bella luna photography | phoenix, az children|family|senior| photographer

Nate Simpson for DailyBR!NK.com

Kerry Maddux — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Nate is a cartoonist/illustrator and a pretty incredible artist. I was contacted by DailyBR!NK, who features artists, entrepreneurs, inventors, musicians, people who have done or accomplished amazing or cool things in their field, to do photos for his feature. Each person is interviewed along with photos & I was honored to be asked to take Nate’s portraits. He’s a super cool guy, very laid back, and frankly, after I read his interview and his achievements, incredibly humble as well. We headed to Gasworks Park, which is a pretty great park with an incredible view of the Seattle skyline. It was a cloudy day, hard to imagine here in The Emerald City, I know, but we made it work. It was my first official session here in our new city, and I am glad I had Nate to make it so easy! Here is his feature, you should definitely check it out: Nate Simpson

{Luke | Junior Year}

Kerry Maddux — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:33:05 +0000

This one is my oldest. My first baby. The one who made me a mommy. The one who was so easy, so helpful & so darn cute. Well, at 16.5 with a Learner’s Permit, and a Junior in high school, he’s still pretty easy, helpful when encouraged, and well, as you can see, he’s pretty darn handsome, too! I just love this kid {well…I love them all, but this one is about him, so..}. As many know by now, we moved to Seattle just a few weeks ago, but not all of us. 3 of the kids stayed in Phoenix. I love Seattle, I love the weather, the city, our cute house, everything about it…but I miss my 3 boys who stayed in the Valley of the Sun. So so much. I text them all the time and technology has kept them close, but not seeing them has been a struggle for this mommy. I took these pictures shortly before we said our goodbyes and they went with their dad, and we hopped in the car headed for Seattle. I smiled as I edited these because they turned out great, he’s getting so old and more and more handsome; and I teared up because I miss him so much, and it’s only been a few weeks. As you can imagine, there will be miles racking up, as I will be going to visit and they will be visiting us in Seattle, too. I’m itching to book the first flight!! In the meantime, I harass him with texts

{I Heart Faces | Flowers}

Kerry Maddux — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:15:15 +0000

{wedding fever}

Kerry Maddux — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:18:00 +0000

Since shooting my last wedding, I have had wedding fever! Theirs was my 3rd wedding, and I am smitten with shooting such a special day! I have loved each couple I’ve been honored to photograph and love, love weddings! I am hoping to get more weddings to shoot and thought about the perfect wedding I’d like to shoot, and honestly, it is one like mine. I am still a newlywed, our first anniversary is June 26th, and while I would change some of the smaller details of the wedding, overall, it was ‘us’..and fit us to a T. Small, non-traditional on pretty much every thing and it was the most perfect day. While I was planning our big day, I obsessed over the website http://offbeatbride.com. Obsessed. Many of the weddings just spoke to me, tattooed couples, funky details, non-traditional wedding dresses, special ceremonies that captured the personalities of the couple. As I thought about the type of client I would love to shoot, I had a light bulb, ‘duh’, moment. I want to shoot weddings with people like me! A little left of center, unique and fun…a couple up for anything! A little like this couple here: http://offbeatbride.com/2011/05/australia-rocknroll-wedding Now, I’m down for shooting a more traditional wedding as well, but I have been researching re-branding and really feeling out the clients that I would like to shoot and who might want me to shoot them, too. I think having two full sleeve tattoos is a part of my thinking process, while a photographer needs to be as invisible as possible, it would surely be easier to fit in at a wedding where my arms, if uncovered, would be less shocking .

Anyway…my mind has been going round and round and I feel like I am in a place to take my business to the next level and do it with a clear purpose and intent. It’s exhausting just thinking about it, and to be frank, something I have been putting off for months. I hate to fail, so if I don’t plan it, it can’t fail, right? So, now I have put this into the universe, and have to plan and make changes, make clearer my ideas and purpose and hopefully get to shooting some fun people along the way. Goals. Gotta have ‘em, gotta try to reach ‘em! Weddings, portraits, I love them. Love people. Love to capture a specific moment. It’s a gift to share in the lives of the people I get to photograph.

Since a post is never any good without at least a couple of pictures, here are a few favorites from the weddings I’ve shot & one from my own, just because

<—photo credit to kristie parker photography

{Fabulous Frames | New Product!}

Kerry Maddux — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:37:31 +0000

I am so excited to say that I am now offering these fabulous frames by Organic Bloom! They are awesomely handmade and come in many shapes and sizes..and the best part? The COLOR choices! You can do pretty much any color you’d like & have an option to stack the frames, how cool is that? You’re pretty much guaranteed to find one to match your decor and fit your personality. Check out their website to see what others have done and to see the frames in action. If you’re a past client and want one, I can hook you up! A full price list is available when you contact me. Just one more reason to get portraits done…the awesome ‘stuff’ you can get. Don’t forget I offer custom albums, accordion albums, gallery wrap canvases and am on the search to find new, unique items to offer! For a better, larger view of the frames and colors..check my facebook under products, these are teensy!

{Bill & Connie Married}

Kerry Maddux — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:07:53 +0000

Bill & Connie are such a great couple. I met Bill 6 years ago, and he has such an easygoing way about him and hilarious, too! Connie is a sweetheart and is the best friend of my friend, Amber, who just so happens to be married to one of Bill’s best friends, Brian; such fun for BFF’s to be married to BFF’s! Bill & Connie chose a lovely location in Cottonwood, AZ for their ceremony and reception, Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Typical Arizona weather in April is sunny and mild temps…not so on their special day, unfortunately. Cold, and I mean COLD was on the forecast as well as rain, lots of rain. Plan B was quickly put into action by their friends and family, and the ceremony was moved under a ramada instead of the trees by the lake and tarps and covers were put up. Everyone stepped up and helped to make their wedding just as lovely and special as it would have been if it were a sunny day. I had a wonderful time photographing the day, and was lucky enough to have my favorite guy, my husband Denver, second shoot for me. We got lucky and had several breaks in the rain and were able to get some lovely photos with the beautiful scenery of Northern Arizona as a backdrop. Thanks to Bill & Connie for allowing us to spend a great day with you and your loved ones!! We both wish you a lifetime of happiness. Enjoy the sneak peak!

{Guy & Jenn Engaged}

Kerry Maddux — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 21:52:50 +0000

Guy & Jenn started out at co-workers and now they’re getting married They are great together, and I am lucky to know them and was so excited to do their engagement portraits. Both are big sports fans, especially their favorite college football teams, Jenn a ASU fan and Guy a UofA fan, taking advantage of that on a football field and bleachers was super fun; and of course had to do a few shots in their office, the place they met. We had a great time and I can’t wait for their wedding, they’re a gorgeous couple and Jenn will be stunning in her wedding gown. Enjoy your sneak peek, guys & thank you for such a great time!

{How Can I Have a Kid Who Can Drive?}

Kerry Maddux — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:53:21 +0000

My oldest, Luke, turned 16 on February 20th. Sixteen!! It seems impossible that the cute little chubby baby who later grew to be my sweet toddler with the bowl cut, who went on to be a chatty one in elementary school, is now a sixteen year old Sophomore in high school. Yet, here we are, two years from high school graduation and legal adulthood. He finally got his learner’s permit and is now practicing driving. The people who told me ‘it goes so quickly’ weren’t kidding; and I only have to go through it five more times!! Luke’s grown into such a good kid. We took the kids to Papago Park and forced them to get their pictures taken, they were pretty good sports about it and were rewarded with Laser Tag after, so it was a pretty darn good day.

‘s

{Big FAT Discounted Sessions!}

Kerry Maddux — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:22:06 +0000

It’s February, and that means in Phoenix, we are in the middle of our perfect weather time of year {aside from this much welcomed cold snap we are having}; and that means it’s the PERFECT time for portraits! Engaged? Get some engagement portraits! Need family portraits? Let’s do it! Want to get Spring/Easter portraits? Get out those fun outfits! Want to gift portraits to your special someone? Need some head shots? Does your band need updated shots? Right NOW is the perfect time to get them done!

Why is now perfect? Because, aside from taking advantage of our great weather, I am offering all my packages at a 50% discount & all other prints and products are 30% off!! You can’t get better savings than that!

I’m pretty excited to offer such a great deal; and can’t wait to get to shooting some amazing faces! Shoot me an email: bellalunaportraits@gmail.com or give me a call: 623.760.4821 and set up your session!

Every post needs a picture or two, so here are some fun shots from our trip to Hawaii…tagging along on a business trip is a pretty fun deal

And last but not least…a self-portrait of US

{Watson Family}

Kerry Maddux — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:20:26 +0000

I had such a fun time with this family! We drove to the top {or pretty darn close} of South Mountain Park, and what a great view of the city! There was much silliness and laughter, not to mention the bees, and except for them, you just can’t have enough of that. Great weather, great location and great light made for such a good time. Thanks for spending a fun time with me, guys