One of my favorite parts about being a family photographer is photographing a family through so many seasons of life. These Glendale, AZ family photos were extra meaningful to me because this sweet family has been with me for years now. I first met this family from Gilbert, Arizona when mom was pregnant with their oldest son before he was even earthside. Since then, I’ve had the honor of photographing newborn sessions, maternity sessions, family milestones, and now watching these two little personalities grow into the most fun siblings together.
That’s one of my coolest parts about being a family photographer, it’s not that I’m just meeting new families all the time. We show up, hug, catch up, and it stops feeling like “just a session” and starts feeling like catching up with old friends while documenting the beautiful chaos of real life.
For this session, we chose one of my favorite green locations for family photos in Glendale, Arizona. This location is actually pretty centrally located in Phoenix, so that’s another reason why it’s a favorite for many of my clients. It’s right on the edge of that Glendale city line and Phoenix. Over the years with this family, we’ve photographed together in so many different landscapes… from the warm desert tones Arizona is known for, to the dreamy Salt River, to lush green locations like this one. I love that every session we do together feels completely different while still feeling so them.
This time around at this green location in Glendale, AZ, I really wanted these playful family photos to focus less on perfect posing and more on connection, movement, and personality cause the kids are growing and they certainly are showing more and more personality! I wanted the kids to laugh, explore, snuggle, run around, and just be themselves. Some of my favorite images from the session came from the in-between moments the giggles, the tickling, the chaos, and the little interactions that parents never want to forget.
Playful sessions like this really do a lot for younger kids.
Instead of asking everyone to stand perfectly still and smile at the camera the entire time, I love using playful prompts during family photos. It helps kids stay engaged, keeps parents relaxed, and creates images that feel genuine and full of life. Whether it’s walking together, tickling the kids, or snuggling up close, those moments always end up becoming the photos families treasure most years later.
And these two kiddos absolutely delivered.
Big brother has grown so much, and seeing him interact with his little sister now was one of those moments that makes me pause behind the camera for a second. He was actually pretty gentle with his sister and such a good big brother. Watching families grow over the years is one of the biggest privileges of this job.
If you’re looking for family photos that feel relaxed, connected, and full of personality, I’d love to help create something that feels true to your family. Whether you love desert landscapes, river sessions, or green locations like this one, the goal is always the same…documenting your family in a way that feels natural, emotional, and genuinely joyful.
Because the playful moments?
Those are usually the ones you’ll miss the most someday.