Beautiful Christmas Wedding!

We had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful winter wedding shortly after Christmas. (I know… as usual I am slow getting it posted.) We met the couple a few days before the wedding, since they were both attending college out of state. But we were able to get to know them a little and were excited to capture their wedding day on camera for them.

It was a beautiful day, though it was interesting that at the wedding location, there was no snow on the ground but at the reception later that day, some beautiful snow to play around in!! The bride and groom were awesome and were so willing to have a little fun with the camera, as was the wedding party. We had such a great day with them all and it is always so fabulous seeing new couples in love, as they obviously were, on the first day of this new, exciting chapter in their lives. I am always humbled by it and thankful that I was able to be there to try and capture some of the love that is shared by them and their family and friends.

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Let the FUN begin!!! Fall Family session.

Here is our latest Fall Family session and what a fun afternoon that was!! They we so willing to indulge us, going to great heights to get the shot and we had such a great time playing with them. (I’d say working, but I can’t help wondering once more if working is allowed to include so much playing. 😉 haha

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Fun family pictures

This is an awesome family that happen to be our neighbors as well. We had a quick morning session until the kids decided they were done. (that usually seems to be the case!) Such a cute family, we have had a great time getting to know them better over the last five years and watching the kids grow up. How lucky are we to have such great neighbors!

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February wedding… finally posted!

We so much enjoyed getting to know this couple. Our experience with them was a bit unusual… One Thursday night I got a call from the bride. Their wedding  in Louisville Kentucky was that coming wedding and she was in a panic because their photography arrangements had fallen through, and would there be any chance that we were available. It must have been “fate” (whatever that is;) ) because in a rare phenomenon, we did not have anything going on that Saturday!!! We went down to the LDS Temple, where the wedding took place, then that evening we were able to attend their beautiful reception that -from my understanding- was basically planned/carried out by a good friend of theirs. It was a great day and we, as always, feel so blessed to be able to be a part of this fabulous couple’s life in this manner. It is always an honor to take part in their special day and we are grateful for that.

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Coleman and Brook

Shawn and I had a great day photographing the wedding of Coleman and Brook. It is such a honor for us to be the ones trusted to capture those precious moments of the day that no one wants to forget. I love seeing the world through my camera, it is a unique and often privileged view.

Anyway, an ice storm had come through the night before, leaving the the world cold, and glittering and quite dangerous! As a photographer who is everyday learning new tips, rules and techniques for lighting, it was an interesting challenge to do very few pictures outside, but instead, inside this beautiful church. Challenges ARE how we learn… no?!!

We thoroughly enjoyed being with this beautiful bride and groom and their loved ones for the day.

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New pictures!!!

Since this whole change-over is taking a while, I decided to update and add to my pictures. On the homepage here, in the right hand column,  under “pages” you can find a plethora of new pictures and some new slide shows. Not all the pages have new pictures but most of them do. Happy looking!!

The winds of change are in the air…

I have been contemplating some things that I have finally decided to act upon. I am going to be making some needed changes to my photography business. I am still happy with the amount of work at this time. My first and most important job right now is that of Mom and that is a full-time job. So right now I am really liking the place that the job of photographer has in my life.

So instead, the first change is in the name!! I love Smilestones, but it does not say what I want it to say. I do not work alone. I do all the editing, but Shawn works with me when we do the shoot and together we do SO much better! So “Cheney Photography” it is… not just me, but the both of us!

I  (we) are working on getting an official website and then really updating the blog. I am very excited about it all, but until things get to that point, things are going to be a little jumbled, under construction.

I look forward to announcing when all the updates and changes are made. Until then, we will still be happily taking pictures, you will just have to contact us directly.

Mirror mirror on the floor!

I decided to try to use a mirror in some pictures that I did recently. This of course is something new for me so it is a work in progress. I think that next time I will focus on the reflection in the mirror rather than the subject. These were done with natural light from the window and some minimal use of a reflector on the opposite side of the subject.

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Two fabulous 2011 Seniors!!

I was able to take photos for two beautiful seniors that I actually met the day of the pictures, but it was fun to get to know them through the camera. Here are a few of the pics.

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Family Photo Session in Beautiful Brown County

I got lucky enough to be able to do a photo session with one of the most beautiful families!! They were so fun and even though it was very hot and everyone was sweating, they still looked great and we could tell that they truly enjoyed each other. We went up to the lodge up within the Brown County State Park and it was beautiful up there. Now Shawn and I want to take our own family and stay a night in one of the little cabins.

It was a fun day and I enjoyed taking photos for this family!!

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