Well, if there’s one good thing about a global pandemic it’s that I finally have time to catch up on sharing work. Anika + Elton are masterful creatives and also adorably in love. We came together to create this set for a music project, and it was so fun to think a little outside my normal box. I loved the bold, direct light and the architectural elements of the parking garage.
Most of my boudoir clients get in touch with me around major life events. Weddings, big birthdays, starting a family, it’s all a good opportunity to stop and just take a second to love yourself. But, I also get lots of clients who just want to carve out some time in everyday life to create images that they feel show their heart and spirit, and that makes me so happy!
Where to begin with all of this? The last couple weeks have been heartbreaking, bizarre, uplifting, confusing, restful and unrestful, all at once. As a person who depends on social gatherings for a living, it’s scary times. But I’m also heartened by what’s happened with all of this down time. Seeing families gathered and doing the most random things to bond, from painters tape obstacle courses to farm work to movie nights. I love seeing how human connection rings true, even if it has to be through digital medium.
I think, just maybe, that’s why I’m feeling like it’s time to bring back some personal in this blog.
A little background, I used to write a personal lifestyle blog. Like way back in 2009, when it was the popular thing to do. I was still in college, and scraping together my budget to make outfits happen. I was constantly inspired by blogs and the idea of a whole little world meant for sharing and personal documentation. The idea of lifting a little curtain into someone’s reality was exciting. After all, the best stories are true.
Things got in the way and eventually my blogging led me to a full time job with a company that I stayed with for over six years, and then when my soul asked me to step back into creative entrepreneurial work, photography was a welcome space.
With this work, I spend a lot of time and energy telling others’ stories. And it’s the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. But, if in the spirit of my heart’s content, I’m doing what I feel called to do, it’s more of an exchange. I want to share my story, too. I want to preserve my own memories for future versions of myself and for my family to look back on as we grow. To give yourself the gift of a written and visual legacy is to give yourself the gift of immortality. Words and images from the past hold ghosts of memories that can only be accessed through them.
So here I’ll begin… again.
In the unsettling days leading up to the fall of normalcy as we know it, I had planned for a short getaway to Vashon Island. Originally it was intended to be a creative retreat for just me. As the days drew closer, and the sprouts of this awful virus were starting to pop everywhere, I realized that what I really needed was time with my husband and baby, and to be enclosed in nature with them.
We spent two nights in this cozy cabin tending fires, cooking meals, and walking the incredible grounds. News was starting to flood in, so the worry was there, too, but every time we got into the woods or down to the water, I forgot. And it was magic.
I spent the whole thing wearing exactly this:
I’m wearing an Everlane tee and Madewell jeans. I’m excited to announce that I’m in a new partnership with Everlane! You might see more pieces from them here and there, because their classic pieces perfectly fit my lifestyle right now. I stand by their direct-to-consumer pricing, and ethical business practices and transparency.
The sun streaming in through the windows every morning was seriously magical. I woke with the sun, sipped coffee and soaked in those rays. I’m glad we made it before this quarantine period, and I’ll hold onto those sweet memories forever.
Sammy & Alejandro are planning a destination wedding and asked me to capture their engagement session. Sammy had been following on Instagram, and I love the joy of meeting people in real life from that crazy little app!
Discovery Park is one of my favorite spots for engagement photos in Seattle because it’s so beautiful all year round, it’s one of the only spots I know if that has a vast grassy field overlooking water, and it’s a good walk from the parking lot to the area I like to shoot, which means we get plenty of time to get to know each other. I try to never start shooting until I feel like there’s a solid baseline of trust between me and my couple. I want to be able to pick up on their energy, read their cues and really tell their true story, never just run them through a bunch of poses I use with everyone.
After the park, we ran over to the downtown area of Magnolia to switch up the vibe. We grabbed a coffee and wandered. Without a specific plan, we just followed the light and looked for spots that felt right. To me, it’s so much better than pre-scouting a spot and then having the light change, and nothing is the way I thought it would be. This way, it’s a bit of a hunt we go on together, and feels like an adventure. There’s always good light to be found in Seattle.
Updated to include film scans from this day! Shooting film is becoming a passion of mine quickly. It’s a way to offer a totally fresh and different perspective to a digital set of images. I love the texture and the of-the-moment sense.
