I’ve been photographing Lexi’s family for 5 years now. And wow, one of my favorite parts of being a Phoenix local photographer is seeing the different milestones in families and just the journey of life! It’s honestly one of the most rewarding things about what I do.
I still remember photographing Lexi when she was about 13. And now look at her! Almost a full grown lady and graduating high school! That’s wild to me! Absolutely wild! And seeing this kind of transformation over the years is such a beautiful reminder of really how fast life moves.
Lexi is a country girl at heart. I mean, she’s been rocking the cowboy boots well before it was trendy…which we laughed about during her session, because she said people used to tease her about it, and now all the girls at school wear them.
When it came to planning Lexi’s senior photos, we went back and forth quite a bit on the perfect location. I had a few ideas… even a gorgeous farm out in Buckeye that allows sessions with cows and horses (which would have been right up her alley!). At first, we planned to do her photos at a lush green spot in Gilbert, AZ, but then Lexi saw some of my recent sessions at Papago Park in Phoenix and immediately fell in love with that desert backdrop.
And honestly, it was the perfect choice. The golden light at Papago Park paired beautifully with her country-inspired outfits. And especially that special belt buckle she had custom made with her high school logo. She also brought along some baby’s breath flowers, which added such a soft, feminine touch to her desert-inspired session.
Lexi graduates Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise, Arizona. She loves all things country like wildflowers, dirt roads, even horses and cows. She plays softball and is also a very smart girl in the running for a Presidential Scholarship at Northern Arizona University. She has big things happening already for her. Talk about driven!
As both a Phoenix family photographer and a Phoenix senior photographer, moments like these means so much to me. Watching these young girls I once photographed as kids step confidently into this next chapter, it’s everything! I chatted with Lexi’s mom during our session, and we both got a little emotional thinking about how these senior portraits are usually the last ones on the wall until the wedding day.
It’s such a bittersweet time for moms and for me as the photographer who’s been along for the journey. But wow, what an honor it is to document it all.