Woodsy meets Urban // Engagement Session on Mt. Lemon | Tucson Wedding Photographer

When woodsy meets urban you get PJ & Mariah's sweet and spicy engagement session on Tucon's Mt. Lemmon. We met a very cold winter morning and navigated sunbeam-glazed pine trees and long green reeds and goosebumps and butterflies in the stomach. And we laughed and played and showed off their ink and the way he dipped her and they was she liked it... so much love. :) enjoy some highlights AND check in tomorrow to see their WEDDING STORY highlights! 

James + Lindsey | Vintage Meets Southwest | Tucson Desert Engagement Session | Tucson Photographer

When the morning sun rises and the cactus blooms and twiterpated folks like James + Lindsey come eager to be sweet, silly and nostalgic... I watch the saguaro's shadows shorten, the ocotillo brighten, a yellow vintage dress twirl and a precious anticipation be a wonderful backdrop for it all. 

These are called love story sessions because looks and laughs are my favorite parts of stories--the breaths in between and the pauses that anticipate the next chapter they have yet to experience. | LKM

p.s. and if you love these quaint perfect little details, just WAIT till you see their wedding! :)

Wyatt + Hilary | Red Mugs & Desert Wash Coffee Dates | Lifestyle Engagement Session

Wyatt + Hilary are planning their wedding from Sacramento. Knowing that they only had a few trips to cram a whole lot of strategic wedding development in, we snagged some time over the holidays to meet for coffee and hang out in the desert. I was told Wyatt doesn't like pictures. And my response was, "whelp good thing he doesn't have to. he just has to love you and i'll be there for it..."

So we met on a chilly winter morning. Stopped for coffee and then found a wash where the sun was just barely beginning to kiss the dew...

Here are a few favorite moments with these two...

Steve + Aidelni | Downtown Urban Love Story | Lifestyle Engagement Session

They first met at Union at St. Philipps Plaza.

"Surely she's not really interested in me..." is what Steven thought... But what came out was, "hey, does that fish dinner taste good because it really stinks..."  Aidelni was put off by his bluntness but also saw something more charming and endearing about this man. After hours of small talk, drinks and flirtation it was time for them to part ways. 

Earlier in the evening, Steven had made a joke of how a woman all dressed up in high heels would never work with a man in sandals on a bicycle. And thinking he somehow had managed to keep this beautiful woman by his side all night he went for the line to end all lines.... " I need to get going, but do you think maybe you want to come check out my bicycle?" 

Steven walked her over to his bicycle and grinned. Aidelni smiled. He was just so stinkin' charming. Steven was still shy and unsure but he knew his moment was fleeting. " May I kiss you?" He leaned in for a gentle kiss, in the middle of the night, amongst strangers as a feeling of adoration hung in the warm summer air.  "Could a guy like me ever have a chance with a woman like you?" he asked as he got on his bike. "It depends on you.." she replied and slipped back into the bar. 

... When I first met these two I was charmed by Steven's affection and gentleness towards Aidelni. And she leans into him, affirms him, thinks he is the funniest thing on earth. She showed up to the shoot beaming, brought a fantastic wardrobe of colorful classy pieces and he was strong and patient....and loved her well. 

I love this session. I loved my time with these two. I have paused too many times at the images where they are holding each other. And the ones where they are laughing... it's a quiet, peaceful sort of thing. I can't believe I get to be part of this season of their story... | LKM

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Featured on Arizona Bride Magazine!! :D

SO ABOUT THAT GOOD NEWS...

Earlier this week i shared a facebook status that talked about good news in the photography department. good enough to make me burst into tears. and it’s friday and i can share now. but i want to explain why it means a lot. cuz some of you might be underwhelmed and think i’m silly. which is fine, but it was a big deal to me. 

9 months ago i started trying to submit work to different publications. both online wedding sites (the knot, green wedding shoes, ruffled, wedding chics, style me pretty, grey likes weddings…) and nothing. i got no replies. i take it back..one reply was a rejection. and i get it. It’s part of the way things work. hours were spent culling, submitting files in the variety of different ways that different blogs requested, writing reviews, gathering the details to present each wedding and session that was submitted as best as possible… hours were spent… and nothing.

(not to mention…with each submission, you can’t just blast that submission to multiple sources. publications want to have exclusive feature privileges so i would have to submit my best of the best to one selected magazine than wait for a month or two and then hope that the next submission would pick it up before the submission was outdated or out of season…)

so i stopped. discouraged. acquiescing to the reality that my capacity is only what it can be right now. i was ok. the worst was not hearing. even worse than a rejection. rejections could be constructive. helping me learn what to shoot. what publications don’t want. how to shoot in a way that tells a story with people but also captures the details and nuances that publications are hunting for… but nothing. for a long time.

and then a random email sent at midnight to a publication got a reply within minutes. not just a reply, but they wanted my session featured and they wanted to have it moved up the calendar and instead of waiting 3 months to have a slot scheduled, they gave me this friday. TODAY.

So, friends, folks. I present to you my very first feature. And by non other than, Arizona Bride Magazine. If you want to increase traffic and analytics, check out the feature and leave a comment. You guys--you friends, family, fans who are reading this--you and your support with Laura K. Moore Photography is the lifeblood. Thank you. So much.

GO HERE FOR THE FEATURE: http://arizonabridemag.com/…/glowing-autumn-engagement-sess…

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Austin + Corrie | Lifestyle Engagement Session: "Adventure Meets Goofy" | Mt. Lemon, AZ

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” 
― Jim Bishop

"Our session was not only the most fun I have ever had taking pictures, but it was extremely comfortable and care free and I felt like the essence of Austin and I really go to be conveyed through the pictures!" ~ Corrie, Bride

Austin + Corrie made mention that they were goofy and adventurous. They wanted those things really captured. Mt. Lemon was where Austin proposed earlier this summer and they were keen on getting some of the mountain details and active bike nuances and sillyness in between. 

When we arrived near the top of the mountain are jaws dropped. We had no idea the leaves would be on fire and FALL would have already arrived. The couple were so giddy and eager to just love and be loved and be free... this session really was like a breath of fresh, lively air. 

So excited to be a part of this journey with you guys! Thank you for trusting me with such precious memories! | LKM


Tiggas Family | Holiday Mini Session | Tucson, Arizona

I met Kandice as a fellow kindergarden mom last year. Over the year, from a distance, I have enjoyed watching the way both she and Matt clearly tag-teamed with the kids...love them together. work together. I love that this session captured a little bit of the tag-teaming as well as #madduxmax's awesome giggles, Micah's nurturing big-brother heart, Capri's fantastic free spirit...and even some sweet kisses between mom and dad. What a sweet, intense season of young life!

oh! And since I just received Kandice's ever-so-thoughftul review a few days ago, here are a few of their thoughts from the session! 

What were key moments that stood out to you during your session / wedding day?: Getting kids to smile for an hour long session isn't easy, and LKM was not only able to get their full attention but she managed to capture their TRUE smiles and their real moments.

What were your highlights about working with LKM?: Throughout the session there was never a moment that felt awkward. Sometimes the camera seems intimidating but LKM made us feel comfortable and she knew what to say to us to get the perfect smile, giggle or big laugh. I loved that she encouraged the kids to just be kids, by playing games and letting them explore with no restrictions, you were there to capture whatever they were going to throw at you!

What would you tell a future client interested in hiring LKM?: If you are looking to capture your real life moments, put your best suit on and let Laura take care of the rest! 

Thank you so much Tiggas Family! Here are a few of their mini session highlights...

 

Tucson Botanical Gardens | Ng Family Portraits

It's almost Father's Day and this dad's interaction with his daughters were some of my most favorites taken all year. It was my first time shooting in Tucson Botanical Gardens and I could barely contain my excitement. It was pretty darn dreamy. And with these girls so bright eyed and bright colored, it was a pretty special session experience.

Here is the NG family. Full of joy and such a gentle, patient family. 

HAPPY APRIL! Announcing Spring Sessions 2014!

I still remember my first spring here...i wasn't in a very good spot. 2011 was wrought with painstaking drudgery and the last place I wanted to be was in the desert. And then April hit and I was driving down in a borrowed car on North Houghton, kids cranky in the back, my heart hurting and hating all things dead and brown. Suddenly i passed over a wash and nearly slammed on my breaks. There, for miles, were Palo Verde trees exploding into shades of yellow and happiness. 

It really is incredible. Even on a few unfortunate streets around town, these unsuspecting trees take center stage and remind me that life and happiness are here. You just have to patient for it. 

So Happy April! Take your family out and enjoy the perfect weather. Embrace a little life. And possibly, just maybe, I can meet you there. (And if you're on the fence, go to my FAMILY PORTRAITS page and maybe i'll convince you there. ;) 

Go to my page with SPRING PORTRAIT SESSION DETAILS here.

Downtown Tucson Urban Family Photographer | Appleman Family

This family is so much fun. 2 years ago we did family pictures in a more earthy setting (go here to see that family portrait session at Agua Caliente. Boy have those girls grown since!) So this time around they chose to go urban, fun natural. And boy oh boy, did those little girls crank up the charm! Scott and (whom he affectionately calls) his "Appleman Chicklets" just giggled a whole bunch. I pretty much want to print a HUGE version of that picture of their whole family laughing at each other in the alley. Like Kitchen-Table Huge. Hear that Janice? K, good.  | lkm