Gilbert Maternity Session

September 12, 2022  •  Leave a Comment

I'm so excited for this sweet couple to welcome their first baby. We were able to document this milestone with both of their parents. This will be the first grandchild on both sides of the family, so I expect this little one will be delightfully doted upon by all. Mom and Dad-to-be requested that the session be in their back yard, and it was a lush oasis. Thank you so much for sharing this moment and allowing me to document it.  Now awaiting this little one's arrival!


Golden Anniversary: 50 Years of Love and Family

September 11, 2022  •  Leave a Comment

I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to document a fiftieth wedding anniversary recently. Family came in from across the country to celebrate this lovely couple. We made a plan and then had to change the plan. And then as we were settling in for a fun, relaxing session....the weather unleashed one of the most insane haboobs of the season! Well, we regrouped and moved to shelter and finished the session. The love in this family shows through in their images! Happy anniversary!


Mesa Family Photographer: Bring All the Fun

August 20, 2022  •  Leave a Comment

I simply loved getting to work with this family. First of all, I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently Mom was at coordinating the busy schedules of 12 very active adults. Then Dad kept everyone happy with a cooler full of cold drinks (still 100 degrees during our session) and plenty of shenanigans. There was so much love and laughter that I sort of hoped they might adopt me into their crew. 

We showed up right as a nasty July monsoon decided to form, but the sky was so dramatic that I can't really complain. As a new Arizonan, I'm not sure I love this late-summer weather pattern. Dust storms and crazy wind and lightning keep making afternoons a bit too "interesting". But I digress...back to this amazing family. 

New rule for family sessions: bring cowboy hats. These made the session and posing so much more fun and fanciful. Being playful doesn't have to stop when you become a grown-up!

And the best part? This family is full of mountain bikers! And one son attended my alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin. I love it when I connect on a personal level with new clients/friends!

But without further ado, here's the C family! 


Fall 2022 Family Sessions

July 04, 2022  •  Leave a Comment

I went to get in my car the other day, and the temperature read 123 degrees. So, really, am I going to talk about taking fall/Christmas family portraits right now?

Yes, yes, I'm going to talk about it.

So here's my plan...I'll be taking limited sessions in late September, October, November, and early December (okay, let's be honest, I was taking Christmas portraits the week before Christmas last year. You know who you are (and I love you!)).  Sessions will last 30 minutes arriving 45 minutes before sunset and include approximately 15-20 digital files delivered through my password-protected online gallery.  My preference is weeknights, but I can also schedule on the weekend. Investment will be $200 for the session and files. I will be offering the following locations:

 

Veteran's Oasis Park In Chandler. This popular photo spot never lets me down. It's always changing and offers a wide variety of backgrounds. If you want something a little desert but also a little lush with a water feature, this is a great location to consider. 


 

Agritopia. Be my first family to shoot at Agritopia. What a serene, farm-to-market escape in the middle of the suburbs! Take your family portrait and then enjoy some delicious dinner! This location is rich with color and texture, featuring overhanging trees but also modern, metal buildings and cactus. 

San Tan Regional Park (***SECRET LOCATION***)

Okay, so this is not a secret, but it is a little more remote and less-utilized. This is one of my favorite locations. San Tan requires entrance fees, which will be in addition to your session fee and should be paid to the park. 

Salt River--Phon D Sutton Recreation Area. You can be my first family session here as well. This is a fun but very popular location. I will highly recommend a weekday evening session here. If you have small children, please be aware that this location is along a river and there is an added risk of the water (getting wet to more serious). This location incudes an additional fee for parking/use for both photographer and client which will be added to the cost of your session. 

Queen Creek Wash. Am I the only one totally enraptured by the cottonwood trees? I get all sorts of Anne of Green Gables poetic just thinking about it there. What a (well-known but somewhat hidden) gem we have just off the busy roads. The wash offers green trees and also a more urban feel with the bike path behind it. Seasonal blooms can really add to the location as well. 

 

San Tan Regional Park: Main Entrance

Sure, we can boondock and shoot along the road to the park with the rest of the Valley, but you might have less of a crowd inside the park. The park entrance fee is an additional cost that will need to be paid to the park if you do not have a seasonal pass. This iconic location is one not to be missed. Plenty of cactus and mountains. 

Downtown Gilbert

So many options here. All of the textures and murals make this a wonderful location. It can get crowded, and you're definitely having your personal photo session in a public space, but I love this location. Again, you can be my first family to shoot at this location!


Semper Fi Family Gilbert Family Photographer

June 22, 2022  •  Leave a Comment

Well, hello again! I got to meet up with one of my favorite seniors and his mom again, and this time we got to meet the whole family! I enjoyed working with this super-chill young man and his mom earlier in the spring (word on the street is that his mom and I look so much alike we could be sisters). It was even more of a treat to help them update their family photos before this young man leaves for training to become a US Marine! So proud of him!

I've noticed a trend of families taking the opportunity to update their family portrait when they are in the photo-mindset of senior portraits. Let's make that happen for your family as well. It's a wonderful time in life to celebrate the milestone of your senior and to capture one more family portrait before your family dynamic changes! 

Mom is an avid paddler and can often be found on the Salt River among the wild horses, so she requested some water in their family session. Veteran's Oasis park does not disappoint! It was super lush and a bit overgrown even (such a strange thing to say in Arizona!) when we visited, but the water features were really lovely.  The timing worked out perfectly for Grandma and Grandpa to be in town over Memorial Day weekend, so we were able to sneak in a few images with them as well. 

Without further ado, here is the R family! Love you guys! Please don't make me wait until your youngest is a senior to take your portrait again!