Puppy Love || Bend Oregon Photographer

I loved my time with Old Man Bentley & the new kid on the block, Lincoln!

What a great way to welcome the little man into the family - and remember just how tiny he was when Mama brought him home!  Thanks for letting me be a part of his memories!

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!

It got WILD in Sunriver last weekend || Bend Oregon Photographer

I love helping one of my favorite gems of Central Oregon get quality photographs to share their message. The Sunriver Nature Center is worth the visit, if you haven't been there already. Family friendly and full of great summer programming - you may have missed the Wildflower Show this year - but mark it on the calendar for next year! Fabulous lectures... beautiful wildflower exhibit & even a native plant sale. Sign up for SNC's newsletter to stay on top of their programming!

Enjoy the WILD Flower parade:

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.

Chasing the Moonrise || Bend Oregon Photographer

Sometimes, in the middle of a busy life, you simply have to drop everything and chase a (full) moonrise. We did just that last night - and had a great adventure - complete with tripod, CamRanger, iPad & fancy camera - and wrapped up with drive through DQ!

Here are a few of our highlights!

Triggered by the iPad behind me, which was hooked up to the Camranger, which sends images BACK to the iPad - I then used Airdrop and sent it to my iPhone (iPad is wifi only) - and threw this one up on Instagram from the top of the Butte, which, incidentally, had awesome reception)

Smoke stream from the prescribed burn today. 

Daytime? Nope. 8 second exposure. 

Pilot & Awbry Butte, and city lights. 

Ohhh... new lens! Getting up close (r)

Unwinding from Texas School || Bend Oregon Photographer

What I have come to love about Texas School of Professional Photography is the caliber of instruction, as well as the opportunity to really focus on my craft. I've learned so much this week, about light, about crafting portraits, I'm very excited to start implementing what I've learned. 

Our class was very hands-on, we photographed models in small groups every day, as well as spent time in critiques from this shoots. Carl was a wonderful teacher, as well as pseudo-boss, as I was one of the classroom assistants (of course, called Wranglers here at Texas School). I enjoyed helping where I could, as well as taking away some very practical knowledge.

Enjoy these images I made of our models during the week. My favorite, of course, was Ben - as he reminded me of my two knuckleheads at home. I can't WAIT to squeeze those not-so-little turkeys tomorrow night when I get home. 

Two Reasons to Smile || Bend Oregon Photography

Last week, on a whim I decided I wanted to give a {real} Easter Bunny Encounter away to what I had hoped, would be a deserving family.

Well... I did not find one single family.

I found TWO!

While I received a bunch well-deserving nominations, two stories in particular warmed my heart - and I felt they both needed to come in and enjoy some bunny-love!

Here are a couple of sneak peeks of each family - and a brief account of their story... and to each of them - I extend my heartfelt THANK YOU for allowing me to capture these memories for you.

Introducing the Andrews Family!

I received not one, but TWO nominations for this young man & his family.

Doesn't he have the sweetest smile ever? 

Introducing the McCarthy Family!

This gorgeous family of six is currently facing a battle with breast cancer.

Never having had professional portraits - I about fell on the floor when the girls walked in wearing their mom's and aunt's Easter dresses from over 30 years ago. 

What amazing outfits for their first portraits!

How cute are they?

You can look forward to hearing more about each of these families in the coming weeks, 

because for now, I've got a bunch of bunny-editing to do!