Seattle Maternity Session | Magnuson Park
I love it when expecting moms to reach out about doing photo sessions over the course of their pregnancy, hospital delivery, and raising their new baby. This mom was so sweet and easy to connect with over the phone that I couldn’t wait to photograph her maternity session. Both she and her husband are from Australia and we had an amazing time getting to know each other while exploring Magnuson for photos. Can you believe how beautiful she looks? And you wouldn’t know it, but the temps were pretty low this February evening. Stephanie was so warm from the pregnancy that it didn’t bother her one bit. Adam and I were a little jealous ;) I’m so excited to continue to photograph this crew, and I can’t wait to meet their baby in May!
S & O | a mom and son session
If you think you need to host a big event for a reason to hire a photographer, let me be the person to tell you that you’re wrong. Some of my favorite sessions have been the most simple or habitual ones. On Valentine’s day, I did a mother and son session with Shauna and her littlest boy, and I felt lucky to capture something so intimate and so pure. They spent about 25 minutes in the spare bedroom being so authentically themselves, together. It was almost as if I wasn’t there. There were cuddles and giggles, still moments and storytelling, and in the end, Shauna lit a candle and sang to Owen for his upcoming third birthday. I’ve always respected Shauna for cherishing the moment and capturing her babies in all of their phases. I’m excited for her family to have these images when Owen is older, and when the thought of him fitting in her lap is a distant memory.
Alpine Lakes Wilderness | Backpacking in the Enchantments Core
Last summer, I backpacked the Enchantments (Alpine Lakes Wilderness,) with seven of my college friends and it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced. See my feature on She Explores here. And if you have a desire to get married or elopement in this stunning part of the PNW, get in touch!!
Best Portrait Photographers of the Year | LOOKSLIKEFILM
I was thrilled to hear that one of my images made it in the Lookslikefilm portraits of the year selection. My favorite part about this photo is that it wasn’t planned. That said, can you ever plan how kids will act/react? I was taking newborn photos of this little one’s new sister, and her mom asked for a feeding break. I decided to go hang out with big sister in her bedroom and she jumped up on the bench right as the sun was shining through the clouds. I asked her if I could put “Big Bunny” on the bench with her and she yelled “of course!” and then snuggled him close. Within seconds, the sun was covered and she was all the way on the other side of the room. If there’s anything I’ve learned from family photography, it’s that Kids move quickly! Almost as quickly as the sun in Seattle ;) .
Grab some tea and scroll through the article, there are so many beautiful portraits in here: http://bit.ly/lookslikefilm
Mt. Hood National Forest | Oregon
Family Session | Washington Park Arboretum | Seattle
This Seattle session started with a hail storm and turned into some kind of magic.
Family Session | Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill
Sylvia & David Wedding | Lake Cushman
Family photo season is winding down and I’m excited to share more of what I’ve been working on this year! Here’s a look at David and Sylvia’s wedding at their family cabin on Lake Cushman. Located on the fork of the Skykomish river and a 2-hour drive from Seattle, this place is something special. To put it simply, it was an insanely beautiful day spent photographing two of the sweetest people on the planet.
Newborn Lifestyle Session | Seattle Family
Let’s be real for a moment: newborn sessions can be a challenge. Many babies are feeling tired, hungry, and gassy, and we expect then to calm down for at least an hour of photos. These variables take quite a bit of skill and patience to combat…and even then, a sleepy baby is not always realistic—but you know what? I always leave these sessions feeling so warm inside. This mamma and I had so much fun getting to know each other between feeds and baby breaks. I secretly knew we’d get along, as her love for animal rescue is just as strong as her love for her new baby. Dad even made it home from work for a few— and we were able to wrap baby up in his old Oregon Ducks Jersey! And yes…I did balance his football on top of his newborn. Scroll through and try not to smile at the many sweet moments we captured at this newborn session.
Senior Session | Christiansen's Nursery
Caven chose Christiansen’s Nursery in Mt. Vernon for her senior portrait session, and the night before our shoot, she asked if it was okay if she brought her family’s new puppy. Not only a puppy, but an 8 week Bernese Mountain dog. I tried to contain my excitement- a greenhouse and a puppy? What more could one want? Aside from those two magical things, Caven was such a treat to photograph. Her best friend was back from college, so I had a helper to make Caven giggle the whole time (it worked!) Scroll through and try to convince me this isn’t one the coolest high school seniors you’ve ever seen. I’m so pleased with how these turned out, and can’t wait to do more senior sessions in Seattle this year!
Engagement Sunset Session | Discovery Park
When Maddie and Alex reached out to me for some engagement photos, I was beyond excited. Maddie was a friend of Dan’s in high school and we all went to the same college. She was a year older, so we didn’t know each other super well, but every time we chatted, I left the conversation with such a smile on my face. Our photo session took about 6 months to get on the calendar due to lots of last-minute schedule changes (thanks Maddie and Alex for your flexibility,) but when we finally made it happen..everything felt so right. They are both so fun and easy to be around, and their love for one another translates so clearly through the lens. Even better, I convinced Dan to second shoot for me! So the whole thing felt like a double date in a beautiful place. (We couldn’t forget the Coors Banquet..) Scroll to the bottom and see how pink the light turned! By the end of the shoot, we were all in such awe that parks like this are right in our backyard. The PNW is something special.
Seattle Family Session | Pioneer Square Studio at Bemis Arts Building
Located in the heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square, the Bemis studio is filled with just as much character as it has window light. Whether you’re in need of a family session, some headshots, or a newborn session, I always leave these sessions feeling so inspired. Get in touch if you’re worried about the Seattle “winter” getting in the way of your photo session! A studio shoot might be the perfect option.
Family Lifestyle Session | Discovery Park | Seattle, WA
It’s hard to put into words how magical this shoot was and how special this family is to me. Here’s an excerpt from Shauna’s thoughts on our session. I love reading it because it gives you a more personal experience with these images. My lifestyle sessions are not about smiling for the camera, they’re about making memories with the ones you love most…I’ll be somewhere nearby capturing those sweet moments..
“Right before this, there was a hailstorm... I didn’t know if I was gonna get rained on the whole shoot or not but the rain stopped & the sun came out. I was exhausted// it had been a long stressful month and I didn’t feel much like smiling so I was a little less sharp & a lot more hazy than I would like to be. But having this hour on the beach with my family was good timing... the temperature was just right/& the wind blowing / the sun breaking. The boys played around in the driftwood where Owen hid in a log house (and crapped his pants 💩) Dane took him back to the car to get cleaned him up//earning him quite a few husband points/and so I got a break & felt like a queen getting pictures with Evan & then the rest of my guys 😂👸🏼. My attention was on being with them & this beautiful park which has been a favorite for so long. I was too tired to worry about how I looked & too swept up by the fresh air to remember to care. I felt a rising sensation in my chest+mind/weightlessness I had not felt for some time...I guess it was joy/and that is what I will remember from the photos. Thanks, Catie Bergman for capturing my heart ❤️ @ Seattle's Discovery Park “ -Shauna
Planning the Location for Your Fall Family Photography Session | Seattle, WA
Are you one of those people that counts down the days until October? You live for the moment when the colors begin to turn, the air smells crisp, the leaves are extra crunchy, and that adorable blue knitted outfit you got last winter is finally acceptable to wear again! (see above.)
Or maybe you are that someone who loves to plan ahead - you’re dying to get your Christmas card photos done before the craziness ensues. ( I don’t blame you!) Either way, now is the perfect time to start planning you fall family photo session! Below are a few of my favorite autumn locations in the Seattle area. But these are just the beginning! If you are ready to start planning are shoot together, get in touch here.
Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens
gAS WORKS Park
CARKEEK Park
Your Backyard
North Seattle College
GET IN TOUCH
Seattle Newborn Lifestyle Session
Seattle Family Photos: Autumn at the Arboretum
Seattle Fall Family Lifestyle Session
Emma & Josh, Mt. Rainier Forest Wedding
This sweet wedding was nestled in a forest right at the base of Mt. Rainier, at an amazing venue called Wellspring Spa. I’m still swooning over all the beautiful details, musicians, and outdoor spaces that made this wedding so tranquil and unique. I had so much fun getting to shoot alongside Loewyn of Pale Quail Photography Scroll to the bottom to see the best wedding desert I’ve ever seen.
