Featured Shoot

Residences Kierland is a 290-unit luxury apartment building in Scottsdale, Arizona. We were approached by Todd & Associates to photograph the common spaces of the property, like the lounge and lobby, plus some exteriors. We love it when our clients really take their time with us to tell us what makes their property so special as it helps us focus on the strongest features. The team at Todd & Associates did just that. 

I scouted the property on a ridiculously hot day in June about a week before the shoot. I donned my yellow hard hat and fluorescent vest and checked out the property. I even found myself on the concrete rooftop of the building opposite, rubber soles melting, to check out the views from that angle. 

But even when you think you have everything in the bag, you can’t prepare for everything. On the morning of the shoot, I was a little anxious about how the microburst the night before would have affected the property. Thankfully, it wasn’t too bad, and after sweeping the leaves away and wiping down the patio furniture, we were ready to go. At least the rain made the skies crisp and clear, especially when looking west over that perfectly manicured golf course.

Clients 
Architect: Todd + Associates
Builder/Owner: Lennar

The  Old Adobe Mission is a Scottsdale landmark. Hand built in the 1930s by Mexican Catholic settlers using over 14,000 adobe bricks, it’s on the historic register and stands as the oldest church in Scottsdale. And right next to it is The Mission Old Town – a popular Latin restaurant, dimly lit and intimate, and with a menu that includes Pacific Swordfish and Faroe Island Salmon. It’s a fabulous restaurant, and so when I was contacted to photograph their second location at Kierland in north Scottsdale, I was thrilled.

The Mission Kierland is completely different to the Old Town location. It’s two stories, bright, open, large windows, stunning chandeliers, and an upstairs patio that’s perfect anytime of the day, from brunch to dinner and cocktails all day.

I split the shoot over the course of a day. I started really early when the morning light was soft, and shot the downstairs and a couple of exteriors. But when the sun got too strong, I went home and came back later to shoot more exteriors and the upstairs. If you fight the sun, you’ll never win so you have to be flexible, strategic, and fast. But no matter how much you prep (or how many sun apps you have), the sun will always surprise you – and sometimes those are the best shots of the day.

Adeline is the newest live-work-play luxury high rise in Downtown Phoenix. Named after the woman who built the Valley’s first mansion in the 1880’s, it’s 25 floors of exquisite craftsmanship.

I’ve worked with Greystar for years, photographing their properties across the country, so it was a real treat to shoot one so close to home, especially one that’s changing the Downtown Phoenix skyline.

As an architectural photographer, I don’t always have the luxury of shooting in an empty building, so flexibility is a must. Residents had just started to move in and some were enjoying the pool or spoiling their pups in the dog spa, but it was easy to work around them, especially in a property this size.

You can see all the pictures from this two-day shoot on my site here, including those 25th floor views, model apartments, and resort-style amenities like the rooftop dog park!

I recently traveled to Rio Rico to photograph this stunner of a desert home for Nevada-based Magnin Architecture. I’d never been to Rio Rico before. Full disclosure, I’d never heard of Rio Rico before, but it’s just south of Tucson, 10 miles from Mexico, and wedged between multiple mountain ranges. 

Immediately I was struck by the minimalist aesthetic and elegant, clean lines of the home. And it blended so effortlessly into the Arizona landscape, whether I was on the outside looking in or the inside looking out. I used a combination of natural and supplemental lighting as I wanted to (literally) bring to light every detail of the home.

I’ve posted some pictures below but see all pictures from this shoot here.