Poole Family Session | Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens | Tucson, AZ

Melissa and Seth booked me for a family session in early November at Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens. I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to update their family photos! Tohono Chul is definitely one of the most extensive botanical gardens in the area. It’s worth taking a day just to visit, but Melissa and Seth wanted to take their day to the next level and make some memories while they were there!

With 49 acres of vibrant, native plants, Tohono Chul has so much to offer in terms of scenery. That alone makes it absolutely perfect for family photos! It’s open any time of the year, and let me tell you! Every time I visit, I fall in love with the desert all over again. 

I know that Melissa and Seth felt the same way. They were so at home amongst the desert plants, which is why this botanical garden was the perfect location for updating their family photos. Their connection was so genuine in every single photo that it showed through.

This was so exciting for me because they have such a fun family! But photo sessions are always a lot more fun when you bring your humor along! But it’s okay not to feel comfortable at first. Their kids, Olivia and Gavin, were a little shy. Like most teenagers, they were unsure about me and my camera.

But soon, Melissa and Seth teamed up with me to quickly bring out their goofy personalities. I can tell that these siblings have a great bond! But, of course, no session with teenagers is complete with at least one pair of bunny ears and a silly face. As Olivia and Gavin warmed up to me, capturing them at their sweetest became easier. We took advantage of the humor-filled atmosphere!

During your next family photo session, don’t forget your Mom & me and Dad & me photos! You and your kids will treasure these for years to come, even if they aren’t as enthusiastic about them on the day of the shoot. Olivia and Gavin took them in stride!

In addition to teens, I could also see this location as a perfect spot to bring kids for a photo session. The gardens have a lot of fun activities to do, including classes and workshops. Keeping little kids’ hands busy helps them not to overthink how to act in front of the camera, which makes for more natural-looking photos. 

But Seth and Melissa had a more formal look in mind for today’s session, so Olivia and Gavin stayed focused on that goal. Once they warmed up to me, it was almost like I was a part of the family! The kids cracked joke after joke, finding ways to make each other laugh. They also saved moments for affectionate hugs! Because of their fun, easygoing attitudes, this family was such a dream to work with! I hope they all have fond memories of this day, just like I do. 

Thank you so much for choosing me as your family photographer, Melissa and Seth! We had such a blast at the Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens. I loved getting to know you and your wonderful family, and I hope to work with you again soon!

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Are you searching for the perfect family photographer? I’d love to get to know you and chat about how we can fill a gallery with the photos of your dreams!