Hey guys!

Today I have a real treat for you, which comes in the form of Kenzi. You can tell from the pictures that she is a super kiddo.

We met up at Lake Pleasant, which I love because at the end of every session we get to have a little fun in the water which is perfect to keep cool on those hot summer days and not to mention, the kiddos love it! It is such a gorgeous location.

Kenzi likes to jump rope, play with friends, get her nails painted, and watch Netflix. She also enjoys going out to dinner with her parents!

Speaking of parents, Rachel did a really wonderful job choosing the perfect dress for her spring session. Okay, moving on to what you’ve been waiting for, photos of the beautiful Kenzi.

We all know that Mom and her baby are the stars of the show when it comes to a maternity session, but there’s no denying the sweetness of having the entire family in the frame, too. I love capturing the raw, candid moments between parents and siblings, and pressing pause on a moment in time that would otherwise go by so quickly and without preservation!

My shoot with Heather and the rest of her family – including Dad, and their 3 children, Mattix 13, Slade 8, Monroe 5 – offered lots of those moments. The session took place in February at a beautiful wash in Glendale, and it was a non-stop shutter clicking extravaganza!

 

Don’t you just love that image of  the Cooper’s? Too precious.

 

I’m so excited for your growing family, you two. Thanks for letting me step into your world for a moment!

 

Welcome back, guys and gals!

I recently had a stupendous session with the Perry 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. The Perry’s kept me laughing during the entire session with funny jokes and the silly things they would say to each other. They are also so very sweet, they had some of the nicest things to say about me and my business, which made me blush.

We met at the Perry’s farm which I fell in love with!!!  I loved shooting there because their cotton was in full bloom and has gorgeous views. I was so excited to be able to photograph their family there.

For our shoot, the Perry’s brought out their old tractor.  I was able to work in their tractor, my vintage couch and the outfits they chose, which really made for some amazing photos.

Okay, on to pictures of the Perry family!

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. Time certainly does fly when you’re having fun! I feel blessed to still be doing what I love to do and all because of my most amazing clients. It’s only because of you I get to make a living doing 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 did a couple of photography courses this year and truly learned so much to advance in my style of editing and photographing. This is an accomplishment I have been wanting to achieve for so long and I can proudly say, I have improved in leaps and bounds.

~ I took a road trip from Arizona to Minnesota over the summer with 3 kiddos which tested my patience for sure, LOL. It was a long 2 days of driving there and back but it was worth it being able to see all of our family. The kids had a blast hanging out with their aunties and cousins. It was an eventful two weeks that is for sure.

As you can see, 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 2019 will bring you and your families.

I got a call from a family friend of the Morales’s telling me that she wanted to purchase a photo session as a gift for this family who is going through a lot right now. She mentioned that they have not had professional family photos in years and that the dad had been diagnosed with cancer.
I can not imagine what this family is going through but I knew that they needed that money more than I did so I gifted the session to this family all thanks to their family friend reaching out. Below is their story and a link to help support the Morales’s family.

Earlier this year, David was diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma which is a rare form of cancer. He had surgery to remove a mass from his leg in April and was on his way to recovery being told that he was cancer free- being a cancer survivor, it’s important that you’re seen for checkups regularly and on Friday, December 7th David went to meet with his doctors to discuss his most recent scans. The news he was given on that day was not what anyone was expecting to hear. He was told that the cancer had returned and had metastasized to his bones. The cancer now resides in numerous areas of his body. He went from being cancer free to being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer within 6 months time.

David will undergo an aggressive chemo treatment over the next 5 -6 months that will include 5 days in the hospital and then 16 days at home, repeating this 6 times. During this time he will be out of work and his loving wife Bianca will be his primary care giver. Bianca holds the insurance for the family and will need to keep her job. She has been approved for FMLA so that she can help care for David on his journey to recovery, but David will be on disability and unable to bring home the full financial support that he is used to.

David is a very strong, dedicated and a giving man, and has done so much for so many people. He is the proud father of 6 beautiful children and enjoys attending church with his family and just having quality family time. David also has a passion for football and over the past 10 years he has given so much of himself to coaching youth football for his boys and community. He’s not only passionate about the sport but about seeing the players succeed in life. For those of you who are volunteers know that this has to be a selfless act, that’s definitely David.

The battle to fight cancer is a lot to worry about and David’s friends and family would like to get the Morale’s family with the added financial strain a critical illness can bring. Please follow the link below to help this family through this tough time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about their story.

 

Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/david-moralesconquering-cancer

You want to look your best on the day of your photo shoot and how you apply your makeup can play a big part in this. When it comes to doing your make up you want to enhance your natural features. Usually the less is more approach is the best way to go about this. To help you create a flawless natural look for your upcoming photo shoot consider these simple steps.

 

1. The base.

• Moisturize-

You always want to make sure you moisturize prior to applying your makeup. This will help keep the makeup looking fresh while keeping your skin hydrated. It also makes it easier to blend and limits creasing.

 

• Foundation-

After moisturizing, you want to apply your foundation over your entire face. Use a brush or blender to ensure you get an even coat over the entire area.

 

• Concealer-

Most women have a few trouble areas that they want to conceal, mainly around the eyes, mouth, and nostrils. Use concealer sparingly and make sure it is well blended in.

 

• Powder-

Applying a translucent powder to the center of the forehead, nose, and chin will reduce any shine you may experience. The camera will pick up any gleam your face gives off so you don’t want to skip this step but you do want to try to avoid any powders with glitter or shimmer as this will only be magnified.

 

2. The eyes.

• Eyebrows-

Many people neglect to use an eyebrow pencil to make their brows a little fuller because this can often be easily overdone. Using an eyebrow pencil, however, can make your eyes look wider and your face look younger. Starting at the bottom of your brow use a pencil to fill the brow in from the bottom up. You want to start off a little darker and lighten the color as you move towards the top to create a more natural look.

 

• Lids-

To help emphasize your eyes with eye shadow you want to use three colors. Start with a natural color that is close to your skin tone and apply it over the lid. Apply a darker color to the crease of the lid and finish with a highlighter color applied to the inner corners of the eye and along the brow bone. You want to ensure everything is well blended to maintain a natural look.

 

Don’t shy away from eyeliner either. Eyeliner will help frame the eyes and this can make them appear brighter. To apply the eyeliner you want to use a skinny makeup brush.

 

• Lashes-

Apply mascara first then the root of the lashes and then work your way out. Do this to both the top and bottom lashes and apply a second coat if necessary.

 

3. Contouring.

• Highlight-

Highlighter should be applied first before blush or bronze. This is the same highlighter you used with your eyes but along with applying it to the brow line and inner corner of the eyes you also want to apply it to the top of the cheekbones and center of the nose.

 

 

 

 

• Bronze-

Lightly apply the bronzer to the jaw line, sides of the nose, under the cheekbones and to the temple area.

 

• Blush-

Keep your blush a natural color and apply it to the checks. Make sure you blend it well with the highlighter and bronzer.

 

4. Lips.

To finish off you natural look you want to stick with a lipstick. There are so many nude colors to choose from so be sure to find one that keeps your _makeupwell balanced.

Hi again, ladies and gents!

Let me stop for a second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so wonderful to work with. That’s true of my session with the Barr family, too!

I met up with them at Scorpion Gulch and the weather was perfect but it was the Barr family that made this shoot such a success.

The Barr family consists of Mom – Amy, Dad – Eric, Rosalie who is 8 years old and she has been on the honor roll since she was in kindergarten and loves spaghetti, Melody who is 6 years old and has the cutest little dimple on one cheek and loves babies, and Baby Luna who is just 2 months old and loves to smile at her daddy.

“We like to watch a new movie, eat some snacks in our pjs on the weekends.,” says Amy.

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

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

1. Plan it out.

The one thing that every family photo session needs is a plan. What you’re going to wear, where the photo session will take place and how you’d potentially like to pose are all details that we will talk about ahead of time. Your family’s session should be less about getting the perfect shot and more about enjoying the moment and making new memories together.

2. Keep it light and fun.

People playing, letting go and having a giggle make for some of the best photos so make your family shoot a fun event that will leave everyone feeling happy and content. If you want to change things up a bit, bring along a few props such as glasses, balloons or toys to add that element of fun to your photos. An added bonus is that bringing some props along such as toys can keep your younger family members busy while their siblings are being photographed. You know what makes your family light up so find ways to incorporate those interests into your shoot.

3. Leave your expectations at the door.

The perfect family photo session that you have in your head might not be what plays out on the day of the session, so it’s best to let go of any expectations that you might have. Instead, focus on relaxing and having fun and letting me do what I do best.

4. Everyone has a part to play.

In order to make your shoot seem less like a chore and more like a fun family event, get your entire family involved. Ask for everyone’s input when it comes to clothing, locations, props and poses. Give each family member an opportunity to speak and take a vote on the best ideas. When family members, especially children, are able to give their input, they’ll end up being a lot more cooperative on the day of the shoot.

Check out my blog for more session tips & tricks!

So we meet again, dear blog readers!

The topic of discussion for today is none other than the cutest little boy, David. If the name or face look familiar to you, it’s because I’ve photographed this family before. Because my last session with this family went so well, I knew it wouldn’t be any different this time around. And I was right! Check it out for yourself:

I was over the moon when I got a email from Lisa saying she wanted to book a cake smash session. When I asked her the theme and vision, she had told me she wants it to be like the movie coco. I about went crazy and threw in the idea of doing a taco smash session instead! Mom was totally on board and I have never been more excited about a photo session in my life. We of course still had to include a little cake 😉

As expected, Mom and Dad did a wonderful job preparing David for our session. They brought all sorts of props and the cutest outfits to incorporate their culture. I mean how is this not the cutest session you have ever seen!