Eight years ago this spring, we photographed our very first wedding together. At the time, we were full-time elementary school teachers with a dream of becoming full-time photographers.
One day.
Fast forward eight years, and hundreds of portrait sessions and weddings later, we’re full-time photographers… and teachers. Again! Except now, our students are online (and over 4ft tall!) Thousands and thousands of amazing people from all over the country and around the world who want to learn photography. Some as a hobby, to take better pictures of their families and friends, life’s big milestones and the everyday moments in-between. Some to make a little extra money doing something they love. Others, like us eight years ago, want to quit their day jobs and make their dreams come true. They want to be professional photographers, too. When we think of all the stories our students have shared with us about the ways our courses have made an impact in their lives, we can’t help but feel so honored that we get to be part of their stories. Of people we’ve never met.
As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, ever since we launched our first online course a few years ago, one of the unexpected blessings has been getting the chance to photograph engagement and anniversary sessions for our students who come to visit us in our hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. Getting to meet online students in person is SO much fun for us!
This week, Nicole and Carmen flew all the way from Florida to Arizona for an engagement session with us. Nicole is a student in our Shooting & Editing Course and Posing Course — and she sometimes ropes Carmen into shooting with her, too! They’re getting married next year (congrats, guys!) and we were honored to take them to some of our favorite desert spots for their first visit to the Copper State. One of Jordan’s favorite pastimes is being a Desert Tour Guide during sessions, and teaching our clients all about desert plants and animals. He. loves. it.
It was their first time in Arizona, and we loved how much enthusiasm they had to be able to see a cactus up close. Nicole told us it was a dream of hers to have photos with the cacti, so we made sure to get them lots of shots with saguaros!
Nicole and Carmen, you two are the sweetest! We were so honored that you came to Arizona to see us and feel so humbled that we got to freeze this special season in time for you. We hope you had the best time exploring Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and we wish you both nothing but the very best as you enjoy this year of engagement before becoming husband and wife. We hope you love these photos as much as we do! Also, as Amy exclaimed during the session, Nicole, you are a real life Disney princess!!
