E is for Eley

This is the Eley family.  Mark is an old friend of mine from high school. (Did I say OLD??  He's actually a young friend of mine!  Afterall, we are the same age!!) It was great to see him again and to meet his beautiful wife and children.  We met at the Scottsdale Civic Plaza on Saturday afternoon for their family photo shoot.  

Mark and Cathy have 3 daughters and 1 son.  Their children are about as different as you can get within a family, but all of them were a delight to work with!  


Jessica, the oldest, has a sweet smile and an even sweeter disposition.  I am sure she is a huge help around the house and a great big sister!  She was so willing to help with the younger children that it made my job much easier!  

Vanessa is next.  Although she seemed a little shy at first, by the end of our time together, she had really opened up.  She is beautiful from the inside out!  
Susie was so much fun!  Cathy called her the monkey of the family.  She was the one wanting to climb trees and jump up on walls...she added a lot of spunk to our session! 


The youngest and only boy is TJ.  He is an adorable 3 year old.  TJ has only been with the Eley's since July, but he fits right in and is a perfect match for their family!  

Thanks, Eley's, for letting me share a couple of hours with you!

JIMMY (a.k.a. Mr. McNaughty)

Jimmy is 2...in every sense of the word!  He knows what he wants and as long as he gets his way, he is happy!  We had a great time with Jimmy and his family as he played and we watched.  He was certainly the life of the party!  He kept the rest of us on our toes as we tried to keep up with all of his antics!   There is something about seeing the world through the eyes of a 2 year old that keeps you young...and wears you out, all at the same time!  I think we were all pretty worn out by the end of our photo session, but in a good way.  Thanks, McCarthy family, for a wonderful afternoon!

Three Boys and a Dog

I've known these boys since they were young...really young!  And my recent trip to Missouri was really all about them!  Our families go way back.  As a matter of fact, when they were little, I betrothed my three daughters to them with the hope that they would someday be my sons!  (None of them have cooperated in this effort yet, but I haven't given up hope!)  Saturday afternoon, their family took me to this beautiful lake in their neighborhood and we got some great pictures!  

Kyle is the oldest.  He just returned home from Las Vegas where he was serving a 2 year mission for his church.  He has grown up and become quite a handsome young man.  At times he is quiet and reflective, but then his quick-wit and sarcasm jump out at you when you are least expecting it!  He is a great brother and as you watch the three of them interact, you can tell that the younger boys love and respect him!  

Trevor is next.  Incredible is the only word I can think of to describe this young man!  In spite of  (or maybe because of) the many challenges he has dealt with in his life, he has become  compassionate, hardworking and driven!  He is preparing to serve a 2 year mission for his church, also, and will report in just a few weeks to Boise, Idaho.  Watch out Boise!  Here he comes!!

Jag is the newest member of the family. The Gonthier's rescued him from a local animal shelter just 12 days ago and he is already an integral part of the family! The boys all love him and he loves their mom! It all works out in the end!   

Devin is the youngest, but he is a powerhouse!  I'm not sure I ever saw him stop moving during the entire 5 days I was there!  When I pulled out my camera, he was ready to perform: climbing trees, jumping off hills and showing me all of his tricks!  He is an adorable boy with a charming smile that will melt your heart!                                   

I love these boys and the rest of their family, too!  Thanks, Gonthier's, for a fabulous visit to your beautiful home!  I hope to see you again soon!

We are the CHAMPIONS!

SPECTACULAR...STRONG...SPIRITED...those are the words that come to mind when I think of the Young Women in the Settler's Meadow Ward of the LDS church.  They are incredible!

I might be a little bit biased...afterall, I am one of their leaders...but I believe that they are some of the best that this generation has to offer.  As friends, they are kind-hearted and look out for each other.    As cheerleaders, they make you feel like you can accomplish anything!  As a softball team, they are undefeated!  (Next week, they play for the championship...) And as followers of the Savior, they are incredible examples!  What more could you ask for?

I feel it is a privilege to be associated with each and every one of them!  As a matter of fact, when I finally grow up, I want to be just like them!

Passion for Life

For many years, I have been saying that I am passionate about photography. I spend a great deal of time behind the lens of my camera, and I do love it! But some recent situations in my life have forced me to reevaluate my passions...and what I have found is that I am NOT passionate about photography!

Don't get scared and walk away from this page, thinking, "Isn't this a photography blog?" Yes, it is! And I do love photography! But my passion is not for apertures and f-stops, or shutter speeds and lenses. My passion is for life!

I love the sweet look on the face of a new mother when her baby is sleeping in her arms. I love excitement in a child's eyes as they open a gift on their birthday or at Christmas. I love beauty of a young woman all dressed up for her first prom. I love the tender looks that are exchanged as a groom sees his bride in her wedding gown for the first time. I love the many personalities that come together to make up a family. And because I love all of those things, I have come to have a great love and appreciation for the art of photography, for the power that it gives me to capture the joy and the passion of life!

I hope you enjoy following along as I share my passion for life through the art of photography!