Erin DeZago Photography & Design

New Blog-Site!

2010-07-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that I have a brand spankin' new blog-site!! It houses everything, all in one place. So, I am saying good-bye to good ol' blogspot and moving on! Don't worry, though, you can still view all my old posts on my new site. Check it out HERE!

The Brown Family

2010-06-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

How sweet are these guys?! They were so much fun to photograph and definitely kept me on my toes!

Big bro Cameron

Sweet Carter

And little spitfire Addison!

Dad Sheldon is a bike enthusiast and they brought this adorable orange beach cruiser. It was so fun!

I love this shot of the boys, they look like they are up to trouble!

Seriously, could she be anymore photogenic??

Thanks, guys I had so much fun!

Need A Last Minute Father's Day Gift?

2010-06-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

If you're like me on most holidays, you still have to figure out a Father's Day gift for this weekend. (Except for this one, I have a really great plan all complete!) Anyway, why not book a sweet Father/Kids photo session?! What's a better way to show how much you love that special daddy in your life, than to have a fun photo session that showcases his special relationship with his kiddos? Contact me asap to get something set up!

Happy Father's Day!

The Miramontes Family

2010-06-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

This is Cindy and Erik and little Jazzy! Isn't she so cute? Jazzy was one of my very first maternity/newborn combos and now 18 months later she is such a big girl! We had fun hanging out in downtown Gilbert a couple weeks ago.

I call this the lucky shot of awesomeness. :)

The Coelho Family

2010-06-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Check out this sweet family, Rachel & Manuel and their adorable son, Matteos. Manuel is Brazilian and his parents were up, so they joined the shoot as well. They only speak Portuguese, so that definitely made the session interesting! Thanks so much you guys, I had a blast!

Matteos and his dad are huge soccer fans, so they kicked around a ball for awhile. :)

I told him to give me his best "gangsta" face, and this is the cuteness I got. So precious!

Rachel is expecting a baby in December and wanted some cute "belly" shots with Matteos. Like she has a belly!

#63 - Check!

2010-06-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

#63: Buy produce at a Farmer's Market.

Over the long weekend, Dan, Greyson, and I drove to my hometown in Northern California for my sister's college graduation. It was a looong car ride, but definitely worth it. We had such a great weekend! I am from the heart of the Central Valley of California, where fresh produce is a summertime staple. Arizona people think we have good produce, but its nothing compared to the real deal. So, of course, we had to make a stop at Modesto's Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, which incidentally also checked something off the list! It was a beautiful day and definitely made me miss home. Here are some yummy shots!

Greyson enjoying fresh oranges :)

We left with some artichokes, apricots, and strawberries, and they are oh so yummy!!

Amber + Ryan = Married!

2010-05-31T23:25:00.000-07:00

Amber & Ryan were married at the beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix earlier this month. I had the privilege to 2nd shoot alongside the talented Brittany Hogan for this sweet couple. The day was perfect. The weather cooperated and the location was just beautiful. Amber and Ryan were so sweet and so excited to be married! They put so much personal effort into the day, Amber even made the decadent brownie cake all by herself! I have never known a bride to make her own wedding cake! It was so yummy! Anyway, here is all the awesomeness of the day...

The ceremony site really was breathtaking. Such a great choice of venue!

A beautiful string quartet played for their ceremony.

Amber was so excited to sign the license!

I love the light in this one. So romantic!

The amazing cake!

Their first dance was so sweet and full of emotion. Love both of these next shots.

Amber dancing with her dad. Love this one too...

One of my favorite parts of weddings is when the guests just get out on the dance floor and let loose. I love catching them when they have no idea the camera is pointed in their direction. These are so much fun!!

Congratulations Amber and Ryan!! And thank you so much Brittany for letting me tag along!

Lil Miss Maddie

2010-05-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Oh my oh my, its been a little while since I've had a newborn at the end of my lens! This incredibly sweet little one is the newest addition to the Branton family, joining big siblings Bella and Zack, and boy is she loved! Madeline Rae was over a month old when we did this shoot last week, but still so tiny and so sleepy! In fact she slept for almost the entire session and was such an angel! I love them all so much!!

If you're jealous of Maddie's adorable hair flower, you can have one too! It's handmade by Maddie's Aunt Cindy, and you can check them out on her Etsy shop. They come in adult sizes, too!

Jenna - Tucson, AZ Senior!

2010-05-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

Meet sweet Jenna, who drove all the way to Gilbert from Tucson to have her senior photos done! How fun! She is super involved at her school, is in marching band, plays lacrosse, and probably does a million other awesome things. AND she is going to Brazil for her graduation gift! How awesome is that?? Anyway, here's Jenna...

Thank You!

2010-05-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give a quick update on Arizona's Prop 100 (I blogged before about it here). The voting was yesterday and it passed!! THANK YOU to all who voted and took an interest in this issue. Our kids need the funding at their schools and unfortunately, this needed to happen. Since my last post on this issue, the Gilbert School Board voted to keep social workers employed no matter how Prop 100 turned out, which was AWESOME. They realized that our kids need the emotional, behavioral, and physical support that we provide in order to be successful academically in school. So, that was great. But now that the Prop passed, all of our employees get to keep the same pay, and not nearly as many are losing their jobs. Literally HUNDREDS of jobs were saved just in Gilbert, THOUSANDS in the state. Also, class sizes are staying the same, meaning they are not growing to ridiculous numbers like they could have had this not passed. Anyway, I am done with the soapbox, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all who voted and who value the education of our kids. You rock. :)

#47 - Check!

2010-05-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

#47: Finish my family tree wall.

Another one checked off the list! This has been completed for months now. I just have neglected to actually take some pictures and post them. I got this idea from my friend Kristen at work, and I LOVE it. We had a huge blank wall just off our living room, and I didn't like the lame photo arrangement that was there before. It needed some life. So, I painstakingly hand painted this tree, which took a few weekends of having the ladder and paint in our hallway! I got the knobs at either Anthropologie or Hobby Lobby (two of my most favorite stores in the universe) and the frames came from wherever I could find them. Most of the photos are of Greyson, but I'm sure that will change as our family grows. I just love this wall now. It is so much fun, and everyone who comes to our home loves it too. Definitely a great use of the space.

The whole thing:

And just to give you a size reference, most of those are 8x10's. The bigger one of the 3 of us is an 11x14. So the wall is fairly big.

And my favorite details:

Those knobs make me happy :)

And, in case you were wondering what the boy looks like these days, here is a fun shot of him today before some pool time:

Kacia - Mesquite High Senior!

2010-05-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

Meet Kacia, so cute, sweet, and smiley! We had so much fun in a new location I had never tried before. Turned out pretty good, right? Even though we were crawling under fences AND I put my hand in duck poo. Yup, that's right. But, totally worth it :)

Teresa - Gilbert High Senior!

2010-05-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

I just came back from Teresa's ordering session, and I have to say, I LOVE this girl! And her mom! They are super sweet, genuine, and sooo much fun! And seriously, Teresa gets the award for best hair. Hands down. Even when I was editing these, Dan would come over and say, "Wow, that girl has great hair." Dan never says stuff like that :) So, she definitely has awesome hair. Haha. Anyway, Teresa was so fun, so sweet, and really smiley, which I love. We had a great time over at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, which is a great location this time of year, by the way! Enjoy!

Teresa is a sucker for anything black and white, so we definitely had to throw in a few of those :)

Maybe my favorite? Can't decide!

Lindsay - Mesquite High Senior!

2010-05-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

Oh this girl is gorgeous. This is all her, folks, those eyes, that hair, everything! Amazing, right? And would you believe me if I told you she was just as beautiful on the inside too?! Well, its true. She is so mature, level-headed, and sooo much fun!! LOVE her!

Lindsay knew how to bring the sass, and I am always game for a little sass!!

So Cute!

2010-05-06T23:15:00.001-07:00

Sasha - Mesquite High School Senior!

2010-05-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

Meet Sasha, sweet, sooo smart, and so much fun! Sasha wants to be a geneticist. That's right. A. Geneticist. I asked her what a geneticist might do, and she said, "Oh I don't know, clone humans and make lygers I guess." Haha!! This girl is awesome, and we had so much fun! Thanks Sasha!

Jacqueline - Mesquite High Senior!

2010-05-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

WOW, its been waaay too long. Sorry, folks, its a crazy time of year! Anyway, meet the incredible Jacqueline. This girl rocks...in so many ways. She is one-of-a-kind and isn't afraid to be that way. She is super creative, and is an AMAZING photographer! She rides a longboard (which, by the way, I am really terrible at) and has a great, funky style. She loves Jesus and wants to be a film producer. I'm telling you, this girl is gonna be famous one day. And when she is, I can humbly say, "Hey! I took her senior pictures!" :)

See? Attitude!

We just had her ordering session, and she showed me some of the shots she got while I was taking these. Sooo good!!

Dominique - Saguaro High School Senior!

2010-04-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

This is the lovely Dominique, with a natural, effortless beauty that matches her totally awesome name. I had to do hardly any skin correction on this girl, that is all her! Thanks for such a fun time, Dominique, it was a great evening!

See? A natural model :)

Well hello, delicious light!

This totally reminds me of the beach. Its the middle of the desert. But beachy nonetheless, right?

Her super cute boyfriend snuck in for a few.

Carrie + Will = Engaged!

2010-04-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

Meet Carrie + Will, a super-cute couple with a wedding coming up in October! These two know each other from way back, but just recently got re-acquainted and fell in love! Their first date was in downtown Tempe, so we revisited some of their favorite hang-outs for a fun, personalized shoot! I had such a great time with you guys and I can't wait for the wedding!!

The Green/Alyea Family

2010-04-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

This is a special family to us. Janis is the wonderful person that takes great care of our little man a few mornings a week while I'm at work. Her daughter, Leslie and her husband Will are friends of our family through church. So, this was definitely a fun family session! Definitely lots of energy!

#35 - Check!

2010-04-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

#35: Plant a vegetable garden.

Another one checked off the list! I am really excited about this one because I have been wanting to do this for a long time (like since we moved into our house almost 3 years ago). Last weekend, I planted 2 tomato plants and 3 different kinds of peppers. I have herbs and spinach on the way. It is definitely going to be a bright spot in our yard! Can't wait til I have juicy red tomatoes to eat!

#27 - Check!

2010-04-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

#27: Upgrade my camera.

Woo hoo!! I am very excited that this list item is complete!! (for now...) For those of you who know camera stuff, I have been using a Canon Rebel xTi for the last 2.5 years. There is nothing wrong with this camera. It is awesome to start with. But, I've been frustrated with it lately because I am just not getting the quality that I want. Plus, its 3 years old. So, I really really wanted the Canon 5D Mark II, but that just isn't quite in the budget right now. Instead of waiting for who knows how long, continuing to get images that are lesser quality than I know I should be getting, I decided to take the plunge and get the Canon 50D. Its a beautiful camera and takes GREAT images that are lightyears ahead of what I was producing. I am definitely happy about this upgrade and I can't wait to shoot more with it!

Emilie & Katelyn - Buddy Session - Mesquite & Williams Field Highs

2010-04-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

These two beauties are Emilie and Katelyn and they wanted their sessions together so they could get buddy shots too! I have known these two since they were freshmen, and its tough to believe they are already graduating! They are both such beautiful girls, on the inside and the outside. I loved our fun evening together!

Meet sweet Emilie...

and Katelyn...

and them together! So fun!

Holt Family - Turlock, CA Family Portraits

2010-04-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is the Holt family, and mostly adorable, 2-year-old Garrett! I went into this session thinking it would be more of a portrait session, but it definitely ended up to be more of a lifestyle shoot, which I totally loved! Garrett was your typical 2-year-old boy, running everywhere, showing me his world. It was so fun to play with you guys for a couple of hours! Thank you so much for inviting me into your home!

LOVE this shot...

Garrett is always moving, and loves playing all kinds of sports!

Bribery with fruit snacks is always a good option :)

Dad is a big-time golf guy, so of course Garrett follows suit. I love this shot of his game face.

Garrett's amazing play room...

Originally, I wrote this shot off as a mistake, but I ended up loving the story it tells. I love how Jessica's legs are bent back trying to fit in the tiny kid-size chair and how she is patiently waiting for Garrett to return to his stack of blocks. While, Garrett is a blur moving from one thing to the next, amongst all the toys, balloons, and craziness. I love it!

Ahh, there we go :)

Yvonne - Mesquite High School Senior!

2010-04-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

Check this girl out! She is so stinkin' cute and she is a smartie too! Yvonne has met the President. Yes, I said President. Of the United States. As a Junior, she was selected to go to DC as one of 2 reps from AZ for a political tour. She's definitely a brainiac. And, of course you can easily see how beautiful she is! Best of luck to you, Yvonne, you are such a sweetheart and I had a blast with you!!

LOVE the red shoes!

We were using a big empty lot as our location, and as I was shooting under this tree, I stepped on a rusty nail that went through my shoe and into my foot! It didn't go in deep, but it drew blood and was a little painful! Anyway, that night I ended up at urgent care getting a tetanus shot! Yuck! Haha, oh well, it was definitely worth it for these great shots!!

Well Hello My Neglected Blog Readers

2010-04-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I've been gone for so long! I've been swamped lately with a menagerie of things (tons of sessions, family in town, Easter, re-doing our backyard, job stress, and an 8-month old who's ALL BOY). Yeah. Lots. Of. Things. Anyway, I promise I have MANY pretty pictures to look at coming right down the pipe, but I wanted to take a second (brief, I promise) to get on a little political soapbox.

Let me preface by saying, I NEVER do this. Even outside of photo-blogging, I stay out of the political arena. Its just not my thing. But, this is near and very dear to my heart. **Side note:: If you live in a state other than AZ, you don't have to worry about this, but keep reading just to know what's going on in my world.** Anyway, on May 18th, AZ voters will have the opportunity to vote on Prop 100, which adds a temporary $.01 sales tax to benefit schools, healthcare, and public safety. But mostly schools. Actually it adds several billion dollars into our school districts that have already been badly cut back. Now, normally, I am not a proponent of more taxes. But, seriously, its one cent, people.

One of the programs to get cut (as of right now) if this tax does not pass is the Social Work program in Gilbert Public Schools. In case you aren't aware, that's what I do when I am not photo-ing. :) I LOVE being a social worker. But more important than my individual job is the thousands of elementary school kids, teachers, and parents that will lose the support we provide them every day. The child who can't concentrate during the school day because his daddy passed away last week. The little girl that doesn't want to go home because the only safe and sane place she has in her life is school. The single mom who doesn't know how she's going to get dinner on the table and pay her electric bill this month. The teacher who can't teach because a student in her class is throwing objects and yelling obscenities. The staff member whose husband lost his job and who is about to collapse under the pressure. These are all specific instances that I have dealt with and continue to deal with all the time. If this tax doesn't pass this is just one small area that will get cut. Other areas are still being discussed, but its not looking good.

I'm not going to tell you how to vote. I just want you to know what is affected by this Prop. Please think about your decision, and whatever you decide, make sure you go and vote. Alright, I'll step down now. Thanks for reading. :)

Happy Spring!

2010-03-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

ps--that's not Greyson, its a sweet boy from a recent session. More to come!

Under The Boardwalk, Down By The Se-e-a

2010-03-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

Las week was Spring Break for me, so I got to take Greyson to California to spend some much-needed time with my family. It was great to get away, and the weather was beautiful! To see some family fun photos from our trip, head over to the DeZago Family Blog and check them out. On Tuesday, we all headed over to Monterey to take in the amazing vistas. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and we had such a great time! Here are some pretty scenic shots from the day...

We don't get green like this in AZ...

Fisherman's Wharf

The amazing waves

Oh The Amazing Hannah

2010-03-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

This is one beautiful girl! Hannah is such a sweetheart, inside and out and it truly was a pleasure to photograph her. When Hannah and I were talking about styling her shoot, she mentioned she loves the store Forever 21 and how they capture a natural and vintage look. We tried going for that, and I think she did a pretty awesome job of being one of their models! Hannah is a rock star dancer and journalism guru and wants to be an editor someday. She is definitely going places!! Check her out...

Because of her love for books, Hannah brought along this adorable vintage one, that looks great in the photos!

Sweet, right?

Also, we tried something different and hung up a white curtain in this tree for a little different backdrop. I think it looks pretty cool.

Showing off her amazing dance moves...

The many faces of Hannah :)

And her sweet mom had to sneak in for a few!

Thanks, Hannah, I had so much fun!!

Behind The Image - Hannah

2010-03-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is Hannah. Isn't she beautiful? I am in the middle of editing her session from Saturday night and I thought I would do a little "behind the image" post to show off what goes in to editing an image to perfection :) Or close to it, at least. So, above you see the final product.

Here is the image straight off the camera:

Not bad, but really flat, with blah blue undertones. No spark to it. Definitely needs work. So, after selecting the best of the best from a session, I do a quick color-correct, fix exposure, and contrast boost on them. Here is that step completed:

MUCH better, right? Still not done. After color correction, I run the Pro Retouch Action from the Totally Rad Actions that I can't live without. I do skin correction as needed (as you can see, Hannah needed almost nothing). Next, I run the two TRAs that I run on all my images, Lux (60%) and Oh Snap (60%). I get this:

Ahhh, much better. A majority of the time, I am done after this step. I love that look and it is quick, easy, and gorgeous. For this shot, I still wanted to spruce it up a little, so I did a few more things to it. Next, I ran the action Green With Envy and brushed that as needed to brighten the greens in the grass and the golden tones in the lighted parts of her hair. I also added a little lens flare above her head at 38% opacity. I also decided to run Warm It Up, Kris!, which I don't normally do, but I wanted to play with the warm tones in the light. And then, finally, I ran Slice Like a Ninja at 70%, which just sharpens the image overall, bringing out the details a little more clearly. So, then, we have the final product! Here it is once again:

Senior Rep #1!

2010-03-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

So, not only is Hilah stinkin' cute, she is my very first senior rep!! I am so excited about this, and I can't wait to see what this new program will do for my business, and for some lucky seniors out there! This summer, I would like to pick one senior from each high school in Gilbert (or Higley or Chandler) to be a "Senior Rep" for their school. Their job is to bring in referrals and their payment is a free senior package! So easy, and so fun! So, here is what Hilah has been equipped with. Fun, huh?!

Hilah - Gilbert High Senior Portraits

2010-03-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

This is my girl Hilah. I LOVE her. I have known Hilah since the summer before her sophomore year when I was her camp counselor in San Diego. Since, she was one of the girls in my amazing small group and has become a sweet friend. Hilah is beautiful not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. She is passionate, driven, talented, genuine, and such a kind heart. She loves Jesus so much and makes choices that reflect that every day. Friday night, we drove all over Gilbert in search of "pretty" and "green." Think we found what we were looking for? I think this is the greenest shoot I've done yet, which is so appropriate for sweet, vegetarian, environment-loving Hilah! Enjoy the "fruit" of our orange grove adventures. :)

Love this light!

Just A Tease

2010-02-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

A little teaser from my session this afternoon... :)

What's On The Outside DOES Matter

2010-02-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

Normally, I wouldn't say that. But, in this case its true. I've been working for awhile on finding packaging that I'm happy with. I want you (my clients) to receive your prints or CD or album and be (almost) as happy about the outside as you are about what's inside. I want you to know you are getting something I've put my heart and soul into. I want my packaging to communicate that what you are about to open is worth the time and money and patience you've put into it. I want you to feel like its Christmas! So, after scouring stores and online and everywhere to find what is perfect for communicating my brand to you, I am happy (for now) with the finished product. So, whether you've ordered one 4x6 or a whole wall of giant art prints, you will know its something special by how its dressed. :)

#53 - Check!

2010-02-20T15:04:00.000-08:00

#52: Beat Dan at Scrabble.

Wow, this happened much faster than I thought it would. I've. Never. Beat him. At Scrabble. Ever. Not that we really play all that much, but usually its our game of choice when we go camping, or when we are board at home (which isn't very often). But Dan is a word whiz, and, well, I am not. So, it seemed to be a major feat for me. But, the other night I told him I wanted to cross something off my 101 List, so I would beat him at Scrabble. And then I did. That was it. No months of trying, long nights of staring at letter tiles. I just beat him. :)

The Beautiful Jocelyn - Mesquite High Senior Photos

2010-02-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

This. Girl. Is. Gorgeous. Inside and out. We had so much fun and I love the variety of locations we found! Enjoy!

She totally knew how to work the camera!

Love, love, LOVE her blue eyes!

We decided to go bold and hit up the graffiti wall...

...and the lime green one. LOVE this.

Jocelyn's bud Hilary came along so we had to get a few shots of both of them :)

#44 - Check!

2010-02-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

#44: Go to a drive-in movie.

I've been meaning to post this all week. For Valentine's Day, Dan and I got to go on a date! Just us! Dan's mom was here for the week so she took over Greyson-duty and we got Pei Wei take out and went to the drive in :) It was pretty fun. We saw Valentine's Day (I know, sappy) but it was cute and fun and it knocked something of the list! Woo hoo!

More of Sweet Kaden

2010-02-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

Kaden was awake and alert for most of our little session, so I just love how natural these turned out. Like, just a peek into life with a new little one. How sweet are those days!

These guys have painted several walls in their house great shades of blues, so they made for some great backdrops.

Does it get any better?

Love his face in this one!

Greyson 6 Months

2010-02-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

Can you believe he is 6 months already?? I can't for sure. It seems to have flown by so fast. Greyson is a big boy for his age, and I think he looks so old in these photos, like a little boy! I can't believe how long he stood leaning against that wall all by himself! Enjoy!

Everyone Needs A Little Inspiration

2010-02-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel stuck. Sometimes I just want fresh ideas. Here are some inspiration boards I made to get the creative juices flowing. Hopefully they will help you too in thinking of wardrobe options, locations, etc. All the images are pulled from fun online catalogues from stores including Anthropologie, Forever21, Delias, and HTG81 Kids. You like?

baby blues

2010-01-24T11:16:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but post a couple of this 10-day old cutie! This is little Kaden and he has the bluest eyes! He was so alert and active during our session. I couldn't believe it! More to come soon...

#78 - Check!

2010-01-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

#78: Take Greyson to the snow.

Yay! Another one checked off the 101 in 1001 list! Yesterday, we trekked up to Flagstaff for the day so Greyson could see the snow. Really, it was more so we could take pictures of Greyson in the snow because he probably couldn't have cared less, but it was fun either way. Here are some shots of us enjoying the beautiful day.

Probably my favorite shot in a while...

We found this snowman and repaired its cute carrot nose. The carrot definitely made for a very photogenic snowman :)

One more of the crazy boy

Fun Foto

2010-01-18T13:22:00.000-08:00

These were all for a website, so I don't want to ruin the surprise by posting too many. But I thought this one deserved a little love...

#97 - Check!

2010-01-14T21:47:00.000-08:00

# 97: Update my driver's license info with the DMV.

Yes, yes, this is one of the more shameful goals on my 101 in 1001 list. Shameful that I have lived at my current residence for 2 1/2 years and have neglected to change my address with the DMV. So finally, today, I paid the monumental price of $4 and changed my address. Now, its not like I had to stand in line at the slowest government agency known to man. No, no, I just made a few clicks on the computer and it was done. Yes, like I said, shameful. Anyway, here's the photo to prove it. They even congratulated me. I am so proud.

duh

2010-01-12T18:37:00.001-08:00

who WOULDN'T want to spend the afternoon with these crazies??

The Knosalla Family

2010-01-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

I love this family. Their daughter Jamie is a dear friend of mine, and the whole family is just so fun and sweet. They were all together for the holidays, so we were able to get in a quick session in between raindrops! Thanks, guys, for a great time!

The guys

The ladies

If this were my family, this would be a canvas on the wall! I love this one!

This one might be too...

101 In 1001

2010-01-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

Let me start this post by saying that I hate new year's resolutions. I never make them because I know I will never keep them. BUT, I do love lists. I love making them, checking things off of them, and completing them. So, after being inspired by other great photogs like Melissa Jill and Jessica Claire and my dear friend Shannon [sorry Shannon, I don't know your middle name otherwise I would put it too :)] I have decided to take on a 101 in 1001 list. The goal of one of these undertakings is to complete 101 goals in 1001 days, which is just under 3 years. I know. That's a looong time. And I am not good and finishing what I start. But, I am really wanting to be better at that, so I am going to take baby steps. 101 of them in fact. So wish me luck, pray for me, and read through them to see if there might be a way you could be involved!

Alrighty, here goes (in no particular order)...

1. Pay off all debt.
2. Have baby #2.
3. Do something nice for Dan every day for 1 month.
4. Take Dan & Greyson to Saddlebag Lake.
5. Go to a state I've never been to.
6. Read the entire Bible.
7. Grow my business to full-time income.
8. Learn to make rice like Jihae.
9. Have someone new over for dinner every month for 6 months.
10. Read 3 books to help my business.
11. Shoot 3 weddings.
12. Add a regular blog segment with a theme.
13. Frame and display photos of Greyson.
14. Finish and print Greyson's 1st-year book.
15. Do something nice for each of our grandparents.
16. Start a prayer journal.
17. Take a family vacation.
18. Learn 10 new recipes.
19. Read all of Jodi Picoult's books.
20. Get a library card (and use it!).
21. Replace the lighting in the dining room, hallways, and entry.
22. Re-do the front bathroom.
23. Volunteer more at church.
24. Throw a party.
25. Go to New York City again.
26. Become a coupon user.
27. Upgrade my camera - complete!
28. Buy the 70-200 mm 2.8L lens.
29. Go through my closet and donate clothes I no longer wear.
30. Furnish our front room.
31. Make a budget and stick to it for 3 consecutive months.
32. Give more than 10% of our income to church.
33. Run a mile without stopping.
34. Go an entire month without eating out once.
35. Plant a vegetable garden - complete!
36. Get life insurance for Dan & I.
37. Organize our closet/bathroom/laundry area.
38. Host a girls' night with my friends.
39. Get a babysitter once a month and go on a date with Dan.
40. Memorize 1 verse per week for 2 months.
41. Attend a photographers networking group.
42. Build a client base in California.
43. Get to Dave Ramsey's baby step 4.
44. Go to a drive-in movie - complete!
45. Find a new album company.
46. Re-cover dining room chairs.
47. Finish my family tree wall - complete!
48. Read a book about marriage with Dan.
49. Flatten my stomach (before baby #2!).
50. Attend a photography workshop.
51. Start a ministry for girls at church.
52. Have a media-free night once per week for 2 months.
53. Beat Dan at Scrabble - complete!
54. Have quiet time 3 times per week for 2 months.
55. Volunteer somewhere besides church.
56. Gamble at a casino.
57. Have dessert at The Compass Room restaurant.
58. Bake Christmas treats and take them to our neighbors.
59. Find a new way to market my products.
60. Spend an afternoon street shooting.
61. Frame some art prints for our house.
62. Enlarge and hang Jamaica photos in our bedroom.
63. Buy produce at a Farmer's Market - complete!
64. Babysit so some friends can have a date night.
65. Post a "photo of the day" every day for 1 month.
66. Complete all laundry once per week for 1 month.
67. Go fishing.
68. Back up my hard drive.
69. Sew some throw pillows for the house.
70. Hang curtains in the guest room.
71. Hang curtains in the front room.
72. Get family portraits done by Kacey Luvi.
73. Frame said family portraits.
74. Go on an overnight trip with Amy.
75. Say "yes" to something I would normally say "no" to.
76. Set up a savings account for Greyson.
77. Keep the entire house clean for 1 month.
78. Take Greyson to the snow - complete!
79. Take Greyson to the beach.
80. Sell something on Etsy.
81. Enter a photography contest.
82. Display my work in a public place.
83. Learn 10 more new recipes.
84. Make something crafty I've never tried before.
85. Learn a new skill.
86. Make 5 meals using my Crock Pot.
87. Exercise 3 times per week for 1 month.
88. Clean off and organize my workspace.
89. Go on a picnic.
90. Put safety locks on the back door and pool gates.
91. Make the bed every day for 1 week.
92. Buy a smart phone.
93. Begin using Mail again and organize my inboxes.
94. Take Dan to a Yankees game.
95. Get a cool camera bag.
96. Watch 50% of AFI's 100 Years 100 Movies.
97. Update my driver's license info with the DMV - complete!
98. Drink 8 glasses of water every day for 2 weeks.
99. Attend MOBs regularly for at least 3 months.
100. Go camping with my parents.
101. Visit Dan's family back east.

Phew! So there you have it. My mother of a list. I will, of course, keep you updated as I progress. My end date is October 4, 2012, which seems like an eternity from now. But I know it will go so quickly. Hopefully, getting through this list will give me some more control and accomplishment in my life! Here goes!

Monica and Luis, Fresno CA Wedding

2010-01-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

Monica and Luis were so much fun, so incredibly laid back, and were such a beautiful couple to shoot! They got married back in November in Fresno, Ca and it was a great night. Their wedding party and guests were so much fun and the party lasted all night! Monica and Luis, thanks for being so great, and I wish you all the best!

This shot was underexposed and turned out a little blurry, but it ended up being one of my favorite shots of the entire day. It just reminds me of like an old school gangster movie or something. The guys look so cool, I love the feel, the movement, everything.

L-O-V-E this one too :)

The sweet little ring bearer had some moves!

Congratulations, guys!

Becca

2009-12-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

Check out this gorgeous senior and her amazing green eyes!

Happy Christmas

2009-12-29T10:34:00.000-08:00

I hope you were filled with the wonder of Christmas this week.

WARNING: cuteness overload ahead!

2009-12-22T15:50:00.000-08:00

So, in this swamped time, I have had some amazingly cute kids at the end of my lens! First, more of the Skiles family and an awesome new location -- an empty lot with tons of trash!

Sweet Sidney...

her twin Jack...

and studly LJ, who says he doesn't have any girlfriends, but I'm not so sure! Check him out!

The very next day, I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Bella & Zach, and their awesome mom Amy. This family has been through so much with miracle baby Zach, and it is always a pleasure to have them for a session! I love you guys, and I am so glad we are friends! Can't wait for the spring for a session with baby #3!

Seriously, folks, does it GET any better than this??!

or this...

Amy really didn't want her picture taken, but I couldn't resist this sweet moment between her and Zach. I hope you'll forgive me, Amy!

Love this!!

The Most Busy-est Time of the Year

2009-12-20T11:01:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, that's poor grammar. But, I needed something to fit that expressed my stress level. So, Christmastime has always been my favorite time of the year. I love the Holiday spirit, the cool weather, the gathering of family, the songs, everything. I love what it means and why we celebrate - that God became Man in Jesus so we could live forever with Him. Last Christmas was kind of difficult for me. I was about 12 weeks pregnant and towards the end of a grueling 1st trimester. My job was crazy. Family was in my house for 2 weeks straight. It was tough. (Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but I just wasn't feeling the Christmas spirit last year.) Anyway, I've been looking forward to this Christmas for awhile. How fun to have a new baby boy in our house! Isn't that what Christmas is all about anyway?! Well, this is the first year that I would say that my photography business is in FULL swing. I've got Christmas photos, weddings, and seniors coming out of my ears. I LOVE it and I am SOOO thankful for that, its just crazy busy!! Plus, I have (or had until Friday) a full time job where the last two weeks before Christmas are definitely my busiest. Plus, of course, there's Greyson, who is also a full time job! So, the lack of blogging, the slow turn-around time, and the all-out stressed-out Erin comes from the combination of these factors. And all I want is to be able to enjoy this time of year as Greyson's first Christmas. So, thank you for being patient with me. I have the most awesome clients!

Last weekend, Dan, Greyson, and I went to Chicago for Dan's uncle's wedding. (Photos of that coming soon). It was great to see his family and spend time with them before Christmas. Also, we arrived just after a major snow storm, which was awesome because we got to see all the beauty without all the mess! So, I was able to take a few minutes (as much as I could handle in 10 degrees!) and snap some shots of the beauty. Looking at these now reminds me of quiet. Of peace. Of renewal. And THAT is what this time of year is all about. Happy Christmas Week everyone.

happy decorating :)

2009-12-09T18:55:00.001-08:00

why i L-O-V-E my job

2009-12-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

Skiles Kids

2009-12-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

I had an insanely busy weekend, but I wanted to share this great shot of these cuties before I head to bed for some much-needed zzz's. I found this AWESOME new spot, and we kept finding more and more fun stuff to shoot with!

Rae

2009-12-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

This is the amazing Rae. Her shoot was definitely a first for me. We took 2 horses on location! It ended up being so much fun and I LOVE how her images turned out. Rae, I had such a great time with you and you have such a fun personality. Thanks for spending the afternoon with me!

Rae's cute friend Chelsey who helped out with the horses and making paths for us through the weeds. Thanks Chelsey!

Brittany

2009-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

How do I get to meet so many great girls?! Brittany and I had so much fun and it was great to get to know her. This girl has such a great heart and such a sweet personality, and she's beautiful on the outside too! Brittany wants to be a sign language interpreter, which I think is so cool. Brittany, thanks for climbing through weeds, swinging on swings, and sitting in dirt with me! Hope you enjoy your images!

Brittany's cute brother had to be in a few!

Hilary

2009-11-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you were able to spend time with family and friends and just reflect on blessings this year. I think Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays, mostly because its so relaxing. No pressure to buy anything, just time spent hanging out and enjoying one another. I hope your holiday was just that.

Now, onto the gorgeous Hilary. This girl is smokin! We had so much fun at her shoot and it was really tough to choose which ones to post. Hilary, you were so much fun! Thanks for trusting me, and being willing to get kicked out of TWO spots for some great shots! You rock!

look at this girl! amazing :)

I love it when seniors have great personal style, they are so much fun to shoot!

I also love this green wall...

At the end of the session, we found these trees with twinkly lights, I like the feel they added to the shots.

Hilary, I had so much fun working with you! I wish you the best in 2010 and I know you will go far! Thank you!

One Busy Weekend!

2009-11-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

I am so lucky! I got to spend my weekend last week with these awesome girls, all so different, yet so much fun! These three were such a great start to the busy senior season and I can't wait to meet more of you! Here are the three gorgeous ladies that took up my weekend. More to come once their sessions are all edited, just wanted to give them a teaser!

Here is the lovely Hilary, who had been looking forward to her session since last year! She was so much fun, and so ready to work it!

And here is Brittney, so adorable, bubbly, and just all-around fun!

And finally, Rae. Ahh Rae....this is what she said to me the morning of our session. "Ok, I will come with my two horses and my two dogs. But don't worry, my friend will be there to help me out." WHAT??!! Haha, it turned out to be an awesome shoot and the first time I've taken livestock on location! Good thing we were at one of my favorite spots where the shots are almost guaranteed to look awesome. Rae, you were so much fun and I definitely LOVED working with you! Hope you had as good a time as I did. :)

Girls, thanks for such a great weekend, I can't wait to post the rest!

Monica + Luis = Married!!

2009-11-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of shots from Monica and Luis' wedding over the weekend. More coming soon!

If you want to see their faces, stay tuned!

Beautiful Colbie

2009-11-04T17:20:00.000-08:00

Here is the lovely baby Colbie and her family. Christin and Drew are two of the sweetest people I know, and are amazing parents. They are compassionate, attentive, and love their little girls more than life. You guys are awesome, congratulations on making another beautiful baby girl!

Greyson 3 Months!

2009-10-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Here are more from our awesome [25 minute haha] photo sesh with our boy. I can't believe he is already 3 months old. He is so big, and can sit up for about 3 seconds on his own :) Even though these pics don't show it, he has a pretty awesome smile too.

Greyson & Test

2009-10-27T23:04:00.001-07:00

I am trying to post bigger images, here is a test. This is Greyson's latest photo shoot. 3 months already!! More to come because, of course, I can't resist. :)

Baby Colbie - More Adorable-ness!!

2009-10-21T20:40:00.001-07:00

This is Brielle's beautiful cousin, Colbie, born to Christin, Drew & big sis Cambry just two days after Brielle was born. She is just as amazing and beautiful and dear to our family. More photos to come when I'm done editing...

Brielle!

2009-10-21T20:26:00.001-07:00

More of this tiny miracle. Oh so sweet. I love you my dear!

In this shot, Brielle was pooing all over Daddy's back!! He was such a trooper so I could get some great shots! It was awesome!

This one makes me laugh out loud! Not sure what she was thinking!

We had to put her in something to show how tiny she is. Just a few cups of sugar is all!

Ta Da!

2009-10-20T21:33:00.001-07:00

I am very excited to let you guys know I have a totally new look, totally new website, and all new pricing and packages! Yay!! I've been working on this stuff for months and I really like what I've come up with. I'm trying to go for clean, simple, and yet fun & creative. Please check out my new site at erindezago.com and let me know what you think. Leave me some lovin' in the comments part of this post. Can't wait to hear what you think!

eeeeee! how adorable is she??

2009-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

This morning I went over to Mike & Cindy's house for baby Brielle's first photo shoot. This is DEFINITELY one of my favorites! They are not all done, but I couldn't help but post this shot. Brielle was born at 5lbs 7oz, and is seriously the tiniest baby I have ever laid eyes on. She is amazing, and I can't wait to show you the rest of her modeling debut!

New Family Blog

2009-10-13T11:47:00.001-07:00

Hey, if you're interested in what our little family is up to, check out our new family blog. Its just about us, and has lots of cute pictures of our little guy. Enjoy!

The Adorable Knapps

2009-10-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun last week playing together! These boys were a riot and definitely gave me a run for my money! Don't mom and dad make some pretty awesome looking kids? Definitely a joy to meet and hang out with you for a bit. Thank you!!

Sweet little Porter...

And super fun big bro Connor...

Keeping Up With the Jones'

2009-10-05T14:30:00.001-07:00

...was a lot of work! These guys & I go way back...since before little Brian was born. Aren't they a handsome group? I love this family...enjoy all their awesome-ness!

Sweet Nicholas...

Big brother Matthew...

And little Brian...

Once all the "must-haves" were done, we had some fun at the splash pad!

Definitely my very favorite of the day...

Thanks, guys, for a fun evening!

Fun With Water

2009-10-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

Friday night, I had a session with the awesome Jones family in downtown Gilbert. We played around at the splash pad and here are some fun shots I took before they arrived.

Cindy + Mike = One Rockin' Maternity Session!

2009-09-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

Mike & Cindy are two of our absolute dearest friends. They are definitely some of our "AZ Family" as our blood family is so far. Their friendship means the world to us. We have been praying for this baby for YEARS and so we, of course, had to celebrate little Brielle's impending arrival with an awesome photo shoot! We had so much fun with this, and Cindy chose the most amazing outfits (definitely my fav is the blue & orange dress that makes her the hottest mama on the planet!!) She also wanted some locations that communicated "new life." Check out the insanely green grass and sunflowers!

M+C: You 2 are going to be incredible parents. This new role that God has designed for you will be the highest calling you will ever have, and I have no doubt you will answer amazingly. Brielle is one lucky girl. I can't wait to continue this adventure with you...all the way til our children are wed and beyond!! :) Love you both!

Difficult to decide which of these next two is my favorite...love them both so much!

HOT MAMA!

Back In Business!!

2009-09-18T15:55:00.001-07:00

The last three months have been so great. Thanks for being patient with me as I took the summer off to have my baby and be with him for awhile. But, I am so excited because over the past week I have had two awesome sessions! This is Grace and Charles, celebrating their anniversary with a fun photo shoot!

And a view of what is to come in the near future...

A new logo...why not have new cards, new website, new everything?! Stay tuned!

FREE iPOD!!!

2009-09-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Seniors!! Check it out! The first TEN seniors to book a session for the fall semester will be entered in a drawing to win either a brand new 16GB iPod Nano with a video camera OR an 8GB iPod Touch! AND...if you purchase $100 worth of prints or the $125 CD, you will be entered TWICE! In order to be entered, you must send a $50 deposit to reserve your date which must be before the semester is over. Please email me to inquire about available dates. Can't wait to hear from you!!

Session Rates: You get up to 2 hours of my time and incredible talent :), one location of your choice, 3 outfits changes to showcase your style as only you can, and 50 edited images uploaded into your very own online gallery for just $100.

Print Prices: All images are professionally printed on high-quality paper with a lustre finish. Name and graduation year can be added to any size for $5 per image. Here they are...4x6 ($3), 5x7 ($4), 8x10 ($6), 11x14 ($12), 8 wallets ($6).

CD Prices: To get your own copies of your photos to copy, print, and upload til your heart's content, you must pay $50 for 10 images, $125 for 30 images, or $200 for 50 images.

Just a reminder of the goodness of a FREE iPod...

More Gushing...

2009-09-11T12:23:00.001-07:00