A tough year, a shift in perspective, and a deeper appreciation for love, work, and life
By Hilary Dartt
For Tracy and Jeremiah Scheffer, 2024 was a tough year. Still, it highlighted how much they have to be grateful for, and they’re moving into 2025 with greater inspiration and deeper love.
Not only did the couple—owners of Blushing Cactus Photography—endure significant losses of people close to them, but they also grappled with a major health issue when Tracy’s heart went into failure in September.
During an interview in their cozy Prescott house in December, the two of them talked about how they love what they do—and how they plan to move forward with intention, leaving a legacy and nurturing the connections that sustain them.
“The fact that I get to continue to do what I love—oh, thank God—and do it with the one I love,” Tracy said. “How special is that, that we get to live this dream together? We don’t take it for granted.”
Tracy and Jeremiah have made a name for themselves locally since they started working together full time in December of 2019, shooting just about everything: weddings, rodeo, theatre, music festivals, city events, sports, portraits, and more.
“That’s kind of our motto,” Tracy said. “If it’s fun and reflects the human connection, we photograph it.”
And, Jeremiah added, there are benefits to doing it together: “Being able to sharpen each other, be inspired by each other, test each other, grow, and learn.”
Because both of them so enjoy doing what they do, together, it often means a breakneck pace. Tracy’s health crisis forced them to slow down—and to reevaluate.
In 2017, a virus attacked Tracy’s heart, leaving it functioning at just 19 percent. It got better, but in 2024 she started experiencing symptoms again, including fatigue and a high heart rate even when she wasn’t exercising.
Tracy and Jeremiah were the photographers for the NAZ Wranglers, and when assistant coach Dave Moran passed away July 1, 2024, after a heart attack, Tracy said she realized she needed to take her own symptoms seriously.
Sure enough, her doctors said she needed a pacemaker/defibrillator put in immediately. She had to wear a LifeVest (a device used in case of cardiac arrest) for a month preceding her surgery.
“It got very serious and very scary,” Jeremiah said, and Tracy added, “We thought I might not make it, and started to look at life differently.”
For a couple who agree “life started in 2017” when they first met, Tracy said, “We can’t imagine life without each other.”
The surgery went smoothly but called for a six-week recovery, during which Tracy couldn’t lift her camera—and that was smack in the middle of wedding season.
But, Jeremiah said, “Everybody showed up and helped out.”
“We have a community full of amazing friends and family,” Tracy said. “We feel very blessed.”
Friends who are also professional photographers volunteered to help Jeremiah shoot the weddings Tracy and Jeremiah had scheduled. Others brought meals and offered their support.
“The relationships we form with our clients allowed us to be completely transparent,” Jeremiah said,” and we were able to communicate that we have them covered in this unusual life event.”
And, Tracy said, “Seeing [Jeremiah] care for me while I was healing)—you know how much someone loves you when they’re caring for you in such an amazing, beautiful way.”
“If there’s any positive spin,” Jeremiah said, “this changed our perspective in a very real way. We appreciate each other and what we do that much more … It’s definitely got us focused on the future … and with Tracy feeling better than she has in years, we are very excited for the future.”
Part of that future: leaving a legacy, with their photos and their passion projects.
Jeremiah particularly enjoys capturing a city’s culture, and he and Tracy have photographed various events for Prescott. Jeremiah said he’d like to do more of that in other cities (plans are in the works).
“We love showing off our city,” Tracy said, and Jeremiah added, “We just love being involved in anything the community is doing.”
“I feel like the photos we’re creating are a legacy we’re leaving together,” Tracy said. “Years from now, people will be looking at these photos, and they’ll be the ones we took together. That’s special to us.”
“Whether it’s photos from a football game, a musical production, or a holiday parade, the people who poured in their time and energy will forever have photos to appreciate.”
Tracy said, “The experience of shooting together deepens our bond as husband and wife and contributes to our own life (and love) story.”
The duo also mentors high school students, and love passing on their knowledge.
Another passion: working with nonprofits.
“That was my mission when I started this company—to give back, however we can,” Tracy said.
They’ve already started working with nonprofits they feel a personal connection to, such as Prescott Area Shelter Services, US Vets, and Boys and Girls Clubs, and plan to do more with shelters and organizations dedicated to domestic violence victims, single mothers, and special needs families.
“Aside from being a mom to two great sons,” Tracy said, “this is what I take pride in. It’s so fulfilling. I can’t imagine doing anything else with anyone else.”
Meanwhile, they plan to strive for work-life balance.
For a couple who live together and work together—and who love what they do so much that it doesn’t feel like work—saying “no” to fun projects can be tough.
“We do need to make more time for us,” Tracy said. “Life is short and when you go through something like this heart thing, you start thinking, ‘We need to have a little bit more fun. We need to be able to say yes when our friends ask if we want to go out for dinner.’”
They also plan for more hiking, travel, and time with their granddaughter. Tracy will sing and dance around the house, and Jeremiah will make her the most delicious meals.
Whether they’re working or playing (or resting!), Tracy and Jeremiah plan to continue to go wherever their passions and interests take them.
“There are some instances where it’s like, ‘How did we end up here? This is so cool,’” Jeremiah said.
“Not a lot of people get to do the things we do,” Tracy said, “and do them with so much love for each other.”
Learn more about Blushing Cactus Photography at https://www.blushingcactus.com. Follow them on Instagram @blushingcactusphotography and Facebook @blushingcactus.
