I got goosebumps as Rachel walked down the aisle with her mother and father at her side to a beautiful rendition of “Sunrise Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof. I always loved that song and it not only makes me think about watching Fiddler on the Roof at my grandma’s house as a kid but also my own son and how fast he will grow up too. The ceremony was conducted in both English and Spanish so every family member and guest could enjoy witnessing the nuptials. The reception room at Sassi seemed to glow by candle light accented with bold sunflowers. The party was alive with dancing and everyone singing together arm in arm. There was a great blend throughout the night of Latin music and Jewish traditions like the hora. It was fantastic to get to know Rachel and Ernesto and their families and I wish them many congratulations!

Wedding Venue: Sassi
Venue coordinator: Bernice Hertzfeldt
Officiant: Rabbi Jack Silver
Ceremony music: Allegro Quartet
Flowers: Suzanne Taussig Wedding & Event Design
Band: Treja Vu
Wedding dress: Schaffers
Tuxedo: Schaffers
Hair and Makeup: Visual Impact Salon
Invitations & stationary: Be In Love Designs: Wedding & Event Stationary
Linens: Classic Party Rentals
Videographer: Esthetics in Motion
Cake: Let Them Eat Cake

The alarm went off on Elizabeth’s phone 15 minutes before the ceremony was to start with a message that read “Marry Mike!” I thought that was really sweet. The moment was finally here that Elizabeth and Mike had been planning and waiting for for so long. Elizabeth looked stunning in a form fitted lace gown. The only one missing was Mike and Elizabeth’s little darling Bella, their dog, who I was hoping would make a fluffy white appearance at the wedding. I wish Elizabeth and Mike all the best and many wonderful years together.

Click here to see Elizabeth and Mike’s engagement session.

The first look.

Wedding Venue: Sassi
Venue coordinator: Bernice Hertzfeldt
DJ: Ray the DJ
Cake: Let them Eat Cake

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby? How about 2 sleeping babies. I was lucky enough to photograph identical twins Emmett and Andrew for my friends John and Kim. At 10 days old these boys were sleepy and fussy, hungry and content, crying and calm. Each taking turns with their emotions. As I photographed the little guys they relaxed, cuddled up together, and held hands. I love these boys already and I am excited to watch them grow.

The band around each of the boy’s ankles helps tell them apart.

With their big sister.

Fresh from her hair and makeup trial Marnel looked beautiful for her and Mark’s engagement session. They wanted photos that felt like Arizona, prickly trees and all so I think we accomplished that! I love that Mark and Marnel came prepared for their photo shoot with two outfits and a change of shoes so that we could go on a mini photo hike adventure complete with a cave built for two.

On her wedding day I met Stacey at her parents home where she was getting ready with her bridesmaids. Covering the walls were the most beautiful old family photos including generations of wedding portraits. Grandparents and great grandparents on their wedding day, some smiling, some reserved, every one a treasure. Stacey was lucky to wear pieces of her family history. A diamond ring, pearl necklace and pearl bracelet each with its own story to tell. Stacey and Eric were married at Foothills Gold Club in Ahwatukee. I really loved Stacey’s bouquet that tied in her lush color palette of crimson and purple. Friends and family danced the night away to celebrate Stacey and Eric’s union. I am so happy for this couple to add their wedding portrait to the family history.

Wedding Venue: Foothills Golf Club
Cake: Robert’s Catering
Flowers: Foothills Floral Gallery
DJ: Rock Around the Clock Entertainment, Inc.
Makeup: Gina Schroeder Creations
Tuxedo: Mr. Formal
Invitations & stationary: Definitely Debra

Samantha and Hank are a perfect match. Both lovely people inside and out they met at the gym where Hank was Samantha’s personal trainer. Samantha and Hank were married at Sassi in north Scottsdale. The purple and lavender color palette was beautiful in the desert Italian villa setting. It is always a pleasure for me to be there to capture such a joyful day and I am so glad to have had the chance to get to know this beautiful couple. Congratulations!

Wedding Venue: Sassi
Officiant: Rev. Rick Bell
Ceremony music: String Serenade
Flowers: Petal Pusher
DJ: DJ Akshen
Hair: Elle Harting
Makeup: Aesthetics by Jena
Wedding dress: Kaira’s Bridal
Cake: Let Them Eat Cake
Invitations & stationary: Lisabelle Creations
Linens: Munkeboe Party Linen Rentals
Videographer: Fable
Favors: Elizabeth’s Moments of Joy

Summer was radiant for her high school senior portrait session as we walked around Scottsdale. Good luck at Arizona State University in the fall!

Team EvBeck filled their wedding day with personal details. Evan wore a top hat and tails, bouquets and centerpieces were all succulents, the flower girl threw ivy, they cut the cake with a sword and their first dance was a full rendition of “the dance” in Dirty Dancing (the best movie ever by the way). So full of fun and joy Becky and Evan skipped down the aisle together after being pronounced husband and wife. I wish Evan and Becky many years of laughter together.

The Ketubah and Bedeken ceremony

Dirty Dancing

Wedding ceremony: Orange Tree Golf Club
Reception: Congregation Beth Israel
Wedding coordinator: Elizabeth Naughton
Rabbi: Micah Caplan
Harpist: Cindy Baker
Band: Marty Tams Music & Entertainment
Catering: Levi Caters
Bartender: Hey Bartender!

Paula and David met on a cruise ship, a trip they were both on with their parents. A trip where everyone else on the boat was about 30 or 40+ years older them. A journey along the Mediterranean Sea is a pretty fabulous place to begin a relationship. Paula and David now both live in Washington DC so Arizona was a destination wedding for them and many of their guests including an whole contingency of family from Italy. During Paula and David’s engagement session last winter they kept me and each other laughing throughout the shoot so I knew their wedding was going to be fun. They had a unique plan for their day with a religious, and emotional, ceremony at Brophy Chapel for their close family in the early afternoon followed by a second ceremony in front of all their guests at the Royal Palms later in the day (with an In-N-Out Burger run in the middle). The historic Royal Palms is an exquisite venue for a wedding with meandering walkways around the property and views of Camelback Mountain towering above. Paula was an absolutely beautiful bride. In my previous engagement session blog post I wrote that David was rather handsome, but on his wedding day in a tuxedo and bow tie he was downright dashing. The party got going with music from the live band Sapphire Sky. One of my favorite parts of the party was when Paula and all her girlfriends danced their hearts out to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” Thank you Paula and David for including me in your wonderful wedding!

Click here to see Paula and David’s engagement session pictures.

Ceremony: Brophy Chapel
Reception: Royal Palms Resort and Spa
Ceremony music: Celebration Strings
Band: Sapphire Sky
Dress: Monique lilheur
Bridesmaids dress: J. Crew
Tuxedo: DNKY
Invitations & stationary: The Paper Source

I am always thrilled when I have the opportunity to shoot for PHOENIX Magazine. They do wonderful work and share interesting stories about our community. Photographing along side writer Wynter Holden we covered people involved in the urban gardening community around Phoenix- “Seeds in the City”.

I love the idea of edible backyard landscapes and I feel inspired to start one of my own after seeing all the possibilities. One of my favorite quotes from the story came from Kenny Barrett with Truck Farm Phoenix. He said “I didn’t know what a Brussels sprout plant looked like, and that bothered me.” I never really thought about that but on the first shoot I did for this project at the International Rescue Committee’s New Roots program I saw broccoli growing for the first time. What a simple idea- knowing what food looks like and where it comes from. I also learned about chickens while visiting Holly and Eric Figueroa and photographing their backyard chicken coop. I had no idea how beautiful and colorful eggs can be.

My first stop on my goal to gardening will definitely be Root Phoenix. I photographed The Urban Farm founder Greg Peterson early one morning at his latest project Root Phoenix, a community organization offering gardening classes among other things. His passion for growing the food you eat is contagious. Before I started this project I was talking with the photography editor at PHOENIX Magazine, who gardens himself, and he talked about how much fun his young children have in their garden and how they love to eat lettuce. As a mother to a toddler who now refuses to eat anything green that alone makes me want to get started already.

Pick up a copy of the May 2013 issue on newsstands now.

PHOENIX Magazine
International Rescue Committee
Root Phoenix
Truck Farm Phoenix
Holly and Eric’s Urban Farm

Root Phoenix

Greg Peterson

International Rescue Committee’s New Roots

Truck Farm Phoenix