Blog - KDI Photography

The GERMANSEN FAMILY PLUS The MATERNAL GRANDS – Three Generations in Northern AZ

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Whenever I see the Germansens, they always fill up my tank. Yes, obviously, Hadley is about as delicious as any child should be allowed to be. But his parents are both pretty delightful people, too. They make art, play music and have fantastic senses of humor. So, when Robin told me she’d like to gift her mother and her father with portraits, I immediately loved the idea. I mean, getting to see more of this wonderful family sounds good, right? It was. It was especially touching to me to see Hadley’s distinct, sweet relationships with each of his two grandparents. The way he tenderly snuggles with his Gram. The way he makes hilarious faces with Grandpa Bob. This lucky little boy is growing up surrounded by special people with so much love.

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with more than 2 decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, high school seniors and for businesses in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona

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

THE PHILLIPS FAMILY WELCOMES A NEW BABY SISTER

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

I’m not gonna lie. It wasn’t that easy to wait. I’m not super patient when it comes to crazy amounts of adorableness! I eagerly awaited meeting Chris and Amy’s second daughter, but I ALSO had to wait a bit longer to make portrait of her! Her big sister had made her photographic debut with me at 8 weeks (see her newborn portraits here ) and we wanted to document her little sister during that same time window. (An idea I LOVE, by the way, except for the patience required.) Since they live quite close to us, I’d see them strolling around our neighborhood, with sweet little Piper but, no newborn portraits for a bit.

Of course, it was worth the suspense. In fact, on the day of our session, it was a blast. Newborn Piper needed to eat a lot to fuel her growth, so that left me with the chance to play a bunch of hide and seek with her big sis Porter. We giggled hard, hiding in my studio curtains, under chairs, and behind backgrounds. She showed me the amazing book she was coloring – a rainbow book about seeds into blooming flowers. It reminded me of a session we did in the Flagstaff sunflowers when she was one, Porter pausing to lean over and smell each one (click here to see her 12 month portraits in the beautiful Flagstaff outdoors). In between rounds of hide and seek, she was so gentle and kind to her newborn sister, holding her with care. It was just riveting to see how much the sisters were alike and yet, also quite different at this significant moment. Now, I have to work on my patience again, and wait for our upcoming 12 month session!! Stay tuned. 🙂

12 MONTH MILESTONE – FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER IN FLAGSTAFF

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

For this little sweetie pie, I started photographing her when her mama was pregnant, then again at birth, at 7 months and here at 12 months. I absolutely love to document that first amazing year, charting the rapid, phenomenal changes. It’s so meaningful and enjoyable, that when it comes to a close, I’ll admit, I’m always a little sad. It’s the conclusion of a beautiful chapter. I have so enjoyed seeing her easy, sweet smile, documenting the love her siblings shower on her and witnessing all the milestones she’s reached. Here are her previous sessions so you can see her consistent love of pearls and how she’s grown: Newborn and 7 Months Old

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

SABINE, BASIS Flagstaff, Class of 2018 – Senior Portraits in Flagstaff, AZ

Friday, May 4, 2018

Sitting outside the door of my shooting studio, Sabine’s mom Gina was probably wondering why she was hearing so much loud laughing overlapping with the sound of things falling and crashing to the floor. Gina exhibited a tremendous amount of trust and didn’t actually ask any questions. (I think she’s come to expect these kinds of shenanigans at my studio.)

Sabine has a passion for some very cool hobbies, so of course some of them made their way into my studio that day for her senior portrait session. Sabine was game to try all the weird ideas I had and it was a blast trying them! My hope is that we made a memory that represented the essence of Sabine at this moment in time.

During the session we listened to Fall Out Boy – or at least we tried. The Pandora station I made called “Fall Out Boy” didn’t seem to think playing actual FOB music was a requirement. Sabine knew every song, though and cracked up at an algorithm that would spit out random non-genre related music. Sabine will attend the Honors College of Oregon State as a Marine Biology major in the fall and is a National Merit Scholar Finalist. So, I think it’s clear that music isn’t Sabine’s only area of intelligence!

Two New Babies In The Family – Newborn Twins Photography

Monday, April 9, 2018

The twin girls seemed eager to get here before their ideal arrival date, which made for a pretty exciting time leading up to their appearance. I was trying not to check in, because I didn’t want to annoy them but I was really hoping to hear good news soon. When the girls arrived, 33 minutes apart, they needed to visit the special care nursery for a while, and then got to go home with oxygen. This delayed our newborn portrait session a little bit but the girls seemed so perfectly healthy when I finally got to meet them in person. I was thrilled that they came to the studio with some deeply meaningful family treasures. The bassinet you see in these portraits has been used for several generations in their family, made with Drew’s mom’s wedding dress.

The blankets we used were made by beloved family members. This cornucopia or “horn of plenty” is what their mama came home from hospital in when she was born, since she was a Thanksgiving baby.

Alaina and Drew felt that the girls should be the stars of the session. I agreed but also gently tried to convince them to be willing to appear in some portraits themselves! I believe that later, their daughters will love to see these portraits of their parents holding them, with so much love in their faces. How nice that they acquiesced, allowing us to make a record of this important time in their family’s history.

ALLY, Sedona Red Rock High School, Class of 2018 – SENIOR PORTRAITS IN AZ

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Portrait of Sedona Red Rock High School Graduate, Senior Photos in Flagstaff, AZ by KDI Photography

There were two things on her mind; Ally was graduating from high school soon and yet, she also wanted a family portrait with her boyfriend, Kyle, with their adorable dog Paisley. We ultimately decided we needed to make a hybrid session to cover all her portrait hopes and wishes; senior portraits and family portraits.

We cracked up and chased Paisley around and had so much fun that it was hard for me to stop shooting. But, eventually it was time to go. I’m always aware of their commute from Flagstaff back to Sedona, AZ, not wanting to keep them too long. I guess she also just inspires my maternal instincts. A few years ago, Ally’s mom passed away I can see that Ally has become a remarkably independent person. She manages things that most kids her age never have to and she does so with a smile, kindness and humility. After she graduates, she’ll attend NAU to pursue the physicians assistant program. We’ll be truly lucky to have her serving our community.

Spread Some Love: Winter, New Year’s & Valentine’s Day portraits – Family Photographer Flagstaff

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

You made it through the holidays. Whew! Great job! Here are my best reasons why now is perfect for a family or couples portrait.

1. You never got around to portraits in 2017 and it’s making you feel guilty and maybe a little slackerish. Here’s your way out! You’re going to feel like such a good person when you simply refuse to let any more time go by before documenting the people you love.

2. Your life is hopefully a lot less busy now than it was a few weeks ago. School and social activities may not be in full swing yet, making it less arduous to coordinate schedules for a session. Did you know we can even help you with that? When you send us your preferred parameters (“Tuesday mornings or Thursday lunchtimes”), we can send a scheduling link with session options that you can share with those hard to pin down family members.

3. When you send your love ones a custom Valentine’s Day themed card with portraits of your family on it, it will really stand out since they won’t be receiving many cards right now. Who doesn’t love receiving Valentine’s Day cards?

4. A gift certificate for a couples portrait session can be a romantic Valentine’s Day gift. I’m talking to you, husbands! A family session is a meaningful gift, too. It tells the recipient that you treasure them most.

5. Not up for Valentine’s Day cards? Just wait and include these portraits for your holiday card later this year. You’re already preventing 2018 holiday-related stress! See? You’re so ahead of the curve!

Maybe there’s never one absolute ‘perfect’ time, but it’s always a good feeling to look at your favorite people, smiling down at you from your now beautifully decorated walls.

Time is speeding by. This is one powerful way to savor it.

Valentines Day Family Portraits Flagstaff, AZ, KDI 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

Who Should Select Your Profile Image? – Arizona Portraits

Thursday, August 17, 2017

I enjoyed this article because it validated something I’ve observed in my work, especially when I make head shot portraits.

…the images chosen by strangers made a better first impression than those people picked themselves.”

Science confirms it—your LinkedIn profile photo looks even worse than you think it does

It’s certainly something to think about the next time you find yourself choosing a profile portrait of yourself purely because “my hair looks best” or “I look cool in that one.”

Kristen Dacey Iwai of KDI Photography is a full-time professional portrait photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona with more than 2 decades of experience. Making portraits of families, pregnancy, newborns, babies, children, high school seniors and for businesses in her downtown studio and on location, she serves clients from Flagstaff, Sedona, Tuba City, Winslow, Payson, Page, Williams, Prescott, Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona. Please visit KDI Photography’s website.

Couples Portraits in Flagstaff, AZ – Northern Arizona Photographer

Monday, March 20, 2017

“It’s benign.” Isn’t that such a great sentence? Who doesn’t want to hear that the issue they’re having is harmless, noncancerous?

Those two words are an excerpt from one of my earliest conversations with radiologist Ken Salce. I hope he gets to say that to patients every day but, for me, hearing it was remarkable. It was a long time ago, but ever since that day, seeing him has always been a happy reminder of his compassionately issued reassurance.

When I bumped into him at a fundraiser with his sweetie, Tara Cecil, she gave me reason to smile, too. She is a person who is filled with light and enthusiasm and love, all of which radiate out of her face. You can’t miss it, it’s contagious.

They are amazing together, sharing private jokes, finishing each other sentences. They share an easy confidence and it’s just a good feeling to be around them. When Tara finished her PhD and they set a date for their upcoming wedding, we made plans to create some overdue couples portraits. Their way of being together makes my job a breeze, I sometimes think they’ve forgotten I’m there, with my camera!

We made the first photographs in the bucolic summer in Flagstaff, with abundant, saturated yellow flowers surrounding the happy couple.

For their second portrait session, the turning leaves of the golden aspens in Northern Arizona were in their fullest glory.

Despite the fact that both of them work at Flagstaff Medical Center, Ken and Tara (more…)

Blessed – Flagstaff Newborn Photographer

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

I just typed ‘newborn’ into the search field on my computer and watched as 20,000 images of the very beginning of so many lives came up in front of my eyes, which now have tears in them.

What a gift that I get to do this for a living.

One very special newborn at 9 days old

We are literally “a mom and pop” photography studio.

We truly love making these family treasures for other parents.

Love Made Tangible

The GERMANSEN FAMILY PLUS The MATERNAL GRANDS – Three Generations in Northern AZ

THE PHILLIPS FAMILY WELCOMES A NEW BABY SISTER

12 MONTH MILESTONE – FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER IN FLAGSTAFF

SABINE, BASIS Flagstaff, Class of 2018 – Senior Portraits in Flagstaff, AZ

Two New Babies In The Family – Newborn Twins Photography

ALLY, Sedona Red Rock High School, Class of 2018 – SENIOR PORTRAITS IN AZ

Spread Some Love: Winter, New Year’s & Valentine’s Day portraits – Family Photographer Flagstaff

Who Should Select Your Profile Image? – Arizona Portraits

Couples Portraits in Flagstaff, AZ – Northern Arizona Photographer

Blessed – Flagstaff Newborn Photographer

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