2011 Review

Boring, anxious, and empty. When I started this year, I had no bookings, nada, zilch, zulch. I wasn't sure where I wanted my business to go, and I wasn't trying to get anything moving, but rather, hoping it would blossom on its own. Then one inquiry lead to another and another, and my photography business started to pick up. I am so blessed to have worked with so many amazing clients this year. If I could reach through my computer and give all of you big hugs, I would! (but maybe I'll have to save them until our next sessions). But honestly, thank you. 2011 was a big year of growth. It started off with nothing, and finished with more than I could believe. I've begun dreaming up big ideas and plans for my photography business for 2012. And I can't wait for all the new clients I'll get to meet along the way. I'll be posting the backlog of 2011 weddings and portrait sessions for everyone to enjoy soon, so check back, and tell your friends! Happy New Year!

Connect with Harmony:  Like the Facebook page    Visit the Website    Email Harmony     Or Post a Comment Below

Dave + Esther | Gardnerville-Spooner Engagement Session {Sneak Peek}

Dave and Esther and I had ourselves a fun little adventure for their engagement session this past week.
Here's a sneak peek!

Isn't Esther just stunning?

Connect with Harmony:  Like the Facebook page  |  Visit the Website  |  Email Harmony

Keith + Alissa | Genoa, NV Engagement Session {Sneak Peek}

Today's engagement session was fantastic! Keith and Alissa were so comfortable in front of the camera and couldn't stop smiling and laughing!

Here's a sneak peek from today's shoot. ;] Aren't they just adorable and completely in love?!






Connect with Harmony:  Like our Facebook page  |  Visit our Website  |  Email Harmony

Abraham + Winston | Newborn Portrait Session {Sneak Peek}

The arrival of these two little adorable boys has been greatly anticipated. You may remember their family from the sneak peeks for their Lifestyle Session and a Maternity Session. After lots of waiting, Abraham and Winston arrived last week and are now home with mom and dad.

I couldn’t wait for our session. I found every basket and blanket I could use out of my house (even borrowing some from friends!) I made a list of ideas and starting dreaming about how perfect the session would be. Sleepy newborns, simple to pose with delicate little faces. Occasional cute yawns and dainty little arms stretching for the skies. You know… Perfect.

Well.. the session didn’t go quite as I had dreamed. The boys weren’t as easy to pose as I had hoped. As soon as we got one of the little boys in position, the other would stretch or turn or get uncomfortable. Then when we managed to get both of them posed they’d wake up and need a diaper change or some milk. Enter hairdryer, swaddlers, and swing. We ate some dinner put the boys to sleep and then sat down for round two. As long as the session ended up taking, it still worked out. The boys were adorable, including all the hulk stretches and angry scrunchy faces.

Here’s a sneak peek from our shoot.





Connect with Harmony:  Like our Facebook page  |  Visit our Website  |  Email Harmony

Eric + Joleen {+ two on the way!} | Genoa Family Portrait Session {Sneak Peek}

Eric and Joleen were one of my Images for a Cure Portrait mini-sessions in Genoa. They opted for a late afternoon-evening time slot. I didn’t think anything of it… especially after a morning session that had PERFECT weather – slight cloud cover, streaking sun through golden leaves, and a gentle warm breeze. But when I arrived back at the park in the evening, the sun had already set just enough to leave the park out of the path of the sun’s rays. Everything looked cold, dead, and dull. Bleh! I was not happy. Then the wind started to blow… hard. And my mood went from bleh to grouch.

But Joleen and Eric arrived with their two little puppies and lit up my camera’s frame. ;] The joy and glow of expecting twins was written across their faces, and they braved the wind like nobody’s business.

Here’s a sneak peek of their shoot! A full post to come. ;]

The Ohlers | Genoa Family Portrait Session {Sneak Peek}

What do you get when you mix a beautiful park on a warm autumn day, with a beautiful mother, her adorable four children, and a photographer? A super fun super cute session. The Ohler family was one of my Images for a Cure Portrait mini-sessions in Genoa. Unfortunately their dad was out of town on business, so we focused on the kids and had a blast playing in the leaves and climbing trees and making silly faces! ;]

Here’s a sneak peek. More adorableness to come!

Day Seven | Fall Fashion Week

Today is last day of Fall Fashion Week on Emery Jo's blog. Sad day. But hopefully we've all gained new blogs to lurkfollow and new friends to exchange ideas with! I had so much fun looking at everyone else's styles and getting new fashion ideas.

Day Seven: Happy Reformation Day! On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church's door in Whittenburg, against the indulgences of the church. This event started the Reformation, which {among many other things} led to the Bible being translated into English and widely distributed.
Today Jeff and I went to church pretty much most of the day. In Sunday School service we are going through the book Worldliness. Then Hebrews 12:25-27 in morning service and Matthew 7:1 in the afternoon service. I really really really wanted to wear a dress to church today, but all my dresses are summery, and I couldn't find a warm enough sweater/blazer that matched. So I was stuck with jeans again. When we got home from church we drove to the park in the neighboorhood across from ours.
Tonight we're turning off our lights, eaching some enchiladas, and snuggling up to watch netflix and chow down on some halloween candy {that we aren't sharing with neighboor kids}.



Details:
I really enjoyed having a loose curls hairstyle yesterday, so I did a loose side bun today.
I love this loose sweater. I bought it at a thrift store a couple months ago. Great find.
These gray boots are so cute, but I never know what to wear them with. I need to get some cute tights so I can wear them with my sweater dress.
This watch necklace was my grandmother's. It is so delicate and feminine and actually works! Plus the watch part faces up so when you hold it in your hand you can read it. ;]


Jeans: Same jeans as day six{I really really really love these jeans.}
Burgandy or maroon tank: Target
Gray cable-knit sweater: Thrifted
Gray boots: Famous Footwear
Watch necklace: inherited from my Grandmother

View my other fall fashion posts: Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Day six| Day seven
Or you can view a list of all the blogs of other people participating on Emery's Blog.

Outtakes:

Day Four | Fall Fashion Week

Each day I'm posting my fashion day later and later... {I really should have started my week Sunday and posted Sunday's outfit on Monday.. and so on, but oh well!} As a result of my lateness, I MISSED the cutoff for posting to Emery Jo's linky thingy for day 3 . {I'm pacific time so it was 10:01pm here when I posted and then headed to her page and it was already past 12:00am there.}

And after finishing the post, wrapping up linking to it, I caught up on a few emails and then went to bed, thinking I'd finally be able to get a decent night of rest. But instead my hubby and I started watching Autotune the News videos on YouTube, and then it was midnight {aren't iPhones great? ug.}

I am so glad to hear that I'm not the only one with only a couple pairs of jeans. I have a hard time finding ones that fit, and once I find a pair I love, I just wear those until they wear out.

Day Four: I had a great plan for my day: work, hang my Images for a Cure event fliers at Starbucks and local coffee shops, take my fashion pictures, clean the house, and then go to a friend's house for dinner. ...But instead work was crazy. I had hoped to leave at 3pm. I finished at 6pm. Our friends were sick so dinner was cancelled. It was already too late to go dropping off posters, and it was dark out, so no pictures at the locations I had hoped. Instead I used the studio at work. I'd been using it all day for some product shoots, so everything was still setup!

Finished my press release, thought it might be good to have a picture to include, either of the following?


Details: I love wearing bows in my hair. ;]
The cameo necklace was my grandmothers. She passed away last fall and I inherited a it. It is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.
The boots are one of my favorite finds. I got them on clearance at Mervyns when they were going out of business. Bought a pair in black and then a pair in brown a few days later.


Jeans: Same jeans as day two
Sweater: The Gap - but from Plato's closet
Boots: Mervyns, clearance
Cameo: inherited from my grandmother

View my other fall fashion posts: Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Day six| Day sevenOr you can view a list of all the blogs of other people participating on Emery's Blog.

Outtakes:

Day Three | Fall Fashion Week

I'm really beginning to like fall fashion week (thank you again Emery - for hosting and Tiffany - for inspiring me to get in on the fun). I miss taking self-portraits {that sounds completely conceited, but I mean it in an artistic expression kind of way} & I'm really enjoying looking at everyone else's outfits and their blogs. And of course, who doesn't like comments that tell you your outfit is cute? {admit it... we all do}.
~ Rachel... your comment made me laugh out loud. How many more points to I need before we can be friends? I love your blog and your outfits!
~ Em-Jae... Thank you! and Hilderbrand definately isn't a common name.. so maybe there is a relation (although I don't know most of my husbands relatives other than parents & grandparents.) ;]

Yesterday I was a madwoman: trespassing into a neighboor's yard, freezing my butt off to get some good images, steeping some Vanilla Chai Tea {my current favorite}, editing and typing as quick as possible, then running off {5 minutes late} to my ladies' bible study {we're reading Helper by Design.. I highly recommend it for all you wives}. Then I was back home moderating comments {like I'm really going to deny any of them}, and simultaneously making quiche {spinach, mushroom, feta, & ham - YUM} for dinner while checking everyone else's posts! You ladies are awesome! And once again I had lofty idea that I would get to bed by 10... but once again it did not happen. {but with good excuse... I was working on a press release for my Images for a Cure event. I've never done a press release before so I was kind of stumped as to what it should say. You can read about the event here.. PLUS you can help me spread the word!}

Day Three: I made it to bed around 1am again. I know that I need to get more sleep, but there just haven't been enough hours in the day! Work was a whirlwind! I spent the morning working on my portion of a grant project {fulfilled my nerdy needs in crunching some numbers} then spent the afternoon doing a photoshoot of some products we need images from for a brochure. Then I dropped of some prints to my lovely bride Jeanne. I photographed her wedding back in July. {see images here}

Jeanne is an absolute sweetheart. We may be far apart in age, but we get along great, and I'm always so glad when I get to drop things off to her. Plus she has a fantastic eye for design {she owned/owns(?) her own interior design company}. The very first day we met I was blown away by her porch - which looked like it came straight out of a magazine. On my way out of her driveway, a large shark caught my eye, and every trip since I've told myself I have to get some pictures with it. And today I did! Jeanne laughed when I asked her if it would be okay, but I was thrilled.




Details: I think this is the first shot you can really tell that almost half of my hair is blonde while the rest is brown. Its natural {honest!}. The curls are natural too. God blessed me with a head of unruly crazy hair... but I've learned to love it. ;] {although I am due for a cut}
~I <3 my toms. When I first bought them I applied scotch guard {maybe 5 coats??} so that they'd be easier to clean once they got dirty. Monday they were filthy, so I use some spray in wash, threw them in with a load of laundry, and voila.. good as new! Now they just need a few more layers of scotch guard! ~I also love this scarf. You can wear it almost every which way, and it doubles as a beautiful table runner {which looked great a couple weeks back with a dish of apples!}

Jeans: Same jeans as day two {I only own two pairs of jeans that fit... but it works. Wear them a couple times, wash, repeat.}
White t-shirt: Ross or Marshalls
Striped boyfriend cardigan: Old Navy clearance
Yellow scarf: Target (I think?)
Toms: Toms.com {if you don't know what toms are.. go check out their website!!}

View my other fall fashion posts: Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Day six| Day seven
Or you can view a list of all the blogs of other people participating on Emery's Blog.

Outtakes:
{shark face | unjump one | unjump two}

Day Two | Fall Fashion Week

Do you ever have those moments where you look at the clock and say "I should go to bed" and then look down and look back up and its been 3-4 hours and you still aren't in bed? That's my story from last night. Around 10pm I told my hubby that we should head to be so we could wake up early (I originally thought if I got up early enough I could take my fashion picture before I headed to work). Instead we watched the 10pm news, discussed Thanksgiving plans, read for a study today, and picked up the house and all of a sudden it was 1am!! And consequently this morning I hit snooze until the last minute we could get up. Then it was off to work and putting of my picture until I returned from work.

Day two - It appeared to be beautiful and nice out today (from inside) but when I got home it was freezing! Thankgoodness I opted for jeans instead of a skirt. Althought with the weather forcast, it looks like I'll continue to avoid skirts all week. Yesterday it was warm enough that I could comfortably stand outside without a coat, but today it was so cold I could barely step outside even though I was wearing a cardigan and a scarf!



Details & Accessories - I handmade this tote! I drew the camera and then created a polymer plate out of it (kind of like a stamp) and then handprinted it with wooden text on paper using a printing press. Then I got the bright idea to print it on canvas tote bags! (and for the most part it worked) The fabric folded a bit on this one and so there's a small break in the camera print. Like it? I have extras and will be selling them on Etsy soon. If your not a waiting person, then you can view their blog post here and buy one!. ;]



This backdrop is my neighbors front yard. They moved out suddenly over a year ago and haven't been back. No one else has moved in and no one has stopped by to take care of it. Weird. I almost didn't hop my fence {I mean.. technically that's trespassing, right?!?} but it was the closer of my two possible scenes for today {and need I remind you it was FREEZING?} so I did it.
And here's some of today's outtakes:


Jeans: Paris Blues from Ross/Marshalls ($10-$15)
Purple blouse: One Clothing (Clothing exchange - free)
Gray Cardigan: Poetry from Ross/Marshalls($5-10)
Cream scarf: Walmart or Target ($5-10)
Brown Buckle Boots: Ross/Marshalls ($10-$15)
Tote: $3 for canvas tote + my time! ;]

View my other fall fashion posts: Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Day six| Day seven

You can view a list of all the blogs of other people participating on Emery's Blog.

Day One | Fall Fashion Week

For the past year I've watched a fellow photographer Tiffany particpate in various Fashion Weeks... and after her post this morning, I decided it was time to join the fun!

I guess (if I understand it right) all I have to do is take a picture of my outfit each day this week! You can view a list of all the blogs of other people participating on Emery's Blog.

So today was day one. I was a half lazy bum all morning. I did tons of housework [the unlazy half of me] but stayed in my pajamas and didn't even brush my teeth [ew! definately the lazy half of me]. By midday I couldn't take anymore and showered and put together day one's outfit!

It may be fall already, (and getting chilly) but Mondays (and Fridays) I work from home doing photography work so most of my day is spent inside, and my house heats up nice and toasty from sun streaking through our windows. [meaning I didn't have to have a heavy sweater or sweatshirt on]


But just incase I needed to go outside I had a jacket planned into my outfit.



Last year I did a self-portrait 365 project (one portrait each day) with my Nikon. I had a remote and it made things easy. Now I'm using my Canon 5D Mark ii... and for whatever reason, the remote I bought [that isn't Canon brand but designed for the 5d and 5d mark ii cameras] will only do remote trigger, it won't do remote+timer. So here's a few outtakes of me trying to get my remote to work. (Yes I even tried to bounce it off a mirror.. which worked, but I couldn't get the placement right) I finally gave up and shot everything on timer, running to and from my camera in between each shot. [forgive the mean faces... I wasn't angry... I guess my concentration face is just a little unhappy]


Turquoise Flats: Target (my hubby picked them out for me as a Christmas present last year.. but couldn't wait that long and ended up giving them to me the same day he bought them!)
Jeans: Old Navy (clearance $6)
T-shirt: American Eagle (clearance $5)
Knit Vest: Target (5-6 years ago)
Jacket: JC Penny (clearance $3)

{wow - today really reveals that I am a bargain shopper! I love finding great deals in the clearance racks, thrift stores, garage sales, and even making things!]

View my other fall fashion posts: Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four | Day five | Day six| Day seven

Baby Enoch | Family Session {Sneak Peek}

This Tuesday I ran up to Sand Harbor for a double family photoshoot. I have to admit, when I received the page long list of portrait shots I was overwhelmed. I don’t “do” shot lists… I prefer to go with the flow of the session and allow my creativity to guide it. But it was a double family shoot, with two sets of grandparents, sisters and husbands, and 6 children… and they wanted specific combinations of people, so I accepted.

The weather was great, the shoot ran a little long, but mainly because I couldn’t help but take lots and lots of images of the kids. Here’s one of my favorites of the youngest little one, Enoch. He has two different colored eyes that are beautiful and big puffy cheeks. So cute! ;]

Ruby + Alisha | Lifestyle Session {Sneak Peek}

Sneak peeks like this make me go awww! Alisha and I did maternity portraits almost a year ago. Now her little girl is ten months old! This past Monday we got together again to do a photoshoot with Ruby. Here's a few images from that shoot. ;]






More to come!

Eddie + Kirsten | S. Lake Tahoe Engagment Session

I adore Eddie and Kirsten. Kirsten has always been able to put on any outfit and look adorable. She has a quiet smile, a delicate laugh, and a humble yet sweet personality. Eddie is her perfect match. He's strong and kind, has an eccentric laugh and warm personality. They are both absolutely gorgeous on their own, and then you put them together and they’re too cute to handle! To make things even better, they planned ahead, picking out locations, clothes, even shoot ideas. Could my job be any easier? ;]

We started in a field across the street from Kirsten’s house, climbing over a barbed wire fence (Kirsten in sandals and a dress and me with my camera gear). The field wasn’t grass, but rather allergy-triggering weeds… but they were troopers and put up with it.



Then we headed up to South Lake Tahoe. They had scoped out some beautiful locations the week before.


They found this road, off the beaten path, that winds around the mountainside through pine trees and aspen groves, past waterfalls, and small trickling creeks. Peaceful and beautiful.





You can’t tell by these next photographs, but the aspen grove was filled with mosquitos. In the 10 minutes we were at this location, we were eaten alive. I had 10-20 red bites on my arms and legs the next morning.


We reached Valhalla right as the sun started to set over the mountains. After a gorgeous day, beautiful locations, and a smoochy-adorable couple, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending to the shoot.



Did I mention that Kirsten found this dress at a thrift store? She knows how to shop, and find adorable vintage clothes that fit her perfectly. ;] So jealous.

Ray + Jeanne | Married ~ Carson Valley Wedding

Last month I had the honor of shooting Ray & Jeanne's vintage farmhouse wedding. A couple nights before the wedding I had a horrible nightmare, but thankfully my nightmare did not come true and I shot well beyond 5 images and did not pass out during the wedding. ;]

An hour before the Ray and Jeanne’s wedding, the sky over the valley turned gray and I could see scattered rain showers off in the distance. As I drove to the wedding there were sprinkled raindrops on my windshield and all I could do was pray that the rain would stay away for the evening. Thankfully, God is so good and the rain did stay away! The overcast sky kept the weather cool enough to be enjoyable and provided great lighting for all my images!

Jeanne is an interior decorator, and her decorating instincts were clearly visible over every detail of her wedding. Bright bold colors, paired with mix-matched vintage china, and delicate bouquets of flowers adorned the guests’ tables.

The trees, canopies, and gazebos were trimmed with colorful lanterns that swayed as the breeze blew through.

The ceremony was short and sweet with a slightly humorous undertone. Guests stood scattered around the grass, piping up to share their two cents when Jeanne, Ray, or the minister missed a beat, always followed by a round of shared laughter.

I could go on and on about how much I adored their wedding and all the amazing people, but I’ll let you see for yourself! ;]































This was my first wedding shooting on my new camera (Canon 5d markii), and I must say, it was a blast. My original intention was to carry both cameras (the canon and my Nikon D80), but I ended up leaving the Nikon in the camera bag the entire night. { sorry Nikon.. I still love you, just not as much as the Canon }.

Oh and I finally made up some new postcards with the wedding gallery info on the reverse. I didn’t have time to send out for prints, so I printed them out on my own little printer, and I have to say, I was quite please with them {as were many of the guests!}

Credits:
Photography – {harmonyhilderbrand} …photography
Wedding Coordinator – Daisy & Jeanne
Jeanne’s Hair & Makeup Artist – Stacy Stiltz
Decorations – Daisy & Ron from The Entertainer + Jeanne James
Flowers – The Entertainer
Appetizers – Tahoe Ridge Winery
Catering – Prime Cut BBQ
Desserts – Russell’s Mercantile
Bartenders – Daisy and Ron from The Entertainer
Band – Carl & the ClassicsMinister – Pete Nelson, Methodist Minister, Gardnerville, NV