This was a family that I just met. The connection? One of my club volleyball players from last year mom works with Janelle. Very late in November I sent out an e-mail to my previous club players, telling them if they were in need of pictures for the holidays to think of me! While my mom from last year had already booked pictures with someone her co-worker was still in need. Kara and Janelle have a lot of the same behaviors and mannerisms, which made for a fun afternoon. We met at Rio Vista and wondered around the back side and the wash area. We were met with cool weather and beautiful background colors. Janelle and her husband Brent have 2 beautiful daughters in 2nd and 4th grade. Despite discovering late in their session that they are Ohio State fans, we had a fun time. I got some great smiles and fun images! 

This was my second session with Breanna. It is always an adventure when I spend time with this girl, we had an interesting run in with a biker and we were warned about the snakes and scorpions. Luckily we avoided all things! I can't say enough good things about this girl and who she is. At such a young age Breanna is constantly impacting the lives of people she meets. She is always thinking ahead and wanting to make a difference in the world. She has impacted me...her life, heart, willingness to overcome...her light, drive, and passion has inspired me on a daily basis to want and do better. She makes the impossible, possible. She is beautiful and I love having the opportunity to photograph her!

Nevada was the class of 2015, a senior at Ironwood and one of 'mine', as I claim them! He was involved in several different clubs on campus which included IB, NHS, and a member of the Boys Volleyball team. Nevada is such a happy kid and super sweet; that big smile in most of his pictures is a true reflection of his personality.  At the time of this session he hadn't decided on a university yet or what he wanted to study; thinking something in the science/math field. I was then, and still am now excited for this next chapter in Nevada's life. I know that he will go very far and be incredibly successful in whatever he does!

Jacqueline: Class of 2015. I absolutely LOVED her session! This girl I have known during my time at Ironwood and she just truly makes me laugh. We bond over the lack of filter we each have and I give her life advice and pep talks. This was an opportunity for us to spend the afternoon together talking, laughing, and exploring. With every picture I took, I told her to channel her inner Victoria Secret model-and you can tell that by the end she was gettin' it! Her future currently consists of finishing her first semester at Grand Canyon University where she is studying Biology and something else crazy because she is Pre-Med. Ultimately she will save lives and change the world...no doubt about it! This session became a true reflection of her and the young lady that she has grown into! I am very proud of this girl!

This was a follow up session to Malynda and Buddy's wedding. With all the commotion of the wedding day I only got a few pictures of the littlest members of the wedding. So without anyone knowing any better, we got them all dressed up and for another time in front of the camera. Who will you see: Preston, he is the littlest man, he is very serious. Always taking in his surroundings. After many pictures without a smile, I finally got one after he got the opportunity to run and play in the grass with his cousins. Piper: had more dress than she knew what to do with, but she truly was the prettiest little princess. She smiled, danced, and played. Lincoln: the oldest little chap, was such a ham! Any opportunity to take a picture (especially without his sister and cousin, he was all for)! The three of them together all dressed up, in a puffy dress and suspenders was too cute for words!

Kamryn is an Ironwood senior from the class of 2015. We met up at Downtown Glendale after a few re-scheduling issues. We had beautiful weather and light for her session. I learned that Kamryn is a very talented musician and can play the piano and sing. I had the idea to incorporate some sheet music of her favorite songs into her session. Kamryn swore that she was awkward in front of the camera, but I think her session is beautiful just like her! She will complete her first semester up at NAU this winter and I think she may have made an NAU choir.

I work with Brittany and was so thrilled when she asked me to take her family pictures for the holidays in 2014. She is seriously one of the sweetest people that I have ever met! I became more excited to do their session after Brittany's boyfriend Tim sent me a text a few days earlier informing me that during the session he was going to propose! I love capturing surprise engagements!!! It is such an honor to be asked to capture such a special and intimate moment. It was a fun session: we tackled sunshine, squirmy kiddos, and a nervous groom to be. But at the end of the day we captured everything. We went out a second time to do some additional family photos because I had a bit of a camera mishap and some images from the first session got lost. I remember being so stressed, anxious, and upset to tell Brittany that I didn't have all of her images, but I was willing to do a re-shoot. Between both sessions we captured a lot of great moments!

Micah is 'tiny but mighty', well that was her volleyball sign at least! I knew Micah for a few years prior to taking her senior pictures because she plays volleyball at Peoria High School where I also coach. She is also an avid and passionate softball player. It was such a treat getting to photograph Micah, a bittersweet moment for me as I have watched her blossom into such a beautiful young lady. I am very proud of all her accomplishments!

Malynda and Buddy's love story:

At the time of their first meeting Malynda was still attending GCU on a ROTC scholarship as well as studying Nursing. Buddy was a full time student at ASU. They first met in a downtown coffee shop November 2012. They had an immediate connection, and felt a sense of comfort in each other. As if they had know each other forever. Things took a more serious turn when Buddy took a chance and invited Malynda on a snowboarding trip to Lake Tahoe. Upon graduation Malynda became active duty in the United States Air Force, and in May of 2013 received her first orders to relocate to Alaska. After receiving her orders they each realized that they didn't want to spend any time away from each other and long distance wouldn't be an option. Buddy waited until June 2013 when Malynda's dad came back into town to ask permission to marry Malynda. They announced their engagement later that month. 

Malynda and Buddy's wedding was the first wedding that I had photographed. I was very hesitant at first, because when I stopped to think about what I would want for my wedding day I grasped how special a job and life moment this is. However, because they were a family friend and knowing the dynamic of this family I decided to do it. The small intimate wedding took place at the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix, on September 15, 2013 at 11am. Malynda was a beautiful bride and I was happy I was asked to capture this special moment. They just celebrated their 2 year wedding anniversary a few months ago and seem to be thriving in their Alaskan adventures together!









 





 

Diamond was another Ironwood senior that I had the privilege of photographing last year. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Diamond the last 3 years. I have watched her grow into such a beautiful young lady. I see a lot of myself in Diamond at her age, and so we had many conversations regarding friends, family, church and her future. She is a very strong young woman that in some small way I have had the privilege of mentoring. I have watched her grow in herself, confidence, and faith. For her senior session we went to Manistee Ranch; where I was able to watch her developed confidence from behind my lens. Since graduated, Diamond is now attending Northern Arizona University where she has gone from studying Psychology to Criminal Justice. We chat regularly and it makes me happy that I was able to capture that milestone for her, and that I still get updates on her current milestones!

Aliah was one of my Ironwood 2015 seniors. Her and Breanna (session previously posted) are best friends. One a typical day you could find them running around campus together, avoiding class at all costs. Aliah has such a genuine soul about her. She is sweet and thoughtful. Between her and Breanna almost any favored I ask was met with a smile and an 'Okay Bruce'. She worked really hard during her high school career, not just putting in time in the classroom but she was involved in several different clubs on campus and helped a lot with her little sister. We met up at Downtown Glendale for her session, and despite Aliah feeling rushed in the morning I think that she rocked her session. She is such a beautiful girl inside and out, and I have been privileged to have gotten to know her. She will be headed back to Arizona soon for winter break, but will just be finishing up her first semester at New Mexico State University. Very proud of this little lady!

This is the Jones Family. I work with Alisa and she is one of the sweetest and kindest people I have met. Her little boys are beautiful and her husband was not who I pictured at all, but he was absolutely hilarious. I could not stop laughing during their session. Alisa told me that she couldn't even remember the last time they did family pictures; she thought it was back when her and her husband had gotten married. Well, wow, things have changed a little since them!! I'm glad that I was able to provide them with some images that reflect their current life, with two amazing little boys! It's incredibly how quickly things can change, their session was taken a little over a year ago and now Alisa is expecting her 3rd bundle of joy!

Sim and Keely were both seniors at Ironwood High School, Class of 2015. Sim (dark hair) really wanted to do a senior session with me but felt that she would be too awkward in front of the camera, so she convinced her BFF to come along and do more of a best friend session. The first time I met up with the girls was at Vistancia, with the race against the clock for lighting. The girls were misguided by their GPS and got lost. By the time we had found each other there was only a few minutes sunlight left; so we scheduled a second shoot at Rio Vista. Both girls are beautiful and total hams in front of the camera (when they are together)! Their session is a combination of images from Vistancia and Rio Vista. Some of the light that I received with them was awesome! These girls spend so much time together, now in college, they drive between Phoenix and Tucson just to see each other on the weekends. I am really happy that I got to hang out with them not once, but twice to capture how much their senior year meant to them and how good of friends they truly are. They are coming close to the completion of their first semester in college and I know that the two of them rocked it! Congratulations girls!

This is the holiday session for Deb & Brett Preach in 2013. Again, I am so lucky and grateful to have this wonderful family in my life. They really are a great group of people. I played volleyball with their oldest daughter Lindsay; and now they are all grown up. graduated from college, with adult jobs! Weird how times have changed! They are an easy going, lovely family which makes it easy for me to photograph! Here is their session: 

I didn't know Andrea prior to our meeting for her senior pictures. She was a senior at Peoria and I was asked if I would take a few pictures of her. I agreed and upon meeting her I was floored by her sweet nature. She was a beautiful girl, who I'm glad I had the privilege of meeting. We didn't go very far for her session, literally, we did her session at Peoria. The campus is full of beautiful new building and old ones that I thought it would be fun. When I saw her last she was planning on attending a community college to get started on her nursing degree. I hope that wherever she ended up is doing well. Here is her session: 

Trisha Hersh received her session as a gift from her sister several months prior to her session. We had waited a while to schedule hoping the Arizona temperatures would cool down, as well as she wanted some images with her mother-in-law who was in town visiting. For this session we met at Marley Park in Surprise; which if you haven't been there it is such an adorable community with a open and green park. They were a beautiful family, very natural in front of the camera. I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet and photograph them. 

I didn't really know Monse prior to our meeting for her senior pictures. I had seen her around campus, but that was pretty much it. I am glad that I went out on a limb and asked her about senior pictures. We did her session out in Vistancia and that was the first time I had photographed there in a long while. I was super excited for her session, she not only brought her sparkling personality but PROPS, which made the session a little more fun and it brought out her personality a little more. It was definitely hard for me to pick favorites from this session, because I loved them all!