Irma & Braden

You can't meet Irma and not fall in love with her. She so sincere and kind. She's a hard worker and she's laid back. Irma and I worked together for a few months (as dietitians) and I would often forget my lunch. I know, I know, how hard is it to remember your lunch, but I was juggling a full-time photography business and a part-time job downtown Phoenix. Irma barely knew me, but she would often share her lunch with me. Her lunch that she had cooked with Braden the night before and that Braden had prepared for her. She would always say with a smile: "...really, Braden always packs so much food for me we can definitely share".

From things like this to other little glimpses I'd get about their relationship, I knew they were perfect together. And I was right.

When Curt and I were at the airport in Philadelphia coming back from Italy, I got a text message from Irma. She had gotten engaged! I called her back and we chatted a little. It was the 4th of July. Irma found out we were taking a cab from the airport in Phoenix to our house. Guess who showed up at the airport at 10 o'clock at night on the 4th of July? Irma and Braden. Braden is equally amazing and kind. Besides going totally out of their way to pick us up and take us home, they even brought us bottles of water! I am just in awe of what wonderful people they are individually and I am so happy that they will be spending forever together.

When they hired me as their wedding photographer I was beyond thrilled and honored.

We had so much fun yesterday during their session. And even though it was really really hot, they just smiled and laughed the whole time.


Irma has the best smile. Not only because it's beautiful but because it's always so genuine:



After a few fancy shots around town we drove to the desert. More precisely we drove to the exact spot where they went on their first official date together. They went hiking here:
I love it that their wedding colors are turquoise and coral. Check out Irma's necklace:







You two are amazing! Thank you for a fun session and a fun dinner.

Vanessa & Gabriel - Engaged!

Yesterday I drove to Tucson to meet Vanessa and Gabriel for their engagement session.  I arrived in Tucson a few hours early and met a past client of mine at La Encantada for lunch to catch up and see her now 4-month old baby Ian. Thanks for meeting me Vivi (and for reading my blog :)).

Hi Vanessa... Hi Gabriel... It's so nice to meet you! Can I please put my leftovers in your frigde?

Good thing Vanessa and Gabriel are so easy-going or they might have fired me right there and then. What photographer puts their left-over sandwich in their client's refrigerator?! Apparently I do.

The first location they chose was this really cool fast food place called Pat's. Both their grandparents live around this area so they grew up going there and have tons of good memories from this place. I LOVED it!
Oh, and how could I forget? This ball of energy is their baby Oliver :)

Vanessa is so incredibly beautiful!




They are so much fun!!
Dear Vanessa, you are beautiful.





You two are seriously amazing. Thank you so much for your kindness and for the great dinner. I am looking forward to some more fun times in Tucson in a couple of months :)

Luisa

Meet our daughter Luisa. Yes, I know most people start out with babies, but not Curtis and I. When it comes to parenting we skipped straight to adolescence. Not that we ever planned it this way but it just kind of happened.

One of Curtis' friends told us that there was an exchange student supposed to be coming here for her senior year of high school but her host family for the year fell through and she asked if we would consider taking her. I said "Sure!" and Curtis looked at me in shock: "Sure?!!? Are you crazy?" Me: "Why not? :)" And so one week later our daughter arrived. I wish babies were that fast too.

Amanda & Eric

I am absolutely envious of people who wake up when the sun comes up, full of energy and ready to get their day started. I have tried my whole life to become a morning person, but I can't help it but feel groggy, grumpy and tired whenever I wake up before 7. Actually, even though I am a little too embarrassed to admit it, I even feel a little that way before 8.
Today though, it was a different story. I woke up at 4:45 am and was so excited I barely recognized myself. I met up with Amanda and Eric for their engagement session this morning and had an absolute blast between the hours of 6 am and 8 am.
Who knew sunrise light was so beautiful :)?!




This is the exact spot Eric proposed to Amanda back in March. I can almost hear you say "awww"
Favorite shot of the day:

My clients are cuter than yours :)

Amanda and Eric, thank you! I am so thankful you two were responsible for my happiest morning yet.