We were very excited to have this little angel in the studio again.  And we couldn’t believe it was time for her first birthday!  It’s been such an amazing thing to be able to see little Kendall grow up.  And it seems like yesterday that we did her newborn and six month old photos.  This little girl is growing up SO fast!  Parents always tell us that they wished they could stop time, and I’d like to think that photography helps them remember the little things about their baby girl that change all too quickly.   The Cake Smash session was a lot of fun, and I think big sister, Myra, even got in on some cake tasting too  Happy First Birthday sweet Kendall Betty!  Hugs, Melissa & Kristen

In 2010 I taught a workshop for beginner photographers called “Picture This“.   In developing the class syllabus, I quickly realized that I needed some models.  Being that Kendall’s mom, Kirsten, was a friend of mine and a workshop attendee (the workshop was promoted through her then store, About Memories and More), it wasn’t hard getting the girls to come out.  You see, Kendall and Leah have been best friends since Kindergarten and they were always together.  So, it was perfect to have them involved in the workshop.  In exchange for being a model for us, I always told these young ladies they could have a free photo session any time they wanted.

And the time came last week.

Kendall and Leah are about to leave the nest as they graduate high school and begin a new adventure on their own, an education here in Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University.   Currently Kendall attends Flagstaff High School and Leah goes to Northland Prep Academy.   Both girls have enjoyed high school but are looking forward to the next stage of their life as college students.  Kendall is undecided for a major, but is leaning towards a career in Nutrition.   Leah has her eyes set on a degree in English with a minor in Psychology.  Leah hopes to one day live in Oregon or Washington State to teach kids how to write stories, poetry, essays and to show them that reading can be fun!  Being that their paths will ultimately stray far away from one another, doing a Best Friend photo session seemed very fitting for these beautiful young ladies.

Thank you for spending the afternoon with us ladies, we had a great time with you both! ~ Melissa

One of my favorite parts of being a Flagstaff Photographer is that many of my clients I can also call friends.  Erin and I met 15 years ago when I moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona University.  We were young eighteen year old kids starting our college careers.  Erin is that friend that would do any thing for you and was always the mother hen of our group.  When we were in college she would  make dinner for us girls so that we had a good meal before we went out on the town.  Erin has so many wonderful qualities, I know she will be a fabulous nurturing  mother!   I feel so blessed that I get to be a part of this new chapter in Erin’s life.

Erin and I had discussed doing her maternity session in Tucson before her baby shower.  Unfortunately it poured rain all day so we scrapped the outdoor session and had a relaxed shoot in her hotel room. The room had wonderful floor to ceiling windows which allowed for some beautiful filtered light.   Erin and her husband Clint wanted a simple shoot that celebrated this special time in their lives.  Isn’t she a stunning pregnant lady!?

Clint cuddled up with Erin and baby Jack for a few photos.  Clint is so sweet to Erin, he really takes care of her and is so excited to be a dad.

Congratulations to my amazing friends!  I wish you all the happiness in the world and can not wait to meet baby Jack!  xoxo ~Kristen

We are in the season of saying goodbye to the snow and welcome in the beautiful sunshine and warm weather.  Lemon Zest and Sunflower are just the right colors to perfectly illustrate that natural transition.  As Flagstaff and Sedona senior portrait photographers we could not be more excited about this years spring fashion.   Lots of bright fresh colors that are youthful and really pop in a portrait.   Below are some fun outfit ideas for all you ladies and gentlemen.  If you are planning for your Senior portrait or family photography session, these are some great outfit inspirations that follow the spring and summer fashion trends.

Ladies, Lemon Zest is a vibrant citron yellow color that is optimistic and the perfect fit for that playful attitude the spring season brings about.  According to the Pantone Fashion Report for Spring 2013, this happy color can be complimented best by colors such as deep raspberry, bright chambray, or acid green.

And for all you gentlemen out there, the robust yellow found in Sunflower offers and earthy flavor and feel, that when combined with emerald and monaco blue, creates a sort of sophistication to something so simple.

Spring and summer are right around the corner and that means time for a  fabulous outdoor family portrait!  Melissa and I feel that it is very important to preserve memories by having a professional portrait taken once a year.  As Flagstaff  family photographers we look back at our clients that we photograph each year and are amazed by how fast they grow and change.  We want all of you to have the gift of amazing photography that your family can look back at and cherish for decades to come.   Spring and summer are such beautiful times in Flagstaff and Sedona so our  family sessions are booking up fast.  Contact us today and we can discuss the perfect time and location for your family portrait session.  Melissa and I look forward to enjoying the amazing summer weather with you!   ~Kristen

In the summer of 2011, two of my dearest friends got married.  It’s an amazing thing to see two people meet, fall in love and start a family, and this time, being that it’s Carrie and T.C., well, it’s really amazing.  Of course, when Carrie told me she was pregnant, I asked her about maternity photos.  She seemed a bit reluctant, so I didn’t mention it again.  But then, I got lucky, all her other friends started to bug her about them.  I then told Carrie about a photo I have of my own mom; she was pregnant with my brother and it’s definitely one of my favorites I have of her.   I’ve always said, I shoot for the kids in 40 years, just as much as I photograph for the parents.  I want this little girl to know just how happy her mom was to have been given this wonderful gift, a precious life to love.  And Carrie, well, you can see just how much she radiates happiness.  It’s pretty amazing to look at all the photos and feel all the love seeping through.  And the best part?  This is our first baby girl Chippy!  We have a group of gal pals in Flagstaff, and we’ve named ourselves Chippies.  (Our mascot is a Chipmunk)  It’s kind of a silly adult sorority, but one that we all rely on for strength, support and love when we need it the most.  So here’s to this little baby Chippy who is expected to arrive in early May; we’re all so excited to meet you and to shower you with love!  ~ Melissa