Utah photographer Shay Voorhees » Family Sessions

Cook family | utah family photographer

Shay — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:13:08 +0000

Mandy is a Utah native but love has relocated her to Louisiana where she and her hubby raise two adorable boys. I loved listening to the lovely Southern drawl she’s picked up on over the years!

During a visit here she asked me to photograph her family while incorporating our beautiful mountains in the background – a way to take a piece of the Rocky Mountains home to the South – so of course I was excited. I love all things Utah!

I really enjoyed hanging out with the Cooks. The boys were so cute and had fun personalities. We all talked about Utah specialties they should be sure to experience while they’re in town (fry sauce anyone?). LOL

Until next time,
~Shay

utah family photographer | ogden family photographer | ogden child photographer

Good things in life | utah family and pet photographer

Shay — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:07:38 +0000

Of course there are many good and beautiful things in life. I dare say that most of you will agree some of the best things in life are moms and doggies. So when I was contacted by sweet Machelle to photograph not only her and her sweet mom but also both of their adorable puppies, I was very happy! Machelle bought the session as a gift to her mom — what a thoughtful gift and a wonderful way to capture the love they all share. Pooches included.

I love when families bring their pets to their photo session. In this next one you can totally tell who the little sweet girl is, and who the ham is! Love it!

And these last two totally crack me up! I like to call this my telling the joke series:

In the first, doesn’t he look like he’s saying, “No way! Then what happened?”

At which time I would deliver the punch line and in the second you can see his reponse.

He’s totally saying, “Bwahaha, oh Shay. You ARE so funny!”

Yes, I’m a dork. I know. It’s ok!

Like this? Share it by clicking on those little buttons below.

Until next time,
~Shay

utah pet photographer | utah dog photographer | ogden pet photography | salt lake dog photographer

Referrals receive free prints | utah family photographer

Shay — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:04:59 +0000

Ok. I know I’m like, the worst blogger. I’ll spare you a lengthy explanation of why I disappear for weeks on end but basically, I’m busy y’all. Life is busy. But life is beautiful too.

So, today’s feature blog post is showcasing a darling group. The kids decided great Mother’s Day presents would be to surprise their moms with updated family photos. How stinkin’ cute it that?! I guarantee all the moms were thrilled. I mean, c’mon, what mom wouldn’t be excited to receive photos of their kids? Answer: they all would be thrilled to get darling photos of their kids!

I love when past clients refer their friends and family to me. This group was referred to me by Jamie from this post. By the way, did y’all know I have a referral program? If you refer your friends and family to me, you receive a free print on your next session! And I do all the heavy lifting by keeping your credits on file so you don’t have to worry about remembering – I do it for you automatically. Sweet, right?

Until next time,
~Shay

utah family photographer | ogden family photographer | salt lake family photographer | utah pet photographer

Mother’s Day is less than 2 weeks away!

Shay — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:51:41 +0000

Do you realize Mother’s Day is less than 2 weeks away?! Don’t know what you’re going to get your sweet mom? Men, don’t know what you’re going to get your wife? Family portraits make a wonderful and usually unexpected gift!

Animal Assisted Therapy – 101 Ideas

Shay — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:50:48 +0000

Although my mom is involved with agility training these days, when I was a little girl she was involved with obedience. On occasion she would visit different places like schools and nursing homes to give various demonstrations such as general dog training, obedience training, and proper dog care and safety.

In fact, once when I was in the fourth grade she came to my grade school to show my schoolmates one of these demonstrations. At the time I wasn’t even aware my mom had arranged to come to the school so you can imagine my surprise when suddenly our big, beautiful, kind, Dobermans came sauntering into the classroom with my mom in tow. The kids exploded in excitement and I felt my coolness status totally increase as they enthusiastically asked me questions. Given that I was a total geek (ok, I still am a total geek) I was nonetheless appreciative of any coolness my mom could rub off on me by showing how awesome our dogs were. I was so proud to stand in front of the class that day.

Another time my heart swelled with pride was when my mother took me with her to a nursing home to give a demonstration to the residents. Those sweet grandmas and grandpas were so excited to see the dogs perform. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this kind woman’s wrinkled and knotted-with-arthritis hands petting the top of the slick Dobie’s head and the dog standing there looking lovingly into her eyes. This was probably one of my earliest lessons of service and how time is the greatest gift given.

Naturally, when author Stacy Grover contacted me to take the photo for her book, 101 Creative Ideas For Animal Assisted Therapy, I was very excited and deeply honored. Stacy, along with her darling pups Cosita and Liberty, spend countless hours volunteering their time in various therapy sessions. These experiences lead Stacy to write this wonderful book so others can experience the joy that comes from animal assisted therapy.
(click on the blue words to jump to her book website)

Stacy is truly beautiful on the outside but more importantly, genuinely beautiful on the inside.

Oh my gosh, this image cracks me up! Can’t you just see Liberty telling Cosita, “um, well little one, I’m not quite sure what you’re doing here because this is my show.”

“Yes, see how lovely of a model I am?” LOL, I love it.

Tell me what you think! Isn’t that book the best ever and aren’t these pups SO cute?!

Until next time,
~Shay

Edited to add:

This comment came to me from a nice lady named Janice and it’s so great I thought I would post it here in addition to the comments area.

My daughter and I first learned about animal assisted therapy two years ago and were completely captivated by the idea. After doing research into credible organizations, we contacted Therapy Animals of Utah to learn how to become qualified as therapy animal handlers. Stacy trained us. We’ve accompanied her on visits, and I’m telling you that she is amazing. She is one of the kindest, most giving people I know. She and her dogs melt the hearts of those she visits. I can’t wait to get her book in my hands and learn how to become just like her! Animal therapy work can be done with just about any animal including horses, mice, rabbits, birds, cats, dogs, etc. Therapy Animals of Utah is always looking for more volunteers, so if you are interested in learning more, go to their website: http://therapyanimalsutah.org/

I can’t wait to get her book in my hands and learn how to become just like her! Animal therapy work can be done with just about any animal including horses, mice, rabbits, birds, cats, dogs, etc. Therapy Animals of Utah is always looking for more volunteers, so if you are interested in learning more, go to their website: http://therapyanimalsutah.org/

utah pet photographer | ideas for animal assisted therapy | ogden pet photography | utah family photographer

Nebeker family | utah family photographer

Shay — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:06:53 +0000

Some of these family members were visiting from other states and even other countries. I was super stoked when they asked me to photograph them while everyone was together for the holidays. I had the best time too — everyone was super nice. And um, seriously? Could this group be any better looking?! Everyone looks like they stepped off of a page of some fashion magazine, don’t you think?

Until next time,
~Shay

Utah family photographer | Large family photographer Utah |

Dave and Candice | utah family photographer

Shay — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:41:22 +0000

Oftentimes the blessings in my life overflow my heart. Great friends are one of those blessings I’m eternally grateful for. Meet another set of my good friends, Dave and Candice. Our daughters have played competition soccer together for a few years and even before we became good friends, I knew Candice was my kinda gal. She is almost as loud as I am when cheering for the team during the games – and trust me, that’s not an easy feat. She also isn’t afraid to speak her mind. That’s not only a good thing for me but also for Dave. He’s another that says it how it is and doesn’t apologize nor expects apologies if you tell him how it is. It’s great. Yes indeed, they’re my kinda folks. Love you Dave and Candice!

Until next time,
~Shay

utah family photographer | ogden utah family photographer | salt lake city utah photographer

Stenquist family | utah family photographer

Shay — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:28:14 +0000

I just love how this family took incorporating the furry members of the family to the next level. When Allyson asked if it would be ok to do the session at their farm with the dogs AND horses my answer was a resounding, uh yes!

We had such a great time and meeting everyone was super fun for me. When I was taking the family shot in front of the hay barn in the image below, their horse was behind the fence nudging my back and nibbling on my jacket – it was so funny. I think he was jealous I wasn’t including him in that particular shot, the sweet fella.

After taking the shot above this sweet old fella needed a rest and I couldn’t resist getting this funny image of his nose and teeth. It makes me smile.

Until next time,
~Shay

utah family photographer | utah pet photography | ogden family photographer

Larsen family | utah family photographer

Shay — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:02:56 +0000

When you have good friends you often are introduced to their good friends. And that’s a great thing. Sometimes I feel like these new acquaintances are already my friends by proxy. Take for example Brenda, who is friends with my friend Christi. Naturally Brenda and I got along right away because if Christi likes her, I like her. But somehow I think we probably would have been friends anyhow because Brenda is super, super sweet.

Of course I was happy when she asked if she could bring her babies with her to the session. As I’ve said before, I love it when the furry members of the family come along for the family portraits.

Until next time,
~Shay

utah pet photographer | utah family photographer | ogden family photographer

Mandy & Brian | Utah couple photographer

Shay — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:17:03 +0000

Growing up our families were so intertwined it seemed Mandy was my sister. We spent summers playing in the sand box, creating forts, riding bikes, and swimming in the irrigation canals. Hey, living in the country, you’ll swim almost anywhere. Even irrigation canals.

One time Mandy’s older sisters dug this huge hole in their back yard – by hand with shovels – lined it with a tarp and filled it with the garden hose. And yes, we swam in that ‘pool’ too. Before long it resembled more of a mud hole rather than a pool though so the appeal to swim in the homemade pool wasn’t as enticing as it once was.

Mandy’s parents must have felt sorry for us because they eventually bought one of those above ground pools for us to swim in. In hindsight, perhaps they were trying to save their backyard from another attack from the shovel. We turned into proverbial fish that summer and often would swim well into the dark of the night before our parents forced our wrinkly waterlogged bodies out of the water.

Mandy is married to Brian now and as happy as can be. We may not jump ditches with Ryan any more nor swim until the moon is the only source of light, but we still have a great time when we get together these days.

Until next time,
~Shay

Utah family photographer | Utah couple photographer | Ogden family photographer