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Family

Your guide to Phoenix

Arizona, Family, Guide0

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FOR THE FOODIES

If Arizona has one thing to offer, it’s amazing food. (Because what else are you supposed to do in 110 degree heat?;) We’ve listed our favorite restaurants in the valley below, but with how many there are, I’m positive we left out some notable ones. Let us know who else we forgot to mention in the comments!
La Grande Orange Pizzeria : Make sure you go for dinner so you can get their pizza! Share the Roasted Corn (seasonal) and a Gladiator pizza with a friend— and make sure to get the chips + pimento dip appetizer. If you’re into vegetables, get the kale salad beforehand, but then go next door for gelato afterwards! If you bring your kids, take advantage of the outdoor picnic table and stroll through the cute surrounding neighborhoods after dinner.
Cibo: The most charming Pizza spot in PHX. Best to visit when the weather is good and you can eat outside under the lights. Some people say they like it better than Pizzeria Bianco, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
Pizzeria Bianco: Voted the best pizza in the UNITED STATES, you can’t really come to Arizona and not try it. If you bring your kids, hit the Arizona Science Center next door afterwards, or the PHX Children’s Museum is close by as well.
HopDoddy: Fast-casual burger bar with yummy shakes (caramel and sea salt!) and really good burgers. This spot isn’t special to Arizona, but it’s a great place for big groups and/or kids if you’re staying with family.
ChopShop: A quick salad/juice bar stop to chase down all the hamburgers and pizza. Our favorite is the BBQ steak salad with corn nuts. There are a couple locations, but the one right by Scottsdale Mall tastes the best after a long day of shopping. 😉
Liberty Market: This is a Gilbert favorite, and you’ll likely find our family here most Friday nights. Our go-to is any of the pizzas, the farmer sandwich (my favorite vegetarian option!), or the chopped kale salad. Afterwards get a salt-river bar and a slice of death ray chocolate cake. (Order that with a scoop of ice cream and side of caramel sauce if you’re feeling crazy.) This place feels like a second home to our girls, and they love running through the nearby splash pad after eating dinner on the patio.
Gadzooks: This is a super quick and casual enchilada joint— but it’s one we never miss when we’re in the area. The first time I went there I was overwhelmed with the options, so I’m putting down my perfected enchilada order for those who either a) go there or b) ever happen to be gifting me my favorite enchiladas. 😉 If you’re not into enchiladas, get the Festival Chicken Tacos. Or go crazy and get both.
 1/2 corn +1/2 flour tortillas, 1/2 tomatillo chicken and 1/2 green chili cornbread filling, covered in mild green sauce, both cheeses, then cotija, pico, sour cream, jalapeño ranch, and a side of mashed potatoes. (Throw a fried egg on it if you’re into that!)
Barrio Queen: Another delicious Mexican option with locations in PHX, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. The chicken chorizo tacos and tableside guacamole is a good place to start on the menu.
Worth Takeaway: This is in downtown Mesa if you’re ever cruising through— come get any of the sandwiches and top it off with the very best banana pudding— better than Magnolias Bakery! (I said it!) Close to our favorite Mesa Children’s Museum or the newly remodeled Pioneer Park.
Churn: Best ice cream in the valley—order a Fat Elvis! If you haven’t eaten dinner yet, walk across the street to Federal pizza, Postino, Joyride Tacos, or Windsor.
 

FOR THE OUTDOORSY

If you’re visiting anywhere from late October – early May, this list applies to you. If you’re visiting between late May – early October– just cancel your trip, skip this portion, and jump ahead.
Wind Caves: I grew up going on this hike regularly, so maybe it’s just nostalgic, but this is a great hike for small kids at Usery Mountain. Other great places for young ones would be Hieroglyphics Trail, Tonto Natural Bridge, Slide Rock, or Papago Park.
If your kids aren’t big hikers, I’d have them stay home for the following: Camelback, Piestewa Peak, or Flat Iron.
 If no one in your family is into hiking, but you want to take advantage of being outside, check out Riverview Park, Tempe Town Lake, Scottsdale Railroad Park, Schnepf Farms, the Desert Botanical Garden, or the PHX Zoo. If you’re up for a short but worth-it road trip.. head to Payson, Flagstaff, or Sedona for the day for cooler weather and lots to do.

FOR THE INDOORSY

 If you’re here in the Summer with your kids, have no fear! There’s plenty to do inside.

FOR THE SHOPPERS

 Along with good food in AZ, we’ve got some great shopping. If you’re towing your kids along, I’ve included places with nearby kid-friendly stops to break up the day.
Scottsdale Fashion Square: If you’re a shopper, you could spend all day here. If you’re packing a stroller, break up the time with a stop at Shake Shack, Build-a-bear, or the children’s play area, conveniently located by Wetzels Pretzels. 😉
Kierland Commons: An outdoor mall with tons of great stores, restaurants, and a splash pad in the center to reward the kiddos.
SanTan Village Mall: By far the most family-centered, this is an outdoor mall surrounded by a playground, splash pad, and lots of kid-friendly stores and restaurants within. If you’re looking for more to do with the kids, there’s a nearby TopGolf, movie theatre, Main Event, or Discovery Park down the street.
PLACES TO STAY
There’s a ton of amazing resorts you can stay at while you’re here, with amazing pools and swanky rooms, but if you’re looking for a more affordable spot, be sure to peruse AirBNB. (And we’re a little biased, but if you’re wanting a place in the East Valley– check out our friends rentals The Palm house and The Park Haus!)
Other fun stays are Hotel Valley Ho, The Saguaro, or the Clarendon.
And that’s a wrap! Enjoy your AZ visit, chances are you’ll bump into us while you’re here! High five if you do?

Your Guide to Family Pictures

Family, Guide, How To1

A lot of clients have turned to me in the past for advice on what to wear and how to prepare for family pictures before our scheduled session. While I wish it was just because they think I have amazing fashion sense, it’s only because I’ve been behind the camera enough times to know what does and doesn’t photograph well. I thought putting together a little list of ‘photographer tips’ would be a beneficial resource for families (read: stressed out moms) before the Holiday photo season fired up, so here you go.

1.) Don’t match, coordinate. 

This is a no brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people still have a hard time with this one. (I blame the 90’s, when identical white T-shirts and jeans were the family-photo-uniform.) Pick a color palette, pair it with a neutral base, and go wild. Stray from graphics and super-trendy prints, and consider which tones best complement your skin and hair color. Lastly remember that different patterns within your color combination, contrasting textures, and added accessories are strongly encouraged to keep things visually interesting. If you don’t know where to start, pick one statement piece and go from there. Since kids look cute in just about anything, I personally always start with one favorite piece that I love for myself, and then build from there.

2.) Be yourselves.

Don’t play dress-up on a day that is supposed to capture your own family, being their own selves. It’s very easy as a photographer to spot a grumpy husband who was forced to put on a bow tie or pants that he would never normally wear in real life. (Besides, husbands are typically grumpy about family pictures in the first place, don’t give them more reason to be!)  I kind of blame Pinterest for this. Obviously it’s a great place to go for inspiration, but be careful if you’re wanting to emulate a gorgeous image or outfit you’ve seen on there. Whatever you do, make sure it’s you. This goes for hair, makeup, location, etc. If you don’t feel like yourself, chances are it will show through in your pictures and make for some images that don’t feel authentic.

3.) Be comfortable.

This kind of goes back to rule number two, if you don’t feel completely comfortable, it will show through in your pictures. It’s important to take a 360 degree look around with your selected outfit on before your shoot. If you’re insecure about your “XYZ” in the outfit you picked, chances are that’s all you’ll think about during your photo session and all you’ll see once you receive your photos. (And what a shame that would be!) Photographers tend to take pictures from a lot of different angles, and while they do look for the most flattering ones, don’t limit their creativity by wearing something you don’t approve of from every angle.

4.) Plan.

Whether you’re planning a photo session for you and your husband, or for you and your 9 kids, just plan. Kids are totally unpredictable and you’ll thank yourself for being prepared for anything. Lay out all your clothes and shoes and physically try them on everyone beforehand. If you think you’ll be able to grab the shoes, baby wipes, or car keys on your way out, you’re wrong. They will be nowhere to be found, ha! Get everything packed up beforehand, and if you have a baby on board, go as far as to bring a backup outfit for him or her. Bring clean snacks for toddlers (puffs, cheerios, etc.) and if you do bring toys or a pacifier for your baby, bring ones you’re willing to claim as family on your next Christmas card. A small sentimental teddy bear or simple sweet blanket doesn’t ruin an image if it’s the only thing keeping your child happy! Talk with your children and prepare them for what’s to come, also make sure to coordinate a good time of day with your photographer so your kids will be well-rested and as happy as possible. On a side note, know that your photographer typically chooses a time with optimal light to give you the highest quality of images back, so being late is not only inconsiderate to your photographer, but is also doing a disservice to yourself by limiting the amount of good light you have left.

One more tip, (and I know this is bribing), but the promise of ice-cream or a Target run goes a long way. I’ve seen a 4 year old boy stop dead in his fit-throwing tracks when he heard the word, “YOGURTLAND.”

5.) Set low expectations. 

Now that you’ve heard all my bits of advice, remember this very important one. Set zero expectations. In all my years of shooting family pictures, I’ve encountered zero children who were perfectly well-behaved enough to sit and smile and laugh for a straight hour. (And if I did, I would’ve  assumed they were robots and been totally bored and a little scared.) Your three year old will most likely have a tantrum beforehand because she wants to wear a different dress, your teenager will probably be pissed about the entire thing in general, you guys might get a speeding ticket on the way to the session, and you will most definitely have the worst hair day of your entire life on the day of the scheduled shoot. Either way, just go with it. A screaming baby photographs much cuter than a frustrated parent. Keep your cool and remember that they are just pictures. I almost guarantee that you will look back and love the images of your teenage son giving stink eye, your kindergartner smiling in that awkward new way, and your toddler running out of the frame with only one shoe on; because it’s real and it’s you guys, dammit! 🙂 If you don’t believe me or disagree, then I guess you could always take comfort in knowing that you have the following year to redeem yourselves. 😉