bridgettemarie.com

Little Package of Beauty

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:15:43 +0000

I have been so terrible about my blog. Cross my fingers, I have tons coming!! Why not start with the last wedding of the season? Not really a “wedding” as these two already had their wedding in Salt Lake at the Temple, this was more of a celebration to share with friends and family here in Arizona. Sarah and Jeff held their reception at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Az. Such a beautiful museum housing some of the most incredible in Indian and Southwest artifacts.

This is the first time I had never met the couple prior to the event day. When I first saw Sarah, I thought she was stunning. This little package of beauty and she has this wonderful air of peacefullness about her. Jeff is a handsome guy…kind of like Ken Doll handsome. (I say that with a smile Jeff). Sarah is very gracefull so you can imagine my surprise when she asked “So do you think we could do a chest bump picture?” Of course you can chest bump, and they did about 5 takes to get it right.

Sarah wore a beautiful, handmade custom gown. It flowed when she walked and I loved all the roses designed into the bodice. I am pretty sure I just kept saying “I love your dress.”

Hunter Sugar Barber

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:03:55 +0000

One of my good friends (and old modeling agent) Aimee Sugar-Barber just had her third baby. You may have remembered her Mamma’s maternity session a few weeks back, see that post HERE. Hunter Sugar Barber was born November 10th at 3 AM. I had planned on shooting the birth but I guess the whole experience was so crazy that there was no time. She had her all natural! (High five from a member of the I prefer drugs club). I am just happy that I was able to get over there and capture her sweet little face. Hunter had no interest in “naked baby, holding my head up while resting on my hands” pictures. Probably better because I really don’t like to make babies unhappy. The photographers that are good at that must be baby-whisperers or magicians. She was happy being wrapped up like a burrito. You will have to trust me that she has cute feet…

Big Stu and the Princess

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 02:40:42 +0000

Stuart and Rachel were married on the sought after 11-11-11 date this year. It was a perfect day for an outdoor ceremony. Overcast but sunny…I call that Heavan’s light diffuser. They were married at El Chorro in Paradise Valley. Everything about that place was amazing (and I hear that at brunch they have world class sticky buns!). The grounds were stunning, the coordinator and staff was accomidating and the day went off perfectly. My husband, who shot this one with me, said “I would totally marry you here again. ”

Stuart and Rachel were so wonderful to work with. These two are crazy in love and have such an amazing support of friends and family. Their entire wedding party had 22 people in it. That’s some serious love! Stuart’s longtime friends call him Big Stu. Something about Texas and his personality. I can’t remember the whole story, I was laughing so hard through the “roast” of a toast that’s all I can recall. I do remember Rachel’s Dad saying during his toast how badly he wanted a baby girl, how she was as beautiful as her Mother and how she was such a blessing to him…and how he made the whole room tear up. She is his princess. When Stuart took Rachel onto the floor for their first dance, you could see that he too felt that she was his princess. He swayed her and held her close like no one else was in the room with them.

Congratulations Rachel and Stuart on your perfact day and your future together. Thank you for letting us be a part of it all.

Venue: El Chorro Lodge

Hair: Tiffany Reisig

Make Up: Linda Wagner

Flowers: Fabulous Floral Design

If you would like to see more images from their wonderful day, here you can view the slideshow.

Oscar the Grouch and Nostalgia

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:45:24 +0000

When I was little I would go to my Nannas and there was a box of toys to play with. Same box, never really changed but it was mine. I would play and play until I was too old for some of the toys in it. There was this Oscar the Grouch can that if you stepped on the little pumper, Oscar would come out. I always thought that Oscar had a sense of humor. He made me laugh.

I still have Oscar and my son Logan loves to play with him. There is something so nostalgic and cool about my children playing with the same toys I once did. Oh and Oscar…he still has a sense of humor.

Ryan and Courtnee Leyba

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:56:57 +0000

I have been waiting for sometime to get this wedding on the blog. I love these guys. First of all Courtnee is STUNNING. That kind of pretty that makes you want to be her for a day. Roll out of bed wearing those crystal blue eyes and standing tall like a model. Ryan adores her. He often sings and plays guitar for her. He brought his guitar to their engagement session and as she watched him, you could see that “I am so crazy in love with you” look.

The wedding day was no different. She wore a vintage inspired gown, simple and elegant. But hey when you are that pretty, you could wear a potato sack on your wedding day. Ryan chose a suit and I think it was a perfect fit for him. This is one stylish couple. I absolutely loved the flowers they chose. Fiori Flower Design provided them, good job Gina, they were perfect. ( You will know I loved them because they appear a few times in the slideshow ). Married at the ASU Chapel and finishing the night with a reception at The Farm at South Mountain, it was a wonderful Fall wedding. Congratulations Ryan and Courtnee, it was a beautiful day.

Flowers: Fiori Floral Design
Girls Hair: Jessica Lawson
Girls Makeup: Linda Wagner
Reception Venue: The Farm at South Mountain

If you would like to see the whole story of this wonderful wedding, check out the slideshow.

Just in time for the Holidays

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:43:41 +0000

I have been so excited to offer this line from the moment I saw it. Kotori is a beautiful jewelry line designed to feature your most treasured images. Handmade right here in the USA, a company started by a Mom and name insipred after her two children. Kotori is Japanese word meaning: a yound bird not old enough to leave the nest. I met them at a recent trade show and just loved the line. The photos are printed on beautiful metallic paper and UV sealed in their silver (or brass) charms. They offer a really diverse line from pretty to fashionable pieces. Long to short neclaces, bracelets, leather pieces and more. I am so proud to be offering these to my clients. Just in time for the Holidays, these are available to order and can get here by Christmas!

When my package arrived with my first studio sample, I tore into it and found this beautiful piece inside. Thank you to Amy and her daughter for modeling for this necklace. (The stamped charm can be customized up to a 7 letter word or displayed with initials. )

For more information on ordering and seeing the full line, contact me at info@bridgettemarie.com

Justine Class of 2012

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:07:42 +0000

If you know my work at all you have seen this pretty girl in some of my published pieces, at her sweet sixteen photo booth, every year for family pictures and now her senior shoot. Justine is a professional model and for good reason, she’s P-U-R-T-Y. However I told her going into today that I did not want modeling, I wanted real and I wanted “her.” Well that of course made her laugh and we spent the entire shoot making fun of modeling and trying not to “pose” but at the end of the day I was really happy with her session. It’s easy to take a great picture of a pretty girl. I hope that I went one step beyond and captured the Justine that is funny, sarcastic, complicated and well…beautiful. Justine I hope this makes up for that stupid math test.

Amanda and Chris – Scottsdale Wedding

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:51:06 +0000

Almost seven years. That is how long these two have been together before their big day. He is a die hard Steelers fan and she is his sweetheart. They were married last weekend at the Scottsdale Resort. I pinned her for a simple and stylish gown. I was so surprised to walk in and see this beautiful, tulle layered, beaded, long train…princess worthy gown. Her shoes were adorned in glitter and her hair swept up with an elegant braid. Really, really pretty.

When we did their first look and Chris turned around to see her, his towering frame just melted into an embrace. He was finally going to marry his girl and she looked like a princess. That hug brought some tears to my eyes. In that moment you knew how much he loved her. Remember Chris, you vowed to love honor and cherish…no matter how bad a season the Steelers are having.

Maternity Session at High Noon

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:50:45 +0000

As a photographer, the thought of trying to photograph at “high noon” is often feared. I have really learned to embrace it as it can produce some vibrant colors. Sure you have to know where to position your subject and yourself but once it’s mastered, it’s awesome.

Last week I photographed one of my besties as she is preggo with her third baby. This time, her first girl. She is more excited about me capturing the birth (I was there for the last birth) but I really wanted her to get the maternity shots done. I explained that she is having a girl and one day it was more likely her little girl would want pictures of her pregnant. We shot in about 20 minutes because it was pretty hot and preggo chicks do not like the heat. We tresspassed a little into the orange grove and probably killed a few crop plants but worth it because we got some great stuff.

Editing wise the first image is not my normal style but I really wanted to do something she could print on a canvas if she wanted. I like it.

The Organic Newborn

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:31:26 +0000

So I realize that is a strange title for a blog post. The thought occurred to me while I was shooting my 5 week old son that I don’t love newborn shoots. At least not the newest “trend” of them. I had borrowed all these great props and hats from a friend to shoot Granton for his announcement. My own son, shooting stress free in my own home and I can’t seem to get anything I like. Certainly nothing as grand as all my friends who work wonders with newborns. So I decided to just take a picture of him. No posing, no fancy diaper cover… just him on my new couch in the studio. The “Organic” newborn shoot as I call it. Here is Granton James Balmes, arriving in the world as a 3 lb 13oz miracle baby and filling his Mama’s heart with joy.

My girlfriend had loaned me this wonderful basket and I love this little table that belonged to my Nanna. Born 6 weeks early, Granton (even at 5 weeks old) is still very tiny. I love this…something old and something new.