salem maternity photographer

Salem Oregon Maternity Photographer - books, plants, and an adorable baby bump!

Sometimes it’s just too dang hot outside do do a maternity session. This was one of those days, when we had record highs last August. Rather than try to sweat through the heat, we opted to shoot in the studio, where we could all rejoice about the air conditioning.

The parents-to-be brought some of their favorite baby books, their ultrasound images, a baby blanket, and a name sign. I gathered up all of the plants (fake and real) that I could find, and Jessica’s emerald green lace dress tied it all together perfectly.

Salem Maternity Photographer - stunning, bald, inspiring

I think these photos speak for themselves, but for a little context…this beautiful mother-to-be was going through chemo and decided to do some photos without her wig.

For anyone who is curious…these two are now the proud parents of an adorable little girl! Anna has metastatic breast cancer, but she is stable and doing well.

Salem Maternity Photographer - beautiful family maternity session! LGBTQIA+

I’ve been photographing this couple since they were engaged and I have loved watching their family grow. The are now a family of four (I’m just way behind on blogging) and their two kids are so darn cute! Anyway, we got some beautiful photos at Deepwood Museum & Gardens (formerly Deepwood Estate) during golden hour.

Salem Maternity Photographer - cancer & pregnancy

I started working with Anna & Ken back in the Spring of 2017, when I did their engagement session. Their plan was to get married that Fall, But Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because the wedding would be right in the middle of Anna’s chemotherapy treatment, they decided to elope that December and then wait until the following year to have their wedding and reception. I had the honor of photographing both of those events, which were absolutely beautiful for so many reasons.

So, they got engaged, eloped, had a big wedding, and kicked cancer. Fast forward to the summer of 2021, when Anna and Ken found out they were expecting! This was awesome news, but Anna found out partway through her pregnancy that her cancer had returned. :( Thankfully, Anna is a badass and went through chemo again, but while pregnant this time.

For most of her maternity photos, Anna wore her wig, but she knew she wanted to do a few shots without it. This woman always looks gorgeous, but I can’t even express to you how beautiful and strong she looked without her wig. She was breathtaking.

Baby Asha just celebrated her 1st birthday and she is absolutely thriving (and so adorable). Anna’s cancer is metastatic, but she’s stable for now…and has a full head of beautiful hair!

Salem Oregon Maternity Photographer - emotional b&w portraits

This couple has been though (and continue to go through) more than most can imagine and I’ll just leave it at that. While we definitely did some happy, colorful maternity portraits, these intimate shots speak to me the most.

Salem Maternity Photographer - Indoor Maternity Session (Anna & Ken)

I have had the honor of photographing Anna & Ken for several years now and they are truly amazing people. This year their annual fall portraits looked a little different, with Anna’s baby bump making an appearance. Baby Asha is expected to make her grand entrance in early 2022 and I cannot wait to meet her!

Salem Oregon Maternity Photographer - studio maternity session (sneak peek)!

This fall I offered indoor mini sessions at The Gray Lab, a natural light studio in downtown Salem. Yes, I have my own studio a block away, but The Gray Lab is more suited for groups than my space is. I am excited to share more from this session very soon!

Salem Oregon Family Photographer - fall maternity session with a cute pup!

How cute are these photos?! I could not believe that Dolly, their 5 month old puppy, was so cooperative and well behaved during their session! And yes, I made sure to get lots of puppy kisses! Anyway, we did this session in the nick of time, as their little bundle was born just a few days later (a little earlier and smaller than expected, but they are all home and doing well!).

Salem Family Photographer - fall maternity sneak peek

I met these two a few years ago, when I photographed their wedding. They’re very sweet and laid back, so working with them is always a breeze. Their recent maternity session was no exception and I can’t wait to share the rest of their photos!

Salem Maternity Photographer - Ashley & Alina are expecting!

Although the blog post was lost when my website crashed a few years ago, I documented Ashley & Alina’s gorgeous wedding in 2016. They accidentally started a tradition, where Alina wears a flannel shirt for photos with me. She wore one for their engagement session and then for their wedding. At that point, they realized the trend and decided to continue it. I’ve photographed them 7 times total (I think?) and Alina has worn a flannel shirt every time. Needless to say… I love it!! Ashley is a former pageant girl, so wearing this dress was just second nature for her, which is why she looks so comfortable in it!

Historic Deepwood Estates was the backdrop for this gorgeous session. The reds just popped against that green and fall colored background so perfectly! Oh, and since this post is so outdated, I’m happy to say that Ashley gave birth to a healthy little baby on 12/20/19 (fresh-48 photos coming soon)!