salem wedding photographer

Salem Portrait Photographer - holiday self-portrait!

Last month, I rented the Gray Lab (a public use studio, near mine) for some holiday mini sessions. The space works SO much better for families/groups than my own studio, plus they have awesome furniture and I didn’t have to do any Christmas decorating! Since I had some extra time leftover, I decided to do some self-portraits. I’m not a fan of being in front of the camera and I’m even less of a fan of sharing photos of myself, but here we are. I force myself to do this every so often, though, both for the practice and to prove my existence, since nobody else in my family ever seems to take any photos.

Anyway, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

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!

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 Oregon Wedding Photographer - unique backyard pandemic elopement (Samantha & Jonathon)

Like many couples planning to get married in 2020 Samantha & Jonathon made some drastic changes to their wedding, due to the pandemic. Instead of a large affair at Willamette Mission Park, they opted for an intimate elopement at home. Well, at the home of Samantha’s parents. Although this is technically a backyard wedding, it was an unusually stunning backyard…and by backyard, I mean the river, as their back patio sat right over it and provided the most beautiful backdrop for the ceremony.

We completely lucked out with weather on this September wedding day. We had MASSIVE wildfires here last year and it was smoky for MONTHS, including every single day leading up to their wedding. Then, low and behold, we woke up to clear skies the morning of! WHAT?!


In attendance were the bride and groom’s parents, siblings, and grandparents. The bride’s sister served as the flower girl, while the groom’s sister was the officiant. Both women did an excellent job in their roles.

Details included touches of blue throughout, including the bouquet, Samantha’s ring, and even their socks! Because the date 3/14 is significant to the couple, they had pie for their wedding dessert, pi decorations, and they were pronounced married at exactly 3:14pm.

After their first look, the couple said “I do” in a short, but sweet ceremony. In addition to some portraits at and around the residence, we also took a quick drive over to Willamette Mission Park. There is a specific park bench that is very meaningful to the couple, so we made sure to get some photos on that bench. They also had their first dance in their special spot (sans music, but also sans audience!), which was incredibly sweet.

We didn’t have very much fall color here in the Salem-Keizer area (too early, plus all the smoke), but I managed to find a teensy little bit and I milked it for all it was worth because I looooove fall!

Albany Oregon Wedding Photographer - Jonny & Rubi's Nuptials at O & L Gardens

This was my one and only couple whose wedding actually went as planned in 2020! Everyone else had to make some kind of major change, like re-locating or downsizing, but most just pushed their wedding to 2021. Jonny & Rubi insisted on keeping their original wedding date, even if it meant getting married in someone’s backyard. They kept their reservation with the venue and just hoped for the best. As luck would have it, they got married in a county where, at the time, they were allowed to have a full guest list for their outdoor celebration.

This was my first time at O & L Gardens, which is located in Albany, Oregon. The outdoor venue is quite large and absolutely beautiful! It is out in the country and has a great rustic vibe, with a variety of locations to use for a wedding ceremony and/or reception.

We started the day with a First Look, which took place under a huge tree with the summer sun shining through. Ruby was stunning in a strapless ballgown, a simple veil, and some fabulous sparkly heels. Jonny looked quite dapper in his simple suit and pink tie. After their first look, we did a few portraits before the ceremony, where Jonny was escorted by his parents and Rubi was walked down the aisle by her brother and her mom.

After their nuptials, we did a few more portraits and then the newlyweds enjoyed their reception festivities. Their first dance, which was really sweet, was followed by a lot of fun fast-dancing by guests. The sun went down, as the reception came to a close, and the couple ran through a tunnel of bubbles on their way out!

Salem Oregon Family Photographer - at home anniversary session (lgbtqia+)

I always have the best time with Mike and Cory. We all laugh SO much! I did their engagement session, at their previous home, a few years back (shortly before photographing their wedding). I met their dogs, they played an 80s board game, made cocktails, took a walk, and listened to music. It was adorable. Since their wedding, they purchased a new home, which is every bit as quirky and awesome as their old house. Oh, and Cory went from being a Mr. to a beautiful Mrs.

Anyway, we thought it only fitting that we do their anniversary session at their new home (well, these were taken pre-Covid, so it’s not so new anymore!). We, of course, included their pets (Martha, Lucky, and Panther) in the session too.

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!

Salem Wedding Photographer - solo portraits, in honor of social distancing

Before anyone jumps my shit, these photos were taken MONTHS ago! I am NOT doing any portrait sessions right now, due to the current stay-at-home orders. As much as it pains me to say it… I am not an essential worker and portraits are not a necessity. ;) I just thought these photos seemed fitting, seeing as Rachel is modeling solo.

Anyway, this was a quick little session that we did back in December at the Gray Lab, to test out the . I looooved her lavender hair color and thought this short, pleated dress fit her playful look and personality perfectly. At the time, I was going for sort of a “New Year’s Elopement” look, but I’m now calling it the “socially distanced bride.” ;)

Salem Oregon Wedding Photographer - Willamette Heritage Center Nuptials

Anna & Ken were technically married a year prior to this, at an intimate elopement (which I was also fortunate enough to photograph) at Deepwood Estate. See, their original plan was to get married at the Willamette Heritage Center (aka Mission Mill), but a breast cancer diagnosis for Anna changed their plans. Rather than have their big wedding, right in the middle of chemo, they opted for a small elopement and then celebrated at Mission Mill a year later! (update: Anna is doing great!)

This was my first time shooting at this venue and I have to say… I loved it! I’d be more than happy to shoot at this venue again! They had the whole third floor reserved, which was nice and spacious for both their ceremony and their reception. The natural light indoors is fantastic and the grounds have lots little spots for portraits.

The bride and groom opted for a first look, for both their elopement and for this wedding. I’m a big fan of first looks because it makes timelines a little easier and it means less time away from the reception. The spot they chose was perfect!

Due to illness, Anna’s father wasn’t able to attend this celebration, although he was able to watch it on a live video feed. Because of this, and because they were already married, it just made sense for the couple to walk down the aisle together. Side note: I love the shot, where Anna is crying (but, also laughing at the same time), while her mom and husband both laugh at her.

After the ceremony, we did some quick portraits outside. Have I mentioned how great this venue is for portraits? Anyway, after some photos, they joined their family and friends back inside, for their reception.

Salem Oregon Wedding Photographer - vintage bridal inspiration

This was such a fun shoot, with Nicole, who happens to be a former student of mine. I’ve wanted to photographer her since I met her because, hello, look at her! I waited, though, until she was no longer in my class to ask if she’d like to model for me. I found this quirky little wedding gown in an antique store in the tiny little town of Canyonville, Oregon.

Although I’d taken a photography class (not Nicole’s class, by the way) to The Gray Lab on a field trip, I’d never personally shot in the space. As soon as I got home from said field trip, I booked myself a couple of hours as this really neat natural light studio in downtown Salem, Oregon. It is only a block from my own studio, which made transporting things easy. Although it is a natural light studio, like mine, the lighting is very different.

I knew that I had to place Nicole on that leather seat because it matched her hair. The Kombucha bottle was intentional as well, for the same reason.

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.