6 Grown ups, 1 baby and 5 dogs! Bow Wow!!! {Az Family and Pet Photographer}

 

When Gia asked to me to do a “desert themed” shoot with 6 adults, baby Evan and 5 dogs, I said yes and then I began to panic a little.  Well, maybe a LOT.

 

Of course it was a chance to squeeze Evans cheeks and listen to his giggle, but 5 dogs???!!!  The most I had done together at once was two.  But, as I began to think about it, I realized dogs are like kids.  They are easily distracted and they like treats.  So I just had to make my distractions  better than running children, ducks, bugs and all the smells of the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch.  Squeaky toys did the trick and the parents brought the treats.  The other plus is, if the dog is at least facing forward, we consider that a smile.  If they are facing forward and actually looking in the direction of the camera, well that would be like a gigantic giggle.  So we got a handful of smiles and a few giggles and not just from the dogs.  These guys have the best contagious laughs.  And don’t even get me started on baby Evan—his mama sure knows how to make him laugh!   Ah, Ah, Ahhhhhh,  Achoooo!

I think I need to show just a couple of the out takes from this shoot just so that we can fully appreciate the magnitude of the beautiful shots we got!

 

 

Thank you Gia, Doug, Evan, Chato & Baxter.

Thank you Tim, Pam and Harley.

Thank you Collin, Kaley, Willy & Olive.

I think it was worth it, don’t you?

Desert Peach

 

Just a little color to brighten up this late winter morning whilst I am preparing the pics from my most recent photo shoot.  That shoot had no flowers.  Just pretty people, an adorable baby and lots of dogs.  Cue the elevator music while you wait for that post.

 

 

Love Long

 

 

 

On their wedding day, he was 19, she was 16.  That was 60 long years ago filled with  hopes and dreams, work, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and LOTS and LOTS of LOVE.  Don’t we all hope to love long?

 

 

 

Untitled from s foliaki on Vimeo.

As for the music pairing for this slideshow, I know that it  probably isn’t their type or style of music, but for some reason, I loved putting the voice of a young man who found his true love and mesh it with images of a man in his sunset years who found his sweetheart and stayed with her through all of the good times and the hard times, through health and sickness, through poor days and not-as-poor days and all the adventures 60 years can bring.  What a great reward, to wake up next to the one you are still crazy about after all that!

 

When I asked them what was the best part of those sixty years, they both replied, “All of it.”

 

I fell in love with these sweethearts and witnessed many of their friends and family who gathered in their honor last weekend that feel the same way.  They seem to spread happiness where ever they go.  Cheers to many, many more happy memories to come!

 

For those locals,  Alice and Pete are the faces behind A&P Nurseries, a family owned an operated business that takes immense pride in helping us make Arizona beautiful.  Check them out at one of their 4 locations.

Labor of Love

 

 

If you don’t mind me getting a little personal, this is the big project I have been laboring over for a long, long time. 

It took my sister less time to conceive, grow and deliver this perfect little guy than it did for me to make this very imperfect video. 

She is experienced though.

This was HER number five.

This was MY number one.  Is that a good excuse?

 

 

Dallin from s foliaki on Vimeo.

 

Here is the story of the story.

We are a large family.  8 daughters, 3 sons who, with their spouses have generated 48 grandchildren.  Getting us all together is like the aligning of the planets.   Late last year my twin sis, who lives the farthest away, said she wanted to be home for the holidays (she hadn’t been home at Thanksgiving/Christmas for over 20 years), and as many of us that could, migrated home.  She is the matriarch of all the sisters.  She has the power.

Cue my sister Sharon who was pregnant but not due quite yet.  She patiently humored our suggestions that she could go ahead and deliver while so many of us were there, BUT, she would have to wait until AFTER the big dinner.

I am not sure if it was the famous family cabbage casserole, the change in pressure in Susie’s home from all the sweating bodies, or the laughter from playing games, but by golly, she went into labor AFTER dinner and delivered by 3 a.m.!!!!

 

I know I am being a little jokey and silly, but let me see if I can do justice to this amazing event. 

 

To be in the room with so much love, with those sisters who I grew up with, played house with, dreamed of this type of amazing moment with,

to share this moment with our brother-in-law who is her perfect companion,

to remember the births of my children

and to see the cycle of life as our mother witnessed another of her grandchildren enter this world is almost too difficult to put into words.

 

Bonds of love were strengthened.

Life was savored, celebrated and renewed.

A new baby has a welcoming team of 4 big brothers.

And we give honor to a loving Heavenly Father from whom all blessings flow.

 

It was unforgettable and I thank them for this gift.  Love you guys.

Brrrrrrrr. Shut the front door. {Mesa, Gilbert, Higley, Chandler, Az Family Photographer}

Someone up north forgot to shut the door and they let in a whole bunch of cold air.  We, in the south, are delicate, heat seeking creatures.  We live here for the warm winter weather.  My cousin, Mashell from Idaho, admits to leaving the door open in hopes of letting in some of the warm air.  Dear cousin, it needs to stop!

I have photographed for this family several times, and even though they moved to Texas, they visited for the holidays and I was able to spend some time photographing their family again.  None of us were expecting the cold, sub 30 degree weather with a little blast of wind to make it even colder.  But, they were champs and I loved catching up!  My, how the kids have grown.

Thank goodness for jackets

squishy brother hugs,

those life saving blankets from the car,

getting cozy,

and the warmth of being together as a family!!!

Thanks ya’ll.  Come on back, ya hear!  I will personally shut the front door and turn up the heat next time.