And then there were five.

Moms know that family pictures can be a necessary evil.  I LOVE family pictures and even I know that they can be fairly torturous.  And when you have four boys, you might as well poke your eyes out.  But this Mama added a beautiful baby girl to the mix and knew it needed to be done.  Her oldest is turning into a man faster than we can blink, the baby is practically crawling, and don't even get me started on the other three and how fast they are growing.

So family pictures it is.  Freeze a moment in time.  And if that moment happens to also have yummy-licious sunlight, a beautiful private horse property here in Gilbert, AZ, and a rope swing?  Well, then you've got it made.

Real.

Lisa, the Momma of this great family, isn't anything but real and authentic.  She doesn't have time or energy for fake or posed or playing a facade, and trying to be something she's not.  Lisa is Lisa, and her family, well they are real.  And because of that, they're pretty dang great.

I have had the distinct pleasure of documenting her family for a few years now.  We make a little bit of photography magic every time.  She trusts me to find the love amidst the chaos, and that trust allows me to push harder in my technique every time.

This is an in-home newborn session.  This is lifestyle photography.  This is documenting the modern family.  Put any label you want on it.  It's still real.  And because of that, it allows all of us to be little more real.

Baptism photos at the Gilbert Temple

I've said before and I'll say it again.  I love photographing boys this age!  My two boys are a bit past this sweet stage but now I work with Cub Scouts so I know it's not all shy smiles and giggles.  These boys can be crazy and nutty and wild.  But put them in a new suit, with their own scriptures, and knowing they're the star of the show, hey just can't help but turn on some amazing charm!

This awesome kiddo and his Mom got up super early to catch the sunrise at the new Gilbert Temple.  The light was stunning and it was worth every lost minute of dozing.  Anderson rocked his Baptism photoshoot!

Mother's Day gift - Shabang!

When a family hasn't had family pictures taken in well over 10 years, giving Mom the gift of family photographs is a freaking home run.  This husband and daughter knocked it out of the park.  I had worked with their daughter Ava on her senior pictures and we had a really great time.

And frankly, kudos to Mom for jumping on it and making it happen.  When it's not something we do regularly, scheduling the photo shoot, coordinating some decent looking clothes, picking a fun location, and even driving quite a ways to work with a photographer you like, it's all a big deal and a bit stressful.

But she made it happen.  And now this time in their lives is recorded.  Smiles and laughter and a memory made and documented.  There aren't too many Mother's Day gifts that can accomplish all that.

Stunning. Incredible. Wowza.

A friend of a friend sends a text.  Senior pictures for a girl from Chandler, AZ needed stat.

Date set.  Location set.  Styling set.  Still never met each other.

Walk up to them on location and introduce myself.  Jaw drops.  Oh, this is gonna be fun.

Grace, you are stunning.  You can be in front of my lens any day of the week.  You made my whole month of May.  Enjoy.

The perfect trade. Family pictures in Gilbert AZ

Nicol is an amazing massage therapist here in Gilbert.  When she asked if I'd be willing to trade massages for family pictures, I couldn't say yes fast enough.  Then I meet her beautiful children, and I'm like "Yes Please!".

This family has their own unique energy, as we all do.  And it was so fun to try to capture it in camera.  Those two oldest boys will be off to college next year and Mom's whole world will change.  So glad we documented a little chapter in their family story.

Gilbert Silos Family Pictures

Once in awhile, some really hard work pays off into something glorious.  Much like motherhood.  You work for days, months, years with very little payoff.  There are no quarterly reviews telling you how well  you're doing.  No yearly bonus that ties into how many goals you achieved that year.  Not even a customer base that provides feedback via social media.  (my feed would be filled with "nice job on the spaghetti Mom, but that green salad has got to go!")

But glorious moments still find a way to seep through.  When your son answers a question in Sunday School that proves he actually WAS listening for the last 11 years.  Or when your daughter comes to you with tears to admit she did take the last of the forbidden chocolate.  Or when your preschooler begs you to make the oatmeal because you do it the best.  There is some glory in those moments.

Those moments, and family pictures like these, can make the lack of annual bonus pretty much worth it.  As long as there's more chocolate.