What a cute family this was! This mom reached out to me concerned that her son doesn't like to look at the camera and force a smile. I said no problem, I prefer the candid shots anyway and lean heavily on prompts and games to get natural smiles instead. And that's what we did! And lo and behold we got some pictures of him looking and smiling at the camera - in his own time and way. If you're remembering photo sessions from when you were a kid (mine were ALWAYS at JC Penny), I

I had zero clue what newborn post-partum life was like until I had my own baby. I seriously thought it was just a cute new baby you get to hold all the time and lose a little sleep for awhile. Okay that's partly true but there's SO MUCH more to this new season of life. Hormones, learning to breastfeed, how to respond to your baby in the way they want, just to name a few. And yes, all on a few hours of sleep (if you're lucky) and still needing to make meals for yourself and de

When I first drove onto this property my jaw literally dropped. A wrought iron gate covered with ivy, opening up to a gravel driveway leading past the most beautiful blooming Locust tree...the most classic farm house with a big front porch, a tire swing hanging from the backyard's tree, baby chicks & goats, a field with tall grass to frolic in, a red brick stable... I could go on and on how bucolic this Brush Prairie farm was. A literal dream. AND this family!! The parents we

A Portland Family Photographer retreat at the Oregon Coast.

When you bought a lot of flowers from Trader Joes to make flower crowns, and you did do that for a Columbia River Gorge spring wildflower photography session, but then you leave the remaining flower crowns in the car for two days before remembering you accidentally forgot about them, and then find out that they survived miraculously and want to use them before they dry up completely, so you make one that fits your daughter's head perfectly and go out into a field with her aft

I've been getting raw goat milk from this farm for awhile and it is the best! This is Davinia Acres and I highly recommend them! We started out with the children and the chickens and the ponies while mama finished getting ready in the house. Then we headed over to the baby goats! Some were just a day old - did you know they come out knowing how to walk almost immediately? I learned a lot about goats while visiting their farm! We then went through the barn and over to their cr

There's a beautiful field close to Vancouver, WA that covers itself in camas lillies every spring. To say it's magical still doesn't do it justice - you'll just have to experience it for yourself! Just be mindful of the poison oak - you'll be fine if you stick to the trail but I do recommend identifying it quickly so you know what to watch out for while walking around this beautiful place. We made sure our daughter stayed close to us the entire time and when she didn't listen

With 22mph winds and only 61 degrees, this family remained adventurous and easy-going during their Columbia River Gorge session. Dad brought a guitar and honestly, it changed the set the whole vibe of the shoot for the better when he started playing. Both parents sang and hummed and it was absolutely magical among the wildflowers at sunset. This shoot is the perfect example of why I encourage all families to simply go with the flow, not just during the photo session, but prep

There’s something meaningful about documenting your family in the place you know best - your home. It’s where your routines live, where your kids feel most like themselves, and where the small, everyday moments quietly unfold. In-home sessions are less about perfection and more about presence. Here’s how to prepare for your family photography session in your Portland area home so your photos feel natural, relaxed, and true to you. Let's start with lighting: Without having to

I can't tell you how much I love photographing an older sibling exitedly awaiting the arrival of their little brother or sister. It doesn't get much sweeter than that, does it? And this family certainly delivered on that sweetness. This mama brought several outfits for her maternity photography session in Portland, which by all means, is fine by me! Do an outfit change if you'd like to get even more variety in your final gallery! Some photographers charge extra but I do not a