something orange...

One of my online forums for photographers, ROCK THE SHOT, is running a contest this month and the theme is "Something Orange."  I'm getting an itch that this image fits the description perfectly!

This was one of my favorite shoots EVER!  Not to mention, the most calorie-burning shoots!  This senior loves to hike and has a favorite area where she hikes, and we found it appropriate to of course shoot her senior pictures, that are suppose to be all about her, in her little piece of heaven on earth.  So off we went, fall colors at their best along with her amazing hair color to set it off.  She has that "look" that made capturing all her beauty with its surroundings so easy.  I haven't been hiking in many years, but now I know why she loves to hike this trailhead, and I too, felt the peace that this area offers.  Thanks, Alaynia, for an amazing afternoon!

Become a Class of 2013 Senior Rep!

Up and coming Class of 2013 - how does getting your Senior Photo Session for FREE sound?  And who DOESN'T want to earn CASH, plus earn discounts towards your prints?  If  I've caught your attention and you're a student at LONE PEAK, AMERICAN FORK, PLEASANT GROVE, OR LEHI HIGH SCHOOLS, then CLICK HERE to get all the information you need about becoming & applying to be a Senior Rep for iCandy Photography!

Applications will be accepted from July 9 through July 31!  Don't miss out on your chance to get AMAZING senior photos for FREE plus earn CASH for each and every person you refer to iCandy Photography through April 30, 2013!

Get all your DETAILS HERE and then APPLY HERE!

I'm truly excited to hear what you have to say about why you think you should be selected to be an iCandy Photography Senior Rep!

{ stacy } | the not-so-naughty nurse!

Congratulations, Stacy!  She's graduating college next month and she'll be off to take care of her patients!  This chick is tough stuff, an amazing mother, and an inspirational soul.  She's worked hard to get where she is and I'm so proud of her.

Of course she wanted a few shots of herself to celebrate her accomplishment and I was so happy to be the one to do it for her!

Once again, congratulations, Stacy. The world is yours!

{ 1 year down } let's celebrate!

Well it's officially been 1 year since I left the world of going to an office for 40 hours a week and decided to be a stay-at-home mom and tackle my dream of photography.  In that year, I've learned SO much... not just about being a photographer, but also about being home daily taking care of my family and being my own boss (other than getting bossed around by my family!) I've had amazing clients and lots of trials and errors through my journey of being a self-taught photographer (but also with the help of my amazing photographer sister-in-law, Ang). In celebration, I'm giving away one family session to the most deserving family.

Everyone would love a free session, but this time I want this session to go to a family who could really use and deserves it.  A family who's been going through some struggles, either financially, because of health, or maybe even tragedy.

So what I need from you guys is to let me know what family out there deserves this free session.  But I don't just want some names thrown at me, I want to hear all about it... and yes, in the form of an essay, so to speak.  Please email me letting me know all the details.  After I've received these emails, I will go over each and every one of them very closely, and with the help of others, I will choose the family who I will give this free session to.

Beginning today, April 18th, I will start accepting emails.  You'll have through May 2nd to tell me their story and then the winner will be announced Saturday, May 5th.

Please limit the family to either the Southeast Idaho or Salt Lake Valley area (including Utah county).

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me - phone, email, or Facebook.

Here's the email address to send your nominations:  micah@icandymadeyousmile.com

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and all the kind words and compliments that you've given me throughout my first year in business.  Here's to many, many more years to come!

{ elyn } | historic townsite senior shoot

I got to spend a very windy afternoon with this high school senior, Elyn - what a doll!

The day didn't start off so swell because I misjudged my driving time to Bancroft, ID and really had no idea that it was literally in the middle of nowhere!  So I was late and then to top it off, the wind blows really hard in the middle of nowhere!  We definitely got our exercise in for the day running around from building to building trying to get away from the shifting wind!  Elyn chose to have her session in the Chesterfield Historic Town Site and it was an absolutely amazing place - I did a little rummaging & found some pretty cool stuff!

Check out all this cool stuff that was inside one old shed

(plus the pretty girl sittin' in the middle of it all).

The old sheds & buildings were endless & on each side of them was something new - like this wagon - I was STOKED when I came around the corner and laid my eyes on it!

And then this one had these fun, bright colors on the doors and windows,

and Elyn really brought the best out in them.

Rickety fences are one of my most favorite things!

And by Elyn's special request.....

She's a basketball chick & wanted a picture like this done.

I LOVE it when by clients have a cool idea!

Thanks, Elyn, for choosing me to make memories of your senior year!!