I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: wedding albums are simply the best way to tell your wedding story, now and forever. I can’t wait for Becca and Johnny to see this gorgeous thing! 
10×8 fabric album in pure linen, custom designed. Interested in a gorgeous fine art wedding album of your own, even if I didn’t shoot your wedding? Let’s talk about it. Hope you’re having a fabulous
week and staying warm, loves.
One of my best friends in the whole world has cancer.
She’s 23.
It feels almost trite to write about it at all, like words are just so wimpy at a time like this. She’s amazing and upbeat and I stare blankly for long times, not knowing how to process it. She has such faith and optimism and grace, and humor! I wanted to remember her exactly as she is right now, and really–what can I offer in these hard minutes, but to remember us, all dancing in Claire’s living room to your favorite songs?
You called it your farewell-tumor party. We ate homemade bread and white bean chili and ice cream with hot fudge sauce, and took turns holding the babies.
I can’t believe this is real life.
I love this woman. She is incredible. Read more about her story here.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment to document the ones you love. It’s perfect because it’s now.
I’ve been thinking about you this morning.
You, recently engaged-soon-to-be-married lady.
And as I was thinking about how excited I am about the wonderful things I have to offer you–heirloom images of your favorite people in the world on the best day of your life, the highest quality albums and prints–I was thinking, ‘What is she most excited about for her wedding photos? What does she wish I knew about her wedding day and the products she dreams of having for years after?’
I gotta tell you, I really believe in the outstanding quality of the products and services I offer. That’s why I woke up excited thinkin’ about them! Truth be told I spend my whole life excitedly thinkin’ about them. It’s why I do what I do.
Sometimes I get swept up in the world of wedding photographers and we talk to each other about what we think about weddings and photography. I just wanna go back to the source and talk to you about what you want and need. Not only in terms of products, but also in the experience with your wedding photographer from start to finish.
I’ve written about my experiences as a bride and what they taught me in becoming a wedding photographer, but I’m just one person who got married once.
So I’m hollerin’ out to you. Yes, you, lovely!
I’d love to hear: what do you wish wedding photographers knew?
And you’re qualified to answer even if you’re already married or not engaged yet. If you’re a fellow photographer but also a bride/bride-to-be, you count too!
I’m on a mission to give your mailbox some real TLC–and give you a break from bills and ads for the newest plumber in town. Oooh, it’s gonna be fun!
Can’t wait to meet your mailbox!
I’m so thrilled to have Jennifer and Tyler’s anniversary session featured on Utah Bride Blog today!
Go on over and take a peek.
P.S. Mini session spots are filling up–only 5 sessions remain, so book yours now.
Summer and Peter’s wedding day was absolutely blissful. Well, other than being ten degrees outside. They incorporated so many personalized elements while keeping everything classy, timeless and elegant. Summer is the epitome of elegance, and every detail reflected her superb taste. I died and went to photographer heaven. Okay. Sometimes I think really cheesy things. You know you love it. Summer and Peter were married in the Provo LDS Temple and then continued the celebration at Highland Gardens in Alpine. Their day was relaxed and focused on the most important people in their lives–each other, their friends and families, and Summer’s amazing kids. Their wedding is proof that winter weddings can be gorgeous! Truth be told it’s pretty hard to have not-gorgeous when Summer and Peter are involved. See their engagement session and bridal session for further beauty and love. Summer and Peter, you are both absolutely radiant–you are a perfect match and I couldn’t be happier for you! 
Summer and Peter had their first date at Guru’s, and decided to recreate it on their wedding day–complete with the same salad Peter ordered. 
The wind is our best friend and worst enemy. =)
Favorite.
Summer danced with her kids–they had a blast!
Vendors: Dress: Custom made by Penelope’s Dresses *Nancy Barrus with Avenia Bridal will be making a dress very similar to the bride’s, available soon for purchase. Venue: Highland Gardens in Alpine, Utah Flowers: Calie Rose Shoes: Nordstrom Groom’s Suit: Macy’s Bride’s jewelry: Bride’s grandmother’s Hair: Jess Reichman Food: Marvellous Catering and Kelly Sherwin Cake: Marie Marchant Cake Topper: IttyBittyWoodShoppe Videography: Chris McClain Productions Photobooth: The Couth Booth 
Brooke Schultz is a Utah-based wedding photographer who is crazy about capturing couples brimming with romance
and l-o-v-e. She’s busy growing an adorable baby girl and is head over heels for yoga, soulful music, and anything with ruffles. She’d lovelove to be part of the biggest day of your life. To set up a time to chat about your wedding, contact her here.
Maren and Christian are my sweet little cousins, and I’m so glad to have been able to spend some quality time with them this last week.
I love that Maren is so carefree but mature; she takes such good care of Christian, who repeats everything back in the cutest little voice. Seeing them play together and learn about the world made me more excited than ever to have Baby Girl around every day to teach and learn from.
We made gingerbread cookies together and decorated them. We only needed to eat one each, because “If we eat more our tummies will hurt,” Maren explained. Smart girl. Her wild curly hair and mischief-loving silliness remind me of me when I was her age. We’re kindred spirits.
So many thanks to Matt and Summer for letting me in on their family for a few days. I love you all so very much.
Interested in a lifestyle family session of your own?
I’ve been having a blast here in Minneapolis the past few days with my dear aunt and uncle and their darling kids–we’ve been reading lots of stories, eating the most delicious food, and having Baby Boot Camp: a continuous flow of conversations, tips, reading and resources to help me get ready for Baby Girl. I’m so incredibly grateful for people who know exactly the kind of perfect gift I need: someone to walk me through the logistics, to hold my hand through the masses of baby gadgets and tell me how joyful it all is.
Last week, I just didn’t even know where to begin–and now I know all about exersaucers and making homemade baby food and gosh, I am ready for Baby Girl to be here. (I mean. Wha? Ready as in anxious, not like readyreadyready….I’ll probably never get to that point, eh?)
So as I’m grateful for wonderful people in my life who know exactly what I need, I’m offering you somethin you exactly need. Photos of the people you love the most. I know things get tight and photos get pushed down the priority list, so I’m helpin’ out by offering winter mini sessions in the comfort of your own snuggly home.
Winter mini sessions include 30 minutes of photographic happiness and 10 hi-res, completely edited digital files of your choice for you to print a hundred billion times and project life-size onto your walls if you wanna. You’ll also have online access to the photos via the blog and facebook.
Contact me if you’re interested in reserving a spot and we’ll get crackin on the details.
Mini session offerings include lifestyle family sessions, engagement sessions, bridal sessions, lifestyle portrait sessions, and maternity sessions.
See a winter mini family session here, or a maternity session here.
This topic is a biggie. And you gotta know we’re not trying to make your wedding unique solely for the sake of being unique–but your wedding should feel like you. It should be a perfect celebration of your completely unique flavor of love–and it will be perfect, despite inevitable quirks and hiccups–if you focus on the things that make your love wonderful.
1. Include things that are special to the two of you. Places you adore, music you dance to, your favorite things to do together. One of you is an artist? Include watercolors of your favorite dates/memories in the decor. You both love unknown restaurants? Host an intimate dinner or your reception in your favorite eatery.
2. Personalize-and not just your initials. Make the details mean something to you and they will be unique. Write handwritten notes for each table for them to read during the reception, give a welcome basket for guest who have traveled a long way–a little personalized TLC for guests goes a long way in making your wedding feel like an intimate affair to celebrate love instead of a never-ending line.
3. Make the flow of your day special. Plan brunch with the bridal party, breakfast with your groom, a cake fight at the reception, or a rockin’ after party at the pool. It goes without saying, but make sure your photographer is there to capture these elements! I swoon over wedding timelines that incorporate unexpected fun, and these are the times when everyone can let loose and make memories.
4. Forget tradition and infuse your personality. Colored tights with your dress, bare feet, pie instead of cake, a non-white dress, cushions instead of traditional seating, etc. If a tradition isn’t meaningful to you, why not skip it and opt for something more you?
5. Shop local and handmade. Try your local farmer’s market, etsy shops, consignment stores and flea markets for one-of-a-kind wedding goodies that can often be re-purposed after the big day. (Feeling overwhelmed yet? Send bridesmaids on a quest at these fun places with a few specific guidelines.)
Of course, all of this comes from a photographer’s perspective–and I’m all about creating incredible moments for you to savor beyond your wedding day. You don’t need a cheesy theme or completely-custom-everything to make your wedding original; focus on what makes the two of you tick and you’ll have everything you need to make your wedding fabulously you.
For more wedding tips for brides, check out 7 Ways to Create Amazing Photo Ops on Your Wedding Day.
Brooke Schultz is a wild-hearted Utah-based wedding photographer crazy for truly unique weddings, rose gold, and the ocean. She’s passionate about capturing soulful couples in love and helping other creatives find their vision and voice.
I’m real good at pretending.
Pretending that I absolutely need to spend hours on facebook or blogs for “networking” and “inspiration.” Lately I’ve noticed a huge jump in my productivity just from taking small steps to be accountable to other humans about what I’m doing for my biz. Simply writing “I’ll follow up next Monday” in an email makes me 438 times more likely to do it!
I bet that never happens to you, though. I bet you never find yourself wondering, Where did my morning go? Or finding opportunities have passed that you meant to follow up on, or discovering you never read that magazine article you saved…
As right-brained creatives, it’s easy to get lost in our own swirly, whimsical heads and find, to our dismay, that we haven’t actually done anything about X, Y, or Z that we’ve been thinking about for months. We eat up free business resources, other people’s website critiques, flashy articles about how to attract our target clients or make ten times the money we made last year.
But take a second, and get on the self-awareness boat: how many of those resources, articles, and fancy doodads have you actually implemented? How many times did you actually hustle your buns and DO what that business guru/youtube video/creativelive presenter advised?
Yeah. Me too.
No one was there to ask me if I did, so what did it really matter, right? It feeds our never-ending need to dissect the success of others while simultaneously believing it can’t possibly work for us. She’s successful because she’s prettier/smarter/has been in business longer, we rationalize. If it’s out of our control we can keep throwing ourselves some rockin’ pity parties and not actually get off the couch to do anything.
This is a big part of the reason why I’m so excited to announce that I’m offering mentoring in 2013. I’m thrilled at the prospect of being the one who keeps you accountable for doing the things you know you need to do to make the art you know you were born to make.
Together we’ll discover, define, and hone your gifts–so you can see how your unique talents can be used to further your art, creativity, and your life.
I’ve created a curriculum to meet these goals, and I’d be thrilled if you’d come along for the ride.
It’s an investment in yourself, your talent, and your business–a way of validating to yourself and the world that you matter, your business is important, and your art is worthwhile. It is.
I can’t wait to help you reach your artistic and business goals!
The cool thing is: I’m offering mentoring in oodles of forms so you have the chance to get what you really need. Is it a consultation just to talk about what you’re struggling with? A guided shoot to help ease your insecurities about everything from camera settings to posing? A step-by-step discovery of what makes you unique as an artist? Photographers and other creatives alike, get your cute bum in big-bad-business gear and let’s do this thang!
P.S. Here’s your challenge: in the next two minutes, make yourself accountable to someone for that thing you’ve been wanting to do–even if it’s as simple as a blog post you’ve been meaning to write. Tell someone you’re gonna do it, and tell her when she can expect it! Shablazam! More productivity.
Have I talked about how much I love at-home lifestyle family sessions? I love them. Becky and Travis invited me into their adorable home in Salt Lake to spend a few minutes with their twins, Micah and Grey. You might recognize Becky from her equally adorable blog, Baby Making by Becky. She’s my inspiration for all domestic things. I’m getting better, people. I make dinner most days, and that is big–even if I’ll never be cute or crafty. Travis is also one cool guy–he makes the most ‘whoa’-inducing documentaries–check him out.
Sometimes I am bubbly and give lots of direction while photographing. Sometimes, though, I just hang back and let the magic unfold. This is what happened at Becky and Travis’ house–I’ve never wished more to be invisible so I could just capture the beauty already happening. Yes, there were tantrums and tears but ohmygosh this is why I love photographing in this way: it all fits so perfectly into an incredible rhythm, and we document a snippet of daily life that’s so rich and full even though it’s only thirty minutes.
Becky and Travis, thank you for letting me tell your family’s story. It was absolutely beautiful to see how much love can fit inside one house.
Interested in having your family documented in the warmth and coziness of your own home?
Contact me to start chatting about your session.
