They moved to New Hampshire, but apparently, they weren’t getting rid of me that easily.
I’ve been photographing this family since 2020, and every year, we find our way back to the sunflowers. These Buckeye sunflower family photos are the latest chapter in a tradition that has continued through growing kids, new milestones, and a move across the country.
As a Phoenix family photographer, getting to see families return is one of my favorite parts of this job. Having them fly back to Arizona and continue making me part of their lives? That means more than I can really put into words.
Six Years of Being Part of Their Story
Our history includes maternity photos, newborn photos, little graduation photos, and Santa photos. I’ve even been invited into their home for birthday parties.
Somewhere along the way, they started feeling like family.
My own daughter used to babysit for them, which makes seeing how much these kids have grown feel even more personal. The oldest is getting close to my height now, and I would appreciate it if everyone could slow down just a little.
That’s the part of photographing a family over the years that gets me. I remember the baby who used to fit in their parents’ arms. Then that same child is standing in a sunflower field, showing me a whole personality.
And through all those changes, we’ve kept this one tradition: sunflower photos. Every single year.
A Rainy Phoenix Weekend and a Very Small Window
This year’s session took a little extra weather watching.
Mom was in Arizona for the full week, but Dad flew in for just a couple of days so he could be included in the photos. With everyone visiting from out of town, we had very little room to reschedule.
Naturally, Phoenix decided that would be a good weekend for rain.
It had rained for much of the day, and I think Mom and I were both worried about the same things. Would the rain stop? How muddy would the fields be? Could we make this work while everyone was still here?
I had umbrellas ready. We were going to give ourselves every chance to make these photos happen, but I’ll admit I was nervous about what I would find when I pulled up.
A Lucky Break in the Buckeye Sunflower Fields
Thankfully, the ground wasn’t nearly as muddy as I had imagined, and the rain held off where we were photographing.
I heard afterward that it had rained just down the road. Apparently, we had picked the right little patch of Buckeye.
We still had cloudy skies and some mud to work around, but we also had the whole family together. After all the planning and worrying, we could finally settle into the session.
There were sunflower rows to wander through, kids to cuddle, and another year of this family’s story to photograph.
The umbrellas got to sit this one out. I was perfectly fine with that.
More Than an Annual Photo Session
I love the sunflowers, but what makes these sessions special is knowing the people standing in them.
I’ve watched this family grow since 2020. Now they live across the country, and they still make time for photos with me when they return. I don’t take that trust lightly.
This year took flights, a short window with Dad, and two adults checking the weather probably more often than necessary. But we got everyone together in the sunflower fields again.
Another year, another chapter, and one very grateful photographer.
If you’re planning family photos in Phoenix, Buckeye, or the West Valley, I’d love to help you create