Danielle Daigle Photography

Bye, Bye Blogger!

2010-01-11T22:26:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been a great year and Blogger has been an awesome tool for me. But, I am happy to report that I have upgraded and will no longer be posting on this blog.

Feel free to visit me on my brand spankin' new blog at: www.danielledaigle.com/blog

Hope to see you there!

Jolen and her Fab Family!

2010-01-04T22:23:00.003-07:00

This is my friend, Jolen. Isn't she perrrdy? :o)

And this is her fabulous family!

I did some photos for her back in November and she has been so patient with me while I was trying to edit them. I wanted to share a few, because I love how they turned out! Her kids are so awesome!

Thank Jolen for being so patient with me!!! Sorry they took so long!

Will, Megan, and Lucy

2010-01-04T21:42:00.003-07:00

I did some photos for my friends, Will and Megan, about a month ago. And they have been so patient with me about getting their photos back. I wanted to post a few of my favs...

Some of you might remember the puppy photos of Lucy I took last March. Well, she's all grown up now into a beautiful girl. She's even taking elevator rides all by herself! :o)

We did manage to take a few photos of Will and Meg by themselves... without the child! I think they are such a cute couple!

Thanks guys for your patience with me!! You're the best!

Tracy and Jim's Wedding - Part III: "Party Time!"

2009-12-28T23:28:00.003-07:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out earlier photos from Tracy and Jim's wedding, please visit Part I and Part II on my blog.

Also, if you haven't had a chance to check out Sarah Shaw's photography, please take the time to visit her website: www.sarahshawphotography.com

After the ceremony was over, Sarah and I took a few formals of Tracy and Jim. Here are just a few of my favs. (I tagged Sarah's photos with her name)

Love this one below Sarah took!

Before we move on to the party, here are just some of the pretty details at the reception...

Party time!! Here's a small sampling of the reception.

I think this photo below says it all... haha!! Party's over!

Thank you Tracy and Jim for asking me to photograph your wedding. It was an awesome experience to be a part of your wedding day!

And thank you Sarah for all your hard work and beautiful images. Your contribution is beyond appreciated!!! You're an amazing photographer!

Tracy and Jim's Wedding - Part II: "Ceremony"

2009-12-26T21:58:00.004-07:00

If you haven't seen the photos I already posted of Jim and Tracy, be sure to check out "Part I".

Below are a few photos I took in the limo with Tracy, her mom, sister, and niece. The ride was long, but at least we were driving in style!

Tracy and Jim got married at Arizona Traditions, and it was a beautiful day. As the guests were arriving, I stole a few random shots while Tracy was waiting to walk down the aisle.

While we were in the limo, Sarah Shaw was taking photos of the guys. I just LOVE the photos she took!!

I wonder how long it took before the guys were sick of their formal photos and started to goof around?

Tracy's nephew, Kai, was the ring bearer. The rings were carried in a brief case as Kai walked down the aisle to James Bond music. Super cool!

Below are photographs from both Sarah and I. (I marked Sarah's photographs with her name). Here's a very small sampling of Tracy and Jim's ceremony.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T16:16:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!!! Merry Christmas!

Tracy and Jim's Wedding - Part I: "Getting Ready"

2009-12-20T20:15:00.004-07:00

Last month I photographed Tracy and Jim's wedding. I have lots and lots of photographs to go through! Here's the first taste of her amazing day.

Tracy's morning started at the Leidan Mitchell Salon, which included a yummy breakfast her boss surprised her with. With mimosa's poured, the girls were ready to get all dolled up for the big day.

Tracy was joined by her mother (Betty), her sister (Cary), and her niece/flower girl (Kea).

After the girls were done with hair and makeup, we headed to the beautiful Ritz Carlton to finish getting ready.

OK... the below photo is a little edgy with the black/white... but I like it.

And the beautiful bride is ready...

My friend, Sarah Shaw, worked with me on this wedding. I wanted to show off some of her awesome photos, so I included them below. While I was taking photos of Tracy, she was taking photos of Jim getting ready.

Jim was joined by his two sons (Jake and Lorin), Tracy's father (Bill), Tracy's brother-in-law (Brian), and Tracy's newphew (Kai).

Below are my two favorite photos of the morning. I LOVE the photo below with Jim and his two sons. And the moment Sarah caught of the boys in the bathroom is so moving to me.

Below is another cool shot Sarah captured. Can you see the photo of Brian on his own wedding day while he's getting ready? I thought that was pretty cool.

What are you watching? Looks like Scooby Doo!

I love these portraits of the boys.

Part II (the ceremony) will be coming later this week.

And you can check out more of Sarah's photography on her website: www.sarahshawphotography.com

Newborn ~ Sweet Little Girl

2009-12-19T20:01:00.002-07:00

A few photos for a newborn session I did earlier in the month. Isn't this little girl precious?

Awesome Family!

2009-12-16T19:26:00.003-07:00

This is a recent session I finished for such an awesome family. Sue and Glenn have the cutest kids!!! Here are a few of my favorite photos from the session...

Sue busted out these amazing dresses for the girls at the end of the session. I was in heaven! Seriously!! It was an early Christmas for me. Aren't these girls adorable?!!!

My Friend Alison

2009-12-06T18:37:00.002-07:00

I few weeks ago I did some photos for my friend Alison. I wanted to share a few of my favs... but it was hard to pick since there were tons of amazing shots.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Cute Little Boy

2009-11-29T23:16:00.004-07:00

Mr. "H" is a very expressive little boy. He had so many faces for my camera!!

Although, I'm pretty sure he was trying to tell me to get my big black lens away from him. I don't think he liked my camera very much. But I did manage to capture a few smiles, a few tears, and a few more of "H's" many faces. He's definitely quite the character! I'm thinking acting might be in his future... what do you think? Just check out all his cute expressions!

Jamie and Mark, thank you for inviting me into your home to take photos of your beautiful boy. I'll have the rest to you soon!

6 Months, Family, and Eegee's = FUN!

2009-11-27T22:01:00.003-07:00

Some of you may remember baby "J" when I did his newborn photos. Well, he's six months now and has grown into quite the handsome young man. I was super excited to see him again. Talk about a happy baby!! He was the perfect little model for my camera.

I just love his face in this next photo. Look at those cheeks!

It was awesome to see Shawna, Tommy, and Carol (Shawna's mom) again. Even Grandpa Mark joined in on the photos this time. This family is pretty cool... but they scored bonus points when they introduced me to Eegee's grinders in Tucson for lunch. I'm a little snobby about my grinders since I'm from the East coast... but Eegee's was so yummy! And their frozen cherry cider drink was the best!!! YUM!

Tommy has been wearing Vans since he was a kid. I believe he told me he got his first pair of Vans when he was 12 years old. He has a dress up pair, a work pair, and a weekend pair. I wonder if he has any other kind of shoe? Anyway, when Shawna was pregnant she saw a pair of Old Skool Originals in baby size, and had to get them since Tommy has the same pair. Now "J" can tell his dad that he's had them since the womb. That's hard core man... "J" rocks!

Thank you everyone for an awesome time and that awesome lunch!! It was so good to see all of you again!

Thankful...

2009-11-26T08:36:00.003-07:00

This has been a challenging, crazy busy, and rewarding year. As I try to leave behind parts of my life that I am no longer aligned to, I am still not quite where I need to be to let go completely. I'm in that weird "in between" place... right before the big changes happen... but past the small changes that put you face to face with the last BIG hurdles.

Reflecting back on the year, I thought today would be an appropriate time to give some thanks to all the people and things I appreciate, but don't nearly mention enough.

I'm thankful for the ability to do the things I love in life.

I'm thankful for all the amazing clients I've had in 2009. I've learned so much and gained so much from the experiences I've had with all of you.

I'm thankful for my friends and family who support me and stick by me... even when I'm being crazy through all the changes this year.

And I'm thankful for my home. And home is nothing without the love that lives inside...

Thank you Craig... for allowing me to grow into a new person. And while I strive to be better, you have been patient while I'm trying to shed the layers that don't suite me. I love you.

Thank you Yoda... my big boy. You've been with me the longest and there's comfort in that.

Thank you Chloe... my crazy cat. Thank you for always curling up in my lap while I edit my photos. I appreciate the cuddles.

White Kid (white kitty)... Thank you for your soft and gentle love. No other animal loves "love" as much as you.

Lucy (Lu Lu)... Thank you for being the coolest dog ever and always trying to take my spot on the bed. I always smile around you.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Mommy, Daddy, and Little Boy

2009-11-22T22:23:00.002-07:00

Amy and Erik welcomed me in their home as if we've been friends for years. Their house felt warm and familiar, and I enjoyed every second of my time with them. They are such great people!

Their little boy, "J", is a so adorable. What a cutie pie!! He had many faces for my camera... a true model. :o)

Here's another mini sneak peek for another fabulous family!

Toes, toes, toes! "J's" were my favorite yet! He kept curling them in funny shapes. Love the toes!

I also love the teddy bears. So perfectly cute!

Thank you Amy and Erik for inviting me to your home to photograph your amazing family. I had an awesome time with all of you!

Family Photos

2009-11-15T21:37:00.003-07:00

Meet Matt and Kristi and their two little girls. They are super awesome, totally beautiful, and so much fun! Don't they look like models out of a magazine?

I thought little sis looked so cute in her red dress and bow in her hair. She had the cutest smile!

Check out big sis... her eyelashes are to die for!!! I'm so jealous!

Kristi is so cool. She suggested taking a chair from inside the house for some outside photos. Love that!!! Here's one of the photos with the entire family piled on the chair.

Thanks Matt and Kristi for asking me to take your family photos! You guys are gorgeous!

Kris, Andrew, and "J"

2009-11-11T17:59:00.008-07:00

When Kris opened the door with little "J" in her arms, I thought, "this woman is gorgeous and this baby is adorable!" And when her husband, Andrew, walked around the corner I realized who these people were standing in front of me.... Ken and Barbie! Seriously, the only thing missing was the Malibu mansion and pink corvette!!

But their beauty went far deeper than outer appearances. The real beauty was the love Kris and Andrew obviously have for one another, and for little "J". There was so much happiness in their home!!

The thing I loved the most about them, is they asked me to capture them in the moment. I absolutely adore this style of photography. I feel so lucky to document families and children this way. These photos are real, honest, raw moments.... It's their moments.

Little "J" just turned one last month. He had some serious energy!!! I didn't know children could move so fast. And like most one year olds, everything in the world is new and exciting. I love how the simple things give children so much joy. I thought it was adorable how he tried to eat the flowers!

Hands down, this is probably one of my most favorite moments captured all year. I couldn't plan the images below if I tried. I just love them.

Thank you Kris, Andrew, and "J" for letting me come to you home and photograph all of you. You are all awesome!

I'm back....

2009-11-07T21:35:00.003-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while. I've been super crazy busy lately!! My dad came for a visit. Then Craig's band came into town to play some shows (more on that later). And I've started my busy holiday photos season. It's going to be a crazy month! And I'll be posting TONS more photos as the weeks go on. No more long blogging breaks for me!

Now... on to this super cool family.

I'm sure you will notice this cute little boy below. He's starred on this blog a few times already and has pictures all over my website. He's super awesome! Probably because his parents are pretty darn cool. This is one of my favorite families to photograph.

We got together a few weeks ago to take some family photos, and a few portraits of Mr. "T". I'm finally getting around to posting them. Enjoy!

Miss "Z" - Baby Girl!

2009-10-17T22:18:00.003-07:00

Tere contacted me a while back to photograph her new granddaughter, "Z". This is the first time I've photographed a premie this age, so I wasn't sure what to expect. "Z" is 3 months old and so adorably tiny! She may come in a little package, but her cuteness is endless!

I think we managed to get some great photographs of this little girl. Here's a mini sneak peek...

"Z's" parents Mel and Kevin (Tere's son), were very cute with their new baby. I love doing simple black and white photographs of parents and their young children. They're timeless photographs... simple and classic.

Thank you Tere for inviting me to spend time with your family!! It was a pleasure getting to photograph little "Z"!

Pigtails and Puppy Tails

2009-10-13T20:54:00.003-07:00

This post is a little sneak peek for my friend, Amy. I met up with Amy and her family two weekends ago to take some photos for them. Amy just got a new puppy, and she has an adorable niece... so of course, they got most of the camera attention!!

Amy's niece is one of the most adorable little girls ever!! Uh... those eyes are to die for! And her pigtails are too cute!!

Let me introduce you to two of the best dogs ever.

Black Lab on Left: Dakota - the BEST dog in the entire world!!

Yellow Lab on Right: June - the BEST puppy in the entire world!

If labs are just this well behaved, then I think I need my dog to hang around a lab pack. She needs some good influences.

There's no photoshop here... these dogs really were this good off leash!

Even when they are being tackled... best dogs ever!

OK... a few more of this cutie...

Amy, it was so nice meeting your family. I'll get your photos finished as soon as I can!

One Sunday Morning...

2009-10-10T22:25:00.003-07:00

Oh how fast children grow!! It always amazes me how many changes the first year of life brings. Some of you may remember when I did little "M's" newborn photos. Well, now she's six months old and just look how she has grown!

This time we did lots more family photos. Mom, dad, and big sister all joined in. "M's" big sister was happy to show me her modeling poses... and I just LOVE her heart dress!

Halloween is right around the corner... "M" is going to be a lady bug. And big sister is going to be a purple butterfly. The photo below may not show the entire butterfly outfit, but seriously... those blue eyes are awesome!! So I chose this photo to make all the brown eye people of the world jealous... me included.

Spending my Sunday morning photographing these girls was lots of fun. They are so super cute and I loved getting to see their halloween costumes!

Awelle

2009-10-07T20:20:00.005-07:00

Drop. Dead. GORGEOUS! Seriously... isn't she beautiful?!

I recently did some photographs for Awelle. She is getting ready to launch her new CD. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak listen to her new songs before the CD goes live. It's AWESOME! The music flows and feels good... and this girl can sing!!! Everyone out there is going to love her!

When her album is ready, I'll be posting more photos and letting you all know where you can find her amazing music. Until then, enjoy some super fabulous pictures of this super cool chick!

Katie - High School Senior!

2009-10-04T16:50:00.006-07:00

Meet Katie. She's a super stylish high school senior who happens to be loads of fun!

I met up with Katie and her friend, Alex, in Tempe to do Katie's senior portraits. This blog is a little longer than usual... with more photos than I normally post. But we all had quite the adventure and I felt the story would be missing something without them.

We started our session at the train tracks in a nearby neighborhood. I loved how Katie's dress was such an awesome contrast against the rustic vibe of the tracks.

Alex spotted these yellow chairs and table when we were leaving the train tracks. Nice catch! I have no idea who lives there... no one was home. But I sure did like how their cat joined in on the pictures.

We headed back towards Mill Street for the rest of the photographs, but we tried to find places that were less obvious than what you'd expect from Tempe. So we made our way off the main drag and found some cool little spots.

I couldn't decide which of these next two photos to post... I like them both equally! So I posted both of them... it was easier than choosing.

This next photo is one of my favs. It is also about the time I laid down in the grass and was attacked by a bunch of ants. Seriously... I had a good 15 - 20 ants crawling all over my arm and those little things hurt when they bite you!

Moving on down the street... with my very numb arm, we continued our adventure...

I did not expect the light to go down as fast as it did. I guess summer is officially over. So I had to get creative, break out my flash, and figure out how to work the very, very low light.

Katie is a singer (she's in choir in school), so we used the microphone to incorporate her passion in the photographs. The moody light worked in our favor... I really like how these photos came out. She looks like she is in a rock video.

Thanks Katie for letting me take your senior photos! I had tons of fun hanging with you and Alex!

My website is up!!

2009-09-27T23:15:00.002-07:00

My website is up... finally!!

I am in the middle of revamping my look, and it is starting with my website. Soon you'll see a new blog, new business cards, new everything. Yay!

Oh... and I'll be blogging about the pretty girl in the screen shot very soon.

Alex - High School Senior!!

2009-09-21T21:30:00.003-07:00

I met Alex last weekend to start our adventure together. We drove up and down Central looking for some interesting back drops for her senior photo session. We were going for an urban theme, and Alex was up for anything... my kind of girl! I had so much fun hanging with her!

Alex is so pretty and the camera loves her! Just look at her gorgeous brown eyes! I had such a hard time narrowing down the photos for this sneak peek. There were way too many good ones to choose from.

Having a little fun with some water...

Alex is a singer, and we wanted to incorporate her passion somehow in her photos. I borrowed some microphones from my boyfriend so we could use them as props. I have not heard Alex sing yet, but I hear she is amazing. She is in her high school choir and has performed at Carnegie Hall. How cool is that?!!

I love black and white photography, and the below photos are some of my favorites from the session.

I also love bright, vivid colors... and we found plenty during our photo session.

Alex.. you're awesome girl!! I hope you like your sneak peek!!

Baby Boy!

2009-09-13T20:18:00.003-07:00

There's something special about new parents. They seem to have a bit more pride, a bit more happiness, and a bit more love inside them. I love the energy new mommies and daddies have for each other, their new baby, and the world. Scott and Julie are no exception. They are the new parents of "B".

Scott and Julie asked me to photograph their son a few weeks ago. He's only a few months old, and such a cutie-pie! He had me smiling and laughing through this entire session.

Julie had a fabulous idea to use this bowl and cookie dough as a photo prop. I was like, "heck yeah!! Let's do it!" Love, love this picture!!

Another few of my favorite photos are the next two below. There's something so sweet about a mother and her little baby.

It wouldn't be a baby photo session without capturing those little fingers and toes!!!

"B" did so good during his first photo shoot, but it tired him out at the end. He fell asleep in his daddy's arms. Sooooo sweet!

Thank you Julie and Scott for inviting me into your home. I enjoyed spending time with you and that adorable boy of yours!!!

Kainoa

2009-09-01T21:27:00.003-07:00

When I first walked into Abby and Oliver's home, the feeling of warmth, love, and happiness hit me immediately. Hanging out with this family is like meditation crossed with an ice cream sundae! They have one of those homes that feels like "home", even if it's not yours. So now I want them to be my new "BFF's", because they are that cool.

Of course, people this great are definitely going to have the cutest and best little baby ever! Let me tell you, Abby and Oliver love their son so incredibly much. Their eyes were overwhelmed with happiness every time they held him.

Abby and Oliver decided to name their son, Kainoa. Kainoa is a Hawaiian name, and it means "Father's Namesake" or "Junior". I LOVE this name!!! It not only ties to Oliver's heritage and has significant meaning, but it sounds cool too!

So what does a little 3 month old boy with parents like this look like? Well... I think he should be the next Gerber baby. I'm sure you will agree.

Now would be a good time to mention a few things...

First, Oliver and Abby had friends visiting from California when I was at their home. Ben and Vickie were very helpful during the photo session. Vickie and/or Ben were behind me doing funny things to get Kainoa's attention towards the camera. So THANK YOU for your help!!

Secondly, Abby and Oliver had two blankets that were very special to Kainoa, and we were able to incorporate them into the photos.

The blanket in the first photo below was made by Abby, with the help of her mom. It was soooo soft! I think Abby told me it was the first blanket she made, which was impressive because it was more like a quilt - and those are hard to make!

The second blanket (the blue one), was made by Vickie's mom, Paula. I loved how the color complimented the brown basket. And Kainoa was loving this thing... he kept putting his face on it and smiling!

The next few photos are a little more organic, but still fun. I probably could have followed Abby and Oliver around all day, just snapping photos of them holding Kainoa.

After a while, Kainoa decided it was nap time. He did so good on his first photo shoot!! But I think it exhausted him.

So before I left, I was able to snap a few photos of their gorgeous golden retriever, Rigby. I mean, even their dog is perfect! See why I didn't want to leave?!

Thank you Oliver and Abby for inviting me to your home, and asking me to photograph Kainoa. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the photo session a lot!! I hope you like your sneak peek!!

The "P" Family ~ Posse Style!

2009-08-25T22:38:00.003-07:00

Is this a crazy posse or what? Love this picture!

About a month ago, Roy (picture below) scheduled an appointment with me to photograph his family. This included himself, his parents, his brother, sister-in-law, and three nephews. It was quite the crew!! They were a lot of fun and a very nice and loving family.

Aren't these boys super cute?!

I think the guys had the most fun when they changed outfits and pulled out their golf clubs. They go golfing every weekend. So since this is such a big part of their lives, we had to take some photos of the guys golfing!!

Thank you "P" family for asking me to do your family photos!! I had a lot of fun hanging out with all of you!!

Tracy & Jim - Engaged!

2009-08-23T12:09:00.004-07:00

Tracy and Jim are engaged!! Whoo hoo!!

I spent a little time with the two of them last week to photograph their engagement session. Even in that small amount of time, I could tell they were very much in love. Their energy match up perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle. Just perfect!

Tracy will make a beautiful bride this November. I'm excited I'll be there to document their wedding!

Tracy and Jim also brought their dog, Brownie, to the session. And Jim's son, Jake, was there too. It was nice that the engagement session also doubled as a family session.

Lately, I've been loving black and white photos more than usual. To me, they have more impact and feeling. Maybe because when the color is stripped away, you're forced to see the truth of the photo without any distractions. I hope that the photos below show Tracy and Jim's truth that day.... happiness, love, and family.

Well, it wouldn't be me if I didn't add something quirky. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE photos with feet and animals. Maybe because it's from the perspective of our little furry friends, and it's fun to capture what our pets see. So this one if for Brownie!

Something abstract... why not? I thought it was fun.

Thank you Tracy and Jim for letting me photography you!!! Congratulations on your engagement!!

Newborn ~ Baby Boy

2009-08-21T18:08:00.003-07:00

I had a bit of a problem with this blog... I couldn't choose which photos to put up, so I ended up posting way too many!!! But I think you'll understand why when you look at these newborn photos.

Some of you may remember my friend, Desiree, when I did her maternity photos a little while back. Well, she had her little boy last month and I had the honor of doing his first portraits. Isn't he beautiful?

This little guy has so much hair!!! I have never seen anything like it. He was such a good baby throughout the session.

It's hard to pick a favorite from this session. I really like so many of these photos!!

Congrats on your little boy Des!!! He's perfect!!

Nicole ~ Maternity

2009-08-18T20:10:00.003-07:00

I met Nicole two weekends ago for the first time. As she opened the door to greet me, I found myself standing in front of a tiny, beautiful, and adorable mom-to-be! Even though Nicole had a delicate appearance, her energy was full of confidence and strength. I was super excited to start photographing her so I could capture her awesomeness!

Below are just a few photos from the session. Doesn't she look great?!!

Sonny jumped in for some photos as well. I thought they made such a good looking couple. They are expecting a little girl next month, and I know she's going to be gorgeous!

Congratulations Sonny and Nicole!! I hope I get to meet your little one when she arrives!

Malisa and Alex - Just Married!

2009-08-15T10:48:00.003-07:00

About 6 months ago, an old friend from back home (Westfield, Massachusetts) found me on Facebook. I think Sarah and I became friends in Mr. Wheeler's class in the 5th grade. Sarah and I used to hang out, have sleep overs... we even had one of those best friend necklaces that splits in two halves.

Years passed, we both moved away and lost touch with one another. Well, thanks to Facebook, we've reconnected. And how excited was I to find out she is also a photographer and living in the same area as me!

Sarah asked me if I'd like to join her on this wedding shoot, and I happily said yes. Her images are awesome... if you have time, check out her work on her website. We'll be doing another wedding together in November, and I'm looking forward to working with her again.

Now on to the beautiful, young, and newly married couple... Malisa and Alex!

These two are so cute together and just the nicest people ever. They got married at the LDS Temple in Mesa, AZ. What a gorgeous location!!

We had an early start. 5:15 a.m. to be exact. Talk about two amazingly good sports!! The Arizona light is so challenging this time of year. And these two were willing to show up bright and early to take advantage of the softer light.

I think the photo below is one of my favorites. Maybe because those two pillars are just begging to invite two people in love to stand in between them. I like how they balance and ground the photo.

After their ceremony, Malisa and Alex exited the temple with all their friends and family waiting outside to cheer them on. They couldn't stop smiling!

We made our way over to a shady area for some family photos. I had a chance to snap some candids of them hanging out with their friends in between shots.

Later that evening, festivities were held at their church. Family and friends gathered around for food, dancing, and cake.

Malisa's first dance with her husband below. And the father daughter dance on the right.

These are Malisa's best friends. They were so much fun! A cool group of girls, and this photo captures how crazy they are.

Congratulations Malisa and Alex. I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!!

C & J

2009-08-09T14:46:00.003-07:00

My friend Celeste stopped by a few weeks ago with her dog Jasper. I did a few photos for the two of them, and I think they came out awesome!!!

I just love these black and whites of Celeste...

Jasper had a TON of energy and didn't really want to sit still for the camera. I managed to shoot a few good ones though. I love his spotted tongue! He's got so much personality.

The last photo is one of my favs. Aren't they so cute together?!

Stop by any time guys! Lucy liked having Jasper around to play with. :o)

"O" how cute she is!!

2009-08-02T17:31:00.003-07:00

You may remember Chris and Nicole from some of my previous posts. I met them for the first time back in February to do Nicole's maternity pictures. A few months later, I had the honor of taking their daughter's newborn pictures. And two weeks ago, I got to take Little Miss "O's" pipctures again. She's four months old now and is such a gorgeous little baby girl.

Earlier this summer, I saw this tea cup in the store and had to buy it. I have been waiting for the right baby to photograph in it, and "O" was the perfect girl for the job. Yes, I know... it's been done a million times before, but seriously.... no one is going to say that this picture isn't cute. "O" is such a doll!!

Chris, Nicole, and "O" are such an awesome family. I am so blessed to do what I love and get to know such amazing people along the way and document these moments in people's lives. The three of them are so cute together!

Chris's mom was visiting during the photo shoot. Grandma is in love with her granddaughter! She kept showering "O" with hugs and kisses, and all she kept saying was, "I love her so much". How sweet!!

How cute is this pacifier?

You may recognize the pettiskirt below from "O's" newborn session. Isn't it crazy how fast babies grow?!!

Nicole wanted to get a few photos of "O" taking her bath. I know I used the word "cute" a ton of times already, but come on.... so cute! And those little feet!!!

When "O" gets her hair wet, it gets all curly. These photos are some of my favorites from the session.

"O" was getting tired towards the end of the session. I was about to put my camera away when Nicole grabbed "O" and started lifting her in the air and giving her kisses. I'm so glad I captured these!!! I just love them.

Thank you guys for inviting me into your home - again. I love getting to see you and I hope I get to photograph "O" as she continues to grow. You're family is beautiful and full of love!!

Family Visit

2009-08-01T19:26:00.004-07:00

Day 1

After one cancelled flight yesterday and one delayed flight today, my family finally made it to Phoenix for a visit. I still think they are a little crazy for coming here in the summer, but hey... you can't really believe this kind of heat until you experience it. And when my two cousins jumped in my pool and came up for a breath, the first thing they said was "the water is hot!". Yup... that's Phoenix for you this time of year. Our pool water is hotter than bath water.

But they still had fun swimming. Below are a few shots of the end of their tiring day.

And of course, Lucy is super excited we have company. She all over the kids like a they are her new best friends. Lucy hasn't figured out that she's a little over the top and not everyone wants her crazy energy around them. She hung out with us by the pool and made her own fun, since she's super scared of the water and refuses to go in the pool like a normal dog.

Day 2

We woke up yesterday morning and took Lucy to the dog park. My cousins have never been to a dog park before. I don't think they were impressed, but to be fair, there were hardly any dogs there and it was hot.

A little later in the day, we headed to Scottsdale for some shopping. We stopped off at Vision Quest first where I stocked up on some sage. Then we made our way to Old Town where the girls bought some cool jewelry. It was insanely hot in the middle of the afternoon walking around the streets!!

Cooling off in the misters.... one second of relief!

After Old Town, we went to Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall for some more shopping and to get out of the heat. We had lunch at PB Loco, and also stopped in Anthropologie, my all time favorite store! The girls picked out these too cute stuffed animals. Even though I'm 32, and I think I want to go back and get myself one because they are so darn cute!

Day 3

We took it easy and stayed home. It's just too darn hot out there. The girls went swimming, and then we made some ShrinkyDinks. If you're a child from the 80's, then you know all about these things. We also played the Wii and watched TV. It was a good day.

Lucy had a good day too... relaxing and being lazy.

Day 4 - Last Day

We HAD to stay inside because the heat is just too crazy. So we went to the Science Center for some fun indoors. It's a pretty cool place for kids... and adults!

Dana and Nikki

2009-07-26T20:24:00.004-07:00

Meet Dana and Nikki. Dana is Nikki's dance teacher. A few weeks ago, I hung out with these two girls so I could take some headshots for a dancing event they were attending in Chicago. They are super cool ladies, super pretty, and I had super fun hanging with them! I love Dana's red hair, and Nikki has those awesome dark eyes... so jealous!! Here are a few of the photos...

Mr. T ~ Part 2 ~ Karate Style!!

2009-07-21T20:45:00.004-07:00

You may remember my previous post of Mr. T a while back. I did some headshots for this little man back in May. We met for a second time a few weeks ago to take a few more photos, including some of him in the karate studio he studies at. I have been meaning to post some of these photos for a while.

I decided to go with a black/white theme tonight. Whether the photos are in black/white or color, it's clear this guy has some serious personality and will go very far in his acting, karate, and other pursuits.

The best part of the session was when he ran up to me at the end and gave me a hug!! Melted my heart!! He's such a cutie!

A Dog's Life... Photographer Susan Richey

2009-07-19T21:00:00.003-07:00

My new friend, Susan Richey, is a photographer and owner of A Dog's Life Photography. Susan specializes in dog photography and captures animals brilliantly. I urge you to check out her website for some serious eye candy. She's an awesome photographer!

But one of the main reasons I want to give a big shout out to Susan, is because she has started a new blog with a TON of photo tips for other photographers. There's not a lot of artists out there who will share their secrets to help others learn and grow their own photography skills. I appreciate it when others are willing to open themselves up this way. Susan is a great person with a lot to share... if you're a photographer reading this, go subscribe to her blog so you can get her latest and greatest tips!! www.phoenixdogphotography.com

Maggie, Loretta, and the Dachshund Gang

2009-07-12T20:16:00.003-07:00

Loretta is one of those people who has lots of love to give. Her gentle spirit, her smile, the light in her eyes... all radiate warmth. So it is easy to understand why she opened her home up to seven dogs. Yes, you read that right... Loretta and her husband, John, are the owners of seven dachshunds.

She loves all her pets very much, but there is one dog that she has developed an extra special bond with. Maggie has been by Loretta's side for 13 years, and the two of them are extremely close. Maggie does not take her eyes off of Loretta. She goes where Loretta goes. And Loretta's heart will always be where Maggie goes. They are inseparable.

Loretta asked me to photographer her dogs, with the emphasis on Maggie. Loretta wanted to have some photographs to always remember her very special companion, Maggie.

Below are a few photos of the two of them. You can tell they belong together.

The next group of photographs are the rest of her dogs. They range from 9 months to 12 years old. They all have their unique personalities but all of them were a perfect fit in Loretta's house. So many little spirits running around with nothing but love to give!! These dogs were great!!

Thank you Loretta for inviting me into your home and letting me spend some time with you and your love ones. I had such a good time photographing your family!

Little Angel

2009-07-03T21:35:00.003-07:00

A few weeks ago, my friend Max asked me to take some photos of his little niece. We braved the morning heat and went downtown for this photo shoot. This little girl has to be the happiest child I've met in a long time. She was all smiles... well, until the end when she got tired. But she was so sweet!!

I finally had a chance to work on the photos today, so here is her debut!

I had this little tutu/angel outfit that I brought along, and we slipped it on at the end of the photo shoot. I'm so glad we did, because she is so darn cute in it!!

And seriously... those eyes are to die for!!!

Pretty Mommy

2009-06-20T22:30:00.003-07:00

Meet my friend, Desiree. She's funny, super stylish, energetic, and gorgeous! And soon she's going to add "mommy" to that list. Des is expecting her first baby next month, and she's going to be the coolest mom ever!

I love hanging out with Desiree. She always makes me laugh and it's always a good time when she's around. So I was super excited to do some maternity photos for her because I knew it would be a blast, and I knew I would get some great photos of her.

Below are only a few of the pictures we took. I'm sure you'll agree that she makes one hot momma!

Baby Boy!!

2009-06-16T22:06:00.004-07:00

Shawna and Tommy welcomed their first child into the world a few weeks ago. World, meet Mr. "J". He's everything a little boy should be... perfect.

There's something magical about new parents as they are in the presence of their new child. It's obvious Shawna and Tommy were in love... not just with each other, but with their new son.

Isn't he just gorgeous?

I want to give a huge shout out to Shawna's mom, Carol. First of all, her house was gorgeous!! I could spend hours photographing in her home because the colors and textures were wonderful. She was such a great help and welcomed me in her home with so much warmth. Thanks Carol!

And thank you Shawna and Tommy for inviting me to take little "J's" first photos. Congratulations!! He is so beautiful!

Beautiful Beata - Maternity

2009-06-13T22:43:00.004-07:00

Beautiful. Fun. Energy. Life.

These are the things that greeted me at the door when I arrived at my maternity session last week. It was a good day after I met Beata (Bey-a-tta). She has so many wonderful qualities! Beata is definitely a lively spirit, and her family is just as fabulous as she is!

Beata and her husband, Ted, are expecting a little girl in a few more weeks. They already have an adorable little boy, "D". There was so much love in this family!! Loved them!

Beata said her only food craving has been chocolate. So we did some cute photos of her, eating her favorite food!

We were trying to get "D" to make a heart with his hands. His father jumped in to help him out, but "D" still struggled a little. I wasn't sure if the photos would be worth keeping, but then I thought they'd make a cute Storyboard. This Storyboard would be 20 x 10, could be put in a frame, or mounted and ready to hang as is (I think it would look nice mounted and hung by a pretty ribbon). Storyboards are a nice way to display a collection of photos.

Thank you Beata and Family!! I had so much fun hanging out with you guys!! Enjoy the photos!

Mr. T

2009-05-30T22:09:00.003-07:00

Meet Mr. "T". He's going to be in commercials and in the movies. He's also going to model and be a Karate Master. Yup. He's really that cool and is definitely going places! And if all those things weren't enough, he is soooooo adorable!!

His mom asked me to take some headshots for him the other week. Here's a few of them below. I have to say... this first photo is my all time fave. His little serious face is the best!!

Mother and Son

2009-05-24T01:09:00.003-07:00

My friend Dixye asked me to take some photos of her and her son, "K". We got together last weekend and went downtown for a little photo shoot.

I'm pretty sure "K" wasn't 100% on board with this project, but he was a really good sport and humored his mother. I think they are both so cute in these photos!

"K" has the most gorgeous eyes! Big, brown, and lashes to die for!! Why do all the boys get the long eye lashes? What gives?!

I kept telling Dixye she should be a model. She is so pretty and just knew what to do in front of the camera without any direction. Below are some of my favs of her.

At the end of our session, "K" wanted to go for a ride on one of those buggy carriages, that are pulled by someone riding a bike. He was so excited to go on one. This is my fav photo of the two of them together on the ride.

Thanks Dixye and "K" for the fun morning!!

Narcolepts

2009-05-22T20:22:00.003-07:00

Aaron and Craig are the creators of the band, Narcolepts. If you have not heard their music yet, I strongly urge you to check them out. They can not be compared to anyone else out there right now. They are just awesome! http://www.myspace.com/narcolepts

Narcolepts will be playing their first show next weekend at Fat Cat Music House in Fresno. (for show info, click here). The other members of Narcolepts are Neil Nobriga on drums, Chris on bass, and Jason Rivers on synths.

Hopefully, sometime soon I can get photos of all the guys together. But it's a little hard since they all live in California except for Craig. Crazy, I know! But I think it's so cool Aaron and Craig have done this album without needing to be in the same room together. Technology is awesome!

Anyway, Aaron came to Phoenix to finish up the last album details with Craig a few weeks ago. The very last night he was here, we all jumped in the car to take a few photos around the Ahwatukee area. These guys were so tired. It was a long week for them, but they braved the exhaustion and allowed me to take their photos anyway.

I think we managed to get a few decent shots. Aaron is on the left (blonde hair), Craig is on the right (black hair).

I couldn't decide which photo (below) I liked better... color or black and white. What do you think?

I shot a few more of them in the studio that night. These are a little grainy, but I like it. It gives the photos a cool vintage vibe.

If you're out in Fresno next Saturday, check out Narcolepts. I think you'll love them!!

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Congratulations Christina!!

2009-05-17T23:05:00.004-07:00

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of going to Christina's baby shower. Christina and her husband, Steve, will be leaving for Africa soon to adopt a little boy and a little girl. I'm so happy and excited for the two of them!!

I didn't want to be the obnoxious person at the party with the camera in everyone's face... but I did take a few photos here and there. Christina's shower was beautiful, and I wanted to capture a little bit of it for her.

The decorations were perfect, and the theme all started with the super cute invitations. How awesome are her party favors?! On the tables for her guests were "two peas in a pod" salt and pepper shakers to match her invitations. SO CUTE!

Christina's shower was hosted by her mom, Patti, and the fabulous Liz. Patti's home was beautiful and the table settings were GORGEOUS!! To top it off, Liz cooked some AMAZING dishes that blew me away. Everything was perfect!

After we stuffed our bellies, Christina's mom brought out the arts and crafts. We all were asked to decorate one birthday card for one of the children. The goal was to have enough cards so Christina could open one for each of her children, every year until they turned 10. I thought this was such a sweet idea. I was also blown away by all the creative people who were in attendance. All the cards looked awesome!

Christina received a lot of super cute gifts. Christina got some adorable little outfits, books, toys, and many necessities for the two babies. These two children are going to be the cutest kids in town when they put on their new clothes!

Christina and Steve... have a safe trip, and I can not wait to meet the babies! Congratulations!!

Family Time!

2009-05-10T09:02:00.002-07:00

I LOVE this family!! You know why? They had so much love for one another, and I think that is so cool! Besides, they also have some cool nicknames, which makes them even more awesome!

"Peach" contacted me to take some photos of her family. I could tell it was going to be fun meeting them. But I did not know I would luck out with such a photogenic family! Not a bad photo was taken in the bunch. It was so hard to choose which ones I would show for thier sneak peak!

So here they all are... "Peach", her parents - Jim and "Gigi", and her daughter - Little "E".

Thank you for letting me spend Sunday morning with you. Happy Mother's Day Peach and Gigi!

Pretty in Pink - Newborn!

2009-05-09T16:34:00.006-07:00

Little "M" was 6 weeks old when I photographed her last weekend. She's so beautiful!! Her mommy bought her this cute little tutu and headband for her big photo day. There couldn't have been a more perfect outfit. She's such a sweet girl, and so pretty dressed in pink.

Big sister "S" got in on the photo shoot too! I love the photo below with her cute little foot poking out behind her. She's too cute!

Newborn shoots are so much fun and I'm honored when I'm invited to photograph little babies! Photographing any child in an honor. Thank you for having me over to meet little "M" and "S"!

Happy Birthday!

2009-05-09T16:29:00.003-07:00

Craig's birthday was yesterday, which means this is his birthday weekend!! Whoo hoo!!

I just want to acknowledge his b-day because he's such a super cool guy. I'm so lucky to know him and share my life with him. Happy birthday Craig!!! I love you very much! <3

A Walk Through Spring

2009-05-02T19:33:00.005-07:00

Last night Craig and I took Lucy for a walk. I grabbed my camera before leaving the house to capture what is left of Spring. It is suppose to be 100 degrees next weekend... whew! All these pretty colors will be gone soon. And while my sinuses will be happier, the rest of me will miss the beautiful colors only nature can create.

There are many more things that one can encounter on a walk through my neighborhood. Bunnies run wild (er, hop wild) through the yards. Lucy would love to chase one if she could.

Tennis balls at the park are often found by Lucy. Another lucky day for her!

And it's not unusual for the kids to want to pet Lucy when we walk by.

By the way, I don't think I ever mentioned that Jack was our neighbor. You know... THE Jack. He's a bit of a celebrity around here... You might know him from his commercials.

Super Fast Mr. "A"

2009-04-25T16:00:00.005-07:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting this little guy. Mr. "A" is 2 years old, and boy is he FAST!! I don't remember what it was like to have that much energy!

I met his family at McCormick Railroad Stillman Park. We had the place to ourselves, which was awesome. It gave little "A" and his family all the room they needed to be themselves and have fun.

I love that little kids this age are so enthusiastic about discovering the world around them. Everything little "A" came across was a new toy, new adventure, and more fun. I think adults should take a lesson from children. Mr. "A" reminded me that it's the simple things in life that can be the most exciting.

I enjoyed watching his face light up when he was on the playground, found a super cool stick, stumbled upon an orange balloon, played in the puddles, and hung out with his parents. What a cool kid!

And of course, family photos would not be complete without some super cool black and whites!

And also a super blast of color!!

I really enjoyed photographing this family. Thanks guys for spending your Sunday morning with me!

Newborn Photos!

2009-04-12T17:56:00.003-07:00

You may remember the maternity photos I did for Nicole and Chris back in February. Well, their little one has finally arrived and she is perfect!!! When they asked me to do her newborn photos, I was so excited!

I'm not even sure where to start with this little beauty. She clearly is going to have a career as a model.

Nicole's mom was in town, and she brought this little pettiskirt for "O" to wear. How cute is she dressed in pink?!

Chris got in on the action, and we did some really cool baby shots. I love the one with "O's" butt cheeks peeking out.

The is one of my favorite photos below. Three generations of women. So pretty!

Thank you Nicole and Chris for letting me come over and do these pictures. Congratulations on your little girl!!

ACAA 2009 Prom!

2009-04-11T22:11:00.007-07:00

I wanted to give a quick shout out to the students at the Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics (ACAA)! I got to do the formal photos at their prom last night. Their prom was at the Hard Rock Cafe. Seriously, how cool is that? My prom was never that cool.

As I watched these students enjoy their prom, I was reminded of my own youthful experiences. It definitely brought me back to about, uh, 13-15 years ago. Man! It's been a long time!! But in some ways, it felt like only yesterday when I was at my own prom. I just don't remember ever having such awesome shoes like these girls had. Seriously, these ladies had the absolute coolest shoes I've seen in a long time! I was jealous. I still am. I want shoes like that in my closet!

All the students (guys and girls) were looking super good! It was more like a fashion show and every one of them deserved an award for their outfits. This school knows how to dress!

Anyway, here are a few random shots I took in between the formal photos.

I was really digging the black and white vibe on these photos, but I had to throw a color one in, just so you could see the cool lights that were filling the room.

Thanks ACAA!

Mr. Pimp

2009-04-09T21:14:00.006-07:00

I have been so busy this week, but I couldn't let too many days go by without posting at least one photograph. I got some new camera equipment this week, and Craig was nice enough to be my model while I tested my new stuff out. You gotta love a guy who'll dress up in a boa for you!! He looks like a pimp who just stepped out of a Cadillac back in the 70's. Soooo styling! Seriously, he's the best!!

On another note, stop back in this weekend for some new photos... I'm excited about some of the new photographs I'll have to show off. Happy Friday everyone!!

Folded Steel Bullies

2009-04-02T21:13:00.004-07:00

Last weekend, Craig and I took Lucy to the dog park like we always do. This visit was especially fun because there were a ton of cute puppies running around. Puppies are enough reason to get excited, but these little ones also happened to be one of my favorite breeds... the American PitBull. I think these dogs are one of the sweetest breeds I've encountered and it saddens me that they have such an undeserved reputation. I was in PitBull heaven when we saw all these puppies running around the park!

We later learned that these pups were all from the same litter, and the owners meet up every week to let them play together. The mom and dad of these little ones were there too. It was really cool to see the entire dog family interact and play together.

Craig and I met the man who breeds these dogs. His dedication towards these animals was obvious. You could tell he cared about each of them, and put time into raising these dogs. Each puppy (also mom and dad) were so well behaved and absolutely beautiful. If you'd like to find out more about his work, please visit him at www.foldedsteelbullies.com.

Here's one of the cuties at the park. How can you not love this dog?!!!

Fabulous Hair

2009-03-29T13:27:00.008-07:00

Craig and I had our hair done yesterday (before we went to the Arts Festival). When your hair looks good, you sort of want to document it forever. Well, maybe not everyone out there does, but I do. I am usually lazy and don't spend much time on my hair. So when the hair stylist wants to do a soft blow out (or whatever fancy term she called it), then that's a special moment for me.

Since I don't have many photos taken of me, I used my fabulous hair day as an excuse for Craig to take some pictures. I think Craig's second career should be a photographer. He's pretty darn good with the camera!! Of course, I took some photos of him as well... I'm loving his new hair too! Craig was always a hottie, but now he's super babalicious!

Just in case you are wondering who does our hair, that would be the fabulous Ashley at Altered Ego Salon & Spa in Tempe. She rocks! They have a really yummy gourmet coffee shop right next door (same owners), called Solo Cafe. You must stop by if you are in the neighborhood. The fab coffee is reason enough to stop in, but you'll want to chill there all day once you settle into the hip decor.

Anyway, our hair held up for the entire day. So we went to the park next to our house at the end of the day for a few photos... to remember our fantastic hair forever. I love a good hair day!!

Just for Fun

2009-03-29T13:10:00.004-07:00

Craig and I went to the Tempe Arts Festival yesterday. We found this cool artist, Felicia, who hand paints light bulbs. She has all sorts of designs... some for kids, some with holiday themes, and some that were super psychedelic. Below is one of the lights we purchased and put in Craig's music studio. Check out her website, www.mood-lights.com, if you want to pimp out your house too!

Since I was already messing around with the camera, I thought I'd post another one of Craig's cool studio accessories... This is one of his budhas, blessing the studio with good vibes!

Lucifer

2009-03-19T21:00:00.003-07:00

Last weekend I was lucky enough to catch this moment between Lucy and Craig. Craig was leaning against the chair, and Lucy climbed up behind him, then she put her paw on his hand. Seriously.... it melted my heart!! How can you not love a dog like this?!

Well, she has an evil side too. Sometimes Craig calls her Lucifer. She likes to eat our stuff... like our blankets, shoes, and my cell phone. Yes, you read that right. She ate my cell phone! I was not home today, but I hear Lucifer showed her face this afternoon. Apparently, she dug three holes in the back yard in a matter of a few minutes. Three. Big. Holes.

But because I love her so much, I try to look past her, uh, multiple personalities, and pretend she is always the sweetest girl... just like in the photo. She's so lucky she has the cutest face ever because I can never stay mad at her for very long! Even without my phone, I still love her!

A Shout Out for the Basset Hounds!

2009-03-17T11:32:00.010-07:00

I'd like to mention a great organization here in the valley, the Arizona Basset Hound Rescue. I obviously love animals, and I am so grateful there are many wonderful organizations out there that are willing to help them.

I was lucky enough to hang out with two special Basset Hounds a few weekends ago... Roy and Watson (see my post below). I have a new addiction to Basset Hounds. These dogs are soooo cool! Anyway, Christina and Steve adopted Roy from the Arizona Basset Hound Rescue. Roy is one of the 1,000 dogs this organization has saved since 1998. Now Roy has a wonderful home, two amazing parents, and a best friend for life! Adopting a dog is a wonderful thing to do. And a dog that is adopted will love you forever for giving it a second chance.

If you are interested in volunteering, fostering a dog, or donating to support this great organization, please stop by their website: www.azbassetrescue.com I'm telling you... these dogs rock!!

Roy and Watson

2009-03-15T16:51:00.004-07:00

Last weekend, Christina and Steve invited me to come over and photograph their two Basset Hounds, Roy and Watson. I think everyone should spend some time with a Basset Hound, at least one day in their life!! These dogs are sooooo cool! They are super cute with their droopy eyes, waddle walk, and long ears. And their personalities are awesome! These two boys are definitely "Mr. Cool".

So, I got a little carried away with this post... alright, I got VERY carried away! There's a lot of pictures, so this is for all the Basset Hound lovers out there!

The picture below is one of my favorite photos of the day. These dogs look like they belong in a library, or cigar lounge... I just love how Roy sat on the leather chair because it is so perfect for his personality. Too cute!!

I think Watson was happy to get outside. I hear he likes to sun bathe with his belly up in the air, and when he was a puppy Christina and Steve had to put sunblock on him because he would get a sun burn. Seriously... you just have to love dogs and how they are so human-like!

Below on the right is a foot scraper that I thought was pretty cool because it looks like a Basset Hound. Christina later told me that her grandfather collected iron work and foot scrapers... years later she was able to bring this home. That made it even cooler!!

This last picture is my favorite. I was loving Roy for posing for me on this bench. He was such a good boy!

Two Sisters and a Little Lady

2009-03-14T21:20:00.003-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing these three ladies. Liz's daughter, Miss "S", was celebrating her birthday weekend and Auntie Allison flew in for the occasion. So we all got together to capture the three of them before Allison flew back home to the East coast.

Liz is the red head... which is funny because her daughter has Allison's blonde hair. They were all so playful and cute together. And they are all so pretty!!

Oh... one more thing. Miss "S" has quite the personality... and she LOVES to run!

Syd and Abby

2009-03-07T17:55:00.005-07:00

Alison asked me to come over last weekend and take some photos of her two beagles, Syd and Abby. Both are rescue dogs from the Beagles of Arizona Rescue Club (B.A.R.C.). Alison has been with BARC for a long time, and she works very hard with the rest of the BARC members to make sure all those little beagles out there get placed in good homes. It is a great organization, and if you are interested in fostering a beagle, adopting a beagle, donating time or money... please contact them, or me, and I'll get you in touch with Alison. Their website is www.azbarc.com.

Now... more on Syd and Abby. These two dogs could not be more different from one another. Syd is sooooo super shy. He didn't really like my camera. Abby on the other hand, should look into a modeling career. She was enjoying every minute of getting her picture taken.

Here's the one time the three of them were able to get together for a group portrait. Lookin' good guys!!

As you can see below, Abby was posing like a perfect little model. Loved her!!

Below is Mr. Syd. It took a while, but he finally let me take his picture. He's such a sweet boy!!

The photo below is about as far as Syd got out of his doggy door. One look at my camera made him go back inside. But it was such a cute moment!

Back to Abby. Here she is playing outside.

Thanks guys for having me over!! So much fun hanging out with you three!

Little Lucy

2009-03-03T21:49:00.003-07:00

I know what you're thinking... another photograph of my dog, Lucy. Well, not this time (sorry to disappoint some of you).

This little girl is not mine, but I wish she was! Will and his wife, Megan, just got a new puppy. I'm a sucker for puppies. And if you tell me your dog's name is Lucy, then I'll really love her because that's the coolest name ever!

I always thought my dog was named after a something really cool... the Beatles song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". But Will's story is way cooler. He had a beagle growing up, named Snoopy. First of all, what kid did not want a beagle named Snoopy growing up? Anyway, Snoopy is still a part of his family. Will's sister then added a second beagle to the family, and named him Charlie. And now Will has little Lucy! How cute is that?! The family keeps getting beagles and naming them after characters in Charlie Brown!

I wanted to scoop this dog up and take her home with me. I'm sure you'll see why after looking at her cute photos below. Enjoy!

The A Team!

2009-02-21T19:51:00.005-07:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting the "A" Family. All seven of them!! They were so much fun to photograph and hang out with!

Regina and her husband, Dale, wanted to have their photos taken with their Cardinals jerseys. They also had a jersey for both of their kids, Little "D" and Miss "A". I thought this was a super cool idea and they look adorable in the photos.

After a quick clothing change, we got everyone together for some more photos. It was so hard to choose which ones to showcase on my blog. They were having a great time and I tried to pick the photos that captured them goofing around. I also loved how they coordinated their outfits. I think they look great!

I just love this photo of Carolyn and Steve. They are such a cute couple. And Carolyn's smile is infectious. She has one of those smiles that automatically makes everyone feel happy.

Heading back to our starting location, we had a chance to take some more photos of everyone all together.

Miss "A" was so cool! I could have hung out with her all day. She was so easy to photograph and she's also quite the comedian.

And how cute is her little bro?! So adorable!

Uncle Aaron was such a good sport. I know taking pictures was not his first choice that morning, but he was a true team player!

On our way to the playground, our path was blocked off by this danger sign. Miss "A" thought it was funny and it was definitely a moment worth capturing. We took our chances, hopped over the sign and went to the playground anyway. I'm not sure what was so dangerous out there... hmmm.

The last of the photos that day. Everyone should have some nice black and whites of their family. So classic and pretty!

I had tons of fun guys!! Thank you for letting me photograph your beautiful family!!

The Adventures of Danyell and Rae

2009-02-16T19:20:00.005-07:00

Last weekend I went out with Danyell and Rae for a downtown urban photo shoot. It was raining that entire morning, so the girls decided to use the bad weather to their advantage and go for a grunge vibe. The entire session was one big adventure.

First of all, I have to say these two are HILARIOUS! They had me laughing the entire time. They also have some crazy guts for two chicks. They were willing to go anywhere... and I mean anywhere.

Location #1

First stop was a really sketchy apartment building next to an alley way. Some of the highlights worth mentioning was the very questionable mattress and toilet bowl hanging around outside like this was normal. Danyell was almost electrocuted by the power lines that hung way too low off the fire escape. (Someone broke some serious building codes with that one). Oh yeah, we met a very nice man selling Krispy Kreme Donuts for some fundraiser. I don't quite remember what charity he was supporting, but I purchased 6 donuts for $3... they must have been healthy enough because Craig ate 4 of them and he's still here with us.

Here are some of the shots from that first location:

By the way, the window below was someone's apartment... I was just waiting for someone to jump out of it.

Some super cool sun flare...

I have no idea what is on that wall...

Location #2

So, this second place was a lot less creepy... until the weird guy showed up and parked his car across the street to watch us. Can someone say stalker? Besides the weird man, the location was really cool with some awesome textures.

Location #3

An abandoned old house. It was the type of house that would get a reputation for being haunted and kids would dare each other to go up to the door in the middle of the night. After figuring out how to get around the fence, we were able to get some cool shots around the residence. Oh yeah... we had another stalker here too. It was a car full of people. Seriously... what is up with the people downtown?

Location #4

Well, it wasn't so much of a location... it was more like some mini drive-bys as we made our way out of the city. Here are just a few places we stopped at...

That wraps up the Adventures of Danyell and Rae!

One Hot Mama!

2009-02-11T22:46:00.015-07:00

When Nicole contacted me a few weeks ago to do her maternity photos, I was honored she chose me to document this moment in her life. After many emails back and forth, I was super excited to finally meet Nicole and her husband, Chris, last weekend. I have to tell you, Nicole and Chris are super fun and so nice. They also made my job very easy because they were so relaxed in front of the camera. I had a blast photographing them!

Here are a few photos from our day together:

I love that Nicole decided to kick her shoes off. Her dirty feet on the right is such a cool element and interesting contrast to the picture.

These two pictures just might be my favorites. The light is so soft and Nicole looks awesome!

A few more weeks and their baby girl will be here. Congratulation you two!!

The Movie, The Song

2009-02-08T22:16:00.005-07:00

I know I've been MIA for a while, but I've been busy!! I've been meaning to blog about this past Thursday night since, well uh, Thursday! So finally I've had a chance to sit down and do this.

Some of you out there know that music is an important element in my life. A few years ago, I decided to start facing the fears I had that kept me from sharing my music with people. Finding the courage to face those fears was a long, long process.

From that journey came one of my songs, "She Says, He Says". (you can hear it here) It was the first song I wrote that meant something to me. It was the first song I finished the music and words. It was the first song I ever played live in front of people. It was the song that brought me to Craig when I was looking for someone to produce and record it (who helped make it come alive in a way I never could have). This is my BABY!

It's interesting how I helped create and nurture it, then picked the right person to help me complete it, and now it's out there in the world... just like a kid growing into an adult and now it's creating a life of it's own.

I while back, Jason Allen, asked me if he could use it in his film, References. Really? My song in a movie?! Of course he could use it!

Well, Thursday night was the movie premier, and it was a very fun experience to say the least. First of all, the movie was very good (a cute romantic comedy with a great soundtrack). A lot of talent came together to create this film. I was a little surprised to find that my song played during the closing credits. The entire song!! It was so super cool to hear it pumped through the speakers in a real movie theater. That's right folks... this was no little mom and pop joint. We were at Harkins, where they play the big studio films. Crazy cool!

There will be a video coming out very soon for this song too (another crazy thing I thought I would never do). I'll post it when it's completed. But for now, here's a picture of Craig and I after the video shoot by Shelley Welander. I love this shot!

Don't ever let your fears stop you from doing what you love!!

Craig Lawrence Music Productions

2009-01-31T21:18:00.004-07:00

Craig's new website is finally live!! YAY! This site rocks! Below are some of the pictures that I did for the site. You can go here to see more photos (and they are also better quality), and listen to his awesome music. Craig's truly amazing at what he does, and his songs are testament to that. I hope you love him as much as I do!

Miss Daisy and Miss Maggy

2009-01-20T21:45:00.002-07:00

I went over Erin and Rebecca's house on Sunday to photograph their cute little Shitzus. These dogs were super energetic!! WOW! These girls have their hands full with these two puppies. But how can you not fall in love with these little faces?

Preparing for a Journey

2009-01-11T16:26:00.003-07:00

I met Michael in Tempe this Saturday. He was making a sign when Craig and I met him... "preparing for a journey". I love those words because that's what life is about. The journey never ends, but changes over and over again leading us to right now... which will eventually lead us to our future. Are you preparing for a journey this 2009? Michael is...

Drum Roll Please....

2009-01-08T21:31:00.002-07:00

OK, I was suppose to do this yesterday, but didn't have a chance. So here are the drum pics I said I'd post. Rock on!

Studio Black and Whites

2009-01-06T23:27:00.005-07:00

Craig and I are working on his new website, and I'm so excited about it! It's going to be sooooo much better then his current one. In the mean time, you can go to his current website to check out his amazing tunes: www.craiglawrencemusic.com

I've been taking a ton of pictures of him and his studio so he can use them on the new site. Here are some of my favorite black and whites so far. Tomorrow I'll post some drum pics. Yeah!!

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T19:46:00.006-07:00

I hope you all have a fabulous New Year!!! Hope 2009 is an awesome year for everyone!!

Now... a cute picture of my little girl. ;o)

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T11:20:00.004-07:00

I did not have time to send Christmas cards this year, so I'm using my blog to send out my holiday message...

Craig and I wish all of our family and friends a wonderful Christmas! Even though we will not see you this holiday, you will all be in our thoughts and hearts throughout the day. We love you all! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

It's almost here!

2008-12-23T00:35:00.004-07:00

That's right, Christmas is almost here! I think there's about 48 hours left. Whoo hoo!

My First NBA Game!

2008-12-21T21:07:00.003-07:00

Last night I went to my first NBA game. I'm not a sports fan, but I always wanted to go to a pro basketball game. I've only been to a few pro baseball games... the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and a few VIP Diamondbacks experiences at Chase Field. Personally, I think "America's Favorite Pastime" is boring. So I wasn't sure if basketball would impress me much more.

When the basketball teams came out and started warming up, I first thought the game would not be fun. The court looked tiny and the men looked huge. How hard could it be? All they had to do was reach up and the ball was in the basket.

The Phoenix Suns played the Denver Nuggets last night, and the game was close the entire night. Maybe it was all the excitement from the crowd, but at some point the court got bigger and the men became smaller and I was cheering for the Suns to pull through. I realized how amazing these guys were, and what can happen when talented individuals work together as a team. The Suns did win the game... a close 108 to 101. For the story... go here.

So my conclusion? Basketball kicks baseball's butt! And Shaquille O'Neal is half alien from Planet Gigantor. Standing at 7'1", weighing in at 325 lbs, this man is HUGE. He makes every player on the court look like a dwarf. I'm convinced he could stop a train wreck just by putting out his arm.

Next on the pro list? I want to go to a New England Patriots home game, wrapped up in a blanket, sipping on hot cocoa. So if anyone out there has any extra tickets they want to give me... :o).

(pictures below from the Suns website)

Erin, Bryan, and the Three Pups

2008-12-16T23:00:00.002-07:00

On Sunday I did a photo shoot with Erin, Bryan, their two beagles and one little doxin. I had a ton of fun with all of them! Those three pups had some energy!! Below are just a few of the pictures I have been working on tonight. I thought they were cute and had to post them. Thanks guys for having me over and your pictures will be coming to you very soon. :)

Sunday Drive

2008-12-07T22:53:00.002-07:00

Lucy just loves her Sunday drives!

Craig... the last one.

2008-12-07T22:47:00.004-07:00

This is the last photo from Craig's shoot a while back. I just finished it the other day. I like the gritty and urban vibe, so I thought I'd post it on here. I think it looks pretty cool!

Out in Egypt

2008-12-02T20:46:00.003-07:00

The other weekend, I went to visit my friend, Julienne, at her new home. She lives OUT THERE. To quote Julienne... she's "out in Egypt". But she also lives on some beautiful land, so it seems worth it to me. I could have spent the entire day photographing the land and her little boy, "M". But the point was for me to visit my friend, so I tried to not get too obsessed with pictures. I did manage to sneak a few in though!

Her boy has got to be the cutest little man I know! He's so adorable...

He's such a cool dude on top of the hill he climbed, and out on the open road with his dog!

Here's a few shots of the land Julienne lives on. This dirt road is the one her house is on. She lives on a dirt road people!! But it is so pretty and peaceful out there.

Congrats on the new house Julienne and Rob! It's beautiful. Thank you for having me over. I had lots of fun and it was great seeing you!

My New Favs!

2008-11-22T21:07:00.003-07:00

These are just some creative pictures I had taken recently. The girl below was a waitress at Fate, and I just loved her style and butterfly-skull hair clip. I think this is my new favorite picture.

This was the last full moon we had. I wasn't sure I could capture it because I did not use a tripod, but I thought it came out pretty cool considering.

The Last of It

2008-11-17T22:31:00.003-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from Heidi's visit. I think this one of her behind the tree is cute!

On our last night, Heidi, Craig and I went to Fate for dinner. It's a unique restaurant downtown. Here are our yummy drinks... mmmmm.

Too many drinks?

This is me playing with fire... :o)

After dinner we went to First Friday. Phoenix opens up these cool art galleries on the first Friday of every month, and people can walk in for free. The streets are lined up with all sorts of artists in their tents, selling their crafts. It's pretty fun. This is where I got my new favorite, super, cool hat!

The Farm

2008-11-09T21:07:00.008-07:00

Last week, I went to the Farm at South Mountain here in Phoenix. It is such a cool place. You don't feel like you are in the middle of a desert when visiting here. The breakfast I had was fantastic, and the shops have some super cute stuff. Here are some pictures I took while walking around the grounds.

Old Town Scottsdale

2008-11-05T17:22:00.005-07:00

I went to Old Town Scottsdale the other day with my aunt (she's here visiting me). We had a fun time walking around. Here are some of the things we passed on our adventure.

The Lucy Mystery Solved

2008-11-05T14:28:00.005-07:00

Every time we are out with Lucy, people ask if she is part Rhodesian Ridgeback. So when I finally saw a Ridgeback at the dog park the other day, I was so excited! It was a little creepy to see so many similarities between the this dog and my Lucy.

I think the dog's name was Mela (I hope I spelled that right!). She is a super sweet puppy with lots of energy. Her family was also super nice!! Laura, the mom, was very nice and I had a blast photographing her girls. Her girls were so cute!!!

Here are some of my favs from the day...

The Fabulous Girls...

Miss Mela...
Can you tell them apart? (Here's a hint... Lucy is on the left).

Thank you Laura, Girls, and Mela!!

Happy Halloween... Doggie Style!

2008-11-01T15:17:00.003-07:00

We went to Petopia today... a little pet event by our house. So many people had their dogs dressed up for Halloween!! So cute!

This dog even has Dorothy's red, sparkly shoes on!

Craig's Photo Shoot

2008-10-27T23:16:00.002-07:00

We took these on Sunday, right before the sun went down. We were racing to get some pictures before the sun was gone, but for some reason, the sunset was extremely harsh making it difficult to capture good pictures. But I have to say, I'm very pleased with how some of them turned out, especially considering the conditions we had to work with. These are my favorites...

My Dad's Visit to Phoenix

2008-10-26T20:30:00.010-07:00

My dad came to visit me last weekend... it's been about 4 years since I saw him last, so it was very nice to see him. My dad fell in love with my dog, and wanted to take Lucy home with him. It is quite possible that she was the highlight of his weekend! I'm sure he enjoyed seeing me too. Ha ha! :o)

These were taken by Craig. He's pretty darn good with a camera!!

These were taken by my father. Who knew he had such a good eye for photography?!

To see the first 15 pages of the photo book I made of the weekend, go to this link. (Give it a few moments to load).

A Weekend in P...

By Danielle Daigle

Book Preview

Sunday Mornings

2008-10-12T23:04:00.004-07:00

Sunday morning at my house is pretty much the same every week. The dog jumps on the bed to cuddle at around 6:30 - 7:00. About an hour later, we finally get up and drive to Starbucks for some breakfast and coffee. And then we try to take Lucy to the dog park to play with her friends.

Today was such a beautiful day here in Phoenix, it felt like we lived by the ocean with the cool winds that were blowing. Somehow, it made our normal Sunday routine that much sweeter!

The Last of Tucson

2008-10-12T22:56:00.002-07:00

The last of the Tucson pictures...

Good Friends

2008-10-09T20:57:00.001-07:00

A few more Lawrences...

2008-10-09T20:51:00.004-07:00

Here's the last of the family pictures from Tucson. Craig took the first picture of his cute nieces. The others are some cool shots of him, his sister Shelley, and brother Kevin.

My Perfect Model

2008-10-06T13:31:00.002-07:00

OK, so I'm slightly obsessed with my dog. But I fell in love with how these pictures came out. She was sitting on the hotel room chair, like a little person, and the light behind her was super cool. She's my perfect model!

Super SheWe!

2008-10-06T13:19:00.002-07:00

Craig’s sister, Shelley Welander, is super cool and super talented! She designs beautiful jewelry for adults, has a children’s line (Firefly Jewelry), and is a photographer too! Shelley gave me a ton of photography tips when I was in Tucson, and she has been very supportive of me. I appreciate her so much!

She just opened up her own studio, and I’m so excited for her. When I was visiting Tucson, she showed Craig and I around her new space. She had not moved in yet, but this place was amazing even though it was still empty. It had such a great vibe, and inspired so much creativity. I’m so happy for her! (She has moved in since my visit)

Check out her website for all of her cool creations! http://shelleywelander.com

P.S. She is the one who took my new profile pic. Thanks Shelley! I love it!!

Tucson... My Way

2008-10-06T12:13:00.002-07:00

Tucson is a beautiful place. The desert here is much more spiritual than Phoenix. However, like most deserts in the summer, it can be dry, hot, and a little on the brown side. Below is my effort to capture some of Tucson's beauty this time of year.

Craig's Grandmother Turns 80!!

2008-10-06T11:45:00.007-07:00

Last weekend, Craig and I went to Tucson for his grandmother's 80th birthday!! It was very cool to see many generations of his family come together to celebrate this major milestone in her life. Below are some of the pictures from the day.

All of Craig's nieces and nephews are super cute, and they have these amazing personalities. But everytime I look at Jasper, I see a mini Craig. It's a little freaky! I thought these shots we especially cute... each with thier drinks in hand. The big boy version, and the little boy version!

November 4th

2008-10-03T12:36:00.003-07:00

Lazy Days...

2008-09-25T21:55:00.006-07:00

The Nifty Fifty

2008-09-23T10:11:00.007-07:00

When I bought my camera, I also purchased the 50 mm 1.8 lens, aka "nifty fifty". I chose the 1.8 instead of the 1.4 because it was cheaper, and I figured it was better to figure out which focal length I enjoyed before spending more money on a prime lens. Even though it's not an expensive lens, it is still known for the amazing pictures it can take. This weekend was my first go at it. I still need to work on my DOF - but it's so cool to work with equipment that lets you have more creativity than a regular point and shoot camera. I feel so lucky I have these new toys to create with!!

Below are pictures of White Kid, Lucy Lu, and a few shots in Craig's studio.

Home Sweet Home

2008-09-23T09:58:00.010-07:00

My friend Sarah asked me to post some pictures of my house... so I thought now that I have a new camera, I mine as well start practicing! Below are some shots of the outside, kitchen, and family room. Let me tell you, it's so much nicer living in a house instead of an apartment. I love my home!