I have a new blog, please follow me there :)

Well, I finally did it, I got a new blog! Please don't lose me......K.......

Anyways here it is!! To Check it out please CLICK HERE :)

a Little OCF

I wanted to share a few more pictures from my trip down to St. George. the night before the workshop I went out and shot a little ocf on the beautiful red rocks of Dixie rock. I tried a little different editing on these....just trying to mix it up a bit. Hope you enjoy!

It should be called a Play Shop

Because it just doesn't feel like work to me.....at all! I had such an amazing time at my workshop this last weekend in St. George Utah. I was so lucky to have 10 amazing photographers come from Utah, Arizona, Washington DC, Minnesota, Canada and Idaho and what a talented group they were for sure! It's always just so relaxing to be surrounded by people who share your obsession and the passion of photography. I was so nervous about the weather but it mostly held out for us. We had a lot of wind, but I just love wind in pictures so I was thrilled with that. It did get cloudy the last hour of the night, but that made for some great silhouettes.

I really am thrilled that it was so much fun and just a great weekend of learning. It's always a little hard to come home after the adrenaline of the weekend wears off, but it was great to see my baby girl, who I just adore beyond words.

Also, I have already received a bunch of emails asking me about when I will be hosting another workshop. Well, I hope to do another in the Fall, probably late September. In the meantime, I may have another opening or 2 for one on one mentoring here in Utah this spring (or even possibly a group of 2-3). So if you are interested please email me for details.

So I guess it's just time to show you the pictures......I hope you enjoy as much as I do!! And I love to hear from all of you, so don't be shy :)

One of my favorite Models!

First I need to say DON'T FORGET that my virtual Matilda Jane Trunk Show ENDS TOMORROW AT NOON (mountain time)!! Check out the details one post down!! Cutest clothes ever and you can buy from several different collections too, check it out!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to mentor Julie from Oklahoma, (Thanks again, I had a blast with you!!) We lucked out with beautiful weather and headed down town. We worked with my favorite little model ever. Not only is she beautiful, she is such a natural and just so polite and sweet. I have worked with her many times before and hope to for years to come! I had to post a ton, couldn't choose just a few, so I hope you enjoy!!

Want to buy some of the cutest clothes out there?? Check it out...Matilda Jane online trunk show!!

For those of you who know Matilda Jane, you know that you can never be disappointed with their quality, comfort, and most importantly style!! It's catwalk chic meets backyard comfort! Discover a new form of expression with sizing from 6mo-12 years, Inspire your little fashionista to seek out independence with endless compliments guaranteed! And don't worry now they have clothes for adults too, cute and I have to mention comfortable. And for photographers, what amazing pieces to photograph your clients in, the color, the texture, the funky combinations...a sure hit with your clients and a sure hit with your pictures. Here's the thing.....the new line Hammond Bay just barely launched and you can only buy it at a local trunk show or through an online hosted trunk show. The new lines SELL OUT FAST!! So I am excited to be one of the first to offer a show, which means you are more likely to get the styles in the sizes you want! So here's the info, don't miss out, I've already loaded up!!

I will be hosting a Matilda Jane Virtual Catalog Show
on Tuesday Feb. 16th, until noon on Thursday, Feb. 18th.
All orders must be placed by Noon on Thursday, Feb.18th.
Be one of the first in line to get some amazing pieces before they sell out!!
Please call or email your order to Becky our Trunk Keeper at
801-360-3109 or  email to: beckyj@matildajaneclothing.com
She will also be available to answer any question you may have regarding sizing,
outfit combinations, direct shipping rates, etc.
Please also let her know that it is for
the Follow Your  Art Photography show so you can save on shipping.

Here is a direct link to the Hammond Bay Collection: SERIOUSLY CUTE!!
http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/viewcategory.php?ID=19

You can also order from "The goods" section, tons more selction!!! 
http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/


Happy Shopping!!!

And here's just a few pictures from the Hammond Bay Collection, there are a ton more too, seriously adorable right!! (P.S. I did not take these pictures, they are from the online website listed above, but to see a few I took with my daughter last summer in another Matilda Jane collection CLICK HERE, I just love how the clothes photograph!)

And the winner is.........

I am so happy I decided to do this contest. What amazing stories of love, hope, friendship and determination I received. It really was such a fun way to get to know more of you and see just a small glimpse into your lives. It was so, so, so hard for me to choose one winner........so I decided to choose a first and second place instead. Thanks again to EVERYONE who shared stories, it was my pleasure to read through them, really, truly it was........So without further delay......

The first place winners will receive a free session fee, and 50% off of all products and prints. Congratulations to Jen Ross and her family!!! She sent me this inspirational story about her and her husbands journey in life together. I can't wait to meet your family and capture the amazing love you all share! P.S. Happy engagement anniversary! (2nd place winner below)

Brad and Jen’s Story
In November 2003, after just ending a serious relationship, one of my friends at work convinced me to go out with her brother-in-law, Brad, who was here arranging to attend BYU, after spending the previous two years in California on a mission. We had a good time, and I was impressed with him, but we both felt a little awkward, and didn’t know if it would go anywhere. The day after our date, he went back to Washington for the holidays with his family. He called me a week later, and we began a long distance friendship. Over the next few weeks, through telephone calls and e-mails, we got to know each other and were able to share deep feelings and experiences, without the complications of a physical relationship. When he returned to Utah to begin school, we looked forward to dating, but I was a little nervous, because I wasn’t sure I remembered what he looked like. He will tell you that he can’t believe I didn’t remember, because his crooked smile, amazing charm, and athletically good looks are unforgettable.  I knew I loved his good heart, sage advice, and sense of humor, and I hoped that the physical attraction would be equally as strong. But that didn’t prove to be a problem, and from the moment he returned, we were inseparable.
After dating for the next 2 months, he proposed to me on Valentine’s Day 2004, and I eagerly accepted. Meanwhile, in school, Brad began to notice he felt tired and sluggish and had a sore throat. He went to a doctor who thought he might have mononucleosis. However, when referred to a specialist, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. We were told that he would need to enter the hospital three days later, and be subjected to weeks of chemotherapy treatments, radiation, and eventually a bone marrow transplant. He had to drop his classes at BYU, and his parents and I became his non-stop bedside companions for the next 6 weeks. He had a central line put into his chest for his medications, lost his energy and his hair, and endured fevers, chills, nausea and many other horrible side effects. He had to wear a mask to protect him from our germs. His father would bring in motivational quotes each day to put on the wall and keep him fighting the disease. One day his temperature hit 104 degrees and in spite of ice packs and medications, it wouldn’t go down. The doctors fully expected that he would not survive the night. But thanks to many prayers (and a Priesthood Blessing) his fever miraculously left and he defied the medical odds.
Six weeks of being in the hospital and 2 rounds of chemotherapy finally put him in remission. We watched our “wedding date” disappear into medical visits. Brad was allowed to receive treatments at home for the next few weeks. He then returned to the hospital to receive his bone marrow transplant, which we were told he would have to have in order to survive. His three older brothers were tested, and two were found to be a perfect match. So after another round of chemotherapy, and a week of full body radiation, he received the life-sustaining bone marrow from his brother on July 9, 2003, and we saw another miracle as his body accepted it and he began the slow road to recovery.
After three months, the doctors finally gave us the okay to get married, with the stipulation that we couldn’t be around more than 50 people, and we couldn’t be more than 30 minutes away from the hospital. I had always imagined a wonderful celebration with all of our friends and family, and a honeymoon in an exotic location. Instead, we found ourselves having an intimate ceremony and a luncheon with just our immediate families. It turned out to be perfect, and was followed by a wonderful week in Park City. Almost a year later, we were able to have a reception and celebrate our marriage and Brad’s good health with our extended family and friends.
We thought we had had our fair share of challenges, but the week before our wedding, I had gone to the doctor for my pre-marital checkup, and he found a lump on my thyroid. He told us not to worry too much, but 6 months later when it was checked again, we were devastated to learn that I had papillary carcinoma, a form of thyroid cancer. Even the word “cancer” struck fear in our hearts, and I didn’t want to go through what I had seen my husband endure. Luckily, this kind wasn’t too aggressive, and after surgery to remove half my thyroid, the tests showed it had not spread, and I was given a clean bill of health.
Shortly after my surgery we decided we wanted to start trying to have a family. The doctors had warned us that Brad’s cancer treatments could result in sterility, and had encouraged us to do some sperm banking prior to his first chemotherapy treatment. After trying on our own, and then meeting with an infertility specialist and a failed attempt of artificial insemination, we decided we needed to adopt. We signed up with an agency, prepared our profile, and spent months of frustration waiting and hoping and seeing no results. Finally, in an attempt to discover what path we should take, we met with my uncle, a General Authority in the LDS Church. He counseled us to consider going through invitro fertilization to have our own children. For the first time we felt uplifted and encouraged, and after taking a week to decide what path to follow, we both felt strongly that we should attempt invitro.
Again we faced the future with medical help and a lot of questions. But our doctor and his staff were incredible, and we knew we were in great hands. Two and a half months later we were given the wonderful news that we were pregnant with twins! Like everything else we had endured, my pregnancy was not always easy. I was high risk, spent two months on bedrest, and delivered 5 weeks early. But our precious little girls, Brynlee and Brielle, were born on February 20, 2009. They were just under 5 pounds, but again miraculously, they were perfect, and were able to come home with us from the hospital.
It is now 6 years from the day Brad proposed to me and our love story began, and our darling daughters will celebrate their first birthday next week. Brad is 5-1/2 years cancer free, and is considered cured. We have seen miracle after miracle in our lives together during those 6 years, and we treasure every day because we have learned that there are no guarantees in life, and that time spent with family and loved ones bring us true joy in the journey. We have wonderful memories intertwined with the hardships and heartaches, but we know that we are so blessed to be where we are today. We thank the Lord everyday for each other, our good health, our beautiful baby girls, and the many miracles – large and small – that we have experienced in our lives.
We know there are many people who have struggled and endured perhaps even more than we have, but we thank you for letting us share our story of love and triumph, and we hope that you will be able to feel uplifted as you share the joy we feel to be at this point in our lives together.
Sincerely, Jen and Brad

The second place winner will receive a free session fee and 25% off of all products and prints. Congratulations to Kelle Herrera and he family!! I've actually worked with this family before but never knew their story, I can't wait to work with you all again!! This love story came to me from a husband telling about the journey of love with his wife. As I read it, it brought tears to my eyes and gave me those goose bumps I was looking for :) Well, just read for yourself.....

What is Love?


I always felt that love is a word with no real definition. Love is open
to interpretation, and is often confused with other emotions. Does Love at
first sight really exist? Can you really just look at someone and instantly
fall in love? I would say no, but I don’t think it’s impossible. I don’t
really know what love is, because its different things to different people.
I started dating Kelle, the summer following 8th grade. I was 13
years old, and I was in love. Is that even possible? I’m not sure but my
whole body felt like it was plugged into an electrical socket the first time
we kissed. She was so beautiful, and the way she looked at me sent
shock waves down my spine. After a few months went by I began to lose
interest in the world around me; friends and normal teenage things just
didn’t interest me anymore. I started everyday trying to figure out ways to
see her sooner, and I end each day the same way. I only saw her in my world,
nothing else mattered. Could I have found the girl I wanted to grow old with
at the age of 13?
A year and a half later Kelle gave birth to Andre, our beautiful baby
boy. We got married 5 months later, and everyone we knew thought we were
crazy. I don’t think we were given much of a chance, and probably with good
reason. I didn’t have a job or any money. We were kids who didn’t know what
being a parent meant, and we had very little life experience. I could go on
for hours about the things we didn’t have, but we had each other, and that’s
all we would ever need.
We have now been married for 13 years, and despite all the obstacles that
life throws our way, I still feel that electricity when we kiss, and she
still sends shock waves down my spine when she gives me that look. She is
still the only woman I see in the world, and the only woman I ever will. I
may not know how to define Love, but I’ll tell you this much. I know it
when I see her.

Contest ends tonight!

Today's the last day for my contest. Please see a few posts below for details!

Also here's one pic to hold you over until I post the contest winner tomorrow!

Pure comedy my daughter is....Pure, full of life, sassy, Comedy!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Today is my sweet grandma's 78th birthday! So I had to give her a big shout out! She is the sweetest Grandma a girl could ever have, and she truly is an amazing photographer herself (she's a big hero of mine). I have this picture of her and my grandpa, and it is MY FAVORITE picture of the both of them together. I love everything about it. I love how she looks like my mom, I love her swimming suit, I love the cute kiss, I love the old car, I love the lens baby effect it has going on, I love that my mom took it when she was 9 or 10 years old, I ADORE IT!! So I had to share, hope you all love it as much as I do. Happy Birthday Grandma, I LOVE U!

On a side note! I have gotten some awesome entries for my contest (details one post down) but have decided I'll be extending the entry period until Sat. Feb. 13th midnight. I will still be announcing the winner on Sun. Feb, 14th. So, take a minute and enter!!

and a recent picture too, isn't she just an angelic beauty?

Contest extended!

I have gotten some awesome entries for my contest (details one post down) but have decided I'll be extending the entry period until Sat. Feb. 13th midnight. I will still be announcing the winner on Sun. Feb, 14th. So, take a minute and enter!!

Also I have filled the workshop seat! Thanks!

Everybody has a story....I want to know yours....and you could win a session!

So as I lay awake for hours the other night (insomnia is such a wonderful part of pregnancy isn't it?) I was thinking of how my life has unfolded. I was thinking how much my life has changed since I got married almost 11 years ago and really truly how my life just reads like a story. When I announced the news of my pregnancy I was so delighted to read the many congratulatory emails and also the sweet stories that a lot of you added about your lives as well. So there I lay at 4:30ish am it dawned on me that EVERYONE has a story, Everyone has a story worth telling about their lives. And I would love to hear yours! It can be a simple story of love or a amazing story of friendship. It can be about the miracle of your children or the story of your journey in life. It can be anything really but I would love to know about the story in your life that you feel is worth telling.

For this I am giving away a free session to one winner (up to 4 people can be included in the photo shoot) and 50% off of all prints or products (please visit HERE for a complete list of prices). All entries must be in by midnight Feb. 10th and I plan to announce the winner on Valentine's Day Feb 14th. The session will need to be scheduled this winter or spring in Utah County (Feb.-April). Please be aware that I will be posting my favorite stories on my blog so do not send anything you would not want others to read. Also please feel free to write in a story about someone who you think may also deserve a session but please make sure you have their permission to do so.

I plan to choose my winner on who's story gives me the biggest goose bumps :) Really, I just want to feel inspired but what you have to tell. I look forward to reading all of your stories and I thank you for sharing a little bit of you :)

Workshop is full :)

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who emailed me about my workshop. I am happy to say it filled in 7 minutes. I may decide to do another one later this year. If you are interested and would like to be placed on a waiting list please let me know. Thanks again!!

Final details for workshop have been emailed (:

If you have expressed interest in attending my next workshop, you should have received an email with all of the information today Jan. 13th. Make sure to check your inbox, if for some reason I missed you please email me!! If you haven't yet contacted me and would like more information on the workshop details please email me soon, registration will open early be Fri. Jan 15th.

tiffany@followyourartphotography.com

Lots of interest in another workshop!

I'm so excited at the response I have had at the possibility of another workshop this year! I have had so many emails from photographers that are interested in attending. Just wanted to let everyone know that I am trying to work out some dates for a spring workshop (some time in March or April). So if you are interested please email me and as soon as I have details I'll make sure you're one of the first to know. My last workshop filled in less than 24 hours. I will also be taking a smaller group this year as well (8-10 photographers max). If you're interested let me know, Thanks!!

And a quick pic....the two loves of my life (:

Goodbye 2009....hello 2010!!

I sit here totally amazed at how fast the years fly by the older I get. It has been 2 years now that I have owned a DSLR camera. I purchased my first camera (Nikon D80) a few days after Christmas 2007. What a crazy ride it has been thus far. It has been such a blessing for me to find my perfect creative outlet. I often tell people when they ask me why I chose photography "I finally found my canvas, the most perfect art for my soul." There is something so powerful to me to be able to freeze a split second of time, one perfect moment that will never be again. The perfect light fading into the horizon, the perfect kiss shared between mother and daughter, the perfect, priceless expression of my own child. I say it often but I truly love the art of photography and getting to do that for a living is beyond my wildest dreams. It has always been my honor to be able to be a part of my clients lives for a few hours and capture their love for each other.

I had nothing short of an amazing 2009. I was able to grow so much as a photographer and expand who I as am an artist. I've taken a look back at some of my favorite images from last year and I wanted to share them with you all. It is always so hard to choose "favorites" as so many of my images are very special to me. But for one reason or another the pictures I am posting below move me either creatively, artistically, emotionally, or they simply just make me smile. I hope you enjoy a quick glimpse of my journey in 2009.