Salem Family Photographer - flannel shirts & lots of love

While flannel shirts are practically a PNW wardrobe staple, they mean more to this family. Jennifer’s mom, who died shortly before their family photos last year, loved flannel shirts. So, it only seemed fitting to honor her in this way. Plus, they look cute as heck!

This session took place at Deepwood Museum & Garden (previously known as Deepwood Estate). I shoot at this venue a lot because I love the variety and the fact that we can usually shoot there in the rain, thanks to the tree cover, gazebos, and a few other little spots. Plus, it’s close to my house, which is a bonus.

Salem Oregon Family Photographer - formal fall portraits

This family are longtime friends and clients and I adore working with them. This year they decided on formal attire and I was SO there for it. I mean, hello…they look amazing! Mama Bear did a great job choosing colors and now everyone has something to wear to a formal event, if needed.

Portland Family Photographer - Fall session with an adorable family!

This day ended up being unexpectedly cold and we found out, upon arrival, that our chosen venue was closed. They were such troopers, though, that they braved the cold and we just shot in a little spot at the entrance of the park in which we’d planned to shoot. You may recognize Ashley and Alina (the couple with the baby), as I’ve photographed them many times in the past (engagement, wedding, maternity, newborn, family, boudoir, etc.). This time, though, we included Ashley’s sister and her family. I can’t wait for fall photos this year!

Salem Family Portrait Photographer - fall mini session with family of seven!

In case you missed it, Amanda and Keegan did an engagement session with me a few weeks prior to this family session (click HERE to view that blog post). Sure, they could have booked one mini session for both family and engagement photos, but 1. They’d get very few of each….and 2. Can you imagine trying to do romantic engagement photos with FIVE kids running around?! HA! Anyway, I had a good time photographing this blended family, just months before they made it official (i.e. when Mom and Dad got married).

Salem Family Photographer - urban session w/ teens

Family portraits are something most of us think about pretty often, when our kids are babies and toddlers. As they get older, though, it seems we do family portraits less and less often. Maybe it’s because the changes we see in them aren’t as quick as when they were young or maybe it’s because life is busier or simply because it’s more work as they get older. Whatever the reason, though, I am here to remind you that it’s important to photographer your children (and your family), even as they get older. As a mom with three teenagers (they’ll be 14, 18, and 20 within the next few months!), who definitely slowed down and capturing photos of her kids as they gold older, I can say that I wish I had kept on shooting, like I did when they were two.

Photographs are important to this family and I’m honored to have been photographing them for years and years (I even did an amateur maternity session when Mama was pregnant with the oldest)! They’ve been through a lot, but they just keep on going…with smiles on their faces!