Love at Horseshoe Bend: Joel & Tasia

Joel & Tasia - Flagstaff, Arizona Engagement Photography

You might have read on my blog before that I believe that any photo session should tell your story whether it's a bridal, family, or senior session. Well, Joel and Tasia went beyond that... Not only do Joel and Tasia's engagement photos share pieces of their story, but so does Tasia's engagement ring!

First, let me tell you that Joel and Tasia are my friends and I have been wondering for a while if any ring could live up to the wonderful, creative ideas growing in Tasia's imagination. I was pretty nervous actually! So, when I finally did see her ring I internally fainted with relief. Joel had it custom made to represent a little bit of their story. The bottom part is copper and shaped like the Grand Canyon (where Joel proposed) and the top part is silver and shaped like the San Francisco Peaks (a place Tasia loves). Then there is a tiny pine tree etched on the band too. I could not think of a better ring for Tasia and I don't think she even could either! Phew, good job Joel! Check out the amazing ring below with some of my favorite photos from Joel and Tasia’s engagement session to get a little peek into their story.

Desert Love: Gabee & Kyle

Gabee & Kyle - Mesa, Arizona Engagement Photography

I think it's important before a photo shoot to know how you want to share your story because that is really what is being captured. Not just pretty faces in a gorgeous setting, but your personal story, who you are, where you are in life. I want people to see their lives truly reflected in my photographs.

That's why before Gabee and Kyle's shoot I asked Gabee how she wanted her relationship with Kyle depicted. She responded with some great adjectives that helped me come up with little prompts to capture the interactions between the two. We also chose our location because it holds meaning to Kyle and Gabee. It's a place they've hiked together often! What kind of adjectives would you use to describe how their relationship looks in our photos? Share them with me and we'll see if they match up!

                                                                 I love lens flares!

Family Time in the Mountains

The Mertel Family Portraits - Scottsdale, Arizona: 

A few years back I was put in touch with a pair of women, Carrie and Zenobia, looking to connect generations of women through the question, "What would you tell your younger self?" I loved their ideas and decided it was one of those projects to really invest in because I felt connected to the concept. Throughout the years they've brought me on to work with Take the Lead and Girls in Tech, two wonderful non-profits, and I'm continuously grateful for meeting both women. Eventually, Zenobia asked me to take her personal family portraits, a real compliment in my world!

I knew the family would look amazing, but at the same time the pressure was really on. I would find myself thinking, "Okay, Ali, they're going to look stellar. The location is gorgeous. There's no reason these photos shouldn't look magazine worthy!" Well, like I said, the Mertel family looked amazing and have a sweet mix of personalities, which came across great in our photos. I loved getting to capture their family portraits and pieces of their personalities too.