I’ve been photographing this sweet family for a while now here in the Phoenix area, and honestly, watching their little crew (or not so little anymore!) grow and shift through the seasons has been one of my favorite things. We’ve done it all together…sunflower fields glowing at golden hour, dreamy cotton field sessions, all the bright and colorful vibes. But this time, they were up for something a little different… something simple, soft, and full of that tall-grass, mountain-backdrop magic.
So we met at an easygoing spot that I had wanted to try and photograph at: Thunderbird Conservation Park in Glendale.
If you’ve never been, it’s one of those locations that quietly surprises you. It’s not the stereotypical “Arizona desert scene” with the saguaro forest and prickly pear everywhere. Instead, it has these rolling mountains in the distance that give off almost a Colorado-lite vibe…like you blink and suddenly forget you’re still in the Valley. The tall grasses, the open trails, the soft neutral tones… it’s just a breath of fresh air when you want that desert touch without it screaming desert. I can imagine this location is probably gorgeous in the spring too…I bet the wildflowers may be amazing!
And on this particular day? We got clouds. Big, soft, dreamy clouds that hung in just enough to diffuse the sunlight and give us those creamy, even tones photographers get a little too excited about. Instead of harsh shadows or squinty eyes, we had this gorgeous, muted glow that played so well with the open landscape behind them. The sky had that slight moody edge to it, which made the mountains pop even more.
The vibe of the session itself was super relaxed…exactly why I love this spot. There’s room to play, room to breathe, and no pressure from crowds or tight paths. And this family? They just settled right in. While we had a very short time together with an essential session, they leaned into the prompts, and they trusted me (as always), which makes all the difference. I love when families are willing to try a new location with me, especially one that doesn’t look like your typical Phoenix backdrop. It gives us a whole new feel to work with and adds variety to their gallery over the years.
By the end, we had this soft, mountain-kissed collection of images that felt peaceful and timeless…different from their past sessions, but still very them. And honestly? That’s my favorite part of photographing families again and again: each session becomes another little piece of their story, each location a different chapter.
Can’t wait for the next one with them.