I am thrilled to announce my new studio is open!  I am now going to be meeting all potential clients in the studio as it showcases my work better, also presenting all of my work and sessions to clients.   Again I am super stoked on my location and space – I have lot’s of photos and products for clients to look at and hangout.  Can’t wait to have you come on over!!  XO

entering from the door

view of the front door. I also have a fun corner for kids to play (:  photos on the the brick are my new frames with double white matting I now offer

view from my desk

Buddy’s happy place

lot’s of sample albums and recent work to look through

This is the only place I need to complete. Waiting for 2 new strobes and a 9 foot seamless back drop for rocking the white background for photos — because it is simple and effective and makes my subjects pop!

here is a photo of my inspiration and shoots I will be providing for clients (imagine your cutie-putie kids wearing beautiful clothes, fabulous smiles and sparking eyes — just awesome!!!)

I am off to San Francisco tomorrow to photograph an engagement session and play for the weekend. I will be ready to start shooting next week and keep you updated on when my mini-sessions for your kids will begin for the Holidays!!   Enjoy the rest of the week  ~  XOXO

Totally had the BEST time with these two last night — (it’s obvious by looking at their photos).  Aly is beautiful, so sweet, and Cuylar is just the coolest and laid back guy — with amazing blue eyes! They are the kind of couple that make me stoked to go out and take pictures — full of personality and love!

my fav — love the sunset colors, location, and of course hottie couple!

hello GORGEOUS!!

can you tell how much FUN they have together?!?!?!

Aly and Cuylar — you are ABSOLUTELY fabulous!   XOXO

My friend Deida just opened the cutest business here in Sun Valley!!! It’s called Petite Picasso, where your little munchkin can be a Monet — making messy art projects and we moms don’t have the mess at our homes – LOVE it!!!  She offers art workshops for kid’s ages 2-18. Checkout her website here for schedules and classes.  Here are a few photos I took this morning with my Presly, her daughter Skyar, and a couple of our friends…

the every so artistic, creative, and owner — miss Deida

a masterpiece that Presly made using glitter, finger paint, glue, embellish, stamping, everything I would never keep at home. The best part — she had a blast and new ‘beautiful art’ for our refrigerator! THANK YOU Deida and we can’t wait for next Saturday (:   XOXO

For some reason I have gotten a few more emails from other photographers lately than usual. So first off I want you to know when I started as a professional photographer I had tears — A LOT!  It’s been 8 years now and I am always still learning, reading, taking classes, and practicing because…I am never content!

What gear do I shoot with?
I certainly do not recommend going out and buying expensive gear. Sure, expensive gear is better, but it’s not going to give you better results if you don’t know what you’re doing with it, nor does a cheaper camera give you bad photos. It’ s still makes me laugh when people say to me “your camera takes such great photos!” That’s like telling a chef  about his delicious food –  “you must use a great oven!”  I shoot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II Body, but for starting off the Canon EOS Rebel is a great camera for the price. My favorite lens is Canon EF 50mm f/1.2… my workhorse!  But, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 is awesome and A LOT less!!!

How do I get my images to look like yours?
It’s a combination of a lot of things – proper exposure, use of light, (both of these are probably the most important factors) knowing how to make your camera work for you, engaging subjects correctly, composition and post-processing.  Each of those areas can take a long time to learn properly but it’s also about finding something that you love to photograph!!  I NEVER use flash until it’s completely dark outside and then I bounce my flash. My style is to place the subject in open shade or the sun directly behind my subject for 95% of my outdoor shoots. I use actions to make my images have that pop and color, but mainly levels and curves to get a properly correct photo, cropping, and I shoot in AWB setting on my camera always! I LOVE bright and sparkly eyes (not enhanced in Photoshop) – exposure and correct direction of light.

I know this is brief, but I am almost done with my new studio – pictures next week! I will begin some small photography classes later this Fall to help hands on and put some detail tips up soon on the blog (:  I can’t leave without a photo. Here is a picture of my dog Buddy on my new leather couch in the studio. 50 1.2 lens, natural light, curves, levels and dodge tool set to highlights, and finally sharpening — that’s it that I used for Buddy! It’s going to be AMAZING to photograph kids this winter inside – mini sessions soon as well (:

I love photographing my friends. Most of my clients become friends… but there’s just something about photographing the life of someone who I have known and loved for the last 10 years living in Sun Valley. Heather and Mark agreed to have a scheduled C-Section (incentive because of her first birth)! Everything went perfectly and we welcomed Mason Henry to the world. I will be photographing the family and Mason this Saturday at their home. Next week I will have their family and curly newborn photos.

LOVE you! ~ Hillary

evidently Heather is not a fan of needles (:

kisses from her daughter Cassidy

Mark suits up to meet Heather in surgery

Heather’s sister and mom — “it’s a BOY”!!!!!!!!

XOXO

I’ve taken a little time off to hangout and catch up with life: family, friends, and moving into my new studio. It’s been so nice to not have a full schedule like this summer! But I had to do an impromptu photo shoot with this AMAZING dress a friend made for Presly! She always gets me so inspired to do photos and it’s just what I needed going into my mini-photo session today — so fortunate to work with the most beautiful families! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weekend we are having — XOXO

I LOVE it! Almost done — just waiting for a couch and some more canvases to hang on the 15 foot walls! I tested on my Presly today to see how the soaring 8 foot windows and freshly painted white walls photographed — AWESOME! This is all natural light with beautiful modern decor. I can’t wait to have my open house and start shooting mini-sessions. Hope everyone had a beautiful weekend!

Presly is totally AMUSING and willing to model for me in front of the camera — my secret — a bag of Hershey Kisses I just bought for the studio (:

I had the most AMAZING weddings almost every weekend this summer and the best kid/family shoots during the week. Between editing, meeting with clients, and placing orders — summer just went sooooooo fast! And now I just signed the DREAM lease on my new studio!!! Its above Starbucks in the heart of Ketchum. The building was built in the 1800’s with big walls to hang photos, natural light to shoot in and a just a killer vibe!!  Here are some photos before some remodeling and moving in….

I will take photos soon when I am completely moved in –   XOXO

Tony and Jaeger are an incredible couple! I was fortunate to photograph their wedding this Labor Day weekend for my LAST wedding of the summer!!!! They are both very smart, adorable together, cute, and genuinely nicest people you will ever meet!  But of course their families and friends were equally wonderful people to be around!! This wedding was a GREAT one — incredibly stylish and amazing details, lot’s of photos to share….

second photographer Kristin Cheatwood, wedding planners Fanny Horn and Amanda Seaward,  flowers by Tara Bella, makeup Noelle Hodge, hair by Jamilynn and Jana from Vertu hair salon, band Sensations for Soul, ceremony St. Thomas Church, reception at Trail Creek Cabin

Jaeger’s mother Olivia helping with her spectacular Vera Wang dress

Tony’s mother and father

cutest ring bearer suits ever!  (lavender with the rose petals on the runner, the fragrance in the church was WONDERFUL)

classic Rolls Royce for their exit

Tony is an avid fly fisherman — with the coolest groom’s cake!!

how BEAUTIFUL is the tent when the sun came down?!?! the ambiance was stunning and elegant

after Mr Agraz toast to his daughter

exit at 12:30 and on to their ’secret honeymoon’ that Tony has planned for the two of them (:

Tony and Jaeger I was incredibly honored to shoot your wedding, everything was simply perfect!! Happy you, happy life, together forever as husband and wife -  CONGRATULATIONS!  XOXO  Much Love, Hillary