Last year we went to Hawaii in October, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Our actual anniversary, though, is in December, so we spent that weekend at the Oregon coast. All of these photos were taken at our amazing airbnb in Newport (including the ocean views from the living room). This year, we are in Vegas for our 26th anniversary, so no fancy photos.
As usual, I decided to decorate my little vintage trailer (Honey) for the holidays!
While I enjoy shooting in a studio, I looove photographing people at work, for their business headshots! These photos of Ka Rin were taken in her downtown Salem office, where she does therapy sessions. Not only does it allow the subject to be a little more comfortable and relaxed in their own environment, but it gives the viewers a little peek into where they’ll be hanging out. Thankfully, she had some beautiful window light in her space, which meant I didn’t have to bring all of my cumbersome lighting equipment.
I’ve been photographing this kid since he was little, so it was really awesome to get to do his senior portraits. Instead of doing all of his photos in the fall, we did split his session up, also doing some in the Spring, right around the time he graduated high school. So, these photos really mark both the beginning and the end of his senior year. Anytime I’ve done this for senior boys, the change is quite noticeable! Not only do they change physically, but you can see the difference in their confidence.
Yes, you read that correctly, as this handsome guy graduated a year and a half ago. Which means these photos were taken over 2 years ago. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be current on blogging, but I’ll keep trying.
Anyway, I’ve known this guy’s mom since 1994! We met our freshman year of college, when we were dorm neighbors. Neither of us grew up in Salem, so it’s pretty cool that we both ended up here AND that we live so close to each other (our kids graduated from the same high school)!
I am happy to report that Bradley is in his sophomore year of college in HAWAII! So, suffice it to say, he’s going great!
Katie (they/them) and Elizabeth (she/her) spent their first date at Powell’s Books in downtown Portland, Oregon. Long story short, they (in no particular order) fell in love, got married, moved to the east coast and started successful careers. As luck would have it, they had a wedding to attend back in Oregon, which coincided with their 3rd wedding anniversary.
Anyone who knows me knows I don’t much care for traveling to Portland. I do not mind, however, when it’s for a reason like this! We met up early on a weekday morning, to avoid both the summer heat, and the busy streets. We started at Powell’s before they opened, then took a little walk around downtown, ending back at the bookstore for some indoor shots. It worked out perfectly, as it allowed them to shop for books at their leisure once we were done.
Since then, Katie has become a published book author! They wrote a book called “Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates.” If you’d like to check it out, it’s available on Amazon in hard cover, audio, or Kindle.
Is it just me, or has time lost all meaning since the pandemic? I don’ t know how it’s almost December, let alone almost 2025! Anyway, here’s a cool shot I took with a fun lens (Lensbaby Sol). I rented it for a few shoots, but I’m considering just buying one.
I adore this little family and love when I get to see them each year! The kids are beyond cute and I can’t decide which I love more…their big, brown eyes, or their pinchable cheeks! Side note: This session was from 2 years ago and I can confirm that this little baby is still rocking those cheeks!
This stunning woman was one of my wedding clients a few years ago, so we had a great time during her boudoir session. She reminds me of a young Shannen Doherty, from the “Charmed” years.
Just a little sneak peek from an empowering session I had a few weeks ago. This client, a young trans man, reached out to me about doing a photo shoot to document his body, prior to top surgery. It was a fun shoot and the photos turned out awesome.
These two tied the knot at the Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis, Washington. While they were planning on having a celebration with family and friends at a later date, they decided to keep their wedding day, with only their two best friends in attendance. After their short ceremony, we walked around the block and took a few fun photos!
I am always behind on blogging, but this is a little ridiculous. Somehow I forgot to share this session, which is from two years ago! Nevertheless, check out adorable little Asha, with her parents.
I know it’s still more than 2 months away, but I’m already excited for Spooky season! I usually do a few Halloween sessions (boudoir & regular), but I’m not sure if I’ll have time this year. Fingers crossed!
Ashton wanted an excuse to wear her prom dress again, so this worked out perfectly! Happy Sweet 16, Ash!
Sam’s senior portrait session was so much fun. We did the entire shoot in downtown Salem on a warm August evening. Sam is an actor and was rehearsing for a performance at The Grand Theater all day, so starting there made perfect sense! For the remainder of the evening, we just wandered around the streets and alleyways downtown. Our final stop was Archive Coffee & Bar, so Sam could order his favorite drink. All in all, I think we captured Sam’s personality with this casual urban session!
At-home “lifestyle” sessions are my favorite way to photograph families with little ones. When I go to a client’s home, they have everything they need right there (diapers, change of clothes, snacks, etc.). They don’t have to worry about forgetting anything or plan for the unexpected. Toddlers and small children are usually apprehensive about a stranger photographing them, but being in their own home makes them feel FAR more comfortable. By the end of the session, they’re usually showing me their toys and telling me funny stories about their pets. Plus, it’s just so much easier for me (a woman whose children are all adults now) to hop in my car and drive to the client!
I do very little posing with lifestyle sessions. I may say, “everyone sit over there.” or “Let’s put the baby here.” Beyond that, though, I just let everyone do what they want…especially babies and toddlers! THEY ARE IN CHARGE! This cuts down on the stress of trying to get that “perfect” family photo and results in shots that are way more authentic.
I’ve been to Ashley and Alina’s house a few times now and in addition to getting to see their adorable family, I get to see the changes they’ve made to their first home! They’ve done quite a few DIY projects and they look SO good!
