I have always enjoyed reading the birth stories that other Mamas share. Each birth is so unique an embodies so much strength that women have. Sharing the journey that we go through for our little babes to arrive into this world is a beautiful reminder of what a miracle their new life truly is.
If you’re local to Phoenix, you’d probably agree that there’s not much better than spring time in the desert. The weather’s warming up, cactus flowers are starting to bloom, and it’s the perfect time to schedule your family portrait session since the weather is guaranteed to be amazing!
When photographing young families, I never know what to expect with the little ones. Sometimes the kiddos can be shy, or wiggly, or just have their own posing ideas. No matter what, we always make it work and have a blast doing so. The Valentine Family really brought their “A Game” to their desert shoot though. Their two little guys, T & C, did such an awesome job! They were the most energetic and engaged kiddos I have photographed.
Pure joy! If you asked me how to describe the Jonovich family, this would be the first thing that comes to mind!
When the Jonovich’s first showed up for their session, I knew we were going to have a blast. I quickly saw what a strong bond Sara and her husband Kirk have, and the love they showed for their family was palpable.
I’ve been holding off on writing this blog post for a little while now, because I was keeping a little (no, BIG) secret! You’ll have to read through to find out what it is…
I had so much fun photographing the Calvert Family for their Holiday photos. Between Marlo’s flowy red dress, Nick’s plaid green shirt, and Nora’s ruffled light gold dress, they really brought the Christmas vibe! It was so easy to see how joyful this family is and the love that they have for each other.
I’m obsessing over how good all of the photos from the Jarvie Family session were. I had such a tough time choosing my favorites! Claire suggested using the community area right near her and Will’s home which meant easy travel for the kids. The desert landscape and mountain backdrops were completely beautiful! We also chose to do a sunrise photo session which I think was a great fit for their kiddos. Sometimes, sunset sessions can be right in the middle of dinner or bed time, so scheduling a session for sunrise, although early, can be a great alternative option for happier little ones.
How cute is this fun & festive family? Erica blew me away with the outfits that she chose for everyone! Her emerald green long sleeved dress was STUNNING and paired perfectly with her husband Matt’s lighter patterned shirt. I especially loved her booties that had a cute bow detail – she was a champ for walking through the desert trail wearing heels. Connor was also looking dapper in his festive plaid shirt and adorable green vest. Erica did such a great job of coordinating all of their looks, and I love how she mixed different prints together while keeping a holiday vibe. They all looked so good! Sometimes it’s hard to imagine Christmas in the desert, but they definitely brought all the holiday feels!
When Sarah said that she wanted to do her extended family photos at the Mesa Arts Center, I was excited to check out a new location. This modern & urban vibe was a photographer’s paradise.
Lorain and John have such calm and easy-going personalities. It was one of the first colder fall weekends in Phoenix, but they didn’t let the wind bother them one bit. Instead, they made photographing their lovely family so fun.
The tiniest fingers and toes! At just about a week old, Colton was absolutely precious during his newborn session. Colton is already so in love with his Mommy (and she is smitten with him too)! His favorite place to be during our session was snuggled up with her. She was able to get him sleepy enough for a few tries of swaddling and individual close ups. Danielle was such a natural Mama.
I love how close knit this family is - it was so easy to tell how much fun they all have together. You know those TV families (like in the show Parenthood) that you watch and can feel the love pouring out of the screen? That’s the Mutchler family to a tee!
How awesome is it to have close friends that you get to go through life with? Steph has become a best friend to me over the past couple of years - thanks to our husbands who used to work together. From concerts, to sporting events, traveling, and now motherhood, it’s been the best to get to go through this season of life with her. At just about two months apart, our daughters are built in besties too! Although the Clemenshaw’s live in Flagstaff now, we enjoy every time that we are able to see them.
I wish you all could have been with me on my session with Tania and her family to see how cute the 3 of them were together. Tania, her husband Rudy, and daughter Sophia were like 3 peas in a pod (that’s a thing right?!?!)
PREGNANCY- For some it can be an amazing time filled with excitement, anticipation, and wonder. For others, it may include hesitation and anxiety after months and months of waiting or previous loss. Some Mamas feel their best and are glowing while pregnant, while others may struggle to get through a day while battling nausea. There’s a whole spectrum and each story is so different.