Great textures, colors, and the oldness of downtown is what makes senior portraits photography different and cool now a days. That bit of an edge you feel when going places you normally would not think of going is what makes these locations cool. Not in a park, near a fountain, or with flowers, but bright brilliant colors spray painted on 50 plus year old weathered textured brick walls is where it’s at.

Sure we do a few locations in our senior portrait sessions so grandma and grandpa can feel good about putting a picture of their grandkids up in their homes. But, even though the seniors are not paying the bill for their senior portrait shoots, they are ultimately the ones that have to love them and not be embarrassed by them. They have to like their own images enough to really want to put them up as their profile pictures on Facebook.

We always cater to the personality of each person but more and more of the younger people I show downtown samples to want to have great senior portraits photography done downtown. A handful of shirt and shoe changes is all most seniors need or want for their portrait session and we’re off looking for new graffiti wall locations all over downtown driving up alleys and down train tracks. What’s old and odd is whats new and cool when it comes to senior portraits.

I have known the Heath couple as I did their wedding a few years back.  Now, I was the lucky one able to do their Phoenix portrait photography this time. However, since the wedding there has been a addition to the Heath family, and it was time to capture this bright and shining face.

Jason and Jill looked as happy as newlyweds, and I think they felt that way as I was taking their photos with their beautiful offspring! It is hard to capture in words the exuberance that pours out of little Sidney. They really do mean it when they say eyes are the windows to the soul.  Sidney’s pure and happy eyes capture her silly, curious nature. We decided since Sidney is so young and to make the photos more personal and close to home so we decided to have the photo session in their home and the backyard.

Some of my favorite candids came from Sidney and a few of the chickens in the backyard exchanging “clucks” with one another.  It was adorable to see her playing with the animals.  She was brave and fearless!   Since It was such a gorgeous mid November day, we decided to stroll around the neighborhood to see if any neighbors had colorful trees or props to display the rich colors of the fall season during this time of year.

It was our lucky day because their neighbors had the most perfect wood swing, and a plethora of  luscious colored yellow and red leaved trees to complement  the portraits. During some of the last shots, something very exciting happened!  Of course after organizing the family along with Dexter the family dog who sat on top of the couch keeping close watch on Sidney, she decided she would take a few of her first steps!  This made for a very exciting moment. These are the moments that cannot be replaced by any other profession. You really cannot put a price tag on witnessing a daughters first steps alongside her parents.

I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to continually re-connect with Paul and Leslie who’s wedding I shot a few years back.  They loved my wedding and portrait photography so much that they have done a couple family sessions with me since their wedding. I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to shoot them with their two adorable children.

Children always bring laughter and smiles to a photo shoot.  Some of my best photography and most candid shots have been when a child has done something random or offbeat that makes everyone just crack up! The Barron family was also cashing in on the all inclusive portrait session they won this past summer when I held “The Cutest Kids Contest”.  From time to time I like to hold contests and award winners with photo packages.  It is a great way for me to display my passion and love for the art, as well as give back to the people who have supported me through my journey as a professional photographer.

We shot this photography session close to the Barron family’s house for ease of outfit changes for the kids. Typically I would not suggest to wear super bright colors, busy patterns, or logos for portraits.  Earth tones usually come across and blend best. Greens, grays, blues, browns, purples, or darker yellows and darker reds I think look best. However, the Barron family’s vibrant colors worked perfect against the bland rocky desert.

We had a really fun day shooting.  The kids definitely proved to live up to their title ” Cutest Kids.” Ella was a sassy little thing, jutting her hip out to the side when I was photographing her like a little model.  Logan on the other hand, with his gleaming blue eyes was making funny faces and just being the silly little boy that he is.  I love that child like wonder.  It reminds me of the days when I was young with no worries. I love to try and capture that essence of what it is like to be a kid again. It is a special time in our lives and one that deserves to be captured…The priceless moments. 

We shot some cool senior portraits of Tiffiny in downtown Phoenix yesterday. Tiffiny goes to Cactus Shadows School now and will go going to the downtown ASU Campus next year. We looked for locations that were old and had great textures and colors and wanted to make the images look fun as possible.

In two hours we shot in a dozen different spots with six outfit changes. I shoot portraits in any and all parts of the valley. The great spring time weather made it really easy to be walking and driving around downtown creating unique portraits in the late afternoon easy and comfortable too.

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Keith Alstrin , owner of Arcadia Photography, and one of the best Phoenix wedding photographers in Arizona was chosen to create a series of images for the fashion spread of Arizona Weddings Magazine 2010/2011 edition. Keith was chosen for the assignment because of his ability to create stunning images through the use of lighting and posing.

Keith also did the post production work of adding the black and white flower backgrounds to the images. The client wanted to use only one model and show as many different looks as possible, so with each dress change there was hair and make-up changes. Keith photographed the model in 12 different dresses with 12 different looks and in addition he did other sets of shots for the magazine covers.

Arizona Weddings Magazine

Fall is our favorite time of year to do portraits of children. The leaves change here pretty quick so it is a short window of time, but it’s possible to get some very un-Arizona looking images that make for beautiful  and artistic portrait photos. Plus, if the photo sessions are done around Halloween the portraits are ready to give as gifts and use for cards and the holidays.