Hello!  So, I’ve decided to embark on this video blogging thing in addition to my photo blog posts.  I think it’ll be a neat way to connect with readers and clients.  It took about 20 tries to make a video that I’m okay with posting.  I hope to get better and say less “um”s and “uhhhh”s and “and”s.  Check it out!

Rachel and Brandon were married July 5th last year in Elko, Nevada.  I won’t soon forget what a fun party their wedding day was.  They were married in the local Catholic church that Rachel grew up attending.  The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was a blast.  Red roses and flowers were everywhere and Basque food, a local specialty was served.  Once the dancing began, I didn’t realize where the time had gone.  By the time I checked the clock, it was 2 a.m.!  I hope you had a wonderful first anniversary, Rachel and Brandon.  Thank you for having me photograph your wedding day.

Brittany and Dustin are one of my most memorable couples. For their engagement session, they brought Dustin’s horse and we captured some gorgeous shots. For bridal portraits, Brittany was stunning in her custom-made dress by Penelope, and the wedding was really special because it was held on Brittany’s grandfather’s beautiful property. What I love most about them is their connection to family and friends. They’re full of hugs and “I love yous”. Brittany is the biggest sweetheart and Dustin is a cool cowboy.

It was their first wedding anniversary on July 26th  and I want to wish them a big congratulations. Happy Anniversary, you two!

Want to see more wedding photography like this?  Check out www.melissakelseyphotography.com!

 Jeff and Janica were married a year ago, on June 14th, in a lovely wedding at the Northern California winery, Wente Vinyards in the city of Livermore.

Jeff and Janica are a wonderful couple, in many ways.   Beautiful on the inside and out, Janica is a scientist and Jeff is an engineer and both are parents to a new baby boy.  I feel so lucky that Janica found me for her wedding.  Their wedding was on a beautifully sunny, blue-sky day.  I loved travelling for this California wedding outside San Francisco, only 2 1/2 hours from where I grew up.  The location was a dream, the flowers were elegant, and Jeff and Janica’s family and friends were a blast to be around.   The day could not have been more beautiful and their photos remain many of my favorites.  I expect they always will. 

We even went in the city of San Francisco for a day-after/engagement-type shoot and got some great portraits at the Palace of Fine Arts, The Bay Bridge, a classic San Francisco trolley, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Happy first anniversary, Jeff and Janica!  Thank you for including me in your wedding; I’ll always remember it fondly.

You can see more of Jeff and Janica’s wedding photos on my website, www.melissakelseyphotography.com

Too awesome not to share this wedding music video by Lockdown Projects

Brian & Eileen’s Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

http://www.lockdownprojects.com/

Welcome to my blog.  Here, you’ll find my musings on life, cool stuff I like, wedding tips, and of course, lots of wedding and portrait photographs.  Please set your bookmarks and blog readers to http://utah-weddingphotographer.com/blog/?feed=rss2 for all the latest and greatest.  I love to hear from and interact with my readers so don’t be shy, leave a comment.  Thanks! ~Melissa

Melissa Kelsey Photography

Website:  www.melissakelseyphotography.com

Blog: www.utah-weddingphotographer.com/blog

Blog Feed: www.utah-weddingphotographer.com/blog/?feed=rss

Email:  melissa@utah-weddingphotographer.com

Phone:  801.493.5487

Camie and Ben were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple in December and had a luncheon immediately following.  Usually, I get to photograph a couple around the Temple grounds after their ceremony, but because the luncheon started right away, we waited until after their luncheon.  The luncheon at Joseph Smith Memorial Building was lovely and  full of family and friends.  They had a candy bar with my favorite part, rock candy on a stick, in their wedding color, turquoise.  Camie and Ben had a fun photo booth by Smile Now Photo Booths and I got some great photos of just the two of them in the photo booth. 

The really cool thing was, that after the luncheon, we got to go around the Temple for photos.  Camie told me that she’d love to have some night shots with the holiday lights at Temple Square.  These turned out amazingly.  A special shout out goes to Nick Spurlock for assisting that day, carrying my heavy bag (I’m not sure he was expecting that part), shining my video light on Camie and Ben, and holding my reflector so I could make those awesome night shots.  Check out the slideshow below to see some of my favorites.

Thank you, Camie and Ben, for including me in your beautiful day (and for putting up with the cold winter night while I photographed you).  I wish you all the best in your lives and marriage.

To view all of their wedding photos or purchase prints go HERE.  Enter Camie or Ben’s first and last name, sign in or register, and off you go!

Ceremony:   Salt Lake LDS Temple

Reception:  Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Photo Booth:  Smile Now Photo Booths

Flowers:  Flower Patch

I will soon be changing my wedding prices.   If you’ve been thinking of booking your wedding photography with me, here’s a heads up that things will be different soon.     The new pricing will be simpler and easier to understand.  As the saying goes, keep it simple, stupid!  I’m talking to myself here-it’s time to simplify!

What post would be complete without a photo?  So, here’s a simple photo to go along with my plans to simplify, and a bit of sneak peek at baby Max’s newborn portraits.

I’m going to Vegas with my friend/sister in-law/second shooter, Leisha for the WPPI Convention (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International).  I can’t wait to learn from lots of other amazing photographers and see all the newest and coolest photography products.  This convention will help me improve my photography and business skills.   It’s going to be a bit of a party, too.  I can’t wait!

I’ll be gone all next week, so if you need to get hold of me, feel free to email me at melissa@utah-weddingphotographer.com or call (801) 493-5487.  Return calls and emails may be delayed a little since I’ll be learning lots of cool photography and business stuff all day, every day.

Chelsey and Mitch rocked their engagement session in downtown Salt Lake City.  I think they both have a little model built into them.  We went everywhere!  I didn’t really realize it until I began to edit the photos. 

It’s obvious they like each other.  I like the way he envelopes her in his arms and she looks up at him, laughs and smiles.  Happy people make happy pictures.  They’re best friends and have been for a long time.  What a great foundation for a marriage!

Trent and Eliza have great style and really fun friends.  They were married in December, but it was the most warm, beautiful winter day I’ve experienced.  I don’t even remember Eliza being cold out there in her dress (she might remember otherwise).  The reception at Cactus and Tropicals was lovely, a great venue for a winter wedding.  The centerpieces were made of ice and held candles and greenery.  The crepes and hot chocolate were delicious and the music was just my style (Trent and Eliza-who was your DJ?).  They had tons of guests come through their line, but were able to break off at the end and boogie.  That was a blast to watch and photograph.  Leisha, my trusty and talented second photographer, manned…er womanned the photo “booth”.  I say “booth” so no one gets confused.  We bring in our backdrop and lights and take fun shots of wedding guests and you get to see the photos after the wedding.  Just to be clear, no photo comes popping out of anywhere (oh, the visions I’m having after writing that).  Congratulations, Trent and Eliza and thank you for such a fun day.

We had to show off Eliza’s stylish tennies that she changed into after her ceremony.

Leisha, my second photographer, caught this one.  I just love the light.

They had a crepe and hot chocolate bar.  The delicious smell of chocolate and flavorings filled the room.

I love catching faces like these:

I was pretty excited about the hair in this one:

Trent and Nick went crazy when “Soulja’ Boy” came on

Grand Exit!

Some fun photos from the photo “booth”, my second photographer, Leisha did for the reception.

Wedding: Salt Lake Temple
Reception: Cactus and Tropicals, Draper www.cactusandtropicals.com
Flowers: Studio Stems www.studiostems.com

DJ:  Ben Williams