Fall leaves in Sedona | Arizona Engagement Session

Sedona-arizona-luxury-destination-wedding-photogrpaher

The air was crisp. The colors were out. These two were childlike and full of dance and play.

Funny story behind the scenes of this session…right at the very end I caught a barbed wire that was about shin height and took a spill. I hit my head on a rock and nailed my knee while twisting my ankle. Tommy is an ankle and foot surgeon and immediately went into doctor mode. Checking my vision and asking me, to describe my pain…he cautiously gave me a go-ahead. I was shooting a wedding later than afternoon and more concerned about the gear I had nearly smashed on the boulder. As I hobbled back to the hotel my husband said, “looks like you had fun.”

Also on a side note, they sent me when I knew Tommy + Kara would be such a fun couple when i received their first “get to know you” questionnaire. The specificity endeared me immediately.

Q. Describe your favorite dinner?

A. cooking over open campfire

Q. What is your top 2 favorite deserts?

A. baklava and chocolate chip cookie

Q. What vegetable do you love? hate?

A. We love baby spinach, brussel sprouts. Dislike bittermelon

Q. Pick your favorite types of date:

movie at home. cuddles on a couch

stay at home in pjs with a good book...at least we're in the same room!

anything new and adventurous! we are all about experimenting and experiencing new things

Q. Pick the type of gifts that you love the most:

a surprise get-away with my honey

something hand-made and thoughtful like that

Q. What book are you currently (or recently finished) reading?

A. Clinical Scenarios in Surgery. Atlas of Foot and Ankle Anatomy

Q. Describe a perfect day off:

A. hiking and setting up a hammock to read

Q. If you could redo any date or design a date you wish you had had, what would that look like and why?

A. Astronomy observatory , this was our first date.

Q. If you could adventure anywhere together, where would you go and why?

A. All the National Parks, we are slowing hitting each one

Q. What is the most random thing about you/you both that would be fun for us to know?

A. Tommy has bilateral single palmer crease. Kara has bifurcated uvula

Scott + Melanie | Bright & Cheerful | Desert Engagement Session

To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of life. ~ Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

These two just announced that they are havin’ their first little one in Janaury! What a treasure these two were to work with in the last couple years. Summer shooting has taken a pause the last couple months but their sunrise engagement pictures get me eager to open back up. I never got around to sharing their session so here are a few golden highlights. :)

Art + Sara | Ralph-Lauren-Meets-Mad-Men Inspired Engagement Session

"I was standing on the other side of the glass yelling as nicely as I knew how. We started to laugh. “you want us to do what?!” Their muffled querry came across the glass. my fingers were purple, i was shivering so hard i almost dropped my camera and i most definitely just stepped on a jumping cholla. “LOVE HIS FACE!” i hollered with a chattering grin. After the series was shot I skipped back inside giggling. “wow guys. that was difficult and possibly the most unprofessional i’ve felt in a while…. BUT LOOK AT WHAT WE DID?!” I showed the back of my camera--this picture--the reflection of the winter trees, the bright blue of the sky, and the pop of colors in the modern living room and the dog. oh that dog named blue."

Art + Sara had flown in from Guam to visit family in Tucson. We had prepped for many things, but COLD wasn't one of them. At the end of the day, it was our spontaneous decisions that really nailed the book-end seal-the-deal elements of their session. Shooting through glass, working with horses, playing with interior decor that ends up pushing me as a photographer and providing a really fresh, modern portfolio from this session that has us giddy. Below are a few highlights from their modern love story session! 

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! :)