I love the way they think. That’s what you say when someone shares your mindset! 🙂
Truly, I love the way they see their children. They revel in each one’s uniqueness, while celebrating their overlapping traits. In selecting family portraits that tell the story of this chapter, authenticity was their top criteria. They work together as a fabulous team. Level headed, loving parents, trading off ideas and tasks with a shorthand ease that’s impressive.
It was a delight to be back with this awesome family. I got to watch them welcome their second cutie, witnessing the way that the family enfolds him in their arms, literally and metaphorically.
Cora is the fun, doting, big sister now, and Finn clearly adores the attention. Each parent snuggles him in that perfect puzzle piece way, a vantage point from which he’s safe to look out at the world and socialize.
Maybe that safety and love is why he’s maturing fast, seeming beyond his chronological age. It’s not every newborn that brightens my day as often as he does, with one of his trademark, beaming smiles. Such a sweetie!
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
She won’t be defined. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that she won’t LET you define her, she is an easy going person. Define away.
No, I mean, she makes it impossible to put her into some narrow category.
When you meet her, she’s not a super chatty person, but I tend to pry. 🙂 Here’s what I found out: A hard worker who quit her job to focus on school, she plays guitar, likes photography and played soccer for this year’s state champs, NPA. WOOT!
She has the presence of a gentle soul, and a contagious laugh. But, her game day face? Whoa. DO NOT mess with that athlete. She had injured her arm right before her senior session, but never once whined about it. That gentle soul has fierce inner strength.
She loves being outdoors, especially at Snow Bowl, is a great dancer, can somehow manage to play nice music with giant, pretty nails, when asked.
What surprised me the most? She likes to go to Good Will. Not so much for clothes, like the rest of us. For law books. For FUN. She finds them really interesting. Strength AND brains.
See? She’s lots of things. Lots and lots of awesome things.
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 end of high school is filled with new tasks and challenges. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by even the idea of the college application process, you’re not alone. We love an opportunity to help our families with this chapter, so next up, we at KDI Photography are sponsoring a juniors night at our studio.
For our first one, we’ll have expert college counselors help you figure out how to choose colleges to apply to. Later they’ll share what you need to know about the FAFSA application process.
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
Again and again, she returned with friends and siblings for visits to this special place. Games played, prom attire documented, picnics shared, impromptu photo shoots enacted. Over the years, memories accumulated.
It had started when they lived closer, the attachment to this lovely location. With a deck overlooking a pond and amazing flora and fauna on display in every direction, it’s pretty remarkable. Back in the day, it was right across the street, and even though they no longer live nearby, many happy memories remain. I have memories of her growing up, too. I used to see her in the neighborhood, usually in motion, always a bright smile and a friendly vibe.
Now, she’s selected this spot as the most meaningful place for senior portraits and I’m all in. She and her mom Belinda have that effect. If they want something, you want them to have it! They are both that wonderful.
I aimed to show the many facets of Mollie’s personality and interests, her strength, her humor. When we made portraits with her soccer gear, we didn’t know that Mollie would later lead her team as co-captain to win the state soccer championship! 🥳 💪🏼 I would follow her lead anywhere because she is so kind, so much fun, such a sweetheart.
Congratulations Mollie, on ALL the amazing things you’ve achieved!
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
I drove through the drizzle, in frustration. Not because of the weather, but because I found myself crawling along behind a slow poke going 25 miles below the speed limit, with no opportunity to pass. I careened into the parking lot at exactly the session’s start time – AKA late, since I like to get there early. The rain was just stopping so we thankfully didn’t miss anything.
As Bryce, his mom Tammy, and I stood strategizing by the horse trailer, one of the 3 horses started loudly peeing. At first it was kind of funny but as it progressed on and on and ON, it became challenging to concentrate or talk over him! I guess it’s important to stay hydrated.
Big Red, Little Red and Willie (a steadfast presence since before Bryce was born) were more interested in eating delicious grass than looking up or pointing their ears towards the camera. But Tammy was an AMAZING, intuitive helper. Running, before I could ask, to exactly where I’d wish her to be, she would shake enticing treats in a cup. Between her expert maneuvering and a squeaky toy I keep in my camera bag, they gave us their stately attention.
I loved making this bookend senior portrait with Bryce, having first photographed him before (his pregnant mama) and after his birth. It was great to see his mastery with the horses and learn more about his artistry with leather work. Check him out at his Facebook Page.
As we packed up, the rain started again, signaling the end of a great session.
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
Hey, graduating class of 2024! How is your senior year treating you so far? Has senioritis hit you yet?
I know you have a lot going on, but yearbook deadlines are coming up fast. Make a plan now. You don’t want to stress about getting “real” senior portraits at the last minute.
Of course, yearbook pictures aren’t the most important reason to schedule a senior photo session.
Everything is about to change, right? You’ll be so glad that you recorded this watershed moment in your life. Who you are, RIGHT NOW, as you’re finishing high school.
We’ve got you covered with everything you need to celebrate how far you’ve come. These portraits will shine down from your walls and out from artful albums. We can also design for you some epic graduation announcements.
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
I knew of Jack. I mean, everyone did. He had been voted an Arizona Daily Sun Citizen of the Year, for one thing. When I finally got to know him, I could see why.
I had always looked forward to reading his Trailheads column, published twice a month in the newspaper. It was in one of those columns that he encouraged readers to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraising race. He challenged us non-runners to walk it, setting a goal for the most walking participants ever. I signed up, brought some friends and sure enough, many others heeded Jack’s call as well. The biggest walking turnout the event had seen to date.
I met him that Saturday morning and told him I was there because of him. I asked him if I could photograph him, as part of a personal project. He reached out three days later to say yes. I’m so glad he did.
Sitting on the red couch in my office, he told me his story. In 1943, when Jack was about 5 years old, he and his family moved into the St. Louis home they would occupy for 55 years. His mom had come from Kentucky, and was a phenomenal gardener. She nurtured a Victory Garden that, along with the other neighbors’ gardens, was a crucial source of food during the war. She didn’t just teach Jack. She insisted that the family participate in this important activity for feeding their family. When Jack arrived here, he started his own, saying that food is more challenging in Flagstaff than flowers.
After retiring from Benjamin Moore, he moved here to Flagstaff in 1998 and decided to get involved in helping people see the beauty of our town. He told me “I think it’s a great place to live and I like to show people.” He volunteered more than anyone I know, especially in trails, biking, and clean up, often coming up with pithy names for his groups. Once a month he lead a group that did trash cleanup in the city. Considering themselves stewards of the FUTS trails, they called themselves PUTLRUS, an acronym for ‘Pick Up The Litter, Recycle Useful Stuff’. He was relentlessly inclusive, always leading walking groups, teaching, encouraging. A partial list of organizations he contributed to over the last 25 years can be found here.
I think he was nothing short of heroic, but he would wave me away for saying anything along those lines. He was humble to a fault, minimizing his accomplishments and contributions. He’d stepped back as he’d gotten older, he said, because “People don’t listen to you anymore.” He didn’t seem to mind. “Younger people need to find their niche. I’m OK with moving aside to work on something else”
I loved becoming friends with him, getting to know him, photographing him. But I don’t feel I did him justice, photographically. It’s a daunting task to portray someone who embodied so much. Yet, he was so grateful, so appreciative of my time and the portraits themselves, despite his modesty. His favorite was the walking away picture, he told me, not only because his face isn’t visible but he said it “just showed something.”
He passed away last month at the age of 85. His positive, generous presence is irreplaceable but I think the world would be better if we all walked the walk, like Jack.
Very nice article!! I am happy to have had Jack in my life and to have known him as a friend. He encouraged me in many ways; joining the Flagstaff Bicycle Advisory Committee, participating in Flagstaff Trails Initiative, PUTLRUS, attending City Council, etc. I tried not to laugh at his corny Midwestern humor but I couldn’t help myself. And he always told me “If you are bored in Flagstaff, it’s your own damned fault”.
Marian
Love this remembrance, Jack really was an inspiration and such a important part of our community. He will be missed but I am confident others will take up where he left off and his good work will continue.
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
Usually there are tears. Often, we’re laughing so hard, we’re crying. Other times, a different kinds of tears – some grateful and some painful. So much has happened.
This journey started years and years ago when I photographed Brian’s amazing grandparents as they approached their 90’s, having been married for 63 years. The minute I spent time with this family, they became treasured friends.
Since then, I’ve watched them make so many life changes. I’ve said goodbye as they moved away. Welcomed their return back to town. Photographed several members of their families who have since passed. Watched their relentlessly delightful kids grow up.
Everything changes. Brian and Alyssa have stayed the same but their kids? Not so much! 😂
This session was a celebration after some heavy life losses. Like all my time spent with the Lindstroms, I drove home with a full heart.
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
I first photographed Hayden at 5 months old and in the intervening years, his mom became someone I love. When I asked Hayden and Margot to meet me at 6am for his senior session, they kindly agreed. I was aiming to get ahead of some gnarly weather. Truth be told, I’m not a morning person, and Hayden is a teenager AND the session landed on Margot’s birthday, no less! Everyone was lovely about it. However, by the morning, the unpredictable Flagstaff forecast had shifted. Soooo, I made us all get up early without a compelling reason! As I drove to the shoot, I found my compelling reason, something we rarely see here; eerie and beautiful fog.
Hayden was a patient and compliant subject. It was fun to show some of his many skills and hobbies in the portraits. At some point, I tried to entice him to sing “Happy Birthday” to his mom like a drunken cowboy. (He declined so, obviously, I had to do it.)
The Peaks refused to appear for most of our session, the low clouds and fog occluding them until the very end. As we packed up the cars, the peaks finally began to emerge and we went back for an encore, featuring our little town’s most iconic landscape.
If he follows the plan he has for after graduation, the San Francisco Peaks will be in Hayden’s rear-view as he heads off to college. I was grateful to laugh with him and his awesome mom throughout this bookend session.
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
He casts his line, whips the pole back and forth, monofilament popping on and off the surface of the water. He stops to tie new flies when needed, his whole kit designed to keep everything he needs at his fingertips. His technique is fluid and he seems so totally at home while he’s casting. It’s impressive to watch. But don’t let these calm, peaceful moments fool you about Emory’s lifestyle.
He makes me feel like a slacker, honestly. He’s competitive in swimming and wrestling, loves fly-fishing, hiking, hunting, backpacking, and his dogs. And don’t forget, country music, cool quirky Hawaiian shirts, working out, trucker hats, traveling, and his 1967 Olds Delta 88. See what I mean? I’m tired just reading all of those things!
There was discussion of incorporating a variety of his many interests in his senior portrait session. But he has so many cool hobbies and skills that we had to narrow it down. I’m afraid my portraits only start to tell you the story of Emory. There is just so much to this chill, smart, polite guy!
So it’s not surprising that he was recently signed to swim for University of Puget Sound. (You can read about it in this article in the Arizona Daily Sun.
He recently graduated from high school. Congratulations on all of your success, Emory!
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
2 responses to “Jack Welch: Walking the Walk – In All the Ways”
Very nice article!! I am happy to have had Jack in my life and to have known him as a friend. He encouraged me in many ways; joining the Flagstaff Bicycle Advisory Committee, participating in Flagstaff Trails Initiative, PUTLRUS, attending City Council, etc. I tried not to laugh at his corny Midwestern humor but I couldn’t help myself. And he always told me “If you are bored in Flagstaff, it’s your own damned fault”.
Love this remembrance, Jack really was an inspiration and such a important part of our community. He will be missed but I am confident others will take up where he left off and his good work will continue.