LDS Missionary Portraits in Gilbert, Arizona

When we first moved to Gilbert I was overwhelmed by how many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live in our area.  It seemed like there was a church on every corner and every other neighbor was in our congregation.  It felt like every week there was someone leaving or coming home from a mission in some faraway land like Japan or Texas.  I have had the pleasure of photographing a few young men and women before they leave for 18 months-2 years of church service.  These future missionaries are always so full of excitement and nerves and I love capturing that moment for them.  In addition to the young people serving all over the world as missionaries, many older couples serve missions as well.  Last weekend I was able to photograph some friends leaving for Mexico later this year as a senior missionary couple.  They had the same look of excitement and nerves as the younger kids!

This young man is currently teaching the gospel in Oregon.  He wanted to get some portraits of him looking like a missionary at the Gilbert Temple before he left.  He looked so grown up and confident and it was fun to watch his mom try and keep it together during our shoot.

This brilliant young woman is serving a mission in Finland, so she brought along a Finnish flag and Book of Mormon for her portraits at the Gilbert Temple.  She may have trouble adjusting to the cold, but I know she’s ready to teach and preach and work as missionaries do.

This wonderful couple will be serving a medical mission in Mexico City and I will miss them very much.  They were married at the Mesa Temple 35 years ago, so we went back to the beginning for their photo shoot.  This is one instance when I really wish you could smell a photo.  The grounds were beautiful that evening and the citrus blossoms were so fragrant!

I’m so inspired by these missionaries and all missionaries serving throughout the world.  I can’t wait to see how their lives are changed through their experiences.