Portland Oregon Intimate Backyard Wedding | Stephanie + Andy

Stephanie and Andy

I am between two of my cousins in age, so growing up, they were like sisters to me. They still are like sisters - despite the geographic distance. Their older brother, John, is like my big brother. We are all very close and it’s a bond I feel very fortunate to have. Growing up as an only child, they were my lifeline to siblinghood. My wonderful aunt and uncle welcomed me into their home during summers and holidays; their family is mine.

Gorgeous Stephanie, my younger cousin, married her sweet fiance, Andy, in their backyard in Portland, OR. Right by their sides were her daughter, McKenna, and his sons, Garrett and Aaron, of course, their adoring friends and family were there to cheer them on!

Lucky for Stephanie, she has a talented (and stunning!) older sister Jennifer, who not only helped hugely with the wedding, but she did her hair, along with McKenna’s and even mine! Here’s to spreading the LOVE from this perfect day ~ 💕

Food /Cake/Dessert: Elephants Catering

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A family affair - Bride Stephanie looks into a mirror as her sister, Jennifer, works magic with her hair and her daughter, McKenna, looks on.

Classy and elegant bride Stephanie just minutes before she saying “I Do!”

The union of two families - Groom Andy with his sons, about to marry Stephanie and her daughter in Portland, Oregon.

The food was to die for!! I can personally attest to these incredible chocolate cupcakes (with edible pearls) from Elephants Catering - outta this world!

All dressed up! McKenna relaxes in her room on her mom’s wedding day in Portland, Oregon.

Moments before her wedding, stunning bride Stephanie hams it up with daughter McKenna, in Portland, Oregon.

Burgdorf Hot Springs Idaho Same-Sex Wedding | Megan + Clare

Talk about a heartfelt day! Megan and Clare got married at Burgdorf Hot Springs and the emotions ran deep. Any local knows a favorite rustic hotel is Burgdorf. Set in an old mining town in Payette National Forest, it’s only accessible by snowmobile in winter so it’s a super fun destination for those of us who seek out adventure!

Preparations took place in one of the historic cabins called the White House. Clare had made her own gorgeous dress and it was exciting to see photos of her progress. With flower petals and tea lights their mothers scattered on the bed, these two remained calm and grounded in the little cabin. It was truly special.

Prior to the ceremony, they went to a field behind the cabin and read letters they’d written to one another This intentional and very simple, yet private exchange served as a good reminder to savor every minute of this day. And breathe. Their time spent focused on another was super touching - even I was crying with them! It was extremely touching and emotional.

Once the wedding kicked in, things moved quickly. Vows were exchanged, the live music began and the celebrations went full-swing. There were games for young and old, dogs (and goats!) ran free, the bonfires were lit and life was sweet! As they danced together with family and friends through the warm summer night, family and friends soaked in the hot springs until the late hours, under a dark sky full of bright stars, lit by the light of the moon…. 🌙

* If you’re looking for a wedding or elopement photographer to work within McCall, Idaho, or beyond, I’d love to connect!

Hello, World!

Family Portrait. McCall, ID

Martin Family

The Martins wanted to do a photoshoot with all their grandkids by the lake. We had no trouble finding a vacant beach early in the morning, and the kids were such fun to work with. They were super cooperative - and also had a good sense of humor when it came to being goofy with grandpa. It was an absolute treat to work with this sweet family! ✨

* If you’re looking for a photographer to work with in McCall, I’d love to connect. Click the button below and I’ll be back in touch ~

Idaho Sled Dog Challenge | McCall, ID

Easily one of my favorite weeks this past winter was that of the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge. It had every possible component to make it amazing and it far surpassed my expectations. It seems fitting to finally be getting up to date on posting these photos, if even a year late. It is starting up in a couple of weeks, and needless to say, I am just a little excited!

Walla Walla, Washington | Whitman College | Yearly Reunion

There is a group of us who migrate back to Walla Walla, Washington each Fall, where we attended Whitman College. Whether or not our spouses went to Whitman, they too have come to enjoy the closeness we share, which deepens through the years. We usually rent a couple of houses on Airbnb within a block of one another and enjoy doing all of the things Wally World has to offer, much of which hasn’t changed since our early days.

Initially known for its sweet onions (yes, you can bite them like an apple!) and fertile soil for growing wheat, it has evolved into quite the destination. When we lived there in college, there were only a handful of wineries. Now the place is booming with over 100 of them. Each time we return, it’s hard to grasp how much that aspect HAS changed. The world now knows of Walla Walla because of its great wines.

A few fun facts:

STATE PENITENTIARY

The state penitentiary is located there, which makes for some unusual folks in town. Our college had a radio station and a lot of students had their own radio shows. These shows were piped into the state pen. One of my favorite stories was how a regular listener to my college roommate’s radio show, wrote her a letter about how he was in a band in prison called Raw Con!

HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE

If you enjoy historical architecture, Walla Walla is worth the trip alone. It has beautiful old historic homes and museums. I can spend days walking and biking around town and the wheat fields - there are always neat things to see.

RICHEST TOWN IN AMERICA

Back when my mom went to school in Walla Walla in the late ‘50’s, Life Magazine claimed it to be the richest town in America, due to the wheat farmers making their wealth in farming. There are indeed some exceptional homes not only in town, but also in the rolling hills in wheat field country.

BLUE VELVET

Believe it or not, David Lynch’s cult film Blue Velvet was modeled after Walla Walla. Famous for his quirky American mystery-horror serial drama television series Twin Peaks as well as surrealist Eraserhead, Lynch grew up in nearby Yakima, Wa. He garnered a number of awards for Blue Velvet - some say it is one of the best films of the ‘80’s. It is one my my favorite films ever and features a brilliant cast including Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLauchlan. Brace yourself - it’s crazy weird, but that is precisly what makes it so appealing.

COLORFUL DIVE BARS

Several of the bars in town through the years have quirkily been named after colors, which one could say are very David Lynchesque - The Red Apple (now long-gone), the Green Lantern (alive and hopping), the Golden Horse (now closed), The Blue (tavern).

BATMAN’S HOME

One famous guy who was born and raised there was the original Batman, Adam West, who also attended Whtiman. It’s fun to drive by the picturesque street in town where the house he grew up in still stands.

SKI BLUEWOOD

The nearby Blue Mountains are gorgeous any time of year, and are especially fun to ski on during the winter. Bluewood is small-town skiing at its best. Just a 20 minute drive from town, they are a great way to gain your snow and ski fix.

BALLOON STAMPEDE

On my bucket list is to someday attend the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede. What could be more perfect or gorgeous than a hot-air balloon ride over the rolling hills of the Walla Walla Valley. My dream day will consist of this moment.

ROUND-UP RODEO

I also still have not made it to the Pendleton Round-Up, but plan to!! Located in nearby Pendleton, Oregon (known for their beautiful woolen blankets) and held in September each year, it’s a famous rodeo I’ve known about forever. I nearly made it the year Covid hit. One day for sure!

Our group of friends continue to evolve, as friendships do, and we travel from all over Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho to get together. We typically try and catch a sunset in the wheat fields and walk around downtown and hit the farmers market, sometimes riding bikes or taking a walk at Bennington Lake. Usually, one night is spent at a winery, followed by doing Karaoke. You can imagine how that goes. 😜

So lucky are we to continue this bond from long ago, to support one another through the triumphs and challenges life throws at us. I feel so fortunate to belong to this special community that will always be a part of who I am.

I don’t know if it’s the people, the place, or the combination.

If you have never been, make a point of going to Walla Walla sometime in your life. There is something special about being in the middle of the wheat fields of eastern Washington, the beautiful rolling hills of the Palouse especially, that captures a unique spirit of peace like no other. We all know this place is special.

And being here each year with these exceptional people, is what makes it that much more extraordinary.

Couples. Salt Lake City, UT

Photo Workshop - Aubree Belle Photography

Looking back in time, we often regret the things we wish we had done. Pushing myself to go further in my business was just the kick I needed. Going to Utah to shoot with @audreebellephotography wound up being an absolute highlight of my year. It involved stepping outside my comfort zone and in every way, it far exceeded my expectations. I met some wonderful photographers, models, and of course, the guru herself. We had 6 shoots, from sunrise to sunset and it pushed my work to the next level. I am forever thankful. 🌟

These pros were such fun to work with and I was riding a high for a good time beyond our day together … ✨

Couple time soaking at Inlet Park Hot Springs.

Southfork Flowers. Salmon River Backcountry, ID

Southfork Flowers

I had no idea what to expect when I contacted Christina of Southfork Flowers last spring. I knew I wanted to check out their setting and “know my farmer”. Located on the South Fork of the Salmon River, it is truly one of the last frontiers. The drive up was amazing and the drive down to the valley where they live was absolutely spectacular. Lots of dusty, narrow, roads; definitely a trek for the determined.

I was greeted with such kindness and hospitality; it felt good to be so warmly welcomed to their homestead. Christina kindly showed me her world. She and her partner, Wes, have been growing flowers for nearly a decade, organically and sustainably. Their gardens were in the early stages, and the road had just opened after being closed for the winter due to snow. The extent of their responsibilities are humbling. Things were just beginning to bloom. I definitely need to get back when the growth is in all it’s glory, which went full-force this past summer. I had only a teaser.🌱 Being an animal lover myself, there was the added bonus of some adorable donkeys, horses, dogs, a cat and chickens. What a remarkable place! 💐

Fashion Editorial. McCall, ID

Symphony

I had the honor to work with Symphony ~ an absolute natural beauty in front on the camera and a complete sweetheart to boot. HMU by her super-talented cousin, Stepheni Adams, from Dahlia in McCall, ID. It was a match made in heaven. Clare Dreyer, owner of Topside Salon, loaned us the wonderful wares and we had a blast! There were far too many good moments from this shoot - here are just a few. 💫

Vendors

Dresses - Topside Salon

Hair and Makeup: Stepheni Adams Dahlia McCall

Mother / Daughter Photoshoot | Portland, OR

Erin and Bella

Not until I became a mother myself did I truly grasp the unique bond shared between a mother and child. Seeing it from the mother’s perspective threw a whole new light on this love. When I put word out that I was going to be back in Portland, I was contacted by my old friend, Erin, to photograph her with her daughter, Bella. I was beyond thrilled. It had been years since I had seen Erin, and would be my first time meeting her lovely daughter. What a sweetheart. We shared a magical afternoon together; I was still glowing way after our time was over. Their connection is the kind mothers aspire to! How lucky those two are! Witnessing their closeness was captivating, and the love between them is pretty remarkable. Thank you, Erin and Bella, for inviting me to document this memorable time in your lives.

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Portraits of Brothers | Portland, OR

David and Jack

When two of your most gorgeous and enjoyable college friends get married and have kids, the offspring tend to be a testimony to those qualities. Jack and David are absolute sweethearts, and It was a complete honor to photograph these riveting young men. Jack is heading to off to college next year, and David is on to high school. Watch out world! Our time together was just perfect, and I think we got just what we were after. ✨

Fashion Editorial. McCall, ID

Susie

It’s not every day you get contacted to work with a gorgeous model. To be honest, it’s my absolute fantasy job. Susie originally wanted to shoot a headshot, represented by Urban Talent Management. When the subject exudes natural beauty along with utmost confidence in front of the camera, it’s a photographer’s dream. We ended up collaborating with a great local clothing shop, Mountain Monkey Business, and the results were pretty spectacular. They generously loaned us the goods and we played dress up both indoors and out. I had this vision of an older warehouse space with big windows, and contacted the Erin at Mountain Dance Unlimited, who kindly loaned us her wonderful studio right in the center of town. It was exactly what I was looking for. Afterwards, we headed over to the North Valley Rail Trail, south of town to do the final outdoor shots. Susie was a good sport to tromp around in the bitter cold and wind to get the shots I envisioned. What a fabulous time!

Model: Susie Seme

Management: Urban Talent

Clothing / Accessories: Mountain Monkey Business

Venue: Mountain Dance Unlimited

Fashion Editorial. Gold Fork, ID

Kundalini

When one of your favorite people (who happens to be your sister-in-law) comes to visit, it calls for doing everything you can possibly fit in. The weather was every extreme - from warm and sunny to cold and really snowy. We took advantage of being together and went out and explored. One of the highlights was showing Kundalini one of the nearby Hot Springs, followed by an impromptu photo shoot overlooking the river.

McCall Idaho Winter Maternity Session | Morgan + Matt

Morgan and Matt

What a moving experience to get to spend time with glowing Morgan and Matt. They wanted a snow maternity shoot and I was all in! Due to have their baby within a couple of weeks - the timing was perfect. She was radiant in her burgundy Infinity dress by Henkaa. Emily Farr from Dahlia Salon did a fabulous job with Morgan’s hair and makeup. Such a magical time to share in these sweet moments, basking in the weeks before their little one was born ~ 🌸

Landscape. Valley County, ID

In early August, Idaho became our full-time home. We have been here on vacations in summers and winter, but this time it is permanent. Our family ties here go way back.

What an incredible world it is. It has been especially fun to witness the change of seasons - for the most part, this transition in McCall has evaded my awareness. The lake gets lower, the rivers run thinner, the trees put on a magical show and the skies get more striking. If that is even possible. Experiencing the shifting crispness in the air and the moodier light is almost spiritual. It is so good to be home.

Glamorous Mountain Wedding. Santa Cruz Mountains, CA

Christina and Brian

Set in the magical garden of the bride's Oma, the wedding between Christina and Brian was absolutely stunning.  It was a hot afternoon, which adeptly set the stage for a memorable wedding.  Every detail was thoughtful, and the bride and groom were radiant, basking in the love surrounding them by their family and friends.

Fashion Editorial. Yosemite National Park, CA

We got inspired to do a photo shoot at sunset with four lovely young women from our group. (A couple of them I have known since they were babies).  Time is so fleeting and it was fun to document their glowing beauty at this point in their lives.   They were good troopers, happily posing in bare feet at Stoneman's Meadow.   It was a short bike ride over to the meadow, and everyone seemed pleased with the outcome.  

Landscape. Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, CA

4:30 am was especially easy to wake up to with the promise of sunrise over Half Dome. 

Some friends invited us to join in their family's traditional Yosemite trip, camping in the valley floor in housekeeping.   What a pleasant surprise!  I was wary of being part of a group of 40, but it turned out to be an incredible time. 

We had easy access to everything and no real need to drive if we didn't want to.  This morning we chose to drive the hour trip up to Glacier Point.  A friend from the group had done it the day before and I was eager to see for myself.  At midnight the night before I made the decision.  I told my husband, Karl, what I was thinking and he was game.  He was looking forward at the prospect of the one way 7 mile hike back down past Vernal Falls ending at Happy Isles.  I drove back solo to camp with far too many beautiful things to savor in that early morning glow.  

We told the kids about it when we both returned and ended up repeating the trip the very next day.  Our younger son was excited to make a time lapse of the sun rising over Half Dome.  Truly a spectacular show.