This was the beginning. For the last few summers, Gregg and Patty had been coming to Flagstaff. Parking their motorhome in the kind of place where they tap on your window if you drive more than 5 miles per hour; the kind of place that looks out for their neighbors and creates a community. It was where the story began.

Off to college in Colorado, their daughter went seeking a major. After taking a few classes, she knew she needed to find something she could be passionate about. Although she thought about education and becoming a teacher, something was holding her back. With little direction, she transferred back to her home state of Arizona and started classes at Northern Arizona University.

So the three of them would meet up on the weekends and share a meal. At a nearby ranch, Gregg and Patty boarded their horses and the three of them would go for long rides in the Coconino National Forest. Sometimes, she would meet her mom at the mall where she worked at American Eagle. Being able to spend time with her parents again was something their daughter loved. While she was away, she missed her family greatly.

Gregg and Patty tried to encourage their daughter who was feeling lost. With an interest in photography, she decided to enroll in a class. Her mom put money toward her daughter’s first SLR camera. She claimed it was part of college expenses. Together they went to the camera shop. Walking away with a Nikon 6006, 35-70 mm lens, 70-210 mm lens, and a hunter green Tamrac camera bag. All of her equipment was used and PERFECT!  She couldn’t wait for classes to begin!!

Starting Intro to Photography in the spring of 2000; she was hooked. During the fall semester, she took Black and White Photography; the class included mandatory time in the dark room. Developing film and printing were two new skills she learned during that semester. It became another social club, hanging out in the darkroom, watching each other’s creations come to life. Eventually, she would come back to an education degree, but always had a love for photography.

In order to complete the portrait assignment, she used her parents, Gregg and Patty. At that same RV park where they tap on the window if you drive more than 5 miles per hour. Out in that little community, they spent an hour taking portraits. Using her rolls of black and white film that when she came to end of her roll, her Nikon 6006 would click and rewind. Eager to get back into the dark room and eager to see the results. But first, they would share another meal together.

Other posts you might enjoy:

The Beginning: Part II

Anniversary Session