Lauren and Ty’s intimate Courthouse Wedding was on a sunny 112+ degree July day in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The heat was crazy, the wind made it feel like someone was repeatedly opening an oven, but even still everything was perfect. 12 of Lauren and Ty’s closest family and friends joined them outside of the courthouse to celebrate their marriage. Lauren was breath taking in her pearls, custom heels, vintage inspired wedding dress, and hat that made her look like British royalty. Ty looked classic in his navy suit with a light purple shirt, brown leather shoes. I kept telling them they looked like they were models out of an elopement magazine or an old Hollywood film. The two have been together since their teens when they met in Japan while they were both living there. Lauren and Ty explained they were neighbors on base and that at first they were less than friends, but as time passed their relationship grew into a strong enduring love that they still have today. Couples like Lauren and Ty are the reason I chose and continue to choose to work in the wedding industry. Their love, kindness, and care for each other is so genuine and pure, anyone who comes within a mile of them can feel it. There’s nothing like documenting a couple on their wedding day- I don’t accurately know how to put it into words, but I will say this- I always walk away from wedding days with a smile on my face, a full heart and a feeling of gratitude for getting the opportunity to serve my clients on one of their most cherished and sacred days. Thank you Lauren and Ty for letting me photograph your beautiful wedding day! Cheers!

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again- maternity sessions have my heart! There’s something so special about each session and the feeling I get whenever I photograph an expecting mama is just indescribable- there’s so much love, joy, and excitement for the little baby that is to come. Kilean and Nathaniel’s session was no exception to this of course and it was extra special for me because Kilean actually photographed my maternity photos back in November and now I was able to return the favor for her a few months later. Kilean and Nathaniel were high school sweethearts (my heart you guys) and are expecting their first baby boy at the end of August. It was so fun for me to photograph Kilean now that she’s pregnant because our friendship actually begun at the beginning of my pregnancy last year when Kilean messaged me on Instagram wanting to meet up and discuss balancing getting pregnant with our crazy photography schedules. Now here she is a few short months away from holding her baby boy in her arms- how sweet is that! When you look at this in home maternity session it feels like four different sessions in one because we had so many awesome wardrobe changes that switched up the feel of the session, I was living for it! You guys are going to love their outfits and just wait until you see baby boy’s room- it is the cutest thing and Kilean HAND PAINTED the design on the nursery wall. I could go on forever about these two and how much I loved this session, but I’ll let you guys take a look now- hope you love it as much as I do!

Newborn photos are some of my most favorite sessions to capture. There are no words to describe the absolute awe that parents are in when looking at their newborn baby. I remember feeling that way when we took newborn photos with our son and looking back, I still cannot believe how tiny he was and how much he’s grown and changed since then. As a mama, I’m so glad we took in home newborn photos because it brings me back to those first tender moments with my son and the overwhelming feeling of love I felt from the moment I laid eyes on him. As a photographer, it is such a gift to be able to witness that same moment for other parents and capture that time for parents to cherish for the rest of their lives.

If you’re thinking about doing a newborn session for your brand new baby- trust me, you will not regret it. To help prepare you for your session, here are some quick tips to make your newborn session as smooth as possible!

Tip 1: Schedule your newborn photos to fall during the first 5-12 days of life

If you’re expecting soon and wondering when you should take your newborn photos, the sweet spot for newborn photos is anytime between five to twelve days old. After the twelve day mark your little babe is going to be awake more frequently during the day and will start to become more aware of the world around them. The goal is to take the photos while your baby is still nice and sleepy during the day.

Tip 2: Time Baby’s Feeding

This one is so important- time your baby’s feeding to end 10 or so minutes before your photographer will arrive. During the first few months, baby needs to eat on average every 2-3 hours (if you’re breastfeeding- I believe the window is a bit longer for bottle-fed babes) so I’d recommend trying to get a feel for how long each feeding lasts to create the perfect feeding window before the session. Personally, our feedings usually took around 20-25 minutes and then we’d take another 5-10 minutes to burp him so I knew I needed to start our feeding at least 35 minutes prior to the start of our session.

Tip 3: Fresh Diaper and Photoshoot Outfit

After baby has been fed and burped, change baby’s diaper and put on the photoshoot I’d say no sooner than 5 minutes before the photographer’s arrival. This’ll give the outfit a fighting chance to be clean and spit up/blow out free for the session- but I will say it’s always a good idea to have a back up outfit just in case.

Tip 4: Swaddle + Suck!

If your baby is fussy during the session, swaddle them and offer a pacifier (if using) to help calm baby and hopefully help them drift to sleep during the session.

I hope all of these tips and tricks are helpful for your newborn session!

I LOVE getting ready photos. Many of my bride and grooms to be struggle when it comes to deciding whether or not to do getting ready photos. “What’s so special about them?” They may ask. I’ve got the answers below with three reasons why I absolutely recommend having getting ready photos!

1. They Capture the Sweet Moments

Getting ready photos are an amazing way to tell the complete story of your wedding day from beginning to end. From the second you arrive on your wedding day, every instance of the building anticipation and overwhelming joy you experience will be captured for you and your soon-to-be-spouse to look back on for the rest of your lives. This time also allows for sweet moments with the ones you care about most to be captured on film. I love catching cherished time a bride shares with her family and friends on camera before one of the best moments of her life. 

2. They Give You Extra Time to Get Comfortable in Front of The Camera

Another great thing about getting ready photos is they give you more time to get your camera jitters out! If you are someone who feels extra anxious whenever a camera is near, the extended exposure to the equipment will help you get so comfortable in front of the camera you won’t even notice it is there! By the time you have your first look if you choose to do one, or your ceremony you’ll be at ease and jitter-free. 

3. They Show Off Special Details

These photos highlight all of the special details you included in your wedding day to represent you and your wedding style. Many of these details such as your dress, shoes, or veil are items you probably won’t wear again so you’ll want to remember the intricate details that made each item so special to your wedding story! In 20 years you’ll love being able to see all of the details that you worked so hard to collect for your day.  

Getting ready photos allow more opportunities to capture sweet intimate moments with your loved ones, while getting you comfortable in front of the camera AND showing off your gorgeous wedding details. I hope this helped tip the scale in the battle of to do or skip getting ready photos!