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Today’s post takes a little break from the norm of sharing portrait and wedding photos of fabulous people to talk about a wonderful new non-profit organization called Daddy Read a Book. It was started by my friends Chris and Arielle, who you might recognize from their engagement proposal photographs a few years back! I love what their new organization is trying to do for children and families who have to experience periods of separation. I think it is so important for kids to be connected to their parents through these times and that’s why I did a Q & A with Chris to help spread the word about their mission!

Hi Chris! So tell us what Daddy Read a Book is all about.

Hi Allison! First, it’s great to be able to share Daddy Read a Book with you and everyone who comes to your blog. I’ve been really excited about it.

As I was looking through your blog at all the beautiful family photos, especially the ones with young children, every picture captured what the love of a family and that is what Daddy Read a Book is all about. We connect families.

More specifically, the purpose of Daddy Read a Book is to connect families who are facing separation. We help families facing long periods of separation and connect them through videos of the dad reading his children’s favorite books aloud. Reading to children is so critical in a child’s mental development and forms an amazing connection in families.

We meet with parents who will be away from their families and film them reading their children’s favorite storybooks in stunning HD. Then we give a copy of that video to their children so it can be watched while the parent is gone.

One of the types of families we can help the most are ones in the military. Whether it’s through deployment or training, military dads are often gone for months at a time. We are also able to help parents or kids in the hospital for long-term treatments, or families with a parent in prison. Anywhere that a loving parent is separated from their children, we can help.

Why did you start Daddy Read a Book?

My dad did this for me when I was a child and I loved it. He was away from our family for almost a year when I was very young and, to help make that time easier, he took my favorite children’s books and filmed himself reading them to me. While he was gone I could still see his face on the screen and hear his voice and see him smile. It helped us connect through that tough time.

That’s where the name “Daddy Read a Book” comes from. My dad wrote that on the old VHS tape he gave me more than 20 years ago and the name stuck.

How can someone get involved with Daddy Read a Book?

If you know any families facing separation or a tough circumstance, let us know! Just send us their contact information and we will take it from there.
You can also have them visit DaddyReadaBook.org and support on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest are great!

The organization is also having a big kick-off fundraiser on May 30, 2013 at the Tempe Center for the Arts at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased for a donation here!

* * *

Chris Cottrell is the founder and CEO of Daddy Read a Book and a consultant at Yodle, Inc. He and his wife Arielle live in Tempe, AZ. Connect with him at his blog or over Twitter, LinkedIn and email!

The post Interview with a Non-Profit: Daddy Read a Book appeared first on Allison Bess: Phoenix Wedding Photographer & Portrait Photographer.

I had quite the eventful afternoon with the Zeigler/Black families this past weekend when they brought together three grandkids all under 2 years old to play and have family photos taken! It was so fun celebrating their relationships and documenting this stage of their lives. :) Here are some of my favorites!

I love his little hand in this photo below :)

These two have been married almost 30 years and adore each other…what a beautiful thing.

The post Scottsdale Family Portrait Session: The Zeiglers appeared first on Allison Bess: Phoenix Wedding Photographer & Portrait Photographer.

Here are some photos from a day trip I took with two of my beautiful friends to Sedona! So much fun. :) I love little weekend adventures! It was an added bonus that it snowed when we were there. There’s nothing like white snow on red rocks.

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We had the honor of being published again on the Phoenix Bride & Groom Magazine’s blog and I wanted to share the news with you! They featured images from Shelly’s Gainey Ranch Hyatt Bridal Photo Session and from Shelly & Adam’s Gainey Ranch wedding to show off her beautiful wedding dress! If you want to check out the article, click here! Here’s a screenshot from part of the feature:

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If you’ve followed the blog for awhile, you might remember Steven from his senior portrait photo session in 2011 or from sessions before that even! He likes to come up with a “surprise” joke photo each time to spice things up. Last time he had a photo where he was blowing blades of grass out of his hands like it was snow and this time he decided to whip out some yoga poses he’s learned.

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A quick post to share some recent news…the photos from Richard & Franne’s Pretty Woman inspired marriage proposal have been published on the Huffington Post blog! The Huffington Post’s website is one of the most visited news sites in the world, so it’s pretty exciting to have images published there! If you want to read the article titled “Romantic Date or Marriage Proposal Inspiration from The Bachelor” written by Michele Velasquez of the Heart Bandits, it and the images are published here!

A screenshot from the article:

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Franne’s life changed forever on Saturday when her now-fiancé asked her to become his wife in an epic Pretty Woman inspired proposal. Pretty Woman just happens to be Franne’s favorite movie so Richard knew he had to plan the proposal around one of the ending scenes where Richard Gere pulls up to Julia Roberts’ apartment in a big limo shouting her name then continues to climb up the fire escape, despite his fear of heights, to give her roses and win her heart. Richard’s proposal was just like the movie but even better. Franne had been told that she was going to a work function so she got all ready then Richard slipped out of the house and left her with the first pink envelope telling her in fact it was not a work function she was going to and that a limo would be picking her up. Through a series of several pink envelopes (that all had quotes from the movie I might add), she ended up on the roof-top pool at the San Carlos Hotel in downtown Phoenix where she was serenaded by live violin and guitar music, got a snack of her favorite chocolates and diet coke, and got to enjoy a beautiful set up of roses and props from the movie Pretty Woman! When it was time for the big event, she received her last envelope saying “I want the fairytale.” Franne was led by the hotel staff to the building’s fire escape where Richard was pulling up shouting her name. He ascended the stairs and proposed to the love of his life while the theme song of the movie was being played live. It was the sweetest moment ever and I could not possibly be happier for these two.
It took a lot of people to pull off a proposal like this! Major credit goes to The Heart Bandits, Brad & everyone else at the historic Hotel San Carlos, Sweetwater Strings, Avant-Garde Studio & my second shooter, Josh!

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