This is the third year I have gotten to shoot for The Utah Heart Gallery. This year I photographed Juan and his brother Jesus. I was thrilled to learn that these sweet boys were recently placed with a family. The Utah Heart Gallery, helps place foster children into permanent homes and photographers all over Utah help by creating portraits that show how sweet these kids are. It greatly increases their odds of being adopted if they have a professional looking picture in their adoption profile. There is also a traveling exhibit that will be at the Ogden Union Station in January. So be sure to check it out.

This year I got interviewed by a reporter from the Spanish edition of The Salt Lake Tribune. I don’t speak Spanish but if you do you can read the article here. Kind of fun.

More info about the Heart Gallery and to see photos of all the kids click here.

This is the second year I have gotten to shoot for The Utah Heart Gallery. This sweet little boy is looking for a family. The Utah Heart Gallery, helps place foster children into permanent homes and photographers all over Utah help by creating portraits that show how sweet these kids are. It greatly increases their odds of being adopted if they have a professional looking picture in their adoption profile. I was able to go to the opening reception this week. It was great to see all of the kids their with their photographers. There is also a traveling exhibit that will be at the Ogden Union Station in January. So be sure to check it out.

More info about the Heart Gallery and to see photos of all the kids click here.

Check out this article in the Deseret News.

Comment anywhere on this blog and I’ll make a donation to the foodbank.

There’s nothing that I love more than hearing from all of the people who read my blog. So, I’ve joined forces with a few other photographers to put our blogs to good use this holiday season.

From now until New Years Day I’ll donate one non-perishable food item to the Utah Food Bank for every person who comments on any previous post on this blog. Simple!

My life is very blessed. I have a wonderful husband, awesome family, great friends and the amazing opportunity to do what I love — which is photograph all of you. I know that people — neighbors right here in Utah — struggle. Especially during the holidays, it’s important to reach out and lend a hand. Sometimes the smallest gesture can make a big impact. So get commenting — I would love to make a huge donation.

Oh and sorry to have so many informational posts in a row. I have been busy proofing and filling Christmas orders. Rest assured I have lots of fun shoots to post. Regular posts will resume next week after my holiday deadline has passed.

Last week I was able to go to the opening of this year’s Heart Gallery. For those of you who don’t know the Heart Gallery is a traveling exhibit of photographs of Utah foster children. Participating photographers donate a portrait session and a framed portrait. The photos end up going in their adoption profiles and a large framed print goes in the gallery. Having a photo in the Heart Gallery greatly increases the kids’ chance of being adopted. It was great to see all the photographers come together to donate their time and talents to photograph these great kids who are looking for a good home. I had the pleasure of photographing Brittani this summer. She is a great girl and I wish her all the best. I was so happy to see that she is in the process of being adopted by a really nice family. She and her new parents were at the event and I got to present them with her photos.

One of the local television stations was there and interviewed Brittani and her new mom. You can even see Dan and I in one of the shots in the story. You can view that interview here.

You can get more information about the Heart Gallery here.

A lot of you know I am a volunteer photographer for an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.  I have mentioned it on this blog before. It is a great organization that I feel privileged to be a small part of. This weeks issue of Newsweek magazine features two stories about NILMDTS. Both were excellent reads. (Article 1, Article 2) I am so glad NILMDTS is getting this great publicity! The author followed photographers on actual sessions and interviewed a lot of different people. They also interviewed a NILMDTS photographer right here in Utah. I think anything we can do to get the word out is a big step for the organization to be able to help more families. I hope you take the time to read these as they are both great articles.

Article 1

Article 2

I was recently accepted as a volunteer photographer in an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. For those who aren’t familiar with it, NILMDTS is an organization of photographers from all over the world that donate their time and talent to families of stillborn or critically ill children.

This organization is very dear to my heart because we have experienced infant loss in my own family. We don’t talk about it very much but when I was three years old I had a sister who was born still. Her name is Cassie. I have always wished that we had a picture of her so that I could know what she looked like. My mom has tried to describe her to us, but it isn’t the same as having a real photo. More than 20 years later I know my mom would give anything to have just one picture of her. I know she is proud of me for doing this.

When I first heard about NILMDTS it stirred up a lot of emotions in me and I knew it was something I wanted to help with. This spring I went to several photography seminars where they were recruiting photographers and I decided to go for it. I know if it were me in that position, I would want these photos. When these parents should be experiencing joy, they are instead having their hearts broken, the very least I can do is help to provide this service. I’m sure it will be both emotionally challenging and very rewarding.

Last week I got called to do my first real session. I had assisted in one session previously. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be but still sad. After I was finished and went to leave the room the mom gave me a hug. When she hugged me I knew that I was doing something important, something that could help ease her pain.

For the other photographers out there…. this is a service that is needed everywhere. If you’re interested or want more information, check out the NILMDTS website.

If you are not a photographer and want to contribute, the organization is always in need of donations.

Check out their website

Here is a story about it that recently aired on the Today Show. Very touching. Video