Home is where the heart is, which is why it’s one of the best locations for family photos.

Your home is where you feel most comfortable and it offers countless photo opportunities for you to take advantage of.

If you’ve been looking to take some updated photos of your family but want to beat the summer heat or keep things close to home, here are a few inspiring ideas for your upcoming photo session.

Take it to the kitchen.

There’s something about making a meal together that really brings a family together. You already spend a lot of time in the kitchen so why not use it as a backdrop for some new family photos. Throw on some aprons, choose a fun recipe and get the entire family involved in the process. These candid shots will definitely be something that you’ll want to print out or place in an album.

It’s all about the cuddles.

Curling up with the people you love in a big bed on a Saturday or Sunday morning is simply the best so throw on your best PJs, grab a few books, a cup of coffee, and let your photographer do the rest. Have a laugh together, read a story to your children or show off your matching socks at the foot of the bed.

Head to baby’s nursery.

If you’ve spent a lot of time decorating your baby’s nursery, it’s the perfect place to grab some memorable photos with your family. Plus, the natural light from the window will provide you with a warm atmosphere that will enhance every photo.

Hit the couch.

The lounge is another area of the home that your family probably spends a lot of time in, especially if you enjoy lazy days on a comfy couch watching all your favorite movies. It’s also the perfect spot to take some updated family photos. Depending on your preferences, you can all wear something comfy or outfits that are casual and coordinated – the choice is yours.

Have a playdate.

You don’t even need to pick a particular room for your family photos, you can simply aim to have a little fun with your kids for the afternoon and let your photographer capture your time together. Whether your kids want to throw on superhero capes or they want to play with building blocks in their room, these are all perfect photo opportunities.

Spend some time outside.

If you have a picturesque backyard, why not have an intimate picnic with your family while you capture some new family photos at the same time.

 

Your home is filled with perfect photo opportunities, you simply need to think outside the box!

A lot of people may love the idea of a professional photo session but many end up being put off by the price.

While it might seem like YOUR photographer is simply getting paid to push a button for an hour or two, it’s so much more than that.

Here are 6 reasons why a professional photography session is well worth the price:

Your photography session extends beyond the shoot.

Even though your photo session may only last an hour, your photographer still needs to travel to and from your location, spend time selecting the best photos and edit those photos too.

Photography gear costs money.

Producing high-quality photos requires professional equipment. The price of your session factors in your photographer’s camera, lenses, flash, reflectors, tripods, storage cases and more. Certain types of photography can also cost more because more gear is required. Wedding photography being a prime example.

You need the right skills to take great photos.

As with any other profession, building up the skills required to be a successful photographer takes time and money.

Technology doesn’t come cheap.

Along with having all the right gear, photographers also need to have certain technology in order to process and edit their photos. This includes high-end computer equipment as well as professional photo editing software.

Experience is priceless.

Photographers spend years honing their skills and developing an artistic eye that allows them to produce the results that they do. From knowing how to work with different types of lighting to being able to spot the perfect photo opportunity, you really can’t put a price on experience. It’s also experience that gives them the know-how necessary to guide you and pose you during your photo session.

Sometimes assistants are required.

This is particularly true with event or wedding photography. When there are multiple things happening all at once, an assistant will be required to get the job done right, which will often be factored into your pricing.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. If you truly like a photographer’s style and are impressed with their skills and experience, the price you pay for your photo session is definitely well worth it.

Welcome back, guys and gals!

I recently had a fantastic sunrise session with the Totino family. The Totino’s were in town for a wedding and wanted some gorgeous desert photos for their yearly holiday card.

We met at Papago Park in Phoenix, AZ. I loved shooting there because the morning light was so dreamy!

Okay, on to pictures of the Totino family!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I truly have the best clients ever! This family was no exception, either. I mean, just look at their outfits.

Wondering how often you should update your family photos? This is what you need to know.

Busy schedules, family commitments, and lengthy to-do lists mean families don’t always get the time to update their family photos.

The years also seem to be going by faster and faster, which is especially true when you have children. As parents, you don’t want to miss the chance to capture your child’s milestones or how much you’ve changed as a family.
So, how often should you be updating your family photos?

Ideally, you should try and take new photos of your family every year. Here’s why:

Do it for future generations.

While you are taking photos for yourself, you are also making sure that future generations have amazing photos that they can look back on too. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for it.

It’s a chance to make memories.

By making a point of updating your family photos on a regular basis, you’re also taking the time to be with your family and make new memories. You never know when your family dynamics could change so capture new memories whenever you can.

Professional photos last a lifetime.

While we are a society that is constantly snapping photos on our phones and uploading them to social media, investing in professional photos gives you a completely different result. Not only will a professional know how to compose and edit each photo to perfection but these are the best photos to print and add to your family albums too.

Document your family’s growth.

You never realize how quickly your kids are growing until you look back at photos of them or you run into someone who hasn’t seen you in a while. By updating your family photos on an annual basis, you can really document your family’s growth, creating a beautiful series of photos that you can treasure forever.

Remember, updating your family photos every year doesn’t need to cost a fortune either. Talk with your photographer about the different options available to you.

Today’s blog post features Sarah, John, and their newborn baby, Max, in those kinds of lifestyle, real-world images. Of course big sisters Sophia and Avery were a part of the session as well.

I always love doing posed newborn sessions, but I also get really excited about going into new parents’ homes and photographing the candid moments, too.

The session took place at their lovely home located in Gilbert, and the day was truly memorable. You know there was so much love there based off the pictures alone! You can practically feel it through the screen!

Check out their gorgeous story collection and simply wrapped photos below. You are sure to love them!

I wanted to take a quick second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so fabulous to work with. That’s true of my session with the Davies family, too!

I met up with them in November at Glendale Wash and the weather was perfect for photo-taking. While the weather was fine, it was the Davies family that made this shoot such a joy.

The Davies family consists of Dad, Roderick who loves deep sea fishing, Mom, April and she loves food art (aka cake decorating), oldest Emma loves to create art for others to enjoy, Kaitlyn plays any sport available, twin boys Roddy who is a master LEGO builder and Hudson loves music of all kinds and Baby Naomi is happy constantly.

“We love hiking at white tanks together, watching movies together and playing games together.,” says April.

As you can see from the comments above and the photos below, this family is not only photogenic, but also a close-knit group who clearly love spending time together. They are lucky to have each other.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Wow! I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by but what a beautiful year it has been. From the laughter to the wonderful memories, it has truly been a joy as I continue to pursue my passion for photography. I am so grateful to still be doing what I love to do and all because of my amazing clients. It is only because of you I get to do what I love most and for that I am forever grateful.

This past year has been my busiest yet and below are a few things I enjoyed the most.

– I loved capturing each and everyone of my clients, I loved hearing all the fun family stories shared with me, I loved all of the baby snuggles, high fives, fist bumps and hugs I got from the kiddos, and most of all I loved being able to capture memories for all of my clients to have for a lifetime.

– I have added so many great tools for my clients, from beginning to end, be fun, easy and stress free! The best thing being my new styling tool. You can now plan your session outfits right from the comfort of your couch.

– My family came down from Minnesota to visit us for awhile. We took a road trip from Arizona to California to see the ocean and spent a lot of time at my home by the pool. It was an eventful month, that is for sure, but I am so happy that I got to spend so much time with my family without feeling constantly busy.

– There is one thing that I am the most excited about this year that I have not shared with anyone! In October we purchased a new home!! It is in the process of being built and will be ready in April or May of 2020. I did not realize that I would have so much anxiety waiting for everything to be built but I am so very excited and I cannot wait to move into our new home. I will be posting updates on IG an FB stories and I hope that you follow along on this exciting journey with us!

This year has taught me so much as a photographer, business owner, mother, and wife.
From the bottom of my heart, thanks so much to everyone that gave me the opportunity to work with you; you all shine your light in unique and beautiful ways. My photos can only be as good as the amazing people that trust me to document their lives. Happy New Year and I cannot wait to see what 2020 will bring you and your families.

November 30th at South Mountain was a eventful day jam-packed with 10 sessions in 2 hours. Despite the slight madness of getting everyone photographed, I am absolutely thrilled with every single photo I took at my Christmas truck mini-session.

I wanted to create a cozy and warm feel for this shoot. To help create that vibe, I incorporated a variety of props into the session. Some of my favorites include: adorable throw pillows and an antique sleigh.

All of the children and families showed up looking amazing.

Clearly, I had so much fun doing this mini-session and it makes me even more excited for my Christmas tree lot mini-session, which takes place on December 21st! Click here if you’re interested in booking and while you are there enter to win one of my bucket list sessions!!

Whether you want to take a few updated family Christmas photos to put in the album or you’re a big fan of sending holiday cards, there’s no reason why you need to settle for a studio backdrop or your usual spot in your lounge. There are so many creative backdrops out there that you can use to make your upcoming family shoot even more fun and unique.

If you’ve been searching for family Christmas photo ideas, here are some to get you started.

1. Head out to the nearest tree farm.

   Regardless of where you live, chances are you’ll have a Christmas tree farm near you, and the beautifully shaped trees make for an excellent photo backdrop. Whether you pose amongst the trees or capture the process of choosing your own tree, you can’t go wrong at this location.

2. Add a touch of green.

   If you have some time, take a drive around your neighborhood and lookout for a green backdrop such as a mural or door. Something as simple as this can add the perfect pop of color to your Christmas family shots.

3. Decorate your own door.

   If you don’t want to venture too far and you have an attractive front door, spruce it up with some lights and a wreath and pose in front of that.

4. Fun around the campfire.

   If you and your loved ones enjoy camping, head out to your favorite camping spot, build a beautiful campfire and use the woods as your backdrop.

5. Up and away.

   If skiing is more your thing, ski lifts make for a simplistic, yet fun, Christmas photo backdrop.

6. Return to your country roots.

   If you have an attractive pickup truck available to you, it makes for a great photo backdrop. The best way to get some cozy photos is to put a blanket in the back and have your family cuddle up together.

7. Head to the beach.

   If you live near the coast, white sandy beaches are all you need to capture beautiful Christmas photos with your family. Red clothing against the white sand and blue sea makes for very attractive shots.

8. Build a teepee.

   If your kids love building forts, take the time to build a teepee with them in the lounge and decorate it with some soft fairy lights for the perfect photo backdrop.

9. Find a red barn.

   If there’s one color that truly represents Christmas, it’s the color red, which is why a big red barn makes for the perfect Christmas photo backdrop.

No matter what style or backdrop you decide on, make sure that it represents your family’s personality to make the family Christmas photos as authentic and joyful as possible. Getting the help of a professional photographer is always a good idea for these shoots so that everyone can be completely involved in the session.