Absolutely fitting is the only way to describe photographing this family at Manistee Ranch in Glendale, AZ. Joceline Mohn, the lovely lady in these photos, has been my trusted sidekick at Memories by Candace for four incredible years. However, this year, she’s stepping down to focus on her family. As a photographer, weekends often get consumed by sessions, and it’s the only time her husband, Ryan, is home. Pulling her away from family time was really starting to tug at her heartstrings, and I completely understand and support her decision.

Manistee Ranch holds a special place in our story. It’s where Joceline and I first met about six years ago while working for another photography company. We instantly clicked. I trained her, and she became so much like me behind the lens. In fact, when we photograph weddings together, sometimes I go through her photos and find the exact same shot from the exact same angle as mine. She’s like a mini version of me, just 10 years younger.

Joceline is now at a point in her life that I once was. She plans to homeschool her girls, just as I did. Family is everything to her, just as it always has been for me, especially when my girls were young. She reminds me so much of myself, not just in photography but in life. So, when she told me she was stepping down, my heart broke, but I completely understood.

To honor our journey, we took her and her family back to where it all began – Manistee Ranch. This place is a treasure trove of memories for us, having photographed there countless times during our early days. This session was a beautiful full-circle moment, capturing the essence of where it all started for Joceline and me.