Dreamy Sunrise Family Pictures at the Superstition Mountains | Arizona Photographer

I was so excited when Tara told me she wanted to take family pictures at the Superstition Mountains because those mountains and the surrounding desert are the most beautiful backdrop for photos!  We planned the shoot for sunrise because the sunlight coming up over those mysterious mountains is just so luminous it’s unreal.  We got some beautiful pictures of Tara and Jordan and their two cute kids, but in our planning we forgot one tiny detail…it’s cold at 7:30 in the morning during the winter in Arizona!  Standing outside in the cold for pictures early in the morning was not the #1 thing these cute kiddos had in mind for their day, so we made sure they took a break to warm up in the car and kept things short and sweet for the family pictures.  Later in the day Tara and I met up again at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve to make sure we got some individual pictures of the kids when it was warmer and they were feeling more in the mood for pictures.  Tara gets mom of the year for being so relaxed and patient during her family pictures.  I know it can be so stressful with little kids when you’re worried that they won’t behave or smile for the pictures, but if parents get stressed out or tense during a photoshoot, their mood can come across in the pictures and then nobody looks very happy!  But I love it when parents do exactly what Tara and Jordan did so well–stay calm, relax, encourage their kids to look and smile but laugh and embrace them just the way they are no matter what happens.  Trust me, you’ll be surprised next time you take family pictures how much a positive, happy attitude from the parents helps the kids be so much happier and cooperative for the pictures.  And aren’t C and T the cutest sister and brother you ever did see?  They are so sweet together.  I love the outfits Tara put together, too–little C’s darling bow is actually from Tara’s Etsy shop where she makes the cutest bows!  I have some of her bows for my baby girl and just love accessorizing her outfits with them, they are so well-made and come in so many fun colors.  Thanks for letting me take your family pictures, Tara!  I’m in love with how they turned out!