salem oregon family photographer
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!
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!
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.
How cute is this little family? Ahhhh. I can’t wait to do fall minis this year!
I adore this mama and and her three girls. This is her youngest (whose birth you can see photos of HERE) and she’s just a sweet as can be. As you can see, she adores her mama and makes the best facial expressions. As if that wasn’t enough, she decided to stand up on her own for the firs time DURING the photo shoot! Check out that very last photo and look at how surprised they both look!
Isn’t this little guy just the cutest? I mean, look at this perfect little lips, curious eyes, and amazing hair! I photographed him at home, with his parents, one last time before he became a big brother, a few months later.
This was my first time photographing this family, but I did senior portraits for their oldest daughter (seen in the cream sweater below) a couple of months prior (I still need to share those…oops!). Anyway, they’re very easy to work with and hello, look how pretty they are!
This family is a hoot. They like to have fun with their family portraits and I am totally here for it. in the past they’ve worn giant googly eyes, super hero t-shirts, and latex animal head masks, so when Erin told me they were doing an 80s TV sitcom theme, I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with. After a trip to a local thrift store, they were all set. From the giant glasses, to the Dad slippers, to the blacksheep of the family… I love it all! They even made a cute little video to look like the full house intro, featuring their “cast members.” I also felt the need to create a truly 80s inspired image, using photoshop, which I’ve titled, Mother. Haha!
This past fall I offered indoor mini sessions, in addition to my usual outdoor option. Although my own studio is located nearby, the Gray Lab is better suited for families and groups, due to the size. It’s about 3x the size of my studio and they have quite a few different furniture options to choose from. This is the first time I’ve photographed Michiko’s family indoors, so it was a nice change of pace. Plus, we didn’t have to worry about the unpredictable weather (and it was all over the place this day) or getting cold. The sooner we could get her busy teenagers out the door, the better, so this worked out perfectly.
