Dear Belinda,

As I was processing these shots of Kaylee, sappy me got choked up a few times.   My mind was going back to yester-year.   I saw you in elementary school, remembered our talks when you were in junior high, just recently saw a video of you and Brooke singing together that year (that made me smile), high school years, standing with you at your wedding…

I remember the questions we had.  Wondering how life was going to be.  The blessings and the challenges.  The tragic things and the triumphs.  Your dedication to do the things you had to.  Our pride in you at how incredibly you did it all (and still do).

As she stood  in front of my camera, I saw your beauty standing behind hers.   God knew what He was doing.   I am so humbled by how incredibly He works out all things…

And Kaylee?   We couldn’t have hoped for more!  The beautiful outside is just a dim reflection of the treasure inside.  I have loved getting to sing with her this year.  Watching her grow into who she is, hearing her passion for what she loves,  following her relentless pursuits of what she loves…what a gem she is.

I am so glad we included parts of her music memories in these portraits.  When I was a kid, I dreamed of hitting the stage.  How many Halloweens in a row did I dress as Amy Grant?  (And I love her STILL for the record!)   By late junior high I had the maturity to acknowledge one important fact.  I lacked the true passion to EVER have the discipline to pursue music in a real and tangible way.  (Heck, my piano teacher was certainly delighted when I quit after four years – what a train wreck that was).   Kaylee is different.  She eats, breathes, and sleeps music.   Her heart and soul are tangled up in it.  She puts the time, effort, and discipline into all that she does.  (Congratulations Kaylee on your Show Choirs wins last week!)  I think she will love the music program at GCU and I am excited to see where that takes her.

Love you and love your baby girl who grew up too darn fast.

Doni

XXXOOO to you both.

Meet Kacey.  Kacy is a senior attending school up north and drove all the way down into the valley for her shoot.    Her shoot was scheduled the day after Anthem had gotten some snow (shocking I know) and I was FREEZING.  Not this girl.  Hailing from Heber, she was far more acclimated to the cold than I.   Poor girl probably got sick of me begging her to put a jacket on between shots.

When Kacey and I were having our pre-session consult, she told me that she felt the word “Courageous” described her.  After this shoot, I completely agreed.   The cold was not the only element she braved through.   We wanted some grass shots but I had under estimated the condition of the lawn next to the pond where a large gaggle (I love that word) of  geese made their home.   As I frantically searched for an acceptable spot, Kacey determined that we were out of luck, just bit the bullet finding the cleanest spot she could.  Way to cowgirl up.  :)  I love girly girls willing to take one for the team when circumstances necessitate it.

She has a beautiful smile doesn’t she?

It was fun spending time with you Kacey!  Good luck on all your future endeavors and hoping you get SPAIN.

After a recent newborn shoot, I snapped a few of my beautiful assistant just for fun.  Beautiful isn’t she?   She was in a bit of trouble with me though because I had to find out about her new “in like” via facebook!  Shame on her.     She is out of the doghouse now though because I have had enough Doni/Jenna time to get the full scoop.

This is Kyrsten – my first senior shoot of the year.? I have so much fun shooting senior girls and hope to do more this year.? Been so busy with the babies “hatching” that I haven’t marketed to those leaving the nest.? ? Kyrsten attends an art school and enjoys photography so we got to walk around the downtown area and talk shop for a couple of hours.? Good times.? Tanner watched me processing some of these and said “Did I do good mom?”? (He was on reflector duty).

The downtown Phoenix area has a lot offer in terms of grunge/urban backgrounds.?

Beautiful eyes yes?

I wanted to work more off camera flash into this shoot (fun thing with seniors especially), but the downtown area was a little difficult for incorporating my very large light so we only got a handful.? The above right shot used off camera flash.

Good luck with all your future endeavors Kyrsten!