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arizona wedding photographer

@emeraldazphotography

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kayleen nicole ☽
⌓ capturing love stories in the southwest & beyond
boudoir account: @belovedboudoir
REACH OUT TO ME BELOW! ⬇️

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Hi! I’m Kayleen & it’s my 7 year anniversary of being full-time self employed! 🫶🏻 I figured I’d share 7 things I’ve learned being my own boss over the years.

1. Passion drives success: When you genuinely love what you do, it shows in your work. My passion for what I do is what keeps me constantly striving to improve. You know how they say “never get comfortable in your career”? I still get nervous before every single wedding because I deeply care about my work & my clients.

2. Consistency is key: Building a successful business doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of consistent effort, day in and day out. I sacrificed a lot of time in my early 20’s building my business to be able to have time-freedom now.

3. Embrace change: The photography & wedding industry is always evolving, and being adaptable is key. I’ve learned to embrace new technologies, trends, and techniques to stay relevant and competitive. And while I do think certain trends can be fun, I also think it’s important to do your OWN thing & not try too hard to fit in.

4. Value your time: Time management is essential when you’re self-employed. I’ve learned to prioritize tasks, set boundaries, and make the most of my time to ensure productivity and work-life balance. It can be hard sometimes to stick to a routine when you don’t have a normal 9-5!

5. Invest in yourself: Continuous learning and self-improvement are vital. I’ve invested in workshops, retreats, courses, and equipment to enhance my skills and re-inspire myself. It always pays off in the long run!

6. Build a strong network: Relationships are everything. Networking with other vendors, collaborating on ideas, and maintaining good relationships have been instrumental in growing my business. Most of my clients are from word of mouth & vendor referrals!

7. Celebrate milestones: It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements. Reflecting on my journey & celebrating has kept me motivated & grateful for how far I’ve come. It’s been 7 years since I quit my day job, 6 years since I dropped out of college, 4 years since I opened my studio @belovedstudiosaz & I can’t wait to see where I’ll be in another few years. 🎞️🥂📷 taken in Scottsdale, Arizona by @emeraldazphotography

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2 years ago

May your love be modern enough to survive the times, but old fashioned enough to last forever 🎞️🤍 by @emeraldazphotography

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5 months ago

Kayla & Rhett’s wedding at The Little Daisy tucked into the hills of Jerome, Arizona. Every detail was so thoughtful, from Kayla making her own invitations, to the candlelit dinner set beneath the stars. It never felt overdone, just intentional in all the right ways.

The entire day moved with this calm, effortless pace. Just a beautiful, intimate celebration with so much care behind it. One of my favorite parts was them capturing little Super 8 film clips of each other to share with their future children someday… such a meaningful touch.🎞️

A truly unforgettable celebration, and the kind of inspiration that lingers long after the day is over. ✨

Venue: @thelittledaisyjerome
Photographer: @emeraldazphotography
Coordinator/planner: @specialoccasionsaz
Videographer: @camrynbradshawfilms
Florals: @swayfloralstudio
DJ: @apolloproductionsdj
Hair/makeup: @alexie.marie.beauty ilanaxbeauty

#arizonabride #arizonawedding #arizonaweddingphotographer #azweddingvenue #destinationweddingphotographer taken in The Little Daisy by @emeraldazphotography

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6 months ago

Danielle & Tray’s day at The Paseo felt like the desert was putting on a show for them. Stormy, moody skies carried us through most of the day, and then somehow, right when we stepped out for sunset photos, the clouds opened up and the most gorgeous light poured through the desert for just a few minutes! ☀️ The kind of light you can’t plan for, you just get lucky enough to be there when it happens.

Their day was full of calm energy, romantic little moments, so much intention, and that perfect mix of wild + intimate that I love so much. 🤍

Venue: @thepaseovenue
Video: @foreverinfilms
Florals: @lbweddingdesigns
Hair: @styledbymeganstueven
Makeup: makeupbychallice @daniela.artistry
Content: @sociallymee
DJ: @gmeeventgroup_ by @emeraldazphotography

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24 days ago

The perfect way to get a unique shot for your engagement photos or wedding 🔥

#ArizonaEngagementPhotographer #ArizonaWeddingPhotographer
#uniqueEngagementSession #LuxuryEngagementPhotos
#ScottsdalePhotographer by @emeraldazphotography

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2 months ago

A quiet Wednesday evening in the meadow with the people who matter most.

She spent the day before arranging her own florals, and by sunset they were exchanging vows surrounded by just a few of their closest friends and family. Afterward, they slipped away for an intimate dinner as newlyweds.

There was no pressure for the day to be anything other than exactly what felt true to them. And that’s what made it so beautiful. 🦢

Every wedding has its own story to tell. Some unfold in grand ballrooms filled with hundreds of guests, and others in a quiet field of flowers with the sound of the wind through the trees. Both are beautiful when they reflect the people at the center of them.

I couldn’t be happier for my friends, and I’m so grateful they invited me to witness and document such a meaningful day. 🤍 by @emeraldazphotography

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2 months ago

Live music, soft spring colors in the desert, nonstop energy from the wedding party and a dance floor that never really slowed down. Every time I turned around, something exciting was happening, and those are always my favorite days to photograph. 🦢🍾🤍

An April wedding at The Paseo that felt just as fun as it looked!

Venue: @thepaseovenue
Video: @rileyhicksvideo
Makeup: @daniela.artistry
Hair: @carlycalderbeauty
Florals & Rentals: @lbweddingdesigns
Music: @kimberlywestonmusic
Cake: @sugarlipscakery
Catering: @creationsincuisine
DJ/entertainment: @bellasano_dj

#thepaseowedding #arizonaweddingphotographer #arizonawedding by @emeraldazphotography

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3 months ago

Rent the hotel room. Order the room service. Sneak into the pool. Run through the hallways. Grab a drink at the bar. Make the session feel like a date instead of a photoshoot. 🍸📷

When couples tell me they don’t want “traditional” engagement photos… this is exactly what I hope they mean. These photos end up feeling like you and that’s always the goal. 🤍

Shared this on TikTok earlier this year and you all loved it, so I had to bring it over here too.

📍@thecambyhotel

#ArizonaEngagementPhotographer #ArizonaWeddingPhotographer #HotelEngagementSession #LuxuryEngagementPhotos ScottsdalePhotographer by @emeraldazphotography

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3 months ago

On your wedding day, remember to take a moment to soak it all in 🥂All the months of planning, dreaming, Pinterest, saving, preparing for your wedding goes by so unbelievably fast. The day will fly by, but the memories and the photos will last a lifetime. Don’t worry too much about all the little unimportant details, put trust in your vendors to make your day happen exactly as you envision and remember to embrace the moments ✨ by @emeraldazphotography

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2 years ago

“We recognized each other immediately. Perhaps we came from another life where we hadn’t yet finished loving each other.” 🕯️📖🕊️

V & D’s engagement session was truly magical. By the time I left, my face hurt from smiling so much. She sent me Pinterest inspo and told me she wanted romantic, whimsical garden vibes, and I managed to find the perfect location full of greenery.. which is rare in Arizona, especially during the summer. I think these engagement photos may be some of my favorites. 🫶🏼 by @emeraldazphotography

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3 months ago

This is one of those galleries I keep finding myself coming back to over and over again. Emily & Josh’s day honestly reminded me to just chill out and not chase everything feeling “perfect” and instead just let things happen the way they’re meant to. And that’s exactly where all the good stuff was.

So much intention, so many real moments that I didn’t have to force at all, I just got to witness them and be like… wow. Their connection is the kind you don’t have to go searching for, it’s just there. These two were surrounded by so much love, and it felt really special getting to step back and watch it all come together.

My forever “Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker” and I love them so muchhhh 🖤

Venue: @thecountryclubatdcranch
Coordinator/planner: @mckennakatherineweddings
Florals: @swayfloralstudio
Content: @followthebride_
DJ: @engage.entertainment
Rentals: @varsityeventsaz
Lighting: @mystic_lites by @emeraldazphotography

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6 months ago

“At the end of the day, it’s all about the person you wanna watch the sunset with.” Still dreaming about these epic cliffside engagements. These two embraced the wind while we soaked up every last bit of sunlight through the pine trees. Absolutely love this location for the most unreal views. by @emeraldazphotography

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5 months ago