Another beautiful fall day and another equally beautifully family. I love getting to know families and watch them interact, even if it’s only for a couple hours. We laughed, we chased and chased their little boy, and we ate apples. What a fun shoot!

Soccer and I have a special relationship. I love it and wish I could be better at it. If my doctor would let me do anything that involved some sweat, I’d be playing now. But for now, I will have to live my love through my son. Geoff is coaching his soccer team and it’s been such a fun thing to watch both of them out there. Isaac is dang good if I do say so myself. Must get it from his mommy…

And this is what happens when he’s off the field. Tackling his buddy Brooke, who is really, really good. I see big things in the future for this girl.

We had a wonderful visit last weekend from my sister Sara and her daughter, Alysee. The tradition in their family is to take their child to General Conference when they turn eight. On Friday, I noticed they were cutting down the alfalfa field across from our house. I grabbed the girls and got some quick shots of Alysee, all while the tractor was going back and forth, I’m sure they were wondering what the devil we were doing.

Sara and I rounded off a lovely visit by having a girl night out at the Provo Rooftop Concert of Lower Lights. I can safely say that I am OBSESSED, which is a weird thing to be of a hymn revival, but I’m telling you people, they are amazing and it was one of the funnest concerts I’ve been to in a while. I may also have acquired the nickname “Shimmy Girl” on that fateful night. I’ve still got it.

With all this rainy weather we’ve been having lately, I was nervous that we would have to reschedule this shoot, but thankfully it warmed up a bit and the sun came out just enough to make it a beautiful day for family pictures. Despite the fact that their darling little girl was immune to all my tricks for getting smiles, I was able to get her to actually look at the camera, which was a small victory. A beautiful family on a beautiful fall day.

You may recognize the cute girls in this family because I’ve had the opportunity to do individual sessions with each one of them over the last couple months. This time I had the pleasure of photographing the whole family up in Provo Canyon. Fall is upon us, and though I despise the cold, I can’t deny that it is a really pretty time of year. I’m pretty sure this mom is stoked to have her Christmas pictures out of the way!

Geoff came home from a weekend bike trip with the start of a beard going on. We both can’t stand facial hair, so on Sunday he got out the shaving cream and a razor as opposed to his electric shaver. Isaac was mesmerized. I told him about how my dad would shave and my brother Seth would sit next to him on the sink with a bladeless razor and pretend to shave. Of course you know what Isaac wanted to do after that story.

I’ve done three wedding total over the last couple months since I added weddings to my photography repertoire. I always come away feeling so honored to be a part of such a special day in the lives of two people and their families. When Justin and Alaina asked me to photograph them after their temple wedding in the Bountiful Utah temple, I eagerly said yes. Young love, yes please.

Hanging out with this bunch of goofballs is a treat. One I truly miss as they lived across the street from us in our old house. We had a wonderful evening together, laughing, praying for the sun to go behind some elusive clouds, and bribing a bunch of teenagers who didn’t want their picture taken. I even busted out my “Hi, my name is Chubby” act, which I generally save for the younger crowd. The Bills family are a truly wonderful and kind group who have now welcomed a third child from Liberia into their family via adoption. Instantly loved, instantly family.

Gartee, the newest member of their family.

Introducing my newest niece, Isla. She is perfect, just like her mother.

My most favorite.

True love.

Now I’m not saying I don’t enjoy some of the cooler temperatures, but by cooler, I mean 75 degrees and nothing below it. I loath the winter. Give me two weeks of snow around Christmas and I’m good. Utah winters have been so ridiculously long lately that I’m mortified when it drops below 80. Can I get an amen Kristina?

So tonight we held on to summer a little longer by going as a family to a U-Pick raspberry and blackberry farm just down the road, McBride Farms. The older couple that run it are just about as darling as it gets. Lucy was calling them Grandma and Grandpa by the end of our time there. It was an absolutely perfect evening. Slightly cooler temperatures, happy children and therefore happy parents. The kids picked an entire two hours without a complaint. They were enthralled, and it was, dare I say, therapeutic for me. And the berries! Oh the berries! We’ll (and by we’ll I mean me) be making loads of freezer jam tomorrow, and maybe a couple pies.

Have I mentioned how much I love Mapleton? Just look at that view.

Lucy was surprisingly an excellent berry picker.

They offered Isaac a job in a couple years as they hire neighborhood kids to help with orders. I’m all over that!

A successful and delicious evening for all.