Sierra Studios Photography | Blog

New Blog!

2011-11-23T21:03:00.001-07:00

Sierra Studios is now Jessica Downey Photo! Please visit the beautiful NEW BLOG and don't forget to become a fan of Jessica Downey Photo on Facebook to get the skinny on a big fun giveaway coming up right after Thanksgiving... You'll love the amazing prizes from Whippy Cake, Vintage Rose Wraps, Becky Higgins' Project Life, The TomKat Studio and many many more!!!

holly brimhall | mini sessions

2011-11-08T22:56:00.001-07:00

I was beyond excited when the amazing Holly Brimhall contacted me for a mini session! She is simply one of the greatest newborn photographers and I admire her so much. I was happy to capture her with her beautiful family. Seriously - are they gorgeous or what???

autumn | engagement session

2011-10-21T20:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe we don't have amazing multicolor leaves in the fall like some places do, but autumn is still a beautiful time in Arizona. Nothing beats warm dreamy sunshine and an adorable couple in love!

at the grove | family session

2011-10-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

This orange grove is one of my absolute favorite locations... so much charm and variety! Add to it an adorable family with a perfect wardrobe and you get an AMAZING session!

chantelle nicole designs | product photography

2011-09-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Beautiful handmade jewelry, lovely models and gorgeous lighting. These photos will find a home at Chantelle Nicole Designs.

cute and colorful | 9 month session

2011-09-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

This cutie has been coming to me for pictures ever since she was a newborn! It's been so sweet to see her grow into a busy little toddler.

school days

2011-09-01T21:38:00.001-07:00

Even though it was 113 degrees here in Arizona today, and even though school started weeks ago for us, September always gets me in a nostalgic, back-to-school kind of mood. Ahhh, the crisp autumn air, the new shoes, the smell of library books and crayons. Happy September, everyone!

fall mini sessions | samples

2011-08-28T18:00:00.005-07:00

Here are some examples of what to expect from my Fall mini sessions this year. My husband has been working so hard to build this wood set and I think it's amazing!!! For the mini sessions you'll have a choice of three different looks: this vintage gold sofa with burlap banner and poms, my aqua velvet sofa with a multicolored vintage hankie banner, or my new vintage orange sofa with a vintage doily banner. You can find all the details on the mini sessions, as well as booking information on my availability page.

And just like they are with standard sessions, beautiful holiday cards are available with the minis!

california road trip | vintage finds

2011-08-25T11:01:00.001-07:00

I took a refreshing little road trip to Thousand Oaks last weekend on my own and I loved driving through the beautiful rolling hills right near where I grew up. I even visited my childhood home and elementary school. Ahhh, memories!

But the main reason for my excusion was to attend an amazing vintage sale, and boy did I score some great stuff! I also made it to a few antique markets in the area as well. Here's a peek at only a few of the many amazing finds from my trip. I'm so excited to start using these treasures in some photo shoots!

featured | summit avenue design

2011-08-23T21:56:00.002-07:00

I'm so excited that my photography is being featured in some beautiful new holiday cards by Summit Avenue Design! This shop is full of seriously great stuff for photographers and digital scrappers. I really love the vintage yet modern feel.

And of course these holiday card designs will be available for my clients this year, both in these new shapes (additional charges may apply) and in the traditional squared shapes. Can't you just see your family in one of these adorable card designs?!?

new collection preview | whippy cake

2011-08-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Just wait until you see the rest of the collection and the gorgeous photo shoot!

in the pecan grove | family session

2011-08-03T21:29:00.001-07:00

This is a session from last Fall that I never got a chance to post. The family... amiable, adorable and fun! And the mom is truly the cutest sweetest person ever! Totally love her.

new designs | photo books

2011-07-24T18:11:00.006-07:00

I'm so excited to show you some examples of the new designs available for photo books! These books are a perfect way to cherish and display the images from your session or wedding. They have ten flush, lay-flat page spreads (twenty pages total) made with your choice of thick specialty papers. Beautiful!

This design is called Simplicity. In the first image you can see the wrap-around cover that extends from the back to the front. The names are on the book spine.

The next design is called Bliss. Here is a look at the cover and some pages...

And one more! This one is entitled Dashing. The first image is the cover.

Are you getting excited about Fall family sessions yet? It's almost time! Stay tuned for a peek at my first ever Fall mini sessions which I'll be announcing very soon!

handsome little one | three month session

2011-06-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

You may remember this little one from his newborn session. He is growing by leaps and bounds and getting more adorable by the minute!

FOUND | product photography

2011-06-22T21:35:00.001-07:00

You must check out this amazing store in downtown Mesa called FOUND. I am so happy to be doing some product photography for Kristin, as well as for her other store, Domestic Bliss, which is more of a fun boutique.

Kristin also does interior design. I am in love with her beautiful house!

from california | family session

2011-06-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

This cute little family came all the way out from Southern California for this fun, beautiful session. It was pretty darn warm outside since this was my last family session before the summer heat sets in. But they were great!

korttney | senior session

2011-05-25T20:43:00.003-07:00

You've probably seen this lovely young lady on my blog before, and I'm sure you will see much more of her here in the future! This is her official senior session.

sweet | workshop

2011-05-16T16:02:00.002-07:00

Sweet friend on a sweet ride. This is a shooting exercise we do at my Snap Happy Workshops to practice the technique for focusing on moving subjects.

warm and lovely | engagement session

2011-05-04T17:55:00.004-07:00

Everything about this session is so warm and happy. Such a sweet couple, cute dog... and the dress! I am seriously loving this dress! And here is a little peek at the pinwheels I mentioned on Facebook. My husband and I actually made fourteen of them. That's a lot of cutting! But totally worth it. I'm looking forward to using them in some future sessions as well.

violet bella | product photography

2011-04-24T15:21:00.003-07:00

The Violet Bella jewelry designs are gorgeous, vintage inspired and a bit funky, and I adored creating images for their Spring Look Book!

The totally beautiful styling, hair and makeup by The Beauty Mark, who are also available for family photo styling. Brilliant!

sheree + brett | a utah wedding

2011-04-15T11:40:00.005-07:00

Although it seems crazy to me, this beautiful snowy wedding took place just last weekend! It was gorgeous, but I must confess that I'm made for warm weather. No more snow for me please!

A cute side note: the bride's older brother made her necklace for her by hand. Is that just the sweetest thing you've ever heard?

first annual wall display contest!

2011-04-07T16:26:00.003-07:00

I'm excited to get started with Sierra Studio's First Annual Wall Display Contest! I have loved seeing all the entries this year and I look forward to seeing more and more over the years. It's so fun to discover what my clients come up with. After all, what could be more awesome than filling your walls with beautiful images of your favorite people!?!

I have narrowed it down to three finalists:

Entry #1
framed prints - two 24x36

Entry #2
canvases - one 36x24, one 24x20 and four 20x20

Entry #3
framed and matted prints - one 11x14, two 5x7 and two 4x6

The winning entry will receive a set of two mini accordian brag books with pictures from their latest session!

*other designs are also available*

Please leave a comment on this post voting for your ONE favorite. You may not vote for your own entry. And be sure to leave your name and city/state in your comment since I will be randomly choosing one lucky VOTER to also WIN A PRIZE!

*For an additional chance to win the voter's prize, become a fan of Sierra Studios Photography on Facebook and leave an additional comment telling me you did!

summer collection preview | whippy cake

2011-04-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

Beautiful and fun new collection available soon from Whippy Cake. I love doing these website shoots!

still tiny | newborn session

2011-03-27T21:50:00.003-07:00

This handsome little guy was born prematurely, so he was still tiny, even though he was several weeks old. And I just love how this session turned out, despite the fact that we had an extremely hard time getting him to sleep!

preview | what's your virtue?

2011-03-16T18:34:00.004-07:00

Here is a small preview of the gorgeous shoot I did recently with What's Your Virtue? They are an amazing lip gloss company, and I LOVE their products! What's even more, I love their story...

In the beginning, there was a mother with teen and preteen daughters. While on a shopping trip, she was made keenly aware of what beauty products were available to purchase. She was shocked at the explicit and suggestive names found on numerous brands of lip gloss. She didn’t feel it was appropriate for her 13 year old daughter to put such messaging in her pocket, let alone on her lips. The mother went home with no lip gloss, but with a strong desire to make a difference. After collaborating with her friends, an idea was born to create a lip gloss that would support a positive message, not only for her girls but for women everywhere.

Enter What’s Your Virtue?, a company founded by three friends who believe beauty starts from within. We want to remind all women of the simple and virtuous things in life. What better place to start than on your lips?

featured | hostess with the mostess

2011-03-03T12:52:00.004-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a party for my friend Lindsay Banner, the sweet little lady of Banner Boutique. It was so lovely and I had so much fun capturing all the charming little details. Besides her adorable decorations and scrumptious desserts, the party was also the debut of a lovely new printable collection by The TomKat Studio. And now her party and my photography are being featured on The Hostess with the Mostess! Holy moly! How excited am I right now?!! Be sure to check out the HWTM blog to see and read about all the beautiful party goodness!

Party styling: Lindsay Banner of Banner Boutique
Printable paper collection: Kim Stoegbauer of The TomKat Studio
Desserts: Malisa of Ms. Sweet Soiree
Mini Spring Sugar Cookies: Cukor Cookies
Cupcakes: The Coffee Shop
Craft punches for printables: Martha Stewart at Michael's

vintage cowgirl | one year session

2011-02-26T18:37:00.003-07:00

Such a cute session with this little sweetie. I loved her mom's idea of doing pictures for her vintage cowgirl themed first birthday party!

featured | the sweetheart shout out

2011-02-21T09:37:00.004-07:00

I was so excited to be contacted by Tara of The Sweetheart Shout Out! She is such a talented wedding announcement designer and I'm absolutely elated to have my photography featured in some of her new designs!

The rest of her designs totally rock too. What are you waiting for... go check em out!!

colter | senior session

2011-02-13T22:14:00.005-07:00

My first senior session of the year! This handsome young man is the son of a friend of mine and I was so happy to be able to do this session for them! He was a total natural in front of the camera.

desert beauty | engagement session

2011-02-05T21:46:00.005-07:00

Love this beautiful desert setting in the soft evening sunlight. Such a sweet couple too!

wall display contest | coming soon

2011-01-28T20:44:00.006-07:00

I just wanted give you a little tease of a fun contest that is in the works! In a few weeks I will be posting entries of my clients who have created fabulous wall displays in their homes with their Sierra Studios images. Then the voting begins! The great news is that not only will the winning display contestant win a prize, but I will also be randomly choosing a voter to win a prize as well! So even if you haven't had a session with me yet, you can still get in on the winning!!

And for a little creative inspiration... The photo above is the display I created in our family room with the photos from my session with my kids. I love the way it turned out. It really fills up that wall space with nine 11x14's. When creating a wall display, remember to think big!

ryan + ashely | a san diego wedding

2011-01-21T20:26:00.003-07:00

It was so fun going to San Diego (my hometown!) to photograph Ashley and Ryan on their wedding day. It is a wonderful city to take pictures in, even when it's gray and drizzly. Here are some of my favorites from this amazing day.

new collection preview | whippy cake

2011-01-09T17:51:00.004-07:00

New website and new collection appearing next week! Sooo gorgeous. With photos by yours truly.

couture | family session

2011-01-04T23:18:00.006-07:00

Meet Shayce of Chateau Coture and her beautiful little family! I have admired this lady ever since I first saw her. She has an unmistakable presence that stands out in a crowd and makes you take notice! I so love the way she styled this session. I'm not surprised though because she is an amazing designer. You have to check out her website. I know you will fall in love with her dramatic yet whimsical style, just like I have!

featured | shabby blogs

2010-12-26T17:21:00.006-07:00

I am so blessed to have been able to meet sweet Megan of Shabby Blogs! Though she lives in Michigan, she scheduled a session with me while she was here for the holidays and I had a great time capturing her lovely little family. As if that wasn't wonderful enough... she has asked me to become part of the Shabby Blogs team and I'm so very excited and humbled to work with her! She is such a doll and I was so charmed by her and her family, even just in the short time I spent with them.

And if you are one of the very few people on earth who have not yet discovered Shabby Blogs, head over to the website and check out all the amazing, free, fabulous stuff to beautify your blog!

chelsea + jeremy | a phoenix wedding

2010-12-24T12:27:00.003-07:00

I really loved photographing Chelsea and Jeremy's wedding. Not only are they adorable, but the location was so amazing! I was in heaven shooting at such a beautiful Tuscan villa located just across the golf course from the Wrigley Mansion!

christmas joy | newborn session

2010-12-20T11:52:00.007-07:00

Is there anything that brings more joy than a sweet newborn baby? What a peaceful and beautiful feeling...

I'm swooning over the vintage lace! Her lovely blessing gown has been worn and handed down for four generations!

a very whippy christmas | mesa family session

2010-12-09T18:50:00.003-07:00

Anyone who follows my blog is very familiar with the scrumptiousness that is Whippy Cake. This is Becki, the genius/artist behind it all, and her cute little family. I was intrigued when she told me that the styling for her shoot would be inspired by the Great Depression Era in the 30's and 40's. I think it's so beautiful because it reminds me of a time when people could find happiness in the simple, basic joys of life. Thanks for letting me capture these joys of your life, Becki!

golden | chandler family session

2010-12-02T21:19:00.002-07:00

Purely awesome beautiful togetherness. That's all I have to say!

blossoming | mesa family session

2010-11-27T12:53:00.004-07:00

Ok, I LOVE this session! I love the location. I love the warm sunlight that highlights the glow of pregnancy. And I really love this captivating couple. I'm so happy to give them these beautiful images to remember this once-in-a-lifetime experience of their first pregnancy.

my family | the little ones

2010-11-22T09:51:00.009-07:00

I really could not be more happy with the way this session turned out and I will always treasure these images of my kidlets.

I have been really excited to do this session with my sweet kids and have been planning it out in my head for months! I knew it would be challenging as they can be difficult to photograph... my daughter is still so young and is entering that very independant stage where she doesn't like to be "directed" at all, and my little boy with Autism doesn't quite get the whole point of taking pictures. He just wants to run around and explore! Not quite unlike a typical four-year-old, I guess. My husband was out of town, so I enlisted the help of my mom and step-dad. They were awesome and I couldn't have done it without them!

I also had in mind the end result of a big wall display above our sofa. I needed nine vertical images. Actually, the empty frames have been on the wall for a month now! They're arranged in a staggered, random looking display, not a straight grid the way they are pictured here. I promise I'll post a picture of it in the next couple of months, once the rest of the decorating is complete!

oh what fun | chandler family session

2010-11-20T21:59:00.002-07:00

What a fun session! I instantly liked this family, totally charmed by their fun attitude and beautiful smiling faces.

snuggly weather | chandler family session

2010-11-12T22:44:00.004-07:00

Ahhh... the Fall weather has finally kicked in! I love the cool evenings that make you want to cuddle up!

I wish I had time to post all the fun family sessions from the last few weeks, but here's one short and sweet post in the meantime.

the best | chandler family session

2010-11-02T00:57:00.004-07:00

This sweet mom is the first friend we ever had in Arizona since she is our amazing realtor. She has been with us through the purchase of both our homes and she is the best! And she is seriously one of the kindest people you'll ever meet... ever. We've been blessed to know her and her lovely family and I was so happy that we were able to do this beautiful session together.

my family | happy halloween

2010-11-01T02:36:00.009-07:00

Our little ones had so much fun trick-or-treating this year! It was our daughter's first time. Any time she pick up a new piece of candy she did not want to put it down, so she walked around with a chocolate bar in each fist the entire night! It was so cute to hear her say "ti-kou!" (thank you) in her tiny little voice. And our son (who has Autism and is just barely talking) even mumbled what sounded like "trick-or-treat" a few times! He didn't want to put on his Woody costume at first, but we persuaded him to at least wear part of it. And our daughter's frigging adorable witch costume is a hat/tutu set I'm photographing for the fabulous Bella Tutus on Etsy!

at the fair | phoenix family session

2010-10-30T19:46:00.002-07:00

This was a way awesome photo shoot! I love it that this fun mom wanted a totally out-of-the-ordinary location and suggested the Arizona State Fair. It was an absolutely perfect backdrop for her lively family!

far away friends | litchfield park family session

2010-10-22T21:50:00.005-07:00

I almost felt like I knew this family before I met them. We had been conversing for months via email, since they're from Washington and wanted to get in a session with me while they were in Arizona. I loved photographing their sweet family!

new | holiday cards

2010-10-21T09:43:00.002-07:00

Take a look on my website to see these two gorgeous cards, as well as several other new designs!

albuquerque travel sessions | part 3

2010-10-20T21:26:00.003-07:00

My final Albuquerque post! I really loved shooting there, the locations are so amazing.

This is my husband's nephew who I went to visit for his senior portraits. I have a special place in my heart for this guy since he has a diagnosis similar to that of my little boy. I took a million pictures of him! He's such a great kid, really a pleasure to spend time with. These were just two of my very favorites...

And last but not least, I have to give a HUGE thank you to this kind and lovely lady, Holly Randall. Without her I never would've know about these amazing locations! It was great to photograph her fun family and I hope she enjoyed being on the other side of the camera for once!

albuquerque travel sessions | part 2

2010-10-20T00:04:00.003-07:00

Just take a look at this charming family. The boys are as cute as can be, the clothing choices are just perfect, and Mom and Dad are so sweet together...

albuquerque travel sessions | part 1

2010-10-19T10:41:00.006-07:00

This is the first post of the travel sessions I did last week in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you've never been there, it's a really beautiful city, especially near the Rio Grande river where this lovely family session took place. Aren't they cute?

in love | chandler couples session

2010-10-18T07:43:00.002-07:00

Beautiful... that's all I can say!

sweet and simple | chandler family session

2010-10-09T18:21:00.004-07:00

I have been very excited for this shoot to take place. The lovely mom happens to be a blogging celebrity... Stephanie from Somewhat Simple! I just know you will fall in love with her blog (if you haven't already)! From party ideas to recipes to crafts, this girl does it all with style! Isn't she adorable?

I had so much fun with her sweet family and I am totally loving these great locations!

lovely | chandler family session

2010-10-04T22:15:00.004-07:00

I seriously have the cutest clients ever. Can you believe this family? Every single one of them is gorgeous.

sooo big | chandler one year session

2010-10-04T19:53:00.002-07:00

This handsome guy is already one and graduating from my Baby's First Year plan! It's been fun to see him grow from a tiny newborn to a busy toddler running and climbing around. Here are just a couple of pics from his latest session.

sara +will | a mesa wedding

2010-09-27T20:43:00.003-07:00

Here it is, the wedding you've all been waiting patiently to see! Having seen Sara and Will's fabulous vintage style, you knew it would be amazing... and it was! From her authentic vintage dress to the beautiful classic car, every detail was just perfect. I absolutely loved Will's boutonniere, which was made by Sara's mother.

the great outdoors | phoenix family session

2010-09-22T22:53:00.006-07:00

I love this family. You probably remember the oldest sister Marilyn from her senior rep photos and her Whippy Cake modeling. And as you can see, the rest of the family is just as cute and just as sweet. And what a beautiful location! I loved this place, even though it did require just a little bit of climbing.

baby love | chandler family session

2010-09-18T22:20:00.005-07:00

This fun photoshoot was a combination family session and first birthday session for their sweet baby girl. Isn't she just adorable? And she was so happy and good too. The whole family was really such a pleasure to work with.

You gotta love the ruffle buns!

ashley + ryan | chandler engagement session

2010-09-11T09:08:00.009-07:00

Seriously, what's not to love about this couple? We got to try out some new ideas and had a ton of fun! Can you believe how sweet and gorgeous they are? They are just so cute together!

Can't wait for their wedding in San Diego! It'll be fun to take a trip "home".

emma + race | a mesa wedding

2010-09-07T20:47:00.003-07:00

You may remember Emma and Race from their engagement post a few months ago. I loved photographing their cuteness on their wedding day! Adorable bride, doting groom...

Emma wore her mother's wedding dress, but they changed it up a bit to make it just right for her. I loved it... so beautifully unique, and it seemed to fit her style so perfectly, while still having the nostalgia and legacy of a family heirloom. It was so sweet to see her mom primping, adjusting, and helping carry the dress that she wore herself not so very long ago.

They were just so fun, relaxed, and happy - exactly the way a wedding should be.

chelsea + jeremy | chandler engagement session

2010-09-01T18:16:00.006-07:00

I've known Chelsea ever since she was a teen and I'm so elated to see her happily engaged! What a sweet pair they make. So fun to photograph!

marilyn | senior rep 2011

2010-08-28T20:21:00.008-07:00

I'm so lucky to be able to work with the best teens ever! Marilyn is no exception. Not only is she beyond gorgeous, but she's completely sweet and fun to work with.

It's this location magical? I'm totally in love with the lighting.

And my very favorite image of the day...

Interested in becoming a senior rep? You could earn a free session and even some cash! I'm still looking for seniors from Chandler High, Hamilton, and Basha. Email me at jessica@sierrastudiosphotography.com

fall family special

2010-08-23T14:47:00.010-07:00

Although temperatures are still soaring and the sun is still searing, it's time to start thinking about your fall family pictures and your holiday cards!

If you schedule a family session to take place between now and November 6th 2010, you'll receive a half-off session price! Contact me soon because spots will fill up fast, especially in October, and especially Saturdays. Check out my new availability page to see which dates are still open.

I have some gorgeous new holiday card styles on my website, with even more styles coming soon! Your card will be the one everyone is talking about this year! And because I know you want to be involved in charitable giving at this time of year, $10 from your holiday card order will go to benefit Defeat Autism Now, a cause that's near and dear to my heart.

sara + will engagements | part two

2010-08-20T16:39:00.002-07:00

A few more fun images at another location. Have you been to Smeeks? One of my new favorites...

sara + will | chandler engagement session

2010-08-15T00:28:00.008-07:00

I'm so excited to post these pictures, this was one of the funnest shoots! Sara and Will are completely, adorably in love. Too cute for words.

I just loved all the fun props they brought and their sweet, whimsical styling.

Here's some more cuteness...

a little more sweetness

and some wow!

I can't wait to see what they have planned for the wedding, I know it'll be amazing!!

grand opening | whippycake.com

2010-07-30T09:12:00.004-07:00

Today is an exciting day! One for which I have been anxiously waiting for weeks and weeks! Head over to Whippy Cake's brand new website. This is where Becki will be offering her four new headband collections. I was so honored to do the photography for the site!

elk | product photos

2010-07-26T16:01:00.004-07:00

A few of my favorite things all in one photo shoot. It doesn't get any cuter than this! Check out Elk for this sweet dress and more.

korttney | senior rep 2011

2010-07-23T19:27:00.009-07:00

Sweet, fun, and ridiculously photogenic, Korttney is the first of my senior reps for the class of 2011.

Sunsets and back alleys make me happy. I was also very happy that it was only 104 degrees out. If only I were joking...

Could you be any more amazing? I don't think so.

*bow by Whippy Cake*

big news | product photography

2010-07-13T23:58:00.006-07:00

I'm so excited! So, it's no secret that I love Whippy Cake, and Becki, the fun and fabulous creator and designer. And I was so flattered that she's having me photograph her limited edition Etsy items. But guess what?? She's launching a brand new website with brand new collections and she chose ME to do all the editorial model photos for the site! It was such a fun day of makeup artistry, hair styling, and fashion photography. Here is a sneak peak of what you'll be seeing when the wesite launches, and you can see even more on Becki's blog...

emma + race | flagstaff engagement session

2010-07-05T00:02:00.009-07:00

Cute little Emma is the sister of this groom I photographed back in December. Well, now it's her turn to get married! She and her fiance Race are so totally in love and so excited to be married. It was very sweet to see them interact with each other.

i. love. this. picture.

I was happy it worked out that I could photograph them in Flagstaff on my way home from Utah. Lovely, lovely setting. And the bicycle...brilliant! They've got skills riding that thing! They first rode it together on one of their very first dates. Too cute.

more whippy cake | product photos

2010-06-15T02:04:00.015-07:00

As if fabulous hair accessories aren't enough, Whippy Cake also features these adorable pettiskirts. I had so much fun with these photos and I couldn't be happier with how beautifully they turned out! Did I mention how much I love Whippy Cake? And you'll be seeing a lot more of it on my blog in the future...

blue-eyed beauty | chandler newborn session

2010-06-09T20:14:00.009-07:00

I had a nice session today with this little blue-eyed beauty. She was not quite as new as the newborns I usually photograph, a little over a month old, but she did great! I love this fresh and pretty color combination. Aren't you totally smitten with her beautiful eyes? And her little lashes, so delicate!

loveliness | modeling session

2010-06-08T08:38:00.008-07:00

My friend's daughter is the prettiest little thing. She's so sweet and photogenic - I love taking pictures of her! Here she is modeling some Baby Flair for me...

Wow, right? Soooo gorgeous...

scrumptious | whippy cake

2010-06-02T14:37:00.016-07:00

What is the funnest, funkiest, most delicious adornment you could ever want? Whippy Cake, of course! These confections are created by Becki Crosby, who is one of the most gifted designers I've had the pleasure of meeting. What is Whippy Cake, you ask? It's a shop with the most gorgeous vintage inspired hair accessories and pettiskirts. Her products are designed for both women and little girls. Totally craveable and addicting. I've had my first taste and I'm already wanting more!

I was honored to do a photo shoot for Becki and she had the fabulous idea of staging a tea party. It turned out so adorably cute! Here's a taste of Whippy Cake for you...

Want more? You know you do! Whippy Cake is delicious and calorie free, try some today!

tiny one | chandler newborn session

2010-05-25T20:05:00.012-07:00

As promised, here are some more images of the tiny baby girl I recently photographed. Her mother saw and loved some of my photography of Etsy items and wondered if I was local to her. She and I were so excited when it turned out that I actually was! What are the chances of that?

Simply dreamy... Have you ever seen anything sweeter?

I love how newborns are so curled up and bendy.

I also wanted to share a few pictures of the amazing disc cases that are available when you purchase digital files. They are of such high quality, bound just like a book, and have a magnetic closure. There are many customizable designs available and they are just beautiful.

together | chandler family session

2010-05-20T21:12:00.006-07:00

It was such a pleasure photographing this lovely family. I could totally see the love these parents had for their sweet little children. And the location was just gorgeous. This much green is scarce in Arizona!

Fun, fun boys!

And pretty, pretty girls.

Of course, the girls are fun too, and the boys are pretty. Well, whatever... you know what I mean!

designer spotlight | little chick knits

2010-05-16T18:37:00.007-07:00

I've had this cute little hat for a long time and have just been waiting for a baby girl to come along to model it for me! It was designed and knitted by Jennifer Christiansen of Little Chick Knits. The gorgeous yarn is a blend of lambswool and baby alpaca. Sooooo soft and beautiful. Take a look at the cuteness...

Soon I'll be posting more photos of this tiny, sweet little baby.

i love freckles | gilbert family session

2010-05-15T16:11:00.006-07:00

These cute kiddos came all the way out from Tucson for this photo session. I had been conversing with their mom over email for quite some time now, so it was great to finally meet her and her family. They all have cute little freckles except the baby, but I bet she'll have some before too long...

These kids were so well-behaved and photogenic.

Check out this baby's hair! She's only 10 months old and already has these long luscious locks! And just look at that smile. What a cutie.

beautiful | last maricopa family session

2010-05-06T15:46:00.006-07:00

This family session was arranged by my son's preschool teacher (he attended a special developmental preschool in Maricopa... he has Autism). This is her son and his beautiful family. I really hope she loves these pictures. She is a wonderful, beautiful woman inside and out, and it would be the least I could do to thank her for all she has done for my sweet little boy. We will really miss her and her staff!

The location and the lighting were so gorgeous, but there was a really unnecessary amount of bugs out there that day! Luckily, it didn't affect the end result. Are these kids cute, or what?

designer spotlight | sugar and caffeine

2010-04-29T09:17:00.007-07:00

I would like to to introduce you to Kristi Knight, the brilliant designer behind Sugar and Caffeine. This cabled baby beanie is quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen! Not only is the design adorably charming, but the yarn is so high quality and beautiful - I could just look at it and touch it all day. And this color is absolutely perfect, don't you just love it?

creative bee | product photos

2010-04-28T22:18:00.005-07:00

I recently photographed some totally lovable dresses for Marissa of Creative Bee. How pretty are these? The fabric combinations are so sweet and perfect.

These adorable little girls had so much fun playing and exploring in the fields and gardens. I will miss these beautiful rural locations in Maricopa.

coe | highland high school senior

2010-04-27T09:58:00.009-07:00

I only have a moment to post these awesome senior photos of Coe, so I'll make it short and sweet! All I have to say is that Coe is the kindest, coolest, most together teenage boy I've ever known. And I'm not just saying that because he's my cousin! He's just a really good kid, and that's a rare thing these days.

Yep, he really does play the ukulele, beautifully. He's half Polynesian, so it just seems so perfectly natural.

He has a great, classic Chevy truck. I love it...

childhood innocence | mesa family session

2010-04-20T14:15:00.017-07:00

Even though I'm totally consumed in a flurry of pre-moving activity right now, I couldn't not post these beautiful images from my family session yesterday! I have only had time to edit a couple of them...

This toddler is a little ball of energy, curiosity, and sweetness. She was only interested in running and exploring! And who can blame her? I think these shots really capture who she is at this moment in time. Childhood can get a little crazy, but through it all you can always find moments of innocence and beauty if you look for them.

kassidi + sierra | maricopa high school seniors

2010-04-16T17:58:00.011-07:00

These senior girls are cousins, can you tell? I guess gorgeousness runs in the family! It was so fun to do their session together, I think they got a lot of great, real expressions out of each other.

Sierra's a natural in front of the camera. And no relation to Sierra Studios, by the way!

Doesn't Kassidi have the most stunning eyes?

During the session, Sierra commented that she liked the locations because they felt so "old town Maricopa" and I think she's absolutely right. I just love the feel of this entire session.

I love the mood of this last one... so ethereal, contemplative, and beautiful. I think this is one of my favorite shots to date.

designer spotlight | banner boutique

2010-04-14T16:24:00.013-07:00

When I first discovered Etsy, Banner Boutique was one of the very first shops I came to love. The quality and design of these hair accessories are truly special. I was so happy to find out that Lindsay Banner had recently moved to Arizona, so I just had to meet her! And now that I'm moving, my new friend and I will be living less than 10 miles away from each other! I was so honored when she asked me to do a photoshoot with these beautiful girls who belong to her and her best friends from California. Take a peak at these stunning items from her new line, not even available yet in her shop.

Are you dying yet?! And there are other gorgeous new designs as well! Keep you eye out for these and more at Banner Boutique.

designer spotlight | nicolas and reese boutique

2010-04-10T22:06:00.008-07:00

There's so much adorable stuff for girls out there, but I always get so excited when I find cute boy items because they're so few and far between! So you can imagine how I felt to discover this little beanie at Nicolas and Reese Boutique! It's knit of soft, fat, luxurious yarn that is so lovely to the touch, just perfect for newborn noggins. I chose brown, but they're also available in lots of other cute colors - I really love the green one as well. So, are you ready to meet this talented designer?

dolce vita mia | first anniversary special

2010-03-24T08:49:00.012-07:00

The fabulous Dolce Vita Mia shop is turning one! And designer Mia Alva has a very special offer just for Sierra Studios blog readers!!

For TODAY ONLY, receive FREE SHIPPING on your entire order by using the following code: sierra studios. Her gorgeous headbands are available in any size from infant to adult, and her prices are really incredible. Tell all your friends and family about this amazing offer!

Be sure to view my past blog posts to see more of her beautiful work...

*shipping charges will be refunded to you within twenty-four hours of purchase*

designer spotlight | baby flair boutique

2010-03-22T15:29:00.011-07:00

I'm excited to introduce Alyson Allen of Baby Flair Boutique. I was thrilled when she sent me these cute little headbands! The designs are fun and so sweet, just the right size for babies. And she's a San Diego girl just like me!

Your baby wants one... you know she does. In fact, she wants one for each outfit! Take a look at all the pretty little designs at Baby Flair Boutique.

sweet cheeks | children's modeling session

2010-03-22T15:01:00.009-07:00

This adorable little lady modeled some headbands for me in one of my recent product shoots. She was such a pro, she even set the example for the littler models and showed them how it was done! Doesn't she have the sweetest little cheeks? You just want to pinch them!

Her mother, Stephanie, is the force behind Somewhat Simple, a fun, creative, domestic mommy blog. She features all kinds of recipes, craft tutorials, party ideas, and more! This woman is a real life domestic diva, and I'm happy to be able to call her a friend. Take a peek at Somewhat Simple, you'll love what you find!

*headbands by Dolce Vita Mia*

designer spotlight | dolce vita mia

2010-03-17T09:16:00.019-07:00

I had the great pleasure of taking some product photos for Mia Alva of Dolce Vita Mia. These headbands are absolutely gorgeous. I especially love the vintage-inspired designs... so chic and original.

Beautiful, right? Do you HAVE to have these? Go check out Dolce Vita Mia on Etsy.

itty bitty banner | a newborn session

2010-02-24T11:40:00.006-07:00

This little girl just wouldn't stay asleep for us... but we still got the most adorable shots! Her mother is the amazing Lindsay Banner, of Banner Boutique on Etsy. She makes the most gorgeous hair accessories and I love to use them for my baby sessions, not to mention for my own baby girl's wardrobe. She doesn't have much hair, so the headbands are perfect for her!

be mine | a valentine session

2010-02-01T14:19:00.004-07:00

These sweet kiddos belong to my friend, who's making Valentine's Day photo cards to send to family and friends. This image was my favorite...

r.j. + ashley | mesa couples portraits

2010-01-24T16:42:00.001-07:00

It was freezing cold the morning of this shoot, but you'd never know it from the pictures. This couple was so obviously in love - they were adorable!

johnathon + jaclyn | a chandler wedding

2010-01-24T16:01:00.002-07:00

This couple was so fun and cute. They had a funky vintage style that I loved and I think it really came across in the photos.