Doug + Ambriel + Teddy + Ben= Kansas City Family Photography

Wow, I love capturing memories for families, and I am so flippin' lucky that sometimes I get to capture a big moment in a family's life.  My friend, Liz, contacted me a few weeks ago about Ambriel and Doug and their boys.  I was going to be in Kansas City, and a group of friends decided that this family deserved the gift of a photo session to capture their love, laughter, joy and strength.  Boy, did they ever!!

Kansas City Photographer

Teddy, the little guy in the super cute fox hat, has been battling a brain tumor for the past year.  He is sweet, and joyful, and simply adorable and I fell in love with both him and his little brother Ben immediately! I'm sure the past year can't have been easy on any of these four, but there wasn't ANY difficulty in finding joy and laughter with my camera lens.  Holy Moly we had so much fun together, and I am so honored that you guys trusted me to capture some of the magic that you share.  

Before we did the shoot we weren't aware of this, but about a week ago, Teddy was found to be completely CANCER FREE!!!  There is no sign of disease, and even though he will have a long road ahead, he has the best parents and little brother in the business to love him through it.  Just look at this gorgeousness!!

KC photographer

When we were thinking of places to shoot, we didn't want to go too far from home, and we totally didn't have to, because when your home is this cute, why get photographs anywhere else? Am I right?

Kansas city Photography

Ben is ADORABLE.  He is such an explorer, and wanted to get everywhere, and get there fast!

Kansas city Photography
KC family photographer

this next black and white is definitely my favorite.  SNUGGLES!!

Kansas city Family Photography
kc family photographer--3.jpg

We walked down their beautiful street to an awesome fence covered in ivy at the end... And right as we were taking this photo, a bus came by, which brought huge smiles to both the boys' faces!  It was great to see how excited Doug got with them.  I love when parents can find the magic with their kids in everyday things.

family photographer
KC Photographer

Happy Daddy, Happy Boys!

KC Family Photography

Side note... Ambriel, I don't know what you do for your skin, but share your secret with the rest of us please, because you have the PERFECT alabaster complexion...seriously creamy perfection!  

KC family photographer

Ummm.. I can't decide, this might be my favorite, too ;-).

Kansas City Family Photographer

Thanks so much to Ambriel, Doug, Teddy and Ben for agreeing to your friends' crazy idea to do a photo shoot!  It was a honor to spend an afternoon with you guys.  I hope I get to photograph you all again when Ben is talking and there is peach fuzz growing on Teddy's little head... that is to say SOON!  

Josh + Alex + Jackson = Fun South Phoenix Family Photography

Josh and Alex wanted to capture some fun 1st birthday photos for their adorable little boy, Jackson, so I headed on over one Saturday morning to catch this family having some fun together.  We read books and played at home and then headed out to The Farm to enjoy a beautiful morning outside!  Jackson is just adorable, and with his expressive brown eyes, you're going to fall just as much in love with him as I did!  I can't wait to show you these!!!

Phoenix Children Photo Erin Evangeline Photography

We started out with some BIG SNUGGLES on the couch reading and laughing!  I love families that are this much fun together!

Phoenix family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline

After Jackson was comfortable with me, we headed out to The Farm.  It was so helpful that Alex took the time to think of a fun place that mattered to her and Josh.  Now whenever they visit, they will have the memory of the morning we went out to shoot photos there!  I love when Mamas think of places that are both beautiful and meaningful!

Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns Photography

You will notice that Jackson has a 10,000 watt smile!  He was one of the best laughers I have ever met, and was such a sweet little guy!  I'm pretty sure anyone who meets him must fall in love pretty immediately!  SUCH a cutie!!

Phoenix family Photographer erin Evangeline Burns
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns

Little family with a big tree!! ;-)

Erin Evangeline Photography in Phoenix Arizona family Photographer Beautiful

Ahhh!! Look at those baby lips!  I just die!!!

Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
Erin Evangeline Photography Phoenix Arizona family Photography
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
Erin Evangeline Photography Phoenix Arizona family Photography

I happened to have a birthday banner from the birthday party I threw for my dog (don't judge me, it was adorable) and so I brought it so that we could get a festive 1st birthday photo!  I think it turned out super cutely, don't you?

First Birthday photography Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns

After some fun and laughs, Jackson wanted to snuggle for a bit with mom and dad, so we found a patch of some BEAUTIFUL early morning sunlight and he got his snuggles!

Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Burns
blog5.jpg
Aragon-0023.jpg

Thank you so much for trusting me to capture Jackson's 1st birthday photos, Alex and Josh!  I had a great time, and I hope that you cherish the photos for years and years to come!  You guys were so much fun to work with!!

Bangarang!

EEB

 

I'm Going to Kansas City

Friends, Family, Kansas Citians!!!

I have had a lot of inquiries from people in the good old KC asking about when I might be visiting the heartland of America, and if I will be available to do photo sessions for them and their families when I get there.  I'm happy to say today that the answers to these questions are "SOON", and "YES"!!!

I will be in Kansas City at the end of October and beginning of November, and I am available for sessions in the Greater Kansas City area as well as Lawrence, KS from November 1st through November 8th.  I have limited session spots available, so if you would like to get together to shoot some photos of your family, your loves, your furry friends, or your artistic or professional headshots LET ME KNOW!!!

I'm really excited to be able to offer sessions to the friends and family who have been so supportive of me the past year from afar.  In fact, if you share this opportunity on your facebook page and book one of the Midwestern sessions, I will give you $50 off the listed price.  

These will be super handy for all those holiday cards... just in case you were hesitating :-).

Can't wait to see you, KC!!

Bangarang!

EEB

 

Jessie + John = So In Love in Jerome and Sedona Arizona

Jessie and John were married at the beginning of this year, and it was AWESOME!!  I was Jessie's maid of honor, and she is my very best lady friend, so I was less than thrilled when she and John decided to LEAVE Phoenix for the Windy City of Chicago, IL.  

Okay, I am actually pretty thrilled for them, but not thrilled that they are no longer nearby to take impromptu trips to northern AZ with me and Phil!  Since Phoenix had been home for 10 years (for John) and 6 years (for Jessie) they wanted some photos that captured some of their favorite day trip spots in AZ.  We ventured to Jerome and Sedona, and captured some pretty adorable photos of these newlyweds before they venture out on life's next journey together.  (See below ;-)

Jerome AZ couple photography Arizona Erin Evangeline Photography

We started in Jerome which is a tiny town on the side of a mountain in Northern AZ.  It started out as a mining town, but when the mine closed, a lot of it became a ghost town until the artists came, and now it is home to some AWESOME artisans and a million super-cool shops that you could spend hours and hours getting lost in, and an abandoned mine.  Basically, it's awesome! We hung out downtown to get a few different shots.

Engagement Photo ideas Jerome AZ Erin Evangeline Photography
Erin evangeline Photography Engagement Photography Jerome Arizona
Erin Evangeline Photography Jerome Arizona Engagement Wedding Photography
Engagement Photography Phoenix AZ Erin evangeline Photography
Engagement Photo Ideas Jerome Arizona Erin Evangeline Photography
Erin Evangeline Photography Jerome Engagement Photo Arizona

At the fire station, the Jerome Fire Dept.  was SUPER COOL and let us take some photos in front of their door!!  This next one is my fave!

Engagement Photography Ideas Phoenix Jerome Arizona Erin evangeline Photography
Engagement Photography Arizona Erin evangeline Photography
Arizona Engagement photography Jerome AZ
Erin evangeline Photography Best engagement Photography Phoenix Arizona Jerome

With that we bid Jerome farewell (I'll see you again soon) and headed out to put our stomaches through the bumpiest ride ever on Schnebly Hill Road just South of Sedona.  (If you don't have a tricked out Jeep like Jessie's, never attempt to drive up that road from the bottom).  As bumpy as Schnebly Hill road is, it was WORTH IT, and you are about to see why...

Engagement Photography Erin evangeline Arizona Sedona

Phil thinks that J and J look like "Calvin Klein" models in this photo.  I'm not going to disagree, but I'm not sure that he is okay with me putting on the internet that it was his reference.

Engagement Photography Sedona Arizona Best Erin Evangeline photography
Best Sedona Engagement Photo Erin evangeline Photography Arizona
Sedna Wedding Photographer Erin Evangeline Photography Best Arizona

Yes, this is really on Earth, and this is really close to Phoenix.  BEAUTIFUL!!

Engagement Photos erin evangeline Photography Sedona, AZ
Erin Evangeline Photography Engagement Photo Sedona Arizona
Erin Evangeline Photography Sedona Engagement Photographer Best Arizona
Dancing Engagement Photography Erin Evangeline Photography Arizona Phoenix and Sedona

We finally made it up to Schnebly Vista juuuuuust as the sun was setting, so we used my trusty off camera lighting technique known as "Pulling a Jeep with it's headlights on in front of you", and picked up a few amazing photographs to close out the evening.  I might have been jumping up and down as we captured these... not going to lie.

Schnebly Hill Road Engagement Photography Sedona Arizona Erin Evangeline Photography
Erin Evangeline Photography Sedona Schnebly Hill Engagement Potography
Schnebly Vista Sedona Photographer Erin Evangeline Photography Engagement Shoot
schnebly Hill Road engagement Photography Sedona Arizona erin Evangeline Photography
Schnebly Hill Road Photography Engagement Couple Photos Sedona Arizona Erin evangeline photography

Jessie and John, thanks for spending the day with me in Jerome and Sedona, and being game for anything.  I am so glad that you will have photos to remember your Arizona home, and I hope that you never forget to visit... though I don't think I will have to remind you much come February's freezing temperatures in Chicago.  I love you guys, and I miss you already!!!!  

 

Bangarang!!

EEB

P.S.  I know this is already the longest blog post ever, but I HAVE to tell you a story!  When we were in the red rocks shooting the first set of Schnebly Hill photos, I was losing the sunlight quickly, so Phil grabbed the reflector and opened it to help reflect some light back on J+J's faces.  Only problem is the wind as SO strong that he almost got carried off the side of a cliff instead!  This was him regaining his balance, and looking a little bit like a superhero at the same time.

**editors note** Phil informed me that at no time was he ever about to fall off the cliff, and I am overdramatic (whatever).  

Erin Evangeline Photography and Phil

'Rang!

EEB

Edith +TJ + Elena + Sabrina= FAMILY | Phoenix Family Photography

Edith called me to shoot a family session during my "Phoenix Summer Friends and Family Special" a few months ago.  With the high temperatures in Phoenix, we knew that we wouldn't want to venture too far from home, so we decided to have a fun session of the family in their living room and back yard.  Edith and TJ are such a great couple, and they made some beautiful babies!!  WOWZA are these girls gorgeous; I just couldn't get enough of their smiles and curls!  Elena is a rocket of energy, so excited to show me everything from her paint set to her impression of an airplane jumping on Daddy.  Sabrina is much more subdued and quiet.  She loves to take in the whole world with those baby blues, and snuggle up to Mommy.  It was a great morning, and I can't wait to play with you guys again!

Phoenix Family Photography
Gilbert Arizona Photographer Erin Evangeline Photography
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline Mother and Daughter

We had a lot of fun with the whole family, but wanted to get some photos specifically of Sabrina with mom and dad since they had some with Elena when she was her age.  This next one might be my favorite.  I LOVE me a mom and dad who will get down and roll on the floor with their baby!

Phoenix Family Photography
Phoenix Photographer Children families Erin Evangeline
Phoenix Baby photography

MMMM... yummy window light!! 

Baby Photography Phoenix Gilbert Arizona
Phoenix Family Photographer Gilbert Arizona Erin Evangeline
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline

Can we please just note here how perfect this outfit coordination was? I was so in love with the COLORS that they were wearing that I think hardly any of these blog photos are in black and white!  LOVE me some bold, bright people who are willing to rock some bold bright colors!!!

Chandler Family Photography

Elena has the best smile and the best laugh.  She was giggling with me all morning!

Phoenix Children Photography
Chandler Phoenix Valley Family Photographer
Phoenix Family Photographer Erin Evangeline
Phoenix Family Photography

SNUGGLES!!!

Phoenix Family Photographer Gilbert
Phoenix Family Photography Gilbert

Thanks for spending some time in front of my lens, guys!  I am so excited to see your little girls continue to grow up, they are already so fabulous!!

Bangarang!

e*

Katie and Matt's One Year Anniversary Photo Session- Part 2!

Now I told you when I posted Part 1 of Katie and Matt's one year anniversary session that this one was EPIC, and I was not lying to you at all.  Here's why...

On the way home from Talking Rock Ranch, we spotted a tractor on the side of the road.  Katie, being a Wisconsin girl, thought that this would be a perfect spot to close out the session, and I couldn't have agreed more!  Behold the amazing beauty of two people in love, an orange tractor, and a sunset in northern Arizona.  I'm just gonna let these photos speak for themselves...

Hooten Blog-6259.jpg
Vert7.jpg
Erin Evangeline Photography Couple Photo Arizona
Vert11.jpg
Erin Evangeline Photography Engagement Photos Phoenix Arizona
Vert8.jpg
Erin Evangeline Photography Engagement Couple photography Phoenix Arizona
Erin Evangeline Photography Couple Photos
Hooten Blog-6297.jpg

Are you freakin' kidding me with this sexyness???  I mean, come on...Wowza!!!

Vert6.jpg
Hooten Blog--5.jpg

And with that the end to an Epic day!!!  So thankful to have had the chance to capture your love at one year, Katie and Matt!!

 

Bangarang,

EEB

Katie + Matt = 1 Year Anniversary! | Prescott, AZ | Anniversary Photography Sesion

Katie and Matt were married one year ago this summer, and Katie had the positively brilliant idea that they should get photos done every year to document their lives and family together.  What a great gift to give yourself!!  She was one of the very first friends to reach out for a session when I started my business, and has been so supportive of me, so I must publicly thank her so much for that!!  We headed up north to get out of the desert heat, and made our way to Prescott to capture some great moments between this happy, married couple!  

 

We began with an awesome red wall and painted fire hydrants... I don't think you can really begin in a much better place than that!!

Engagement photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography
Couple Photos- Prescott AZ- Erin Evangeline Photography

There was a little bakery right downtown that was ADORABLE, and had the best coconut macaroon, ever!!  I seriously fell in love with Prescott!

Engagement photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

Katie, you are just plain georgeous.  Matt, you married a hottie!!

Engagement Photography Prescott AZ Erin evangeline photography

The murals in Downtown Prescott are BEAUTIFUL!!! This was in full, midday sun, but we had to capture some of the magic, this is my favorite of the session!

Hooten--2.jpg
Prescott Murals Couple Photography Erin Evangeline Photography
Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

We left downtown to head to the Talking Rock Ranch wine festival.  Katie, being such a great friend and organized lady, got us tickets to do some of the wine tasting, after which we got even more beautiful photos on the ranch... get ready for some awesomeness, people!!

Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

Love the laughing snuggles!!!  This is my favorite, too!!

Hooten Blog-5915.jpg
Hooten Blog-5938.jpg
Vert3.jpg
Hooten Blog-5972.jpg
Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

Katie brought this awesome "One" sign before the session so that they could incorporate it into their photoshoot.  I loved this touch, and now I think we have started a great tradition so that they will have a photo of every year with the anniversary number in it.  I'm taking notes for someday in my future, Katie!! 

Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

Ahhh... the almost kiss.  I love the almost kiss, especially when you can see Katie's smile just peaking through as Matt snuggles in.  

Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography
Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

And the One sign makes another appearance.  This location was simply beautiful, I'm so glad you found it, Katie!!

Hooten Blog--4.jpg
Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

Real, genuine, smiles... there is nothing better in the world!!

Couple Photography Prescott AZ Erin Evangeline Photography

I have got to give Matt kudos, he really was up for anything, and went along with all my crazy ideas.  You could feel the love and fun that these two have together the whole session, and considering how close we all live together, I think a board game night is definitely in the works for sometime soon!  You guys can finally hang with Phil!!

I also have to shout out my best friend, Jessie Fisher, who is an artist and designer and came along with us to second shoot.  All together, I'd say we were a pretty good team!  In fact, we all had so much fun that I have to split this blog post into two posts because of a brilliant idea we had on the way home.  Enjoy these photos, and get ready for even more amazingness next week!!

Heather + Gareth = Getting Married! | Phoenix Photography | Engagement Shoot

Heather and Gareth have been friends for over five years, and you can tell that they have a ton of fun together!  They have been through a lot, growing a business together, and always having each other's back through thick and thin.  I'm so, so, SO excited that last Christmas he put a ring on it, and now they are getting married next summer in Florida!!  Heather and G, I hope that you are having a great vacation in the Midwest!  Phil and I are totally ready to go have drinks when you get back to Scottsdale!

 

Let's start off with some real adorableness...shall we??

Old Town Scottsdale Engagement Shoot- Erin Evangeline Photography
vert2.jpg
_MG_6430.jpg
vert1.jpg
Sexy Scottsdale Old Town Engagement Session- Erin Evangeline Photography

Heather has these AMAZING Green eyes that are so beautiful!!!   I really love how much they pop in front of this green door!

Old Town Scottsdale Engagement Photos Erin Evangeline Photography

Real smiles, y'all!  I love me a couple that can smile and laugh together, and we had some fun!

_MG_6453.jpg
vert3.jpg
Scottsdale Engagement Session Phoenix Erin Evangeline Photography
_MG_6502.jpg

Does anyone know what I'm shooting through?  I'll give you a hint, we were in front of one of the galleries on Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale.  Any good guesses?? 

_MG_6529.jpg

Ahhh... doesn't this one just make you feel all warm and snuggley?  I think it's my favorite one!

Sweet Scottsdale Engagement Session Erin Evangeline Photography
Scottsdale Old Town Photography Engagement Session Erin Evangeline Photography
_MG_6702-Edit.jpg

We went from Old Town Scottsdale to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park on Indian Bend Road.  WOWZA was this place cool!  Every Christmas, Heather and Gareth ride the trains through the light tunnels, so they thought it would be a great place for them to get some photos, and it sure was!!  I can't wait to take my nephews there someday when they visit me in AZ!

McCormick Stillman Railroad Park Engagement Photography Scottsdale Erin Evangeline Photography
McCormick Stillman Railroad Park Engagement Photography Scottsdale Erin Evangeline Photography

Gareth golfs "all the time" and he wears tank tops "all the time".  To be fair, he's from Scotland, where all the golf comes from, and it's really hot in Scottsdale, so guys out here do sport the tank every once and a while.  I love that Heather and Gareth wanted photos that really represented them, and I think these final casual summer fun photos do just that.

vert4.jpg
_MG_6861.jpg
_MG_6858.jpg
_MG_6869.jpg

You might not have noticed, but all of these photos were taken in over 100 degree heat in Scottsdale.  They were troopers, and it was totally worth it!!  Thanks so much H and G for hanging in the heat, you are ridiculously great together, and I'm so excited for you both!!

Kim + Jonathan = Vintage Viva Las Vegas Vow Renewal Awesomeness | Las Vegas, NV

I have some pretty awesomely silly and fun friends!  One of my best friends in the whole wide world is Kim.  We did cheesy-as-all-get-out showchoir together in high school and for the last 16 years (yikes!she has been like a sister to me.  Ten years ago, Kim married the Yin to her Yang, Jonathan, and this year they decided that they wanted to do something super fun and silly for their anniversary, so they planned a trip to Vegas to renew their vows in Graceland Wedding Chapel with none other than THE KING HIMSELF officiating the ceremony.  Phil and I were SO IN for this, and drove up to meet them in Vegas for a weekend.  Kim loves all things vintage, and wears victory rolls in her hair like all the time in real life (she is a h.s. theatre teacher, after all...she has to have a bit of flairso we decided to dress up early 1950's for the vow renewal, and it was a BLAST!  If you ever get the chance to go out in Vegas decked out to the nines, take it and run with it, and dance in the streets, and find you an Elvis to renew your vows.  You will not regret it!  Here are my faves from the photo session that we did on the way and at the chapel, and the fun at the post wedding highfalutin' dinning experience.  You don't want to miss these!

Phoenix Photographer Erin Evangeline

There was this massive photo of the Rat Pack in their hotel hallway, and lighting be danged, I was going to make it work!  Respect to the past!

Phoenix Engagement Photographer
Vegas Vow Renewal Rockabilly Erin Evangeline Photography
Blog 2.jpg
Vegas Vow Renewal Erin Evangeline Photography

The view from our hotel was bomb!! (Do people still say "bomb?")  This one is my favorite!!

Phoenix Engagement Photographer
Phoenix  Las Vegas Photography

The Desert sun can be pretty harsh, but these two knew how to werk some sunglasses!   Okay, this one might be my favorite, I lied before!

Phoenix Las Vegas photographer
Blog 4.jpg
Phoenix Wedding Photographer
Vegas2014--3.jpg
Vegas 1950's vow renewal Erin Evangeline Photography
Vegas2014-4633.jpg
Las Vegas Graceland Chapel Wedding

Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take any photos in the actual chapel because they have an in-house photographer named Abe (who was super cool, hey Abe!) and don't allow outside people to take any photos.  But let me tell you, it was so much fun, and I think when Elvis had them promise to be each other's "hunk a hunk a burning loves", and "never leave each other at Heartbreak Hotel", I felt a little teary.  And since it is a well known fact that Vow Renewing makes you super hungry, we stopped off at the local watering hole known as In and Out Burger so that Kim could experience it for the first time.  YUM!!

Vegas2014-.jpg
Vegas Vow Renewal Erin Evangeline Photography Phoenix
Vegas2014-4674.jpg

Okay, this next black and white image is kind of fuzzy, and kind of weirdly composed, but look at Jonathan's face... You guys, that is the way he looks at Kim all the freaking time.  After ten years of marriage, I swear, he is still puppy-dog-so-very-flipping-in-love with her and I know this because I see this look on his face ALL THE TIME.  It's the same way he looked at her the first time we ever went to post-bar pancakes at IHOP in college, and to see it now, in this booth on this night was just so special, so I had to include this photo.  Ahhh... I LOVE LOVE!!!

Vegas2014-4657.jpg
Blog6.jpg

On the way home we took a little detour to stop off by the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign and took a few super quick shots. I wanted to share them so that you could see the amazing job Kim did on my hair!  

Las Vegas 1950's Photoshoot

This was one of the most fun nights ever, and I am so glad that Kim and Jonathan allowed me to bring my camera along on the wild Vegas ride!  You guys are so great, and here's to the next ten years.  We are going to have to outdo this for your 20th!!!

Bangarang,

EEB

Ty's EP Record Listening Party- Phoenix Event Photography

I am so lucky to count some amazing artists as friends.  I have amazing photographer friends, amazing actors as friends, amazing designers as friends, and now I have an amazing recording artist as a friend.  Ty and I have known each other for a few years, and he is an awesome guy all around, but an amazingly talented singer.  Basically, Ty is the guy that you go to a dance club with...any dance club... and he will know six people and their life stories within an hour, get you free drinks from his new bartender friend, and have the person who started the night sitting sulking in a corner alone out of the floor twerkin' before the night is through.  You think that is hyperbole, but let me assure you, that's just a night out with Ty!  

For the past year, Ty has been writing and recording music, and he is very soon going to be releasing an EP entitled Greenhorn.  For a little bit of publicity, he asked me to join him for the listening party to launch his EP!  I couldn't resist, and when he got up and sang live for a song, my ears were in heaven!  I'm so proud of you, Ty!!  Enjoy some fun shots from the night and check out some of Ty's music experiments on soundcloud.

Starting off with a few of the man of the evening!

Ty Scyffore
Ty Scyffore-4199.jpg
Ty Scyffore-4205.jpg
Ty Scyffore-4201.jpg

This is Ty's old roommate and partner in awesomeness crime, Keisha.  Much like Ty, Keisha is a beast on a dance floor... but like a really pretty, sexy, beast!

Ty Scyffore-4232.jpg
Ty Scyffore-4227.jpg
Ty Scyffore-4237.jpg

Ty sang the last song on the EP live, and it was a treat for everyone involved!

After the EP played it was time for DJ Keisha to hit the stage!

Ty Scyffore-4291.jpg

Wobble, baby.  Wobble, baby.  Wobble, baby.  Wobble it!

Ty Scyffore-4294.jpg
Ty Scyffore-4298.jpg

The Erickson Family = SWEETNESS | Phoenix Family Photography

When Vanessa asked me to come take photos of Rebekah for her birth announcement, we decided to do a few shots of the whole family.  I LOVE these shots of the growing Erickson clan!  Little Henry was so sweet and tender with his sister, but also so excited to run around like the two year old toddler he is, and Steve and Vanessa are simply ridiculously good looking... like seriously!  I hope that you guys treasure these images of the very beginning of your time as a family of four!

Phoenix Family Photography
phoenix family photographer
Phoenix Family Photographer

Besos!!!  Henry couldn't get enough kisses!  It was adorable!

Erickson Blog-2964.jpg
Erickson Blog-3022.jpg

She already has him wrapped around her little finger... and can you blame him?  So much love here!

Phoenix Family Photographer

We were able to catch some quiet moments with Henry.  They are few and far between with a two year old boy, but he was very interested in the rain outside, and how his baby sister was doing.  I love how they turned out.  I want to just eat him up, he's so adorable!!

Phoenix child photography
Phoenix Child Photography
Erickson Blog-3127.jpg

And then, a few of Mama and her new baby girl.  I love the serenity and calm that these make me feel.  Vanessa and I bonded a long time ago over the "pale-skin-dark-hair" complexions we share.  People would always tell me how striking that combo is, and looking at these photos of V, I must agree with them!  Vanessa, you are simply georgeous as a woman, and as a mother and as a friend!

Phoenix Family Photographer
Erickson1.jpg
Phoenix Family Photographer
Phoenix Family Photography

Steve came in to join, and the amount of love surrounding these two as they looked at their baby daughter was palpable.  The amount of laughs were palpable, too.  I tend to think that love and laughter so often go hand in hand!

Erickson 2.jpg
Phoenix Family Photographer

Thanks so the Erickson Family for welcoming me into your home on a rainy Saturday morning.  I am so glad that I was able to capture some of the beauty that is your everyday with little Rebekah, and super fun Henry.  I hope that you will enjoy these reminders of this time in your life for years to come!

Bangarang!

EEB

Won Family=LAUGHS | Phoenix Family Photography| Indian Steel Park

I was so very lucky to get the chance to second shoot a session with my good friend Angela over at Angela Dimler Photography.  She had met the awesome Won family through friends, and we spent a super fun Saturday morning capturing the first professional photos they had taken as a family ever!!!  I was mostly kiddo wrangler for the morning, so this is a short post, but I was able to get a few good shots in and wanted to share them.  Enjoy!!!

phoenix family photography-3594.jpg
Won1.jpg

Vivi decided she would rather "climb daddy" than pose for a photo at that moment.  She has such a big personality, and I know she will be a little leader wherever she goes, this photo just captures her so well, I think.  I hope everyone is laughing about it when she is a teenager!  Sometimes the moments between the "traditional" photos turn out to be my faves!

Phoenix Family Photographer

You guys, Andy was SO HAPPY that he found this leaf.  SO AMAZINGLY HAPPY!!  I'm pretty sure we were all smiling and laughing as he took it around to show everyone this SUPER EXCITING LEAF!  Unfortunately leaves are delicate, and a two year old boy doesn't always jive with that concept...but it was a beautiful relationship while it lasted :-).

Phoenix Family Photographer

It was ballet recital day, so she had to practice her moves with daddy.  I melt when I look at them.  Phil (my super cute boyfriend) saw these photos, sighed, and said that he wants moments like this when he has a daughter...and I just completely turned into a puddle on the floor.  

Won 2 Vivi dancing.jpg

Hello Won Family!!!

Phoenix Family PHotographer

I mean, can you even?  Such a little cutie!!!

Phoenix Childrens photographer

So I'm gonna get on my little soapbox here.   Angela was running the kiddos around for a few shots, and so I got Leah and Mike (aka Mom and Dad) to pose for a few shots with me.  After we got them, Leah said "We haven't done that since our wedding photos!"  And the heavens rejoiced because now they have an updated photo of their love in present day!!  So often I have parents say "Oh, you don't need photos of me" and my answer is always the same.  "I might not, but you do and your kids do, too!"  Can you imagine growing up with this reminder of how much your mom and dad adore each other on the wall? I'm getting all puddly on the floor again...

Phoenix engagement photographer
Phoenix Family Photographer

I don't think anybody in the history of the world has ever been this happy to have some princess bubbles.  I wonder where he gets all this enthusiasm from...

Phoenix Children's photographer

Ahh... there it is ;-).

Phoenix Family Photographer
Won 4 end.jpg

And we end with my two favorites.  SO MUCH FUN, THIS FAMILY!  I hope you enjoy your photos, and that we get to play again sometime soon!

Rebekah = Beautiful | Newborn Photography | Phoenix, AZ

Rebekah is a girl after my own heart with all that dark hair!  About a week after she was born, I came over to her house and we got these beautiful shots of this beautiful little girl.  She was such a calm baby, dealing with all the outfit changes and positions we put her in so well.  Her mom had some great props that she had borrowed from a friend (love the mommy network for those types of things).  Rebekah decided that she didn't want to sleep during the newborn portion of our session, so we got some bright eyed views of this little lady which I LOVE.  As fun as it is to get beautiful sleeping shots of babies, I always love the alert eyes and watching them discover the world around them... Enjoy!!

ERICKSON214-4-2.jpg
newborn photo phoenix

They are called baby blues for a reason, and Rebekah knew how to work 'em!!!  I just love how inquisitive she looks, like she is seeing the world for the very first time... because she is!

newborn phoenix
rebekah1.jpg

We had to get a shot with Grandma's quilt in her nursery.

newborn photography phoenix

Big smiles!!!

newborn photography Phoenix
newborn photo phoenix
ERICKSON214-4-3450.jpg

Rebekah is just precious!!  I'm so honored that Vanessa trusted me to capture these photos of the beginning of her life.  I can't wait to watch her grow!!!  And just wait, there is a whole family session for the rest of Rebekah's family that will blow your mind, it will be up on the blog soon.  Bangarang!--EEB

Cassie + Mike + Aiden + Oliver = LOVE | Family Photography | Phoenix AZ

What do you get when you add a super awesome, laid back mama, a hilarious dad, and two energized boys under the age of 4?  YOU GET THE BREECHERS!!!  I have loved this family for a long time; ever since the day Cassie and Mike got married in my backyard.  Cassie is a great friend, and her dad is a professional photographer, so I was extra nervous to get some great shots of her family.  And if I do say so myself, I think we got some pretty good ones!!  If you are ever looking for a hell of a workout on a Saturday morning just run through a park, feed the ducks, play peek-a-boo, snuggle up to a good book, roll around on the grass, and eat some chocolate chip cookies with these boys!  After our session, I was BEAT and I can't wait to do it again!!  Check out my favorites below:

One of the sets of grandparents came to help entertain the boys and grab a few photos, I just love photos with multiple generations!

Phoenix Family Photography

"How do you blow kisses?"

Phoenix Family Photographer-2-2.jpg
Phoenix Family Photographer--3.jpg
Phoenix Family Photographer-2-3.jpg

Oliver was very interested in that particular fish... don't you just want to eat those cheeks?!?!

family photography phoenix
Phoenix Family Photographer-2-5.jpg
phoenix child photographer

While the boys went to look at ducks with Grandma, Cassie and Mike were kind enough to show me what love is like with two young boys out of sight... it was lovely, and involved only minimal incidents of nose picking... just check it out...

Phoenix Family Photographer-2.jpg
Phoenix Family Photographer-2-9.jpg
breecher2.jpg

This next photo was a moment that was completely not staged... when the boys were looking at the ducks, Cassie came up behind Aiden, and he was so happy to see his mama and snuggle into her... I love this love.  I want a photo of me and my mom like this, and I'm 31...

Phoenix Family Photographer-2-12.jpg

Check out Aiden's face... cheeeeesetastic!  We have so many photos of my brother making the same face in photos and they are special treasures to us now that we are adults!

Phoenix Family Photographer-2-15.jpg

So then, Oliver pulled out his "Baby GQ"  look and all us ladies were a swoonin'...

Child photo GQ Oliver

And we ended the session with basically the definition of a happy family.  Thanks so much Breechers for coming out to play with me and my camera, we both had a really great time!!

Phoenix Family Photographer--5.jpg

Bang to the rang, friends!--EEB

So How Long Have You Been a Photographer?

When I was a kid, I stole my parents' camera, took it out into the backyard after a snowstorm, and tried to photograph the snow stacked on mom's statue of the Virgin Mary and the icicles hanging off the eaves.  When I was doing this, I remember thinking, "These are going to be SO AWESOME!!!  I bet if they were in black and white they would look JUST LIKE photos in Life magazine".  They did not.  Not even a little bit.  But I kept trying to get awesome photos, taking my friends into the backyard to do photoshoots in our dress-up clothes, trying to get a really good face out of one of my baby cousins, and if you think that mirror selfies were invented recently, then you are greatly misinformed.  Inevitably my dad would take the film in to get it developed, and I would get a speech about how it was expensive (three dollars a roll OMG!!!) to develop it, and I should not be wasting it taking photos of nothing, so I wouldn't do it again...for like two weeks.    

By the time I was in college, I was the nerdy girl in the theatre department who always had a point-and-shoot camera with her at parties.  I would get double prints from Walgreens and try to make my friends love me by giving them what I thought were awesome photos from their latest play, or the latest party we had all attended.  I figured the drunk eyes would make for good memories someday (I was right) and since I was still willing to shell out the three dollars to develop the film, I became the unofficial-and-sometimes-avoided historian of my friend group.  I have boxes and boxes of the good times at KU's University Theatre, and if any of those friends ever end up famous, I can write my ticket, if you know what I mean...

Then, in 2004, something amazing happened, and on a trip to Greece for summer study abroad, two whole people had these amazing things called digital cameras...ooooooooo.  We could take AS MANY PICTURES AS WE WANTED, and it didn't cost ANY MONEY as long as we uploaded them to the 25 lb laptop we had brought with us.  I kicked myself for stupidly going out and buying my first film SLR camera and 18 rolls of film before the trip!  How could I be so stupid?!? For that kind of money, I could have gotten a Sony Powershot with 4 whole pixels per photo!!!  Luckily my best friend had the digital camera, and I had my SLR, and over the 9 weeks we spent in Greece, I found a way to love the beauty of taking only one photo of things with my SLR and then stealing her camera to take like twenty more.  She really likes me, and didn't want to take photos of everything from every possible angle and totally was not bugged by this at all (I just called and asked her, and she told me so, but she might be lying because I brought her tacos the other day and I think she's hoping I'll do it again).  I knew on this trip that travel photography would continue to be a huge part of my life and I NEEDED one of these digital camera things.

Then came college graduation, and the onslaught of congratulations cards with checks included.  I totally used all of that money to buy my digital point and shoot, and now I was taking photos of EVERYTHING.  I documented my whole life of living with my parents for a year (I'm technically a millennial, so I think it is in the rulebook that you have to).  Then I documented my time touring the northern midwest as a professional actor and theatre teacher.  Then I documented my move out to LA to become a professional movie star.  Then I documented my time in LA working in a real estate office and having a super fun time being not a movie star.  Then I documented my move to Phoenix to work in a real job because I was definitely never going to be a movie star.  

By the time I moved to Phoenix, I had thousands of photographs of my life, and any of the photography skills I had learned on my SLR were long gone.  I realized that while I loved the snapshots of every day, I was missing the experience I had of taking beautiful, well thought out photos like I had with my SLR in Greece all those years before.  I ordered my first digital SLR on ebay, a Canon entry level Rebel with a kit lense, and I set out on groupon photography workshops and classes at the local center for the arts to learn the art of REAL photography.  That was five years ago.  

My friends still put up with me taking their photos everywhere, except now I'm using a professional level Canon digital SLR and lenses that cost the same amount as my first car.  Now I have the knowledge to tell them to move into the light before I snap a fun photo of us at a party (we still party, we are not dead, they just end a lot earlier and quite often a lot soberer).  Now I can go out with a family, and direct them to have so much fun with each other that I can push a shutter and they will always have that moment of joy that they can frame in their home and pass on to their children when they are grown.  Now I get to see the sweet moments between a couple in love and build a guest book full of these moments that they will use at their wedding and keep forever.  Now I know what the hell I'm doing, and you know what?  I love it so much!!!!  I get to do this for a living, and I am amazed by that every day.  

It took me my whole lifetime to gain the knowledge of how to do it the way I always wanted to, but from the first time I stole my parents' point and shoot out of the drawer and went in to the back yard to capture the snow, I have always been a photographer.   --EEB