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  • 10 Quick Things About me:

    1. I'm addicted to Coke Zero...but I'm working on it.
    2. I believe in smiling. A lot. When someone grins at me, it makes the world brighter.
    3. I own more shoes than drinking cups. I own so many pairs of shoes that if they were all piled on a small goat the animal would likely suffocate.
    4. It's my belief there's no cap on success. It can happen for anyone if they have the desire and willpower to work for it.
    5. I'm an explorer at heart. My goal is to fill my passport with stamps.
    6. Food with wierd names creeps me out. Example: Gnocci.
    7. I believe in true heart-rendering LOVE. I lurrve Mark, my man, my main-squeeze, my hubs...and will till I'm dead and gone.
    8. I spoon my black lab, Bubba, almost as often as Mark.
    9. Cross-fit= LOVE/HATE relationship.
    10. I know miracles happen. I've got four kids that prove it to me daily.

Because I Can {Confessions of a Daughter}

When I was fifteen I was stupid.

Like your run-of-the-mill sassy teenager, I ran around untamed and brimming with bigger-than-life ideas and plans that were mostly a hair shy of insanity.

The fourth of five kids, I often felt like the things I did didn’t matter. Jessie, the oldest and only brother had the place of sibling leader. Leslie came next. She was the smart one, the responsible one, the sister that always had the right answers. Then there was Nikki. Caring and thoughtful, she was the sensitive and kind sister. And bringing up the rear was Rachel, the youngest. The baby. The cute and sweet sister. Though different personalities, the one thing they all shared is talent. Endless gobs of talent and smarts. Honor roll, concert pianist, cellist, scholarship winners…really, it’s disgusting how I could go on and on. So I won’t. The thing is, there was stiff competition to be seen and heard.

I ended up being the LOUD sister. Yep. You can ask anyone from my high school glory days. I’m sure they’ll agree. Heck, how else was I gonna be heard in a group like that?

Besides being loud, I was on occasion, and for the better part of my fifteenth year, STUUUUUUpid.

This story begins with a cute boy. (As all stupid, fifteen-year-old stories likely start). Cute Boy called and asked if I could hang out. My parents had a strict NO DATING till 16 rule. They were ruining my life! Desperate to see Cute Boy, I came up with a plan. I decided to sneak out in the middle of the night through my bedroom window, where older and obviously wiser, Cute Boy would pick me up and take me away. Sigh. So romantic. We would return a few hours later and no one would ever know. Brilliant, right? And because teenage girls can’t go anywhere alone, I convinced my best friend to join in on my plan.

The sneaking went off without a hitch. Bestie and I escaped and Cute Boy picked us up. We talked and laughed and felt so very clever about how easily we snuck out. We stopped at a convenient store and loaded up on soda and candy. After driving around with the music blaring, we eventually stopped at a park. I sat beside my best friend and shivered with devious excitement. This was definitely something we would have to do every weekend.

It was then a car pulled up to the curb. A patrol car. It took 1.5 seconds for me to remember that Orem City had a curfew law. And 1 second more to feel true gut-sinking fear.

I. Was. Dead. Meat.

At 4:10 in the morning, Orem Police Department called my dad.

Ten minutes later Dad showed up and I could tell he was angrier than I’d ever seen him because he didn’t say a word. Not while I followed him out of the police station with my head hung low. Not when I climbed into the car. Not when we walked inside my house early in the morning. I don’t remember much of what he said when he finally spoke, but I do remember this:

“Erin, I’m disappointed in you.”

He could’ve yelled and screamed and lashed out in a hundred different ways. But nothing would’ve been as effective as knowing he loved me and I had let him down.

This story is one of many I could tell. But I don’t need to because they always end the same.

No matter the stupidity, or absurd plan, Dad still loved me.


He showed it in countless ways. Pride aside, he worked as a grocery bagger in addition to his job because our family needed the money. He slipped me twenty-dollars on more than one occasion when I was struggling in college. He drove half-way across the state to watch me cheerleading. He took me fishing. He taught me how to use a camera. He listened to my problems and gave me advice.
There is a lot more I could say, but I’ll refrain from writing a novel. What it all comes down to is I love my dad for a million different reasons.
Those are the million reasons why, when the doctors said Dad needed a kidney to live, I offered one of mine.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

If everything goes as planned, Dad and I will be heading into surgery early Tuesday morning.

June 17th is the last day I’ll be taking any photo shoots for, well, awhile.

 

 

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Brandon {Utah Senior Portrait Photography}

 

Everybody, and I mean everybody…teachers, parents, friends–you get what I’m saying–calls Brandon Beans. Long ago, the nickname was given to Brandon by his oldest brother and somehow has stuck all these years later. And the thing of it is, having the bizarre nickname just adds to Brandon’s appeal. He’s smart and funny and witty and clever and charming in that boy-next-door sort of way.

I enjoyed our shootS. Yes, as in more than one.

I’m embarrassed to say, that for the first time EVER in the years I’ve been a professional wedding and portrait photographer, I actually lost images. They were gone.

Gone. (I’ll save the faulty computer rant for another day…$%$@!!!)

Brandon had to come back to reshoot his senior portraits. He didn’t complain. He didn’t hate me. My house hasn’t been toilet papered. I’d say it’s safe to say we’re on good terms.  See, that’s how I can say this guy really is the cream of the crop.

This guy is awesome. And he’s going places.

Literally.

Brandon’s soon to be leaving Utah for Russia! Talk about some serious cultural leap.

What a future he has in store. It made me think of a favorite quote by the great Albert Einstein.

If you enjoyed viewing Brandon’s senior images, I’ve added a few more for you to look at. Brandon has a beautiful best friend named Brooklyn. Seriously, this girl is gorgeous. Brooklyn happened to stop by while we were shooting and I had her jump into a few shots with Brandon. Because, come on, who doesn’t want shots with their bestie? Especially one that looks as lovely as Brooklyn.

Enjoy the additional shots. Luv, erin

Wasn’t I right? She’s lovely, really.

Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Myranda {Utah Senior Portrait Photographer}

Myranda is a girl after my own vintage-loving heart. If you walk into my home, you’ll see a few odds and ends of vintage pieces that somehow work together to form my hodgepodge decorating style. I am a yard-saler and an antique-store-peruser. And when I find something deliciously old, I have to have it. This includes great vintage clothing.

So when Myranda walked into my life with her great style and clothing from ModCloth, I was in complete LUST and jealousy mode.

This girl has the greatest style and the funnest personality to go along with her amazing wardrobe. I could spend hours with Myranda, talking to her about her plans for the future and her fashion choices.

She’s amazing. Don’t you agree?

I can’t get enough of this girl and her red dress! A dress, an old truck, and a gorgeous girl equal Senior Portrait Magic.

How are you doing this Sunday afternoon? Drop me a line and tell me what you think.

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Spencer {Utah Senior Portrait Photographer}

 

Spencer is creative, funny, cute, unique, kind, caring, and ridiculously AWESOME!

I’ve known this guy for awhile and he never ceases to amaze me or crack me up. I’m impressed with him and the choices he’s made. Besides his load of course work, preparing to graduate, and practicing his cello, he works hard. So very hard for a teenager. He has a job and spends that time earning as much as he can to prepare for his future. He is smart and he’s going places. He’s making choices that matter. (Note the Joss Whedon quote below–which, might I add, is so perfect for Spencer since it was his Momma that introduced me to all things Firefly).

I’m so proud of this kid.

Do you love that belt or what?

I love this kid’s style!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend and if you’re feeling friendly, drop a comment. Or two. I’m greedy like that.

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Stucki Family

Meet the Stucki Family.

You know how there are people out there that are just GOOD people? I remember talking to my Dad, and he’d mention someone he knew and he’d say something like, “Oh them, they’re good people.” Dad’s words are the first thing that come to mind when I think of the Stucki family. They’re fun and relaxed. Even though their sweet daughter was shy and reluctant to look at me and my big, fat camera, the Stuckis were calm and easy-going about the whole picture taking process. It’s photography shoots like these that make me think if I ever gave up weddings, I might do alright as a family photographer.

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