Jessica Kettle Photography

night at the museum...

2012-01-25T23:50:00.001-07:00

marie and eli said their favorite thing to do together was visit museums- they are total art buffs! when we discussed ideas for a date shoot, i knew we had to visit this modern art exhibit at the rio grand. i just adore this couple and i loved the concept for this engagement shoot!

i can't get over marie- she's like this tiny little pixie. don't you just want to squeeze her? wait until you see her in her wedding dress. STUNNING.

2012-01-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Taylor and Brian. I love these guys. I loved their wedding. It was just... FUN! You can tell that these two are just so happy to be married. And that makes me happy. What also makes me happy is that they had the BEST. DANCE PARTY. EVER. you'll see. And the kid with the glasses? Yea. Probably could have done a whole post on just him. And while I'm clearly stating the obvious here, can we just talk about Taylor for a second? Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. And I die over her dress! I loved shooting at the Draper Temple, it was a nice change of pace and even though it was windy and VERY sunny, the light was absolutely beautiful.

And now the shout outs. First, to my favorite videographer around, Nate Pickett. Such a dream to work with. Brides, HIRE HIM. Seriously. Check out the engagement video at the end of the post- you'll die. Second to my photo soul mate Heather, for her mad second shooting skills. She was my rock on this day especially... THE DAY I SHOT TWO WEDDINGS IN ONE DAY.

You heard me, two weddings, one day. Could NOT have done it without her!

ENJOY...

Brian + Taylor: Engagement from Nathan Pickett on Vimeo.

taylor + brian

2012-01-16T15:32:00.001-07:00

allright folks. i know it's been a while. does anyone even read this blog anymore?

anyone...

bueller...?

i am officially starting to blog my 2011 weddings and i could not be more excited about it! why so late? well, last year i shot about 30 weddings in 9 months. which was crazy! and i was sick. and i was pregnant. and i had a baby already! this year, my resolution is to pace myself. and maybe even catch up on this blog!

i'm kicking off the catch up with a bridal session from last winter. taylor is a pro horsewoman and wanted to work her beautiful horse into her bridal session. so we shot at the stables- SO fun, SO challenging! it was FREEZING cold and we were working with a horse, falling snow, and moving an incredible alta moda gown through icy puddles and um...

HORSE POOP.

yikes! want to know what wasn't challenging about this shoot? taylor and brian. talk about a gorgeous couple! so natural in front of the camera and so in love. i loved that they were willing to take risks and try something different, including some really fun lighting that's a little unusual for a portrait session! enjoy...

welcome baby girl...

2011-12-16T23:23:00.001-07:00

i'm sorry i didn't blog about our sweet vivie's arrival sooner, but she's here and we adore her. i just knew it would be a girl! we could not love her more and we are all doing well and adjusting to life with three kids and a new home. we moved into our new house three days before her birth and just got internet this week (hence the late post!). it has been crazy, but miss viv has brought such a spirit of calm into our home. lots of updating to come! but for now, know that we are all healthy, happy, and enjoying some snuggle time.

also, please understand that during my maternity leave, e-mail may be slow. i'm just not logging lots of time in front of the computer these days. ;)

studio 5 segment: birth photography

2011-10-04T01:02:00.002-06:00

Hooray! Here's the clip of my studio 5 segment. Don't laugh at me. Also, do you love that I forgot to mention that i am CURRENTLY 7 months pregnant??! Awesome. Now TV land just thinks I'm reeeeal chubby. HAHA! I hope you enjoy it.

Also, my birth story pricing and the images from the segment are up on MY WEBSITE.

HERE is the link to the video and recap (literally my personal notes/outline from the segment) of the show!

Birth stories!

2011-09-30T12:36:00.002-06:00

I was so thrilled to have the opportunity today to discuss birth photography on KSL studio 5! Thanks to everyone who tuned in, and for everyone who missed it, I will post the segment on my blog as soon as it's available online. For those of you who are interested in having your birth photographed, I now have package info available on my website www.jessicakettle.com. Please excuse my wonky site- I'm under construction right now! ;)

2011/2012 schedule

2011-09-20T16:04:00.000-06:00

* just a teeny sneak peek from barrett and amy's wedding in st. george earlier this month. swoon!*

Thank you for all of your inquiries regarding winter 2011 and 2012 weddings! A few notes on my upcoming schedule...

*My last day of shooting before my maternity leave will be October 7th. I will resume shooting in February 2012.

*At this time, I am booking weddings and limited birth stories only. Ultimately, this is what i love the most and feel is my strength as an artist and feel so lucky to focus on wedding photography! I may eventually return to portrait photography, but for now I'm keeping it simple. Please feel free to contact me with unique or exciting projects, who knows, i may just go for it! ;)

* As always, get the basic information and contact me via MY WEBSITE (which although is under construction and in desperate need of attention, at least now has my contact/pricing info) or directly at jesslkettle@yahoo.com.

tanya + eric, engaged

2011-09-15T17:01:00.000-06:00

tanya and eric were absolutely a BLAST to photograph. i had so much fun collaborating with them and i can't WAIT to share their bridals and wedding too! i love the "date" shoot with engagements mixed with portraits, such a fun twist. this may have been my favorite e-session of the year...

rayna + dominic

2011-09-08T16:18:00.003-06:00

ok, first of all, HELLO! long time, no blog huh? typical. what can i say, i've been insaneeeeely busy this summer. 6 weddings in june, 6 weddings in july and now i'm finally slowing down a leeeeeeetle bit before baby kettle #3 shows up in december! oh yea, i've been busy growing people too. ;)

but really, i hope you're excited for this post! rayna and dominic's wedding was 100% GORGEOUS down to every last detail. be prepared to be blown away! and of course i just loved spending the day with R+D. they are so cute together and make such a striking couple! they were so much fun to photograph. honestly, i could have posted double the amount of photos. it was nearly impossible to narrow down! enjoy!

GETTING READY: HOTEL MONACO

CEREMONY: SALT LAKE TEMPLE

RING CEREMONY & RECEPTION: UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

I was SO THRILLED that Rayna and Dominic's wedding was featured in the premier edition of Salt Lake/ Park City Bride & Groom Magazine! What an honor.

I couldn't end the post without giving some MAJOR credit to all of Rayna's amazing vendors!

WEDDING PLANNING & DESIGN: Mara Marian-Harward with EVENTS BY LMG
(umm, seriously, can we get a round of applause here folks? she was AMAZING.)

i couldn't have hand picked a better group of vendors myself. i would HIGHLY recommend all of these people!
VIDEOGRAPHY: Nathan Picket Films
PRINTED ELEMENTS: Pink Piggy Designs
FLOWERS: Orchid Dynasty
CATERING: Culinary Crafts
CAKE: One Sweet Slice
HAIR & MAKEUP: Enizio

l.o.v.e.

2011-07-06T14:58:00.001-06:00

being a wedding photographer is pretty much the most amazing job in the world. really, i feel SO lucky! but it's a LOT of hard work too. long hours on your feet, loads of editing, time away from my babies... the last couple of months i've felt spread thin and exhausted.

but today while i was editing, this image caught my breath...
it reminded me, this is why i do what i do. and my heart is lifted. :)

xoxo

third.

2011-06-21T11:25:00.002-06:00

we are surprised and delighted to announce baby kettle number three!

14.5 weeks- current gestation

24 weeks- is how far along my belly LOOKS

2nd Trimester

16th of december - due date

16.5 months - age difference between lucy and baby three

53- number of seconds i was skinny before i got chubby again
7 weeks- how far along i was when we found out

2- seconds it took for that little test to turn positive. seriously.
48 - number of times mommy said "holy ****" after peeing on the stick. yes, it was a BIG surprise! ;)

8 - pounds i have *already* put on

1-2 - average number of daily puke sessions (note this number was MUCH higher in the first trimester!)

100 - times we have heard the response "woooow, was this... planned...?" haha!

A MILLION times over the moon about this little addition!

everybody loves a photo booth...

2011-06-14T17:16:00.000-06:00

especially this fine lady! i wanted to kiss her. seriously.
if this doesn't make your day, i don't know what will!

abbie + tanner, san diego temple & catamaran resort PART II

2011-05-25T15:57:00.001-06:00

hello, internet. have you missed me? in case you're wondering, i'm still here. i have been shooting like crazy and preparing for SEVEN WEDDINGS next month alone. let's just say it's going to be a VERY busy summer! i have so many things to share, but recently i realized that i never finished posting this amazing wedding planned by amorology! don't you just die over the details?

see part one HERE.

from tonight...

2011-03-26T23:04:00.001-06:00

i could NOT help but post these of little warren! the bride's baby brother almost stole the show tonight.
ALMOST. ;)

baby charlotte, birth story.

2011-03-24T00:42:00.004-06:00

i have been so blessed to have the opportunity to shoot birth stories this year! i have had 5 so far and absolutely loved the experience every time. when jayme contacted me to shoot hers, i was SO excited! it was such a beautiful and exciting experience. they didn't find out the sex of the baby so we all had fun making guesses during labor. mom and dad said boy. FOR SURE, a BOY. so naturally, i guessed girl! you can guess how it played out...

this is jen.
jen is jayme's sister in law.
she works at a dermatology office.
she is not a nurse.
she is not qualified to deliver babies.
do not let the scrubs fool you.

[we were all ROLLING at this photo!]

at the final push, jeremy blurted out that he suddenly had a feeling that this baby was a GIRL.

and he was RIGHT.

big sister and brother...

jayme, thank you so much for letting me be a part of miss charlotte's birth- it was truly an honor and such a special day. congratulations.

danielle + robby, part III

2011-03-21T06:00:00.003-06:00

here is the last post for robby + danielle... don't you love all the details?!

this is a little something i like to call the wedding party yearbook.

i sort of love it.

fun, huh?!

danielle and robby, your wedding was just gorgeous and i was THRILLED that i got to be your wedding photographer!! and another big thanks to Miss Randle for second shooting. you rocked it lady.

robby + danielle, part II

2011-03-18T06:00:00.003-06:00

here we go on part II for danielle and robby! it was easily one of my 2010 favorites. i loved every little thing about this wedding. so much so, that it is turning into THREE POSTS. yes, three. seriously, the marathon posts are out of control. i will never (probably never, well, i bet i will) subject you to them again. sorry. i just couldn't leave anything out! enjoy danielle and robby's sweet ceremony and formal shots downtown.

part III coming MONDAY! and that's a promise. ;)

cowboy up.

2011-03-14T09:18:00.001-06:00

well hello, internet. long time, no post (but really, what else is new?)! i have been CRAZY busy gearing up for spring and summer wedding season. it's been consultations and engagement sessions gallore, mixed in with some TRUELY gorgeous weddings this month, and a couple more next week!

but don't worry, we never run out of time for a little fun here at the kettle house.
and this weekend, we rode horses.

do you ride? ;)

abbie + tanner, san diego temple & catamaran resort

2011-03-01T22:40:00.003-07:00

honestly, i don't even know what to say about abbie and tanner's wedding! it was absolutely gorgeous, thanks to the genius of heather at AMOROLOGY. her creativity and attention to detail is honestly unreal. of course abbie and tanner are just stunning (don't you just die over their wedding attire?!). and the catamaran resort was the perfect backdrop to their nautical themed wedding. also, i was very, VERY pregnant when i shot this wedding. as in, lucy was born three weeks after i got home. i could not have survived without my amazing second shooter TIFFANY! really, i would have gone into premature labor without her.

enjoy part one!

Getting Ready:
Hair + Makeup by TRACY

SAN DIEGO TEMPLE
note: the san diego temple was covered by scaffolding. and i do mean every. square. inch. hence, we took basically no bride and groom shots there... you'll see why.

uh, see? i told you so. ;)

CATAMARAN RESORT

ring ceremony and reception

this is how the guests found their seating arrangements! see what i mean? amorology, you amaze me.

COCKTAILS/ PORTRAITS

RECEPTION coming in part II!
plus, this wedding is being published somewhere very special.
i can't wait to tell you!

a typical tuesday...

2011-02-09T11:37:00.002-07:00

hot dog!

my TYPICAL TUESDAY was featured on the PLAYING HOUSE BLOG!

be sure to check it out, along with the rest of playing house.

and really, if you aren't already readying PLAYING HOUSE,

you live a deprived life. it's like,

hillarious,

honest,

awesome,

creative,

postive,

did i say hillarious?

mommy-hood blogging.

full of great stories, funny photos, and just plain great writing.

rachel has an attitude about life that i try to adopt myself.

i love it.

you should go to there.

danielle + robby, part I

2011-02-07T02:00:00.002-07:00

danielle and robby wed on a perfect fall day in downtown seattle and let me just say, every last detail was absolutely breathtaking. i'm not sure i have ever seen a more beautiful bride, danielle was just so glamorous, striking, and IN LOVE. it was so sweet to watch my childhood friend preparing for marriage to her perfect match (danielle and i were gymnasts together back in junior high and high school!). danielle and robby didn't see each other before she walked down the isle so we had separate shoots with the wedding party. here is just part one, before the ceremony...

ahhh, i just loved this wedding. and especially because ally drove up from portland second shoot!

are you excited for part II?! and maybe part III....
i have GOT to stop with the monster posts. ;)

coming up...

2011-02-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

well, i figure if i can't tear myself away from playing house with my two little loves long enough to do an entire wedding post (or 20) i could at least introduce you to my february and march brides right? i'm so excited for all of their weddings coming up, as well as alyssa's... who i couldn't post pictures of because her bridals aren't until next weekend. have you ever seen a more gorgeous group!? they're all so different and sooo stylish. i promise their will be a full post for all of these sessions- they were so much fun!

RAYNA + DOMINIC

ARIN + BRADY

JAMIE + BRENT

TAYLOR + BRIAN

see! i promise i don't JUST change diapers and drive carpool! =)

karson michael riggs

2011-01-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

handsome karson- age 2. our last photoshoot before he was unable to come off his bi-pap (breathing machine)

karson's funeral 1/18

i just wanted to check in and say sorry if you've tried to get a hold of me this week and i've not returned your call or e-mail, everything has kinda been on hold.

our sweet little buddy karson returned to live with our heavenly father last thursday after a tough battle with spinal muscular atrophy type one. we loved every second if the 2 years and 8 months we spent with this guy and will miss him every second we're apart from him. however, i have know that karson is free- no doubt running, jumping and breathing DEEP. and for that, i am happy, thankful, and at peace.

karson's parents are some of our very best friends (really, FAMILY) so this has obviously been a very emotional and busy week, preparing for his beautiful funeral and saying our last goodbyes to this very special little man.

there are a million things i want and need to say about karson, mostly about his life, but also a few sweet things about his passing. he was an increadible little boy... i will be going into more detail on my family blog.

also, can i just say that i have NEVER been more grateful for the power of photographs than i have been this week? NEVER. it made me so happy to see photographs EVERYWHERE at his funeral and putting together his slideshow brought me so much joy- we had a loooot of photoshoots together, karson and i, and now we treasure each and every photo of him. i photographed his funeral as well and i'll never forget the words of one of our friends- "well, you've documented his entire life. i guess it only makes sense to do it for him today too." karson, it was an honor.

and also, can i ask of you just one small favor?

PRAY.

please say a few extra prayers for our dear friends Darren, Jody and Hadley that they can have peace during this time. because no matter how much you know that it was his time and that he's where he should be, losing your two year old son and brother is something i can't even fathom. if my own heart is broken, how must they feel?

Thank you.

Karson's blog HERE.
Obituary HERE.
My previous posts about our buddy HERE and HERE.

jalene + lincoln wed, part II

2011-01-06T11:09:00.002-07:00

are you so excited to see the rest of this wedding?! well, you should be. it was FAB-U-LOUS! jalene put a ton of work into all of the details and they were all just perfect. the reception was at rice eccles tower and i loved everything about it- the light was so beautiful and j+l really transformed the space to fit their style.

needless to say, the flowers were gorgeous and i especially loved the vintage cameras at every table paired with their bridal and engagement photos. jalene is a photographer too, so their bridals, engagements and personal photos were a big part of the decor. jalene's dad is also a photographer and ALL the cameras are his! it's quite the collection, i must say.

jalene displayed old family photos and a lot of really beautiful family heirlooms like the typewriter (+ a beautiful letter written to lincoln!), sewing machine, vintage suitcases and books and mixed them with modern details, like the "FOR LIKE EVER" poster. genius, yea?

jalene's ring- GORGEOUS (good job linc!). and these are probably some of my favorite ring shots. =)

such a pretty gift table- and the card holder? LOVE!

it's tradition for jalene's cousins to perform a crazy dance number at all the family weddings. we were all rolling, and jalene and lincoln even jumped in for part of it. i seriously could have done a whole post just on their dance...

and then, j+l surprised everyone by perfoming a little dance of their own... the ross and monica dance from friends!

it. was. HILARIOUS!!! and you probably,definitely,cannot,should not miss Nate's video clip of it too. you will even see my little head pop up at the end...

First Dance from Nathan Pickett on Vimeo.

and then the dance party really started! i love a reception with a good dance party.

photo booth...

jalene and lincoln! i'm so sad this is the end of your wedding posts... you were an absolute dream to work with and photograph. thanks for hanging in there with me while i was like 11 months pregnant- the experience was unforgettable. ;

and p.s. here's jalene and lincoln's reception video by nate pickett! amazing as usual nate. =)

Rice Eccles: Reception from Nathan Pickett on Vimeo.

mentoring sessions...

2011-01-04T15:32:00.002-07:00

i have had so many nice e-mails lately regarding one on one mentoring, thank you! i absolutely LOVE mentoring, there is something so exciting about helping someone see the light (literally and figuratively!) and grow their talent and business. of course i will be showing you the ins and outs of what i do, but my goal is to help you develop your own style and look. during mentorting sessions we work on whatever YOU want to work on, and usually divide time between one or two shoots, post processing and business discussions. a few topics we usually cover are: camera technique, lighting, posing, composition, workflow, processing, blogging, client relationships, marketing, and pricing. but as i said, the great part about one on one mentoring is that we focus on YOUR needs and goals.

***

mentoring is an investment in yourself as an artist and your business. when i was getting started, there just wasn't a lot available in terms of classes and workshops. which lead me to a LOT hard work and sleepless nights trying to figure out everything for myself. it's taken me years to get where i'm at, but if i could have taken a workshop or mentoring session, i could have saved myself so much time and effort and jump started my career. it drives me crazy thinking of the time i wasted, blindly making the same mistakes shoot after shoot. don't you hate that?

mentoring sessions begin at 4 hours for $500, and additional time is $100 per hour. because everyone's needs are different, you may only need a half day, but full day sessions are also available (and so fun!). please e-mail me for more information or to schedule your session.

***also***

january sessions will get one additional hour FREE (gasp!)

and depending on the turnout, i may open 3 to four mini mentor sessions ($250, 2 hours, photoshop and workflow only) for january ONLY.

anyway, have fun looking through some of my images from a mentor session i hosted for jessica white this fall, is brittany the most amazing model or what? i had such a great time on this shoot and love how it turned out.

jalene + lincoln wed, part I

2010-12-07T18:21:00.001-07:00

so, remember jalene + lincoln? of course you do. well, i'm finally getting around to posting their wedding day photos and i could not be more thrilled! in fact, maybe a little TOO thrilled. i have approximately a million picture to post. so for that reason, this will be a two part wedding post. yea, it was that cool. ;)
so here goes part one, j and l at the salt lake temple. i think you'll agree, it couldn't have been a more perfect day for a more perfect couple! ENJOY!

getting ready...

salt lake temple...

another amazing perk to this day was that heather was my fabulous second shooter

and nate was the videographer. i couldn't have been more in love with the video!! judge me if you want, but i cried when i watched it. i just really love this couple, ok?

6-5-10:All SLC Temple from Nathan Pickett on Vimeo.

q & a? you don't say.

2010-11-29T12:24:00.002-07:00

[the "what-a-surprise-seeing-you-on-this-blog" face]

well hello there, internet. it's me! right here on this very blog. long time no talk! it's my fault, i know. i've been shooting all kinds of lovlies and in between shooting and editing, i've been doing the whole holiday thing and PRIMARILY snuggling up to miss L, who is four months old today!! i can't quite handle it.

but i think i just may have an idea that will cheer you up.

[the "thinking-super-deep-thoughts-about-a-great-idea" face]

you probably remember that every fall i conduct a ~~little~~ giant Q&A for my readers to celebrate my photoversary [see all my past Q&A/tutorial posts HERE]. well, can you believe that this october was my THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of when i accepted my first photography related paycheck?! in case you were wondering, it was $40. i felt like a seriously BIG DEAL.

anyhoo- i decided that this year we can mix it up a little bit. instead of doing a bunch of ridiculously long posts and stuff like that, i opened a ....[drumroll please].... formspring page!! for those of you who aren't familiar with formspring, it's a separate little website that is completely devoted to Q&A's. you post a question to my formspring, i answer it right there. it's pretty neat-o if you ask me! much faster, more organized and the best part, YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS THERE ANYTIME.

to kick off my formspring, i will be posting the answer to what is easily one of the most frequently asked questions i get. hint: even if you think you already know the answer, there is a new better way to do it, and if you use blogger, it will change your life. like, for real.

additional notes on formspring:

what can you ask? anything! within reason obviously. =) but no subjects are off limits. life, kids, photography, my favorite color, why you always see me eating with my clients at the taco truck, why i'm always posting at like 3am, what is in that fountain soda cup that is seemingly glued to my hand...whatever. of course there may be certain things i choose not to answer, but if that's the case, i will post an answer anyway, explaining my reason for not answering. also, if a question is asked multiple times, i will only answer the first time it is asked.

getting to know eachother. the only bummer about it is that you either create an account or ask anonymously, and i feel like most people don't have accounts. so i hereby encourage you to create an account so you can follow all your favorite peeps, or if you go the anonymous route, leave your name and blog address (if you're comfortable)! that way, i get to know you too and we can be like, friends and stuff. i've loved getting to know my readers better through my past q and a sessions and would be sad to miss out on that aspect of the q and a this year. =)

also did you know that lots of fancy folks have formspring accounts? people like justin hackworth and jonathan canlas to name a few? nice, right?

ARE YOU SO HAPPY??!

good. because she is too. ;)

so go HERE and let the asking begin!

abbie + tanner, bridals

2010-11-03T01:49:00.001-06:00

i had so much fun with abbie and tanner! i adored abbie's dress from alta moda (and that vera wang belt, swoon!) , and check out tanner's navy knit tie and toms. what can i say, these two have serious style! and i love fall weather, but this location was so beautiful that suddenly i'm missing summer!

abbie + tanner, you. are. gorgeous.

and if you like their bridals, just you wait until you see their amazing san diego wedding planned by my faaaavorite wedding planner, heather from amorology!

glenna + matt, engaged.

2010-11-01T14:40:00.005-06:00

can you believe it? these two got married this summer, and i haven't even introduced them to you. slowly but surely, i will catch up! glenna and matt are a just plain DARLING couple. they were such naturals in front of the camera, and so sweet and affectionate to each other. i just LOVE them and felt like we really got to be great friends throughout all of our shoots. i love that about my job- i get to meet amazing people and photograph them, and also create relationships with them.

this is in fact, our second attempt at an engagement session- our first time it was so windy none of us could even keep our eyes open! not to mention glenna's hair was blowing straight out everywhere... we had much better luck this time. =) glenna and matt wanted something fun, with lots of color! which i think is exactly what we got...

one of my favorites- glenna, just beautiful. i want her hair. and matt, can you say smoldering?!

fun fact- while shooting the pictures in front of the ice cream truck, my CAR KEYS got STOLEN. for real. i mean who does that?! glenna and matt waited for like 3 hours with me after their session ended to get my whole situation taken care of. it was a mess! but we ate tacos and had a great time anyway. see i told you, these two really are great. =)

aruba, jamaica...

2010-10-18T23:47:00.003-06:00

sorry it's been a little quiet around here, we just got home on sunday from shooting brenda and torrence's wedding in ARUBA! to say it was gorgeous would be such an understatement. here's just a teeny sneak peek- i'm dying to share them all, but i'm determined to catch up on the rest of my summer weddings.

renee + bryan. KAUAI.

2010-10-05T00:47:00.008-06:00

renee and bryan's wedding in kauai last spring was UN.REAL. i still have to pinch myself and can't believe they found me and brought me all the way to hawaii to share their big day with them! i feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to capture this gorgeous couple. they were so relaxed and fun to be around, and they have such a great connection. they're so adventurous too- hard core scuba divers! they spent two weeks after the wedding doing some amazing dives. i just adore them both and had a great time getting to know them and being a small a part of their adventure together. =) ho'omaika'i (congratulations!) renee and bryan!

.getting ready.

Poipu Sheraton

.first look.

can you even handle his expression when he sees her for the first time!!? blown away. i died over it.

.processional to the beach.

The ceremony was held at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu. Talk about GORGEOUS! It couldn't have been a better day for a wedding, sunny and blue skies.

.ceremony.

.bride and groom.

.the after party.

Renee and Brian had their actual reception in Seattle a few weeks after the wedding, so after their wedding they had a super fun, casual barbecue. let's be honest, after all that wedding stress, all a girl really wants are some WINGS!! genius.

so guys, your anniversary isn't TOO far away...

i say we start planning a trip to renew your vows! ;)

mackenzie- seattle senior photos

2010-10-03T22:57:00.007-06:00

i died over these senior pictures we took in seattle a few weeks ago. the location and lighting worked so seamlessly with mackenzie's look- so stylish but effortless and relaxed. and if you're thinking she has a bit of a familiar look about her- she's my baby sister! i seriously can't believe she's already a senior and that she's so grown up and BEAUTIFUL. i mean really, the girl's a knockout. i guess one good thing about her being a senior is that we're just one step closer to being in the same state! if everything continues as planned, kenz will be diving for byu next year (fingers crossed!!).

we played a lot with lighting for this shoot, much more direct sun than usual and i'm LOVING it. thoughts?

ADDED NOTE: Thanks for the questions and comments! I love hearing your feedback. I did NOT use OCF for any of these shots. All natural light! It's my favorite. In fact, I almost NEVER use flash for portraits, unless it's a night shoot.

And yes. She DOES look like Scarlett Johansson! It's funny, we have both been told we look like her for years. Only Kenzie REALLY REALLY does! ;) we could actually tell you some pretty funny stories about our Scarlett look-alike moments.

BAM.

is her hair killer or what?

the golden girl... love this one.

for some reason, i'm obsessed with the above right image. do you do that ever? fall in love with a seemingly random image like that? i do.

*a favorite. it seriously gave me chills.

wrapping up the session with the most insanely pretty light ever. L.O.V.E.

kenz, you are one amazing girl inside and out, i'm so proud of you and proud to be your sister!

hopefully we will have a few MORE photos in a month or so- kenzie forgot her 3rd outfit (this gorgeous black and yellow anthro dress) so we will be continuing this shoot around thanksgiving... =)

jalene + lincoln, all dressed up!

2010-09-24T11:39:00.005-06:00

this was SUCH a fun shoot- jalene and lincoln are so gorgeous and just plain easy to hang out with and photograph! their engagement session was really fun and laid back, so we wanted to go the opposite route and have a very romantic, timeless look for their bridal session. i loooved the look of this pretty location with her vintage inspired dress and hair, and don't you just die over lincoln's suit? so dashing. and i have to say, the light that evening was UN.BE.LIEVABLE. which was extra exciting because it was supposed to rain (and it DID all morning)! enjoy...

waiting for lincoln to arrive...

just a few from lincoln's first look!

we printed this one of jalene huge for the wedding- oh, it was stunning.

dear owner-of-the-white-house-who's-front-yard-this-tree-is-in,

thanks a whole bunch

for letting us shamelessly trespass.

especially since you live on a private drive.

we super appreciate it.

and will probably do it again sometime.

and did you really think i dragged this poor girl into the fields after a rainy day in her wedding shoes?

don't be silly.

a couple of reasons why my weekend was a good one...

2010-09-20T12:32:00.008-06:00

this wedding...

danielle is the most breathtaking bride! the whole day was to die for.

this senior...

my baby sister is all grown up! and hello, GORGEOUS!

not to mention, hanging out in seattle with my family and having ally as a second shooter!

to top it all off, a feature on utah bride blog.

so, yes. my weekend was a very, VERY good one!

melissa + michael. balboa.

2010-09-16T00:58:00.005-06:00

let me just start by saying, this is one of my very favorite sessions of the summer, if not ever! remember melissa and michael? of course you do. they came to salt lake for their engagements, i came to san diego for their bridals. it started out a crazy day- melissa got stuck in major traffic coming from L.A., we didn't know how long the light would last, and neither of us had ever been to balboa before. oh, and i was 8 months pregnant. =)

i'd say, we got the results we wanted. =) in fact, i'd even say it worked in our favor! i brought the video light on a whim so we ended with some night shooting. and honestly, these two are in a word, stunning. my camera LOVES them.

melissa and michael, is it really over? i miss shooting you. much love.

well folks, hold on to your britches.

jalene and lincoln's bridals are next!

and their shoot? it's a show stopper.

back into the swing of things...

2010-09-15T01:10:00.003-06:00

i had such a great time shooting sarah and nate's bridals at sundance! i can't wait for their wedding next month (also at sundance!!)- there's something about a fall wedding that i just LOVE.

dress: altamoda

hair and makeup: enizio [side note. enizio is THE. BEST. wedding hair and makeup in the state. PERIOD. i send all of my brides there! really, there's no point in messing with anyone else!]

the boy and his pet.

2010-09-10T00:26:00.003-06:00

pets at our house live in jars. and we like it like that. =)

let me tell you, this one is ALL boy. dirt, noise, balls and bikes. and now, grasshoppers. he's obsessed.

our sweet lucille...

2010-09-05T18:15:00.006-06:00

wow! i just realized that i haven't updated this blog in a MONTH! i can't believe i didn't even share the baby's name. i have been journaling everything on my family blog, so over there you can read a lot more about her birth, transitioning to two kids, max being a big a big brother- you know, my new crazy life! honestly, i'm loving every second (hence, i have been absentee on this blog!), lucy girl is a dream baby and max is so proud of her. but here, i'm just going to share this, my last month, in photos.

Lucy, 37.5 weeks gestation.

Lucy, Birthday.

birth photos by my dear friend, chelsea christiensen. edited by me.

Lucy, 1 day old

Lucy, 2 days old

Lucy, 4 days old

Lucy, 6 days old

Lucy, 7 days old

Lucy, 8 days old

Lucy, 12 days old

Lucy, 13 days old

Lucy, 14 days old

Lucy, 15 days old

Max, 3 and a half. Lucy, 14 days old

more to come... when the editing is done!

she's here!

2010-07-30T17:23:00.003-06:00

july 29th - 3:35 pm - 6 lbs 13 oz - 18 inches

introducing max's "baby thithter" (baby sister)! no name just yet, but boy is she sweet! we are all completely in love with her and max is OBSESSED! i have honestly never seen him smile bigger than the moment he met her. we are all doing great but we're busy resting and living the high life in the hospital. =) please understand that i will probably be pretty slow responding to e-mails for the next week or so and i will not be shooting or processing orders for the next 6 weeks.

nick + allison

2010-07-06T22:39:00.005-06:00

i had SO much fun shooting allison and nick's wedding! i have known allison since she was just a little girl (i even had a crush on her big brother!) and i can't believe she's MARRIED now! does this make me old? congrats you two! and of course, big thanks to my girl jayme for the second shooting skills on this event.

Salt Lake City Temple

the paparazzi =)

aren't they G O R G E O U S ?

SALT LAKE COUNTRY CLUB

this week...

2010-06-28T14:35:00.002-06:00

[my favorite ring shots from jalene + lincoln's wedding]

i'm going to be an editing machine!! i just got home from san diego where i shot my last wedding and a bridal session before the little lady is scheduled to show up. and it's a good thing- i'm HUUUGE! you should have seen me running around the wedding on saturday, i must have been quite the sight. and for the record, i wore crocs to the wedding. you heard me, crocs. my feet are that chubbo. haha! so anyway, now i get to stay home and focus on editing all these weddings (my to do list right now is not a pretty sight). and who knows, maybe i will even do some blogging?! now wouldn't that be a miracle. stay tuned!

melissa + michael. engaged.

2010-06-21T16:33:00.004-06:00

this has to be one of my favorite engagment sessions this year- melissa and michael were so much fun and had tons of great ideas. not to mention killer style- don't you think? sadly i won't be shooting their wedding because it's in august right when the baby is due (thank heavens that heather will be covering it!), but i can't wait to shoot their bridals in san diego this weekend!

First day of my Life by Bright Eyes is michael and melissa's song, so they wanted to recreate a scene from the music video, i think it turned out pretty close!

don't you just want to steal melissa's outfit? i NEED those shoes. =)

i was soooooo thrilled with this light- isn't it gorgeous!?

they also really wanted to do something with rain boots and puddles-

the salt flats were perfect!

"mistakes"

2010-06-08T14:57:00.003-06:00

i love that art can surprise us, coming from the the things that aren't planned, or even the things we try to avoid. here's to many more lovely mistakes, in life and in art. =)

megan + morgan bridals

2010-06-07T10:51:00.004-06:00

oh i LOVED this session! one, because i got to photograph my dear friend megan, who i grew up with since 5th grade, two, because i got to meet her husband morgan [who seriously is just perfect for her- i just ADORE HIM!], and three, are they not just drop dead GORGEOUS and sooo stylish? i can't tell you what a good time we had. don't ask me why i'm sharing their bridals first, but i guess i'm really not posting anything in order these days. =) enjoy!!

abby + tanner

2010-06-01T13:26:00.004-06:00

i had so much fun getting to know abby and tanner and hanging out with them for the afternoon! they are so much fun and just laughed the whole time. which i LOVE! i also couldn't be more excited to shoot their nautical themed wedding in san diego this month, AND to work with their fabulous wedding planner heather from AMOROLOGY! their work is absolutely incredible, in fact, i have been dyyyying to shoot one of their weddings for like two years. the plans sound amazing and i can't wait to capture every little detail!

california bridals

2010-05-20T09:38:00.003-06:00

why oh why does the beach have to be so far away from my house? i'm here in california this week to shoot a wedding in LA and take these bridal shots for gorgeous kandace. i loooooved the combination of this location with her dress and style- stunning!

NiKON 17-55 f/2.8 FOR SALE. $950

2010-05-14T09:18:00.005-06:00

UPDATE: SOLD

well ya'll, i'm sorry to say that i'm selling my 17-55mm f/2.8 lens! it's been my go to lens ever since i bought it from b and h photo last year. the only reason i'm selling it is because it's not really meant for my full frame d700. boo.

the lens is in awesome condition and a little over a year old. i feel like i should disclose that it was once dropped and the outer plastic rim was damaged. it was repaired by NIKON USA via PICTURELINE though so there is absolutely zero remaining damage. the glass was never damaged whatsoever and is in perfect shape!

if you're interested, please send me an e-mail or call me!

jesslkettle@yahoo.com 435.770.8966

oh yea, the technical mumbo jumbo

2010-05-10T13:20:00.004-06:00

i couple of you have e-mailed or commented about lighting for the birth story, thanks for reminding me! i was going to write about it but forgot. =)

lens wise, i used my 50 mm f/1.4 the WHOLE TIME. didn't switch once. i also upgraded to the NIKON D700 about 6 weeks ago and let me tell you, there is NO.WAY. i could have shot this on my D300 and ended up with the same results. i actually brought the D300 and put the 17-55 lens on it so i could shoot with two cameras, and it was pointless because my ISO just couln't hack it on that camera.

straight up, the lighting was a little tricky. one, it was D A R K. like, really dark. we were going for quiet and relaxing, so all the lights were off except for one small fluorescent light over the sink on one side of the room. the labor shots were all shot at about f/2.2-2.8, 1/50 sec. and ISO 4000. I dropped as low as 3200 ISO and went up to 5000 on a few. told ya it was dark! haha!

once the actual delivery started, we turned on the light in the bathroom and opened the door which helped with the ambient light, plus they turned on this spotlight thing that shined right on (well, you know). so it was still quite dark in the room and then there was a VERY bright light right on the baby. those shots and most of the subsequent shots were taken at 1/250, f/2.5 and ISO 2000. I definitely had some hot spots though, but it was sortof the best middle ground.

i did not and would probably never use flash or artificial lighting of any kind. it seems as if it would be very intrusive and there is no way i would have gotten all the shots of baby with his eyes open... like these ones. haha! =)

birth story: baby abram

2010-05-09T22:27:00.006-06:00

this has been one of the most remarkable things i have experienced as a photographer, i was so honored to be invited to this special event! celeste decided to go AU NATURAL and did so much preparation in order to be ready for it. her first baby was born with a epidural etc. and she just felt like they were all a little loopy and disconnected. so this time around she was determined to have a natural, spiritual, and emotionally connected birth experience and attended a local HYPNOBIRTHING class. both she and matt did so much research and preparation to be sure that this was achieved. i remember a few weeks prior to her due date, celeste was relaying some of her excitement about having a natural birth. she told me she could not wait to experience it all and that she knew that the birth would be hard, but that it would be the closest and most connected she would ever feel to God, her husband, and her new baby. she wanted and expected a beautiful, loving, spiritual birth, and i think that's exactly what she got. i think the fact that they also went through a year and a half of trying to conceive and two miscarriages to get this little man here made it that much more amazing. celeste told me that despite all of the waiting and the pain, she knew this little guy was meant to come at the time he did.

celeste's water broke at 1pm on wednesday, so I thought for sure she would deliver before midnight! but the going was slow and at 11:30 she was still at a 6. i waited a while and finally whent to bed when i was informed that she wasn't really progressing. at 3 am i got the call that things were turning around and she was at a 7! i hopped in the car and when i arrived at mckaydee hospital, the lights were low, soft music was playing, celeste was SO calm and in control and matt was right there helping her physically and mentally the entire time. i was SO impressed by the teamwork that went into this birth- celeste was absolutely AMAZING, but matt was an incredible birth coach!!

{i am so proud to share my first ever birth story- i hope you enjoy it! please be forewarned that although we aren't showing any - you know, PARTS - this is birth photography after all so if you're bothered by that, maybe skip this post. though if you do, i think you're crazy!}

it was slow going for a couple of hours, but finally around 5 she transitioned and it went FAST from there! i couldn't believe how calm she remained through the hard labor.

-the pushing starts-

HERE. HE. COMES!! celeste had requested to lift the baby onto her chest herself and have an extended amount of skin to skin time before cutting the cord and cleaning up. the rest truly speaks for itself...

in case you were wondering, 9 POUNDS 8 OUNCES, 22 and 1/2 inches.

NO PAIN KILLERS.

at this point we moved to the postpartum rooms and got a little rest before grandma and grandpa brought big sister sawyer to visit...

baby abram...

thank you again matt and celeste for allowing me to be a part of this incredible experience, i could not be more honored to witness the birth of this perfect baby boy! love you all.

new.

2010-05-08T08:45:00.003-06:00

ok, so i didn't hit a post every day. but i think i have a preeeeetty good excuse! one of my very best friends went into labor wednesday night and i essentially pulled an all nighter and photographed BIRTH for the first time Thursday morning. It was one of the most incredible, beautiful things i have ever experienced- personally and professionally. i felt so honored to be able to be there, let alone photograph it! i can't wait to share more when everything has been pre-approved by the couple, but here are just a couple of favorites. i about died when i saw this first one, taken just seconds after the baby was placed on mama's chest. one of my all time favorite photos.

jalene + lincoln, engaged.

2010-05-05T00:36:00.004-06:00

well folks, meet jalene [she has quite the darling blog] and lincoln, one of my 2010 couples! these two are so stinking adorable and their shoot was soooo fun. j is an aspiring photographer herself so we have had so much fun coming up with plans for her photography! i can't wait for her wedding in june- but for now enjoy the engagement shots!

in case you're keeping score, i am actually making my third post of the WEEK. woot woot!

kennan + adam

2010-05-04T18:00:00.000-06:00

kennan and adam are another of my october weddings, notice the PERFECT weather?! october is tricky that way. =) these two are such a beautiful couple and their wedding was beautiful as well- congrats kennan and adam!!

one of the groomsmen- so funny!

i would just like to go on record and say that kennan has the most beautiful skin EVER. i'm so jealous!!