If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably heard the term “golden hour” used often. I am a huge fan of golden hour photography! It’s one of the secrets to taking photos that are bathed in a warm, glowing light. Good lighting is a big part of taking high-quality, true-to-life photos. Golden hour is famous for being one of those times of day when the lighting is just right, making your photos look dreamy and magical. This stunning lighting occurs twice a day, right after sunrise and just before sunset. Especially with the dreamy backdrop of the Arizona desert, golden hour is hard to beat.

Arizona has so many stunning outdoor locations for photography, but the biggest hangup for shooting outside is the scorching summer heat. If you’ve ever been here during the summer or know someone who lives here, you’ve heard how unbearable the weather it can be. But hot temperatures don’t mean that you can’t have beautiful summer photos!

I’m so thrilled to share these family photos in Downtown Gilbert with you! So much about these is unique and dear to my heart, and they turned out so beautifully. I had so much fun hanging out with Anna and her two kids during this session. Aren’t they just the cutest?

Ready to dive into a world where every click captures the magic of family life? As a photographer, my process is more than just taking a few quick snapshots. For each of my families, I strive to create a symphony of everlasting memories that will make you smile and laugh (and maybe even shed a tear or two).

February is in full swing, and I have had the best time celebrating the season of love this year. I’m a big believer that it’s important to create traditions for every holiday, including the small ones. This is especially true if you have little ones at home. Even simple celebrations are exciting with kids!

This was just an all-around perfect session at Hole in the Rock: the location was stunning, the clients were gracious and fun, and the lighting was perfect.

Now that 2023 has come to a close, it’s been so fun for me to be able to look back at the year in Arizona and all the wonderful clients I have had the privilege of working with.

There is truly nothing quite like bringing a new baby into your home. It’s a time that comes with so many feelings and emotions, from joy to exhaustion to utter bliss.

If you know me, you know I love any kind of festive photo shoot, especially in Downtown Mesa, Arizona. This session with the Clancey family did not disappoint!

We took the Woods photos at Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler. It’s one of my favorite locations, so I am always happy to make it back there for shoots. If you’ve never been before, it really does live up to its name. In the middle of dry Arizona, Veterans Oasis Park is a tiny little sliver of thriving plants and trees.

My number one goal as a family photographer is to not only cultivate a comfortable environment where clients feel at ease but to give families timeless memories that they can look back on for generations to come.

The East Valley here in Arizona is full of stunning desert locations for family photos! Today I wanted to share with you actually six of my favorite locations around the valley where you can get beautiful photo backdrops year-round without having to drive to the mountains.