Beilstein Family-Family Session/Newberg, Oregon Portrait Photographer

"I think I'll go for a walk outside now
The summer sun's callin' my name
(I hear ya now)
I just can't stay inside all day
I gotta get out, get me some of those rays

Everybody's smilin', sunshine day
Everybody's laughin', sunshine day
Everybody seems so happy today
It's a sunshine day"

-'Sunshine Day', The Brady Bunch

Did I just quote 'The Brady Bunch'? Oh yeah! Yes, I did. AND while typing this blog, I am listening to the song on YouTube. 

This session made me think of that song. It was a beautiful, sunshine day with a beautiful family (and Llama....or is that an alpaca? hmmm). Although it is currently Christmas Eve Eve, I am reliving this warm, late September day and that wonderful golden light. Guys, I am so behind on blogging my sessions, I am still blogging September sessions! Although this week I may be able to catch up. 

I absolutely love this session. A wonderful mix of portrait and lifestyle/candid. Such a lovely family and lil' models and one of my favorite locations, Camp Tilikum in Newberg. Can't you just feel the love this family has for each other? Gah, and what a gorgeous couple Matt and Kelsey are!! 

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do. 

Thank you Beilstein family for choosing me! Go forth and keep rockin' on! 




Lujan Family Session/Sherwood, Oregon Portrait Photographer


"Come on, take a chance
Get up and start the dance
Let the D.J. shake you
Let the music take you"

-'Everybody'- Madonna

Dance, nanci Imagery

When I arrived at Magnus Tree Farm in Sherwood, Oregon for the Lujan's family session, I realized that I recognized them but I just could not place it. Then when I got out of the car, I realized exactly where I know Holly and Dan from, the torture class at our gym. Holly and I had been emailing each other back and forth regarding the session but we did not realize that we actually know each other. I found it pretty amusing because anyone who does the torture class at the gym, I feel bonded too, even if I don't know their name. We suffered together, therefore we are bonded. =)

Holly and Dan are blessed with two wonderful, handsome, loving boys.  The whole family knows how to have fun. At the end of the session, we had a wee dance party...well, they had a dance party, I captured it. 

Thank you Lujan family for choosing me to photograph your delightful family! Go forth, burpee and rock on! 

First Birthday-Milestone Session/Newberg, Oregon Portrait Photographer

"You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold,
You're daddy's little girl to have and hold.
A precious gem is what you are,
You're mom-my's bright and shining star.
You're the spirit of Christmas, the star on the tree,
You're the Easter Bunny for mommy and me;
You're sugar, you're spice, you're everything nice,
And you're daddy's little girl."

-Michael Buble "Daddy's little Girl"

Oh boy did I have loads of fun with this session! It was Miss J's first birthday and it was a sunny/overcast day in early September. Sunny/overcast day, you question? Yeah, you know, a not so uncommon day in the Pacific Northwest. There was rain and then it was super sunny and then came the gloom and then rain again.  

But yeah, this session was extra fun for a few reasons, One, it was her special day. Two, because mom and dad were super chill and fun and were up for adding in some extra fun. Three, it was fun watching dad dote on his daughter, making sure her headband was 'just right' before each shot and fixing her dress so it was perfect (see above image).  Four, capturing this little family's love for each other and five, dad is into photography also so he knew exactly how to help me out. It was awesome! 

We did the session on the family's gorgeous property and both grandma's were able to be there also. It was so sweet seeing her interact with her grandma's, she is so loved! 

Mom had the idea to bring out her balls from her ball pit. This was my favorite part. The three of them seemed to have fun playing together and were in the moment and I enjoyed capturing the moment. 

There is also a pond on the property, which I almost lost my shoe in. I had slipped into the pond and my shoe slipped off. Thankfully, I did not fully fall into the pond and my camera was completely safe. 

Thank you so much Kimberly, Jordan and Miss J for letting me be apart of this important time! 

Lil' Miss J, go forth, grow and rock on! 





Pieper Family Session/Hillsboro, Oregon Photographer

"I'm gonna soak up the sun
I got my 45 on
So I can rock on"

'Soak Up the Sun'- Sheryl Crow

The Pieper session! I have so much to say about this shoot. I was so thrilled when Sarah asked me to photograph her family. I had the privilege of photographing her second son's 1st birthday photos a year ago and I was looking forward to seeing them again.

Let me start by talking about what happened before the session. Sarah wanted to do the session at a creek and we had a few places in mind but she wanted to check them out first. I too wanted to check out one of the locations because I was not sure it would be a good creek for a session. So I took my boys out to the location and guess who I see there? Yep, Sarah and her kiddos. She too was checking out the spot to see if it would be a good session spot. I thought that was pretty funny. 

We decided that it would not be  a good fit and we decided on Rood Bridge Park.  On the  day of the session, oh my goodness was it hot! No, it was not just hot, it was humid. So very humid. Not great weather for a photo session. But they handled it so very well. We wanted to do photos by the water but it was just so darn humid. Did I mention that it was humid? Yeah, I am not used to humidity. Do you see in the above photo how wet he is? 

Ok, moving on.....We started at the bridge and as we were all set-up for the first shot, the ducks arrived. And with the ducks  came a multitude of children that wanted to see the momma duck and her ducklings.  So we waited. The ducks left and so did the kiddos. I set-up the shot again and guess what happens? The ducks wanted to cross the bridge again. So the kids came back. We waited. They ducks left. I set-up again. And guess what happened. I kid you not. The ducks wanted to cross again. The kids came back to see the ducks. We waited. And then the ducks crossed again. I literally said, "Are you kidding me ducks?!" BUT this time, the Piepers were behind the ducks and the other kids were out of the way (this time!) and the shot was perfectly lined up. And finally the ducks went back to the water and we were able to officially start the session.  

The Pieper family rocks, they were so patient but busy. Can you be patient and busy also. Hmmm, well, they were. And I love it!  We ran, we did bubbles, we played games and we all rocked it! 

Thank you So much Peiper family for choosing me again! I had a hot, sticky, fun time with you and I look forward to working with you again! 

Go forth, soak up the sun and rock on! 

Hettervig Family/Extended Family Session/ Oregon City, Oregon Photographer

"Wow look at you now
Flowers in the window
It's such a lovely day
And I'm glad you feel the same
Cause to stand up, out in the crowd
You are one in a million
And I love you so
Lets watch the flowers grow"

Travis- "Watch the Flowers Grow"

I had such a delightful afternoon with Cheryl and her family.  The grounds were absolutely stunning, the weather was sunny and warm as is Cheryl and her family.  They welcomed me like an old family friend. Frankly, I didn't want to leave. I just wanted to keep photographing them and chatting.  They are genuine, chill, funny people. The kind that you want to BBQ with. 

The little man of the family is such a character with a happy spirit. He is the one that first showed me how funny my squeaky booty is. If you do not know what my squeaky booty is, well, you should just see me in action. 

At the end of the session I was gifted with some deliciously ripe tomatoes, cucumbers and corn from the Hettervig garden. Mr. Hettervig thoughtfully picked them out for me. When I came home, my eldest son was in heaven. He loves cucumbers and eats them like an apple. 

You know, just thinking of them reminds me that a little thoughtfulness and kindness goes a long way. Being welcomed to the Hettervig home, trusting me with capturing their family, picking veggies special for me and enough for me to share with my family made me feel like I am apart of a community and that I am cared for even though they had just met me. Each one of them showed me kindness and it made me feel good. Not for just the day, but when I think of that day and this family, a smile comes to my heart. 

Thank you Cheryl and family for letting me be apart of your day! Go forth and rock on!! 

3 Month Milestone Session- Newberg/Portland Area Photographer

“Tiny hands, yes, that's you
And all you show, it's simply true
I smell your breath, it makes me cry
I wonder how I've lived my life

'Cause without you how did I get through
All of my days, without you?
Now living with you, see every thing's true
My baby, it's you, my baby, my baby, my baby"

-Britney Spears, “My Baby”

3 month milestone session

Oh boy! Just look at the grin! Sweet Mr. T was happy as can be for our session. It is so fun to see the interest in his eyes as he experienced new things....or things he may not have not figured out quite yet. When he was laid down on the blanket, his interest was peaked by the huge tree above him and the light coming through.  At one point, I laid down next to him to experience for myself what he was looking at and I tried to visualize how it may look to him. And I wondered how he experienced what he saw. Do you ever do that when you notice a baby deep in interest, their focus locked on? I think it's a nice perspective to remember how everything is new for them, things that we take for granted or things that we just don't acknowledge as interesting anymore.   

Due to his interest in the tree, I decided to have him interact with his momma, Amber,  to get some smiles.  As you can see from his reaction, he adores his momma! We got some great shots of him playing with mom and when he decided was done he showed me the cutest/saddest pouty face. What made it even more adorable was that Amber seemed to feel his pain as she was making the same face! 

Thank you Amber for choosing me to capture your precious gift! Go forth and keep on rockin'!

80th Birthday Celebration- Newberg/Portland Area Photographer

"Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine"

"Memories"-  Mac Davis (for Elvis Presley)

My friend Whitney contacted me about coming to her husband's grandma's 80th birthday celebration last month at Hayden's Lakefront Grill in Tualatin. Whitney had learned that many of Helen's older photos had been destroyed. So she thought it would be nice to have a photographer come and capture some new memories. Isn't that such a sweet gesture! And I was thrilled to be the one to do it. 

Helen at her birthday celebration

Helen at her birthday celebration

When I first met Helen, I was surprised.  I thought she was 20 years younger.  She was surrounded family-by her kids, grand-kids, great-grand kids and friends. After dinner we did a few family shots and then her family surprised her with a slideshow of memories. I enjoy being on the sidelines watching in, capturing the emotion. It was so sweet watching her reaction to all the photos, reminiscing about that time with her loved ones surrounding her. I especially enjoyed seeing her 3 year old great-granddaughter taking delight in the slideshow as well.  

Helen seemed to really enjoy herself and I am so happy that I was able to capture new memories for her. For me personally, I have memories of times that have photos attached to them. Unfortunately, the memories I have of the past that do not have photos are jumbled in my mind or lost completely. It would be devastation for me if I lost (and I have) old images of my past. But on this day, Helen has new memories with images to go with them. =)

Happy 80th Helen! Keep on rockin' beautiful lady! 


The Riley Family Session- Newberg/Portland, Oregon Photographer

"Your friends will know you better in the first minute you meet than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years."

-Richard Bach

I first met the Riley family in October 2013 when Katie hired me to do their family photos. In my mind, we became friends instantly. We clicked. Katie is relatable, smart, gentle-spirited and so easy to talk to.  When we hang out, everything is easy. Conversations flow and I feel relaxed. 

That October day, I did not plan on meeting any new friends but I am glad that God had other plans. As a child, I often felt lonely. So through my life, no matter how full my plate seems, I try to remain open to new friendships. You never know who is needing a friend. And I am so thankful for Katie! 

Riley family- 2013

Riley family- 2013

Fast forward to June, 2015. I love seeing how the kiddos have grown. Not just in size but in personality, maturity and in relationship with each other. The Riley's have two lovely, sweet kiddos. AND even better, the siblings are so loving to each other. On the day of the session they were really into it. I love it when the kiddos have ideas for poses and actions. Big sister is a born leader and little bro finds happiness in whatever is going on. 

Jay and Katie are high school sweethearts. I sometimes get jealous of high school sweethearts. I did not meet my man till I was 26 (at the time I remember thinking I was getting married at an 'old' age!). Jay and Katie make a great team and I can see they have much respect for each other.   

The photos from this session are some of my favorites. I hope that you enjoy them also. 

Riley's, I KNOW you will go forth and rock it! Love you!