Family Pictures. For Real. {Gilbert AZ photography}

When you know a family well enough, when you know some of their struggles and triumphs, you know what a gift it can be to capture real moments. 

Real smiles and real, authentic laughs.  Real love that's grounded in shared memories and future. 

When you can get to that level of authenticity, it turns the photography into something amazing. 

I'm honored to have documented this real family.  Rachel, ya did good. 

Fall Family Photos

When your family has the most fabulous skin tone ever, and eyes that make your jaw drop, you can dress in whatever colors you darn well want to.  Because anything, and I mean, anything will look amazing.  Blue, yellow, and grey.  So chic.  And the pop of pearls?  Well, we can just stop now.  :)

For more photos of this beautiful family, check out the gallery at Michelle Unscripted.  We photographed together on this one and she caught some amazing moments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Photo Magic "Click"

I'm not the best photographer in town.  Believe me, I am aware of that on many levels.  If you're wondering who is, I can give you a slew of names.  And I know I'm not the right photographer for every family.  And I'm quite aware that not every family here in Gilbert, AZ is the right client for me.

But once in awhile, everything just clicks.  Mom and I communicate well.  We pick just the right location together.  Her husband and kids show up excited and ready to have fun.  (well, Dad shows up with a smile on his face, really that's all I want.)  The light is right.  The colors are right.  The planets have aligned.  Mercury isn't in retrograde.  Wait, I went too far....  :)

And magic happens.  Like beautiful, awesome, memories made and documented, photo magic.  Photoshop can't put magic into photos, nor the best and most expensive cameras.  It takes the right mindset and the right "click".

We clicked.

 

Family Pictures, Gilbert AZ

I can always count on this Mama to bring the chic-ness to any photo shoot.  She's an amazing hairdresser so she can trade services with any photographer in the East Valley.  And I'm always honored when I get my turn.  Her daughters are stunning, her husband is fun and easygoing, and hello?!  She's drop dead gorgeous. 

We tried out a fun new location for their family pictures, which happened to be blossoming in these cute little flowers.  All the better to show off three cute little girls.  Family pictures for Christmas?  Done and Done!!

Family Pictures in the Desert

This is a family I love to photograph.  When I first met Jay Danek and his family, he was just getting started in the ultra-running world.  Coincidentally, my book club was reading "Born to Run", one of the most fun reads in the running genre.  I realized if these men can run 50 and 100 miles at a time, I could get off my duff and run a 5k.  So I did.

Two years later, I'm training for the Phoenix Marathon, 1/2, and Jay has written his own book about his incredible journey.  You can find it here.  And of course, it's time for new family pictures.  They picked another awesome location that's not only stunning but it has emotional value to their family as well (read the book). 

That's the best, when you can document your beautiful family in a beautiful spot that really means something to you.  Where will we photograph your family?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Campo Verde Gilbert Senior {Class of '14!}

I love working with this one.  She's so real, she's going to tell you what you she thinks.  When you're being an idiot, she'll let you know with the best look I've ever seen.  And when you're being real with her, she completely opens up and shines.  She's my first senior of the season and she started it off with a huge bang!!  The bar is set high my friends, I don't know if I can top this.

I'll Take It.

Two months ago, I posted about my accident that changed my reality, it's here if you're interested in the recap.  Today I want to post about something interesting that came out of it.

This accident taught me that when certain abilities are taken away, it makes me question who I actually am.  In the month after the accident, I wasn't able to be a mom, or a photographer, or even read a good book, or crochet a fun project.  Check off my top 4 ways I spend my time.  My relationship with my husband dwindled to merely suggestions on who can take care of the kids next.  And the worst part was that I wondered, What's left?  Who am I when all of that is stripped away?  Because that's not fluff.  It's a huge part of who I am.

And I found I really liked what was left.  I am a woman.  I am a daughter of God.  I am brave.  I cry when I'm scared, like horribly with all kinds of snot and tears, but I hold still and let them put the needle in anyway.  I am strong.  I can be hurt, badly.  And I can also heal. 

I am not the 25 year old that had been stuck in my head for many years.  And while I'd love her body again, I really, really love the woman I've turned into. 

To make sure I really felt that way, and wasn't just trying to convince myself of it, I hired Michelle Jones, of Michelle Unscripted, to document the Now.  Because in a photo, the context is stripped away.  There's no "Mom" or "Wife" or "Photographer" title.  There's only me.  Take it or leave it.

I'll take it.  With gratitude.