Amelia Kate

19 weeks.

2012-01-07T07:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Baby,

You are now 19 weeks. And still nameless.

Don't worry about that though, your Dad and I will eventually figure that one out.

I think Mckemy is finally coming around to the though of having you around.

You see, she was pretty set on having a little sister. In fact, she used to cry every time we told her she would have a brother instead. But this week, she seems to be fond of the idea.

She kisses you goodnight, and gives you hugs all the time.

I know she'll love you.

Something fun that happened this week was your Dad actually felt you move.

We were laying down for bed, and you were doing some pretty strong flips inside of me,

and he actually got to feel it.

That was a good moment, before we drifted off to sleep.

Take care little baby, were almost half way there.

Love, Mom.

Surprise!

2011-12-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

I am so relieved to finally be able to tell the world that,

IM PREGNANT!

Yayyyyyyy! We are so sooo excited for this little baby to come into our family.

I guess after 14 months of trying, we finally figured it out.

Mckemy reacted something like this:

Mckemy is now 3 1/2, and I am so happy she'll finally have a sibling.

And not just any sibling,

a little baby BROTHER! Thats right, were having a BOY!!!

I am 19 weeks along, and we found out this last week that the sweet little bun in the oven is a little boy.

Sheesh, I guess I'll have to figure out how life is with a little boy around here.

Thank you all who have kept my secret :) We are beyond excited for this little guy to come into our family at the end of May.

Hayley & AJ: Bridals

2011-12-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I was able to photograph Hayley & AJ's wedding in San Diego.

Let me tell you that these two are so perfect. I absolutely loved every single second of their wedding.

My only regret is not having more time with them for their bridals, because they are stunning.

Thank you a million times for allowing me to be a part of your day.

I cant wait to see you guys for round two in a few weeks :)

Josh & Danielle: Bridals

2011-11-19T15:28:00.001-08:00

Last Friday I shot Josh & Danielle's wedding, more of that coming later.
You may remember them from their engagements.
They opted for a day after shoot, and I am so glad they did.
I couldn't be more in love with their images from this shoot!

21st Century

2011-11-08T16:53:00.001-08:00

I just download the blogger app for the iPhone. I know, welcome to 2011 right?

I was going through all the photos on my phone of Mckemy, and it's so crazy to see all the changes in her. It makes me so grateful for technology that I can document her life. Now I just need to figure out how to print them off so I can have them around my house. :) No matter how great digital is, nothing beats having a print in your hand. Anyway, I sure do love my little girl! She is getting so big and her hair is getting soo long!

Prelude

2011-10-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

More to come :)

Sarah.

2011-09-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been so inspired on pintrest.

Talk about getting your creative juices going, its a must.

Follow me at http://pinterest.com/ameliakate/, get a feel for what inspires me :)

Speaking of beautiful things, meet Sarah.
She is fun, beautiful, and a great photographer.
Lucky for me, I get to work with her lots more in the future.

There are so many great photos, to see more head on over to facebook!

Simplicity.

2011-09-06T23:44:00.001-07:00

Love this.

That is all.

Show and tell

2011-09-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

I was driving down the freeway the other day and saw that Sunsplash was closed again until next summer. It made me realize that while we still endure 105+ degree temperatures for another month, summer is coming to a close.

As much as I hate the heat, it always makes me a little sad to see the season of fun come and go.
I remember as a child being able to walk barefoot to my friends house, without my feet burning.
Staying outside with my friends until 8 o'clock, and going to the public pool.
My dad used to let us ride on his back and pretend he was a shark while he swam underwater.
My childhood is so reminiscent of summer memories.
That may or may not be due to the 6 month summers we have over her (it all tends to blur together), but in spite of it all, I love summer time.

So tell me, what are some of your favorite memories of summer?

And since every post needs a picture, here is one from a summer engagement session.

you say its your birthday, so happy birthday to you!

2011-07-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Mckemy,
You are beautiful.
You are smart.
You are funny.
You are sassy.
You are full of light.
And you are currently sitting on my lap.

I love you so much.
Happy 3rd Birthday.

Genessa

2011-07-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am now a proud 23 year old.
Thank you to everybody who made my 3 day birthday celebration completely amazing.
I would say this was probably the best birthday I've had in a long time.

(photos from my shoot with my beautiful sister. Head to Facebook to see the rest of her sneak peak :)

Mignonne Handmade

2011-06-16T13:26:00.001-07:00

Back in March I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with

Jennifer Wood from Mignonne Handmade.
She launched a new bridal line, and I was able to photograph it at her adorable home.
She truly is one of the most talented ladies in the wedding industry.
Ladies, if you are getting married, her hair pieces truly are a must for your wedding day!

There are a ton of amazing new pieces to her bridal line, which you can find in her Etsy shop,
so make sure you check it out.
For now, enjoy some of my favorite images from the shoot.
You can also check out these amazing features of her new bridal line and our shoot together here:
Martha Stewart Bridal
Style Me Pretty
Green Wedding Shoes

Dress provided by: KT Jean
Models: Natasha Zaolmski, Agency Arizona
Majority of Wardrobe provided by: LollyPOP Vintage

The Wright Family

2011-06-02T15:57:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I get to go to girls camp.

I am so excited to have an excuse to always have my camera in hand,
and just relax for the next 4 days!
No internet, no distractions. I cant wait!

I can't remember the last time I posted a family session that wasnt from one of my siblings.
I am solely a wedding photographer, and I love it.
That being said, when Amber found me on Facebook, I couldnt help myself.
They are probably the most stylish family I have ever met.
Seriously, this shoot was a breeze, and I walked away so happy and inspired.

Kim & George

2011-06-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

I had to make this photo extra big, because seriously, I am in love with it!

Really, truly, I am blessed.
These two made my job so easy, and I am so grateful that I get to continue to capture them on their wedding day.
Best. Job. Ever.

Motherhood

2011-05-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Today Mckemy chopped all the heads off our sunflowers.

She was so proud of herself, that it was hard to be upset.

Later when I laid her down for bed, she told me to sit in the chair in her room.
This is our routine you see, I sit there while she falls asleep.
Lately, she has been waking up after an hour or so, and as much as I disliked it, I let her get up.
But today I tried something new.
I sat back down in the chair and waited.
Sure enough, she was sound asleep five minutes later.

I love knowing that she needs me.Photos from a recent Engagement shoot. For more head on over to their Facebook gallery

Wedding

2011-05-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

I have been dying to share this shoot for so long! Now that is was featured here, I am officially allowed to share.
This shoot was seriously so dreamy.
I have to thank Keisha and Klay for coming out and modeling for me, aren't they adorable?!

I wanted to collaborate with a bunch of Arizona vendors, and I really got the best out there!
To see the rest of the images, head on over to my facebook page for the full gallery!

Other vendors involved:
Styling- Designed by Love
Dress- KT Jean Design
Halo Hair Piece- Mignonne Handmade
Wreath Hair Piece- Design by Love
Hair and Make Up- Our Beauty Mark
Cake Bites- Cake Bites by Autumn

Wedding Chicks Feature!

2011-05-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

I have been keeping this shoot a secret for so long, but today the cat is finally out of the bag!
Head on over to the Wedding Chicks blog and check out my featured styled shoot!
Make sure to leave some comment love over there!

Caitlin & Cody: Preview.

2011-04-28T17:54:00.001-07:00

Ay, Im a horrible blogger!

I've just been so tired, and trying to get some good time in with my little family.

Can you blame me?

Please, take this little sneak peak as my peace offering.

I know its not much, but its definitely a promise that there is lots more to come!

The best yet.

2011-04-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

I spent 8 hours with these two and laughed the entire time.

I seriously love them, and can't wait for their wedding this November!
Meet Danielle & Josh,

Second favorite of the day!My favorite of the day!Seriously Danielle, could you be any more gorgeous!

A day without shoes, so kids don't have to.

2011-04-06T22:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the Toms Shoes annual event of a day without shoes.
If you dont know what its about, go to toms.com.
Freaking amazing.

What is even more awesome is the engagements we took yesterday.
Danielle and Josh are wearing Toms at their wedding, so it happened to be the perfect fit for their engagements!

After all was said and done, we pulled out the tripod and snapped a few self timers!
PS, my feet have never been so sore!

My cup is empty.

2011-04-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for this weekend.

Not only do I have the wedding of a lifetime tomorrow, but I get to hear the leaders of my church speak for the next two days.

Its funny, because conference happens every 6 months, but it always seems that by the time it rolls around again, I am in desperate need of spiritual uplifting.

Over the past few days I have been reminded that God is good.

He is a God of love, and happiness.

I truly am so blessed to be a part of this gospel.

Lets get together, yeah yeah yeah.

2011-03-22T17:06:00.001-07:00

Even though we had a huge location fail,
My sisters family = major win.

January Fields

2011-03-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

So I can do whatever I want?

Yes!

Ok, get in the water.

Rachelle, you are beautiful, inspiring, and amazing in every way.

Thank you for your friendship, and never failing to be there when times get rough.

You are truly a gift to me.

Rachelle

2011-02-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

Yummy light makes me incredible happy.

More of this trash the dress session to come soon.

A little sugar for your tea.

2011-02-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

Swooning over BHLDN's new line!

No titles, just love.

2011-02-12T20:15:00.001-08:00

It's official, she is potty trained!

It took 3 days, and a lot of patience, but we are finally there!

So in light of celebration, and valentines day,

I want to offer a special deal through the month of February!

All couple sessions booked by midnight on March 1st will receive

$100 dollars off!

What a perfect way to celebrate your love with your significant other,

and walk away with amazing photos to show off!

Hit that contact button on the left, and e-mail me to book your session :)

Love, Millie

Britney & Joey

2011-02-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Buckle up, this is a long one.

I couldn't be more excited to share these images!

Britney first contacted me back in December, and the second I read her e-mail I knew that we were going to be the perfect match!

Britney is the dreamer and loves all things vintage, and Joey is the grounded graphic designer.

He also happens to be the most polite person I have ever met.

Our original idea for their engagements was to get out of town, and shoot on Joey's parent's cattle ranch, but mother nature had her own plans, and there was just too much snow.

So we decided to showcase a different side of their relationship.

They both live, and grew up, in phoenix so I knew that downtown was the perfect spot.

Britney & Joey, you guys rocked my world!

I can not WAIT for your wedding in April!

Dooms Day.

2011-02-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

Today is the day I've been dreading for 2 1/5 years.

Today is potty training day, and I'm terrified!

I'm gonna need all the help I can get, so if you've got tips, tricks, or general knowledge in this area, now is the time spill it!

Call me crazy, but I'm hoping to have it done in 3 days!

For all you Moms out there, I'll make sure to let you know how it goes!

Since posts aren't as fun without photos, enjoy this sneak peak.

Full blog post coming on this soon!! I'm so excited to share :)

Welcome to the desert. Prepare to freeze.

2011-02-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

Some amazing things are happening around here that I can't wait to share.

But for now, I'll just showcase a few of the awesome moments from our adventure!

To start with, we had an amazing tour guide named Otis.

He refused to be photographed.

On our first day we went to two private slot canyons.

Never in my life have I been in something like this!

For the most part it was pretty dark, but we would hit these pockets of light where it was just shining through, creating a pretty spectacular view!

After the canyons, we headed over to another tour group and they took up horseback riding!

Now I may not be an animal person, but I looove me some horses :)

After our trail ended on the horses we headed over to horseshoe bend.

This photo is totally awkward, but who cares, the view was beautiful!

Day two we hiked in to this amazing rock formation called the wave. I was told the hike was about 3 miles in, and decided to just leave my camera behind.

I couldn't have made a worse decision!!

Although the hike was rigorous, and I did have a couple mild panic attacks (fear for my life, I'm going to slip off this sandstone mountain and die) when we finally got there I couldn't stop kicking myself!

Luckily Brady (you'll meet him soon) had his iphone on him and was able to grab a photo of me and Devin.

The crazy thing about this trip was after we left the wave, we went maybe 10 miles down the road and hiked into the hudus! It was so amazing to realize these two completely different landmarks were so close together!

Let's see, who's whiter, Me or the sand?

We also took a group photo here.... but its way too embarrassing to post.

I'm pretty sure Cami has a better one somewhere.

Our third day was really relaxed. We went to a few different view point of Lake Powell, and the Hoover Dam. This was my first time really ever seeing the lake, and it is gorgeous!

So here was our group!

From the top we have Cami McFarlane, Devin, Cami Dunn, Me, Rob McFarlane, and Brady Parker.

We all came up with a word (or phrase...brady) that summed up our trip.

Finally, a trip home from page would not be compelte without stopping at the Indian jewlery stands. I just love Cami!

Seriously, this was one of the coolest experience of my life! Thank you, thank you, thank you Cami for taking us!!!! We love you :)

It a new day, Its a new life.... and I'm feelin good.

2011-01-31T06:58:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, I am so excited!
My new website is up and running!!

You can now find answers to your questions on the Client FAQ page,
learn fun new facts about me, and see a ton of new images!!

Please, do yourself a favor and go check it out :)

www.ameliakate.net

Quarter of a Century.

2011-01-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

We got back from our adventure (photos to come)

just in time to celebrate the hubs birthday!

I was secretly planning on buying Devin a dog for his birthday.

But if you know me, you know that I am not an animal person.

So this was a huge decision for me.

Then Devin approached me yesterday saying how he really wanted a dog!

I told him to search online, and within seconds we found the perfect little puppy on craigslist!

Her name is Lady, and we absolutely love her!

So happy birthday Devin!

I love you tons :)

See you on the flip side.

2011-01-13T12:06:00.000-08:00

Please excuse us while we go have an adventure.

Memories.

2011-01-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

A couple months ago my beautiful friend Cami asked me to take a road trip.

We traveled a couple hours to Snowflake, Arizona and captured this beautiful wedding.

I am so happy I said yes, because this couple was amazing and our road-trip was pretty fantastic.

The night before we left, this video was made.

Through the looking glass.

2011-01-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

Cami Takes Photos

Last year I vowed to be better.

To take off the curtain and let the judgements in.

I challenged the year to strip me down while I showed it my fists.

I fought a good fight and somehow came out on top.

This year I am taking a softer approach.

And approach to love more, and worry less.

To keep my house clean, and to learn to sew.

To adventure out of my comfort zone, and to rock out to more music.

I am going to dance more freely, and document life unashamed.

2010 taught me that life goes on.

That my trials will eventually disperse, if I decide to push through,

and I pushed hard.

Happiness, It Hurts.

2010-12-28T03:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I get to be a part of something so special.

The dog days are over

2010-12-27T08:59:00.000-08:00

Lately it seems as though my heart is unsure of everything.

Merry Christmas :)

2010-12-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

Today has been amazing,

and by far our best Christmas yet.

It may be our last one with just Mckemy,

so I wanted to make it memorable.

I got Devin a fuji instax mini 7s.

We've only taken a few photos, but they have already stolen my heart.

I know that we will always remember this Christmas :)

Kristi & Shannon's Wedding!

2010-12-24T12:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!

I hope you all are having an amazing holiday season :)

I just wanted to share a little bit of goodness before the craziness begins.

Last Saturday these two lovelies said I do!

I was so honored to be a part of their day.

It was truly amazing in every sense.

You could truly just feel the love that was there supporting them that day.

Thank you two for allowing me to capture this!

I hope you had a blast in Hawaii :)

To see more click here

The Absence of Rain

2010-12-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

I don't even know how to describe the magic that went on this morning.

It all comes back to our shoot being cancelled yesterday,

due to dress alterations and being rained out.

So we rescheduled, and I am so glad we did.

Starting with the rare fog that graced the land this morning,

and ending with the beauty that is Kristi and Shannon, this shoot was like nothing that I have ever experienced before.

These two lovelies are getting married tomorrow, and I can't wait!

So for now, enjoy this little piece of heave, because there will be plenty to come.

My favorite shot of the day.

Find Beauty. Every Day.

2010-12-08T17:36:00.000-08:00

Today I met my neighbor.

A lady who lives alone.

She works nights, and it consumes her.

Today I met a beautiful person who works so hard to take on life.

Alone.

Say hi to a stranger.

Be friend the lady down the street.

Smile as you walk .

Reach out more often.

The more you enrich others life's, the more fulfilling yours becomes.

I challenge you to extend yourself once this week.

Lets start a revolution and live to tell about it.

Live to create a difference,

you'll find that others live will to tell about it.

Today my heart was touched.

(Images that I adore from a special shoot in Utah)

Random Love

2010-12-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

Today I ran.

I ran further than I have ever run.

I hate running with every fiber of my being,

but there is something so cleansing about it.

It is the only thing I have found that makes me feel renewed.

So I continue to run.

Someday my goal is to ~~complete~~ ROCK a half marathon.
Sometimes I get these crazy ideas, like a marathon is completely nuts, but 13 miles feels so attainable.

Have I mentioned I have been thinking about turning my hair red?
Yes, dying my untouched hair equals another crazy idea.
Or how about dental hygiene school after Devin is finished with his RN.

Really mind, where do you get these ridiculous ideas.

I know this post is going no where, and if you've made it this far without any pretty pictures to look at then there are two options for you.
A. You Rock
OR
B. You find my ramblings way too interesting?
Since I will lump you all into category A, my suggestions for category B is to go write your own ramblings and be amazing.

THE END.

Hurst Family: Prelude

2010-12-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

Still can't get over it.

Tiffany & Tim: Reveal

2010-12-01T13:51:00.001-08:00

I know you've seen a lot of this wedding already, but I just finished it yesterday and had to share.

Plus, what a treat it is for me to post more than one photo at a time!!

More wedding fun coming later this week :)

Tiffany and Tim had the most beautiful wedding I've had the pleasure of being a part of.

They've been together for 7 years, and all because Tim fixed her "fart fan".

Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your wedding,

and thank you Sara for allowing me to shoot along side you.

To see their wedding in its entirety hope on over here

A falling star fell from your heart

2010-11-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

Working on this wedding.

It makes my heart beat faster.

City Lights

2010-11-09T16:31:00.001-08:00

Rusty & Shannon have been together for 7 years.

Lucky for me, I have known both of them for 8.

I was so excited when Shannon jumped on the idea an engagement shoot at the fair.

This was my first ever night shoot.

I can say walking away from it, that I LOVE daylight more, but this was so much fun.

Definitely pushed me as a photographer, but it couldn't have gone better!

I love these two! Congrats guys! I can't wait for your wedding in only 4 short months!

Breathing through your mouth is no fun.

2010-11-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

I promise I'll be back soon.

But for now, I'm sick.

And have a very foggy brain,

along with enhanced short term memory failure.

-Millie

Tiffany&Tim: Prologue

2010-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Working on some of this magic.

Full post to come later this week :)

Girl, you've stolen my heart.

2010-10-21T22:45:00.001-07:00

Tonight Mckemy cried.

She cried and cried and cried.

All because I asked her to eat her oatmeal.

Enough was enough, and I made her march up to her room for bed.

Without dinner.

Luckily, for her benefit, Dad walked in the door at just the right time.

He took her up to her room, and started to brush her teeth.

As I was putting her oatmeal away (because she will eat it in the morning)

I saw the string cheese.

And my heart softened.

I ran upstairs and she happily accepted it.

Daddy stayed with her, and then brushed her teeth.

I went up to say goodnight, and she cuddled in close.

The kind of close where you hate your mom for not giving you candy, but you hold onto her because you are sad that you can't have the candy.

I started to sing our song, and her pout turned into forgiveness.

She was jumping on cue (yes, our bedtime songs include jumping :)

and full of joy.

This is life.

Every day.

And every day, it astounds me.

It reminds me that she is here to teach me.

And I better be learning.

To forgive without reserve.

To love endlessly.

And to simply be happy.

Just.

Like.

Her.

My Thanks To You.

2010-10-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people enter our lives at random.

We don't have to know them.

We don't even have to know their inside stories.

If we are lucky, we will see their strength and take courage from their quiet struggles.

Kathrine is a person with incredible strength.

She was given two beautiful girls and a wonderful husband.

Unfortunately, he passed away.

Watching her be so strong for her girls touched me in a way I wasn't expecting.

It has caused me to step away, and to realize what a crucial time in their lives this is,

and these photos are not just something to hang on the wall.

It is a time stamp on their lives that will forever be remembered.

What a sacred opportunity I have to capture that.

I just want to take a moment and thank each and every one of my clients.

You have all allowed me into a part of your lives.

You let down your walls and allow me in.

For that, I am grateful.

Truly. Eternally. Grateful.

Sisterly Love.

2010-10-16T15:21:00.001-07:00

Ok, seriously.

My sister is gorgeous.

We did this little mini shoot last week.

She was wanting to participate in another photographers project about The Savior and needed a beautiful headshot to send along to them.

Amy&Ashton

2010-10-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Seriously amazing shoot.

So much magic happened, I could barely believe it.

To view the rest of their sneak peak hit play on slideshow below :)

Colored leaves

2010-10-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

So excited that we will be spending Thanksgiving with Devin's family up in Utah.

This will be our first Thanksgiving with them.

It's been so long since we have been able to make a trip up to Utah, we are so excited.

I would love to squeeze in a couple shoots while we are there.

I have decided to give a special discount for these sessions of $50 dollars :)

So the session are only $200, and you will receive a disk with printing right up to 8x10.

It is a special time, and this is a very special deal.

The days open are Friday the 26th, and Saturday the 27th.

All types of shoots are welcome as well, just send me over an e-mail

(info@ameliakate.net) and we can set something up!

I hope you are all having a fabulous Wednesday!

-Millie :)

Prelude: Elisia

2010-10-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

My sister equals beautiful.

Good thing this is only the beginning.

Post Script: I am a little disappointed with how blogger displayed this image.

A bit blown out.

Snapshots of my life.

2010-10-08T08:19:00.001-07:00

A measly little point and shoot, that often produces flash in day light and blurry images,

has captured some of my favorite photos of my family.

Today is not about my profession,

today is about my family.

One of my favorite photos :)

smiling to angry, happens within 30 seconds.

Gotta love 2 year olds!

twins?

l o v e .

Mini Sessions.... You Down??

2010-10-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

"Holiday Portraits"

Fun, Short, Sweet!

This is my modo for this years Fall family sessions!

What is better than documenting your family without all the hassle!

Its all about showing up, strutting your stuff, laughing your heads off, and walking away with a disk of 10 amazing images to show off this year!

Sessions are only 30 minutes long :)

Price is only $150!

And you get a disk of 10 images, free for printing!!

If you are a regular client of mine, you know that this is a smoking deal!!

When: October 16th

Where: Gilbert!

How Much: $150

How Do I Book: to secure your spot, payment in full is required! So shoot me an e-mail (info@ameliakate.net) and I will send you all the information for payments!

And because I love all my clients so much, I want to recap a few of the amazing moments that were captured over this past year!

Although you may be the death of me, you gave me life.

2010-10-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

I love you and your big tee shirts.

I love your fearless attitude to have a dance party with me at any time.

I love your sass and all your terrible twos.

I love your hair, even though its still mullet status.

Basically, I love you head to toe.

Love.

2010-09-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

Find Happiness Today.

Brace Yourself.

2010-09-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, back when I was single, there was this girl who was in my ward.

She was absolutely stunning, and part of me longed to be her friend.

During one particular sacrament meeting, she talked about her photography business.

Hearing her talk about it stirred something inside of me.

Time and time again I have looked back on that moment and realized that it was then that I realized I wanted to be a photographer.

Now two months ago I get a message on facebook.

This same girl is asking me to do her bridal portraits.

Not only is she a dream to look at, but I could not believe that her, as another photographer, was asking me.

Yet another moment in my career that I will not forget.

As nature took its course last Saturday, with piled up traffic, we ended up with only one hour to shoot with. These two were able to absolutely amazing, and are both incredible people.

I was so honored to be able to capture them!

Natalie and Deron, thank you so much, and have so much fun on your honeymoon!

Secret, Secret. Ive got the secret.

2010-09-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Can you guess who will be hitting the blog tomorrow?

You wont want to miss it :)

2011!

2010-09-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

School is back in session, and that means its time to get your fashion on!
Senior Portraits are all about having a good time, and letting your hair hang loose!
Forget about the stiff poses and the fake smiles, lets have the time of your life!
The first TEN 2011 Seniors to book will receive $50 dollars off their session fee!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND LETS HAVE FUN!

(please use the contact page to email for more information)

You've seemed to wrap around tight, and I just can't let you go.

2010-09-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

These ideas keep me up at night.

Festering and stirring my soul.

I realize that I am blessed.

Surprise.

2010-08-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

Some big changes have come about this last week in the Southworth home.

Devin and I decided it would be best for him to to go to school full time, and really be able to focus on getting his education.

This was such a big decision for us, but exciting at the same time.

So this week was our first of having him all to ourselves for 90% of the day!

Mckemy absolutely loves it, and so do I!

They were playing hide and seek the other day, and were calling for me.

I walked into Mckemy's room and found these two hiding in the closet chowing down on otter pops!

I really just love these two!

Summer Air :)

2010-08-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovely Readers!
So many exciting things are happening, and first being the brand new design launch of my blog!

I have to give a HUGE shout out to Kristy, of Wreckless Elements, she is amazing. Creative, talented, patient, and all around an awesome human being. She designed my blog, and I absolutely love it!

I decided what better way to launch the new blog, than with a brand spankin new session!
Josh and Kayla are getting married next month, and contacted me a few weeks ago to take a mini engagements shoot. I met Josh in my college days (ok it was only three years ago :) and I have nothing but good things to say about him. He is always full of smiles, and is such an amazing person. I know Kayla and Josh are so lucky to have found each other, and Kayla...
You are stunning.

Where the seasons change.

2010-08-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

Summers are slow.
They are a time to slow down, and enjoy life.
Especially in this Arizona heat.

But the Fall.
You see, the fall is my friend.
It brings joy, happiness, and is my prime time for photography.

It is a time to go outside, and to watch the seasons change.
To open the windows, and to turn off the AC.

This Fall, I will be heading North.
To UTAH.
My dates are not set yet, but if you would like to meet up, or set up a session, I would love it.

Please e-mail me.
info@ameliakate.net

Can't wait. :)

PS: If anybody is interested in a Las Vegas or Saint George shoots as well, spots are available.

A little bit about love.

2010-08-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share with you my guest post.
For the sake of staying true to the post, I will not fix my typos.
I guess that its proof that it really is mine, because I am the queen of typos.

Boy oh boy. I’m stumped. Whoever came up with these “Guest Blog Posts” idea was just a lazy blogger, and decided shove the responsibility onto some poor unfortunate soul. Now, sadly enough I am that poor unfortunate soul. Lets make it even worse, Mrs. S. tells me that I can talk about whatever I want. I tried to tell her that this was not a good idea, and gave my best efforts at convincing her that I am not a writer. She literally laughed in my face. The perks to video chat.
So I am sitting here, banging my head against the wall, wondering what I have to tell you. What in the world do I have to contribute to the blogging world? Maybe that I’ll start with how cool I am, or maybe Ill say that I am such an awesome photographer, or how fashionable I am. Hmm, you want to know what I really think?

L-A-M-E. Yes, that right. Lame, lame, lame.

Sure, I am a photographer, and sometimes I like to think that I can actually leave my house in clothes that match and that I can hold an intelligent conversation, but really. Who wants to read another blog post about how great somebody else’s life is? I want to talk about something real. Something that can be relatable to the masses, and that hits home. Quite a daunting task, which explain the said head banging.
Let me just start out with saying that there are so many others out there who could take my words and make them magical. I am not eloquent, or gifted. I misspell words all the time, in fact the auto correct just corrected misspell for me. My sentences are often choppy and I write in fragments, but I have come to accept that its ok. That this is just who I am.
We live in a world where comparison is always forefront in our minds. Where we judge each other instead of loving each other, and where sadly enough, we respect complete strangers more than we respect ourselves. Now I am no master on how to love yourself, but I do know that I am on the same journey as every one else around me.
My journey of acceptance and love for myself.
Yes, I just said that. MYSELF. You must be thinking, geeze that’s a bit selfish, but lets be honest here. There is no greater person of influence in your life except for yourself. There isn’t a person in the world that could persuade me that I was a talented photographer and artist, if I didn’t first believe it myself.
For me in my life, it is a constant battle. I think for all women it is a battle to really love them selves, but I strive to challenge all of you out there, to compliment yourself first before you compliment others. I’m not saying to stand on the roof tops and tell everybody how awesome you think you are, but I am simply asking for a little self-recognition.
I was recently having a conversation with one of my best friends and I was telling her how beautiful and wonderful I thought she was. She then turned to me and said, Millie how about you say something nice about yourself once in a while. I laughed awkwardly and brushed it off, but I came to notice something. Something about my friend. She had confidence. If you tell her that you think her photographs are stunning, she will gracefully and humbly say thank you, but not deny it. I have heard her refer to herself as a “Crafter”, and she didn’t ever throw in, a disclaimer about now being a good one. She just simply put that she is crafty and she loves it.
So many times I have noticed this, and its simple. So ridiculously SIMPLE. She believes and trusts in her self. What a wonderful example that is to all of us out there. Especially women. How many times do we, or someone else, point out something fun about ourselves, but then throw a disclaimer that you might not be very good, or that all your awesomeness just happened by chance? Why don’t we have courage enough to just say, Thank you, and to leave out the part where we claim to not take credit for it. Because, I know that I do it ALL. THE. TIME. Someone says, wow you photos are so good, and I bashfully say, oh thanks…. I try.
I guess my whole point of this is to encourage all of you to love your selves a little more, and not to keep your head down in the crowd. Instead, face the world head on, and know that you are worth it. That you are beautiful, and talented, and capable of anything you dream of, because once you start to believe this yourself, then the critical eye of others just doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

Photo Credit: Cami Takes Photos.

PS: My new blog design should be up so very soon, so I am waiting to post recent sessions until then :)

Something fun.

2010-08-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am guest blogging.
Check it out here,

Dear Daughter

2010-07-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Have I ever mentioned that I love being your Mother.

Because I do.

The 19th of July.

2010-07-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today is the day.

Which means today will be a great day.

Followed by another great day of celebration.

I have much to be thankful for, and have been blessed beyond measures.

Thank you everybody for being in my life. You all mean a great deal to me.

Especially thanks to Natalie for taking this photo of me, so I could hijack it and use it :)

Mountains.

2010-07-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

6 hours of driving = totally worth it.

7 Days and Counting.

2010-07-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

7 more days until my birthday :)

11 more for hers :)

2 and 22.

Invictus

2010-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernest Henley

I may not be as eloquent as the rest, and I stumble often.

But, I am me, and I try for nothing else.

And that, is beautiful.

Outcome.

2010-07-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

At times, you just may not see it.

Shoot, for that matter, you may not even feel it.

But when you allow it,

magic happens.

Thank you Cami.

Tomorrow.

2010-06-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow will be a good day.

A day of rejuvenation.

Positivity.

Hope.

Beauty.

Love.

Most importantly,

Friendship.

Tomorrow, I stand to make a promise.

I promise to allow the beauty to come out.

To truly feel it.

To believe it.

To invoke it.

To breathe it.

To allow it to wrap me in its folds and cover me from head to toe.

Tomorrow I promise to hide my fears.

To not look back

and,

To tune out the doubts.

Like I said.

Tomorrow will be a good day.

What will you strive for?

Plans for you.

2010-06-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

A while back I capture a little piece of my brother.

Watching him grow, and now graduate from high school, and been such a beautiful thing to witness.

And although I can't stop him from the hurt he will experience in this life, I pray that he will find joy in his journey.

That he is quick to learn from those who paved the path before him, and most importantly remember where he is from.

I loath certian internet companies.

2010-06-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

Serious techinal dificulties getting the internet connected in my new house.
Which by the way is awesome.
So if you have tried contacting me via e-mail and have no recevied response, pleace be patient.
My fingers are crossed we get all of the kinks worked out by Tuesday.
Seriously crossing my fingers.

Yay. I own a home!

2010-06-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Oh, did I mention we got house keys on Tuesday.

And are attempting to move on Saturday.

Yay for being official home owners!

Boo for the stress of packing making me want to curl up in a ball.

I'll probably be back after the weekend...when I can start the UNpacking process.

Megan&Brennen Wedding

2010-06-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

By now, you should be completely used to seeing these two beauties all over the blog.

By the time their wedding rolled around, we had already worked together 3 times, so the wedding day was old hat, and we felt like old friends.

This, to me, is key to getting those awesome, relaxed portraits on the wedding day!

They were married at the Mesa Temple, and held their reception at the beautiful Wright House.

This creates for such a fun day, because instead of shooting the whole ceremony, you get to capture their expressions as they appear to all their guests for the first time as husband and wife.

Its priceless.

Their bridal party was such a blast!

Never a dull moment with these three guys!

Their first dances with their parents was so amazing to witness. Megan's dad is a current Doctor in the Air Force, and for the past two years was living away from his family in DC, and was finally released back to his family and made it home just two days before their wedding.

We all love the garter, but especially when her little brother catches it!

Thank you Megan and Brennen, a thousand time over for allowing me to capture your day!!

Grove of Trees

2010-06-05T08:21:00.001-07:00

I figured it was about time I blog this beautiful wedding.

Tavey and Chris were married on May 1st, in a beautiful grove on trees.

Their wedding was simple, and yet truly special. I was so unbelievably honored to capture their day for them. Tavey is one of the strongest women I know. Being once married before, and being widowed it was amazing to see her find such happiness in Chris, and to see Chris and her son Mason have such a strong relationship.

This day truly was a day of celebration and love. Thank you Tavey and Chris for allowing me to witness such a beautiful event, and for trusting me to capture it.

One of my favorite parts of every wedding is watching the Grooms expression when seeing his bride walking down the isle.

Chris accidentally forgot the rings, so for the ceremony they borrowed their friends rings, and Tavey couldnt help but crack up when it came time to actually put them on.

I love this image. Such a beautiful moment with her son Mason right after the ceremony.

Never a dull moment with these two,

Working Hard or Playing Hard...sometimes I can't tell the difference.

2010-06-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I like to strut my stuff on the dance floor.... for about 1.3 seconds ;)

PS, have I ever mentioned how Cami is the bomb.com?! Best friend of the year (or life?)

My Family

2010-05-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Sweet Baby, I will miss you today.

Please be good for the babysitter, and take a nap when you are supposed to.

You are the light and love of my life, and no matter how much I love my job; I love you more...

and miss you terribly when I am gone.

All time favorite.

2010-05-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

Today,

My amazing client Megan brought me flowers.

Pretty sure she is the bomb, and the sweetest ever.

Little did she know, that carnations are my all time favorite.

At a loss.

2010-05-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting here, trying to wrack my brain on what to say.

Two things come to mind.

I love this couple, and I love this image.

Is that enough?

How about, this particular image was inspired by my beautiful and incredibly talented best friend.

Now is that enough? :)

Oh, what the heck.

Just feast your eyes on the goodness that lays before you...

and have a beautiful weekend!

Escalate Live

2010-05-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you would have told me that I would walk away changed, I wouldnt have believed you.

Apart from rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest wedding photographer in the industry, I was inspired, and moved.

This was so much more than a photography conference, it was a life conference.

Reminding me to not only look for the light, but to look for the beauty.
Telling me that my family is what truly matters most, and encouraging me to run my business in a way so I never have to miss a moment with them.

I walked away encouraged and inspired.

Inspired to make new art, and to have a vision!

To collaborate with my colleagues, and to lift them up just for the sake of supporting a friend.

On the way home, I sat next to a women with blonde hair, dressed nicely in a suite.

I wondered what her story was, and where she was coming from and where she was going.

With a simple comment of "wow, its pretty empty in here"

She turned to me, maybe a bit relieved from the silence and completely agreed.

We ended up talking the whole way home.

Michelle, if you are reading, I really hope you get that job!

And just because Jasmine Star told me that I should blog it,

here I am sitting in the airport, sporting my headband in a way that was new for me.

(The only picture taken of me during the trip, on my cell phone.)

Help Wanted. Can Pay In Cupcakes.

2010-05-12T07:48:00.001-07:00

Please excuse me while the madness unfolds around me.

Packing boxes, making trips, ocean breeze, and complete insanity.

We close on our house in less than 7 days, and it would be an understatement for me to say that I havent packed anything.

Tell me, how did I acquire so much crap!

If any of you are experts in organizing, please come.

Ill buy you a cupcake.

Tavey+Chris

2010-05-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, hello Friday! So nice to see your smiling face.

Tonight I will bask in the art and culture you bring to the world.

Thank you for stopping in, we should really do this more often :)

P.S., This was one of the most beautiful weddings Ive ever captured.

Tavey & Chris you are amazing, and Tavey I admire you and your strength to endure life.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for choosing me and trusting me.

Sometimes its about the moment, not the focus.

2010-05-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Moments are what matter.

Lauren, thank you for being my 33rd follower. Your comment made me smile :)

The truth is. Ive been writing this for weeks.

2010-04-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

1. I am scared of the dark. When I walk around my house at night I turn the lights on in every room. You never know what is lurking in the dark, and quite frankly it freaks me out. Ironicly, I have to sleep in totally darkness to get a good nights rest.

2. I've never really minded Mondays. Tuesdays were always the dreaded day for me. Its when Monday finally catches up.

3. I love, love, the rain. I think I would thrive somewhere like Seattle. Every day I wake up and look out the window for clouds. Often I am disappointed, but on days like today, I am quite pleased.

4. I don't really enjoy the "trip" part of road trips, rather the destination.

5. I thoroughly do not enjoy driving. Getting in and out of the car, the tedious errands, the chance of accidents, the kids crying in the car... man. I have so many errands I need to run even today, and I am dreading it!

6. My hair is never perfect. I will always have one, or ten, pieces (or chunks) out of place. Trust me, I try to get it right, but its just not in the cards. Recently, my best friend told me "but its cute, it has character." I almost threw a brush at her :)

7. My biggest enemy is self doubt. It is like a monster that creeps into me and sometimes like to set up for vacation. Luckily I have a few people who kick my butt into gear and truly believe in me. Those people are the ones I can truly count on.

Viewers Choice

2010-04-26T10:26:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I can never decide between color or black and white versions with images. So tell me, what's your favorite??

And we all lived happily ever after

2010-04-22T13:19:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time I drove 6 hours west with her,

And used my camera to help photograph this,

And basked in this,

And then played in this.

Then drove home, and had a photo shoot that went a little something like this:

Blue Skies.

2010-04-11T18:54:00.001-07:00

I love you. That is all.

Megan&Brennen

2010-04-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Wind, Rain, or Shine these two brought the awesome! We scheduled this session on one of the windiest days of the season, but these two did not fail to deliver.

Megan and Brennen met way back in high school. He was older, and always caught her eye in the halls. Graduation happens, and their separate lives begin. As fate would have it, Megan attended insititute and there he was, that cute boy from High School suddenly caught her eye once again.

These two completely rocked their session. Brennen never complained once about his allergies, or Megan about the wind messing up her hair. Thank you two so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer!

Megan, you are absolutely gorgeous!

Katelynn.

2010-04-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

My wonderful niece petitioned we go out and create something!

I absolutely loved capturing her spirit!

She is such a grown up soul, and has been since the day she was born.

I feel like the point in her life is such a vital moment.

I know she will look back on these photos for the rest of her life, and remember exactly who she was then.

PS....Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Senior & Teen photos???

Please contact me if you are interested in special Senior Portrait pricing!!

Love of mine.

2010-04-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

San Diego was so much fun.

The weather was windy and cold, and I wore boots to the beach every day.

Despite having 3 earthquakes while being there, I didn't feel a single one.

Yes I missed a 7.2 earth quake.

Guess I was just having too much fun to notice it :)

So if you e-mailed over the weekend, I am getting back into the saddle, so be patient with my replies.

A new perspective.

2010-04-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

Independent. Fierce. Bold. Against the Grain. Fresh. Modern. Original.

This is what Private Label is all about.

They are designers, collaborators, artists. All coming together to create unique spaces and fresh designs for their clients.

I was so honored when they chose me to represent them and their team.

They are taking the interior design industry by storm, and I couldnt be happier to show them off!

I chose to bring me awesome friend Zach Ishmael along for his edge and creativity.

One of the photos featured is his.

No picture can match my words.

2010-03-28T23:18:00.001-07:00

I sit here as of late, and wonder what do I have to share.

I could post pretty photos, or whitty humor.

I could try to convince you that my life is glamourous, or that I am extremely professional.

But it never seems to cut it.

I read others blog, and I often find myself in tears.

Their inspiration, they trials, their vulnerability are so real.

I walk away caring, and wanting to know them and to love them.

At times I wonder, what would happen if I told you my story.

Would you love me, and want to know me?

Or would you walk away, and think it was a little to much.

Because I have a story.

We all have a story.

And I guarantee you,

they are all worth sharing.