I want my clients to be excited about their photos and have enjoyed all their interactions with me. I get to be a part of very intimate and cherished moments so a connection is important. I think a little personal series of posts is a good way to give clients and potential ones a way to get to know me. Check back soon for the start of my Behind the Photographer series, with a personal post each week.

I’ll start with a personal photo. This was taken along a coastal trail in Yachats, Oregon, just a few minutes walk away from Overleaf Lodge, an incredible hotel.

When I was pregnant everyone kept telling me to take some hubby time. Go out to eat. Go to the movies. Look into each others eyes while you stay up late drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire. Of course, I am guessing many first time moms-to-be would agree, I was too excited and anxious to really take the advice to heart and enjoy the quiet moments.

Around 35 weeks I got put on modified bed rest, which pretty much means I was supposed to sit on the couch and watch tv, or read a book. I did watch way too much HGTV, and read piles of pregnancy / birthing books. However, I really just wanted to get up and do things, and found the rest very difficult to take. Now with a 21 month old little girl, and a business, I can’t imagine the opportunity to sit on the couch for even a couple of hours!!!

I imagine it’s all very different when you are having your second, like Carrie and Stephen. In their photos, I try to capture who they are as a current family with their toddler Evan.

The first photo, a belly without a face, is one of the exceptions. The artist in me loves it but the feminist in me strongly objects, since it is cold and stark. Of course, back in art school, I would have said that any image that can conjure up enough feeling to make me feel conflicted, and think about it, is good.

Amanda & Mark – I’ll let you know when your web gallery is ready. Best wishes for a happy birth!

Take a look at my portfolio and email me to schedule a session.

I know we all get hectic and taking a baby, especially a newborn, out to a photography studio can be difficult.  This is one of the reasons I offer on location photography.  The other is that I prefer to photograph in my subject’s natural environment.  Baby’s First Year can be started during pregnancy or as a newborn.  Email me for package details.

I just added this text to my home page but I know many visitors come directly to my blog so thought it deserved a space here as well.  You can find personal info about me on my about page but I realized I don’t have a summary anywhere of what my photography business offers.  So here it is.

I am a wedding and portrait photographer in Beaverton, just outside of Portland, Oregon. I am available to travel within the Pacific Northwest (Oregon & Washington).

My wedding photography style is editorial, or wedding photojournalism. I capture the story of your day through photographs, letting you relax and enjoy your wedding day. Then I present you with your wedding story as either a digital proof gallery, or printed if you prefer. All my wedding photography packages include a high resolution dvd of your images, and usage rights to print your photographs at any lab, in any size, as often as you like. I offer additional photography sessions such as engagement sessions, trash-the-dress, rehearsal dinner photography, and b-sessions. Products include wedding dvd slide shows set to music, guest books, flushmount wedding albums, linear bound wedding albums, and magazine style books.

Engagement sessions are also offered separately. E-sessions are great way to try out my services if you are not quite sure if you want to book me as your wedding photographer. I offer a credit towards your wedding package if you book within 30 days of your engagement shoot. (If you just want me to do the engagement portraits and you have another wedding photographer, that is perfectly fine too.) I typically spend an hour or two photographing an engaged couple on location. Portland has some amazing parks to photograph in, or downtown for those who prefer a more urban setting.

Maternity photography sessions are about beauty, and about showing this once (or maybe two or three times) in your life stage. I try to take maternity portraits around 37 weeks of pregnancy, and I recommend doing this in your home. I can work with any lighting, and your home gives an intimacy that no where else has. I will take your lead on how comfortable you are showing off your belly and pregnant body. I have had some moms-to-be do their maternity portraits without exposing skin at all, and other mamas who are ready to bare it all. You may not know in advance how you will feel. We can play it by ear, and either way create sensational maternity images.

Newborn and baby photography can be done either in your home or, for older babies, in a favorite place in the Portland area. It can be very difficult to get out of the house with a newborn to go to a photography studio, so I come to you. Newborns are so tiny and precious that not much space is required. I just bring a few backdrops, and use mostly natural light. If I need flash, I’ll bounce it off the ceiling to minimize your newborn being bothered by it. As babies get a little older it can be fun to do the photography session in a park, especially at the toddler stage. We can run around and get a real sense of their energy.

My family portraits are relaxed, casual, and candid. I will never ask you to say cheese. I should not say never. I had a toddler in a wedding party and every time I snapped the shutter he said cheese. I realize this made everyone else laugh and took the picture once he had said it. So I began prompting him, which lead to great relaxed wedding portraits. Sessions are fun, not rigid or requiring anyone to sit still. For example, I had one family where the mother, daughter, and father walked around Rood Bridge Park, played in the water, on the playground, hugged each other and barely acknowledged me. I ended up taking over 200 photos of the family, of all their moments.

Family members, including pets, are always welcome, even if we are doing another type of shoot. If I am doing a maternity session, your five year old can be part of it. If you are engaged and want your golden retriever in the photographs, that is fine too. I try to listen to what my client’s needs are and be flexible. I have created lots of different packages, including digital ones, to try to meet a wide variety of needs, and am always willing to customize.

Whether I am photographing your wedding, engagement, pregnant belly, baby, pets, or entire family, you will hear me say, “ignore me”. Most people laugh when I say this. I do imagine it’s pretty difficult to ignore someone holding a big camera or two with a flash. For one the laughing works for the pictures but most people do eventually relax and get comfortable being photographed. My photography is about capturing you as you, and showing a little part of your life, or some great moments, whether it be of your wedding, or of your baby who is suddenly crawling around your home.

I will capture the ordinary and extraordinary moments, and present you with photographs that preserve the memories.

Starting around week 12, when no one could even tell I was pregnant, I had my hubby photograph my belly every couple of weeks. Then around week 37 of my pregnancy our awesome doula, Taffy, did a photography session for me.

As I photographer, I love maternity portrait sessions. Though not all women feel beautiful during pregnancy, most glow with excitement, and their round bellies look splendid. In celebration of my baby turning one in a few weeks, maternity sessions booked in January will be at a special rate.

These portraits are typically done in your home late in the third trimester of pregnancy. For all maternity portraits booked this month, the price is $85. In addition to my time and talent, this includes an online proofing gallery, and your favorite two images printed as 5x7s. I also offer hard bound hinged albums, digital packages, and a Baby’s First Year series.

Email me for more details or to schedule a session.

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I did a maternity photography session this weekend with Lisa and her husband Chris.

They invited me into their home, which had great natural lighting and an incredible backyard. With the dry weather we were able to get some outdoor shots in, like the ones here. 

Lisa’s baby is due in less than two weeks!