Let's talk about your Digital Negatives!

Lots and lots of questions lately, so I thought I would take this opportune moment to have a heart to heart with everyone and no one in particular about our Digital Negative files. This is important information. Please take a moment to read this and please contact us with any questions or concerns. We are happy to help!

Many photographers these days do not offer digital files in order to protect their copyright and their business. We believe you should have your photos for a little personal use. They are after all your photos! So, with any shoot you do with us, family portraits, wedding, whatever...you get a disc of fully edited images! Keep in mind we DO retain all copyrights on the images.

Whats on the disc?

Generally there are a few things:

A folder of high resolution files

A folder of lower resolution smaller web sized files with a little border at the bottom (not always but usually. If for some reason your disc does not have this feature (its a recent addition) just let me know and we will get you a set if you like to share online)

A release notification with information about what you can (and can't) do with these files.

So what can you do?

Well, quite a few things. The files are yours for personal use. You can print them if you wish (though we can ALWAYS supply you with archival professional prints, far superior to most consumer labs) at any time.

You can share them online on facebook, your blog, email to grandma, whatever...we just ask that you use the websized ones for copyright protection for all involved and give proper photo credit. You will notice, we use the exact same files for posting online too! Please let us know if you need any help sharing online...we are happy to assist!

You can scrapbook with them, digitally or traditionally. Have holiday cards made. Make a slideshow for personal use (again we can help with a professional one if you like). Use images as your desktop background at home or work. Send prints to grandma. Make wedding favors. Send them out with invitations. You catch the drift.

So whats off limits?

Copying the disc for family and friends and whoever. We all like to share but this is a matter of quality control, and copyright management. Additional copies are available from us, but in order to keep the quality and track who has the rights to use them for personal use, we reserve the right to make and distribute discs.

Derivative works. Because it reflects on our work, you may not alter or re-edit the images without written consent. Our work is not done once the shutter has been released. There is so much more that we do to produce the final product! We work hard to make sure you get all versions of each image. If there is something else you want in an edit, just ask! Derivative works like portrait to painting etc are only allowed with written permission. We will work with you, but its not included in the current release in order to protect copyrights and quality of our work. You can not use them in commercial derivitve works either.

Commercial use. Since while you have release to use them personally but do not own the copy rights to the images, you can not sell the images commercially. Hopefully this one makes sense.

We want you to enjoy your images! Please if you have any questions at ALL about what is allowed or not allowed by the release or need help with great ways to share and use your images, contact us!



And because we know no boring (but important) informational post would be complete without a pretty picture, Mr. Butterfly thanks you for your attention to this important message.

My mother always said that patience is a virtue...

and I always reply that it is not one I happen to possess.



This weekends wedding was magical, beautiful, amazing, sweet, hilarious and downright fun. I can't wait to share it with you...





Except I am going to have to. Mom insists. I am waiting on a very special song from the couple. Its important, trust me. Practice some patience with me?

Tenney Family Mini Sessions

Its been a zany week of things breaking, not going to plan or just being plain screwy here at RedFeather Photography. But I would be absolutely crazy not to find a few moments to share these....

Some of you may remember Chris and Layla Tenney. If not, this is them:



We photographed their wedding and Payson reception nearly a year ago. It was fantastic (and chilly). Layla recently contacted me to complete some family portraits for her extended family on Chris's side, since the family would have a little time all together to get them done. We set up mini sessions for each group and the whole big group together at Freestone Park in Gilbert. It was a zany day to be there...there was a workshop going on so there were about 35 photographers (and families/couples) all trying to use one tiny area of the park. Compromise and patience were definately the words of the day.







This may just be my favorite shot from the whole day...so cute!




Isn't this little guy adorable?

Grandma and all of her grand kids. They are quite the fun bunch!




Twinsies! I love pink and what can I say, two cute girls in pink? Who can resist?



The whole gang!

Tenney family, these are by no means all of your photos or edits...just the quick favorites. :) I will have a disc to you guys in a couple of weeks! Thanks so very much for a super fun afternoon at the park!


Heres a little slide show:

An Autumn Ramble

For those of you who just come here for the shiny photos...let me get that one outta the way so you can move on with your busy day...


I love autumn. Crisp, cool air and that someone-is-burning-the-dust-outta-a-chimney-somewhere smell. Somewhere in this state there is some pretty yellow growing into the trees. Daily packages arrive from my vendors- holiday orders from clients...or even little parcels containing holiday shopping for my own family. The bits and pieces of family spread all over the country, are drawn back together via magnetic force, airplanes and magic. The whispers of Christmas music are starting to play in the stores and soon Christmas cards will start to appear in the mailbox. Daily trips to the post office to mail some sort of goody to somebody. Weddings on the weekends.

The dogs plead with me not to make them go outside in the morning and come back in with cold ears. We all snuggle with Kirk that extra five minutes after the alarm goes off, begging not to have to put bare feet on chilly tile. I don't have to feel guilty making my favorite tea or hot chocolate. Warm blankets and deep sleep. I can notice each day the shades of the evening light getting a little bit cooler. Time zones flop back wards in places where they are crazy enough to want to save daylight, so I can call my out of town friends to chat just a little bit later.

I can break out my favorite fuzzy sweater, and on really cold days a funky scarf. I go Christmas shopping and lunching with my mom. I take family portraits of dozens of happy families, dressed the same but different, eyes sparkling. They will send my photos to their loved ones this year.

Apple cider and fall break. The kids next door play touch football in the park across the street. We go for late night walks just to breathe in the cold air. Maybe if I am lucky this year, we will see snow in the Superstitions again. Then I can go photograph snow covered cactus for Glenn and his friend who loves saguaros.

I love this last bit of every year. Maybe I am savoring being young and happy, maybe its just the change in the weather, or the hope and joy that the conclusion of one year and the beginning of another bring.

Either way...I love autumn and wish it would never ever end.

Photographers- A little something shiny!

...and other people who like pretty things too. Look what I found!



Its a pretty, photographer themed scrabble pendant.

Aren't ya jealous? Don't you want one in your stocking from Santa this year? Isn't it purty? I figured it would be great to wear to shoots and shows and PPA and whenever...maybe it will even spark conversations about photography!

Plus, I will look smashing, and adorable, and all that fun stuff! Mine happens to be a T for Terrific (or something...mebbe I should have requested a K for Kool and Kate...).

If you want one too (and you know you do, because all the cool kids are wearing them) go get one! They are inexpensive, handmade with love (I bet you could even ask for extra love) and shiny!

They are from a shop called Home Studio on Etsy. Even if you are not a photographer, they have lots of other pretty desings. (Hmmm I wonder if they would like to use some pretty art prints for them...I know where they could get some pretty pictures ;) ). If you are a photographer and you have to have the cute little vintage camera too, I call dibs on Pink!

Mini Session: The Cutest Four Pack on Earth!

On Sunday, in addition to our morning in the groves with Kirk's family, Jennifer invited her good friend Barbara for a little mini session in the groves, since we were already there...and we are so glad she did!

This is Barbara. Isn't she pretty?


Barbara has four...thats right FOUR adorable kiddos...who happen to share the same birthday. They are gorgeous and sweet and I can not even believe what a cute little family they are! Seriously, these kids are just beautiful!

Meet Mario. I love his sweet little smile...what a doll!



And Jade. This girlie was so spunky and outgoing!


And Olivia. She was so cute and shy...and she has such pretty eyes!



And Mr. Samuel! Hes such a smiley guy- I think he had at least an impish smirk in every shot!



The kids were angels. While mini sessions are perfect for younger ones, these guys were great! Gotta love sisters who love each other!


And the boys were just too cool!!! Get a load of these handsome gents!



Are they not an incredibly beautiful family? I just love them to pieces!


Since it was a mini session, just a few previews, and no slide show. That's all ya get for now! Can't give it all away can I? But trust me, these guys are as sweet as their Halloween candy!

Generations in the Groves

I am not exactly sure where I want to go with this post. Its hard to say. There are just some sessions you dream about and day dream about afterwards and it gets you lost for words. You will have to bear with me...

I can still close my eyes and can see warm morning light, the kids joyfully running through the trees giggling and playing. A family, three generations of family, just joyful to be together on a beautiful Sunday morning. Its peaceful and timeless.

The truth is this family is one great tree in the grove of Kempton. The big family I had always wanted and finally got when I married Kirk. One thing is for sure, it sure is a change of pace from my little less-than-ten-people-extended-family I had come from.

I am still learning names. Still learning stories. After all, Kirk has ten aunts and uncles, each with children of their own many of whom have their own children. Its a grove of a family, each part its own great tree that branches out and intertwines. Those I know very well I love very much. Those I don't know very well yet, I still love very much.

I may never learn every name, every story. There are new little branches every year. All I know is I am lucky to be among them in the grove.

I admit, I was thrilled when Jennifer got in touch with me. Over a couple days the whole family joined in and pieced together times and a fantastic (new...to me anyway) location. It came together beautifully. The kids were fantastic...and the grown ups were pretty good too. There is an incredible amount of love in this family.

I will be editing these images over the next couple weeks. There were dozens of great ones...buckets of them even. I can not wait to share the final images- I am so excited I feel like my heart just may burst. In the mean time, a handful of previews, skimmed from my favorites will have to do.

So here are some photos for Chuck and Charlene, and their kids Jennifer, Megan, Rhonda, Austin and even that guy whose name rhymes with Dirt (and anyone else who just loves beautiful autumn morning photos of beautiful families). As always you can click them to see them a little bigger.






This was not the most perfect photo of the grand kids and Chuck and Charlene, but I just can't get over Charlene's laugh. Its so beautiful.








Watch the slide show too would ya? Its a great way to see them. Family, if you guys want the slide show for your blog just email me and I will send you the code and instructions.

I really hope you love them as much as I do.