Parker // Senior

This was a super fun senior session to wrap up a busy day of shoots. His mom was referred to me through a mutual friend, and I’m so glad that she was! We ran around downtown Albany, OR (which has some of the coolest old brick backgrounds ever) and tried to avoid the random wind/rain/super bright sunlight that randomly made appearances. (Crazy Oregon weather.)

I hope you enjoy these highlights from Parker’s session!

❤

Josh + Michelle // Engaged

When a Bride asks if we can shoot her engagement session at her parent’s grass seed farm, my answer will always, ALWAYS be yes. This couple is really special because they have known my boyfriend for a really long time and have both worked alongside him in Search and Rescue! Practically as soon as we pulled into the driveway, Josh and Nathan grabbed a couple guns and went out behind the barn to shoot them. (Boys will be boys, right?) 

We finally pulled them away and drove out to a big ole pond sitting in the middle of an open grass field.

The rest of the session went by in a whirl, with lots of laughter, me almost slipping in the mud (multiple times), and talk of future duck hunts. Before the light had completely left the sky, we drove over to Oregon State University for a few last shots. I think we spent more time getting distracted by all the dogs running around than actually taking photos, but I’m not complaining! (Dogs > photos, and this couple agrees with me so basically they’re my favorite.)

Josh + Michelle, I am so glad I have gotten to know you both. I cannot wait for your wedding (just one week from today!!) and to witness all the adventures I know you are going to go on. You guys are one of a kind, and I am so thankful that you chose me to capture your love story!

❤

Salina // Headshots

Let me tell you about this girl. She is strong, she is fierce, she is sweet, she is humble. She’s on fire for Jesus and passionate about the life that her family leads in Alaska. I first met Salina 14 years ago (wait, WHAT?? How has it been that long??) when my family went up for a working vacation at her family’s fishing & hunting lodge located in remote Alaska. (Remote as in, the only way to get there is via plane or boat.)  My dad and Salina’s grandma are cousins, so that makes Salina and I….related somehow haha!

Last year, Salina started attending school in Salem, OR and since then I have gotten to see her multiple times. She has been pursing photography for several years (learning most everything from her dad who is an incredible wildlife photographer) which means we never run out of anything to talk about! She sent me a super sweet message about two months ago telling me how much she loved the emotion I capture in my photos and saying that she wanted to learn how to do what I do. That was the start of a great partnership, and since then she has helped me with a wedding, an engagement session, a family session, and a senior session! She is so wonderful to work with, and I can’t wait for more sessions this spring with her! In May she will head back up to Alaska for their busy season, and then next fall she starts college back East so that she can pursue photography and art more. I will definitely miss her but am so thankful for the time that she got to spend living in Oregon!

After a full day of sessions + crazy weather + crazy hair + not being completely sure where we were going multiple times, we decided to take some time (in between rain showers) and trade head shots. Here are some of my favorites of the beautiful Salina!

(Make sure to go “Like” her Facebook page and “Follow” her on Instagram to see the beautiful work that she does!)

❤

Pendleton + Julia // Engaged

This sweet bride-to-be has been my cousin Hannah’s best friend for half of forever, and has been a good friend of mine for several years now too! I’ll never forget the time she called me and asked if she could bring a friend to a bonfire I was having. I think our conversation went something like this:

                J: sooo is it ok if I bring a friend?

                R: Sure! Wait. What kind of friend? Is it a guy????

                J: Yeeeeeaaaaahhh…

                R: OHMYGOODNESS YOU HAVE TO TELL ME EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!

                (I get a little excited about love, if you haven’t noticed.)

The rest is history, but I knew from that moment that this Pendleton guy was someone special. When Julia texted and asked if we could meet for coffee to talk over wedding details, I was ecstatic. If there is one thing I love more than love, it’s my friends in love and getting married!

Their engagement session was cold and snowy and didn’t last too long because red noses and frozen fingers aren’t suuuper attractive, but oh how I loved the time we got to spend together running around in the snow!

Pendleton + Julia, you guys are so special to me and I feel so honored to be capturing your love in this way. I can’t wait for your wedding day, and to see the amazing ways the Lord uses you two in the coming years! I love you guys!

❤