Romance in Black and White

I have finally been able to finish this couple's engagement photos. They were taken in September! My apologies to them for the long wait. This was an especially tender photo experience for me and I will treasure its memory always.

First of all, I noticed that the groom's clothing always seems a little too big for him because he is such a bean pole! So I decided I would take this couple out for a little shopping before the appointment with my camera. We went into downtown Portland and I purchased the pants, shirt and tie that fit him like a glove. He already owned that incredible hat. The gracious tailors at Nordstrom put a rush on hemming his pants so he could wear them for the photo shoot. The bride was going to wear the dress her aunt wore when she was engaged, but she definitely needed some killer shoes to go with it, so I decided to purchase those for her. With the daylight quickly disappearing, they hurried home and changed into their clothes and we all went to the scenic Pittock Mansion.

Looking right at home in such majestic surroundings, the day couldn't have been more beautiful. As you will see from their photos, they have a tendency to get rather silly together! In fact, I had to wait many times while he teased her unmercifully to make her squeal. I have the feeling he will be making her giggle for many many years to come!

We were able to capture such great images of them. I love all of the kissing shots, especially the one where she is kissing him and his hat is coming off! I also adore all of the images of them dancing. Hopefully, I was able to capture the joy and love they have for one another.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that the groom-to-be is my precious oldest son and the beautiful bride-to-be is going to be my daughter in July? I love them both with all of my heart!

So here are "S" and "S", my darling children:

Football, Wrestling and Pooh!

Hello Everyone! I am finally here again! I have been working feverishly to get everyone's Christmas needs met, that I haven't had time to actually finish a photo experience. I am finally back on track! Woot! Woot!

This delightful family came to play in October! They have two adorable boys who are active and full of fun! The older brother is an amazing athlete! I couldn't believe how coordinated he was at 6 years old. I plan to hear big things about him. He likes all kinds of sports. Mom said that when he was younger, he was so active, she didn't know what to do. Now that he has discovered sports, he is in heaven! He and Dad spent a lot of time playing while I was working with his little brother.

Now this completely adorable little one decided to make me earn my money! He was giggling and happy until I put the camera up to my face and then he would run away! It was quite hilarious, to tell you the truth! For those of you who know me, I NEVER give up, so I just pushed up my sleeves and chased him around! The shots we got of him are even more precious because of how many we had to take! Finally, I put him on Mom's lap and he was thoroughly content to laugh for me there! Whew! We figured it out! He had this wonderful blue blanket, a stuffed Eeyore, and, of course, Mr. Pooh, himself.

As you will see, this wonderful family is full of life and love for one another and I am so lucky to have been able to take a part in creating a few memories for them.

Here is the "D" family!

Honorable Mention!

I just received notice of my placing an Honorable Mention in the One World Photo Contest! I am so excited! Here is the adorable little one who helped me win!

Stolen Giggles!

I have had the distinct pleasure of being able to document the stages of these two beautiful children from before they were born! They had their year birthday this summer and I was lucky enough to have them come back and play for Christmas photos! Mom booked early so they would have these in time for Christmas.

Little Miss has always been a little shy around me, but this time, she was all giggles! I was so tickled to capture her sweet and happy personality. Her brother has always been a little more eager to smile, but this time, he was a little more interested in the tree, the presents, the blocks and especially the running around! He kept Mom and Dad hopping! I have found through my experience that from about age 10 months to 4 years, my little clients are MOBILE! I just have to follow them around and click, click, click.

This is a wonderful family and I love having them come to visit as often as they do!

So here are little "Z" and "I", completely adorable and as always, melting my heart!

Rainy with a chance of Sun Showers!

This early fall was pretty crazy. September had more rain than I can remember. I swear, we had to reschedule this Photo Experience about 99.5 times before we got together! The weather just wouldn't cooperate. Mom thought that they might be a little cursed, but I still had hope. And then on this gray rainy day, the sun decided to peek out and dry up all the clouds. I called her and she hurriedly got her family ready and we headed out! I'm sure it was a pleasure to get everyone ready at a minute's notice, but you wouldn't know that it stressed her at all. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen her stress out about anything! She is just one of those genuinely kind and thoughtful people who immediately put you at ease. She has very lucky children!

As you can see from their photos, they are a delightful family and we all had way too much fun together! I didn't have to work too hard at getting natural smiles out of them because they were always laughing. Dad is quite the ham! The oldest son is a senior this year, so I took a few extra photos of him to commemorate this mile stone in his life! They have been wanting nice family photos for the longest time and I sure loved being able to capture how wonderful and beautiful they all are for them.

So here is the "B" family! "K", I hope this is all you hoped for!

Rain Boots, Water and lots of Giggles!

This Mommy did what I recommend to all of my clients who may have a shy or nervous child. She came to my home to meet me before the photo day. I had my petticoats out for the little sweethearts to try on while I talked with Mom. I didn't pay too much attention to the girls until I could tell they were feeling more comfortable with me. It worked like a charm! When they got to the Photo Experience, they were looking forward to playing with me.

This family was so delightful! Their twin daughters are absolutely beautiful. Daddy is going to have his hands full when they become teenagers! Stealing giggles was easy! I just had to be my goofy self and their smiles were plentiful! I love the shots of them as a family. We traipsed all over the beautiful Pinewood Gardens. The girls had brought some of their little stuffed friends and they look so sweet with them.

We donned the colorful rain gear and got down in the water to do some serious splashing! I love the shots of them together. Then we broke out the petticoats. They are simply adorable. I giggled the entire time I was working on these photos. It was just way too much fun!

Introducing the "C" Gang! Just sit back and enjoy little "A" and "A". They will be sure to delight you!

A Guitar, Some Petticoats, and a Little Kissing!

Here is a family who I got to play with this time last year! They have the most beautiful twin daughters. Well, they are one year older and so tall! It's fun to watch my little clients grow up. They picked their own outfits and I thought they did a terrific job! The bright colors made it difficult for me to post any of the black&white versions of their photos. The colors just seem to pop off my computer screen.

First of all, we did some group shots with Mom and Dad. Then I decided to torture Mom and Dad and have them kiss for me. They couldn't seem to stop laughing, so I had to include every photo of their ordeal! I guess I was a slacker last year, and didn't make them kiss because they looked at me like I was crazy. Be warned Moms and Dads out there. I like to see you kissing! I am just a sentimental romantic and think that couples should have great kissing photos of themselves at every stage of their marriage and not just the wedding day! Anyway, I think they survived it....

The girls brought their own things in the cutest little backpacks. We were able to capture some beautiful shots of them together and also individually. They were full of energy and wanted to play in the stream with rocks. I had to keep dragging them away to take their photos. Then they changed their clothes and we got some great shots of Dad with his guitar. The girls had drum sticks and noise makers. I told them to sing, and they tried their best. It was really quite pitiful actually, so, next year, I want a number rehearsed for me! We got photos of them with Dad's guitar last year, so I hope this will be an annual tradition.

The girls spread all of their favorite things around themselves on a blanket and I was able to grab some shots of that. It's fun to see what they came up with.

Next came out the petticoats. They had some adorable rain boots, and I had them traipsing up and down the stream bed. They splashed and got nice and wet. The sun was getting low in the sky and the lighting was beautiful.

Well, here is the "P" family. Little "A" and "E" are simply delightful!

Curious George, Football, and Drums!

Here is a little client who came to play with me a second time! For those of you who keep tabs on my posts, this little guy was 5 months old last January and he was the one with the incredible blue eyes and floppy hat! I still giggle when I think of one particular photo with his hat! Well, he is still putting hats and buckets on his head! He is now just a little over a year and has a full head of beautiful blonde hair with those eyes which still hold the same sparkle!

It was a hot steamy day, but we found a spot at the Rose Garden where the clouds had covered the sun and it was cool and pleasant. He brought his Curious George bucket with blocks in it. But, of course, he had more fun putting the bucket on his head than playing with the blocks! He has the sweetest personality and I loved it when his sweet mommy and daddy got him to giggle. He brought along a favorite stuffed dog and we were able to capture some wonderful shots of him holding it. One of them reminded me of an old photograph, so I did some special effects on it.

Mommy and Daddy forgot his Washington State jacket, but remembered his football, so I grabbed one of my little jackets and jeans and we got some great shots with him playing football. Daddy grabbed him and put him on his shoulders. You can see how much little "N" loves to play with his daddy! He has a drum set he loves, so we created some great shots of him playing his drums.

We were also able to capture some priceless photos of the entire family on the steps. Watching them interact was such a delight for me.

Here is little "N", completely adorable and full of fun!

Beautiful Boys in Blue

I had an especially sweet time with this family. They have the most adorable twin boys who were definitely full of energy! As you can see from their photos they were completely delightful! Their bright smiles and blue eyes just made my heart melt. I drove out to their home and we played in their back yard. Mom and Dad were so gentle and loving with their boys, it really touched me. I got lots of hugs and one of them liked to jump onto my back while I was taking photos of his brother! This made it difficult to take the photos, but really made me giggle!

I put them on a few stools to keep them stationary for a few seconds, and then I walked around them, capturing moments of their delight at the bubbles and their parents goofing! We also used a wagon to help them stay still! They had plenty of smiles and giggles when Mommy brought up Thomas the Tank Engine.

There are definitely too many beautiful photos of these boys for me to pick a favorite one.

Let me introduce you to two little angels, "C" and "C"!

Tuxedos, Horns, and Boy Scouts

I was having a senior photo experience with two of the sons in this family and they all decided to make a family day of it. I was able to post the photos of the twin brothers on my senior blog, but I wanted to share these other photos with you.

This family was an absolute joy with which to work! They had such humorous personalities and great ideas! The day before, they had a beautiful friend from Germany come to stay with them for the year and so they wanted to get some photos of her as well. She is simply stunning!

We created some great images with the boys and their father playing their instruments and then they brought the flag for photos in their Boy Scout uniforms. I love those! I made Mom and Dad kiss (like always) and I was even able to grab some shots of their older brother who hadn't had his own senior photos taken. It was a marathon day, but it was way too much fun!

Thanks for such a great day "D" family!

Lady Bugs and Tutus!

Okay, get ready to be delighted! The Rose Garden was the backdrop for the photos of some very beautiful little girls and their sweet parents. The thing I love about working with these little ones is watching them play. I'm kind of old and stiff, but I run around and fall down along with them. If I did this every day, I would be in great shape! We first started with a few family group shots. Little "A" was very easy to get to giggle. "B", however was a little more of a challenge...but as you all know, I love a challenge! Mommy brought some simple and beautiful white lace outfits for the girls to wear.

After we were done with the entire family on the steps, I had Dad and Mom do a little game of tag. You can see how much fun this family has together. The pink skirt and the knit hat on little "A", were adorable. She loves to run with her skirt twirled around her. I had brought a few outfit items with me at Mom's request, and when I showed her my adorable "Lady Bug" outfit, she said that little "A" loved lady bugs! I love the black converse shoes with this playful outfit. The shoes were a little big, though, and I giggle every time I see her trying to walk in them!

I brought out my turquoise tutu and little "B" looked beautiful in it. She is definitely a mini Snow White with her dark beautiful hair and light complexion. She had the most incredible navy blue eyes! I brought my Summer Intern along with me, and she got some incredible giggles and smiles from her. By the end, we decided to grab a few au-natural images on her blanket. She pulled up her feet to suck on the toes and I swear, she folded herself in half! I wish I had that kind of flexibility!

I know you will enjoy watching this sweet family as much as I do!

Little French Flowers

I had the distinct pleasure of photographing these beautiful twin sisters earlier this year. I was especially tickled to be able to play with them again so soon! When Mommy was deciding what to have them wear, she told me about two pink dresses that Daddy had purchased over in France. When I heard this, I told her to definitely have them wear those dresses! So our little French darlings came out to an adventure in the Rose Garden. They were simply delightful. Between Mommy, Daddy, Nanny and me, (and some great little finger treats) we got some incredible expressions!

I especially love the photos of Mommy and Daddy with their little girls on the stairs. I love to capture the feelings between a husband and wife as they are watching their treasured loved ones. The ones where they are holding their girls up by the hand are sweet and unique as well.

I broke out some tutus I had brought along with me to finish out the experience and these little ballerinas look like the flowers which surrounded them! I think you will agree, these girls are beautiful! I can't wait to see who they grow up to be!

This entire experience was delightful. I can't believe people pay me to do this. I love my job!

Introducing "S" and "A" in the garden....

Our New Little Brother!

This family of girls has a new surprise in their home -- a boy! I have been able to photograph these adorable girls for a few years now, through Portrait Parties. They are probably the easiest clients I have to get to giggle! I just have to look at them and they giggle for me! I love having them over. The newest addition to the family is just as adorable. He was awake and alert during these photos and had the calmest little personality. His mom and dad are definitely in love with him!

Dad bought a new shirt because he never wears black and was contemplating taking it back to the store until he got the surprise all of my daddy's get. I don't know why, but when the diaper comes off, daddy is the one who gets wet! I tell my clients to just prepare for it, because it happens almost every time I do photos!

There are some incredible photos here. I love the ones of his feet with Mom's and Dad's wedding rings, the ones with Mom and the ones with Dad. I love the ones where they are both holding him between them. There are too many to count. He has the sweetest little face and I loved working on each of these.

After we were finished, the girls were playing in my pettiskirts and so we grabbed some priceless shots of them in my front yard. They are too delightful!

Welcome little "S.T.W" to the world! You are definitely cherished!

I'm One!

I was able to capture this beautiful little sweetheart all through her first year. We took photos of her a few days old in the pink tutu and have used it every session all year!

Her mommy came and helped her feel comfortable in front of the weird photo lady. She wasn't feeling all that well, and was feeling a little nervous. I sat down next to Mom and we talked for awhile until she was letting some sweet smiles escape. We also used marshmallows, and chocolate puffs to keep her happy and interested. Those are great because they are small and I can magically make them disappear on the finished photos! I love the shots of her in her tutu next to Mommy's jeans. Then the balloons came out and the clothes came off! She looks adorable surrounded by the bright balloons. The subtle pink little sailor dress and white hat are classic and elegant. At the end, we grabbed some "chicks" and she played with them in a bright green summer dress.

Mom, Dad and big brother came for some quick family group shots. They are planning on a wall with large black and white prints of their family. It should be stunning! So Happy Birthday "S" and I want to see you back here soon!

Bride and Groom

When deciding to go with me for the photography of their wedding, C & C decided to pay me for a Formal Bridal, an Engagement, and a Formal Bride and Groom Photo Experience. They wanted to invest in the more artistic photos, so they had a family friend photograph the wedding day. This was fun for me because I didn't have to rush around trying to be artistic in 30 minutes like some weddings!

This was the last Photo Experience I had with these two wonderful people. It was 98 degrees and my poor bride was melting under all of that fabric. It was pretty funny, though, because she would be looking like she was going to die and then I said, "Okay, now smile!" and her face would light up and she looked radiant!

We were able to go to the LDS Temple in Portland where they were getting married the next day. That place is the most beautiful and peaceful place! I was able to capture some stunning photos of the Temple in the background. There were people going in and out of the Temple and when they saw this couple, they always had to stop with big smiles and congratulate them. Every time I am working with a Bride and Groom out by themselves, we get such delighted looks from everyone. I think that when we see a new marriage, the romance, the hope and the commitment, gives us a brighter outlook for the future of our world.

These two were an absolute joy with whom to work! I loved every minute spent with them.

Introducing C & C, now husband and wife!

Drenched!

It was a hot and incredibly steamy day in August. I was drenched in sweat before I even started taking photos. My couple was dressed in electric blue which jumps off the page against the green grass. They look stunning!

I had already worked with the bride on a previous experience, so she kind of knew what to expect from me. Her fiance, however, was surprised when I made them make out in front of me right away! I can't help myself, I just love the romance in weddings! My favorite photos of my husband and mine are of us kissing, so I make sure to include a lot of them when I am the photographer.

Most people come to me expecting to sit quietly while I take nice photos and tell them to say cheese. Well, I'm not quite what people expect. This adventurous couple was made to lay on the ground in their dress clothes, start wrestling, pick each other up, and as a final act of surprise, I asked them if they would get completely drenched in the Columbia! I never know when my creative muse will strike, but I really wanted them to get totally wet! It was hot, so my bride was game from the start. We had to talk her fiance into it. I mean, who in their right mind would ask you to come for photos so you dress in your nice clothes and then ask you to jump in the river! At the end, however, my groom told me that this was the most fun he had experienced in taking pictures. "C" and "C", I hope you like these great shots and thanks for letting me get crazy with you!

Generations

This is a wonderful family of Grandparents, Parents, and lots of cousins! We were able to go out to the property that Grandma and Grandpa own, so we were able to capture images of everyone in the places they love to be! They were all dressed in variations of black, white, and jeans. The kids were full of energy and making them giggle was a lot of fun for me. One of the moms was especially good at helping me steal those elusive smiles! Thanks "J"! Grandpa brought out their wonderful green tractor and we got some great shots on it. I love the individual images we captured of each child. As you will see, they are all definitely beautiful children! As always, I made Grandma and Grandpa kiss. They were a little hesitant at first, but I think they enjoyed themselves! At the end, the boys took me to their favorite climbing trees and we had a lot of fun there. There are so many incredible images here, I don't know how they are going to choose from them. It was a beautiful warm summer evening and I had a delightful time with all of them!

Birthday at the Carousel

I have been photographing these two little ones since they were about 3 months old. I get so attached to my little angels who come to me for their first year! These beautiful twins have grown up so much since last November! Their Mommies love bright colors and every time I come to play, they use the most colorful clothing and set up. I loved their nursery - all green, orange and purple. They asked me if we could do their 1st birthday photos at a carousel. I loved the idea, but all the local carousels don't allow professional photography. Mom did some research and found a place in Salem, in which, if we could be there early, they let us in before they opened up. The incredibly vivid colors of the horses were stunning! I love the cowboys hats which usually ended up off the heads! When we were hustled out for the carousel to open up, we went out to the park and they laid out this incredible quilt, so full of color. They had two huge bags of balloons which quickly blew away! Needless to say, everyone was sweating by the time we were done! Trying to get two little mobile bodies to sit still at the same time is quite the challenge. When they brought out the cake, the twins quickly started sucking on the candles! There were these delicious cakes just waiting to be devoured, and the twins like the candles better! Too much fun!

I always feel such a bitter sweet sadness when my little ones turn a year old. I feel like I have been able to share in so many memories during the year, I can't stand the idea of it all stopping. Here are little "K" and "W" at One!

Brand New, Squishy and Completely Adorable!

This beautiful little one was just one week old when she came to visit me. I told her mother that if she wanted her to be in the "wrinkly, squishy" stage, that she would need to come within the first week. Her mom thought that "Squishy" was a funny way to describe her! I love little ones at this age, their skin is wrinkly, they are asleep most of the time, and you can pretty much pose them any way you want to! We captured some priceless images of this beautiful family of three. Mom and Dad brought some mementos which made the photos even more significant. Mom got a little teary as she was describing the meaning behind them, and I was touched to hear of their sweet relationship with each other and with their extended family members.

This little one had the sweetest disposition. She made little peeps when she was hungry, and otherwise she was content and sleepy. As you will see, she has long legs and long feet! She couldn't resist pushing those feet out every chance she got. She has Dad's crinkled ear, feet with the second toe longer than the big toe, and the same spot on her finger as her dad, her grandpa and great grandpa (I think!) The rest of her is her mother (Dad says). She has beautiful full lips and big eyes when they are open!

Mom is an incredibly accomplished musician. I first met her when I took voice lessons from her. I immediately fell in love with her and so when my daughter wanted to study Jazz vocal, I sent her to this wonderful teacher. My daughter has developed a love of singing and jazz through her association with her. She is the artistic director of an incredible vocal performance choir, Consonare Chorale" located in Portland.

Introducting the new daughter of "C" and "G":

Beautiful Family with Two New Little Ones!

This family was such a joy with which to work! The new little brother and sister are two months old, but they were still so squishy and cuddly! I simply adored working with them! Mom and Dad were so pleasant and easy going and they brought along Grandma who was such a help. They had these beautiful knit sweaters and hats which one of their Grandmas had been finishing while they were being born! Those photos of them with their pointed hats make me giggle! When you are working with little ones, sometimes you have to use the binky to calm them down and then you pop it out of their mouths right before I click the photo. There was one shot where Little Miss decided to hold on for dear life and wouldn't let the binky go! I love that shot. There are so many beautiful images here, I can't choose a favorite one. Some of them are quite stunning!

Cookie Monster and a Pink Ballerina!

These were two very adorable little ones! Mom and Dad had this beautiful baby girl a few months ago and wanted to capture this time in their lives. Little "C" was the sweetest little guy! He was wearing a t-shirt on which a tweed tie was appliqued. It matched my little tweed hat perfectly! Those close-ups with his incredible eyes are priceless. We were then able to capture some beautiful photos of the sweet little princess! The one in which she is crying at her daddy and he is flashing her the biggest smile makes me giggle! We definitely had to put her in a pink tutu with tiny pink ballet slippers. Little "S" fell asleep and looks like an angel! Mom and Dad were easy going and I had way too much fun playing with all of them!

Beautiful Bride!

When I do a bridal photo experience, it is always an adventure. Every time she moves, her dress and veil need to be adjusted to look just perfect! Then when I decide to make her lay on the ground, I need a plastic sheet laid out. Then the bride carefully lowers herself down on it and we push the plastic all around her so it won't be seen. The whole goal is to make her look unique and fun, but not to get the dress dirty! This can all be a little exhausting. This bride brought some troops in to help: her mother, her mother's friend, and three teenage girls came along!

We, first of all, played in the studio for some stunning images with dramatic lighting. Then we all loaded up and headed to the Pittock Mansion. That place just takes my breath away! When this gorgeous bride posed in front of the mansion, she looked like a princess! The wind kept us hopping, but when it worked, the wind made her veil flow to the side beautifully. There are so many incredible images of this bride, I definitely cannot choose a favorite! At the end, she grabbed her running shoes and weights. I love the funky combination of the girly-girl dress with the running shoes and workout gloves! We even grabbed her sunglasses and got some images with definite attitude!

Her fiance was out of town until a few days before the wedding, so I was able to get some engagement shots and also some formal shots of the two of them. I will be posting those when I get them done. I simply loved being able to spend time with this delightful bride!

Little Miss Figlette!

For those of you who have been reading my blog, you will recognize this beautiful little one. I first met her the Spring of 2007. She was 11 months old. I feel in love with her and her mother instantly! She wore the most adorable little outfits and in some of the photos, she stood next to her mother's own childhood chair. She came to play again last November and I grabbed some photos of her just outside my studio in a field with her fun fuzzy coat. Now she is a little over 2 years old and she let me play with her again! Her mother brought some beautiful bright outfits, those red boots with the blue floral dress are too cute! Then she put her in a delicate summer dress with bare feet and we played in the water. Some of the images of her in the sunlight are simply stunning! We played on swings with pink rain boots and even saw some ducklings in the pond.

Her mother let me know that there is some exciting news coming for their little family. Figlette is going to have a new baby sister! In a few of the photos, you can get a sneak peek of the new little bundle coming in September. I was promised that I could play again with them all when everything calms down a little after her arrival! Congratulations, little Figlette and Mom! This will be an extremely lucky little girl to belong to your loving family!

Busy Little Beavers!

These adorable babies are twins! The members of their family are die-hard Beaver fans, so they had some great little Beaver outfits. I love the bright orange! They had the sweetest little personalities. I love the shots with the apples! It's kind of difficult to get little ones' attention for very long, so we were constantly giving them snacks and things to play with! Mom and Dad were exhausted, but I know they are going to love these shots. Their little ones are completely beautiful!

Gone Fishin'

I was able to capture this family a few months ago when their smallest little princess was born. She was the baby with the incredible eyes! I've never seen such large eyes on a new born. This family has a favorite fishing spot in Sandy. We drove out there (passing through one of the small town parades!) and it was breath-taking! Mom wanted a lot of photos of the little one to document her growth and then she just wanted to capture their family's fishing tradition. Practically, every time the two older children put cast their lines out, they brought in a new fish! Dad was starting to get concerned, because he was going to have to pay for all of them! It was a beautiful evening spent with a completely delightful family!

We're One!

Last year, I had this wonderful Mom and Dad come in and have some Maternity photos taken. They were going to have twins and wanted to document the exciting time in their lives. We worked together and created some stunning photographs. When July rolled around, the new little ones were here! I was able to photograph them in early August. They were so tiny! If you have been reading my blog for this past year, they are the brother and sister who were laying on the blue floral blanket. I was then given the supreme pleasure of seeing them every 4 months to document their first year of life. I cannot believe a year has passed. These little ones are very precious to me. I am going to miss seeing them and their wonderful parents every 4 months. Mom promised me that I would get to see them for a Christmas Photo Experience and then on their birthday each year! I'm so happy! When it came time to go, I had a difficult time leaving and had to kiss each of them on the head.

Skipping, Twirling, and Giggles!

I was so excited to be able to play with these two darling sisters! We first of all did some photos with Mom and Dad. As you can see from these photos, they were delightful! Everyone was in such cheerful moods. Mom brought some wonderful hats for her girls to wear. She also brought those adorable cowboy boots and hats. I just love those photos on my old black chair. We then decided to run around the gardens. We dipped our toes into the cold water, looked over the edge of a bridge, skipped and danced over to the swing set and then had some fun on the swings with sunglasses! I enjoyed every moment with these sweet girls and their mother! I had to force myself to turn off the camera! There are some amazing images here!

Simply Elegant

This beautiful bride was wonderful to work with! We decided to stay in the studio for her formal bridal shots. Keeping things simple, we were able to focus upon her lovely face, hair and dress. I love the clean look of the ones with the white background, the modern feel to the ones with the brocade background and the drama of the ones with the black background. Each looks stunning in both color and black and white. I definitely cannot pick a favorite one, so "K" it's up to you!

Mosquitos, Water, and Lots of Kissing!

I had the privilege of photographing this beautiful girl for her senior photos. Now she is getting married! I am so excited for her! Her fiance is wonderful, as well. They wanted some photos by the water, and so I took them to my secret beach I had discovered last year. It was totally under water! The mosquitos were merciless! I came home with my arms covered! This couple was incredibly flexible and so we drove over to Frenchman's Bar to grab the photos by the water. There was this great barge situated behind them in some of the photos. By the end, I had them trying to throw each other in the water! They got wet and sandy but had a great time!

Congratulations N & N!

Little Boys in Blue!

I was so excited to see this wonderful family again! I had the privilege of working with them when their twin boys were a few months old. For you long-time blog watchers, they were the little ones in the Moses basket! They had since moved to California. I get really attached to my families and so I was quite saddened by their departure. Well, they contacted me and told me they would be in Portland, and wanted to come and play with me! I actually had butterflies in my stomach when I met them at the Rose Garden!

As you can see, their little guys have grown up so much since last time. They are now 2 years old! You will be able to see from their photos, how much fun we had together. Some of these photos just melt my heart, and others (especially the ones in the hats) make me giggle out loud. Thank you so much, H-Family, for letting me capture some more wonderful memories for all of us!

Beautiful Family of Boys!

Here is another lucky mommy surrounded by beautiful boys! These boys are lucky as well, to have such a gorgeous mommy! We were able to capture some great images at the Rhododendron Gardens. Even though the blossoms have gone away, the gardens are still breath-taking! Dad is an avid outdoors-man, so he was telling us all about the birds swimming in the water. I was able to capture a great shot of the bird he said was very rare to see. I forget the name of the bird, but it had such amazing colors! He also discovered a squirrel and motioned me over to capture some photos of he and his son with the squirrel. Those were really unique and original. The little guys were a full of energy so they kept everyone very busy! Mom and Dad were wonderful sports, so relaxed and simply enjoying being together as a family. They were a pleasure to work with.

Hey Good Lookin'

As you will see in the slideshow, this family was way too much fun to work with! I haven't giggled this much in a long time! This mommy is very lucky to be surrounded by all of these gorgeous men! I love the colors they chose to wear; they really pop! I made a complete fool of myself and told them that they couldn't let anyone know about "this side" of me. Burping, and other socially unacceptable sounds were flying out of my mouth! As usual, I made Mom and Dad kiss for me. I told them to "Go for it!" and they did! Their sons had to look away from all of the grossness! I had a delightful time with all of them!

All Girl!

This beautiful little sweetheart was such fun! We pulled out some of my petticoats and put some really colorful outfits together! Her mom let me use some of my own "Closet Couture" outfits. As you can tell from her photos, she was full of personality. I had a hard time turning the camera off!

In the Garden at 9 months!

These sweet little ones have been good enough to let me see them every four months this year. They are now 9 1/2 months old. We had to reschedule 3 different times because of "June-uary" weather! The days are finally cooperating with some sunshine lately. These babies are absolutely gorgeous! Little Miss's eyes just blow me away! They were a little afraid of me at first, but with moms' prodding, they relaxed a little and I was able to steal a few precious smiles!

I loved the clothing choice. That red just pops! There was one rhododendron holding onto it's red blooms and we got some beautiful shots in front of it. Alas, the Rhododendron Garden has almost lost it's Rhodies! It is still a beautiful place to take photos.

I love working with this family!

Happy Face and Giggles!

I've been playing with this little sweetheart since before he was born! He is now 9 months old. His mommy let me use some of my clothing for my upcoming "Closet Couture" on him. He was such a riot! Just look at that smile and those chubby little thighs! He was so happy throughout the session. He just needed to look at his mommy and his smile would come. Toward the end, I had exhausted him, but I think you will agree that these "crying" shots are precious.

Goofing Around!

I had so much fun with this delightful family. The two children are 5 years old and they are twins. If you've read any of my previous blogs, you will know that I have a special place in my heart for twins. The little ones were a bit shy at first, so I brought out my "big guns" and started making strange noises. Now some children get very afraid of me when I do this, so I start slowly, at first, to test the waters. I was getting a pretty good reaction and was being egged on by Dad, so I got pretty carried away. Let's just say there was a little bit of burping the alphabet going on! Anything for the laugh, right?

They were a closely knit family where both Mom and Dad were totally in love with their children. We went to a place called the Jenkin's Estate in Aloha. Mom and Dad had their wedding reception there. It was absolutely beautiful! It rained on us and Mom had to remind me that I had a camera in my hand and probably shouldn't have it out in the rain. At the end, we found some fun "climbing" trees and grabbed some fun shots there. I love the one with Mom at the bottom looking up at her son in the tree!

Playing in the Garden!

I had such a delightful time with this beautiful family of five. Mom called me and asked me for a specific type of photo that I thought was such a creative idea. She wanted to hang a large photo of a garden in her living room above the couch. If you study the photo close enough, you will see a family in it, their family. You will see some photos during this slideshow in which you can't see their family unless you look close enough. I love this idea!

This family looked so put together in all of their photos. The colors of their outfits mixed with the vivid colors of the Rhododendron Garden really pop. When we got to a field of grass, we just let the children run around and I was able to capture some beautiful images. At the end, the two oldest children wanted to wear some dress-up clothes. I was able to capture Spiderman climbing a wall and a princess having tea.

NOTE: If you click on a specific photo in the slideshow, you will be redirected to my Picasa album. This is where you can see each photo large and even watch a slideshow with larger images.

I'm Three!

This is the third time I've had the privilege of playing with this doll! She's also come to play at a few Portrait Parties, so I am becoming very attached to her! She is full of personality! It was a fun challenge to get her to look at me! She kept trying to look away, and so I got very sneaky to catch her attention and make her giggle! Her mom brought adorable outfits, as usual. I loved the red and white checked shirt with capris!

Her birthday was the next day. Happy Birthday "L"!

Designer Baby!

I am currently working with a designer who is marketing her knit designs to professional photographers. She has a whole line of wonderful "snuggly sacks" to wrap up my beautiful little newborns! There is a little flower, a pea pod, an ear of corn, a funky pink and blue striped outfit with leggings, and many many more wonderful things. We have done a trade. She will use these images on her website and she is letting me keep these for my clients to use!

This beautiful little darling was my lucky little model! She slept through most of the shoot and was a perfect angel! Mom and I were sweating by the time we were done, but we were giggling!

Flower Fairies in the Garden!

Here are the two most adorable twin girls! I was able to capture some wonderful images of them this time last year when they were turning one. Now they are two! Mom and Dad are always a delight to work with! We went to the beautiful Rhododendron park in Portland. It was stunning! Toward the end, I brought out my new flower fairy dresses. The designer had the tank tops hand painted with polka dotted number twos! They looked scrumptious! We had every person in the park stop and "oooh and ahhhh" when they saw them! Way too much fun!

Playing in the Park Portrait Party!

We have had a few beautiful days out here in the Northwest! Friday was one of them. I got to travel to West Linn and meet some new friends. The park my hostess chose was absolutely gorgeous! You'll see the bright red rhododendrons in a few of my photos! Whoa! what an Incredible color! These were all beautiful children and I'm sure you will enjoy watching them as much as I did!

Dapper Little Dude!

One of the most difficult problems my clients face is deciding what to have their children wear. They head out to the store, but have no idea what will photograph the best and get panicky and stressed! I am introducing my new "Closet Couture" line of fun clothes which I will have here on hand for you to choose from, if you get a little stuck for ideas.

This adorable little boy is my first model! His mommy brought the white t-shirt, shoes and jeans, and I supplied the rest! I will be putting all of my clothes on cute little models and putting photos in one location so you can browse through it when you are coming in for photos.

I had a cancellation at the last minute, today, and it was a gorgeous day! Living in the Northwest, photographers get antsy when there is sun outside and they don't have anyone to take a picture of! I called this client who has been over to play many times and asked her if her little guy would want to come over and try on some clothes.

I had the time of my life! This sweet little guy just makes me giggle! Sit back, relax and enjoy this slideshow. It promises to be a winner! As a suggestion, it is fun with Louis Armstrong singing along!

Portrait Party!

Here are the sweet little ones from my latest Portrait Party! Way too much fun!

Little Ones in Pink!

What better way to start my new blog site than to see such beautiful baby girls! These two are almost 6 months old! Their beautiful mommy was so sweet with them. She brought their Nanny along to help and between the three of us, we were sweating bullets by the end! But boy was it worth it! These sweethearts were pure joy!