In addition to senior pictures, I got to do a lot of fun portrait sessions this summer. I love the energy and personality that comes out of portrait sessions because they’re always different, every time. Below are some of the highlights from the last few months.
Huge thank you to all my seniors who trusted me this summer & chose to do their senior portraits with me. Below are some of my favorites.
Last week I had the honor of shooting my very first wedding.
I’m very humbled that my lovely friend, Liz, asked me to do this. She’s also a photographer. I met her through grad school at Portland State.
The thing that I learned pretty quickly with shooting weddings is that it’s more than just a typical portrait shoot. You’re not just taking pictures of a subject or an event – you’re taking pictures of one of the most important days in someone’s life. It really hit me during the ceremony. I was humbled. Not only was I allowed to witness this beautiful moment, I was asked to capture it on camera. Amazing.
Maybe this feeling of overwhelming humility wears off over time, but I really hope not. I’m not planning on going into photography as a full-time career path. I plan on keeping it as a side thing. Mostly, I do photography for publicity and social media. But if a friend asks me to take headshots or they need someone to take some pictures at an event for their website, I’m more than willing to step in and help. Being asked to do a wedding is such an honor to me. It blows my mind that I would be given the important task of capturing the whole day – forever. Being asked to capture something like this is no small request, and I cannot thank Liz enough for trusting me with this.
I’m not going to call myself an official photographer. That’s why photography is not at the top of my services page; I’ve got a lot of other things going on right now. I’m technically working three jobs at the moment, so starting my own photography business honestly sounds like a nightmare. There are a lot of other more well-established photographers who have put much more time and work into getting where they are. Trust me when I say they deserve your money a lot more than I do. In fact, I can even recommend some to you if you’d like.
Maybe down the road photography will become more of a frontlist business project for me, but for now, it provides a great hobby that gives me a break from reading and writing all the time. Don’t get me wrong – I love reading and writing. That’s why I’m in the publishing business. But I need other creative outlets outside of those things. Besides playing viola and taking pictures, I’ve also started drawing. Trust me when I say I’m no Picasso, but it’s still a great way to give my mind a break and my hands something to do. I’m one of those people that can’t really stop moving, unfortunately. It’s more of a curse than a blessing.
While I’m here mostly to talk about why I’m not calling myself an official photographer, I want to make it clear that I am still beyond grateful to take part in something like Liz’s wedding. She’s a beautiful bride. I mean, look at her.
Photography is a special and intricate thing. It opens doors into special moments in someone’s life that you wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise witness. I’m excited moving forward. And, as always, if you’re interested in any of my services, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Congratulations to Brian & Liz!
Yesterday, I went to Opal Creek for the first time ever. I know. A true Oregonian who has never hiked Opal Creek? What have I even been doing with my life?
The place was beautiful. It really lived up to the hype. But what made more of an impression on me was the eerie abandoned mines near the creek. Me and two girls were exploring off the main trail when we found some of these mine entrances that give off total horror-story vibes. I wrote a nosleep story to go with one of the pictures I took – will post later.
The girls I went with are currently in high school, and I’m so glad I went with them instead of the usual crowd. They dragged me all the way up the river. Like, literally through the river. We didn’t hardly even hike the main trail, and it was great. At one point, I slipped on a rock and fell completely in the water. Yes, I was wearing my camera. But don’t worry; I made sure to fall backwards.
There’s something great about finding friends that are willing to go out of their comfort zone and just dive into the water. Find yourself a couple people you can always rely on to go on adventures. You’ll be surprised at the places they’ll take you.
If you’re ever in the PNW around Salem, Oregon, I highly encourage you to take the trip out to Stahlman Point. It’s a 5-mile hike round-trip up a hill overlooking Detroit Lake and the surrounding valley. Both times I’ve done it I’ve tried to get to the top by sunrise, but I always vastly underestimate my physical ability and the time the sun actually rises. The view is so worth it.
