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.

Hi, everyone!

Oh how I just adore the family I’m blogging about today. I’m lucky enough to say I’ve been photographing the Gorman family for 3 years now! I truly can’t believe how much the children have grown and changed since I first met them. They are also adding a little girl in a few short months which I cannot wait to meet!

The Gorman’s are a very very blended family! They have a kid from almost every avenue of being able to receive a kid! Adoption, foster, step kids, half siblings, biological kids! You name it they got it! And they love how blended they are!!!

And as for the day of the shoot, it was rainy so we had to move their session indoors, but it went so perfect with their outfits that I am so happy that it turned out that way!

It goes without saying, Abigail and Josh have become my friends over the time we’ve worked together. It’s hard to not become friends with someone like Abigail, who is a rockstar mom and so easy to talk too. Dad and husband Josh is just as great and sure knows how to keep everyone laughing.

Okay, enough text. Abigail and Josh, you are amazing parents and I cannot wait to meet your little girl!

Whether you’re shooting a new family portrait or you’ve just found out your are expecting, there are so many options to choose from when it comes to selecting an outdoor setting for your shoot.

If you’ve never done an outdoor photo session before though, there are a few things that you should know if you want to truly enjoy the experience and get the best possible photos.

Here are a few useful tips that you can use for your upcoming outdoor session:

1. Timing is everything. 

   When it comes to outdoor photo sessions, lighting is everything, and you will always have the best lighting around one hour after sunrise or before sunset. This is called the Golden Hour. If possible, aim to have your shoot during this period. If this is not possible, choose a location that does offer some shade should the light become too harsh.

2. Think twice about your outfit. 

   When deciding on an outfit for your shoot, keep the theme of the shoot as well as the location in mind. It’s important that your outfit doesn’t look out of place.

3. Start with the basics first. 

   While having an outdoor shoot leaves you with endless creative possibilities, start with some basic shots first and get creative from there. Chat with your photographer about some of your ideas if you’re not sure.

4. Add some color. 

   If your shoot is taking place in winter, incorporate some beautiful pops of color using clothing or props to liven up your photos. Autumn, spring and summer don’t usually require as much color since your backdrop will bring in a lot of character all on its own.

5. Preparation is key.

   To avoid any unwanted surprises, it’s important to visit your desired location ahead of time to make sure that it’s the right fit for your shoot and to pick out a few spots for your photos. It’s also helpful to bring an extra set of clothes, especially if your shoot will include children as you never know when you may need to change.

An outdoor photo session will leave you with beautiful, unique photos that you can treasure for a lifetime and are the perfect addition to your photo wall at home.

Your furry companions are already a part of your family, so it only makes sense to feature them in as many of your family photos as possible. Whether it’s a wedding, engagement or family photo shoot, dogs really bring something extra special to the shot.

It can, however, be slightly trickier to get your dogs to cooperate long enough for you to get a few good shots, so here are a few tips that will definitely help for future photo sessions:

• Tire them out. 

  A tired dog makes for the best photo subject as he won’t be wriggling around and wanting to play. Have some fun with your furry friend an hour before your shoot so that he’ll be more willing to sit still for the camera.

• Keep it close to home. 

  The more familiar your dog is with his surroundings, the calmer he will be. When you bring a dog into a new setting, he’ll automatically want to explore, which won’t help when you’re trying to take photos.

• There’s no perfect shot. 

  While you may see some perfect photos of families and their pets online, those shots are rare. It’s important to embrace imperfection when it comes to taking photos with your pets and to rather enjoy the candid moments that will take place during the shoot.

• Use your time wisely. 

  When it comes to dogs, you never quite know what’s going to happen so if you get a period of calm, use it to take some photos as their next burst of energy might be just around the corner.

Some of your best memories are made with your four-legged friends so take every chance you can get to include them in your family photos.

Whether you’ve booked a family, children or maternity photo session, every shoot should be a memorable one.

While I do everything I can to make your photo session as successful as possible, there are a few things that you can do to ensure fantastic results every time too.

Here are 7 tips to help you prepare for your next photo session:

1. Give your location some real thought.

   Your backdrop makes all the difference to your photos. What energy and atmosphere will really bring this particular shoot to life? Taking the time to scout out the best possible location will leave you smiling from ear to ear when you see the end results.

2. Find some inspiration.

   Do you have a specific vision in mind for your shoot? Head to Pinterest or Google and collect a few images that you can share with me ahead of time.

3. Grooming matters.

   While you may not want to spend extra money on a hair stylist or makeup artist, being impeccably groomed can change your photos completely so spend time on your hair and makeup before your shoot, even if you just get a friend to help you out.

4. Food and sleep are your friends.

   While this is particularly important when you’re shooting with kids, having a good night’s rest will also ensure you fully enjoy your photo session as an adult too.

5. Speaking of food, forget the cheese.

   Saying cheese right before someone takes your photo will result in a smile that looks forced and unnatural. Relaxed faces and happy memories are all you need to have a natural smile in your next set of photos.

6. Think about your face first.

   If you want the best possible results, don’t wear anything that will distract from your face in your photos.

7. Think real life.

   When thinking of photo session ideas as a couple or as a family, incorporating your life into your shoot is the easiest way to be original and have fun at the same time. What do you enjoy doing together? Where do you spend time together? These are all aspects that can be used to create a photo session that’s unique to you.

Don’t forget to check out any additional tips and tricks on the blog that you may find useful before and during your shoot. Now just relax and enjoy.

Hi gang!

I was so excited to meet up with Illa and Bob at the desert botanical gardens for a stunning – and terribly sweet – maternity session. At the time, Illa was mere 6 1/2 weeks away from giving birth, so you can only imagine how she was feeling while we were roaming around finding the best spots to shoot! She was a trooper, though, let me tell you. Her skin looked amazing, her hair was perfection, and her dress choices from my client closet were on point.

Bob was a total supportive rock star the entire time. There was a moment when I would tease Bob, for example we were in the middle of a shot and I kept telling him “chin up, chin down, chin up” and Bob kept moving his chin up and down repeatedly. After a minute he finally realized I was just messing around with him. Illa and I thought it was hilarious and laughed for awhile about it. Bob also had his moment of being silly when he decided he wanted a turn wearing the floral crown Illa wore during her session. It’s easy to say that we had quite a bit of fun during the session!

Since they’re almost at the end of the pregnancy, I asked them about how their journey has been thus far. Illa said, ” It’s been amazing! Im super happy and excited for his arrival. I haven’t had any morning sickness but I have been very tired, the second trimester “energy” skipped me but I’ve still managed to set goals and accomplish them. We have absolutely loved reading to him, talking to him but one of my favorite things has been shopping for him…I just can’t help myself! ” Aww!

They’re going to be an amazing Mom and Dad duo, and their little bundle of joy is so lucky to be brought into the world with them. Thanks again and congrats, you two!

Photos: we have them in our homes, on our phones, in albums, on our computers, they’re everywhere.

Photos remind us of life’s most precious people and memories As we move through life, we get to add new moments to our collections.

Sometimes though, it makes a world of difference to have a professional photographer present for the really big moments in life, including weddings, christenings, milestone birthdays and engagements. Giving the gift of photography is one that won’t soon be forgotten.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a parent, newly engaged couple or friend in your life, here are some reaons why you should gift them a professional photo session instead of the usual gift.

Photography is a gift that lasts a lifetime

How many times have you received a gift that you pretended to like, only to end up storing it in the back of a cupboard a month later? Gadgets, clothing, and accessories all go out of style or become null and void, but professional photos last a lifetime and are something that the recipient can treasure for years to come.

Photography is personal

Gifting someone with a professional photo session is personal and unique. Since it’s far more thoughtful than guessing what someone would like to receive, it’s a gift that truly comes from a place of love.

Photography is an experience

Experiencing something instead of adding something to a growing pile of possessions is far more worthwhile, exciting and meaningful. A photo session gives your loved one a brand new experience that will leave them with lasting memories that they can proudly display around their home or office.

When looking for the right photo session for your loved one, keep an eye out for any specials photographers in your area might be offering. Who knows, you may even find yourself booking a photo session for yourself at the same time.