyone on your list....

smileabunch photography gift cards!

Perfect for birthdays, moms to be, Christmas gifts, or just a little something to make your wife happy

(hint hint - family pictures hanging on the walls make wives happy)!

Available in any amount and already beautfiully wrapped!

Easy peasy and everyone goes home happy! 

Silver Lake *plus* Fall Leaves *plus* 25 minutes *equals* LOVE

Every time I run a mini-session I am amazed at how many fabulous photos can result from 25 minutes of shooting, and the Fall Minis at silver lake were no exception!

I had a blast hanging out with my dear friends the P family

(and I got a great workout chasing after little mr. P - he is fast)!

these two have fun together...

can you tell?!

Thanks for hanging out with me and the ducks P family!

Good luck choosing your favorites...it will be no small task
'cause there is more fabulousness coming in your gallery!

Adoreable knit hats for kids and babies!

I have had so much fun doing some commercial photography for Beatknits.

Just check out all these fabulous hats and then head over to the etsy shop for the fabulous prices to match,

not to mention some adoreable newborn cuteness...

Gorgeous Fall Family Photos

Last year, my cousins and I took our kids up to Silver Lake in September to see the fall leaves.

It was so gorgeous that my cousin decided she wanted her family photos taken there.

So we have been plotting this out since then and even though the leaves were just barely starting to turn, we finally made it happen last weekend!

Everything was gorgeous!

Beautiful evening light, stunning family, adoreable kids, and the tall grasses and purple flowers - breathtaking!

We looked at ducks and tried to see fish...


We giggled (and I am totally in love with the matching red fingernails happening here)...

And shared the joy of purple flowers...

she was totally obsessed with them!

I got a lot of these adoreably silly faces


Just to get a few of these just plain adoreable faces


And I am pretty sure it is safe to assume that these two like each other....


Plus, we saw a momma moose and her baby about 10 feet away from us.
Way cool...and a little scary!


And I totally love this last picture!


Rock on Despain family!
(pun intended - 'cause I am a major nerd -
and because we are family so they have to love me anyway!)

Fun Family Photo Sessions

"She can't possibly be serious," you might be thinking to yourself.
"I have done family photos before and fun is not a word I would use to describe them!"

Well,

family photos + 3 kids + random uncovered holes + mud puddles + lunchtime

it can't possibly equal fun right?

You tell me...does it look like they are having fun?

I thought so!

Not only did we have fun
- because really, my goal is to make every session I do at least a little bit more fun than stress -
 but this family is so very dear to me!

Our kids are buddies, we are girl's night out and playgroup friends, and they are just all around wonderful!

It was so sweet to watch them play and interact and I was delighted by the sweet moments we captured!

Sure we had to chase this little man around

and try every trick in the book to get some good smiles from him...


which we did...


we also got some adoreable shots of her...

and her...


and even the 3 of them together!



And some without any of them...


Not to mention some candid fabulousness
(and of course these are the ones that make my heart sing the most)





And finally, this shot that just speaks to something inside of me.
Maybe because I shot it from across the field and it was completely unscripted,
maybe because the mother in this picture is inspiring to me,
or maybe because of that gorgeous light....



Thanks wonderful B family!
xoxo!