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Celebrating a beautiful milestone – Baby photography in Flagstaff

I’ve heard it said that all babies are good but some babies are also “easy”.  Sloane certainly checks both boxes. At almost one, she makes me feel like a stand up comedian who’s crushing it. Even with my mask on, she gets all my jokes. Well, after the initial 2-3 minutes, where she just looked at me quizzically, mouth agape, as if to say “Hmmm… I think I like you but then again, you might be an alien from outer space. The jury is still out.”

Sloane’s awesome mama had a master plan to celebrate her daughter’s upcoming birthday with a unicorn, an artisan cake, a giant balloon, and a beautiful flower crown. The stuff childhood dreams are made of, right? Now with any baby, even one as precious and sweet as Ms. Sloane, one must be willing to be flexible and fluid. Things rarely go according to plan. But those unexpected twists and turns are where a lot of the fun comes from, too. Not to mention some very entertaining portraits over the years!

Needless to say, Sloane did not disappoint. She was so freakin’ adorable! Watching her play with the giant balloon and explore (more than eat) the cake, made me laugh till my face hurt. After the session, as she sat in the bubbles of my studio sink getting the frosting cleaned out of her ears, her giggles continued to light up the room as I mopped cake off the floor with a big grin on my face.



Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Working for the Census – Flagstaff Portraits

Did you read that last line and wonder if we’d started a side hustle as Census workers? Nope! 🙂

We were commissioned to do a project for the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County to encourage participation in the 2020 Census, since, as you can imagine, that has been uniquely challenging this year!

Family in Flagstaff, Coconino County and City of Flagstaff ad for the 2020 Census.

We photographed two local families and also medical workers providing COVID-19 tests at Fort Tuthill for a public awareness ad campaign.

First responder, providing COVID-19 testing in Flagstaff, Coconino County and City of Flagstaff ad for the 2020 Census.

It was such an enjoyable project, from the awesome women at the city and county who hired us, to the beautiful families who stepped up to model and those heroic folks testing everyone out at Fort Tuthill!

First responder, providing COVID-19 testing in Flagstaff, Coconino County and City of Flagstaff ad for the 2020 Census.

Did you know that Census participation not only determines the number of seats our state has in congress, but it’s tied to the funding we get for all kinds of essential services – like those vital virus tests? And it only happens every 10 years so it’s important to get it right. So, PLEASE take the 10 minutes to fill it out online! It’s pretty easy because they have a video walk-through, plus a helpful FAQ’s page for any nagging questions. The deadline is September 30th, 2020.

Family in Flagstaff, Coconino County and City of Flagstaff ad for the 2020 Census.


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Elliot, BASIS Flagstaff, Class of 2020 – Senior Portrait Photography Flagstaff

Can you imagine the scene? Parents are bumping into each other on the grass, trying to extract their own small, highly mobile offspring. Their calls are drowned out by the cacophony of happy kids attempting to get in one last trip down the slide before day’s end. Standing by the playground gate, I hear, “Excuse me, Kristen.” I look around, trying to ascertain who is calmly speaking in the chaos. I finally discover the source, roughly 2 feet below.

3 year old Elliot is attempting to schedule a play date during the mayhem of preschool pick up. Phrased with the maturity and perspective of an adult peer, I remember always expecting to find that little voice to be at my own height. A little unnerving then, but now, a fond and perfectly congruent memory.

Senior portrait, playing chess by the side of the road, north of Flagstaff, AZ

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of watching Elliot grow up into an actual, awesome adult. You can imagine how excited I was to try to make a record of who he is at this moment. Something pretty hard to define when it comes to Elliot. He’s a lot of things, and conversations with him are never dull. He has so many interests but says that video games, biking, chess, and CrossFit are ‘critical to his being’. At his request, we picked a wide open desert location where we could document some of those aspects of his personality.

Senior portrait, playing chess by the side of the road, north of Flagstaff, AZ

It was SO MUCH FUN. He’s always irreverently game for whatever, keeping me laughing while he pokes fun at everything. His mom, Nora, was along for the ride, bravely holding up a lighting scrim that quickly turned into a sail in the fierce desert wind. Thankfully, she was able to use her mad muscles to keep herself from flying away, never to be seen again! 

Senior portrait in the desert with the San Francisco Peaks in the background, north of Flagstaff, AZ

Elliot is headed to the University of Arizona Honors College, for whatever school may look like this fall. I’m looking forward to what comes next for him.

Senior portrait near ruins with the San Francisco Peaks in the background, north of Flagstaff, AZ
Senior portrait in the desert at sunset north of Flagstaff, AZ


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Before and After – maternity and newborn portrait photographer

It was an unusual story, with some unexpected twists… Alex wanted to do maternity portraits earlier than most of my pregnant clients. She had a mother’s intuition that her baby would come early. So, we found ourselves in March, navigating socially distant portraits during the rise of COVID-19, with me staying away from subjects that I have always preferred to hug. It was a joyful session. Witnessing the love between Joey and Alex, awaiting their baby was sublime. Two souls who seem to fit together like pieces of the same puzzle.

Studio portrait of pregnant couple In black and white, maternity portraits in Flagstaff, AZ

Thank goodness we did the session early because Wilder decided to arrive just ONE week later. After Alex’s water broke, her caregivers at the hospital tried to slow her labor. But, Wilder, ever the spunky “little man”, had his own agenda, and preferred not to wait very long. He made a very dramatic entrance via c-section, at 33 weeks – on Alex’s beloved grandfather’s birthday. Wilder made it home, but not right away. Immediately after birth, he turned blue, giving everyone a scare. It turned out that he had an unexplained collapsed lung. A stroke of great fortune brought the neonatologist to the scene exactly at the right time. Wilder would recover, but needed to spend some heart wrenching time away from his mom and dad in FMC’s Special Care Nursery. Every day, he showed off his feistiness to his nurses, and was finally allowed to go live at home with his people.

Studio portrait of family with newborn baby In color, newborn photography in Flagstaff, AZ

He couldn’t have landed in a more beautiful family and judging by his adorable facial expressions, he knows it. Alex is love personified – warm, welcoming, kind, nurturing and smart. Joey is her steadfast hubby, amazing post-surgery caregiver (with ER nurse cred) and badass, expert dad. And big sister Basil is SUCH a pro. Wilder is so lucky to have her snuggles and confident care, too. I loved hanging out with Basil again, having photographed her as a newborn and toddler.

Black and white studio portrait of father holding his smiling sleeping newborn baby, newborn photography in Flagstaff, AZ

Each day, Wilder’s plucky personality shines more and he is thriving, the dramatic part of his story firmly in the rear view. I love seeing him grow up.

Black and white studio portrait of parents kissing their sleeping newborn baby, newborn photography in Flagstaff, AZ


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



The Hatch McDonald Family Welcomes Their Newborn – Photographer in Flagstaff

At their wedding, the theme was country and can you guess what the footwear was? Well, #@*kicking cowboy boots, or course! Naturally, we needed to incorporate the family culture into their newborn session with baby Jordy Max.

Newborn baby sleeps on a wooden chair with boots and cowboy hat. Flagstaff, AZ

They brought their own beautiful boots and a pair that Jordy may take some more time to grow into. Although… maybe sooner than later because this little guy’s getting bigger by the day! He was a looong baby to begin with (or should I say tall?). He’ll be wearing boots before you know it. I really enjoyed getting to get to know Jordy and his very nice parents. I’m excited for our next couple of sessions together to chart his growth!

father in cowboy hat kisses his newborn son, baby boy in Flagstaff, AZ
newborn baby boy on blanket with eyesopen at camera, Flagstaff, AZ


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Waiting for the Newest Family Member – Maternity Portraits in Flagstaff

It’s wonderful when Ashley comes to see me and brings her awesome family. She’s an amazing collaborator and I always enjoy our time together. The occasion for this new collection of sessions was that Ashley and Jeff were expecting to expand their family from three to four. So much had happened in their lives since the last portraits we made together about 7 years ago, when their daughter was 2! It was wonderful to see all of the great changes in their professional and personal lives and see how big Kaia had become. She somehow manages to be incredibly fun and playful yet mature enough to be ready to be an phenomenal big sister. I was so thrilled when they came back shortly after this session with a newborn Ryker. Stay tuned for those pictures a little later on!

Studio maternity portrait - pregnant couple snuggles with daughter
Studio maternity portrait - pregnant mother laughs with her daughter
Studio maternity portrait - pregnant couple laughs with daughter

For now, check out the pair of portraits at the end… one pregnancy portrait I made when she was expecting Kaia and then the one we made, waiting for Ryker.



Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



The Mileys, Now a Family of 3

When I met with Blake and Jessica to plan our session, they had some ideas in mind for things they wanted to capture specifically. When we made portraits, the ever agreeable Miss Cora was exquisitely adorable, as I expected. I think she gets her awesome personality from her nice parents. We played Blake and Jessica’s music in the studio, all of us singing along. (Well, maybe not Cora, exactly, but I could tell she enjoyed it!)

Baby eats fingers while perched on dad's shoulders. Studio portrait by Flagstaff photographer KDI Photography
Baby smiles while perched on dad's shoulders. Studio portrait by Flagstaff photographer KDI Photography

Cora was sleepy before eating and was super sweet, with a calmly alert, curious demeanor when awake. I was blown away by her stunning eyelashes! But when it came time to choose which pictures to make art from, the choices shifted somewhat. I love how that happens! Sometimes you make a specific plan for a concept and then it’s another image that truly speaks to your heart. Fortunately, Blake and Jessica seem to pivot it in exactly the same directions, an unbeatable team. They consistently agreed with each other, making amazing decisions.

Baby smiles while sitting on blanket. Studio portrait by Flagstaff newborn photographer KDI Photography

I love the choices they made and hope they’re now enjoying sweet Cora in person AND on their walls!

Newborn baby looks at the camera while laying on blanket. Studio portrait by Flagstaff photographer KDI Photography


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



You Could Win a Portrait Package While Supporting A GREAT Cause THIS Week

June 17th UPDATE: Arizona saw close to 2400 new virus cases yesterday, nearly double the previous daily record. Help us get PPE supplies to the Navajo, Hopi, and White Mountain Apache Nations and you might just win a session package for yourself to boot! Deadline has been EXTENDED to this FRIDAY. Please share – and give if you can.

Our neighbors up north from the Navajo Nation have had the highest per capita rate of COVID 19 infection in the US. Now, with state hospitals cumulatively listed at 84% capacity and a new surge happening, I know we all really want to help support frontline healthcare workers. A wonderful nonprofit organization in our community, Northern Arizona Volunteer Medical Corp NAVMC, has been helping the neediest folks in the most beautiful way for years. I’m so grateful that they have been directing their coordinated help to the Navajo nation, providing much-needed PPE and medical supplies. In hopes of supporting their funding so they can continue this good work, we are offering a WALL ART SESSION PACKAGE as a raffle prize for donating to their organization. (A location or studio portrait session for up to 5 people with a $500 wall art credit included.) Simply donate at the link below and email us at studio@kdiphotography.com a screenshot of your confirmation. For every $25 donated, you will be given one virtual raffle ticket for a chance to win the session package. For every $100, get 5 chances. We’re aiming to raise $5,000 by the deadline of Friday, June 19th. 🤞🏼

PLEASE SHARE this and contribute if you can!



Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Tim and Kim – Couples Portrait in Flagstaff

I don’t think either of them was looking to find new love but fate kept conspiring to push them together. They were both volunteering for a wonderful charity that Keiji and I love to support, Childhelp Flagstaff. With an assist from their sneaky friends, the fundraiser’s logistics repeatedly seemed to throw them together.

Couples Portrait in Flagstaff, AZ, Sunlight shines thought the ponderosa on a summer afternoon in Flagstaff

I think ultimately, they finally just gave in and decided that they should go out for one date. Thank goodness they did because they were married in 2015 and are pretty wonderful together! I got to make their acquaintance when a new magazine Highlands Living asked me to photograph them for the cover. The magazine showcases the beauty and residents of Forest Highlands here in Flagstaff.

Tim works for UPS and Kim is a respected realtor in town. During the session we took the opportunity to update her professional portraits, too. (Tim said he didn’t need a portrait of himself wearing brown. 🙂

Professional Portrait on location, Headshot in Flagsttaff, AZ

It was one of the first portrait sessions I did after the social distance guidelines were put in place. How nice that, as I learned to navigate this new normal in my portrait process, I got to figure it out with two of the nicest people you can find!

Couples Portrait Summer on Location, Flagstaff AZ


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Kelsey, Flagstaff High School, Class of 2020 – senior portraits

I have the pleasure of working with Vicky fairly often, and she is relentlessly awesome – super organized, fun, and a phenomenal herder of cats. (You try corralling a bunch of very nice but super busy surgeons for photo shoots, working around their myriad clinic hours and surgery schedules!) She seems to manage all the components of whatever we’re collaborating on with total mastery and an easy going laugh. But, it had been 8 plus years since my last portraits with her daughter, so I was needless-to-say blown away by this tall, beautiful adult Kelsey. She stepped out from behind the wheel of her truck, with her beloved but sometimes crazy rescue dog, Candy, trailing her.

Flagstaff senior portrait on location
Flagstaff senior portrait, jeans, boots and her dog

Kelsey was a little kid the last time I’d photographed her with her toys and stuffed animals. Now, she’d somehow morphed into something along the lines of a country music maven or maybe just a nonchalantly glamorous movie star. She was still humble, sweet, and a total joy to make portraits with. She graduates from Flag High this week, after a very unique senior year. I’m so happy for her!

Senior Portrait in Flagstaff
Flagstaff High School senior portrait


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Hug a Member of the Class of 2020! Flagstaff senior portraits

Today wrapped up the last of several virtual high school graduations in Flagstaff, including a car parade today for three high schools!

We’ve been thinking about the class of 2020 a lot. They’re missing out on important milestones, like a traditional prom, an actual in-person graduation ceremony, as well as time with friends who may be heading off in different directions. Keiji and I made this 43 second video as a letter to the class of 2020, in hopes of celebrating them in another way.

senior portraits class of 2020 video

Congratulations seniors!!!

BASIS Flagstaff
Coconino High School

Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy

Flagstaff High School
NPA (Northland Preparatory Academy)



Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



The newly expanded Deacon Miller Family – Studio Portraits in Flagstaff

I LOVE photographing multiple generations. I think about where those portraits will be in 10, 30, or 100 years and how they’ll be such a precious part of a family’s history. So, I was especially excited Nicole and Andrew planned to bring 3 of Bohdi’s grandparents to his newborn session. They are among the lucky ones, with family living near by. I really enjoyed my time with them all, especially getting to witness the love that surrounds sweet Bohdi. His grandmothers were totally expert with him and his grandfather kept us all laughing.

Swaddled newborn baby boy sleeping
newborn baby boy snuggled in his parents arms

He needed to eat and express himself but in between those pauses was an amazing portrait subject, clearly relishing the snuggles. Here we are, just a few weeks later and so much has changed. Many of us are distant from our families and to me, these types of portraits become sweeter in this current context. I’m thrilled that I’ll get to photograph this little guy again when he gets bigger, when hopefully there will be a lot more hugging again!

newborn baby smiles as his mother kisses him


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photography • Flagstaff Maternity Pregnancy Photographer • Flagstaff Newborn Photographer • Flagstaff Child Photographer • Flagstaff Senior Portrait Photographer • Flagstaff Couples Photography

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, and high school seniors in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona



Keiji Iwai & Kristen Dacey Iwai

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KDI PHOTOGRAPHY

 

724 N. Humphreys St

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

 

Phone

(928) 779-4151

 

Hours:

M - F 9 - 5 by appointment

KDI Photography Portrait Studio in Flagstaff, Az
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