Photographers are a dime a dozen around here. Heck there are 551 listed photographers within 20 square miles of my house. I personally know 4, no wait, 5, and our kids have semi regular playdates together. But you should know me by now, and for me to sit down and write a review means I either loved it or hated it. Mr. DeSoto Photography is in a different class all together. I’m really having a tough time calling him a photographer, because he creates art.
Sergio DeSoto focuses on street photography and that created a totally different picture taking experience for us. Street photography seeks to capture the emotion of an event. This is different than candid photography which just records people at an event or studio photography which is posed and airbrushed.
Once upon a time, I said I wanted a nice family Christmas card portrait. So I stuffed Bubba in a three piece suit with a clip on tie. I tackled Sissy and curled her hair, and I suffered through some high heels. We did manage to get a nice Christmas card picture from the studio, but the one hanging on the wall is….well...different. My husband is looking at Bubba who had run off and is getting scooped up by the photographer’s assistant. I have my head in my hands. Big is looking at me, and the only one cheesing it up for the camera, as usual, is Sissy. AND THAT IS US! Now imagine not one or maybe two pictures that scream THAT’S TOTALLY US!, but almost 100! Welcome to my current dilemma. Thanks Sergio! No one has captured us as well as you have.
My studly Captain gets all the credit for setting this up for me. He met and befriended Sergio long before he ever knew that Sergio was an artist…er, photographer…hmm, artist. We knew we only had about 3 weeks in Phoenix to get these pictures taken and Sergio was amazing at fitting us into his schedule. Sergio is personable and friendly. I was slightly hesitant about taking him seriously when he said, "Just be yourselves." I had no idea what to expect. My family doesn’t know how to sit still. There’s always some sort of leg bouncing, or fidgeting, or she’s touching me or he doesn’t want to sit by me going on.
Sergio worked with all of it. He anticipated snack time for the Littles. He was gentle during the crying fit when Boo spilled his coffee and the impromptu shadow puppet show to stop the tears. He was taking pictures I didn’t even know where being taken. We were comfortable, we were goofy, and we were us. The locations we picked weren’t for everyone, but we aren’t like everyone else. And the art created by Mr. DeSoto Photography isn’t like anyone else's either.