We have a brand spanking new blog….

www.shalista.com/photoblog

Update your RSS feeds and Bookmarks. I am super excited to announce this, and also super behind on blogging. However, there are some HUGE photos on the new blog and new features like easier and better commenting (I LOVE COMMENTS) and focusing on the photos and less on the junk.

We are also getting a new domain, www.shalistablog.com

SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!!!!!

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Seniors are underway! August session are full at this point. July has a couple openings. We are scheduling September and October.

Nikki was fabulous. I shot her sister Katie a few years ago. They both are striking girls and so much fun to photograph!

So stinkin cute!

We took the family down to watch the boat parade and fireworks last night. I thought it was a lot of fun.

It started out fairly tame.

Then he was just gonna put his feet in.

Something happened to that plan!

The boats were great! I think they should make this a tradition. It was a lot of fun.

And a perfect night for fireworks!

and moons…

If you’ve stopped by the studio on a Monday, we are closed. I get a lot of questions about that, so let me explain the reasons. I work every Saturday. Sometimes for HOURS, and hours, and hours. For example, this past Saturday started on Friday. Lynsey and I left Pierre at 9:30 to trek to Nebraska to shoot Theresa and Everett’s wedding. It’s a 7 hour drive.

So, we drove 3 hours, crashed at a hotel halfway, then headed out at 7 am to be ready to start at 11:30. We got there, scoped out the town, made it to the wedding, shot for 8 hours+, then drove 7 hours straight back home. We got in about 2 am on Sunday. Both dedicated to being home for Father’s Day, but we were exhausted. Unfortunately for Lynsey, she works a “real” job during the week, so she rests up good on Sunday (I hope)

Me, I do laundry, clean house, whatever, and Monday I hang with the kiddos. I try to avoid the studio, and we try to go do fun things together, but I take Mondays off.

It’s one of the parts about this job that’s not so fun, but the other perks make up for it.

It’s a good thing Lynsey and I have so much fun together.

Nebraska might be lacking a lot of things, (I did live there so I do speak from experience) but they also have a lot of good things, like Amigos. Amigos is like Mexican Food Heaven. It’s greasy and far from gourmet, but damn it’s SO GOOD. A few years ago, ok, like 13 or something, I worked at Amigos in Norfolk, NE (yes, when I lived there) It was my first real job. That really helped us get through the first hour or so of the drive home on Saturday. The girl working the window thought we were crazy, but that’s ok, we kind of are.

Wow. A beautiful wedding! Everything was impeccable, so nicely done. Audra was gorgeous in her Monique Lhullier dress. It was truly stunning. The girls took over the fabulous Norbeck House to get ready and it was a perfect backdrop for a few bridal portraits of Audra. Then we headed off to the ceremony site, which was South Dakota ideal. Overlooking the river and a view for miles, it was simple, just humbling, and absolute perfection. Audra and Jesse had decided not to kiss until the ceremony kiss, but we laughed that they just couldn’t make it that long! They are a very sweet couple. After the ceremony we headed down to the bride’s family home, where a feast awaited the guests. The food by LaMinestra (one of my favorite restaurants!) was devine, they did a fabulous job.

The weather was perfect and Audra and Jesse had a wonderful day. I was honored to be there capturing the day!

Here are a few favorites. I had a very hard time choosing what to post.

in another 12 years, he’ll be stealing hearts

Austin and Sara had a beautiful day for their wedding. The weather had been so on and off all week, so I was holding out for them. It did rain a bit during our after wedding portrait time, but a little rain is supposed to mean good luck. They are a beautiful couple, and I am so honored I was there for their wedding.

Wedding was at the beautiful First United Methodist Church in Brookings
Reception at the Old Sanctuary

An extra thanks to Laura, who regularly works for my friend Jael, but was able to come assist me when my regular assistant couldn’t. She was a trooper and I loved chatting with her. Thanks Laura!

a perfect little peanut.

uterus.aching.

Sutton came from Lincoln Nebraska to see me! She came 6 months ago, but she wasn’t in the mood for photos that day. She’s a beautiful happy girl now and I am so glad she came back!

I hope everyone’s Memorial Day weekend is fantastic. I shot a wedding on Saturday, that post later, and we fought/played with the weather the whole time, again more later, so I was so greatful to see that Sunday was a gorgeous beautiful day, with the exception of the wind that never seems to stop blowing these days.

I have two great food recommendations. Saturday after the wedding my dad, stepmom, sister and my adorable nephews met us in Deadwood for dinner. We had the Crab and Prime Rib at the Gold Dust. It was absolutely fantastic. It about put us in a food coma for the drive home, but oh. so. good. So stop there if you are in Deadwood.

A friend recommended a recipe from Gourmet Magazine and it sounded so good we had to try it for ourselves tonight.

Carmelized Onions and Gorgonzola Grilled Pizza

It’s not has hard at it sounds or looks!

Here’s the recipe….

* 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 1/4 lb onions (2 large), halved and thinly sliced
* 14 to 16 oz pizza dough, thawed if frozen
* 1/4 lb Gorgonzola dolce, crumbled (1 cup)
* 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
* 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

*
Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook onions with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, covered, stirring occasionally, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and keep warm, covered.
*
Medium heat on a gas grill.
*
Stretch dough into a roughly 12- by 10-inch rectangle on a large baking sheet and brush with 1 Tbsp oil.
*
Bring dough, onions, cheese, nuts, parsley, and remaining Tbsp oil to grill area.
*
Oil grill rack, then put dough, oiled side down, on grill and brush top with remaining Tbsp oil. Grill, covered, until underside is golden brown, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes.
*
Using tongs, return crust to baking sheet, turning crust over (grilled side up). Sprinkle evenly with onions, cheese, nuts, and parsley. Slide pizza from sheet onto grill and grill, covered, until underside is golden brown and cheese is partially melted, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into pieces.

I’ll be honest and say I didn’t expect the dough to cook as fast as it did and burned the first one. I had bought extra so we tried it again. I also think perhaps next time I’d add a little garlic too. I used canned pizza dough, so super easy and quick to make too. It was really wonderful. A great vegetarian dish, even both my kids ate it. We served it as a “side” to some grilled chicken and watermelon. It was a great dinner outside on the deck.

Anyway, I wanted to share. If you try it, come back and comment on how good it was!

I just realized I didn’t take any pictures! I will have to make it this week again and take a photo this time! Here’s one from the Gourmet Magazine website.

So stinking cute!

Just an updated look at the engagement guestbooks!

My husband thinks I am a dork, but I absolutely LOVE David Cook. I am so freaking happy he won. The man can sing, he’s HOT, he has a great personality and I am so so happy he won.

And for your viewing pleasure in case you missed it last night.

I am so proud of her. I really cannot believe she has graduated. I mean, she was just BORN! I remember when she was born and I was in 6th grade. I made a banner on the old old mac’s at school that said Baby Shalina and it hung in her room forever. She was a cute, cute kid and has turned into a sister that I truly love and adore. I am very proud of her!

I was really excited to this wedding. Zach and Krista are such a cute couple. Despite the wind, the weather was otherwise perfect and we had a fabulous day for photos and a fabulous wedding day all around.

Coy and his mom came to see me again. Last time he was just a newborn. He sure has grown!

I loved this image.

Another incredibly cute kid!

Total random places in Pierre! Can you believe we found this all in our little city.