Arizona Children’s Photographer – Mara Blom Schantz

Let’s Go to the Beach!

Mara Schantz — Tue, 24 May 2016 21:51:00 +0000

I know it is not that hot yet so it is harder to think about leaving Arizona and heading over to California to get some cooler weather and beach time. But, most schools are either out for summer vacation or will be out by the end of the month. So, now is the time to schedule your summer beach session. I will be in Southern California for the month of July and have some dates still available. It is a great time to have your family photographed. Such a fun and relaxed way to document your family. Whether you have small children, grown children or grandchildren, everyone has fun at the beach, even cowboys. It shows in the images. Here are some of my favorites from last summer:

Whether you are a cowboy or a hippie,

or have a very active little guy,

or littles and bigs and one in between,

or a sorority girl,

or an artist and a runner,

or are a father and son,

or a grandmother,

or sisters,

or a dancer,

are fun loving,

or contemplative,

or serious,

or are cousins,

or a family of five,

or a father and son,

or have a hard time paying attention,

or can’t sit still,

or you like to fly,

or like to laugh,

or you are a sister,

or a brother,

or have curly hair,

or a dog,

or like to run,

or walk in the water,

or feel a protective hand,

or you like to look toward the future,

or stay in the present,

or you are shy,

or still love to feel your mother’s hugs,

or like to walk your dog,

or hug your dog,

or you are intense,

or quiet,

or melancholy,

or calm,

or happy,

or a have a family of four,

or three kids,

or someone who lost his teeth,

or likes to run,

or stand still,

or can be calm,

or wild,

or feel the wind,

and get wet,

or have a pet,

or are family friends,

or best friends,

or three sisters,

the beach is one of the best places to have you family documented! Every family is unique and I am an expert at telling your story with the beach as your background.

What is the value of fine photography?

Mara Schantz — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:50:00 +0000

Last month I had the pleasure of photographing this loving family again four years after I first met them. They had moved to San Diego from Phoenix and time just got away. But something happened this past spring that made them call me again. There was a fire. They had to evacuate their home. As the mother related the experience to me I could only imagine how terrifying it must have been to leave everything you own behind and not know if you would be able to return. She explained that her girls were safe at school so she only needed to gather the dogs up. And she had time to gather a few other things that she said were the most valuable to her – her portraits of her family and children from our first session together. She said that she saw those every day and they helped her to remember the time when her girls were so small. It made her happy to remember how it felt to hold them, love them and nurture them. Thankfully, the fire did not touch their home.

I love that I can create portraits for people that help them remember. I love that they are printed on archival fine art paper and printed in a way that will stand the test of time. I love that this mother, who loves her children so much, will be able to remember what they were like as little ones even when she is an old lady. I love that someday her sweet girls will be able to show their own children and grandchildren these portraits hanging in their own homes.

Someday your hard drive will fail. Someday cds will be obsolete. Someday your smartphone will break and the cloud will experience a technical issue. Someday you will wish that you had portraits like these to remember your babies. Someday you will regret that you did not invest in fine photography with a true professional who gives you beautiful portraits that will hang in your home for your lifetime and beyond. Or, you will be happy that you spent the time and money to create a legacy.

Fine photography is an investment. An investment just like a great pair of shoes you will wear forever, or a beautiful handbag that will last many seasons, or a great car that you are excited to drive and that will keep your family safe, or that sofa that will make a room, or a classic piece of jewelry that you will someday give to your daughter. But unlike all of those things, fine photography will transport you back to that moment and make you feel the emotions of being part of a family, of having your children with you, of what it was like to nurture those young lives.

In a world where everything is so quickly obsolete, where people seem to spend more time on their phones than with their friends and family, portraits like these can help us to slow down and take a breath, to remember what is important to us.

There are many, many photographers for you to choose from. Every third person with a digital camera is a photographer and that is fine. It is a great profession that I have had the pleasure of working in since I was just a teenager. But, if you are like this mother and don’t want to leave your memories to chance and would like to have actual fine art, archival, hand printed, beautiful portraits to hang in your home, hire a trained professional who can create that for you.

Happy Father’s Day!

Mara Schantz — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 20:21:00 +0000

Today is the day my mother died – five years ago to the day. I miss her every day. But, I am so lucky because I still have my dad here with me. He is a great father. He has taught me so much, not just about photography and business, but about life and living and loving. He loves life and could so easily have shut down after his best friend and wife of 40 years died. Instead, got out. He joined a various groups, started working out every day and took a trip. He lost 30 pounds and went on a river cruise to Russia. He said yes to every invitation that came his way. He decided to live and enjoy the rest of his life. He decided to be happy, and he is. He met a lovely woman who is now his wife. For many people happiness is a decision. Most of us don’t wake up feeling happy and great – maybe because of all the stuff that can and does happen in our lives. However, those who make the decision to be happy, despite what has happened, are an inspiration. My dad is one of them.

Me photographing my Dad on his graduation day from Brooks Institute of Photography, 1975.

I have had the privilege of photographing some very special fathers this year as part of my book project, A Celebration of Fatherhood. These fathers come from every walk of life but each takes their role very seriously and their love for their children and commitment to fatherhood is obvious. In this month of Father’s Day, I would like to recognize all of these great dads! xoxo

A Celebration of Motherhood is on Amazon!

Mara Schantz — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 00:42:00 +0000

I am so excited to announce the release of my new book, A Celebration of Motherhood! It is on now available on Amazon. It is a wonderful book of inspiring stories about the mothers among us, illustrated with beautiful black and white photographs. It is the culmination of a year-long project that had me documenting some really great women. It makes a great gift and the net proceeds will benefit two local Arizona charities that are close to my heart, Ryan House and CASA of Arizona. This is the second in my Celebration of Family series. A Celebration of Childhood was released at the end of 2012 and I am currently working on A Celebration of Fatherhood.