my engagement story | miranda l. sober photography

I have known Shane from the day I went to preschool. And from that day, he hasn't changed a bit, with that big smile, always full of sarcasm.

My mom says that I taught him how to tie his shoes (another mom joke ;) ). I'm sure, knowing one another our whole lives, we have taught one another many things. But if there is one thing that he has taught me, it's how to look at life as a glass that is half full. Always positive, there is never a time he isn't there to remind me how lucky I am to have what I have, despite where life has taken me (or us I should say). Through the happy, the sad, the good, and the bad, he was always there to give me that huge hug that I needed.. Even through our time apart, he was that shoulder I had to cry on, or that someone I could reach out to for support. Together, we have made it through quite the journey already. And I am forever thankful for him.

Living in Fort Collins, we share a special place in our hearts for Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Forest. We go up the mountain often, sometimes  just to stare in awe at the beautiful world around us. What I thought was just another day in the park, turned out to be the day that I had been waiting for forever. From High School sweetheart to my forever, Shane took my hand and we walked out to the frozen Bear Lake. He got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. With Shane's sarcasm, of course I thought it was another joke that he had played many times on me before. But then I saw the ring (that is no joke, let me tell ya!). I laughed. I cried. I said, "yes". The engagement was that simple, perfect engagement I had been dreaming of, and it has finally come true. xo

why this anthropology apron made me feel like the next martha stewart

My mom always says I had no idea how to even boil water until recently, let me clarify that this is a complete joke. I knew how to boil water, but beyond that, okay maybe she wouldn't be joking. I'll admit that I am not the best cook, but I do have hope to be someday. I am however pretty darn good at baking some chocolate chip cookies, there I have no problem. I opened this gift from someone who knows me all to well, and as soon as I saw this Anthropology apron, I felt like I could be the next Martha Stewart. And the little fact that I received this amazing Hand Made Baking Recipes to Warm the Heart, I knew that I could take those cookies and make them into something much more.

You see, when I first received my first DSLR camera, I had no idea what to do with it. I took the little knowledge I had from a photography film course I took in college, and started putting it into affect. I studied many articles and tutorials online, read books, and began an internship with the same individual who gifted me this apron and book of recipes to warm the heart. Looking constantly at what I could do more, or what little touches I could add to make each and every photo my own, recipes of my own. Holding that camera in my hand, I knew I wanted to become the best photographer I could ever be, but I would have to work at it.

Like starting with chocolate chip cookies, one day I will bake that chocolate cake. While it may not be 'perfect', I will know where I started and how far I have come.

'All things are difficult, before they are easy."- Thomas Fuller

print your photos | miranda l. sober photography

I want you to take a moment, just one second away from your busy life and think about something for me. Do you have a favorite photograph, one that you keep going back to over and over again because it does nothing but touch that special place in your heart? What is it a photo of? Now, answer this... is it printed?  Not on your iPhone, or your computer, no other form, just printed? How many of your images are, if any at all? How odd would it be to imagine life now without cell phones, computers, tablets, or social media. How different would it be. It makes me wonder, with this huge trend of 'I only want the digital files', what are they actually used for? After many long, sleepless nights of reading countless articles about whether or not selling digital files is the 'correct thing to do', I gave up. The truth is, it would be hard to survive as a photographer in this technology driven world if you did not provide images on a hard-drive. I 100% agree that images on these forms of storage have their benefits, but as a high-end photographer, I do not want to be another 'turn-and-burn' photographer. I believe you deserve more than that.

My question is, don't you think your photographs would look better in a frame than in your desk drawer collecting dust? Or better hanging on your living room wall than displayed as your ever-changing profile picture?  A custom album tells a full story, front to back, including all of your images from your photography session for your eyes to see and your hands to feel. Doesn't your story deserve to be in a book? Please, print your photos.

We are so overwhelmed by technology that our lifestyle rarely ever accounts for anything other than what can be seen on a device. What happens when we grow old, and our children have nothing to remember us by. Nothing to actually hold in their hand, close to their heart? Will you wish then, that you hand printed those memories now?  Looking into the future, will computers still read USB's? Will there even be such a thing as Facebook? Will you honestly reflect back to that image once on your social media account and remember the amount of 'likes' you received? There is so much more, more that I would love to give you.

My hope for you, for myself, and for this world, is to take a step back. Remember what is important. I hope to someday pass on printed photographs, perhaps even with bent edges and stained fingerprints, I don't care, to my children. I want to have my handwriting on the back, telling them just how much I love them, and why it means so much for me to share this image with them. A true piece of my heart that I want them to hold in their hand forever. xo

ona bag, the perfect camera bag for everyday

Okay, I'll admit, I caved. I HAD to purchase this ona bag. But isn't it gorgeous?! I may have developed some sort of an obsession.

I purchased this camera bag with the hope to carry my camera with me everywhere. Yes, everywhere. My goal is to take at least one photo a day with my camera, no matter the circumstance. So, of course, I convinced myself the only way I could do such a thing was to have this bag. Makes sense don't you think? ;)

Ona bag creates the most amazing camera bags and accessories. Handcrafted with premium materials, such as full-grain leather and waxed canvas. I couldn't recommend any other bag for all of you photographer's out there!

i love you & this photo | miranda l. sober photography

5 years ago, on this very day, my younger brother Levi moved on to his new home in Heaven. There hasn't been one single day within these last 5 years that I haven't thought of him.

He was the brother to myself, and two younger sisters. The son to a dad and a mom that loved every single thing about him. The dog owner to a dog that still wonders when he will be back to play catch with him.  He had the biggest smile. That laugh that made you laugh. And a heart that cared so much for so many.

It's hard to actually type the words that I wish to say, because I am unsure of how exactly how to say them. Tears come to my eyes before I can even say his name most of the time. So instead, I will let this photo below speak for me. Levi is the reason as to why I went after this dream job, as photos of him then are the greatest gift to me now. Thank you Levi, for always believing in me.

The last words I said to Levi were, "I love you". And his last words to me, "I love you too."

i want to focus on your heart

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster. One of those with ups and downs, laughter and tears. It's been full of both confidence and insecurity. Everything I thought to be true, thought to be right, and thought to be sure, seemed to be no longer. Yet, through the craziness, I found myself. I found myself, when I didn't exactly know I had even 'lost myself'. Although I absolutely love this job, I think somewhere along this journey I lost sight of why I fell so in love with it in the first place. I loved photographing true hearts and raw emotion. Yet instead, I've found myself always checking up on the latest trend, the 'it' photographers. If I had that same quilt that they had, my photos would be perfect. If I processed my images similar to theirs, everyone would love them. If I had the same products to offer, or the same type of location to shoot, I would be loved, and everyone would want to hire me. Isn't life funny.?

The truth is, I may not be the photographer for everyone, and that's okay. I may not have the newest props, or follow the latest trends, but that too, is okay. Because it's not about all that. It's about you. And it's about me.

By following my heart, I wish to grow. I wish for you to love me, for me, and for what I can gift to you. I want you to HAVE TO HAVE what I have to give you. I want to tell your story. I want to share with the world who YOU are. I want to tell the world all about your loved one, your little ones, your babies. I want to photograph your life, where your life happens daily. I want to listen to all you have to share. Instead of focusing on that 'perfect' object, or that 'perfect' pose...

I want to focus on your heart. Through the photographs I take, I want you to feel, not only see.

Real, raw, and now. These moments will quickly pass by. Before you know it, you too may look back and wonder how this world passed you by. It is so easy to let the daily obstacles of life quickly consume your every thought. You will never get this back, this exact moment. Let me capture it for you, for you to hold onto forever.

you are not to worry | ft. collins photographer

"Like wildflowers; You must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would." - E.V

How often do you step back, away from life, to honestly think about just that, life? I so often find myself so carried away with the daily duties of everyday, that I forget to slow down. I feel as though everything should have been done 3 weeks ago. The, "I have to do this", or "this needs to be done first", or the most popular, "I'll stress about it until it is done" are constant excuses I find myself repeating everyday.

I'm that individual that will think about yesterday, when yesterday has already past. I stress about tomorrow. I worry about the right words to say, and when. I worry about emails, about meeting expectations I've set for myself, about being successful. I worry about time. I worry about worrying.

Why? I don't want to be this way. I know I should not be this way.

As I sat upon this mountain, I couldn't believe how still the world was around me. How quite, how peaceful. What could there ever to be worry about? I have family and friends that support me, a dog that follows my every footstep, and the dream job that I love. I live in a beautiful world, full of beautiful people, like you.

It was when I took this photo, that I made a decision. A decision that I was no longer going to live in worry. That in order to grow, as an individual, as a business owner, as a photographer, I need to step back and slow down. I need to stop and photograph those moments that so quickly pass by, and go unnoticed. I want to find more of where my inspiration truly comes from, and what makes me, me. I will choose not to worry, but to be worry-less and happy. I will take each day as it comes, but with each day, I will also stop and smell the flowers.