If you know me, you know I love film. I studied film photography in college and I loved every minute of it. After I graduated from the University of Utah the digital era exploded and I bought a digital camera. I have to admit I was a little worried that film photography would eventually die out. It had been so long since I had shot film, that I forgot how much I loved it until last year when I attended a workshop with Jonathan Canlas. It reopened my eyes to film and although I can't fully jump into film photography yet, I love using it on personal work. I am excited to say film is not dead!

I am also excited to tell you about the "Film is Not Dead: A Digital Photographer's Guide to Shooting Film ."  If you have ever wondered what the big deal is read the book!  I don't usually share stuff like this on my blog and I wouldn't if I didn't feel so strongly about it.

What I love about film the most:
*It has such a beautiful soft feel to it. Like bwattah! (that's butter)
*The grain! I love me some film grain! Give me TriX film (my favorite since college)
*The highlights and shadows still hold so much detail, whereas in digital photos the whites are blown out and you lose detail in shadows.
*When I get my film photos back from the lab they are ready to print, share etc. There isn't much post processing to be done with film, like there is with digital photography.  Just shoot, send to the lab and viola! you're done! Love it! Now I can spend more time outside playing.

Okay those are just a few of my favorite things about film photography. Buy the book, dig up your old film camera and find out for yourself. Just click on the image below to order your copy of  "FILM IS NOT DEAD: a digital photographer's guide to shooting film."

I've already read the book twice and love it. I would be bragging about this book even for free but Jonathan has arranged it so I get a few bucks each time you buy a guide. So win win win all around!

Mrs Anderson's 2nd grade class opera "The Lesson"

We have been so blessed to have an amazing teacher for Sydney this year. Every year she puts on a play for the school. This year she got a grant to do an opera that the class wrote about bullies. Sydney and her fellow football player and cheerleader friends were the bullies. I somehow volunteered to do the set and being the wonderful daughter that I am enrolled my mom to help. :) The students made all the cute flowers.

Test shoot with Madison

The French Lady

A little piece of my soul died today.
There is was an old building near my house where the French Lady (a lingerie boutique, where mannequins wearing lingerie stood in dimly red lit windows) was located and next to it a Grecian Garden's restaurant, where they had belly dancers that performed for you during your meal.  A few years ago the Grecian Garden's was torn down and for the past few weeks as I drive by I think how I need to go and photograph that other building before they (whoever they are... the devil I presume) tears it down. Well today after work I drove by and it was gone.... My reaction was, Noooooo! They tore it down! And I actually felt tears starting to fill up in my eyes.

For some reason, that is hard to explain, there is a special place in my heart for buildings and a large piece of my heart dies every time I see another building getting torn down. There are so many buildings in Murray that have been torn down and I regretfully admit that many of them I cannot even remember. I don't even remember what stood before the Costco and the IMC hospital... 

Here is what remains of the beloved French Lady

Southern Biscuits and Bear Lake Raspberry Jam

FIND 4

A list of reasons why this was my favorite couple to photograph at the workshop:

1. She made her wedding dress and it was so cute. Can you tell, his boutonniere is handmade as well?
2. It felt like they were the first couple that I "had" to direct solo....  It was like, "here they are. Go at it...." And I was terrified having other attendees watching, so I was elated to see that it actually worked and I didn't totally mess up.
3. He adored her and it showed (and not in a gushy, cheesy way). It's always easier and more fun to photograph people who actually love each other, have fun together and show up with their hearts wide open. Now that's my kind of client!
4. I kind of had an ah ha moment after photographing that day. (I'm gonna get personal....) I never considered myself a romantic, yet I will always deny that I am a total cynic. Granted, I might appear to be a little jaded when it comes to some things regarding the idea of a fairy tale ending, I really do think I still am a romantic at heart, deep down, buried very deep within the depths of my Grinch-sized, black heart.... hahahah! j/k.But I do feel like there is a romantic inside of me. I always joke about my second, third and fourth marriages or weddings. But I did realize that day, after photographing this couple, that the next time I get married it will feel like this. If the experience of photographing these two people who love each other reminds me that it is possible then there has to be some romantic left in me. That is all.


More photos of Adam and Tessa at the FIND workshop.

You know those times when you see some complete stranger and for some crazy you reason you lock eyes and you kind of have a "moment"? Well I had one of those today. Maybe the other person didn't but I did and couldn't stop thinking about them... I've really only had this happen to me like twice now in my life. Once back in high school on choir tour. (Lindsay, if you're reading this... Do remember that guy that we saw at Six Flags... I do...sigh)

I was "jogging" at Jordan River Parkway tonight.  I wasn't so much jogging but more like lots of walking with small bursts of slow jogging. I am so out of shape right now and I have a 5K I'm supposed to run in June.... Anyways! I was "jogging" and ahead of me on the path was an older man with a beanie and a small child.  Usually when I run, or whatever you call it, and I pass people, I either give a half smile or just kind of avoid making eye contact. As we passed I half smiled at the guy and the small child with a light brown complexion and dark sparkly eyes (I’m actually not sure if it was a girl or boy as they had a little beanie on too and pretty plain clothes. But I keep wanting to call her a her. And so it is) Anyways she caught my eyes as we both smiled at each other. And we both did one of those "I'm walking and turning at the same time" and then I found myself almost walking backwards because neither of us would look away, our smiles getting bigger and bigger as if we both had met a long lost friend. It was pretty much magic right there at Jordan River Parkway. Afterward, I kept wishing I could find some way to run with my camera from now on. There is something that is just so pure and real and raw and bright and genuine and beautiful and amazing about children. It's like they wear their hearts on the outside.

Eggs

My older brother, Dallan, is so cute. He brings us a carton of fresh eggs every time he comes over. Each chicken lays a different colored egg and it is always fun to get a carton of various colored eggs. I simply love the blue eggs! Happy Easter! It still counts because I took these photos on Easter.... hehe :)

FIND 3

At the workshop I made so many great friends. This sweet wonderful photographer, Jenna let me borrow her lens and taught me how fun a wide angle lens can be.

Utah Food Photographer: Breakfast Casserole

I don't even know what we call this casserole except that it's "the sweet breakfast casserole." I am trying to take some more food photos so I can submit two for a scholarship to a food photography conference in the fall. I'm not sure if any of these made the cut...
And I still have some film shots of these that I need to develop. Hopefully those turn out a little better...