Innovative : Laugh... Love... Live!

Happy Independence Day!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:30:00 +0000

I am so grateful for all of the amazing men and women who protect our freedoms each and every, without each of you this country would not be what it is today. It's easy to take our independence for granted but next time you kneel down to pray, remember to thank our lord for these amazing soldiers and their families... The next time you see a soldier in the Airport or in the grocery store be sure to walk up to them and thank them for their sacrifice and teach your children to do the same.

Here is an image that I took on my trip to NY last summer. What an amazing place to visit. I heard a rumor that as of July 4th 2009 visitors to liberty island are once again allowed to climb the 354 steps to visit Lady Liberty's crown.

Happy Fathers Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:07:00 +0000

As many of you know, my father passed away this past December and not a day goes by that I don't think about him. This fathers day is bitter sweet for me with my father not being here. I miss him so much! However, it is going to be a great fathers day for me because I get to spend all day with my AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL wife and our AWESOME kids.

Here is my favorite image from our impromptu photo shoot today.

Hurry... Auction will be closing one June 1

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Back in March I left a post here telling of an auction I was doing to benefit Paul Cardall and his family. The auction will be closing on June 1 (this coming Monday) so if you would like to find out more or place a bid click here and leave a comment with your bid and your email address so that I can email the winning bidder. Right now the bid is at $300 so hurry on over and place your bids.

Meet my new friends... Cynthia and Matt

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:45:00 +0000

So a lot of you know that I have had this idea for a personal project for about 5 years now and it is just barley starting to come to fruition thanks to my two new friends Matt and Cynthia... two of the raddest people that I have had the pleasure of meeting!

I was fortunate enough to met Cynthia about two months ago after her and her sister gave a presentation about their battles with breast cancer. Listening to them relate their story was somewhat depressing and extremely uplifting at the same time. They described how 3 out of the five sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer and how the disease changed their lives forever.

Their story is nothing short of amazing and I was honored to have her in front of my camera!

I met Matt for the first time today and I got goose bumps at least three times as he told me his story of his triumphant battle with brain cancer and how he had to completely relearn how to walk, talk, write and drive all over again after his numerous surgeries.

The entire time I was with them I kept thinking to myself... how could you have such a positive outlook on life when you have been dealt such a crummy hand? These two are stellar examples of what we should all strive to be like... I have so much respect for people who can go through struggles such as Matt and Cynthia's and be grateful rather than bitter for what they have experienced!

Cynthia and Matt... THANK YOU both for allowing me to capture a moment in your lives!

If you or someone you know has or is battling any form of cancer and are interested in participating in this project with me I'd love to hear from you.

Dustin

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:18:00 +0000

I spent some time in the studio today with my man Dustin. He's a singer/song writer and the lead singer of a local band. He needed some new photos to promote a gig he's playing in Park City in August. If you like talented singer/song writers who don't suck, you should check him out!

Here are a couple images from the shoot.

Do you Facebook?

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:56:00 +0000

I love Facebook... I opened my account about six months ago and I can't get enough of it!!! If you have a facebook account I would love to add you to my friends!

I also have a page for Innovative Photography and I just offered the fans of my page free head shots. I will be offering the fans of this page discounts and freebies so if you are interested please jump on over and become a fan.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Innovative-Photography/59540936220

Here are some images from the shoot I did today.

Do NOT read while eating junk food!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:42:00 +0000

I had an awesome shoot this past weekend with some... shall I say perfect specimen. Aubrie and Matt are scheduled to compete in the NGA competition in a couple of weeks and judging by their looks, their competitors should be very nervous!

After working with these two, I feel like a fat old man!

Visit Aubrie's facebook fan page and cheer her on!!

Here is a quick peak at some of the images from their shoot.

Oh yeah... and they happen to be dating!

Auction for a good cause!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:29:00 +0000

I just received an email for a benefit concert in honor of Paul Cardall and was greatly moved by his story.

To help out his family I am auctioning off a single portrait session for up to 4 people complete with a 16x20 print and up to 30 hi-res images from the session on a CD. This is a value of over $500 and the winning bidder will have until September 1st 2009 to redeem the session. I will start the bidding at $300, please leave a comment under this post with your bid so that everyone can see where the current bid is at. Please don't leave an anonymous bid, I will need to contact you if you win.

Every penny received from this auction will be given to Paul and his family so please don't hold back and forward a link to this post to everyone you think may be interested.

I encourage all of you to go out and read his blog (make sure you have box of tissues) and if you are interested in the concert, you can find out more information at here.

I did not take this photograph, it was borrowed from his blog.

Gotta love kids...

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:34:00 +0000

We took the kids out for a quick photo shoot (big mistake... hahaha) because we needed some new portraits of them. I wasn't able to capture even one image with all three of them so I will have to be happy with what I did capture considering they didn't want to be there in the first place. Oh well, they'll get over it. hahaha

And her name is...

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:31:00 +0000

First I want to thank you all for the great suggestions, Becca and I really enjoyed hearing them!

Three days after her birth we have finally decided on a name for our new baby girl. This is a trend with Becca and I, it took us about 10 days to decide on Ayden's name.

A lot of you have been texting, emailing, leaving comments and pestering me on Facebook (all well deserved or course LOL) to find out what her name is but we honestly didn't know until today. We have been going back and forth between two names and finally decided which one we like better.

Our baby guuurl's name is...

Ireland Rylee

Kind of fitting for St. Patty's day don't you think! Plus, I think she has a bit of that Irish temper!

She has a pretty mild temper most of the time but check out this shot of her screaming her eye's out... hahaha

Oh yeah... Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's a Guuurl... She's got kung-fu!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Last Friday the 13th Becca had our new baby girl! We are so excited to finally have our new addition here... seems like we have been waiting forever... well at least 9 months. We chose not to find out what we were having which made for a fun surprise when she was born.

We still have not agreed on a name but I think we will have it soon (I hope)!

Thank you all for your well wish's, my family and I really appreciate your support!

For now, here are a couple of quick snapshots from the hospital.

She was laying something like this when Ayden came up and lightly touched her head... her ninja like reflexes told her to quickly pull her hands up by her face startling Ayden. He jumped back from his new sister and proclaimed... "She's got kung-fu!" I seriously almost wet myself from laughing so hard.

Ayden and Bentley came to see their new sister in the hospital... they didn't know before they got there whether they got a brother or a sister.

As soon as Bentley figured out that the new baby was a girl she ran out into the waiting room and told her grandparents that it was a guuurl and she knew it because she had a pink bow in her hair. She proceeded to tell them that they couldn't come into the room right now because the baby was drinking her mom's boob. Kids are so AWESOME!!!

Excuse me buddy... can you stop with the camera already... I'm trying to sleep here!

Becca + Labor = Hours in the hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

As a lot of you know, Becca is 9 months pregnant and the baby is breach. We came to the hospital today to see if Becca's Dr. could turn our baby. The baby turn was successful and now we wait. Looks like it's going to be a Friday the 13th baby... we can't wait to see if it's a boy or a girl.

Ready?

Still haven't picked a name so if you have a good one that you would like to share please leave it in the comments or email it to us.

Hopefully I will be posting baby pics soooooon!!!!!!

Mammoth Men Party... take II

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:54:00 +0000

Here are some more images from the crazy party!
These guys will do anything for a photo!

My friend Rhett.

New friend Justin.

Justin Neal Lyon

Jeff Newsom... check out his work... he's AWESOME!

Mammoth Men Party

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:08:00 +0000

If you're a wedding or portrait photographer there's no doubt you've heard of the Mammoth Men. Well, they are visiting the great state of Utah this week and invited a bunch of us up to party with them. They are renting out an amazin-licious house in Park City for the week and going on as many adventures as they can fit in.

The party was fan-tickle-astic! I met a lot of AWESOME photographers from Utah as well as all of the crazy Mammoth Men. Check out their blog to see images from the crazybooth during the party and to see their adventures in Utah! There are some images from the crazybooth that I'm sure will NOT make it on the blog! hahaha

Here are just a couple of the images I took.

Here's Mark! Check out the his crazybooth images... this guy cracks me up... he'll do anything! hahaha

Cameron Ingalls

THE P.I.M.P shoes as worn by Jeff Newsom

80's madness

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:29:00 +0000

This past weekend my family and I went to a birthday party for Becca's sister. The theme for the party was... you guessed it the 80's! As soon as I heard about the party I knew what I was going to wear... the hunt was on!

Here are some silly shots when we were looking for glasses. I can't believe these styles are cool again... what's happening?

This is what happens when you let a 4 year old dress herself! She thinks it's pretty funny to cross her eyes... I hope this phase passes soon!

Heidi tearin it up!

My HOT pregnant wife rockin out! She is going to be having our baby this Thursday!!!

Here's the birthday girl... so old she needs magnified glass to read. LOL

And here it is... the Miami Vice suit that my AWESOME wife found for me. Thanks babe!

Chris + Nikki = smokin hot!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:12:00 +0000

Nikki and Chris are good friends of ours and I was honored when they asked me to photograph their wedding! I have known Nikki since high school and Chris did an AWESOME job playing the bagpipes at my father's funeral this past December. If you are a perspective bride or groom and you want to do something different at your wedding check out Chris's web site. They are getting married in Hawaii this next week and they are going to have a ceremony here when they get back.

I was so glad that these two were up for the challenge! I talk to all of my brides and grooms about shooting before the wedding. A lot of couples are still stuck on the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding but a growing trend is underway where more and more couples are willing and eager to shoot before the wedding day. This willingness usually results in less stress on the actual wedding day which means happy couples in the photos which translates into much better images!

Anyway... back to Chris and Nikki. The look on their faces when we pulled up to this old run down building in the bad part of town was priceless! I can only imagine what was going through their heads when we were driving to the location. I love it when my clients give me their full trust! They were good sports, the sun was out but the wind was horrific and Nikki was freezing. We ended up shooting the second half of the session at Chris's mothers house.

Here is a taste of how their session went!

Here is a shot of Chris trying to hold the diffuser in the howling wind... you did a great job Chris!

Rockin session with Brooke!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:10:00 +0000

It's always fun working with other photographers and last night I was fortunate enough to work with Brooke from Blush Photography. She's been bugging me (hahaha) for the past couple of months to get her in front of my camera and yesterday it finally happened. My good friend Rhett drove up from Spanish Fork to help me out with the shoot and we all had a blast!

Many of you may know B and you may even be one of the thousands of blog stalkers that visit her blog everyday. Well... Here is a peek at the images we captured during her shoot.

Let me know what you think! Make sure you visit her blog and leave a comment... and mention that you saw her images on my blog... it'll make her smile.

Real lens flare baby!

I'm back

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:40:00 +0000

Wow... what a whirl wind these past two months have been and they don't seem to be slowing down at all.

I went to Vegas about 10 days ago for the annual WPPI convention. What is WPPI you ask... well it is an acronym for Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. WPPI is one of the largest conventions in the world for photographers and it is hosted annually in Las Vegas.

This was my third time attending WPPI so I thought it would be fun to organize a photo shoot in conjunction with the convention. The shoot was at the beautiful Red Rock Canyon just outside of Vegas. We had 25 amazing photographers from all around the world and 5 wonderful models. All in all, I think the shoot was a success and I am already starting to kick around ideas for next years shoot!

I met a lot of new friends this year and I can't wait to see them again next year! I also bought some new equipment and brought home a lot of great ideas that I will be implementing this year so stay tuned.

Here are some of my images from the Red Rock shoot.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:08:00 +0000

My family and I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and kind words over this past week. Your support is greatly appreciated and has helped us get through this difficult time. Your calls, emails and comments have moved us in ways that I can't put into words. It amazes me that people I have never even met can be so genuinely concerned for the well being of my family and I.

Thank you all so very much! May God bless each and every one of you.

Good bye Pop... I love you!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:00:00 +0000

Some of you know that my father unexpectedly passed away this past Thursday evening at the young age of 59 years. I first want to thank all of you for your well wishes and for keeping us in your prayers! Your love and support is greatly appreciated by my family and I. It's times like these that a person really finds the value in the friendships that they have developed throughout their life. Thank you all so very much!

I have been going through images trying to get a video slide show ready for the funeral and I can't help but smile as I see so many beautiful memories pop onto the screen. However as quickly as a smile fills my face, it just as quickly transforms itself into tears as I realize that the opportunity to create more beautiful memories with my father is gone. I already miss him more than I know how to express in words.

In a situation such as this, I could either choose to reflect on all of those beautiful moments that define my relationship with my father or I could shut myself off and lock myself in a room and sulk. Well, if my father were still here he would not want me to sit around wasting my time being sad. Rather he would want me to be a good example for my children and he would want me to be strong for my mother and all my siblings.

As many of you know, my family and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Yellowstone and Jackson Hole this past September. I am extremely thankful that both my mother and father were able to share that experience with Becca, the kids and I. I am so grateful for that time that we had together and that my children were able to spend all that time with their pah-poo!

Rather than list all of the many things that will sadden me about losing my father I decided to list all of the wonderful things that I am grateful for. I quickly found that I couldn't include everything because the list was so long.

I am grateful that my mother and father were companions for the past 34 years.

I am grateful for all the hunting and fishing trips that I spent with my father.

I am grateful that I was able to tell my father about our unborn child before he left us.

I am grateful for all of the wonderful meals that he prepared for us and the recipes that he perfected over the years.

I am grateful for his short buzz cut that would tickle my lips every time I kissed his head and told him goodbye.

I am grateful for all of the times that I heard him say "I love you".

I am grateful for every time that I wrapped my arms around him and told him "I love you".

I am grateful for every time he kissed Bentley and Ayden.

I am grateful for the example that he was in my life, I wouldn't be where I am without him!

I am grateful for all of the lessons that he taught me.

I am grateful for his generosity.

I am grateful for his patience.

I am grateful that he taught me to be respectful.

I am grateful that he didn't put up with me being stupid.

I am grateful for all the things he didn't give me.

I am grateful that as a teenager I got to spend so much time with him on our family's boat.

I am grateful that he taught me how to respect firearms.

I am grateful for all of the Sunday's that we watched football together.

I am grateful that he taught me the meaning of responsibility.

I am grateful that he met my mother.

I am grateful that my mother decided to marry him.

I am grateful that he approved of my wife.

I am grateful that he loved my children.

I am grateful he is my father.

Dad, I'm really going to miss you but I find great comfort knowing that I will see you again. I thank the lord for putting me in his life and he in mine.

It pains me so much to say these words here instead of to his face...

Good bye Pop... I love you!

Here are some recent images of my Pop. I have some older images that I will probably post over the next couple of days.

My two favorite guys on the planet! This is my favorite picture of Ayden and dad together.

Two sharp dressed men.

A quick snap of the kids with Nana and Papoo on our recent trip to Jackson Hole.

This one puts a smile all the way across my face!

The cutest kids... EVER! I may be a little biased.

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:21:00 +0000

Ayden and Bentley crack me up... here are some images of them on Thanksgiving.

This grill kills me!

OLIVE-Her... I Love Her :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:40:00 +0000

I just wanted to take a minute to wish all of my AWESOME clients and blog readers a happy Thanksgiving! Where ever you are, hug your kids... kiss your spouse... call your parents... thank the lord for all that you have!

I hope you all have a very enjoyable, loving, laughable and fattening Thanksgiving!

I thought I would share some images of my family that put a smile on my face.

This is last years xmas card... we are still trying to figure out what we are going to do this year... running out of time!

A sunny Sunday afternoon at the park.

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:01:00 +0000

Wow... yesterday was such a beautiful day! My family and I took the opportunity to go to the park and play in the sun! I've been working so much lately so it was nice to take a break and have some family time! Here are some quick shots of the fam.

All I want for Christmas...

Beautiful little 3yo

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:43:00 +0000

You probably have been wondering where I've been and why I haven't posted anything to my blog for the last little while... or not. Well, I have been really busy shooting and I haven't been able to keep up with all that's going on. This is a very busy time of year. OK... enough excuses.

Check out this adorable 3yo that I shot about 3 weeks ago. I couldn't believe that she is only 3... she is about the height of a 5yo! If you are in the market for some cool beanie hats for the girls this winter send her mom Danielle and email and tell her that Ryan sent you.

Don't you hate it when...

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Christensen) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Don't you hate it when you're surfing the web and you come across a site that has some information you want but in order to access it you are required to register and give them your email address?

Well, I found the site 10MinuteMail.com awhile back and now I use it all the time. It's great when I don't want to give out my email address online and get bombarded with a ton of junk mail.

NO registration required, just click the link to get a temporary email account and it generates one for you. The cool thing is that for a limited time you can access any email that comes into the temporary account. This is very convenient for those pesty confirmation emails that a lot of companies like to send out.

If you try it out leave a comment and let me know what you think.