Hayes’ Birth Story
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.
My Pregnancy Journey With Baby #2
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.
The Smith Family
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!
The Valentine Family
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.
The Jonovich Family Session
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.
A Surprise Session
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…
Calvert Family Holiday Photos
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.
The Jarvie Family
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.
The Carreon Family Holiday Photos
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!
A Colorful Family Session
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.
A Fall Family Session
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.
Colton’s Newborn Session
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.
The Mutchler’s Extended Family Session
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!
Steph’s Majestic Mountain Maternity Session
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.
Tania’s Desert Family Maternity Session
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?!?!)
Must Have Products for New Moms
Often times, my clients will ask me about my favorite baby products during our shoot, so I’ve rounded up some of my must haves for new moms & babies in their first year. You may be surprised to find out that my top recommendation can’t actually be found in stores – keep reading to find out what it is!
Decker Joseph | A Lifestyle Newborn Session
When Katie & Jeff welcomed their second boy into the world, I couldn’t wait to capture his little toes & fingers at their in home newborn lifestyle shoot. I can’t ever get enough of the sweet cries and their little features - aren’t newborns just the cutest?!?! The fact that Katie could get her whole family ready for photos, and still have time to look like a GORGEOUS GODDESS only a few days postpartum is rockstar status! In my first few days as a new mom, I don’t think I ever took my PJ’s off (and I remember some middle of the night texts asking Katie “Is _____ normal? How do you _____?” - she was a lifesaver! Needless to say, Katie is a “SuperMom”.
A Golden Hour Maternity Session
When I finally got the chance to get back behind the lens, I was fortunate enough to photograph Lauren’s maternity session. Let me tell you, it filled my heart up to be snapping the shutter again. We were able to safely keep a distance while outside (I used my 85 mm lens so that I could stay further away), and I rocked my newest style accessory - my mask! We even got lucky that the weather was a bit cooler than normal for a typical June evening in Arizona and there was a perfect breeze to catch her dress and give her hair all the Beyonce vibes. Between her gorgeous bump and the beautiful golden hour light, this Mama was GLOWING!
Preserving your Memories Using Chatbooks
One thing I love doing is scrolling back to the very beginning of my photo album in my phone. It’s crazy how quickly I forget about little daily moments that bring back fond memories. I have really loved using Chatbooks over this past year to print my photos into a book form. Today, I’ll fill you in on how simple it is to create a Chatbook. Read to the end to get your first Chatbook FREE!
DO IT FOR THE GRAM: Quickly Edit Your Cellphone Photos for a Cohesive Look
While scrolling through Instagram, you’ve probably noticed how most influencers have a very cohesive looking Instagram grid. I’m going to spill all the deets on how you can get your grid to look like one that will rival social media influencers. Don’t use Instagram? No worries! These tips are helpful if you’re building a photo album as well.