Faith's 1st Birthday-San Antonio Lifestyle Photography

One of the very best things about moving back to San Antonio is the fact that I get to be close to my most awesome clients. Donna and Casey are sisters, and between the two of them I think I have photographed them at least a dozen times for birthdays, a wedding, a funeral (believe it or not), an adoption, a newborn in the hospital, a senior portrait, family portraits,etc. This week, I am doing two more for Casey and her husband Chris. Their baby Faith is 1 year old, and yesterday was her mooovelous party! I knew the details were going to be fabulous, all of their parties are, and I was very excited to see what Casey had in store for Faith's first big bash. I wasn't dissappointed...check it out for yourself: Later this week I'll go to their new home to photograph Casey's girls. Casey is hoping to get some updated portraits for their walls, and I am so excited to spend some time with her angels. Until then! xoxo, leah

The Bell Family Portrait Session-Riparian Preserve Gilbert, AZ

I've been super busy in the last few weeks with Christmas sessions and tons of family obligations, and my blog has definitely suffered for it. I absolutely must, however, take time to share this awesome session.

I love, love, love this family. Lisa has been one of the key people that have made our move to Arizona such an awesome experience-and her entire family has been amazing for all of us. Lisa's husband Brad was the football coach for my two sons, her daughter is our babysitter, her boys play at my house all the time (and lucky for me, mine play at her house too!).

So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all of my new friends. I'll be posting a few more very special families in the next few days, but for now I hope you enjoy the images of the Bell Family:

Shari & Patton : Scottsdale Wedding Reception

Good things come to those who pray.

As Shari sat at her weekly women's prayer group with her head bowed, she prayed to the Lord for a husband. She wanted someone strong, someone that made her laugh, and most importantly, someone with whom she could share her faith.

She looked up to see Patton walk into the room, and quickly added to her prayer. "Someone like that, please, would be just fine. Amen."

What Shari didn't know was that she had caught Patton's eye as well, and that Patton had been praying for someone just like her.

As Shari puts it, "Conversation led to laughter, laughter led to charm, charm led to joy, joy lead to the Lord and the Lord led us to love."

Patton and Shari were married this summer in Colorado, in a sunlit field surrounded by family and friends and graced with the presence of God. Shari's stunning daughter Tatum was the maid of honor. Patton's daughters Annalise and Maci Lynn were the adorable flower girls. Coleen Takemoto, Shari's friend, did the food and flowers and her husband Arnold walked Shari down the aisle. The wedding was just as it should have been-intimate, touching, joyous and full of worship for the Lord.

It was everything that Shari had prayed for, and Patton was more than she had hoped for.

Coleen and Arnold had one more gift for the newlyweds-a candlelit reception at their beautuful Scottsdale home so that those who couldn't make it to the ceremony in Colorado could still share in the joy.

Shari and Patton once again dressed in their wedding attire and spent the evening laughing, eating fabulous food, and thanking their closest friends for holding them up in prayer until the day came that the Lord brought them together.

The evening wasn't just about Shari and Patton, that much was clear. It was about the faith, friendship and love of everyone present. And as each guest left, they took home with them the knowledge that they had touched the lives of Shari and Patton in a powerful way.









To view a slideshow of the evening, click the play button:

Jesse H. Ross 1922-2010

Well, this is a hard post to write. My grandfather passed away early this morning. I only met him once, three years ago on Father's Day, and it was one of the most significant times of my life.

I had traveled to Georgia with my mom and dad, my sister Andie and my oldest daughter Devon to meet him. My mom's cousin had been doing some geneology research and discovered that my mom's dad, whom she had always been told had died long ago, was actually alive and lived in Georgia. After a few weeks of sitting on this information and not knowing what to do with it, my mom nervously picked up the phone and called what turned out to be one of her five half-sisters.

Months of phone conversations followed, and other members of the family were slowly let in on the news that Jesse Ross had another daughter. One of the very last to know was his wife, because no one knew just how to tell her, or exactly what to say.

Finally, one day, they told her. I think she was upset at first, but she is a very strong and wonderful lady and before long she began to insist that my mother come to Georgia so that everyone could figure things out.

So we all went a few weeks later. It was Fathers Day 2007 when we pulled up to the most adorable log cabin I had ever seen. There was a yellow ribbon tied to the tree, to let us know that we were home. We met my grandfather, who we now know as Pop, and his wife Thelma, who became Granny to my sister and me, Mama Thel to my mom. We also met the sisters- Francine, Nancy, Kathy, Sherry and Donna - and dozens of other family members. They had a huge barbecue with more food than I've ever seen, we exchanged gifts (Texas aprons for them, necklaces for us) and felt more welcomed than I can possibly explain. It really was like going home.

I took pictures of the entire weekend, and now these pictues are the only ones I have of my grandfather. He was an extraordinary man, truly loved by everyone. His daughters worshipped him, and I am completly heartbroken that my mom didn't have the opportunity to be raised by him. She had only three years of knowing him during a handful of visits, but even that was something truly special.

My mom has been there for the past couple of weeks, called to Georgia by her sisters and Granny Thel because Pop was in the final days of his life. I'm happy that she had the chance to say goodbye, and I wish I could be there with them as they lay this great man to rest.

The slideshow below begins with my mom and dad pulling into the cabin driveway for the first time, three years ago:

Baby M turns One

Brace yourself for adorablness. Not exaggerating, this baby will inspire other babies to be concieved, I'm sure of it. Not me, I'm totally done with all that, but I do think looking at this little beauty can cause pregnancy.



We met at Freestone Park here in Gilbert for a Tutu session. Now, I knew that M's mom was planning to bring a tutu, but when I saw the beads, birthday hat, balloons and lollipop, I could have hugged them. I just LOVE the accessories! The shoot looks like it was styled by a pro-my clients are amazing.



When we began the shoot, I knew that she would sit still for me for just a few minutes. I think she actually sat in one spot longer than most, and I was able to get a few different looks and angles.




I do love father/daughter shots:




Love this one!



To see a slideshow, click the play button:



Thanks for a fantastic shoot, I hope you enjoyed it too!

Kaleidoscope

Anyone who knows me and my youngest daughter M know our infatuation with Matilda Jane Clothing. M wears it just about every day. In fact, the only person in our family that doesn't have at least one MJC outfit is my husband.






Recently the team from MJC announced a contest on their blog, the winner and a friend get to fly to Ft. Wayne IN on an all-expense paid trip to the MJC Art Fair.

The contest: Send in something that reminds you of Matilda Jane Clothing.

I thought about what I might send for maybe, two seconds. The story was written in an hour or so, and I had it ready to mail a couple of days later.

Here is my entry, beginning with a letter to MJC.

Dear Denise and Team 435,

“What reminds you of Matilda Jane Clothing?”

It took less than one minute for me to come up with the answer to that question – it was a slam dunk. But it wasn't a thing, it was a person; or more specifically a group of people that I believe completely embody the spirit of MJC.

Of course, I couldn't fit them into a 9 ½ x 12 ½ envelope, so I did the best I could by telling their story. I did try to keep it short-I realize that you have many submissions to go through and I don't want to take too much of your time.

I have enclosed a few pictures of my three youngest kids in their Matilda Jane gear. They are: G-8, T-7, and M-5. My oldest daughter (D-16) and I also have MJC outfits that we adore, but catching her at home during daylight hours is impossible and there wasn't anyone available to photograph me.

Thank you so, so much for hosting this contest. Even if I don't win, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to put this together. I created two identical envelopes, one for you and one for the amazing lady I've tried to honor.

In the very remote case that I win, I'll be bringing her with me to the 435 Art Fair.


So here is the story I sent in:








I also included in the package a slideshow of their BEAUTIFUL year together:



The entire contest entry is in the hands of the awesome team at Matilda Jane, and although I have my fingers crossed that we win, I was really just so happy that I could tell Donna's story.

Donna, you know that I think what you and Brittany are doing with those kids is simply amazing, and you continually blow me away with your generosity and kind spirit. I love you to death!

Welcome Baby Crites: Lifestyle Photography in Mesa, AZ

One of the things I love most about the kind of photography I do is that I get to be a "fly on the wall," quietly capturing beautiful moments as they unfold before me, as if I weren't even there.

The session I photographed for David and Nicole was just such a session. Their amazingly beautiful family grew by two adorable feet over the weekend, and I was enormously thrilled to be there to capture them in the hospital as they welcomed and loved their new son, Cayden.



David simply couldn't get over how small Cayden is:


I love baby toes:


Just beautiful:


Callie is still getting aquainted with her baby brother:





To see a slideshow of images, click below:



David and Nicole, thank you again for allowing me to be part of such a special time in your family. I enjoyed it more than I can say!

Paige: Sweet Sixteen-Gilbert, AZ

My job as a photographer has taken me across the country in recent months, which was thrilling and new and required tons of planning, packing and long weekends away from my family. The last three weekends in a row, however, I've been equally as happy as I walked the short distance across my street to do sessions for my neighbors.

The most recent was for a Sweet Sixteen Party for my very sweet and B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L neighbor, Paige. The theme was Denim and Diamonds, and I can tell you that Paige and her mom Rocked it. The decorations were adorable, the cake amazing, and the DJ had the party going before they even opened the doors.

We started off with some portraits of Paige with her new car:



Detail shot of the party favors. Love this!


Her cake rivaled any I've ever seen:



We brought her parents out for a quick shot before the party started:


Paige's friends arrived before everyone else:


And finally the party began:




To see the slideshow, click the play button below:


I decided to do another version of the slideshow. Paige, this one is for you:

Family Lifestyle Photography Session-Gilbert, AZ

It feels so good to be shooting regularly again. I've had a couple of shoots here in Gilbert recently, and I have a few more lined up for the next few weeks. I think that now that the holidays are behind us I'll be able to fill my calendar much like I did back in San Antonio, and I couldn't be happier.

My most recent shoot was an absolute blast. My across-the-street neighbors, Heidi and Ron, took advantage of the fact that their whole family (minus one who had to work) would be here for a weekend visit, and booked a Lifestyle shoot so that I could capture all of them. With seven adults, two kids, one toddler and two infants, it was CRAZY. There were a few tears, a lot of laughs, and I think they got some great images.







To view the slideshow below, simply click the "play" button:


I hope all of you had as much fun as I did!