In October, I celebrated two years as the photographer for The Rim Country Living Magazine. As November, a month of gratitude, unfolds, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the incredible families and non-profit organizations I've had the joy of photographing for the magazine. I am grateful for the connections and moments we've captured together.
In this blog and the ones following, I will be sharing some images from these amazing families and organizations, along with fun stories from the photo sessions.
The Dugans
Shawn and Jill are an exceptionally hardworking couple in Payson. Despite their busy schedules, they graciously made time for a quick session at Green Valley Park. With a deep family history in Payson, they proudly own Payson Chevron, Rim Liquor, and the Payson Dump and Clean.
Both Shawn and Jill made my job easy. They are both very laid back and easy going. We had great conversation, and our session flowed in a timely manner. I had them out of there quickly and ready to start their busy day.
'Where Are They Now' The Klein Family, The Davis Family and The Smith Family
The "Where are They Now" Issue featured three families that were previously featured in the magazine. This was a fun photo session, and it was also my first one back after having major back surgery and being off work for seven months. Each family very gracious and patient with me as I was still moving very slowly.
Joe and Katie Klein, proud parents of two lovely daughters, Brooklyn and Ellie, are the owners of Axis Culture Group—a dynamic marketing and consulting company, as well as Danzeisen Dairy.
Payson residents Bobby and Nina Davis are very active in town. Bobby and Nina are long-time members of the Payson Kiwanis, past Town of Payson Economic Director, part owner of the Payson Golf Club and Mayor of Star Valley. They have been married for 42 years.
Steve and Tina Smith, who were the publishers of the magazine at the time, have a combined family of four children and three grandchildren. They have since relocated to Southern Arizona to be closer to family. Their vibrant presence and active involvement in town are dearly missed by the community.
The Morgan Family
The photo session with The Morgans posed some challenges due to their busy schedules and the August monsoon storms. We had to reschedule multiple times, but thanks to Tina's quick thinking and Bob Jackson's generosity in allowing us to use the Manor House by the Payson Golf Course, we finally got the session done with only a few days to spare before the deadline.
Deniese, Shawn, Breezey, and Skeet make up an energetic and enjoyable family. The kids' active involvement in sports keeps the whole family on the move.
Over the past year Breezey had been modeling for me as I prepare to introduce a new high school senior product line.
Steve and Karen Christensen
I've known Steve and Karen for quite some time. Steve, like me, is a photographer and a fellow member of the Rim Country Camera Club. Our photo session turned out to be a delightful adventure as we traveled to the top of the Rim, blessed with a beautiful afternoon.
I learned that Karen wasn't a fan of having her photo taken, and initially, she wasn't too excited about the session. I assured her we'd keep it fun and laid-back. There were moments where I danced and said silly things behind the camera, and surprisingly, it worked! Each time, I managed to capture genuine smiles, and in the end, Karen loved the images.
There's nothing more satisfying than making a client happy.
The Crespin Family
All I can say about this session is FUN! This session was an absolute blast! Matt, Maia, and their son Maz are an incredibly fun family. The atmosphere was filled with vibrant energy and love throughout.
Once Maia Crespin (former Rim Country Chamber Executive Director) found out the issue her family was going to be featured in was December, she volunteered to set up the family Christmas tree and unwrap presents for the session. Mind you, I do each session two months before the family is featured, so we did our session in October. Talk about being prepard for Christmas!
Matt, owner of fast growing State Farm insurance agency, and Maia are highly involved in our town. Maia, a bundle of energy, serves as a fantastic spokesperson for all the businesses in our community.
The Savage Family
High school sweethearts Danny and Monica Savage have been married for 39 years. They have two grown sons and four adorable grandsons.
The dynamic energy of the four young boys brought spontaneity to the photo session. This session was in December, and it was chilly and got cold as time went on. The entire family, boys included, exhibited exceptional cooperation and handled the cold exceptionally well.
Monica is well known in our town; she not only works for the Payson Fire Department. She is an ambassador for the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a Rodan & Fields skincare consultant.
Danny, a retired county road supervisor, is enjoying retirement and a working part-time job.
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