Photographer Profile

My name is Melissa Howell and I specialize in custom portrait design for your home. You can visit my official photography website at http://www.blueprintsphotography.com/ to view more of my work and to contact me to set up a consultation.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Top 10 of 2011--Vote For Your Favorite!

I went through all the images I took last year and picked my 10 favorite. It was a very difficult task, but I made myself narrow it down. I decided to have a contest to see which image would get the most votes. The subject of the winning image (or parents of the subject) will win a gift card worth $100 that can be applied to a photo session, prints, or accordion albums! You may only vote once on my blog, but you can also vote on my Facebook page, giving you two votes total. To vote, just leave a comment indicating which number is your favorite. Contest ends midnight on January 15th and the winner will be announced on Monday the 16th. So start voting!

1. This baby was the most smiley, happy baby I think I have ever photographed. Every single portrait of her has a wide smile. She made the session so easy! I love the hat and tutu. This just screams "girl" to me.

2. This was taken at the one year session of this little boy. I just love the diagonal line created by his mother's arm and how it creates a frame, and also a feeling of security while he is sucking his thumb and staring directly into the camera. One of my all-time favorite images.

3. This was from a session where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Except for the fact that I got this completely adorable portrait. It looks like this baby knows something funny that she isn't telling the rest of us. This is complete sweetness.

4. I got to do the engagement portraits of this couple, and then the reception images after they were married in Utah. The setting was gorgeous, and I love the kind of "Gone With the Wind" feel of this image. The sky, the grass, the kiss.... Ahhhhh.

5. We went out on a windy day in October to one of my favorite trailheads. After getting some really great images, we crossed the bridge and saw this field with all this gorgeous fall foliage. The sun obliged us and hid behind some clouds so I could get this quintessential Colorado portrait. The colors, the composition--everything is just perfect.

6. This is from an shoot I did with twin 15-month-old girls. As you might imagine, they were not so interested in getting their pictures taken! I brought out some beads, and that did the trick! This little girl wrapped herself up completely with them, and then stared at the camera just long enough for me to get this endearing shot.

7. In February, I went to Oregon for my father's 80th birthday. While there, I went down to the beach with my sister-in-law to do this amazing photo shoot. Any of you who have been to the Oregon coast know that it is WINDY and COLD! (Especially in the middle of February!) But this image looks like we were in the Bahamas or something. What a great actress my sister-in-law is! She really suffers for her art :)

8.  This was one of those "happy accidents." I was shooting family portraits with the kids, and when I was doing some mother/daughter shots, I got this look on the mom's face. When I saw it after the shoot, I could not stop staring. There is something so intense and beautiful about it. I couldn't decide if I liked it better in black and white or color, so I included both.

9. Oh my gosh, what a little darling! This was a shot from a 2-year shoot, and I love everything about it. The soft, creamy colors, the pearls, and especially the tongue! It's classic cuteness!

10. This is a gorgeous, completely un-posed shot I got at a summer session. The backlighting, the roses, the soft, flowing dress and hair (and the pink toenails!) just make this a stunning image.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Number 6 of course!

Holly M said...

I also vote for 6.

Anonymous said...

number 4... dang that guy is good looking ;)

Melain said...

Number 7. I feel like I'm right there with her! I makes me want to take a deep breath, close my eyes and SMILE. :)

Anonymous said...

Number 4! Adorable Couple! :)

Brown-Eyed Girl said...

number 4 all the way! Love the editing you did on it to give it some special magic!

Anonymous said...

#4 yay! -Dallin Roberts

Trey said...

#2 all the way

Anonymous said...

I vote for #4 what a great couple, I love the pretty background and they look so happy!

Anonymous said...

Definitely number 4.

Anonymous said...

NUMBER FOUR! This one is by FAR the best!

Anonymous said...

I like number 4.

Anonymous said...

Number 4 is my favorite :]

Anonymous said...

#4!!!

Anonymous said...

Pic #4 is so classic. Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I vote for #4!

Anonymous said...

I vote for #4!!

Anonymous said...

#4 She looks gorgeous!

Nicole said...

I vote for #4!!!

Anonymous said...

Number 4 super cute

Anonymous said...

I vote #4! -T. Brown

Anonymous said...

#4 please

Anonymous said...

# 4!

Anonymous said...

#4 for sure

Anonymous said...

#4 please!

Melissa said...

#4!!! such a romantic picture.

Brock said...

#4!!!!

Brock said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Olivia Heilmann said...

#7 is by far my fav. Not to mention that I LOVE the Oregon Coast. Best place on earth!!

Anonymous said...

I love #4!

Anonymous said...

#2 HANDS DOWN

Anonymous said...

#2 Sweet

Heather said...

#7 I love the colors, her attitude and the beach! Amazing!

Angel said...

Love the intensity of the eyes of the little boy in #2. You are simply amazing Melissa.

Anonymous said...

voting for pictures #4!

Anonymous said...

GORGEOUS BABY #2!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I love#4

Anonymous said...

#4 for sure--the couple are beautiful along with the background --such beauty captured!!

Anonymous said...

Love #4--what a great picture capturing the happy moments of this couple--love it!!

Anonymous said...

#2 #2 #2 wow

Anonymous said...

#3

Anonymous said...

#4 GO ROBERTS!

Jim in WDM, Iowa said...

#3, "complete sweetness" gets grandpa Jim's vote...!

Anonymous said...

I am liking the 4th one, For Sure

Anonymous said...

Love the colors in #5!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness I just love the sweet little girl in #9. She's a dream!

Anonymous said...

#2 is my pick

Anonymous said...

2!! those eyes! love!