Getting Creative || Family Portrait Photography || Bend Oregon

I adore this quote and sometimes have to remind myself to go have FUN!

Creativity is intelligence having fun. 

~ Albert Einstein

Shot with my iPhone - posted to my Instagram account:

@kteichrowfamily

Just a girl and her Papa! || Bend Oregon Photographer

Miss V came back to the studio last week and we captured some really fun shots of she & her Papa! Precious memories to last a lifetime... AND, I got my very own Frozen concert - can you guess what she's singing??

Nearly a Year in the Making || Bend Oregon Photographer

A Community of Smiles began as dream – an internal plea after an uncommonly hectic job, where I said to myself, “I just want my work to matter!”  Through hard work this dream has come true in a big way – I have partnered with Central Oregon Disability SupportNetwork (CODSN) to write & receive a generous grant from the MCM Giving Fund that provides a family portrait experience and artwork ready to enjoy. 

The mission is for families who have more on their parenting plates than the typical family to experience family photography without a second thought in regards to their budget. It was also important for me to be sure they were able to bring home tangible memories of this precious and fleeting time in their lives – to remember every moment with their children and/or partners regardless of abilities. These tangible memories are in the form of an art package, which includes prints, a digital archive of their session, and a gorgeous piece of artwork for their walls from my canvas supplier (and generous discount-contributor), Artsy Couture. 

Through the images, 
we can clearly see that positive relationships 
are not defined by the term disability.

Please join us in celebrating A Community of Smiles at First Friday between 5:00 and 7:00pm at Crows Feet Commons in Downtown Bend, where families get to see their artwork in person for the first time!

And... stay tuned for more projects with the gorgeous families!

Now Booking Summer Family Portrait Sessions || Bend, Oregon Photographer

They grow so fast. Life is busy.  Where did the time go?

The clichés are true, I know, as I'm living it now. 

We long to hold on to the fleeting moments of our children’s childhood. We have intentions of honoring those big and little moments, but life has a way of moving forward. Photography is a way we can hold on to the past, while allowing life to move beautifully forward. 

Photography is a means to capture those moments, and prints, wall art and albums are a way to pause honor those moments and relationships. 

Professional photography is, indeed, an investment, but it’s an investment in heirlooms for your family – which will be enjoyed and honored by generations to come. 

Where do you start? Choose that style of session that suits your family, and then give some thought into what you'd like to create from those images. Consider something beautiful for your walls, an album to cherish for ever, or prints to share with family.

Choose your photographer wisely - as the moments will, indeed, last a lifetime.

Now booking summer family sessions.

'SUP, pups? Dogs on a Paddle Board at Sparks Lake || Bend, Oregon Photographer

I'm sure you all recognize these handsome pups! Here is a sneak peek that I simply couldn't resist from last night's gorgeous adventure... 

These amazing dogs are always ready to pose... and last night was so much fun at Sparks Lake! 

More to come these amazing dogs... but for now... Happy Friday, Fun-Day!

Want to know more about these awesome dogs? Check out the their "mom's" Border Collie rescue here!

Friday Fun-Day and putting the Studio through its paces || Bend Oregon Photography

I adore Fridays! It's the one day where I try to focus on something a little extra FUN! 

Today is no exception, as I invited a few friends over to help me put the studio through its paces! Its giving me the opportunity to find some great natural light, as well as how I can set up the space for studio lights as well!  Here's a sneak peek of this morning's visitors... a couple of silly (and adorable) brothers!

Traditions || Bend Oregon Photography

We love Todd Lake - and consider it one of the Teichrow Family Traditions, to begin our Fourth of July exploring its beauty! There were a few crazy years where we hit the downtown Pet Parade, then Todd Lake, and wrapped the day up with fireworks. Needless to say, the little ones were TUCKERED out by the end of those days.

Yesterday we dropped everything and continued the tradition after a couple-year hiatus... due to schedules and, actually, snow pack! 

This is a banner year - and was a gorgeous day. One of the things I wanted to do was recreate this image from 2005... one of our family favorites that hangs in permanent residence in the gallery wall in our kitchen. I often change the photos out - but this one has a special spot in my heart... and I think it will stay there for a long, long time. 

I think, however, that the shot I took yesterday, may live "next door" to it on the gallery wall. I love it nearly as much - and love to think about how much the boys have grown since then. 

What family traditions do you have, and are they captured in photographs? Family traditions are great inspirations for photo sessions!  Your family will treasure the images for generations to come!

Nearing the end of Construction || Bend Oregon Photographer

As I'm spending time assembling IKEA pieces and soaking up the COOL A/C in my new space - it's fun to take a peek back at the progress...

Early Spring Progress:

Stay tuned for more collages - and sneaks into what's coming this fall!

Falling in Love... all over again || Bend Oregon Photographer

For me, storytelling photography has been a personal passion, and I've been honored to carry that story through to other families and businesses as well.

Reflecting back on images, and being able to read the emotions of what we experienced is an incredible gift for anyone.

I know I'll look back on this evening and my heart will melt a little in remembering a sweet farewell as my husband packed up the boys to drive Sam to Grandpa & Grandma at the coast, and Max to his first week away from family to attend a basketball camp four hours away - and how I completely lost it as the truck drove away...

I was totally surprised by my reaction and reaching out to my husband – I texted him.

What came next rocked my world, melted my heart and made me fall in love all over again – with my son...

Don't put off 'til tomorrow - the photographs I can capture TODAY!

Just because you're moving tomorrow - doesn't mean you can't do a family session today, right?

Capturing family photographs can be as simple as hiring a photographer to drop by and take some pictures. At least that's MY style of photography. Now, granted, my dear clients had some adorable clothes already picked out for general spring use (in fact, their 5 year old asks every time Mama buys a dress - "Is this for Kimberly?") - but she wasn't afraid to invite me over, the day before they move out of town, to capture their family - and their youngest's first birthday pictures.

While backgrounds, props and studio lighting can result in beautiful photography (and I DO create those types of images as well, to be sure), sometimes just hanging out at home, in your own element, will create real-life memories of your children's childhood. Known as Lifestyle Photography, these folks will look back on these images in 5, 10 and 30 years, and remember what it felt like to be a family. They'll remember what it felt like to live in this house - even though a few of these kiddos are too young to remember vivid details. They'll be able to look back on the photographs and FEEL their childhood. I've been told time and time again - being able to take pictures in your own home is very relaxing and easy for the kids to feel comfortable.

I love that.

So, in the end, don't put off til tomorrow - the photographs that I can capture for you TODAY.

You won't be sorry.