Maverick and Maxwell-Idaho Falls Newborn Photographer

It is always such a joy to photograph a newborn. This sessions was joy X2! Meet the adorably handsome twin boys Maverick and Maxwell! Thanks Rachelle and Eric for sharing them with me!

Lila-Idaho Falls High School Senior Photographer

I love senior season! Photographing high school seniors is one of the many perks of my career choice. There is something great about spending time with someone at the beginning of their life...I realize that they have already lived 17 or 18 years...but, it really is their new beginning. It is their chance to go out and make the world a better place while standing on their own two feet.

One such senior is Lila. I had such a great time during her session. Her style is awesome and I loved her outfit choices. Senior portraits is a time for YOU to shine and they truly are all about you so, I loved that Lila wore dresses because she said that was her...that is what she wears most days. I also loved her use of colors and layering!

Without further ado, meet Lila!

The Jensen Family-South East Idaho Family Photographer

Last week I had the opportunity to meet and photograph the Jensen family. It was such a great experience getting to know them and capture their family just as they are RIGHT now! That is one of the many things that I love about photography. I am able to freeze time, just as it is in that instant, because things will never be exactly that way again. Children grow and styles change and photographs are often the only tangible items left to remind one of yesteryear.

 Then Jensen's were so great to work with! All of the girls LOVE to have their picture taken and it made my job so fun! Here is just a sample of the beautiful images we captured during their session! If you are interested in scheduling your family photo session please email me @ leahstallings@gmail.com or give me a call @ 208.317.1069. The end of summer/fall months fill up fast and if you schedule during the months of August or September you can take advantage of the special going on right now (for more info about the current special click here).

Without further ado, meet the Jensen's...

Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue - Idaho Bridal and Wedding Photographer

Every bride wants to look their best on their wedding day and it is true what they say, "It's all in the details." As a wedding photographer I see first hand what it takes to plan a wedding. I see how those little personal touches and attention to detail can make your day even more special and unique to you. Don't stop once you find the dress.

A fabulous way to show your unique style is through your accessories. Angie, with Never Nola, whose accessories are featured in the photos in this post, specializes in accessories for brides with everything from hair pieces to garters, and everything in between. And she doesn't stop with the bride. Angie can accessorize your entire bridal party with boutonnieres for the groomsmen, corsages for moms, and personalized bouquets for your bridesmaids.

Now that you are accessorized from head to toe, coordinate with your photographer and your stylist and carry those details through to your hair and make-up for your photos. Your photographer may even be able to suggest a trusted stylist to put those final touches on your perfect look and bring it all together. A big thanks to Erica, with The Twisted Crown, for the PERFECT hair and make-up in these photos.

Last but not least, (but you should probably do this first ;) ) Work with a professional photographer, whose style and work aline with your own vision, to document the details that you have worked so hard to bring together. After all, once the rice has been tossed and the bouquet has been thrown, the photos will be what is left to bring to life the memories of the happiest day of your life.

 Keep on smiling, -Leah

Ali-Idaho Falls Senior

Idaho Falls and the surrounding area is so beautiful for photographing this time of year! It is a wonderful time to schedule your senior pictures. I am so excited to share images from Ali's recent senior session! She is so fun to photograph and has such a fun style. I can't wait for her second session this fall! Stay tuned for more photos of Ali. If you are a high school senior graduating in 2013 and live in the Idaho Falls area and are interested in representing Leah Stallings Photography as a senior model please contact me. Space is limited.

Without further ado, meet Ali:

My name is Ali Hall and I'm  a senior at Bonneville High School this year. I started cheerleading my freshman year, and it has been my life ever since. I absolutely love it and hope that I can continue after high school. I also love spending time with my family. They're the best and I have the two cutest little sisters. Staying home to watch movies and do crafts is something we always like to do together. Just like every other kid, I love doing things with my friends. Whether it's going to a baseball game or goofing around, I have a pretty good group of kids to be with. I don't love school, but I like it and I do really well. I'm hoping that will pay off someday. I'm looking forward for the next few years and what they will bring!

A Celebration of Life

What do you think makes a person beautiful? Me, well it may sound cliche, I believe that it is what is inside a person...their soul...that makes them beautiful. One of the many reasons I love what I do for a living is because it allows me to meet new and interesting people. Beautiful people.

Patty is one such person. My dear friend, Jamie, asked me to travel to Logan and photograph an open house that she and her friends had planned to celebrate the life or a beautiful leader, friend, and mother to many. It was clear from the moment that I met Patty that she was has one of those beautiful rare souls I mentioned before.

Patty is battling cancer. And she is strong. I saw her strength through my camera as I had the privileged to be a fly on the wall as she greeted each and every one of her guests with a smile and concern. She was a shining example of selflessness. As she watched those around her eat the beautiful and delicious food that she herself could not partake of she did not dwell on her circumstances or the disease that she is battling but asked them all about themselves. She had more concern with them then with herself. Patty cried with her friends for the struggles they were having in their own lives and Patty was the first to ask what she could do to help them.

What struck me the most was that when the people whose lives, it was clear, Patty had had such an impact on would ask what they could do for Patty, each time her reply was the same. It was to love their children, to cherish their families, and not to get angry.

Below are some photos from Patty's party. I loved the photo of her and her husband holding hands. Her husband told me that that is how the two of them started out years ago...holding hands :)

There was a special guest arranged to preform for Patty. Patty loves music and one of her very favorite is Michael Mclean. He came and serenaded Patty and it was so very touching and you can tell it was special for Patty from the smile on her face. 

Thank you, Patty for being an influence in my life even though I have only known you for a minute. I plan on taking your advice and loving my children a little tighter tonight.

Keep smiling,

-Leah

What to Wear (clothing tips for portraits)

I did this post recently for Flats to Flipflops and thought I would share it here as well for any of you that are interested and may have missed it. Enjoy!


Trying to decide what to dress yourself or your family in for portraits can be somewhat of a stress...who am I kidding, it can be a HUGE stress!!! The good news is that it doesn't have to be. During my years of photographing I have learned what works best and what doesn't work so well. Hopefully this will ease a bit of your stress and help you come up with some ideas while planning what to wear for your upcoming photo session.

INDIVIDUALS & CHILDREN:

Your individual portrait is all about you. When dressing, be true to who you are and your own personal style. I recommend steering clear of large logos or character T's that can detract from you, the subject, and stick to pieces that contribute a timeless quality to your portraits. This also applies to individual portraits of your children.

I recommend clothing that has texture like knitting, embroidery, dark faded denim, and ruffles. Keep in mind that this is your time to shine so don't be afraid to wear something bold and colorful or patterned. Accessories can also add texture and show off your personality so layer up!

SIBLINGS & FAMILIES:

This can be tricky but try not to be too "matchy-matchy" while still coordinating colors. It always adds a bit more depth to the photo if children aren't in identical outfits. Try to pick a couple of colors that will carry through to each outfit and bring some fluidity to the ensemble.

Last but not least, when selecting the outfits for your portraits, keep in mind the feel of the room that you will be displaying them in. If you will be showcasing them in a very formal room you will want to stick to a more classic look to your outfits (blacks/whites/earth tones usually work well in that case).

Now that you know what to wear you have no more excuses to put off your photo session. Don't wait another second, pick up the phone and call your favorite photog and schedule your custom photography session. You wont regret it but you may regret it if you don't...but I'll save that for another post.

Keep Smiling,

-Leah