🌸 by devoted to dancing az | a project of Nakupenda Photography
Some days feel like they come straight out of a storybook, and this was one of them. I have had the joy of photographing Haylie since she joined my content crew in February. After attending 3 sessions crew members become eligible for a personalized dance feature. I was so excited to photograph the beautiful and talented Haylie Birchman in this magical oasis known as Downtown Ocottillo (seriously can you believe this location is in the middle of a parking lot?) for her featured dance session. It was filled with bright flowers, glowing sunlight, and a little bit of fairy dust (the kind only dancers like Haylie can sprinkle through their movement ✨).
Haylie has been dancing since she was just two years old—almost 11 years now! She says her favorite part of dance is improv—that means making up moves on the spot. How amazing is that? Watching her twirl, leap, and pose in her pretty floral dress felt like seeing a fairy take flight. The way she danced under the arches, with petals falling around her, made the moment feel like a dream.
She told me one of her favorite memories is being crowned Miss Junior Dance at KAR Nationals in Myrtle Beach. The trophy was bigger than her and had to be mailed home—it wouldn’t even fit on the plane! 😄 Moments like that show just how special Haylie is.
But dance isn’t always easy. Haylie shared that she’s not naturally flexible, and flexibility tricks have been hard. But guess what? She never gives up. She stretches, practices, and works hard—and it shows. She’s proud of herself for landing her back tuck on the Marley floor, a trick she worked on for a long time. Her determination is so inspiring.
One of the most beautiful things about Haylie is her heart. She said dance has helped her make friends and feel more confident. All those little high-fives in class really do matter. That kindness and joy shine through in every session we have together with the content crew.
And her dream? To dance on the ASU dance team just like her teacher, Miss Arielle. With her hard work and love for dance, I know she’s going to get there.
Haylie, thank you for sharing your story and sparkle with me. You bring so much light and joy to every session and I feel honored to know you!
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If you’re dreaming of a session that feels like a page from a fairy tale—with dance, horses, or flowers—I’d love to help you bring it to life. Let’s make something beautiful together.
📸 Reach out to Nakupenda Photography for your go-to artistic and fantasy-filled child photographer in Gilbert, Arizona, and let’s plan your own magical photo session!
