Celebrating the big 2! |Mesa Child Photographer

Bright and very early this morning, I was thrilled to see this adorable little guy and just LOVE seeing him so big, remembering when he was born, when he was taking his first steps and still just as cute as ever!

The ultimate perk to my job is watching children grow up and catching up with clients like they're old friends!

S family....thank you! I loved this mornings session!

Just a teeny baby |Chandler Family Photographer

This week is the start of me getting back into the groove of working! I have two sessions this week, with one of them being a newborn session with a precious little baby that was less than 4 pounds today. She was perfect and so precious!

I can't think of anything better to begin my photography sessions again than a wonderful session with a precious baby and with my photographer friend Jackie!

Today was a busy day...busy but very beautiful!

My friend

Do you ever look at a friend and wonder where your life would be without them?

17 years ago, I began working with a very sweet 6 year old and today, I couldn't be happier to write that she is still a huge part of my life. Her mom and I both agree when we first met, we never thought our friendship would still be growing strong 17 years later.

I have a two priorities in my life, my family is definitely first and my second is the friendship with my friend. Over a year ago she graduated from high school, and shortly after I began working with her again. But when I really think about it, it's not work. She's like my little sister.

My girlfriend grounds me. While she has a developmental disability, she truly honestly grounds me. Just when I begin to have my mind spinning with everything in life....she somehow is able to force me to just stop and breathe. There is never a day that she isn't happy. She is honestly the happiest girl I know. She's always smiling. Always willing.

While I look at her and think of how lucky I am to have her be a part of my life and my kids life, I also see her and want more for her. Sometimes I'm a bit hard on her because I want to see her do more. I'm that big sister that pushes her.

I love this girl with all my heart and as much as I love my own children. What pains me the most is when I look at her and I wonder...what is she really thinking. And, this past year...when I ask her what she's thinking about, she'd always tell me about everything that made her happy. It was then that I realized, that's exactly what she thinks about day and night. She truly just thinks about what makes her happy. I love that about my friend.

My closest friends that see me most know that she's my kids big sister as she's often with us. She can often be heard telling them what and what not to do. Picking them up when they want to be held. Helping them solve problems. Telling them to get along. But, what I love most is when I see her playing with them. When I see her playing games with my kids that I used to play with her my heart melts.

I went looking through my pictures for a birthday present I want made for her and couldn't resist sharing a bit about my friend.

Horses are one of my girlfriend's favorite animals! There isn't one thing that she doesn't know about them. When we go to my parents house, she is in heaven when she gets to help my dad feed and care for them.

Horses are her little slice of heaven on earth!

And now, for a little stroll down memory lane...here are a few pictures from the earlier years of our friendship. After two and a half years as her instructional assistant, it was time to move on. Her mother gave me an amazing little memory book that my girlfriend and I still love to look through together.

Here is the opening page of the memory book.



Again, I couldn't be happier that my kids have known her since they were born and honestly think of her as their big sister! There is no better gift I could ever give my children then Lauren's friendship.

Lastly, here is the poem that her mother included on the last page of the memory book!

I'd like to be the sort of friend that you

have been to me,

I'd like to be the help that you've always been

glad to be;

I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of

the day

as you have meant, old friend of mine,

to me along the way.

-Edgar A. Guest

Happy 23rd birthday Lauren!

Sweet friends |Gilbert Child Photographer

I know I've continued to be completely absent from anything and almost everything that didn't involve my kids and I have completely enjoyed each second of it. My twins start kindergarten in less than a week and I can finally say that I feel ready. Taking the extra time off to give all my attention to my kids has been totally worth it. And, once my girls start school, I'll be getting back into the swing of things with work.

One of the fun activities the kids and I have been doing is spending our time with favorite friends! My girls are lucky enough to say they have known their best friends since they were babies. And I absolutely love that they have those relationships.

A few weeks ago, we went up north to Pinetop with friends. I was extra happy that I was able to do a birthday session with the girls ultimate best friend, Paisley. I also giggle when I think of them growing up. Especially when Paisley was just starting to crawl and Camryn was obsessed with her. To the point where one time we found Camryn trying to hold her while saying....shhhhhh, of course Paisley was crying because of Cam. Just too funny!

And here's Paisley, a month after she turned 4.

Her sweet little sister, Harper. She's actualy the baby at the top of my blog.








Happy birthday sweet-P! The girls and I love you bunches!

.......................................

Update:

I've been getting asked about if I'll be doing more sessions up in Pinetop for the fall portrait season! And, absolutely YES! I've been scouting around the Pinetop area and happy to have a few more locations to hold sessions as. However, since I've been giving all my attention to my family these past couple months, I'm a bit behind in finalizing Pinetop session dates and times.

At this point, I've been holding off on scheduling sessions for the fall and have starting a "first to contact" list for when I begin scheduling.

The Pinetop session dates and fall calendar dates will be emailed out in the next two weeks. Please keep in mind, I'll only be scheduling full sessions in Pinetop. At this time, I do not plan on scheduling any mini sessions in Pinetop.

Please email me if you would like to be added to "first to know" list! :)

Jacob's 1 |Scottsdale Family Photographer

Family sessions in the Arizona summer are really really hot! This summer I'm not scheduling any sessions but with repeat clients to allow for me to have more time with my kids without work always lingering in the back of my mind.

When sweet Jacob's mom and I were coordinating for his birthday session, I was beyond happy to see this sweet family again. As the session date came close, I watched the temperatures rising and I had a pit in my stomach when thinking of flushed cheeks and plain misery in the muggy heat.

Just days before the session, I spoke to Jacob's mom and suggested moving the session to a morning time because of the heat. Morning sessions in the spring and summer aren't always the most popular because they start super early for the best light. And, anyone that knows me knows I'm so not a morning person but it was definitely worth it to beat the heat.

This sweet family traveled from north Scottsdale and me from the southeast valley, we met in the middle and I loved it. Even if they may have arrived and thought....wow, that is one tired looking photographer! {giggle}

Here is a glimpse from a sweet 1st birthday session! Which are always an adventure when the baby is a pro at walking!

Enjoy and yes, this family is just as sweet as they are beautiful!

Pictures of moms and their babies are always a huge favorite of mine! The picture below tops my favorite list...I just love the connection!




1 year old sessions always have outtakes that make me laugh! This one was a favorite!
You also might recognize this family from a newborn session last year! The pictures from that session were a favorite of mine. This family is very sweet and I love the love between them all!