Emily's family at Sweet Flower Home

Here is Emily Gipper and her family at Sweet Flower Home, the farm in Buckeye that plants acres and acres of sunflowers that bloom in October. It was early October 2022 and I had just got my new Canon 5D Mark 4 in the mail and wanted to photograph models before I tried out my new camera on clients. There are significant differences between my old 5D and the new 5DM4. One of the significant differences is that the M4 has way higher ISO, which is sensitivity to light. So I was eager to find out what my new camera could do when it was almost completely dark outside.

I’d say the first photo here was taken during the blue hour and the last image was taken when there was barely any light left at all in the sky, like almost completely dark. I have to admit, I did not use the ISO on my camera this night as well as I should have. Being completely new to such high ISOs, I just didn’t think to use it at a higher ISO. After this I went and read a lot about the 5DM4 and ISOs. And I shot this whole session in JPEG!! UGHHHHH was I soooo upset when I realized I hadn’t shot it in RAW. RAW is so much better/easier to edit. But that is why I photographed this family as models with my new camera before I used my new camera to photograph clients. I learned a ton right away from this photo shoot.

There is always soooooo much to learn when it comes to photography. I both enjoy the challenge and somehow wish I could just download all the world’s info about photography and cameras and editing and just know it and never have to look it up, and especially never have to relook it up. For me, it’s not like riding a bike. It’s one of those things you just have to constantly practise and learn and relearn. And of course, technology changes, new products come out, and there is always something new to learn.

Emily is a doula and photographer who specializes in birth photography and we did this shoot the day before her birthday. I’m so glad she and her family were able to make it out the sunflower fields in Buckeye and be my models. Thanks Emily! Check out her website, especially if you are expecting and would like to have your baby’s birth documented.

If you would like to have me photograph you/you + family/friends at the Buckeye sunflower fields in October 2023, fill out this form and I will make sure you are on my list of people first to know about sunflower photo sessions when I figure out when they will be.

Rocker 7 Sunflowers

It’s April 2023 as I write this. I find myself thinking about the sunflowers in Buckeye. I know I will be photographing there again this fall. I have made the decision that I will only photograph on Thursday and Friday evenings so that I can best serve my clients and give them a fantastic experience. It’s less crowded on Thursday and Friday evenings and so we can wander around and not get in anyone’s way for photos. There will be limited spots available. Available dates are usually the middle to end of October. If you are interested in sunflower portrait session in Buckeye this fall with me, drop me a message here!

Easter Egg Hunt!

This was one of my first Easter egg hunt photo shoots more than ten years ago! Heidi and Chris and their kids met up with me in Gilbert and we had a blast!

I’m doing them again this year: portrait sessions for kids and their families in their Easter best, and then egg hunts where I get action shots of all the cuteness of your kids running around finding eggs and filling up their baskets!

EASTER EGG HUNT

AND PORTRAITS

2023

FOUR SILOS FARM

AND OLIVE GROVE

is located here:

14822 South Gilbert Road

Gilbert, AZ 85295

I’m so excited to announce Easter egg hunt and portrait sessions at Four Silos Farm and Olive Grove in Gilbert, Arizona this year. I have had such a great time doing them in previous years and can’t wait to do them again!

*****Scroll down below to see all the information about EASTER EGG HUNT AND PORTRAIT SESSIONS 2023.*****

THIS YEAR YOU CAN SPLIT YOUR SESSION WITH ONE OTHER FAMILY. You can split this cost with one other family/household and "share" your session time.  Do you have a friend or sibling who would like to get photos of their family too? Split this session cost and time with them. You arrive at the same time, and I take photos of one family and then the other. You will get individual family pics, but the Easter Egg Hunt photos will most likely have combos of kids in the photos.

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO START THE PROCESS TO RESERVE AN EASTER EGG HUNT AND PORTRAIT SESSION SPOT. PRICE: $300 + tax - you receive an online gallery of approximately 50 photos. $50 nonrefundable retainer due to book.

Information:

How do I reserve and pay for a spot? Sessions are $300 plus tax. Fill out the form to tell me what time and date you would like. I will communicate with you first via text and email and then give you a call, if you request a call. I will email you an invoice to pay to reserve your spot with a debit or credit card. I will also email you a contract to sign. You will be booked for your session time once you pay your nonrefundable retainer.

How does it work? How many photos do I receive? Show up at the Four Silos Farm and Olive Grove located at 14822 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ 85295 about ten minutes before your session. You can park on the street EAST GALVESTON STREET. Please make sure not to confuse this address with the Four Silos Brewery Restaurant in Gilbert. It’s not the same place/location! Once you arrive, we will take some family photos, and then the kids get to hunt for eggs with baskets and eggs that I provide. I chase them around and get cute photos of them hunting for eggs. Then I edit the best photos and send them to you in an online gallery. There will be approximately 50 photos in your online gallery. A note about my style: I try to get a few pics of everyone looking at the camera, but mostly I try to capture fun and the relationship between family members, so we play a few quick games and I snap photos, catching everyone’s smiles, looking at each other and playing around.

How long are these photo shoots? Are they mini sessions? I’ve spaced these photo sessions one hour apart, with the idea that I would give each family at least 30 minutes of time. Sometimes I have kids help me hide eggs for the next set of kids that are coming, if parents are OK with that.

What happens if I have to cancel? What if I or one of my family gets sick? What if I can’t drive there that day? I ask that you pay the remaining balance on the day of the photo shoot, in case you have to cancel. The $50 retainer is nonrefundable as it will already have been spent on the permit for the location and baskets and eggs.

What if it rains? Rain can make for beautiful photos and it usually does not rain for that long in Arizona, so if there is the chance of rain, I still go ahead with photo shoots. However, if the forecast calls for very heavy rain, I will be in contact about canceling or rescheduling.

What should we wear? Feel free to wear your fanciest clothes or casual clothes. Spring colors are fun, but it’s perfectly fine to stick to whatever style you love! High heels may be difficult on the grass (though I know some people can manage! I’m not one of them!)

Do you provide the baskets and eggs? Yes, I provide the baskets and eggs. I have had families bring their own baskets that matched their kids’ outfits, so feel free to bring baskets if you like!

What should I know about a photo shoot an Easter egg hunt and portrait session at Four Silos Farm and Olive Grove?

• I’m excited to meet you and take photos for you! I have had so much fun taking these types of photos in the past and have loved how the photos have turned out. I can’t wait to take photos for you!

• After you get to Four Silos Farm and Olive Grove located at 14822 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ 85295, you park in the neighborhood on Galveston Street. At your appointment time, text me at 490-326-8385 and I will come to you.

• Be prepared for tall grass at the Four Silos Farm and Olive Grove that you will walk through/kids will run around in. Since we are outdoors, be prepared for sun, heat, insects, dirt, just all the stuff of nature and the outdoors!

• Since we will be outside in nature, there is the possibility of encountering plants, insects, and animals. Last year I saw a few bees. Plan accordingly if you have any allergies, etc.

• If you have any questions or concerns about anything, please email me at brenda.eden@gmail.com or text me at 480-326-8385.

Find me at Rocker 7!

Hi there!

I am writing this blog post for my 2022 clients to help them find me at the Rocker 7 Farm Patch for their sunflower photo shoot coming up in mid October.

The day of your photo shoot I will text you a photo of me, just to help you find me. See the aerial map below - I like to photograph where the red Xs are. This is where we will do your photo shoot, so look for me here.

Rocker 7 Farm Patch is located at 19601 W Broadway Rd, Buckeye, AZ 85326. Entry is $8 per person, including babies and kids.

I see other photographers out at the Rocker 7 Farm Patch and sometimes they are really dressed up. They look as good as their clients. While I would love to look that good and professional, you will usually find me wearing sneakers (I had spinal fusion surgery in 2014 and after that New Balance zero drop sneakers are the only thing that are truly comfortable for me to wear - plus, as a working farm, the sunflower fields do get muddy and dusty.) I’ll be wearing a T-shirt (frequently the T-shirt that Rocker 7 Farm Patch sells) and probably black basketball shorts, because they are the best thing to be able to wear while it’s hot and also sit or lay down on the ground for some shots.

I will have a black wagon with me, full of gear. I bring a step ladder, little chairs for kids to sit on, a little bench for kids and adults to sit on, a big gold reflector and a big white light modifier (see the pics below.)

Side note: frequently kids are intrigued by the big gold reflector and want to pick it up and play with it. If your kid does this, that is totally, completely fine! These things are indestructible. I am absolutely not worried about a kid picking them up, they can’t hurt them.

Here’s some pics of me taken in 2020 and 2021.

This one is with my stepson, who sometimes comes out to the sunflowers to assist me. I was wearing Rocker 7 Farm Patch’s T-shirt that day. I like wearing it because it is such a bright yellow shirt that it makes it pretty easy for people to find me. Side bonus is some of the people working at Rocker 7 think I’m part of the crew and are chatty with me.

Here’s a video of me photographing my cousins at the end of their photo shoot in 2020. My bonus son is filming it and that’s who you hear talking. This is back in 2020. Wearing a mask and I had pink hair. Seeing this makes me want pink hair again.

I do not love this photo of me! This was taken after sessions were over one evening last year. I was walking by a woman and her daughter. She asked me to snap some pics of them and then asked if I wanted pics. Thinking of how dirty I was (can you see the dirt on my knees? haha) I started to say no, but then changed my mind because I want to remember this, no matter how dirty I was. Someday i need to get dressed up and have photos taken of me in the sunflowers!