Do your homework before you schedule a consultation with any potential photographer for your wedding. Take the time to really think about what you want from your photographer and what sort of images you love to look at. Are you drawn to a particular style of photography? Do you love big bold color and highly posed images or do you like a more soft and natural photograph? Flip through wedding and fashion magazines to get inspired. Spend an afternoon or a week poking around blogs and websites of the wedding photographers in your area. There are many different kinds of photographers out there each with their own style and expertise. The more educated you are the easier it is going to be to narrow the field and find just the right person to document your wedding. If you go into the consultation having thoroughly researched the photographer ahead of time I guarantee you will have a much more productive meeting. It is exciting when you find that person you know you can trust to tell the story your wedding.

Shelina and Curtis started their celebration with a pre-wedding sangeet party Friday night. It was a fun and colorful event with lots of delicious food and dancing. The highlight was when all of Shelina and Curtis’ friends got up and surprised the couple with a choreographed dance routine.

On Saturday Shelina and Curtis were married at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale. It was a perfect Arizona day without a cloud in the sky. I loved green color palette that was everywhere from the flowers to the bridesmaids heels. Shelina was stunning with just the right amount of bling. I wish Shelina and Curtis much love and happiness.

Click here to see their urban engagement session.

Venue: Troon North Golf Club
Rehearsal dinner: Indian Delhi Palace
Officiant: Mike Kennedy
Flowers: Flowers by Jodi
Henna: Art of India
DJ: Muscleman Music & More
Cake:  Sprinkles Cupcakes

If you closely you can see the tiny initials (CE) of Curtis’ name on Shelina’s left hand.

Thank you Shelina for helping me light your brand new husband!

January 8, 2011, I was working at home in the Phoenix area, editing photos as my 5 week-old son played on his floor mat beside me, when I heard on the radio that a gunman had gone on a rampage in Tucson, killing a number of innocent people and shooting Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the head. As I photographed the aftermath of the tragic event on that day and during the days that followed, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fragility of life and how in the blink of an eye everything can change. It was hard to believe that something like that could happen. Maybe it was the emotions of being a new mother, but more than other events I have covered I personally felt the grief and shock of the community.

One year later I knew I wanted to be with Tucson as Congresswoman Giffords made a rare public appearance in her hometown. I could hear chanting of “Gabby, Gabby” from across the lawn even before I could see her. As she stepped on stage wearing a bright red scarf, with her husband Mark Kelly by her side, the crowd of thousands rose to their feet and cheered. I moved into position to try to capture the best angle I could as Congresswoman Giffords proudly lead her community in the Pledge of Allegiance. What stood out the most to me as I shot those photos was her huge smile that lit up the stage and everyone around her.

While I photographed the people who attended the event I saw tears and hugs and healing. People were proud to be from Tucson. The memorial vigil celebrated those who lost their lives as well as those still recovering. People snapped their glow sticks and held them high.

As I write this my son is a year old and crawling all over the house. I look at him and I know that life is both precious and resilient.

This blog was originally posted on the Reuters photo blog.

I am not one for big New Year’s resolutions but I do like to take a little time to reflect at the last 12 months. This was a wonderful year both personally and professionally. I had the privilege of documenting the engagements, weddings and babies of some truly lovely couples many of whom I now consider friends. I photographed all kinds of people both famous and ordinary in my editorial work. I traveled all over Arizona from Nogales to the Navajo Nation for photographic assignments. I have been surrounded by love and friends and family and I know how lucky I am. Because I am a photographer the best way I know how to express myself is with pictures so here are some of my favorites from 2011. I tried not to go overboard but I really couldn’t help myself. Thank you and happy New Year.

Part of what I love about engagement sessions is finding unique and interesting locations for each couple.

So many gorgeous brides and grooms! The middle photo is from a magazine cover shoot I did in the spring (Click here to see more)

There is nothing sweeter than to photograph maternity and newborn photos for past clients and friends.

This was a spontaneous memorial outside the University Medical Center in Tucson the day US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot last January. Click here and here to read more about my experience photographing the aftermath of the tragedy.

I was seriously jittery in anticipation of photographing Stephen Hawking (left) and  I learned a ton about the Arizona/ Mexico border (right) during this shoot for Reuters. I have to say I get to do a lot of cool stuff as a freelance photojournalist.

Getting back out canyoneering was important to me after having Wyatt. Here my friend Eric rappels down Shake Tree Canyon.

Our trip home to Virginia to see my family.

These guys make me so happy!

I am really thankful that I listened to Siobhan and Dustin and did not reschedule their engagement session. The morning and early afternoon were plagued with thick gray clouds and rain throughout the valley. As our scheduled shoot time got closer it stopped raining so after some texts and phone calls we decided to go for it and hoped for the best. It turned out to be a beautiful evening as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. We started at the Desert Botanical Garden where Siobhan and Dustin will be getting married in the spring.  We then headed to downtown Phoenix for some more grungy urban shots. Earlier in the week I stumbled upon the Valley of the Sunflowers along 6th Street in Phoenix so I was excited to take Siobhan and Dustin there. Valley of the Sunflowers transformed a 2 acre vacant lot into a field of sunflowers- which happens to be my favorite type of flower.

Tracy and Nate were such a sweet couple to photograph during their Boojum Tree Hidden Garden engagement session. Boojum Tree is a funky, eclectic and super colorful venue that always makes for fun photographs. Tracy has amazing clear green eyes and the most wonderful curly red hair, I always wished my hair was that color like Anne of Green Gables. All my congratulations to Tracy and Nate. I wish you both nothing but happiness.

Krystal and James lucked out with a simply perfect evening at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve for their engagement session. The park was crowed with kids playing and people fishing but as we walked around we found plenty of little nooks for pictures. It was as if we were the only ones in the preserve.

I had too much fun photographing Dana and Steve’s engagement pictures. We started by chasing the fog in the morning and ended at the LOVE sculpture in Scottsdale. I really have to remember to tell couples to bring comfortable shoes, in addition to fabulous heels, because sometimes we end up off the beaten path. I can’t wait for their wedding in the spring!

When photographing children the number one thing a photographer must be is flexible. I recently photographed Connor and his lovely parents David and Sonya for some family portraits. Connor is 2 1/2 and he had absolutely no interest in sitting for a picture, and why should he? It was a beautiful day and there was so much to explore! Connor was happiest completely ignoring me and playing in a tree and that is when I got some of my cutest photos.

Congratulations to Jennifer and Todd! The weather was absolute perfection for this sweet couple. They could not have asked for a better day to highlight the beauty of the Arizona desert for all of their out of town guests. Jennifer looked gorgeous and was glowing the entire day, from the moment she put on her gown to the final dance of the night.

Venue: Foothills Golf Club
Flowers: Wendell Design Group Florist
Ceremony Music: Roger Paull
DJ: Citron Sound