A day with Michael as his assistant

Michael's pictures were by far outstanding. These on today's blog are ones I took at the Tulip Festival, and are just an imitation of what we saw today.

However, today was time well spent. It was my privilege to witness his work up close and professionally. He had a photographer's shoot to do for a wedding couple, Jay and Taylor Kirk. We parked just opposite the Conference center next to Temple Square. We started out with meeting them at the Joseph Smith Memorial building across from Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

The groom was there waiting and dressed in his tuxedo, looking like the young returned missionary that he was; handsome and starry eyed waiting for his bride to arrive. She was actually in a dressing room getting ready so Michael could begin his work. I carried his reflector, and tripod. He told me up front, now I may not use it, but you carry it and we will go from there. The inside of the building was beautifully and ornately designed of the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.



I watched Michael begin his photo session. He sized up the area and began creating a beautiful work of art. He knew exactly the effect he wanted and showed the couple how to stand; or how to look or facial expressions most beneficial. He fussed over the brides hair that was wavy, curly as he took a close up pose of the bride. He paid attention to detail to make sure every hair was in place,the wind blowing as we walked outdoors. He knew just how to have the bride's train of her flowing gown and made sure it looked perfect for the bride's pose wherever we were.



I was very impressed with the 150 photos he shot in those two hours plus. He used the architecture as a back drop of the outside photos of each of them as well as together. The bride and groom will definitely have a treasured memory from the looks of what I witnessed.


The flowers on the church office grounds were a back drop and like a work of art painted in brilliant colors of spring, the yellow daffodils, tulips of all colors, and the purple faces of the varieties of pansies and other flowers of similar colors. I will say that these flowers put to shame the ones I saw last week end at Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival!!




My camera battery was low and needed recharging so I was unable to use it or get snapshots of Michael taking pictures. Had my camera worked I would have had pictures of the top of the Conference center, the skyline view and the flood of flower colors on the grounds. The trees on Temple Square were all in bloom and looked very spring-like. There was an air of peace and tranquility throughout the area.

Michael and I were able to take the Conference center tour. He really had never been inside since he moved and hadn't had a chance to be there for any events. We took the tour to the top on the roof and saw the gardens. Our guide was pleasant we were were the only ones on her tour. I loved the view from the top and the skyline of Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Temple was directly across as well as the Church Office building twenty plus stories high. The weather was great and the sun came out after Michael's photo shoot which made them perfect for it.