Arizona Family Photographer: A Family Photo Session at Papago Park

The Fish Family came to me by way of a fundraiser for the Kyrene School District. Last fall I donated a full experience family photo session to their silent auction to benefit the school district, they bid on me and WON! Veronika and I connected during the holidays late last year and she decided on an early spring family photo session at one of the Valley’s most iconic public parks.

Location, Location

Papago Park is nestled on the border of North Tempe and very East Phoenix. It bumps up against the Phoenix Zoo as well as the Desert Botanical Gardens. You could make an entire day (or two) just out of these 3 locals alone. Papago Park is also a perennial favorite for local photographers as it has such a diversity of landscape. There are water features such as the pond (I refuse to call that a lake) and a stream. There are beautiful boulders to climb such as Hole in the Rock. Hiking trails through palm trees or acacia trees or any assortment of desert scrub or cacti. It beautifully provides a variety of natural backdrops for any photo session, any occasion.

Family Matters

There are so many reasons why having your family photographed is important. Among them and maybe most importantly is that life goes by fast, time stands still for no one. There are a plethora of excuses as to why you shouldn’t get those pictures taken…but the best reason to get them done is that you can never get back RIGHT NOW! Your kids will never be the size they are right now. You will never get the chance to celebrate that milestone again. You never know what tomorrow holds. And I well know that we all carry around a camera in our pockets. But if we’re honest, inside that phone is exactly where all of those lovely memories stay…we never print any of those out and paint our walls with them. AND…mom is almost always the one holing said camera. Having a professional photographer take your family photos ensures that Mom gets in the picture and is a part of your important memories.

What to Wear

I loved working with Veronika on styling her family’s wardrobe for this photo session. She was very intentional about what she wanted and was very open to color palette and clothing ideas from me. She started with her own dress (always start with Mom), a beautiful dark green midi length dress printed with full creme colored flowers. Side note: when I asked her where she purchased this gorgeous gown she told me the country of Estonia…sorry folks, it’s one of a kind). From there we added to it some other neutral colors and textures: blush pink rib knit girl dress, heather brown button down for Dad and and assortment of brown boots for each of them. The little girls even brought an assortment of coordinating hair bows and changed them out throughout the session.

Making it Work

It’s a strange thing this photographer gig…meeting up with people you’ve only just met and taking photos of them. You start out as strangers and then, through grace and kindness, you walk away at the end of your time together feeling somehow connected. I got to hear all about how Veronika and Ben met and that they were on the cusp of celebrating 10 years of marriage. Violet was the more outgoing one bursting with personality who knew exactly what to do when called upon (she was born for the camera). Beatrice was quiet and reserved but oh could she lavish affection on her mom and dad. We sat by the pond, walked by the stream, and skipped through the cacti while the sun set in the most glorious fashion bathing us in the end in brilliant gold and orange.

Yes, it’s a beautiful thing this art of being a photographer. Thank you Fish Family for taking a chance and bidding on me at that silent auction. I’m so glad you did! Until next time…

Arizona Family Photographer | Shannon Ly Photography

click here to see more photos from the Fish Family session at Papago Park