Baby Evelynn

What's more exciting than a new baby?!
The answer is, nothing. Babies are the best. Especially when they are as cute as little Evelynn is!
Evelynn's mom, Kaitlyn, and I got in touch with each other a few months ago on Facebook and discussed some different options for a newborn shoot.
Everyone has a different story and this one is a little unique. Kaitlyn is living here in Utah with her two boys while her husband is deployed. She has family around but someone was definitely missing on delivery day.
Her husband is a Marine (Thank you for your service!) and shortly after little E was 20 weeks or so, her daddy had to be on his way.
One way we thought to include him while he was gone was to do a mini-hospital shoot. Catch all the little details that he wouldn't be able to see first hand. It's funny how fast you forget all the little things right after a little one is born. What the room looked like, who came to visit, how small they were. A hospital shoot is a nice way to capture all of those details that get so quickly forgotten in the 'new baby' delirium that sets in once you get home
I know this is nothing like being there in person, but hopefully Dad will enjoy these until he can get his hands on her in real life.
Enjoy!

Sandoval Family

There are a lot of reasons that family pictures don't get taken. I get it, I really do!
Everyone has different schedules, people don't know where to take pictures, it's expensive, kids are grumpy in the morning, people don't have anything to wear, kids are grumpy in the evening... adults are grumpy in the morning....etc. etc.
The list can go on and on, if you let it.
The one reason that people should get pictures taken is this- We are not promised tomorrow.
I don't mean to be a downer, but that is a sad fact that people get so busy and don't realize.
It's almost been a year since my grandma Sandoval passed away- I think about her all the time. It hits me at odd times, like when I'm baking something or singing a song that reminds me of her. It still aches like a ton of bricks on my heart and I still cry.
The reason I mention this is because my aunt and I had mentioned taking family pictures last year, at the end of summer but for one reason or another it never happened. It's something that makes me regret all of the excuses.
I do not want to do that anymore so I called and bothered all of my aunts and uncles into coming and taking family pictures. I think they came out great, even the bloopers :)

I made them into a book for my Grandpa, who is legally blind and let's face it- old, because I don't know what he would even do with the USB drive they are on.
That's something special that you can do for your own family, or for your parents. Get your family portraits taken, or gift them a session with their grandkids- You never know how much that will mean to them, or to you when they are no longer around to wrap around the kids' fingers.

T&D- 2014

I went to high school with Taryn and we've been able to catch up through that fabulous land of FaceBook. This last year has been a whirlwind and I admire her greatly for the grace she has shown through it.
A short re-cap: She and Danny welcomed a baby girl, Harper into the world, got engaged, got news of Danny's deployment, planned a wedding, had a wedding (minus the honeymoon for now) and just a few days ago said goodbye to her new husband as she sent him off on his deployment. I've had the pleasure of catching a few of their happier moments this year and hopefully these will get them through the coming months.

Good luck Dan, you've got two gorgeous girls waitin' for you at home!

J&K Engagements

So every picture taker has something that they really enjoy photographing, for me it would have to be engagements. Your subjects are old enough to take orders pretty well, they have a great reason to be taking pictures and you really get to see the love transfer into their shots.
Jake and Kimi were no exception and they delivered on the love, fo' sho.
Jake was planning an elaborate proposal, which included the making of a video in which he would be doing one of their favorite pasttimes. Well, life doesn't always happen like you plan and during the shooting of this video there was an accident. Jake was alive, but only by some miracle, suffering broken bones and putting Kimi through some heartache. Needless to say, the proposal was moved up and she said "Yes!"

These two were up for anything and so we were able to get some really beautiful shots, These are just a few of my favorites. Hoping that the worst is behind them and they can enjoy a wonderful life together!

Fall Is Here!

I love living in Utah for several reasons- One of those reasons is that we get to experience all four seasons. Don't tell Mother Nature but I have a soft spot for Fall. It's nice enough to still do all your favorite outdoor hobbies with no sweltering summer heat, spring rainstorms or winter's snowfall. You get to chill in cute boots, hoodies and have bonfires.... I could go on and on. Another reason that I love living in Utah is that we have such a variety of landscapes to choose from for backdrops. We have rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys, fields and urban areas- it's just so exciting everywhere you look. 

People have been gearing up for Christmas cards and presents so family photo sessions have been in full gear the last few months, here are a few of my favorites from the last month

Why Should I do a Maternity Shoot?

Creating a little being is a lot of work- a lot! Long nights of worry, back pain and walks to the bathroom are the less glamorous side of a pregnancy and hardly things that you want to remember. It is important to note that when you look back on a maternity shoot, you aren't going to remember the swelling, mood swings and endless appetite- You are going to remember the feeling of little feet kicking, the funny bumps of baby hiccups and the tremendous blessing of being able to create life.

If you are wondering whether to do maternity pictures or not, think about how wonderful it will be to show your little one pictures of your big belly when they grow up. Close ups won't be on your swelling feet or your double chin- they will be on your brilliant smile and that beautiful belly! Don't let insecurities keep you from documenting this wonderful journey. Bathroom mirror selfies aren't a bad way to document your pregnancy, but a gorgeous picture you can mount on your wall is a better alternative. 

The Beginning!

Hi, I'm Natalie. I'm the owner and photographer for Solis Foto.
I've been doing shoots for friends and family for a while now and this last year have decided to step it up a notch and start making my dreams a reality- Starting my own business.
Part of that dream includes creating beautiful memories for people and expressing my creative side. I can't even begin to describe the emotions that come along with starting a business: Excitement, surprise, anxiety, fear and hope, just to name a few.
I hope that my dreams are able to translate well into the business world and I can't wait to get started!