oregon wedding photographer

Corvallis Oregon Wedding Photographer - Unique Nuptials at The Vue Corvallis

Shaylynn & Michael tied the knot at The Vue last year, but I’m just now getting around to sharing the images. Their theme was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, with some of their hobbies and their love story (via pictures, on easels) , sprinkled throughout.

The Vue is located in downtown Corvallis and is a really cool venue. It has multiple floors, which makes it easy to separate the ceremony and reception areas. They offer catering, as well as bar tending, and a killer view!

Salem Boudoir Studio - bridal queen

If I am being honest, I don’t necessarily hate that my old website crashed. My new web host and website are both so much easier to deal with now. I also love that it gives me an excuse to re-blog some of my favorite sessions, like this one! This was a really fun shoot with some experimentation that paid off.

Oregon Elopement Photographer - big news for 2022!

With the exception of elopements, I have decided to take a break from weddings in 2022.

I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time and finally made the decision a few weeks ago to take a break from weddings in 2022…EXCEPT for elopements. My wedding clients over the last 13 years have been AWESOME and I adore them all, but Mama needs a break! Weddings are….a lot. They’re somewhat physically demanding (well, for an aging, out of shape person such as myself, lol), but more than that, they are mentally draining. You have to be “ready” every second of the day, even when nothing appears to be happening. Plus, I have a busier schedule these days. So, as of right now, I’m only planning on taking this year off, but I will reassess in the fall.

Like I said, I will still take on elopements this year. They’re much less stressful for me and, well, I just freaking love elopements! So, with that being said, I want to take a moment and share some of my favorite elopements over the years!

IZZY & REGINA… This was my first elopement ever! Izzy & Regina traveled all the way from Texas, to get married in Oregon, as same-sex marriage was not yet legal in their state. They rented a gorgeous airbnb out in Amity for their stay, which was the perfect location for an intimate elopement. Aside from myself and the officiant, the only other people there were the guitarist, who played for their ceremony, and a chef who prepared them a three course meal afterwards. These two were SO fun to work with. Not only were they madly in love, but they were spunky and adorable.

BRIANA & WINCHESTER… This was not your typical courthouse elopement, as you can see from the photos below. After tying the knot outside of the courthouse (some judges offer that at the Marion County Courthouse, by the way!), the newlyweds walked around downtown Salem and hit some of their favorite spots, like an ice cream shop and the record store! It was ridiculously laid back and hello, look at Briana’s dress that she made herself!

LIZZY & KEITH…This beautiful couple rented a cool house through airbnb for their candlelit elopement. They found it difficult to plan their big summer wedding, while living in two different homes. Since they preferred not to live together before marriage, they decided to elope in the Spring. They still had their big ceremony a few months later, which was much easier to plan once they lived together. I was more than happy to photograph their two separate, and very different, ceremonies. Lizzy and Keith are just cool individuals, who happen to also be very good looking.

ANNA & KEN…While planning their wedding, Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer. They pushed their wedding back a year, so that she could undergo treatment. When they found out that Anna’s grandmother was going to be in town for Christmas, they opted to elope during her stay. Although you would never know by looking at her smiling face, Anna was in the middle of chemo during this time. They chose Deepwood Museum & Gardens for their venue, which is beautiful all year ‘round, but the Christmas decor made it even more charming! The following year, they had their big wedding and celebration, which I also had the honor of photographing.

CASEY & JENYA…This elopement is a little different, in that I was the second shooter for Shelley K Photography. This couple flew in from Washington DC to get married against the gorgeous backdrop of the Columbia River Gorge. Aside from Shelley and I, the only other person in attendance was the officiant, who also happened to be Shelley’s husband. We hiked in to Wahclella Falls for their ceremony, which was very intimate, thanks to the sound of the waterfall (we couldn’t hear them, from where we were taking photos) . Afterwards, we drove out to Government Cove for some beautiful portraits. Shelley and I both shot completely on film and the results were straight up dreamy. So, while I didn’t really get to know this couple, it was a memorable experience because I got to shoot it with my friend and I was introduced to some amazing new shooting locations.

PORSHE & JEREMY…I don’t even know where to start with these two! I adore them SO much. I met Porshe when my business was still pretty new. She modeled for me and we immediately became friends. Since then I’ve photographed two of her births, a couple of boudoir sessions, family sessions, and of course their elopement…at a hospital! Yep, these two got married in the chapel at St. Vincent hospital in Portland. Porshe’s uncle, who is like a second father to her, was in the hospital and was not going to be able to attend their destination wedding, so they opted to get legally married with a little ceremony before leaving town. If you know me, you know I sometimes like a challenge..and making wedding photos in a freaking hospital look good was a challenge, but I think we totally nailed it!

RAVEN & MARCUS…This ridiculously adorable couple was also struck with Cancer, which lead them to the decision to elope at the courthouse in Salem. I booked this wedding THE DAY they got married! I started the day in Nebraska and ended the day at the Marion County Courthouse. Their ceremony was short and sweet, but everyone still cried. Afterwards we did a few quick photos and then they were off to celebrate with family and friends. I was there for less than an hour, but it was still magical.

JENNA & RICHARD…I met Jenna, when she took my photography class at Chemeketa. She was just the sweetest, most soft-spoken girl, with gorgeous red hair, so I was honored when she asked me to photograph her wedding photos (once the term was over, of course, as I don’t take students as clients). Due to the pandemic, they postponed their wedding for a year. Because Jenna’s father was battling cancer (seriously, though, cancer can just fuck right off already), they kept their original wedding date and eloped in Salem. They held a more traditional wedding and reception the following year, near the coast, which I also photographed.

SABRINA & BRIAN…This was a day full of love and gorgeous scenery. I met up with them at their airbnb, just outside of Cannon Beach, where they got ready and also had their first look. From there, we headed over to Ecola State Park, where Sabrina’s brother married them and Brian’s brother was their witness. One of the best things about elopements is that you aren’t rushed and the couple isn’t obligated to do anything else, like mingle with guests or answer 1,957 questions about where things are and where they go. This free time gave us the opportunity to shoot with multiple backdrops, such as the park, the beach, the rocks, etc. After we finished up with portraits, I dropped the two of them off at a restaurant, where they had dinner reservations.

JESSICA & DARIN…I did not meet the groom until the day of their courthouse elopement, but I had known Jessica for years. She is our favorite teacher! My older two boys (now nearly 20 and 22) had her as a teacher in elementary school and they absolutely ADORED her. It’s not surprise that she was honored as teacher of the year in our district! My oldest even had her two years in a row. We all hoped that my youngest would get her too, but she switched schools before it happened (booooo). She will forever be our favorite teacher and I was absolutely honored to document her and Darin’s special day.

TRACY & JORDON…I met Tracy through her sister, who is a good friend of mine. Shortly after they got engaged, Jordon got orders for an overseas deployment, which prompted their elopement. Neskowin, Oregon is a stunning place to get married and this isn’t the only elopement I’ve photographed there! Their ceremony was simple, but oh-so-romantic. Best of all, Jordon made it home safely from his deployment and they now have a new baby!

CHERYL & ROB… I will always remember this wedding because they got married on December 19th, which is the same day my husband and I got married! We will forever share a wedding anniversary. Obviously, the bride’s gown is to die for. When I found out she was wearing a gold velvet dress, I was like, “YESSSS!” Anyway, these lovebirds said, “I do” at a little Christmas tree farm in Corvallis. Of course it rained because that’s what it does in Oregon, especially in December, but how gorgeous is that umbrella shot?! Oh, and fun fact…Cheryl is Tracy’s mom (from the above photos)!

CORI & NOAH…This was my most recent elopement, having just taken place this past fall. It’s a long story, as to how this elopement came together (you can read the story HERE), but they tied the knot on their 10y year anniversary, having their children as their only guests. These two have the biggest hearts and have been a second set of parents to my middle son for years.. The actual ceremony was held at Deepwood Museum & Gardens, but we drove out to the pumpkin patch for some fun portraits afterwards. It rained (because…Oregon) and we got soaked, but it was totally worth it!

So…what do I consider an elopement? I love it when it’s just the couple and their witnesses (or in many cases, just one witness, as I often sign as the second witness), but I don’t really have a limit on the number of people that will be there. It’s more about WHAT will be photographed. For example: no wedding party (bridesmaids/groomsmen), no reception, and no list of specified shots you want. Elopements are meant to be laid back and stress-free. If you aren’t sure whether or not your wedding would be considered an elopement, just ask me!

The Dalles Oregon Wedding Photographer - Kylee & Dustin's Tygh Valley Barn Event!

Kylee & Dustin, both Marines, met while stationed in San Diego. Long story short, they fell in love and got married at their local courthouse in 2020. Like most of my wedding clients, they then planned a bigger event about a year later…which is where I come in.

I have known Kylee since she was born. I met her mom, Angie, in first grade and she has been one of my best friends for nearly 40 years now! In fact, Angie was pregnant with Kylee (and her twin sister, Taylar) when she was a bridesmaid in my wedding! Fun fact: Kylee was actually the first baby my husband ever held!

The bride and groom celebrated one year of marriage with their closest family and friends, with a traditional wedding ceremony. The Tygh Valley Barn was a great venue for this group, as there is a house to rent on the property, as well as plenty of space for camping. A lot of the guests brought their camper vans and made a weekend out of it.

The whole day was fun for me, as I had a lot of friends in attendance. It was so nice to see and catch up with everyone, when I wasn’t shooting. I even spent some time chatting about VW busses, with a few other bus owners. The green bus shown in the photos below belongs to Kylee’s uncle and it’s the same year as mine!

After getting ready, the happy couple did a first look, as they had not seen each other in their wedding attire (they wore different outfits for their courthouse nuptials). It was a sweet, private moment with just the two of them…until their two pups joined in! We did most of the portraits before the ceremony, but I did manage to grab the bride and groom for some photos of just to the two of them before I left, which is always my favorite part of the day.

Portland Wedding Photographer - Hao & Rachel's East Fork Country Estate Nuptials!

What does four hours of wedding coverage look like? Well, here you go! If you are doing everything (getting ready, first look, ceremony, reception) at the same location and you schedule your order of events (toasts, dinner, etc.) in a particular way, you can get quite a bit out of just four hours of photography.

Hao and Rachel tied the knot at East Fork Country Estate in Damascus, Oregon. They had planned on getting married in 2020, but like many couples, they had to delay their wedding, due to COVID-19 restrictions. I’m sure the wait was really hard, but I have to imagine that it was worth it, for such a beautiful celebration. For an outdoor wedding in April, we definitely lucked out with the weather!

Hao and his groomsmen wore handsome Navy suits, while the bridesmaids wore pink dresses, and Rachel rocked a fitted silk and lace dress, with an adorable white jacket when it got cold. There were rustic-chic little touches throughout, including baby’s breath, lanterns, vintage china, and wooden signs. In fact, the ones at the end of the aisle, on easels? Yeah, I knocked those over right before the wedding. That kind of entertainment is one of the perks of hiring me.

Their day was filled with SO much laughter, some first dances, funny toasts, adorable moments, and even a rainbow at the end of the night (kudos to the DJ for being quick on his feet and playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow as soon as we saw it)!

Salem Oregon Wedding Photographer - long overdue fall elopement!

I recently started planning a styled shoot with makeup artist Michelle Quady and my favorite florist, Amanda Dant of Morning Glories Floral. We thought it would be cool if we could get a real couple to model for a fall bridal look. Then, I kind of jokingly said, “It would be even better if we could get someone to elope for real!” After a bit of thought, I decided to reach out to someone I thought just might be adventurous enough to do it….and I was right!

So, a mere two weeks before our scheduled shoot, I asked Cori if her and Noah would like to get married on September 30th. I honestly didn’t expect them to say yes, especially on a weekday and with such short notice. Not only did they say yes, but that date happened to be their 10 year anniversary (to the day)! I think it goes without saying that it was meant to be! Cori is also a huge fan of Autumn and was really excited to be getting married this time of year. So, that was it…they were on board and totally willing to let us plan the whole thing! We took care of both outfits, hair, makeup, locations, vows, etc. All they had to do was get their marriage certificate and show up!

I have known Cori and Noah for nearly a decade, as their oldest son is close friends with my middle son. They are genuinely good people, who do so much for their family and their community. They have also been second parents to my son for years, so this was the least I could do for them as a thank you.

Noah dropped Cori off at my studio, where we got her all dolled up. I took some photos of the flowers, while Michelle did Cori’s makeup and Amanda, who is also a wedding officiant, talked to Cori about her and Noah’s love story…which she then incorporated into their elopement ceremony.

When we were done at the studio, we met up with Noah and their children for the ceremony at Deepwood Museum & Gardens. Cori lost her mom to cancer a few years ago, but she wanted her “there” with them at the wedding, since she was so close to their family. Amanda managed to attach a beautiful locket (a gift from one of the kids), with photos of Cori’s mom, to the bouquet. It was perfect.

Of course it started raining the moment we got to the ceremony location and it didn’t stop the entire time we were outdoors. Typical Oregon. The ceremony was short and sweet, but full of both laughter and tears. Afterwards, they signed their documents, at some celebratory cupcakes, and did a quick family photo with the kids. After the kids left, we walked around the beautiful grounds of the venue for some portraits and then we headed over to Fordyce Farms for some photos at the pumpkin patch!

Salem Wedding Photographer - Quarantine Elopement!

Jenna and Richard were scheduled to get married in the summer of 2020, but like many other couples, were forced to change their plans, due to COVID-19. A lot of venues and vendors were shut down for months, or at the very least had restrictions that made wedding planning difficult. In addition to the worldwide pandemic, the bride’s father was going through cancer treatment, so they decided to just elope, but still on their original wedding date, with a larger celebration/wedding planned for 2021. Unfortunately, the grooms father passed away unexpectedly about a month before the elopement. :(

Despite the loss and sadness, their families managed to be filled with joy and happiness on this special day. The couple eloped at the Wedding House, which is a small privately owned venue in Salem. Due to COVID restrictions, I did not attend their ceremony, but we met up immediately afterwards at Bush Park. The first thing they did was sign their marriage certificate, with their mothers as their witnesses. We then did a group photo with the whole family, after which everyone headed off to dinner, while the newlyweds stayed behind for a few portraits. I thought Jenna looked adorable in her Granny’s vintage dress (she has another dress that she’ll wear this year for their larger celebration) and Richard in his vest and hat. I first met Jenna a few years ago, when she was a photography student of mine (I still use her final project as an example in my class). She was just the sweetest, kind-hearted person and I was absolutely honored that she would consider me for her wedding photography. I met Richard when we did our in-person consultation and he’s also super nice and just down to earth and easygoing. Anyway, I’m wishing a lifetime of happiness to this beautiful couple and can’t wait to photograph them again this year!

Oregon Coast Wedding Photographer - Neskowin Elopement

Due to an unexpected military deployment, Tracy & Jordon decided to elope at the Oregon coast in the fall of 2019. They rented a house in Neskowin, which was ideal for getting ready before a short walk to the beach for the ceremony.

Tracy & Jordon opted for a first look on the beach and then walked to their ceremony together. They were surrounded by close friends and family, including Tracy’s daughter, who was excited to help set up, and Jordon’s sister, who did a fabulous job officiating the elopement. Toasts and portraits were done right there on the beach, before everyone went out to dinner (and I headed home)

Scio Wedding Photographer - Jackie O. inspired bridal portrait

This was just a candid shot of Riane, on her wedding day, but something about it just has this awesome, vintage vibe. She’s naturally elegant and I think her posture and all of the little details just remind of of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on her wedding day.