Michelle Sallay Photography

EVERNEATH BOOK LAUNCH

2012-01-26T10:40:00.004-07:00

I had the best time at the book launch for the new book Everneath by the coolest author Brodi Ashton. My main goal was to go and get my copy of the book signed, but I took some pictures too. You can read what I thought about Everneath and enter a contest to win a signed copy on my book blog HERE.

ANDREA & PAUL ENGAGEMENTS

2012-01-23T21:43:00.006-07:00

We couldn't cancel this shoot as a big storm came into town because it was the only day these guys were available. I'm kind of glad we couldn't and didn't cancel, because I love these snow pics. Andrea and Paul are getting married. They both have kids and they wanted to add them to their engagement shoot. Do you think the kids will forgive us for freezing their toes off? I hope so, it was worth it I think.

KELLI & BEN PART III

2012-01-18T23:26:00.005-07:00

KELLI & BEN PART II

2012-01-18T15:43:00.003-07:00

KELLI & BEN PART I

2012-01-17T12:10:00.005-07:00

WHITNEY & CONRAD ENGAGEMENTS

2012-01-09T10:33:00.006-07:00

Aren't these guys adorable?

BEST OF 2011

2011-12-31T19:38:00.012-07:00

I always get a bit overwhelmed when I go through my year in pictures and try to pick out my favorites. Each year I find I generally favor emotion, or how I react emotionally to the picture, more than technical greatness. I figure that is why most of my favorite shots this year are of smiles and laughs.

2011 has been a good year for me and for my pictures. I feel like I have found a style that is uniquely mine. I no longer cruise photography blogs for ideas and wish that my photographs looked like theirs. I also can't seem to find any other photographs that look like mine. And darn it, I am totally proud of that!

I don't take pictures to make money (although I certainly can't imagine working so hard for free). I take them because it honestly fulfills something within me creatively and socially. I am certainly not a shy person, but you can imagine how daunting it can be to head out of the house to meet a large family that you know nothing about, get them to warm up to you, and get them all laughing, all while trying not to look like a total dork or say something offensive in the process. After worrying about that and then getting all technical with my camera there isn't much left in my brain for what the picture is going to look like artistically. So the final product you see on my blog and website as a photograph is pure, subconscious me. It is my complete abandon to the camera and the people in front of it. I feel a picture, and it is how I see the world. I guess, in this light, you can see why this work is so personal for me, and how it takes loads of guts to put it out there where it can be criticized. I am still just waiting for someone to say "What in the world are you doing? You are not a photographer!"

So 2011 was great because I think that this year I finally decided that I am a photographer, and I am not trying to be anyone else but me.

Thank you to my wonderful clients, new and old, for making this year awesome. Especially my newlyweds--I always love my brides and grooms!

My favorite of the whole year. My brother Tyler and his new wife Courtney:

SUMMERS NEW BABY

2011-12-20T22:17:00.010-07:00

Pictures of new baby Lydia new at the hospital and then a few weeks later at home with her family. I'm kinda crazy about all of these. This is my favorite type of work.

GUMMOW FAMILY

2011-12-12T22:44:00.003-07:00

I never tire of shooting at the Downtown library, or shooting the Gummows. I am not the only one, because man was it crowded with cameras and families and brides. These are heavily focused on Miss Avry because she just turned 4.

BOOKER FAMILY

2011-12-09T18:19:00.004-07:00

My adorable niece Ava and her Mom and Dad.

DEBBIE & SCOTT ENGAGEMENTS

2011-12-02T11:22:00.009-07:00

Sweet Debbie left me the nicest note on my facebook page that I just have to share. Their session was so fun!

Michelle, We love our engagement pictures and YOU! We had a blast! You were so professional and so fun at the same time. Even though we were a bit nervous in a matter of minutes we were smiling naturally and oblivious to everyone around us. It seemed like we were in our own little world. We are planning on having you do more photo's next spring for a date.
Thanks again!

KELLI & BEN BRIDALS

2011-11-16T16:53:00.004-07:00

These guys made me smile and laugh as we fought our way through the most popular spots at Memory Grove.

BENTLEY & LINCOLN

2011-11-14T09:27:00.004-07:00

We could never get the two together, but we still got some cute ones of them apart.

WILLIAMS FAMILY

2011-11-08T09:58:00.002-07:00

We caught the fall leaves just in time for the Williams Family. It was chilly, but we were a success.

DURHAM FAMILY

2011-11-03T08:54:00.004-07:00

I took these in lovely Fredericksburg, VA where this beautiful family lives.

EVANS FAMILY

2011-11-01T09:57:00.003-07:00

Liz had the worst MTC companion, she was so bossy (me). I had the worst MTC companion she was so mean (her). Now we are friends and her and her husband make me laugh. John's parents made me laugh too. This was a fun shoot!

FALL WEDDINGS CAN LOOK LIKE SPRING

2011-10-27T20:27:00.006-07:00

Thought it would cheer me up to (not that I am grumpy) to post some pics of the last two weddings I did with Whimsy Floral (the best). One wedding was at LaCaille, and the other at Sundance. Let me know if you want to hear about how the tale of the adorable baby's breath balls turned to tragedy! Seriously a floral crime!

SARAH GRACE

2011-10-26T11:23:00.003-07:00

A couple of favorites from Sarah Grace's mini-shoot.

ROBERTSON FAMILY

2011-10-17T14:49:00.004-07:00

Collin loved sticking out his tongue at me, but I think it was in a nice way. How could this cutie ever be mean?

COURTNEY & TYLER ENGAGEMENTS

2011-10-13T21:06:00.007-07:00

This is my brother Tyler, he is getting married on November 11. This is Courtney who he is marrying. Aren't they cute?

BODIE & MCKAYLA

2011-10-06T22:34:00.004-07:00

The canyons were sparkling and so were these two!

THANKSGIVING POINT

2011-10-04T00:01:00.002-07:00

Isn't this a pretty setting for a wedding? So soft, light, and sweet. Love it.

CHRISTY & DERRICK PART III

2011-09-24T23:13:00.007-07:00

Sometimes you get to meet a bride and groom who can really shake it...

CHRISTY & DERRICK PART II

2011-09-17T20:59:00.005-07:00

I didn't ever have to tell these two to smile and look happy together, and here is the evidence.

CHRISTY & DERRICK PART I

2011-09-15T23:03:00.004-07:00

I haven't posted in ages so it must have been horrible for the two of you that follow my blog. But I am back to finally post a sneak peek for Christy and Derrick.

COLOR

2011-09-01T21:10:00.003-07:00

I am a huge Whimsy Floral fan. Here are two colorful weddings I helped with this month.

RUSHTON FAMILY

2011-08-23T20:45:00.006-07:00

This shoot was so fun. These pictures were taken at the family farm so every spot was sentimental. I loved that about this shoot, it made it all so fun.

MANDI & QUINN PART IV

2011-08-18T11:45:00.009-07:00

The absolute most fun I have had at a wedding reception since my own.

MANDI & QUINN PART III -- THE DETAILS

2011-08-17T10:33:00.006-07:00

Quinn is an amazing artist, and he had a hand in a lot of the tiny amazing details for this wedding. My favorite being the bridesmaids "bouquets"...awesome! You could also see the metal work all over this wedding. I loved it. Here are some of my fav detail shots.

MANDI & QUINN PART II

2011-08-16T08:44:00.005-07:00

Mandi and Quinn were all about the details, and I had as much fun photographing those details as I did their faces.

MANDI & QUINN PART I

2011-08-15T13:13:00.002-07:00

The fist group of many of my favorite pictures from this fun, fun, fun wedding.

CHRISTY'S BRIDALS

2011-08-11T08:16:00.001-07:00

I have been up to this location a lot lately. But I don't care. It is my favorite non-downtown spot. And by the way it makes brides like Christy look awesome. Christy is getting married today so now I can share her stunning bridals!

GUMMOW FAMILY

2011-08-09T09:30:00.006-07:00

Isn't Linden a stunning child? I love her white hair and blue eyes. She wasn't really in the mood for our agenda of taking pictures, but we tricked her into some anyway.

JOHNSON FAMILY

2011-08-05T14:31:00.005-07:00

When I was at the Gap I saw this adorable outfit and I thought I need to call Jen and tell her that this is the perfect outfit for Taylee and her shoot. I didn't but Taylee still showed up in the outfit, how crazy is that?

It got a super dark all of the sudden during our shoot. I was kind of frustrated with the light, but I had to have my shutter so slow that I caught a few pictures that I am very found of because if the movement. You'll see...

HATCH FAMILY

2011-07-30T20:37:00.003-07:00

I've been taking pictures of Miss Michaela for a few years now, and I love seeing her grow up. She is going to be a great big sis.

HINCKLEY FAMILY

2011-07-25T11:10:00.004-07:00

I took pictures of the Hinckley family about two years ago, and they were so fun. They don't live in Utah right now, and I was excited that they asked me to take pictures again while they were visiting. We also added Martha's sister and her family for this shoot.

JOCELYN & AVRY

2011-07-19T20:36:00.004-07:00

These were taken this past spring. These are Jocelyn's one year pictures, but we took a few of Miss Avry as well. Which is why it was totally ok to get a few shots with Avry hanging out in the background. :)

SISTER SALLAY

2011-07-11T21:30:00.005-07:00

This is my soon to be missed sister-in-law Kathy. She is going on a mission, we are going to miss her face so we had to take some pictures of that face!

LAURA & DARRIN PART III

2011-07-08T19:06:00.007-07:00

It was a lovely evening in Copperton for a little party.

LAURA & DARRIN PART II

2011-07-07T15:30:00.004-07:00

Another stunning day at the temple with my cute bride and groom.

LAURA & DARRIN PART I

2011-07-06T12:41:00.005-07:00

GRIFFITH FAMILY

2011-07-01T18:10:00.004-07:00

I love this family, and I don't mind their traditional thumbs up pictures either. :)

AEDAN

2011-06-25T14:28:00.003-07:00

A quick little shoot with one of my more experienced models. Which basically means I have taken his picture loads of times.

LAURA'S BRIDALS

2011-06-17T11:02:00.006-07:00

I have been waiting to share these stunning bridals until today, Laura's wedding day.

JESSICA & SAM PART III

2011-06-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

A few more little detail shots from Jessica & Sam's reception.

JESSICA & SAM PART II

2011-06-06T20:05:00.004-07:00

I know this isn't the kind of weather you hope for as a bride, (I know, it was cold and rainy on my wedding day, and I wasn't happy about it) but it sure makes for some adorable spring pictures. (I know, I also have adorable umbrella pictures from my wedding day.) And now, if I do say so myself, Jessica and Sam do as well.

JESSICA & SAM PART I

2011-06-04T12:19:00.003-07:00

Um, yes it was raining a little on Jessica and Sam's big day. Don't the umbrella's make these pictures totally fun? I know, they do.

MASON & KENLEY

2011-06-02T16:28:00.004-07:00

My ever adorable model Mason has a sister now. Little Kenley is a love.

ILENE & BRIONE

2011-05-28T20:16:00.004-07:00

You haven't forgotten this hottie I am sure. Here are some pics from the day that Ilene married Brione.

STEPHANIE

2011-05-24T15:07:00.003-07:00

My friend Stephanie came over to my house so we could shoot some head shots for her. Here are a few of my favorites of one of my favorite red heads.

JORGENSON COUSINS

2011-05-19T15:28:00.006-07:00

This shoot was what you would call a challenge, and I didn't bring enough tiny chairs. I did manage to get pictures of the cousins looking good when they were alone with no distractions.

Here is the best of the worst of our group attempt:

CHASE FAMILY

2011-05-16T19:39:00.007-07:00

Don't you think Jared and Candice make the most beautiful children? I do.

CHYANNE & CORY PART III

2011-05-13T10:19:00.004-07:00

Chyanne and Cory's reception was so fun. I couldn't believe what I saw when I walked in there. They had hung tons of umbrellas from the ceiling and everything was so colorful.

CHYANNE & CORY PART II

2011-05-13T10:01:00.005-07:00

Chyanne and Cory were able to enjoy perhaps the only nice spring Saturday in April for their wedding. I hadn't shot at the SL Temple for over a year so I was loving it, and if you can't tell totally obsessed with Chyanne's stunning bouquet. Chyanne was getting all sorts of attention from passerby and even had her picture taken by cell phone TWICE.

CHYANNE & CORY PART I

2011-05-09T20:21:00.003-07:00

AVA AT THREE

2011-05-04T19:10:00.003-07:00

My adorably sassy niece Miss Ava turns three on Saturday. Ava is my daughter's best friend and the first human baby that I saw born. I love her, seriously.

MAYOR'S SCHOLARSHIP 2011

2011-04-29T13:39:00.002-07:00

This was what I was up to this week. I freaking love being a part of this program.

JORDAN SENIOR PICS

2011-04-25T20:27:00.004-07:00

Adorable, sweet Jordan with her stunning blue eyes. These are only a few of my favorites of this cute senior.

BOBBI & DAVE PART III

2011-04-23T15:08:00.006-07:00

Yellow and Gray. So hot right now, at least to me. :)

BOBBI & DAVE PART II

2011-04-21T19:50:00.002-07:00

Bobbi is wearing the same dress her grandmother AND mother wore on their wedding days. Love that!

BOBBI & DAVE PART I

2011-04-20T20:39:00.005-07:00

It was a beautiful day on Thursday at the Timpanogos Temple. However it was WINDY! Lots and lots of cold wild wind! Made for some fun group shots. I am a firm believer that you must embrace the weather God gives you on your wedding day, and these family members and friends did just that.

BABY BARBER

2011-04-14T20:38:00.004-07:00

This photo shoot was originally intended to be a birth story, however our little baby had other ideas. She was breech so mommy had to have a c-section, which means I was no longer invited to the birth. No hard feelings though, she is one sweet cookie.

CARNIE FAMILY

2011-04-13T13:29:00.004-07:00

Unfortunately, mother nature sent us a cold morning for this shoot. They were visiting from Boise so we had to make due with what we had. You should have seen my soaking wet jeans from just walking in the grass, I had to give these kiddos props for hanging in there as long as they did.