Rosario Bay has got to be one of my favorite places for a family session on and around Whidbey Island. The steep bluff does a fantastic job block the light when the sun is a little too bright, there’s a fun calm beach with tide pools, and oh year - GORGEOUS views that really remind you that you’re near the San Juan Islands.
Read MoreThis month went by so, so fast. Yes, it’s the shortest month of the year, but I also felt like our family was running both on auto-pilot and overdrive. Ryan is working so hard right now, holding down two jobs that keep him away from us quite a bit.
Read MoreLove is at the heart of what I do. Love and mamas. Mamas give. And give. We don't ask for much, and often put the needs of our family above our own. We see the light in our friends WAY before we acknowledge it in ourselves. We doubt our beauty. We doubt our talent. We doubt our strengths.
Read MoreMilitary families are constantly in transition. So much so that you’d think they wouldn’t have time for annual family pictures, or that it would be too challenging to plan a family photo session with changing schedules, dets, and deployments.
Read MoreFor most people, January is the start of a new year. I like to think of February as my own personal starting line. Maybe it’s the holiday hangover that creeps into January, or the optimism of resolutions that keep me dreaming all month, but for me personally, reality sets in on February 1st, and the short month FLIES by before I know it.
Read MoreI just completed my first month of my 365 Project, and I don’t feel like throwing my camera out the window. #winning! A “365 Project” is photographer-speak for taking a picture a day for a year. And if that sounds easy, it’s actually not. Because you definitely don’t take just one picture a day (at least I don’t). You take 50, or 400 pictures a day, and then you cull, edit, organize, and repeat.
Read MoreI'm still in denial that I'm not going to be grabbing margaritas with this beautiful mama anytime soon. The VR-61 family was so blessed to know, work, and play with the McColloughs. As the outgoing CO (Skipper) of the squadron, Gabe was my hubby Ryan’s boss, and his awesome wife Lindsey was the chief-party-planner of our spouse’s club. She made a huge effort to be here and support the spouses in our squadron, even though her home (and often kiddos) were in the Midwest.
Read MoreThis session was so much fun! Not only did this amazing family fly all the way from Minnesota to shoot with me (okay they were staying in Seattle for a family wedding), but mama is also a photographer (no pressure, right)?!
Read MoreAs we waded through tall grasses to get to the field of wildflowers just on the other side of the parking lot, I couldn't help thinking how lucky we are to live in a place where such beautiful spots are literally only a stone's throw away.
Read MoreHoly cow - we had the BEST time shooting this session! We had a beautiful night with gorgeous weather, pink puffy clouds, and even a rainbow! The park was really busy with campers, family reunions - even a wedding! But thankfully Deception Pass State Park has so many beautiful spots there was more than enough room to run and play.
Read MoreSummer family sessions are in full swing, and this gorgeous night has me dreaming about all the awesome families I get to work with over the next few months. There are seriously SO many beautiful locations to shoot at on and around Whidbey Island (we're so lucky!), and Deception Pass State Park has got to be one of my all-time faves.
Read MoreI get asked from time to time if I offer mini sessions. And besides my Mama + Me minis right before Mother's Day, I have to say no, because I don't offer family minis to clients. I want to make sure I give everything to my families and tell a story through their gallery, which is harder to do in 15-30 minutes.
Read MoreEvery year right before Mother's Day, I offer Mama & Me mini sessions. My only "minis" of the year, these sessions are for the moms who want new pictures with their babies to capture their kiddos as little as they'll ever be again.
Read MoreThis sweet family is such a fun, vibrant bunch of awesome people. They laugh loudly and love intensely. It was so easy to show them having fun, because I swear they always are! I was lucky enough to work with the Carmona family last years well, on a fun family session at Fort Casey State Park. This fall we squeaked in a session before it got too cold, although Myranda was fully prepared with these amazing little hand warmers that everyone snuck into their shoes and pockets. Genius!
Read MoreI love photographing families of all shapes and sizes.Whether it's an intimate in-home newborn session with mom and dad, a session with a couple of wild toddlers, or a family full of tweens and teens - I love how each family I work with tells their own story in their own unique way.
Read MoreI have been dying to work with this beautiful family since I first met Suzanne through mutual friends. And when I had the idea to shoot a promo video highlighting my process behind the scenes, the Phay fam instantly came to mind.
Read MoreIf photographers were accountants, the fall would be our tax season. It's just crazy, y'all. And yes, I fully realize that I'm a big girl and can say no, but there's this feeling that I should say yes, that I should take advantage of filling up my calendar while I can. Before the rain sets in and the temperature drops and people stop asking.
Read MoreSometimes, the PNW weather really helps a sister out. Like the day of the Ellerbe fam's session, when it pretty much rained all day, but cleared up enough to let us pop over on the ferry to Port Townsend and back to Whidbey Island before the drizzle settled back in.
Read MoreOh man, this family right here is one of my absolute faves. I photographed Kara and Mike just after they got engaged, (it was one of my first sessions), and the experience seriously lit a fire under me to keep going. We've been lucky enough to be stationed together several times - first in Hawaii, then Texas, and now Washington.
Read MoreFour sisters and their darling cousin. Five lovely girls, as smart, sweet, and silly as they are beautiful - just frolicking around Deception Pass State Park. What a night we had playing together and romping around the beach. How lucky are they?! To have each other as lifelong friends and companions.
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