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Couples Portraits in Flagstaff, AZ – Northern Arizona Photographer

“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.

Flagstaff AZ Location Couples PortraitWhen 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.Flagstaff AZ Location Couples Portrait  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’veFlagstaff AZ Location Couples Portrait 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

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.

9 day old newborn in his father's armsOne 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.


Flagstaff Family Portrait Photographer • 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


CEO Portrait for Body Bliss in Cottonwood, AZ

“It was like jumping onto a moving freight train.” Flagstaff Portraits - CEO PortraitWhile were making some fresh professional portraits, I’d asked Pam about becoming the new owner of the popular aromatherapy products store, Body Bliss in Cottonwood, AZ. She was scrambling to get up to speed to stay on top of all the amazing growth in her business. Instead of the usual synthetic yuckiness, Body Bliss products are made with natural and sustainable botanical raw materials and can be found at some of the finest spas around the country. The company was originated by a botanist and a massage therapist, looking to create healthier supplies for massage therapists to use day in and day out.  It’s a product line that is near and dear to Pam’s heart and she loves her fun, demanding job.

FlagstaffPortraits-BodyBlissCEOBeyond what I originally thought of as aromatherapy products (like essential oils), Body Bliss offers a huge variety of delicious sounding goodies like “I RENEW Organic Tea Tree & Rosemary Foot Soak”, “Chai Spice & Vanilla Virgin Coconut Body Polish”, and “Pink Grapefruit & Jasmine Cleansing Cream.” I get hungry just reading their titles! Personally, I’m in love with the Organic Lavender & Vetiver Body Lotion and am kind of wondering how I lived without it all these years! You can purchase online, so go get something yummy for yourself or a lucky loved one: Body Bliss website

 

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.

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

11 Days: Pregnancy & Newborn Portraits in Flagstaff

In my 25+ years as a photographer, I’ve never before had the opportunity to make portraits of a female firefighter. Arizona is a dry place and we’re enormously grateful to the firefighters, hotshot crews and Wildland Fire Managers who keep us safe. It was incredibly fun to make portraits of Katie in some of her firefighting gear, both during pregnancy and merely a week and a half later with newborn Ms. personality-plus in her arms. Katie doesn’t prefer to be the center of attention but her husband and I loved these portraits documenting the huge changes in their family in such a short window of time.

Before                         AfterPregnancy and Newborn Portrait, Flagstaff, AZWhat a difference 11 days make! I LOVE the thoughtful finger-pointing.

Here’s some more expert finger-pointing, six months later. I’m thinking that this is her evolving personal style. Nobody does it better. 🙂6Mo-Baby-Portrait-Flagstaff-AZ-Photographer

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.

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

RAFFLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE MASLAR FAMILY

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KDI Photography is holding a raffle to support a family whose 31/2 year-old daughter is going through cancer treatment. We’re offering a free studio portrait session for up to 5 people with a $99 print credit to one winner. Buy one or more raffle tickets and you will be helping to provide financial support to their family as they travel to Phoenix for chemotherapy treatments. One raffle ticket for $20 or 6 tickets for $100.  Raffle drawing will be November 21st.

We are excited to offer some support to this amazing family so thanks in advance!

TO GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ANY OF THESE FOLKS:
Kristen or Keiji Iwai at (928) 779-4151 or studio@kdiphotography.com
Shannon Ellison at (928) 213-0888 or Sehavey22@yahoo.com
Heidi Komada at (928) 221-7854 or heidinted@yahoo.com
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• Want to help even more?  Sign up to coordinate raffle tickets at your work or school!

• Not interested in winning a portrait session with KDI Photography but still want to help? Please feel free to contribute to another fundraiser, a GoFundMe campaign that was set up by Maslar family friends.

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Fall Family Portraits in Flagstaff, AZ

Whats your season? Everybody seems to have their favorite.

Is it Fall, Autumn?  You know, the time of year when we all want to go leaf peeping and see the brilliant fall foliage? KDI-Child-Portraits-S-Kids-Family15_038Most years in Northern Arizona, the Aspens start turning from rich, radiant green to saturated yellow in late September. Some of that color can often be found as late as November. It starts on the mountain and moves into town, so different locations show their beauty at different periods within that few week window. It just so happens that lots of Flagstaff families and seniors in high school want to make portraits in that setting every year. In fact, October is our photo studio’s absolute busiest month.

It makes sense that Fall is so popular for portraits. Like the San Francisco Peaks, those turning leaves are pretty iconic to us Flagstaff residents. Why do I mention this while we can still see some of the flowers of summer? Well, because we are already booking up our busy September and October and I don’t want you to miss out. (It makes me sad when our clients are sad!) We fill up that time in our calendars every year, but this year we started booking the fall season sessions in February! We still have many studio sessions open but the location portrait sessions always go faster.

So, lovely past and future KDI Photography clients, consider this your friendly reminder. Fall will be here in a flash!

 

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. To see more, please visit KDI Photography’s website.

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

 

 

Kind Words – Professional Portraits Flagstaff

I met a lovely person yesterday when realtor Linda Kiehne came in for her ReMax Peak Properties professional business portrait. Unlike my family, children and senior portrait subjects, I find that people often come to the studio to get an updated head shot with some reluctance. I can empathize because I prefer to be behind the camera (or at least one of my children!) when it comes to portraits, too. I try to make it a painless process for my commercial photography clients and I’m so glad that Linda enjoyed her experience during our session together.

You can see some of KDI Photography’s commercial portraits here.

commercial headshots

7 Reasons You’ll Love Having Portraits Made in Summer – Flagstaff Photographer

By the time she finally called me, I could hear the guilt in her voice. They had waited and waited to find the right moment. Something always got in the way. The kids  had some school event or sports activity. She and her husband wanted to lose a little weight. One of her children was going through an “awkward teeth” phase. (For the record, I absolutely love the visual time machine aspect of “awkward teeth”!) Scheduling was always a challenge. Before they knew it, the kids were just SO MUCH older. She felt like some of the important moments in her family’s life had been missed, photographically.

Have you ever heard that proverb: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now”.

You know when the best time is to make portraits? Now.

Here are my top 7 reasons to have your portraits made during the summer:

1. Coordinating schedules is usually easier in the summer. It’s less likely that you’ll have to work around school events, sports, lessons and other after-school activities.summer family portraits flagstaff photographer

2. People often feel more “photo-ready” in the summer. We’re outdoors, getting some sunshine and are usually more active than during the holidays.

3. Your stress level will be dramatically reduced when your holiday gift giving and holiday cards are completed before the rush sets in. And, when you and your family members find yourselves in relaxed summer mode during the session, your holiday portrait gifts and cards will show it!Family-Portrait-Flagstaff-AZ4. Family and senior portrait photographers (like me) (more…)

Emmalee’s Gift – Photographer in Flagstaff, AZ

She was clearly getting ready to say something. She stood in front of me and paused, looking at the floor for a second. When she did glance up at me, she quietly mumbled, ‘I’m gonna miss you.’ I said ‘Oh, I know. Me too. I always love when I get to play with you.’

Later, at the end of the very full day, KDI Photography I looked at the wax bracelet she’d made me, snuggled sloppily around my wrist, and smiled again. My 3-year-old friend (she’d made a point to assure me we were real ‘friends’) had arrived in the morning with her awesome parents for their portrait View and Order meeting like she almost always arrives – looking very serious and shy. About 15 minutes in, she usually starts to warm up and progresses from there to the freely-climbing-on-my-lap level, and then finally on to full-out dance party mode by the time she has to go. In like a lamb and out like a very playful, giggly lion.

Today, our little dance break needed no music except us humming along to our crazy steps. I’ll confess, I love it when kids are reluctant to leave the studio because it means they’re happy to be here. Fortunately, I’ll get to see her again soon – there’s more on the calendar with her delightful family.

The bracelet was tangible evidence of some sweetness in a day that was full of sweet moments. A wonderful email from clients who were happily surprised by something that Keiji and I sneakily included in their order; a newborn’s sleepy sounds, furrowed brow, and prayerful toes; parental expressions as they reacted to their teenage daughter’s photographs; a woman’s joyfully enthusiastic voice on the phone as we conspired about her upcoming couples engagement portrait.

Again and again, beautiful souls somehow find us, walk through our studio door, and fill up my heart. Their presence is an amazing gift.

 

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.

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

Pregnancy Portraits Over Time – Flagstaff Maternity Photographer Looks Back

This year will mark the 25th anniversary of my first pregnancy portrait! (These sessions are sometimes also called maternity photography.)

KDI Photography Pregnant Portrait Flagstaff, AZ
pregnancy, maternity portrait, Flagstaff AZ

Clearly, that first mama’s belly got me hooked immediately because I’ve been photographing pregnancy and babies ever since that first session. For the last 20 years, I’ve been making portraits in my studio and on location in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona.

Pregnancy and Newborn portraits, Before and After, Flagstaff, AZ by KDI Photography

If it’s possible, I’m even more passionate about making these photographs now than when I first started. Maybe becoming a mom simply made it more meaningful to me. As a parent, I certainly have a higher awareness about how quickly the time passes.

Pregnancy and Newborn portraits, Before and After, Flagstaff, AZ by KDI Photography
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KDI-Pregnant-Portrait-Flagstaff-DS Family
 

Flagstaff Family Portrait Photographer • 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

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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