Oh what a pleasure it was to meet this most amazing, gorgeous family.  Since we shot this session a few weeks ago, Dad has since deployed to Iraq where he will be for about 13 months.  Long months when you have four children and a wife who are at home!
What an honor it was to shoot Dale and Amy and their children – their session could not have gone better – from the ADORABLE little patriotic outfits on the girls, to the boys in their camo.

Be safe, Dale, and come home soon! And… THANK YOU for your service!!!

Other photographers dread family sessions. So many people, expressions, attitudes, and such. Pshaw on that, says I! Sure, family portrait sessions can be intimidating and serious and stuff but not with Priceless Reflections by Melissa! We have F*U*N!

I do believe we have a future golf pro in the making here. Love capturing his serious expression and concentration.

A little brotherly love… say it with me now… “awww…” and their sweet, rough and tumble, wee one.

Daddy, best get your shotgun ready now. One day she’ll leave her glorious princess bedroom for a date with Prince Charming. She’s already a heartbreaker!

This little princess has been a Priceless Reflections by Melissa client since she was just a few days old. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow and the honor of documenting her life through portraits for her family. On this day, she was real trooper and full of laughs, giggles, and that batting eyelashes look that every little girl seems to master to get what she she wants.

Recognize her from the top of the Smugmug site where you view your images after the session? She’s growing up!

As Mom to two boys, I can relate to that incredible bond between mothers and sons, and this session really rocked my socks because I got to focus on their relationship. No distractions, no other STUFF, just mom, son, and me… along with some seriously killer light.

That’s not to say it was all serious and deep – we have too much fun for that!

Mom’s got a heartbreaker on her hands. Oh, those eyes!

Piece of really cool but totally useless trivia: Mom attended college with my husband in Carbondale. How cool is that?  Let’s all bust out in a chorus of, “It’s a Small World!”

The Kahn Family has a new home. Well, at least at mealtime. We’ve fallen head-over-heels in lust (can I say that here?) for Pita Jungle in Chandler. Healthy fresh options that I don’t have to cook, everyone has a favorite, and you can eat in, order takeout, and even order online so it’s ready when you get there.

My favorite is the Shawarma (Mediterranean Roasted Chicken) in a pita with mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, pickles, garlic sauce and tahini. If you sit on the vegan side of the table, you can take a peek at their Vegan Friendly Chart to find out which options fit your lifestyle. Pretty cool, huh?!? Top off your meal with a dessert or maybe a smoothie made with frozen yogurt or soy milk. Yum.

You’ll find Pita Jungle of Chandler at 1949 W. Ray Road and they’re open from 11am-10pm every day. You can reach them at 480.855.3232 to place a to-go order or get directions.

Oh me oh my! What an incredible week I had last week, shooting literally thousands of photos of some of Cincinnati’s best and cutest families, kids etc!  From eensy weensy babies, to big kids and their parents, what a week it was!  Here’s just a sneak peek preview of some of the FUN we all had last week!

Huge SHOUT OUT and Mega-THANK YOU to Dana and Ben, who were my assistants.  Ben took some awesome shots – and Dana, as always, was the best assistant of all time!  Thank you to both of you for the help!

Without further adieu.. check out some of the fun from last week:

One of the best parts of living here in Phoenix is our proximity to all things “Western” … cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and big belt buckles.  Coming from Cincinnati… well, it’s taken some time to get used to seeing these things frequently, but it’s really cute how all the little ones get into it!

This little cowboy was SO very excited to sport his brand new cowboy hat … so during his photo shoot of course we had to bring it out for a few shots…..

Photographing this family is always a treat – whether in Cincinnati – or here in Scottsdale!  I love it when my clients from Ohio end up vacationing in Arizona, and call me for photos!  I’ve had the pleasure of photographing Caleb and Campbell for quite some time now — and with every session, I just love them more and more!  (Plus it helps that their parents are really AWESOME too!)

I photographed the twins in Old Towne Scottsdale and then we went to the Sugar Bowl (haven’t been? I highly recommend it!)…. for some ice cream and of course, more photos!

I met this charming West Side couple at the Civic Center in Scottsdale for pre-wedding portraits.

They were getting married at the courthouse but still wanted fabulous engagement-style  portraits to remember the day. They’re super sweet, so very much in love, and they made my job so easy.

Just look!

They celebrated the big event at a small Brazilian restaurant with family and close friends and I can’t wait to show them the rest of their images !