Coon Bluff // Mesa, AZ // Charly & Brandon // Styled Shoot

Oh Phoenix… the place I grew up hating. This last year I have found myself starting to love the desert more than ever before. It’s a strange feeling but I am just going to roll with it… I know that I won’t feel this way when it is back to 120 degrees in the middle of July.

Jessie, my college-photo friend and I had been wanting to plan a styled shoot together for ages. We finally found a time to do it and everything fell in to place. We had amazing weather, amazing models, incredible vendors, and a few badass photographers who came to shoot with us.

First step to planning a styled shoot… find a couple to model. Jessie accomplished this almost immediately when she asked her childhood friend Charly if her and her husband would be willing to do it. It was almost their one year anniversary and Charly was thrilled to say yes! And since she was already married we didn’t have to worry about finding a dress because she was so excited to put her’s back on.

Next up we had to find someone to do hair and makeup. I reached out to a woman I had spoken with on Instagram, but had yet to meet. We had been talking about meeting up to work together. Almah, owner of MakeupByAlmah was more than willing to do Charly’s hair and makeup for us. This sweet woman even left work early to meet us at her home so she could make Charly look like a bride all over again.

You can’t have a styled shoot without flowers! Jessie had recently done a shoot with an amazing florist in the valley, Az Florations. When Jessie asked if she would contribute flowers for our shoot she was excited to get a little creative! I cannot express how incredible the final product was, we asked for pinks and yellows, and the final touch was stellar… air-plants and succulents!

Jessie and I easily agreed on a location; we are both a little obsessed with the Salt River, so that was a no brainer. Jessie shoots at Coon Bluff all the time so we didn’t hesitate to chose that location when our first choice was too far for everyone.

We had a couple final touches when we got some signs and a bench from C & L Designs, they looked so gorgeous in the desert against the red rocks. I also brought my favorite earrings from Wandering Heart Collective for Charly to wear, they looked PERFECT with the small yellow flowers in the bouquet.

When the day finally came we had perfect weather and the cutest couple. Working with multiple photographers allows us to bounce ideas off one another and see a shoot through another artist’s eyes. It’s a really great way to stay inspired and meet new photo friends! We had such a blast wandering around Coon Bluff with a gorgeous couple. This styled shoot was one to remember.

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Florist: @azflorations ⠀
HMU: @makeupbyalmah ⠀
Signs & Bench: @c.and.l.design ⠀
Dress: @weddingbellesaz ⠀ https://weddingbellesaz.com/