I’ve said it one thousand times and I’ll say it again, getting to photograph big life changes in my friends’ lives is the BEST part of being a photographer and their sessions make up my favorite session memories. I love capturing the love between mom and dad, the end of her daughter being the only, the first moments of her being the ‘oldest’, the excitment for the babies to come (yup that’s right twins!)

When my she announced she was moving back to Arizona (and me!) I immediately started planning her maternity pictures in my mind. I felt it was only appropriate to use a classic Arizona setting to celebrate her return to the desert. Pink is one of my top choices for outfits in the desert at sunset and I was so excited when she had already picked out the perfect maternity dress for her pictures. Her daughter was perfectly dressed in a matching corduroy pink dress and I loved the sweater look her husband picked out.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have as much time on this chilly winter evening as I wanted, but we had a blast dancing, trying out new poses and just enjoying the togetherness and joy of having them back home. <3 <3 <3 I can’t wait to show you all the fun we will have when her twin newborns get here!

Ready to book your maternity session? Click here to get started.

Recently, I rounded up a few friends to try out the sweetest idea for Valentine Images. Filled with candy, this session created one of the most fun sessions to date, while challenging all of the moms to a never ending game of “what did you just put in your mouth?”. We ended the session with bellies full of candy and one of the best recipes ever an incredible portrait experience.

Ingredients:

10 + lbs of gumballs (give or take)
1 candy dispenser full of m&ms
A bag of large sweethearts
A bagful of small sweethearts.
a candy loving kid
Patience and a sense of humor about the candy consumed

First you take the gum balls and you pour them into a tub for the kids to play (Be sure to watch carefully or the babies will pop a whole gum ball into their mouth the moment they touch the candy). Add one candy dispenser full of m&ms and challenge the kids to get the m&ms out (but don’t give them any quarters). Next challenge the kids to lay on the gum balls or dig their toes into the candy and enjoy the sensory experience. Finally grab a handful of large sweethearts and toss them at your child while they giggle and protect themselves with a clear umbrella.

Finish the session off with a fun mini sweetheart toss and a couple of candies for the kids to enjoy as a reward for a job well done.

Or let us do the work and sign your child up for our upcoming Sweet As Can be Session happening January 25th.

Love our bff images from this set up? Just let me know you + a friend have signed up for these sweet valentine sessions and I will schedule you for back to back sessions so can grab your best friend pictures too.

The Best Arizona Maternity Session//Gilbert Family Photographer

How to get the best Valentine pictures of your child/Arizona Child Photographer