Priceless Family Memories

This wonderful mother came to me and asked me about doing a photo day with her family. I had the privilege of working with her daughter for her senior photos, and so I already knew I loved this family! Mom wanted to preserve some memories of her children at this time in their lives. So many families capture the memories of their children when they are young, but precious few think about capturing the memories of their family right as their children are ready to tackle the world! I think lives get so busy at this time, we forget that these memories are just as priceless as the earlier ones.

These four people are extremely accomplished pianists. I loved being able to go into their home and photograph them next to the instrument which brings them such joy.

As you can see, we went all over the place and ended up in my studio. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent with them and will treasure the memory forever.

Wahoo! A Portrait Party Just in Time for Christmas!

I am excited to announce my annual Christmas Portrait Party! It will be held at my home studio on Saturday, November 14th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Space will fill up quickly, so give me a call today to reserve your time. My phone number is: 360-608-1814

Wear your own special Christmas outfit, or I have hats, vests, boots, umbrellas, and as most of you already know, I have petticoats which have taken over my studio! I will be using my distressed white brick background and wooden floor. This way, if you want portraits without a Christmas theme, you can have that. But I will also have some giant ornaments and bright packages if you would like to go Christmas all the way!

This year, in addition to the information you will read about for individual photos, I am offering a family group package for $100.00 to include 10 images on a CD. My studio space is limited, so check with me to let me know how many people will be in the photo. (There are no outfit changes available with this package)

Also, I have free Christmas Card designs from which you can choose. You choose the design and which image will go in it and I will email the full-resolution 5x7 jpeg to you so you can have them printed at cost.

Here are the details:

I will spend approximately 15 minutes with each child creating at least 6 different poses. You will get to choose which photos you would like to order or have burned to a CD to use anyway you would like. Each image on the CD comes in both vivid color AND in black and white.

Cost: $50.00 per child ($10.00 per child extra) 100% of the cost is applied to your order! (Full Payment must be received one week in advance)

CD Prices

Each image is a full-resolution jpeg file. They will be finished in both vivid color and in black and white. You receive the copyright to use your image(s) any way you wish!

1 image for $25.00
3 images for $50.00
7 images for $100.00
10+ images at $10.00 a piece

Print Prices

Desk Prints:
5x7 and smaller: $20
8x10: $35
set of 8 wallets: $20

Wall Prints:
11x14: $50.00
16x20: $85.00
24x30: $105

Gallery Wrap prices available upon request

Beautiful Boys in Blue

I met this delightful family at Portland Rose Garden. They have two of the sweetest most adorable little boys! I absolutely love working with children and stealing those precious giggles out of them with my silly songs and inappropriate noises.

This family is beautiful. Mom, Dad, and the two boys are stunning! They were easy-going and so much fun. I loved getting to know them.

Here is the "H" family. I love these photos!

Simply Stunning

For those of you who know me, you'll know that I have a love for painting in oil. I haven't painted in a few years because I've been too busy, but after working with this beautiful expectant mother, my heart longs to pick up a paintbrush. The red backdrop, the simple gauze draped around her body, her black hair and stunning beauty just take my breath away.

As I took each photo, I was brought close to tears. The symbolism in my maternity photos is so beautiful. New life is a simple miracle which happens everyday, but its significance is overwhelming. In a universe filled with chaotic noise, the brilliant melody of a mother carrying a new child brings peace, hope and comfort.

Chelsea and Joey

This was a special day for me because I have known these two wonderful people for close to 10 years! I took both of their senior photos and I photographed Joey's sister's wedding 8 years ago, and then photographed his brother's wedding earlier this year. When Chelsea contacted me to photograph her wedding, I felt so privileged and lucky!

It was a beautiful day at the LDS temple in Portland. As you will see, there were many many people who love Chelsea and Joey there! The grounds to that place are so immaculate and stunning! Joey has some hilarious older brothers and I just loved the shots of them trying to drop Chelsea into the reflection pool! The expressions on all of their faces are priceless.

I really enjoyed the little bit of time I got to spend alone with the newly weds. I love the photos of Joey dipping Chelsea in front of the temple spire.

They had a ring ceremony and reception at a lovely place in east Vancouver. The sky started to sprinkle a bit, but it was still beautiful! I loved the brightly colored flowers and decorations.

Chelsea and Joey are both off to finish their degrees in college. I can't wait for them to see their photos!

Congratulations you two! I love you guys!

Evening at Water's Edge

I met this family 3 years ago! They have these two adorable twin boys and a friend from Kansas called me to give them a gift certificate for a photo shoot. We all hit it off so well! Dad is a motivational speaker and business consultant and actually helped me tremendously in presenting my own business. He has now published a book entitled " The High Definition Family: Tuning In Your Family Vision and Living It Out" by Sayer Strauch which is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Xulon Press. Congratulations to Sayer and his family!

He contacted me to take a few photos to include in his book, one of himself and one of his family. We decided upon the waterfront and met on a beautiful evening right before sunset. The boys have always been a little shy around me, and so it was a delightful surprise to be able to steal some giggles and goofiness from them! The oldest daughter is definitely one of my favorite little clients! Her red hair and beautiful eyes always captivate me!

Alex and Lacy

My cousin lives in Sherwood Oregon and I didn't even know it when I moved here to Vancouver ten years ago! About 3 years ago, we happened upon one another! When his wife contacted me and let me know about Alex's engagement, I was so thrilled for them all! Alex and Lacy wanted to get some photos with their horse on the beach.

Beach shots are always so unpredictable, but this day was absolutely stunning! I adore all of these photos! The wicked wind was quite the experience and kept knocking us all off of our feet. I had to dig my toes into the sand and hold my camera close to my body when some of those gusts came whipping across the water! Lacy's hair was all over the place, blowing straight up! I love the photos of her messy hair covering her face. These two are so much in love with each other. It was a supreme privilege to be able to capture this day of their courtship with them.

Here you go Alex and Lacy! I love you guys!

The Amazing JJ

Another play date for me! This simply adorable ball of energy is the younger brother of the first play date I had awhile back. I fell totally in love with these two boys during one of my Portrait Parties 3 years ago! Their giggles were so free and easy.

We started our date at a park in Vancouver (the location is a secret between me and "J"!) It took about 2 seconds for him to start to run and explore the playground. I literally worked up a sweat keeping up with him! I absolutely loved being able to relax and just capture his personality while he played. I spent zero time trying to get him to "smile for the camera" and just let him be himself. The smiles I did capture were from his joy for living. There is this red twirling chair at the park, and JJ just couldn't get enough of it. I would spin him around and he would lay his head back and just soak in the experience. When we left, we decided that we would make this park our "secret" so it would be a special place for just the two of us.

We then headed over to the Vancouver Mall, thinking that there was an arcade there. I guess it must have gone out of business, but instead of being bummed, I grabbed a purse-full of quarters and we decided to ride every single one of the little motorized rides in the mall! It was so amazing watching him experience each ride. JJ has such a joyful little soul and when he experiences something it is an experience for all those around him! I felt honored to be able to observe him and partake in a fraction of the joy he feels everyday.

We went up to the Candy Store and he filled his bag with whatever looked good to him. He also grabbed a yard stick of bubble gum! I know, I should know better, but with my babies all being teenagers, the ability to spoil with sweets just doesn't bring them as much enjoyment! I got a taste of what it will be like to be a grandma without the need to discipline and just the adventure of loving and spoiling!

We practiced the German version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" in the car on the way home so he could sing it to his sweet family.

Introducing the Amazing JJ! He was an experience I will never forget.

Your Baby Your Way

Join YourBabyYourWay.com at an Open House and Community Baby Shower September 13 ♦ 1-4 pm ♦ Southwest Washington Medical Center

Join us for prizes, gifts, and even mini-classes on breastfeeding, siblings and more. Meet Southwest healthcare providers, ...other local moms and moms-to-be, and support Babies in Need. Find out more

Juanita and Ty

If you have been following my blog, you will remember and engagement session where the couple came dressed in "film noir" clothing and I took their amazing photos in my studio. Well on August 1, 2009, Ty and Juanita became Husband and Wife! I was so excited to be able to capture this exciting day for them.

Robert and I got there early to photograph them getting ready and were immediately taken with the surroundings! The wooded environment was beautiful. They decided that they wanted to see each other before the ceremony so we could grab as many photos as we could before, so they could relax and enjoy themselves and their guests after. As you will be able to see, these two were completely wonderful to work with. Juanita was relaxed and having a good day! Many brides can be a little overwhelmed, but she told me that she had decided beforehand to enjoy her day. Ty was so relaxed, easy-going and completely in love with his new bride.

It was an absolutely glorious experience for us and I am so pleased to let you share a portion of their day with them.

Here you go, Juanita and Ty! You are the reason I adore weddings!

Picture Perfect at Pittock

I have been playing with this delightful family since before these beautiful twins were born! I can't believe how much they have grown in a year. They are now 2 and full of energy! We decided to go to Pittock Mansion in Portland for our photo fun. It was an overcast day, which I love, so everything was perfect! These two are so beautiful. Just look at little "Z"'s eyes and little "I"'s smile! Breath taking!

Mom is always such a huge help in getting them to giggle and to relax and have fun. She brought lots of snacks, drinks, and favorite toys. It is such a privilege to be able to watch my little clients grow up each year. I am so lucky!

Here is beautiful "Z" and "I". Twin sister and brother and completely wonderful!

Caitlyn and Ron

I had the most fun with these two! When we were talking at our consultation, we got to know each other and I mentioned that I hadn't tried doing night time photography and was itching to try it. They were both intrigued, so we agreed to meet in downtown Portland and then drive over the Willamette to get the gorgeous Portland skyline.

Caitlyn and Ron were great sports when I had them all but making out in front of Portland's city dwellers! They love to play Scrabble in the park together, so we made sure to grab a few shots of that. I don't think you will see the words that are spelled on the board, but they are I LOVE YOU FOREVER. Fun!

My husband, Robert, and I are going to get to play again with these delightful people at the beginning of September when they are getting married. We can't wait!

Here you go guys! You both look stunning in these photos!

Little Blue and His Zoo...plus a little baseball and a sock monkey

Here is Little Blue at 4 months! I was so excited to see all of them! I love hanging out with this family! Facebook has given me the opportunity to get to know more about my beloved clients and this mommy's posts always make me smile.

They brought along Blue's safari outfit complete with a menagerie of stuffed jungle toys. I had my old trunks and we put him snuggly right in the middle of his animals! I love his little orange outfit! Then we got into America's favorite past time and he suited up. His mommies brought a baseball, a bat and a mitt. There is one photo of him holding the bat (a little quick maneuvering on my part!) where he is looking up to the side. This photo melts me every time I see it.

Mommy then brought out his sock monkey. He also has a sock monkey "jack in the box" which I hope we will use for future fun.

As you can clearly see, Little Blue is the apple of his mommies eyes and he is one lucky little boy!

Here you go M3, love you guys!

We Two are One!

It is always an adventure photographing one year-olds because they have recently become very mobile! I usually plan on chasing after my little clients from about 10 months to age 4! These two stunning children came to see me last year when they were new. Now I got to see them and their wonderful parents again.

Mom wasn't sure we even got one good photo of them because they were not "cooperating". I had to giggle, because I was seeing what was in the camera, and I knew that these photos would be priceless. I may have been sweating by the end, but chasing after these two was a pure delight!



I would like to Introduce you to little "C" and "R". Both are beautiful and completely delightful! I hope to be able to watch them grow up through the years.

When I Grow Up...

When this Mommy called me for photos, she mentioned that she wanted some images of her sons with their Daddy in his Fireman Uniform. I was so excited, but didn't remember that she mentioned she had a child's size uniform for her boys! They looked so adorable next to Daddy in their "big boy's" outfit! The shots of them with him are so priceless!

They also have a beautiful little princess for a sister! She gets her incredible coloring and blue eyes from her gorgeous mother! I love the shots of her in her white ruffled dress and most definitely the tutu and pink hat! I grabbed the boys in their shorts without shirts for some fun in the stream! As you can see, they were completely delightful and full of giggles!

So, let me introduce little "C", "T" and "M"! These are three beautiful children who belong to a wonderful family!

Precious Gifts

Here are the precious children of my previous post! We had such a beautiful, peaceful time together. I had my studio heated to at least 1000 degrees, so the adults were all melting into little puddles, but brother and sister slept peacefully throughout. Mommy and Daddy were completely in love with these two little bundles. I'm sure you will be able to see their easy-going and gentle natures in these photos. Capturing these once-in-a-lifetime moments is so dear to me! I felt so privileged to witness the beginnings of this beautiful family.

There is a photo hidden here which made Daddy exclaim "That's my boy!" I'll let you see if you can figure out which one.

Introducing beautiful sweet "C" and "M". They are the pure delight of their parents and I am so excited to see all of them throughout this year.

Hand in Hand

Here is a wonderful couple I met a little while back. They were expecting twins! If you wait a day or two, you will get to see their sweet little bundles. I am going to have the privilege of photographing their family every four months this year! I love being able to participate in this first year of the lives of a new family. They were so in love and completely ready to give their new ones such love and affection. It was a definitely privilege to be able to capture these beautiful images of this time in their lives.

"K" you are incredibly breath-taking! Thank you so much for allowing me free reign to create the kinds of photos I have been wanting to! I love watching this video over and over. Congratulations to both "K" and "E"! It was an honor to spend time with you.

A Visit From Grandma and Grandpa

I have had the supreme pleasure of photographing these two beautiful boys since before they were born! I'm sure that if you have been following my blog and website, you will have seen their sweet faces posted all over the place. I absolutely adore Mommy and Daddy too! These boys are beautiful! If you look closely enough, you will see a little bulge on Mommy's tummy. She is expecting and it's a girl! I'm so excited for them!

Grandma and Grandpa were up visiting from California, so we got together at Pinebrook Gardens and played together. I especially liked having Grandma and Grandpa snuggle and kiss. I know, I know, I am an incurable romantic and I believe love only gets better with age!

They had their uncle there with them and it is obvious that they adore him as well.

Here you go "A" family. I love all of you!

A Field of Red Poppies

For those of you who have been following my work for the past few years, you will be very familiar with this sweet family. It's Figlette and Gator! Every time I meet up with them and their amazing mother, I feel so honored to be able to capture their free little spirits, their beautiful little faces and the overwhelming love being showered upon their heads by their mommy.

I always feel a little awkward sharing the experiences I have with this family because it is an intensely spiritual one for me. The evening was perfect and after we were done with photos, I sat on the grass while Figlette played with my hair and wore my shoes. Mom and I talked about anything and everything, and she shared such sweet stories with me.

So here are the beautiful little girls who give me butterflies every time I know I am going to see them.

Back to School Portrait Party!

Tired of those horrible back to school photos year after year? Light & Shadow's Annual Back to School Portrait Party is coming up soon! It will be held at my home studio on Saturday, August 8th from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Space will fill up quickly, so give me a call today to reserve your time. My phone number is: 360-608-1814

Wear your own special Back to School outfit, or I have hats, vests, boots, umbrellas, and as most of you already know, I have petticoats which have taken over my studio! I will be using my distressed white brick background and wooden floor. I have a wonderful wooden school desk we can use, or we can use my many different chairs and colored rugs.

Here are the details:

I will spend approximately 15 minutes with each child creating at least 6 different poses. You will get to choose which photos you would like to order or have burned to a CD to use anyway you would like. Each image on the CD comes in both vivid color AND in black and white.

Cost: $50.00 per child ($10.00 per child extra) 100% of the cost is applied to your order! (Full Payment must be received one week in advance)

CD Prices

Each image is a full-resolution jpeg file. They will be finished in both vivid color and in black and white. You receive the copyright to use your image(s) any way you wish!

1 image for $25.00
3 images for $50.00
7 images for $100.00
10+ images at $10.00 a piece

Print Prices

Desk Prints:
5x7 and smaller: $20
8x10: $35
set of 8 wallets: $20

Wall Prints:
11x14: $50.00
16x20: $85.00
24x30: $105

Gallery Wrap prices available upon request

A Little Princess and Her Brothers

I was given the supreme pleasure of being able to photograph the wedding of these two wonderful parents! I can't remember, but it had to be 8 years ago, or so! I had lost touch with them until she brought her sister-in-law to see me for her wedding photos! We got together on Facebook and she graciously agreed to let me play with her precious newborn baby girl and delightful boys!

Little Baby "E" was born too early and gave her parents a scare, but she is healthy, happy and completely beautiful now. I had such a fun time making those two older gorgeous boys giggle. It was very easy as they were just as silly as I am.

The boys went home and I got to spend some alone time with Mom, Dad, and Princess. The photos of them together are simply stunning. I included many of the black and white versions of them in this video because they are so dramatic and artistic.

Introducing little baby "E". She is a delightful addition to a beautiful family.

Introducing Our Solanah!

I am so excited to introduce all of you to my new daughter-in-law. Well, almost, daughter-in-law. She and my precious boy are getting married on July 18th. You may have seen her splashed all over my wedding site and even my high school senior site. She is definitely a favorite model of mine! I mean, just look at her! She is absolutely gorgeous!

She is the quintessential "Vintage Vixen". She owns her own incredibly successful vintage clothing business Solanah She is the ultimate treasure hunter! I've gone with her a few time to the Goodwill Bins and where I see lots of trash, she finds the most incredible treasures! She can go through the entire place in a half an hour and have picked out every possible vintage treasure they've got! She's a marvel. She also has a blog Vixen Vintage where she has hundreds of followers. She dresses in completely vintage clothing every single day. If she is going out, she has the dress, the hat, the gloves, the purse, the shoes... Every day is such a nice surprise when I see her. She has been helping my son class up his wardrobe and the two of them are the most delightful people in the world. She loves my son with passion as he does her. He likes to make her giggle which she does freely and easily. She brings out his best qualities and I see him joyful when he is with her. What more can a mom want for her son?

I wanted to grab some photos of her in some of her vintage outfits so I could display them at an upcoming Bridal Shower I am having for her. We went out on a hot sunny day last week, and I was totally in heaven playing with her. I love that summer dress which is a shorts jumpsuit with an over-skirt. Then she put on that incredible black evening dress with the pink petticoat. Wow! I could have taken photos of her in that thing all day! Then we ended up at Esther Short Park with her floral print dress among the roses.

I'm sure you will see more of her. Every time I have a new idea for a photo shoot, I call her up and we set off on an adventure together! I love you Solanah and feel so privileged to have you as a treasured addition to our family.

My Play Date

Every once in awhile I get to do something different. I have a very dear friend who has three of the most adorable boys in the world. I cordially invited her oldest son to go on a play date with me. We first when out to ice cream at Ice Cream Renaissance and we acted as silly as we could. There is something freeing about taking out a child who is not your own. I didn't feel the slightest need to tell him not to be too loud or not to put his gummy bears into his drink to drown them, in fact, I gave him the idea!

After ice cream, we headed out to Esther Short Park and to a wet and wild time! He was jumping from place to place so quickly, I had to run to keep up! At first, he was a little tentative about jumping in, but it took about 2 seconds for that feeling to pass. I absolutely adored being able to capture his joyful excitement for life! He is the smartest and most delightful nine year-old I know.

As was inevitable, I eventually had to put my camera away and jump into the water with him. I got completely soaked as I was the private to his general and had to go wherever he told me to. We put an old Starbucks cup in hand of the statue of the older gentleman and thought we were completely hilarious. I haven't laughed that freely in way too long.

So here I introduce you to the marvelous Mr. "L". If you look closely enough, you may just spy the photographer in three photos!

Little Miss "L" and Her Baby

Here is the adorable little Miss "L". I first met her at one of my Halloween Portrait Parties in 2006! I have since seen her close to her 2nd, 3rd, and now 4th birthday. "Little Miss" is such the perfect title for her. She has a delightful personality as you will see here. Grandma brought her up to the Pittock Mansion to play with me. The blossoms were everywhere!

She always comes to play in the most stylish outfits! Her little pink cons were to die for! I pulled out a few petticoats for her to look at, and she wanted the red one. I love the shots of her in the tree! She can be absolutely stunning one moment and then become a character with the faces she pulls! It was a little chilly, so she wanted to wear the hats I brought. These are design originals from Sugarfairy Handknits, my fabulous friend and talented artist.

Well, Little Miss "L", it was a pure delight to see you again. These images warm my heart and make me want to squeeze you!

Playing in Portland

Just look at these photos! I have been playing with this family since "W" was 7 months old! These photos are of him at 7 mos., 1 year, 2 years and now 3 years old! They moved to Denver over a year ago but have promised to visit me once a year for photos. I can't believe how much he has changed! I get so excited to see my little ones each year!

We chose to go to the Art Museum area in Portland. It was a hectic day with a peace rally, policemen on horses and a hippy wedding! As always, it was delightful working with these dear people! Little "W" was in such an incredibly happy and active mood! I just loved following him around and trying to steal a giggle or two. I love his bright orange shirt. You can just see the joy he brings to this world. Mom and Dad were good sports, as always. I think I have made them go barefoot every time they come to see me.

I tried to talk Dad into wrestling on the grass, but there was absolutely no area where it wasn't muddy. We finally compromised and he wrestled standing up. "W"'s laughter warmed my heart and made me giggle out loud!

So I bring you wonderful little "W". He is a joy!

Chelsea & Joey

I had the pleasure of taking both of these amazing people's senior photos a few years apart from each other. Now they are getting married. They are my first official seniors to get married! (I have a plan, you know, to do this with all of my beloved seniors and then to take photos of their babies and kids and their own high school seniors and on and on until I am too old to know my own name!)

We had to reschedule the photo shoot about a zillion times before we decided to risk it and head downtown during a brief "sunstorm". They brought an umbrella just in case, but the weather was fantastic! It stayed that way until we were finished and then it began to pour!

I loved working with these two and am excited to be able to photograph their wedding this coming August. This will be the third wedding I have photographed for Joey's family! They are familiar with my weirdness and yet they keep asking me to come back and play! Go figure.

I love the feel to these photos. Joey is definitely head over hills and couldn't stop looking into Chelsea's eyes. I had to keep asking him to look at me and it was completely adorable!

So here are Chelsea and Joey. They are delightful and make such a great-looking couple. As always, I took way too many kissing shots, so if you are watching this Mom and Dad, you may need to cover your eyes! I can't wait until August!

You will need to pause my music (scroll down to find it) because this video I made for them has it's own music. By the way, Chelsea and Joey, you will have a copy of this video on your CD!

Spring 2009 Portrait Party

I had this wonderful Portrait Party back in April. It was a rainy day outside, but the faces inside my studio were fresh and full of spring! I have waited to post these so all of the participants could give me their orders, but, alas, I just had to post them today! I couldn't wait to share them with you. It was a roller coaster two days with sweet little ones coming in and out and I was exhausted, but happy!

They are so completely delightful! I hope to be having another Portrait Party for Back to School, so I will keep you posted!

Here are my Spring Buddies!

In Style Baby at 4 months

Here is sweet little angel "E" again. He has such a calm and loving nature, you can see it in his eyes. I'm not sure many babies grow up with as much love as this little one gets, but his mommy and daddy are completely head over hills! The incredible expressions he shows in these photos are the result of looking into his parents' faces. If he even considered getting a little fussy, all he had to do was look at Daddy and he would break into a giggle!

These people have become dear friends of mine. We went out to dinner last week, and I got to hold baby "E" all evening. I was in heaven!

When I photograph little faces, I feel so honored to be able to capture their personalities and their magnificent souls in their eyes. Baby "E" was a supreme honor for me.

International Beauty

I have had the pleasure of working with two of this beautiful woman's daughters. If you follow my senior blog, you will see their photo shoots. They are all from Germany. One of them has been living with a friend of mine this year to attend high school and her mother surprised her with an unexpected visit. They had a very full time going to all of the Oregon places to play, the beaches, the underground, the shopping, the nature hikes... We were able to squeeze in a little time one evening to bring her into my studio.

She is absolutely stunning! She wasn't sure about having her photos taken, so I hope she loves these. She is a gracious kind-natured woman and I loved spending time with her. We grabbed a few shots of her with her daughter and the resemblance between these two beauties is very apparent.

Here you go "D". I loved meeting you and working with you! Someday I hope to take you up on your offer to visit you in Germany! Oh what a wonderful dream!

LaSalle Prom 2009

When this mother hired me to photograph her son's prom, I was so excited! How can you NOT have fun hanging out with well-dressed teenagers! They all looked so incredibly gorgeous (guys too!) and yet, they were so funny and down to earth! I started at the son's home to capture him with his stunning date before we headed to meet up with the rest of the group. There were twenty of them in all! We went to a home in Portland which had the most beautiful back yard with a stream, bridge and lots of green! I took couple shots of each of them in that setting.

Then a very large bus pulled up and we headed into downtown Portland. It was definitely a Party Bus! Whoa! I tried to be inconspicuous so they wouldn't feel too awkward having me there. After awhile, they forgot about me and I was able to grab some great shots of them up in the aisle dancing and goofing off.

We got to PF Chang's and they had a little bit of a wait before they could be seated, so I was able to grab some more shots of the group. They were all incredibly delightful! My husband was able to capture some shots of them inside the restaurant. Then Mom (who happens to be a dear friend of mine) treated us to dinner! I haven't had this much fun in a very long time!

Snow White & Hannah Montana!

This lucky little girl has a grandma who sews and she made her an incredible Snow White dress and a pink tutu while she was visiting her from California . We started out with Snow White. Wow! The photos of this stunning little one take my breath away! She was full of mischief and energy and completely delightful! I especially love the photo of "Snow White fallen with one bite of the poisoned apple." As you can see, she didn't quite know how to look asleep without bursting into giggles.

After we played with Snow White, she became a ballerina. Grandma put her hair up in a bun and she tried out the new skills she was learning from a recent dance class. Her denim Hannah Montana jacket and teddy bear came out to play next. I just love her messy hair and adorable personality. I could have taken photos of her all day!

So here is little "M". She is one loved and loving little sweetheart!

Never Enough Dirt!

I have had the pleasure of playing with this little guy since he was tiny! As you can see, he looks like an angel, so when I put my "Never Enough Dirt" sweatshirt on him and tussled his hair I just had to giggle! I don't think I've ever seen him with messy hair and dirt! We played together at the Academy Building. I had such a fun time talking with him and making him laugh. He is a huge Star Wars and Superman fan, so we had to include aspects of those in his photos. I love the shot of him running away with his Superman cape flowing in the wind behind him.

His mom is a dear friend and I absolutely adore working with this little body of sweetness and energy!

Here is "C"! A little messier, but definitely just as sweet!

All Together for the New Arrival

This couple had their family in town all together to visit their precious little newborn "S". I had a bit of car trouble getting to their place, and we'll just say, I had my car hooked up to a U-Haul when we got to their house! But, I am so glad I was able to make it. The love in this home was so apparent. This firstborn grandchild on both sides was treasured.

They live in Portland in a home which has the most incredible yard (forest?) you can imagine. It had been raining a little that day, but when I got there, it had stopped, so we went outside first. There was a tiny spot of daffodils in the middle of a wet muddy spot, so, of course, I made them all sit down there! Grandma had knitted little "S" a new teal hat and multi-colored jacket which were beautiful. I had a basket with some yarn my very own designer, SugarFairy Handknits, had made for me. It's a luscious splash of various shades and textures! I love the shot of him laying in the middle of the field of green vines and brambles!

We went inside and I got to be alone with Mom and Dad as we were able to capture some exquisite memories of the intimacy between the three of them. I brought my black backdrop, so we could take the incredible dramatic shots. I get teary when I look at some of these photos. (I know, I am such a wimp!) They did something surprising with me which I haven't had happen before. I looked up and noticed that they were photographing me photographing them!

Here is dear little "S". These photos are very tender and sweet.

Be a Light for Good in your Neighborhood

I was able to sit back and enjoy myself while photographing a delightful play by a local LDS Church's youth group. They were completely hilarious, the set was incredible, the costuming was bright a eye catching. I had a wonderful time!

An Easter Angel

I have been able to visit with this little angel since she was a newborn! I adore her parents! Her mommy is my daughter's vocal coach and is the director for Consonare Chorale in Portland. I have loved her since the day I met her! This sweet little darling is the apple of her parents' eyes! They fight over who gets to hold her! This was the first time her tender little feet felt grass! I usually have most babies uncomfortable with it, but as you can see she loved it! She has the sweetest, most cheerful little soul, just like her mother. And that gorgeous hair. (I have a little prejudice when it come to redheads)

I love the shots of little "C" with both mom and dad and then with each of them separately. When Mommy pulled out the Parisienne lavender dress I knew it would be beautiful on her. We found some purple tiles on the Pittock Mansion terrace which looked perfect! And then when Mom pulled out the bunny ears... I couldn't stop giggling! She is such a perfect little Easter bunny!

I have a pair of premium angel wings I purchased and we tried them out for the first time on little "C". There was one little patch of daffodils at the entrance to the Mansion and I begged them to let me put her in them. It was a little muddy, but I adore those photos with the bright yellow flowers.

Here is little "C" and her adoring parents. I had a completely delightful time with all three of them, as always!

You've Gotta Love Portland!

I have to admit that when I first moved to the Northwest, I thought Portland was weird. The Peace protests, the environmental terrorism, they even protested George W. Bush the day AFTER he was elected. Things move a little more slowly here than most places. People actually follow the speed limit if they are not going under it, they let you in when you turn on your blinker or when you are trying to exit a parking lot onto the street.

After living here for 10 years, I have completely and fully fallen in love with Portland! I can't imagine a better place to live! Today, I was photographing an adorable little three-year-old boy and his parents. We had decided earlier to meet at the Portland Art Museum and take photos around there. When I drove up, the streets were blocked, there were policemen on bicycles and horses everywhere, and a huge group of people was assembled in front of the Schnitz Concert Hall. We had no idea what was going on, so we went on with the photo shoot amid the helicopter circling overhead and the flashing lights and sirens. While we were in the middle of the shoot, the mom came up to me and showed me a group of people standing around one of the large stone statues. They were having a hippie wedding! Way too cool! Then at the end of our shoot, I saw this delightful guy on a bicycle riding by. I grabbed a quick snapshot of him and he caught me! He rode his bike over to me and I asked him if I could take a photo. He graciously offered to be my chauffeur to the May Day rally on his flower-laden chariot. He was quite insistent and I would have loved to have accepted his offer, but sadly, I had to get home.

All in all, I had a fabulous day with Portland. KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD!

My Wedding Site is Finally Up and Running!

Boy, I have had a difficult time getting my new Wedding Site up and running. There just simply isn't enough time in my day! I haven't completely worked out all of the bugs and there is a gallery still missing, but it's up for all to see. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think.

You just go to my regular website: www.lightshadowphotography.com and click on the Wedding Site.

I will be creating a new wedding blog site as soon as I can find a few more hours to squeeze together!

Gretchen and Matt are Engaged!

This delightful couple is getting married in September! They wanted to get their engagement photos done early because they wanted to send out some "Save the Date" cards. They really wanted pictures outside, but we weren't sure about the weather in March. It had rained all week and I was afraid we would have to take photos in my studio. Photo day arrived and we planned to meet at Beaches, hoping for the best. It was freezing outside, but the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and stayed out for the couple hours we spent together! This is why we got such a fabulous sky in these photos! The clouds are heavy and full of texture. For those of you who live in the Northwest, most of the cloudy days are just one shade of gray. It began to rain just as we were finishing up.

I had a wonderful time with these two. They were so easy-going and willing to do whatever I suggested. And yes, they went barefoot on the beach at my request! I'm surprised their feet didn't freeze off! I love the photos on the beach, the water reflecting the blue of the sky, their hair blowing all over the place, their interaction with each other. This time of year, colors are less vibrant and everything is a little dead. However, because of the sun and blue sky, the colors just sang! I love the shots of them in the field of dry grass! It almost looks as though we are somewhere else.

Here you go, Gretchen and Matt! I can't wait to photograph your wedding day later this year!

Little Boy "Blue"

I have had the pleasure of being able to photograph quite a lot of newborns this Spring. It is such an intensely intimate and beautiful experience for me. I met this little sweet boy's mommies before he was even born (thank you Facebook!) They knew exactly when he was going to be born so we were able to schedule an appointment ahead of time. When he was 6 days old, they all came to play! He has the biggest blue eyes and his mommy calls him "Blue".

The moment they walked into my home, I felt right at home with them. They were so full of excitement and love over their new son. It was a privilege to be able to share in this wonderful time with them.

"Blue" is a perfect little gentleman with such a calming and sweet nature. He looks so adorable in his own orange and polka-dot outfit. My green couch looked fabulous with the bright colors they all chose to wear. We broke out the mouse snuggle for some Hickory Dickory Dock. And then, when his mommy said that she loved to garden, I had to bring out the little red wagon for our little pea!

My favorite time is always when the black backdrop comes up and the clothes come off! I adore the Fine Art quality of the light and the interaction between parents and newborns. There is one shot of the two of them with him where I got up high and shot down at them. It is definitely one of my favorites. Mommy kissing his toes, and his looking at me over Mommy's shoulder, snuggled close and held with tenderness, these moments are so dear to me.

Thank you "M" and "M" for sharing "M" with me! I can't wait to see him again at 4 months!

A New Little Prince!

On a wet rainy day, I was able to go and visit this lovely family who had just welcomed a beautiful little boy into their home. There is nothing quite like the feeling of a home newly visited by a tiny member of the family. There is a peace and comfort there which warms my soul.

This couple was wonderful and totally head over heals in love with this beautiful boy. They had a beautiful home with a fantastic view of a green belt so they seemed to be surrounded by nature.

We tried my little dragon on him as well as the "Little Prince" on his cute behind. I had the best time with him and his parents. There are some photos with his green blanket where his eyes are wide open and exploring. He is beautiful!

So here is little "I". He is definitely a little prince!

Tyler & Evan!

Here is my first wedding of 2009! My husband and I had such a delightful time with these wonderful people! Some of the images we were able to capture are priceless! I especially love the one where Tyler's dad is smiling as he is walking her down the aisle.

Tyler and her girls got ready in a room full of mirrors! Boy, did I have a great time with those! My husband was with the men and got some great shots! I'm not sure how Evan will feel about the "boxer" shot, but I love it!

I had wanted to spend some time alone with the two of them for formal photos, but the night got away from us! They will be coming back to Vancouver next Spring, so we've decided we would get together then! Evan is in the Navy and they are now living across the country.

Here you go Tyler & Evan! These are just a sneak peek at the over 500 photos we captured!

More Time to Celebrate Spring!

Due to the overwhelming response to my Spring Portrait Party, I have reworked my schedule to offer times on Saturday, the 18th. Friday is completely booked! I am so excited to see all of you! The details are on the entry below (look past the old lady entry and go to the next one!)

It's all done with Mirrors!

I think I may have the same disease which plagues most photographers. We would rather be behind the camera than in front of it. We are natural observers and don't really like being observed! So when I decide to have my own portraits taken, it is always painfully uncomfortable and I think I would rather have all of my teeth pulled out! I have always wished I could be my own photographer, but that is, obviously, quite difficult. I have finally resorted to putting a full length mirror behind the camera, posing myself the best I can and then having my husband click the shutter! It's really quite ridiculous!

Working on my clients' images is incredibly fun for me and I get excited when I capture some incredible look or smile. Working on my images, isn't quite as much fun. I guess we are always our own best critics.

Anyway, I like to have updated photos of myself for my websites, blogs and such, so I just have to go through it.

So here I am. I'm a little nervous and now I know how all of you feel!

You Are Cordially Invited to Celebrate Spring!

Here is a slideshow of the wonderful memories we were able to capture last Spring. These adorable kids have grown up so much in a year!

Light & Shadow's Annual Spring Portrait Party is coming up soon! It will be held at my home studio on Friday, April 17th from 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Space will fill up quickly, so give me a call today to reserve your time.

Wear your own special Spring outfit, or I have hats, vests, boots, umbrellas, and as most of you already know, I have petticoats which have taken over my studio!

See below for the details. But first, take a minute to giggle along with me as you see these wonderful little people!


I will spend approximately 15 minutes with each child creating at least 6 different poses. You will get to choose which photos you would like to order or have burned to a CD to use anyway you would like. Each image on the CD comes in both vivid color AND in black and white.

Cost: $50.00 per child ($10.00 per child extra) 100% of the cost is applied to your order! (Full Payment must be received one week in advance)

CD Prices

CD: $25.00 per image (both color and black/white) or $50.00 for 3 images
each image is full-resolution and you receive the copyright to use your image(s) any way you wish!

Print Prices

Desk Prints:
5x7 and smaller: $20
8x10: $35
set of 8 wallets: $20

Wall Prints:
11x14: $50.00
16x20: $85.00
24x30: $105

Gallery Wrap prices available upon request

Family Gathered for a Special Blessing

This sweet beautiful boy has already come to play with me since he was born. On this special day, his family from out of town came to Vancouver for his blessing. They wanted me to grab a few shots of this memorable day for them, and I was honored.

His mother made this exquisite gray wool suit for him to wear and he looked so grown up and handsome. I got the group together for some wonderful photos and then grabbed the grandparents and his aunt and uncle for some couple shots. As you can see, I had way too much fun and took way too many photos, but I've just had to learn to embrace this about myself. I loved the romantic photos of Grandma and Grandpa. They were so sweet with each other, it was obvious that their romance was still alive and well after many years of marriage.

After we were finished, his mommy pulled out a few new knit snuggles she had just created. I was ecstatic! She had been talking about doing a dinosaur and when she pulled it out of the wrapping, my mouth dropped open! I like to call it a dragon because it sounds so adventurous and heroic, but it can also be a dinosaur! The vivid blues just scream color and that hat with the pointy spines is just to die for! She had also knit a mouse snuggle which is completely adorable. We placed his cute little body down on the floor with a clock in the background trying to mimic "Hickory Dickory Dock" I just love those shots. I especially love the shot of Mommy holding her little dragon!

I love working with this family!

Old Hollywood Glamour!

I am so excited to be able to post these photos! For the longest time, I've wanted to do an old Hollywood black & white photo experience and with this engaged couple, I got my wish! Here are Juanita and Ty, and they are getting married this August! Juanita is planning on using this style for her wedding. When we got together to discuss the wedding details, she told me that she already had a close friend doing their engagement photos, but when she mentioned her theme, I couldn't help myself and begged to do a photo experience in my studio. She graciously accepted! To top it off, she told me that she already had her dress, so I just had to have her bring it.

She brought along a dear friend and we took the bridal portraits before Ty showed up. She is absolutely breath-taking! These photos make my mouth drop open!

The old photos in the 30's and 40's were taken with very hot lights and had no diffusion (umbrellas or big softboxes) so the shadows are harsh and dramatic. I took off all of my "modern" lighting modifiers and shot them with bare bulbs, trying to emulate the same feeling. Even with my modern modeling lights, it got to be quite hot sitting in front of the lights. They were great sports, however!

Ty brought along a great black fedora with a white ribbon and Juanita changed into a classic black dress. Her hat had a peacock feather in it! I love the shots of them together. They are so dramatic - and for those of you who know me - one can never be too dramatic!

We had a fedora and overcoat and when Ty put them on, he looked incredible! I love the shots of him with that hat covering his eyes. He reminds me of Humphrey Bogart in his Maltese Falcon or Casablanca role!

The real fun and time consuming work came when I was finishing these photos. The old Hollywood photographers used to have 8x10 negatives they retouched with graphite pencils and then used a lot of customizing in the darkroom. I, luckily, have a digital darkroom, so the photos didn't take quite as long! I wasn't able to rely upon the photos just out of the camera, though. I had to do a lot of painting with light and dark to create the strong contrasts. I am really pleased with the way they turned out!

So, here is Juanita and Ty! Thank you both for such a delightful experience. (however, don't let Ty know these photos are up because he hasn't seen the dress yet!)