Andrea Brewster Photography

April & Sam [Mesa, Gilbert AZ Wedding Photography]

2012-02-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

Their first date was over ice cream and before the end of the night they both knew this was it- the one they had hoped to find. He was an olympic swimmer and loves his truck and boots. She, a perfect lady who loves simplicity. Together, perfection.

There is nothing I love more than brides who choose to do a first look. It is so intimate and allows time for just them.

The groom had one special request:

Loved the details. April had some amazing friends take care of all this for her!

The brides oldest daughter prepared a special musical number: Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Melissa Jill- MJ2Day [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2012-02-02T02:00:00.002-07:00

If you've been following me on Facebook, you know I've been gone the last 5 days. I have been immersed in all things photography. Before I do some implementing, I think I need to let some things absorb.... kind of like letting the meatloaf rest! Days 4 and 5 were spent with the well known Melissa Jill as I attended her MJ2Day. Day 1, (which was really day 4 on my schedule,) was spent talking about the in and outs of the client shoot. Technique and interaction were just a couple of the things we discussed. Even though I've been shooting for quite awhile, I still picked up a few gems of precious information. That's the beautiful thing about this business.... there's always something to learn and I have to be careful not become a workshop junkie! Melissa arranged a mock engagement shoot. The adorable Sara and Ryan are already married and expecting, but we couldn't help ourselves to jokingly refer to it as the Mock-Up, Knock-Up! A couple of my new friends already have theirs up and I'm amazed at how beautiful and still different they each are! One of my goals for 2012 is to really nail down the efficiency of my editing workflow. This is the first time to edit images using my new method and so far so good!

The Dempster Family [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2012-02-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

I've always said I would never do a family session for another photographer. I think I've finally learned to never say never! As far as creating images for another photographer, they were the perfect first family. I hope they think so too!

April & Sam Engaged! [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2012-01-24T02:00:00.003-07:00

What a sweet, sweet couple. I have known April for many years, but I have just loved getting to know Sam! They are so honest with one another and their love for each another is obvious!

Camera Shy [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2012-01-22T02:00:00.001-07:00

Yep. Canon is a little camera shy. We're working on it. But he is 4 months old and I wanted to document it.

Itty Bitty Amazingness [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2012-01-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

I went outside just for a second yesterday. I heard this buzzing sound right by my ear... but not like a bee. Right over my shoulder was a hummingbird. I've always been fascinated by them. In the 2 years we've been in this house this was the first time I had seen one. I stood there motionless debating to stand there and enjoy the moment or to run inside and grab my camera. I enjoyed the moment for 5 seconds. Tiptoeing back inside with a quick plea that I could grab my camera, throw a lens on it, change the camera battery, and put in a memory card all before it flew away. I waited outside for another 30 minutes. Just as I was ready to give up, it came back.... for all of 1.5 seconds. One shot. That was barely enough time to even get the camera up. One shot was all I got. I wasn't even sure I was able to get it focused fast enough. I had to guess my exposure here. I chose 1/2500 sec for my shutter speed and still didn't get stop action on the wings. Next time. They are such amazing little creatures!

5DMarkII
100mm 2.8 Macro
ISO 400, 3.2, 1/2500

I Crashed A Party [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2012-01-16T13:24:00.002-07:00

Well, sort of. Not really. I taught a one to one camera class this week to a good friend. You would know her from here and here. She mentioned the baby shower she was throwing for her sister and I thought of all the details I could capture with my new 100mm 2.8 macro! So I snuck in before it started to grab a few shots. In a way it was helping us both out! Great job Sheena, and thanks for letting me crash your party Taryn!

Merry Christmas From Our Home To Yours! [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-12-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hell Froze Over & Pigs Fly & A Contest! [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-12-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

I am NOT a dog person. I'm not even an animal person.... at all. I'm actually quite afraid of dogs. On top of that, I am a type A, germ-a-phobic, control freak. Not the most conducive environment for me and a canine. About once a year, for the last hundred years it seems, we think about a breed of dog that might be able to coexist with me. The kids once again become disappointed and let me know that they are somehow not having a normal childhood and I am the cause of that. Here was my list of keywords that had to be on the applicant's resume:
1) Low smell. I cannot tolerate that horrible dog smell. Seriously. There is nothing worse.
2) Dog breath. Combine dog breath with dog smell and your resume will be tossed out.
3) Short hair. I don't have time for a non-human that needs more hair maintenance than me. Add to that the shed factor.
4) Intelligent. An organized, well-behaved dog is a must. Intelligence will assist with the on- the- job training.
5) Small. No prejudices here, but I need to not be intimidated in my own home.
6) Looks. Let's face it, looks are part of the job description.

The last several weeks it finally occurred to me maybe a beagle might be a good fit. Since they are of the hunting breed, they are low scent as to not tip off their prey. They are definitely intelligent with short hair. We also found a special doggy, minty, mouthwash. Bred with a Jack Russell terrier and we have a guaranteed dog of the small size with lots of good traits. Check. Check. Check. Last on the list was #6. Looks. As Heybabe and I went to the puppy store, I told him, "it has to be super adorable from the first look or deal is off." We went by ourselves as I couldn't hear the cries of disappointed children if it didn't work out..... again. Three hours in a private room asking every possible question you could think of and we somehow became first time puppy parents! (On a side note: I truly admire people who can do the rescue, shelter thing. But with my reservations, we needed a little more hand-holding with what we were getting. And going straight to a breeder was not an option financially.) We called the boys to tell them to close the blinds and stand at the front door and when we ring the doorbell their Christmas present would be there. Pure speechlessness.... and emotion.... and happiness abounded, followed by cheers of 'the best Christmas ever!' I was suddenly the best mom in the world.
So here's the contest part: His name. (Yep, another boy!) Guess his name for a $10 iTunes card! (If it's already been shared with you, please refrain. That wouldn't be a contest, that would be who can say it first. Thanks for understanding my one simple contest rule.)

And onto is his first official portrait... with a couple of extra images thrown in to show off all his cuteness!

Welcome to the family, insert name here!!!

Matthew Thorne & Family [Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-12-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to create images for a family of adults! Matthew Thorne is the senior loan officer for Nova Home Loans. He wanted a new head shot and since his mom was in town we did family portraits as well. I had the chance to talk with Matthew about his office and I have to say I am impressed! They close faster because the loan officer, underwriter, etc are all in the same office! Makes perfect sense to have something like that streamlined! Anyway, back to the images.... I love how they wanted pictures together-- Matthew's side and his wife's side. Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys!!!

Tonto Natural Bridge [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-11-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

Our family loves hiking the Tonto Natural Bridge just north of Payson. And there's nothing better than hiking one of our favorite spots with really good friends! You can find out more information here.

There was a bit of a competition between brothers as to who would jump into the icy cold water first. It was a pretty close tie.

Andrew was determined to stay in the very cold water the longest and I guess felt like he deserved to strike a man pose in having completed that feat!

My personal favorite.

A Whole Bunch of Nothing [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-11-22T02:00:00.005-07:00

I'm not sure who, what, where, when, why, or how.... but we decided that during this years school fall break, we needed to do a whole bunch of nothing. Even the kids were on board for a nice drive to a place that had no internet, no tv, and even cell service was spotty. We called it a re-grouping of sorts. Simple time together as a family to be outside, eat, and play games. No one was ready to come back to reality and the boys are still talking about it! We arrived to the first snow of the season and it was refreshing!

Doing nothing with Gramma!

We drove to Sunrise hoping to see some fall colors and rode the ski lift to the top.

While on the chair lift, we goofed around and decided to take a picture of each other taking a picture of each other. Did that make sense???

This made for a perfect hot chocolate moment.

We took our time on the way home. I think we stopped at every scenic lookout.

We can't wait to do it again! If you are interested in renting the cabin in Pinetop, let me know and I will put you in touch the owners.

Two of My Favorite Things [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-11-15T02:00:00.005-07:00

I wanted to share my two favorite images from California. The only thing that would have made it better would be having all 3 boys in the frame..... but one of them was off digging a sand shelter. Sigh.

Veterans Day Tribute [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-11-11T02:00:00.006-07:00

I don't ever remember honoring Veterans Day. I mean, truly honoring it. My attitude towards it changed last year. This is Larry.

Larry served in the army and like so many others, he served in Vietnam. My understanding is that the draft required 2 tours during that time. Larry had a younger brother named Ed who was eventually drafted as well and served overseas, but never in Vietnam. It had been somewhat of a mystery for quite sometime. How could Ed, a young drafted man serve 2 tours, be sent overseas, and somehow never end up where he was probably needed most? I found out the answer last year. There was a rule in place that prohibited both sons to serve simultaneously. While they could both be drafted and sent overseas, they couldn't both be in Vietnam at the same time. I learned last year that the reason Ed was never sent to Vietnam was because his older brother had quietly volunteered a 3rd tour to keep his younger brother from the horrors that war can bring. That big brother is my Uncle Larry. And that younger brother, Ed, is my father. He doesn't talk about it. But we know of his sacrifice. It occurred to me last year that his sacrifice probably had an affect on my childhood.... how it might be different because my father had been spared and didn't have those experiences as part of his history. I sat down to think about who else I knew that served our country besides my Uncle Larry and my dad. There's my other uncles: Richard, Craig and Clyde. There's the one I've never met: my father-in-law, Glenn. More recently, my own brother, Kevin and my cousin David (Clyde's son). So today when you see a vet, let them know they are appreciated. Lastly, I'd like say that we talk of those who serve as being honorable and serving with honor. But in my Uncle Larry, I see a man who served with love. And for that I adore him.

California! -part2 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-11-10T02:00:00.001-07:00

This was a pretty awesome day as well and I even earned the cool mom award on this one--I signed us up for surfing lessons from Learn to Surf! It was so hard to not just hang back on the beach and take a bazillion images.

Heybabe in all his wetsuit finery!

This is what made me cool with pictures to prove it! Even though I'm the only one who didn't get all the way up, my boys thought it was pretty awesome that I tried.... and tried.... and tried...

Christopher. How do they make it look so easy?!?!

Ryan. This was the kid who not only rode the wave, but rode it all the way... to the sand... literally.

This panel caught his reaction after riding it all the way in! How cute is that?!?!

One of our instructors.

Andrew. Looked like he had been raised on a surfboard!

Even though all the boys got the technique figured out, they also all agreed that it was a lot harder than it looks. Surfers are not wimps! That's for sure. We have a new found respect for those dudes and dudettes:)

California! -part1 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-11-08T02:00:00.001-07:00

So many songs come to mind while reminiscing about our trip to Cali! So here's the backstory: one of our boys is obsessed with pirates. Specifically, Pirates of the Caribbean. I don't just meant 'like'... more like 'obsessed'. Disney owns the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, (you can learn more about this super cool 1920's theatre here) and premier their movies at it. We thought how fun it would be to pilgrimage to LA for the full Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 experience. The theatre is only 1 screen and the whole place was decked out pirate style. Usually when we go to California, we are in the San Diego area. Without going to Disneyland, I really thought it was going to be difficult to try and make a full vacation out of LA. We had THE BEST TIME!

Right in the middle of the stage was this:

Downstairs they have props from the movie set.

And no pilgrimage would have been complete without finding Johnny Depp's star!

What LA trip would be complete without spending a day at the Santa Monica pier!

On another day, we rented beach cruisers in Newport Beach. SO FUN!

It would have ended up being a huge post, so check back later this week for part 2!

Chris & Carla [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photography]

2011-10-31T10:39:00.000-07:00

It's not about the gear. A good photographer knows how to get the shot on most cameras. Expensive gear does not make one a professional photographer anymore than super expensive pots and pans make one a professional chef. I'm amazed at how many people think otherwise. There. I said it. However, I definitely prefer to use my gear that I know and am comfortable with. When we go on vacation, the gear gets a vacation and stays home. I'll explain that a little more when I get around to writing about one of our trips this summer. So you can understand my contemplative reaction when, while in Florida, my sister-in-law asked me to take some pictures. Not snapshots.... more like, "it's our 18th wedding anniversary and I would really like a quick session of some really nice casual images that reflect us..." with no gear.... using my husband's camera.... because it's not about the gear. The best camera is the one you have. And to prove my point, at my next wedding I will be shooting the whole thing with my iPhone! JUST KIDDING! And if anybody was wondering, his shirts reads: I LOVE it when MY WIFE tells me to go fishing. Happy Anniversary!

Mike & Scott, Chandler Town Planner [Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix Professional Photography]

2011-10-24T02:00:00.003-07:00

Mike & Scott Labeda own Chandler Town Planner. Town Planner produces and prints local calendars, and will be mailing out to 30,000 homes and businesses in Chandler in December. Next year is Chandler's 100 year anniversary, and they have been working in cooperation with Mayor Tibshraeny and the city council in the production of this years calendar. They came to me needing new head-shots. I'm sure they were originally thinking traditional studio work. After extensive conversations about what was really needed and the purpose of them, I came up with a whole different game plan. Since the Town Planner is Chandler based, and they are Chandler residents themselves, I conveyed to them that I felt it was extremely important that Chandler was incorporated into it. We walked all around downtown Chandler-- from the Chandler Center for the Arts to City Hall. The first image will be used for their 'About Us' spot in the back of the calendar. The final image will be a large canvas for their office. It was so much fun getting to know them and working on this project with them! And... if you are in zip code 85224 or 85226 keep an eye out for yours truly!

Happy October! And a Fun Little Giveaway!

2011-10-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

October 1st officially starts my most favorite-ist time of the year! It feels as if I wake up and come alive. This season induced serotonin lasts all the way to the new year, it's a full 3 months of me at my best. While we may be struggling with controlling the temps here in Phoenix, it doesn't matter-- it's finally October. It's no secret how our family loves New Hampshire and I have found this little gem that helps me fill the void until our next trip there. One of my favorite things are Matthew Mead's book-azines. I look forward to every new edition. So here's the fun giveaway part: Share the link to our website or link to our Facebook page and leave a comment here on the blog or on my Facebook page, telling me your favorite thing about fall. I would love to hear your very own ideas about how to celebrate fall! Next week I will do a random draw to give away this years Matthew Mead's Autumn edition!

In the meantime, here is a sneak peek at the new Holiday with Matthew Mead!

San Antonio [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-09-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

While in San Antonio, I made sure to go check out downtown. It was a Readers Digest version. I had 30 minutes before we had to leave for the airport. Literally. Thirty minutes. But it was worth it. San Antonio has this amazing downtown area known as The Riverwalk. Half of the everything there is to see is below street level. Heybabe and I had planned on a trip to San Francisco in the near future, but we are thinking San Antonio might just be the place!

Also, right downtown is the the Alamo. I guess I had envisioned it being somewhere off the beaten path- not right in the middle of downtown. Being the history buff that I am, it pained me to only spend a few minutes there. We were at a brisk walk/ slight jog for our 'cram as much of San Antonio in 30 minutes as you possibly can' tour!

This final image is below street level again, but it is one of my favorites. It has such a Mayan flair to it! (Mayan ruins are also on my 'to do' list.)

They Do Everything Big In Texas [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-31T02:14:00.002-07:00

Including families! I was asked to come to Texas to do a large family portrait. I'll save you from doing the counting, it was 40 people. That's no typo- 40 people! What's even more amazing is that they all showed up on time, ready to go, with well behaved kids who listened, all in 95 degree 56% humidity heat!!! I fell in love with San Antonio and can't wait to go back! It was so fun to spend the weekend there and getting to know this amazing family!

Introducing.... me. [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-23T03:00:00.002-07:00

I get asked a lot about how I got started. In my last post I mentioned a couple of the professional organizations I belong to. Every month AZPPA puts out a newsletter and spotlights one of it's members. So, here is my spotlight and you can get to know me a little bit better!

A Camping We Did Go [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-18T03:00:00.009-07:00

We went camping this past weekend. I love camping. As the only girl in the household I never really had a choice. I do love it but I believe I am rapidly approaching the "I'm done with the tent and sleeping bag on the ground thing". I see a pop-up trailer in our future. This weekend did two things for me: 1) Our family is getting ready for our trip to the Caribbean and there has been the stress of what camera gear to bring and not bring. I really want to leave my professional self behind during that time and just be a mom. So I needed to know if I could use my old camera and one lens and be happy with my images, and 2) shoot for me. Sometimes I forget to do that. I need to make more of an effort to take time creating for me. I truly enjoyed doing that this weekend. I often get asked what camera gear I used on an image. For every single one of these images I used Heybabe's (follow me long enough and you'll figure out who Heybabe is) Canon XTi with the 18-55 kit lens, no flash. It was refreshing to go simplistic!

Andrew with his war paint.

One of the highlights was stumbling upon a rather large, wild, blackberry patch! I think every child should have the memory of picking and eating wild berries!

I Did It! [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-16T14:19:00.001-07:00

There are many things than make a great photographer.... more than just shooting, shooting, shooting. Working with really great mentors within the industry, continuing education, putting yourself in situations that push you, entering print competitions, and being affiliated with local and/or nationally recognized organizations are just some of the things that a true professional will do. Sometimes potential clients just don't know how to look for differences in a photographer. Being a professional photographer is so much more than having good gear and a website! I have been a member of PPA- Professional Photographers of America, and the local affiliate, AZPPA for awhile now. While I'm happy with the work I'm producing for clients, sometimes you want or need another gauge for where your skills are at. PPA works hard to educate both photographers and the community about using professional photographers. They have a CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) designation. There are 2 parts that have to be completed in order to earn this designation: 1) you must submit a portfolio showing different lighting ratios and patterns with an overview of client work, and 2) take the written exam PPA offers by the Professional Photographic Certification Commission. You declare your candidacy, pay your registration, study a big book for what seems like forever, and go to a college classroom where the exam is proctored. I just took the. hardest. test. ever. Don't believe me?
i.e) Thomas used two lights to light a portrait. Both were identical in power, size and reflector quality. He placed the main light 4 feet from the subject, about 45 degrees off the viewing angle. The fill light was 5 1/2 feet away, and next to the camera lens. His subject is illuminated with what lighting ratio?
Yup. 100 of those type questions. The exam is offered 2x's a year in the state of Arizona. My original plan was to take the exam at state convention in January. Since I don't test well, I decided I would take the exam in July fully expecting not to pass. The idea behind it was: no one would know I took the exam in July, I would get my jitters out of the way, and know where I needed to study more. This just arrived in the mail:

I won't share with you my reaction, but I was pretty happy with my score. I'm just glad it's not on video!

Whew!

Phoenix-1 year [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-15T19:55:00.001-07:00

My cute little nephew turned 1 year old! He and his sister came down to spend of few days with the fam while their mom and dad enjoyed a little bit of time in Colorado. I did his newborn and 3 month pictures and thought I would surprise his parents with 1 year pictures. Nope. Nada. Zilch. He would have nothing to do with it! 10 frames... that's it, 10. And not a single frame more. Somehow I was still able to get a pano out of it for them. How? I have no idea, but I'm glad I did. Happy Birthday, Phoenix!

Kajya [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-10T19:52:00.001-07:00

Pronounced K-eye-uh. It means 'forgiveness,' but this new mom and dad have nothing to apologize for. She is sweet, sweet, sweet..... and a cousin to this little one. For first time parents they were amazingly relaxed and were a joy to get to know!

Things That Keep Me Busy... [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-05T20:01:00.003-07:00

....like being a mom and attending all things obligatory. Just a small sampling of one of my weeks right at the end of the school year. I think this post may officially have me caught up now!

I'll give you 3 chances to guess which extroverted yellow-type personality if you love me you'll tell me I'm smart kid is mine.

New Hampshire, part 6 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-02T13:07:00.002-07:00

"It's restful just to think about New Hampshire."- Robert Frost

Here it is, the end of our trip to New Hampshire. It really was a perfect vacation for our family. Somehow constantly going through snowy images in July/August make me forget that my ac is on because it is 110 outside right now! I had the first image printed as a 24x30 traditional canvas and I absolutely love how it turned out, but I may have to do something with the second image as well!

New Hampshire, part 5 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-08-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Moose Mountain. So fun. It's a tubing mountain and we had a blast making long trains, spinning around and trying to hit the bullseye at the end of the runs! I didn't get many pictures because I was too busy playing!

Winter Wonderland! New Hampshire, part 4 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-07-29T19:38:00.000-07:00

"The first snow fall is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?" -J.B. Priestley

After the first part of out trip being largely snow free, a good size storm finely rolled through and dumped the white stuff we had been waiting for. What else can I say other than "boys will be boys!"

New Hampshire, part 3 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-07-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few quick images from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve we realized that we weren't going to be able to fit everybody upstairs in the family room and we would have to move it downstairs- to the mancave. So Chris (my BIL) decided to go cut down a tree in their back woods (so nice that you can do that there), and that he wanted to decorate it himself. When he called to us that he was done, this is what we saw:

I don't think we have ever laughed so hard! It was like something staright out of a Patrick F McManus novel.

Christmas Eve holds a tradition on Carla's (my SIL) side of the family: the lights go down and you watch Polar Express in your pajamas and you must do ALL the actions along with the movie!

This is what Christmas morning looks like with 14 people.

My boys are fortunate to have 2 living great-grandmothers. This is Grammie Brewster.

Jonathan hand carved a pipe for his brothers gift from a block of wood.

And Christmas Dinner wouldn't be complete without prime rib!

Shooting Snowflakes, New Hamphshire part 2 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-07-28T10:03:00.001-07:00

Can you really go to a land of plentiful hunting and not bring out the firepower? I think this is how I was woken up one morning. The snow was lightly falling. Peaceful. Except for the random shots that were being fired. Curiosity had me stumbling out in my pj's but before long I was asking when it was my turn. So yes, I am sharing some pictures of me.... in my pj's.

Building the backstop.

Alex.

Tyler.

Camera or gun, I always get my shot!

Jonathan got a mild case of scope-itis.

Christopher.

Andrew.

Checking out the damage they've done.

This one of my favorites. This is Ryan and I love how I was able to capture the muzzle flash.

At that point they decided to freeze water inside a 4 inch pvc pipe so they could shoot that too!

Walking On Water, New Hampshire- part 1 [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-07-25T12:02:00.001-07:00

I am waaaaay overdue for a post. And I'm waaaaay overdue for these next several posts in particular! And since it's so stinkin' hot here and everywhere around the country these days, I thought a post about snow would be more than welcome! I had originally started with the final images from our trip to NH. I'll back up a bit. I'm not quite sure how or why, but for some reason the very first thing we felt the urge to do was to go walk on water. The lake was frozen over and one of the unique things about this particular freeze was how quickly it froze over. When temperatures drop quickly and you get a fast freeze, you end up with black ice. In several parts where the lake hadn't been walked on, the ice was so perfectly clear you could see the plants straight down on the bottom!

One Lucky Lady [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-06-13T10:30:00.001-07:00

I received a call from a father who wanted to give his lady the perfect birthday gift. He told me he had looked through dozens of websites to choose a professional photographer. He asked about clothing, colors, styles, etc. He had done his homework! I can't even begin to tell you how touched I was that 1) he came up with idea and 2) that he spent so much time researching. I knew with an almost 3 year old it meant an organic session.... just capturing Chase in the environment. In other words... no posing. Most of my sessions are created using what I call "soft posing" or "simple direction." Here we just let Chase be Chase! I have so many favorites it was hard to pick! I hope his lady knows how lucky she is!

Vincent [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Professional Photographer]

2011-06-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Vincent is a fierce player on the lacrosse field, but was calm and kind during his senior session. Most teenage guys have no interest in having to smile. I do have to say though he was super easy to work with and in the end I like to think he thought it was pretty painless! Congratulations to one of Mesquite High's newest graduates!

Rachel- It's Great To Be Eight! [Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert Photographer]

2011-05-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

My sweet neice, Rachel, just turned 8 and will be baptized at the end of this month. I did something similar for her sister Megan. Rachel requested a couple of the same poses as her sister, and we thought they might look nice on the wall next to each other. Rachel said she felt like a princess that day and it was fun to spend that time with her. We're proud of you Rachel!

Beach Pictures [Phoenix Family Photographer]

2011-05-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Stephanie & Brian Album [Phoenix Wedding Photographer]

2011-05-05T07:54:00.002-07:00

Stephanie and Brian recently picked up their finished album and I thought I would share it with you. They are 16 inch spreads.

Pinewood Derby 2011

2011-05-04T14:58:00.001-07:00

Here are this years highlights....

Joshua Kaleb [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2011-04-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Oh, Joshua. You are one lucky baby. I can say that because I know the family you were born into. It's true. I adore the Jensen family, and anyone who knows them comes away feeling the same. They selflessly serve those around them and have their family priorities straight. He may only be a couple of weeks old, but being a Jensen, I already know a little of how his personality will develop. He will love others, serve others, and become a hard worker. For now, he just loves to be loved and held. And as the youngest of seven, there are plenty of arms to love and hold him.

To Be, Or Not To Be

2011-04-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

We all have "to do" lists. But what about having a "to be" list? Warning: "to be" takes much more effort and it will be difficult to check off your list. At the risk of exposing myself, here is a case in point.

Somehow, I fooled a great number of people into thinking I am extremely organized and on top of it all. I am a laundry psycho... but I am not so great at getting all that daggum laundry actually folded. I "do" my best, but I would always like "to be" better at it. In order "to be" better at something, you will need "to do" those things that will, in the end, make you better at it. So, go ahead and laugh at my pile of unfolded laundry that admittedly, looks like something from a Dr. Suess story.... and then go make your "to be" list!

Paisley's Album [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2011-03-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

𝄞 We Are The Champions 𝄞 [Phoenix Photographer]

2011-03-16T09:37:00.001-07:00

Doesn't that make you want to sing that song by Queen? It's almost time for spring sports so I thought I would share a recent happening in our family. My nephew plays football and this last season their team made it to the championship game! I had to pull some strings (read: I ~~asked~~ begged my brother, one of the coaches) to be down on the sideline with my camera. It was rather exciting being right there with all the action.... kind of like how I feel with a wedding. I don't think these boys want their beloved sport of football talked about in comparison with a wedding, so I'll move on. They ended up taking 2nd place but their greatest accomplishment was a clean game and being proud of how they conducted themselves. That life lesson will long outlast a trophy! Now if I can only figure out how to pull those same strings for great lacrosse pictures!

How May I Help You?

2011-03-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

Jonathan and I decided to take a picture of the other one.... just to see what we looked like while we were working. It's official... we are bored dorks!

Stephanie & Brian [Phoenix Wedding Photographer]

2011-03-08T10:48:00.002-07:00

What a fun bride and groom to work with! 4 weeks before their wedding, their wedding photographer moved out of town. So aside from the stress that led them to me, I'm so glad I was the one who got to spend the day with them. I was surprised when I realized Brian needed very little direction when it came time for the bride and groom portraits. That's pretty rare for grooms but he understood exactly what I needed him to do. They were more than willing to do whatever I asked. The day seemed to fly by. Thank you to Stephanie and Brian, you are the reason I love what I do!

Yes... the boys felt playing football in their tuxes was the perfect way to unwind beforehand!

I honestly couldn't tell who was more excited about their first look.

But this is probably my favorite from the day!

Congraulations!

Family in New Hampshire [Phoenix Family Photographer]

2011-03-02T09:55:00.001-07:00

We didn't have much time that night, but the night before we left New Hampshire we grabbed a few family shots. It has been a crazy Jan and Feb and I'm just now getting to go through the images from our trip.

Paisley [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2011-02-14T06:43:00.010-07:00

How sweet is she??? I did Missy's maternity session and I have loved watching Ross interact with the two girls in his life. I recently saw Paisley again, and she is beautiful!

And of course, my signature shot.

Being Yellow [Phoenix Photographer]

2011-02-08T06:32:00.002-07:00

I couldn't resist. Think it can go viral? This is for you Jonathan. Good luck in your next phase of life.

Jonathan, Scene Two [Phoenix Photographer]

2011-02-07T09:38:00.001-07:00

I have never laughed so hard. This was one of the funnest sessions ever! Remember this guy? I mentioned there was a part 2, but his parents surprised him with a book of collection of images for Christmas. So I had to keep quiet. Here's the back story: The Mesquite High Drama Club has this banana suit. The banana suit gets passed from drama club president to drama club president to... you get the idea. So when we discussed his senior session, I thought the Hale Theatre was the perfect place for it. Then he mentions the banana suit. I just couldn't see that in the theatre, but I could see it in a grocery store! Our local Fresh & Easy and Fry's Marketplace were more than accommodating and we provided free entertainment for the shoppers who were lucky enough to witness the production. I can't decide if this is more of a dramatic or humorous piece!

Brothers By Choice

2011-02-01T12:41:00.004-07:00

Matthew taught Andrew how to lead music. Andrew taught Matthew how to play lacrosse. They don't ever remember not knowing each other. They spent a great deal of time figuring out ways they could legally become brothers. They even had a plan B for that one. They talked about how when they were playing high school lacrosse together they would be unstoppable because they would have each others back. This weekend Matthew moved. Far away. But they already have plans on that one as well. We will miss having him as a regular in our home. We will miss the phone calls from his mom wanting to know if she should come get him because we forgot we had an extra kid. The world is a better place with those 7 sunshines in it. We will miss that family dearly. We already do.

I Married A Trapeze Artist

2011-01-17T08:48:00.003-07:00

I did it. I came up with thee perfect Christmas gift for my husband. There is a trapeze school in Chandler and I signed him up for Trapeze 101! He. Was. Ecstatic. This weekend was his big debut and I, of course, was shooting away. I must say the guys at Trapeze U were awesome. The big finale was him making the catch! So, without further delay, here is my man on the flying trapeze. Is there a career change coming?

A Couple More Designs [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2011-01-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

I needed to wait until after the holidays to share these designs. It's just not cool to have them up on your website before they've been mailed out, ya know? But here are the birth announcement and Christmas card from newborn Robbie. I'm sure they had one of the best holiday's ever!

Merry Christmas! [Phoenix Family Photographer]

2010-12-24T08:12:00.005-07:00

From our home to yours, have a wonderful Merry Christmas!

Christopher, 14

Ryan, 11

Andrew, 9

The Usual Chaos [Phoenix Family Photographer]

2010-12-20T06:00:00.004-07:00

I thought I'd share with you some of the usual chaos that went on around our house this last month.

Ryan earned his Arrow of Light Rank in Cub Scouts. Certain things don't come easy for our

Ry-guy, so we are extremely proud of him on this achievement.

Andrew had a busy month. He started it off with the flu and missed a whole week of school. Even Jedi's get sick.

He made the cut to participate in the school spelling bee. He was a cool cat with all those people watching.

And he had his first strings concert.

Christopher started his month off with getting his braces off!!! It's been almost 4 years and he couldn't have been more excited. He was so good with good brushing and wearing his bands.

You might ask why I put this next happening under Christopher. Well, it's because I'm pretty confident simply being a teenager qualified it. I was thorough with our investigation... I do watch CSI.

The footprint evidence:

And that wraps up the month for us. We are spending some good quality time in New Hampshire and will be back next month.

Jane Noelle [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2010-12-13T06:00:00.003-07:00

I knew I was going to get to do Jane's newborn session for several weeks before her arrival. I was so excited! What a sweet, darling, delicious, baby girl. As long as she was warm she was easy to calm and quite content. You may recognize the amazing family she is now a part of from here. Here are the images from her mini-session:

Robbie [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2010-12-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Robbie's mom thinks her new little wonder looks like his dad. Alot of mom's think their babies look like one parent or the other. I only mention this because Robbie was adopted. It must be a feeling of utter amazement to finally have what you've always wanted, and then to have him look like his parents is just crazy cool! Congratulations!

The Riley Family [Phoenix Family Photography]

2010-11-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have ever worked with a family that has such well behaved kids! If a couple of the kids look familiar, it's because we did the other side of the family a couple of weeks ago. When we were done, I was joking with my assistant that those kids make me want to be a full- time children's photographer! They did everything that was asked of them, listened, and still enjoyed themselves! I like to think it's because I'm magical that way, but I'm gonna have to let the parents take credit here. You can be very proud of your children!

The Tarner Family [Phoenix Family Photographer]

2010-11-16T08:41:00.001-07:00

I've done the team pictures for their kids sports for a couple seasons and was so excited when they asked me to do a family session and was even more excited when they decided on where they wanted the session. This is one of my favorite locations and I've been hoping a family would pick this as their location for probably 2 years. After a year, I gave up and had my own family pictures done there. The Tarner kids are the cutest kids ever and SOOO well behaved. They made my job super duper easy!

Tubac Road Trip [Gilbert, AZ Photographer]

2010-11-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

I recently went down to Tubac. Tubac is exactly 20 miles from the border. I wasn't nervous at all, I figured there were enough people nervous for me. To be honest, I would have never guessed I was that close to the border and I fell in love with this little artsy community. I actually was down there to do a human form study, but don't worry, we're gonna keep this post family friendly! The day before, I walked about this little town and found so many wonders that captivated me and my camera. So since I will not be sharing with you my human form images, I will share with you the fine art images from that weekend. I know I've mentioned before how much I love fine art. I am extremely proud of this set, but how cool is that old Hudson car?!!

Unlucky Me! [Gilbert, AZ Photographer]

2010-11-05T18:08:00.001-07:00

I've always considered myself lucky in some ways, and in other ways... not so lucky. In marriage: definitely lucky. Easy pregnancies: not so lucky. Drawings and raffles rank right up there with easy pregnancies: definitely not lucky in any way shape or form. I've often thought this selective unluckiness was some grand design to keep me from spending my Friday nights playing Bingo somewhere or to let me think that I could be lucky enough to win the lottery. We've often talked about raised bed gardening. This week we went to what we thought was a presentation on raised bed gardening. Lucky. It ended up being more about citrus tree care. We don't own citrus trees. Unlucky. Then the dreaded raffle came at the end. Unlucky. Wouldn't you know... JB (aka: Mr. Go-Lucky.) won! Lucky. He won a bag of citrus tree food. Unlucky. The grand prize raffle item was an actual already producing lemon tree. We decided we would give our bag of citrus food to the lucky winner. And.... my name was called. lucky, Lucky, LUCKY! Thank you Brian from Whitfill Nursery. What better way to make my lemon tree feel welcome to the family than by taking his picture. His name is Lucky.

Design Work

2010-11-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd share with you some recent designs. Both of these came about from the clients having an idea of what they wanted, but couldn't find exactly what they were looking for online. This is what I came up with:

Jamison- Eagle Scout [Gilbert, AZ Photographer]

2010-10-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

Jamison's mom wanted an official Eagle Scout portrait. Jamison was not thrilled. He came by himself and one of the first things he said to me was, I'm not gonna smile. I replied back, that's okay... I'm not gonna ask you to. It appeared we had an understanding. Jamison is a cool guy and I'm grateful for youth like him that my own sons have look up to. Congratulations Jamison on making a rank that only 3-4% of scouts ever make!

Sneek Peek [Phoenix Wedding Photographer]

2010-10-20T08:01:00.001-07:00

I can't wait to share images with you from Stephanie and Brian's wedding this last weekend! But for now, leave me a comment and tell me which version you prefer.

Phoenix-3 Months [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2010-10-19T12:26:00.004-07:00

My little nephew came for a visit and we only had a few minutes to capture him at 3 months. What a cute little man.

41 Years. [Phoenix Photographer]

2010-10-12T07:00:00.003-07:00

I received a phone call asking me to cover a retirement party. It wasn't until later in the conversation that I was told that the person I was hired to cover the event for was my own mother. I was surprised... but she was even more surprised. After 41 years she was retiring. 23 of those years were with the Chandler Hospital. She spent all those years in the post-partum department caring for moms after they had their babies. The girls did a fabulous job, but a huge shout out needs to go to her dear friend, Jane. After 23 years she now gets to enjoy life in a different way... including her new pastime of scuba diving. Here are her album spreads.
Venue: Famous Dave's, Chandler
Cake: Pamcakes, visit them here or here

The Big Storm, Microburst, or Tornado of 2010! [Phoenix Photographer]

2010-10-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

We don't know what hit our neighborhood, but it did make one big mess. You know it's bad when half the Town of Gilbert work force is in your neighborhood! What the pictures don't show are many broken windows and even some snapped basketball posts! What a mess.

We were very fortunate to get away with some minor, minor, damage. Most of the screens in our neighborhood look like this now. Just doing our part to help out those small business owners! Anyone have a good, affordable screen company? We would be purchasing in bulk!

But here is your grand finale folks. This trampoline was not from their yard... or their neighbor's yard... it was 2 houses down! No this was not photoshop'd! Just crazy I tell ya!

Savannah [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2010-10-03T18:21:00.001-07:00

I have truly enjoyed the newborn sessions as of late. For me, it is an honor to be the one to photograph a families newest little wonder. I love the emotional connection between a parent and their new baby. I can't help but get caught up in it and I always hope that emotion comes through in the images. I just finished designing her album and Savannah's parents decided on 16 inch spreads.

Mesquite High Volleyball [Phoenix Sports Photographer]

2010-10-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

It's finally October! I sent some "Fall-ish" type karma out to the universe by having good old fashioned apple cider with dinner last night. I did my part in wishing in the cooler temps! Fall at our house usually means my family won't see me. Monday- Friday are team sports. Weekends are family sessions with a wedding or two in there as well. Speaking of fall sports... One of the daughters of my friend plays on the Mesquite High Volleyball team. So I grabbed a few while I was there. Don't wait too long to schedule your team pictures. There are just not enough hours in the day I tell ya!

Missy & Ross [Phoenix Maternity Photographer]

2010-09-27T10:00:00.001-07:00

I have some really easy going clients. By looking at the images, it may not seem like I was asking much of Missy & Ross. But before you pass judgment, you must know that Missy was having contractions throughout our session. All of a sudden being asked to sit down, arch your back, climb a hill, change clothing, etc, etc takes on a new perspective! Here are some of the images from their Maternity Book.

Come Unto Me [Mesa Temple Photographer]

2010-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Today the children of our church held their annual program. This program allows the children to share what they have learned over the year through verse and song. I look forward to it every Fall. There is nothing more beautiful than young children sharing their knowledge that Jesus Christ lives and loves them. So it seemed appropriate to share this image from a few years ago. I was taking some images for a family who were part of the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant. There is a power in the image.

Michelle & Jeff [Phoenix Maternity Photographer]

2010-09-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

I have known Michelle since we were girls. I remember the very first time I took pictures of her. We were in college and we went and played with my new Pentax K1000 in the field across from her house. I think I still have those negatives. I should try and dig them out. But I digress. Anyway, she is a natural in front of the camera and I was thrilled to do her maternity session!

Phoenix- 5 Weeks [Phoenix Newborn Photographer]

2010-09-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

Another trip to Nevada was in order. My new nephew was born 6 weeks early at an itty bitty 4lbs. He had to hangout in the NICU awhile, but as soon as we were able, we were loading up the car with the gear! He may have been 5 weeks but he was still at an itty bitty 6lbs here and pretty content. Welcome to the family Phoenix Roman! We love you!

The New Site Is Live!

2010-09-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

Can I tell you how happy I am to have this checked off my list! I first contacted Carly at Playful Pickles Designs over a year ago. Even though it would mean a waiting list of about a year, I knew she was who I wanted for the project. It's now been 5 months of discussion, design, redesign, approvals, and tweaking. I get clients all the time who worry, worry, worry about if I can translate their vision to a portrait. I've never had to be on the other side. I need to give Carly many, many thanks for taking my ideas and breathing it to life. I know it seemed liked the modifications were never going to end, but she was quick to respond and always made me feel like I was her only customer. The new look is more in line with my work. I have a few more pages/links that are still being created, but take a look around, tell me what you think, and I hope you'll come back often. Oh, and don't forget we are now at: www.AndreaBrewsterPhotography.com