Scottsdale Family Photographs | McDowell Mountain

 

Scottsdale Family Photography Session | McDowell Mountain

Morning family photo sessions might be my favorite.  Mostly because I can show up with a giant mug of coffee and no one judges me – when I do that at 5 pm, I feel like people make assumptions about my caffeine intake.  Correct assumptions.  But still.  Stop judging me.

Haha.  In all seriousness, I have really fallen in love with these sessions lately for so many reasons.  Yes, coffee.  But also, and more importantly: THAT LIGHT THO.  I typically schedule my family photography sessions for right around sunrise or sunset because that is when we get that beautiful, flattering, gorgeous, golden light.  Cue all of the exploding heart-eye emojis.

 

And the thing I like about mornings?  We’re usually alone – the landscape is quiet, the hiking trails are empty, and we have the beautiful Arizona mountains to ourselves.

Another bonus: mornings usually make for pretty happy kids.  Now, I’m not saying we should wake them up early and yell at them about getting their clothes dirty and make them stand around and say, “CHEESE” for an hour before they’ve had their breakfast.  But, if your family is full of early risers (if your kids sleep in, I hate you.  Also, jealousy. Lastly, teach me HOW) a morning family photography session could be perfect for you.  We do a little posing, but then we just explore and tickle and run around and promise chocolate chip pancakes as a reward.

 

Other perks of early photo sessions: Less opportunity for the day to go to sh*t and your kid skip her nap or fall on her face, thus making an evening photoshoot a total disaster.  Less traffic getting to your session.  Less likely to have one of those nasty afternoon thunderstorms roll through.  Less guilt for having that 9 a.m. mimosa, because after surviving a family photo session YOU DESERVE ONE, GOSH DARNIT! Haha.

When this sweet family came to Phoenix for a little getaway, they knew they wanted a classic mountain location with giant cactus and that iconic Arizona feel.  We met as the sun was coming up over the McDowell Mountain range, and I think you’ll agree – it went well.  That sunlight, those mountains, the warm morning glow.  That lovable little girl and those happy mommas.  I’ve photographed this family 3 times now, and this is my favorite session yet.

 

Virginia Stiles is a Phoenix Portrait Photographer specializing in family, wedding, and newborn photography.  To learn more about her family photography sessions, click here!  Get in touch now (click here!) to chat, learn more, and book your photo shoot with me.