Stephanie & Scott's Backyard Wedding

Stephanie & Scott's Backyard Wedding was as beautiful as weddings get. The outstanding backyard was provided by Stephanie’s cousin, in Salem, OR. June 4th by all means should have been a beautiful mild summer day but not in Salem…the forecast was set for showers all day! Luckily the only part of the wedding scheduled to be completely outside was the ceremony, following a hunch and an hour-by-hour forecast, Stephanie moved the ceremony portion of the wedding up 1.5 hours and because her guest list was 40-50 guests she had no problem communicating the change. Good thing she did, because the ceremony was completely dry! It was a miracle and only performed by God’s grace! Other memorable features of this wedding were the coordinated guest outfits, light saber war, and the breathtaking florals and water features.

Cater - Wild Pear

Floral - Distinctive Designs by Denise

Rentals - For the Love of Pete & AtoZ Rentals

Cake - Brandy’s All City Sweets

Senior Cap & Gown Session

Had a great time running around with Ella during her Senior Graduation session called a “Cap & Gown Mini Session”. We used Deepwood Estates in Salem, OR to photograph her in many different beautiful scenes. Salem in May is such a beautiful place to be, with all our rain we got the flowers were out in full force which was so fun to photograph with.

Newborn Lifestyle Session with the Small Family

Let’s hear for the baby booooom going on!! I’m loving all the newborn sessions I’ve been doing and it’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Newborn photography can capture some of the sweetest raw moments of a family expanding. I love the excitement and joy a newborn brings to a family, it will never get old! Courtney and Drew recently welcomed baby Lucy…she has twin big brothers that I know will show her the ropes :)

Haley & Karl

Haley & Karl’s wedding was a winter dream, everything down to the finer details was so beautiful and so well put together. Haley chose to wear a dress that her grandmother and mother wore for their wedding, how cool is that? Their January wedding took place at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem, OR. The large windows and weathered brick worked together so beautifully in this location. I loved working with Haley & Karl’s wedding party, they were so fun and down for anything I was going to make them do, ha!

Ring - Helzberg Diamonds (wedding bands) Elegant Jewelers (engagement ring)

Cater - Heidi Woodworth

Wedding Planner - Lorie Ramey

Videographer - Cascara Films

Rentals - For the Love of Pete

Invitations - Shutterfly

MakeUp/Hair - Alison Mora

Donuts - Krispy Kreme

In-Home Newborn Session

I was so excited when Shaylee contacted me to do a photograph baby Peter’s newborn session in their beautiful home. Newborn photography session’s are some of the sweetest moments to capture. Capturing how Peter’s brothers loved on him, got excited to hold him and couldn’t wait to play with him were so adorable! Newborn sessions are quickly becoming a favorite!

Studio Family & Maternity Session

February is a great time for indoor photography here in Salem, Oregon at The Gray Lab. I had a wonderful time with Courtney, Drew and their two adorable twin boys as they anticipate the birth of their third baby….a girl!!! The studio was a perfect, warm backdrop that also helped to wrangle two energetic boys. I think I could photograph Finn and Jack all day, their eyes were soo incredible!

Brand Shoot - The Physical Therapy Project

Last month I had the wonderful opportunity to do a brand shoot for The Physical Therapy Project. They are a Salem, Oregon based physical therapy clinic specializing in sports performance and injury recovery. This was a different sort of photography session then I was used to and I loved it! Sometimes variety can freshen up your perspectives in a way you never thought possible. Loved the models I got to work with and the different type of creativity I got to tap into for this shoot.

Top 3 Reasons for a Backyard Wedding

In the day and age of Covid restrictions, travel hassles and everything else brides and grooms have to face while planning a wedding, many may consider a backyard wedding as a last resort. But lemme tell you, they can be incredible! Here are 3 reasons a backyard wedding is the way to go!

1. Intimate Guest list

While we would all love to party down with our freshman year college roommate or a co-worker you used to work with a few jobs back, a smaller guest list will magnify who IS attending your wedding. Those in your inner circle of family and friends will stand out, they’ll interact with YOU more, and you know there is nothing but love they are wishing you and your soul mate.

2. Inexpensive while Extravagant

This one is a bit obvious, your budget can pack quite the punch with a smaller guest list and a backyard venue. You may even have enough in your budget to afford that giant light up “Just Married” sign, to rent a Karaoke machine, or rent the extended table so all your guests can dine together to really make your guests feel they are attending a very special event.

3. Venue Restrictions… Buh-bye!

You are required to use our in-house caterer. No alcohol. Wedding must end by 9:00pm. Venue must be cleaned and cleared out by 10:00pm. Event insurance required. Extra rental fee to decorate early. No confetti allowed. And the list goes on. Now don’t get me wrong, there are great reasons venue’s have their own restrictions but if you’re considering a backyard wedding the added benefit is that you set the rules…if any!

And there you have it! 3 great reasons why a backyard wedding can exceed your expectations and truly make a memorable day you can look back on and be proud of. For more pictures of this fun backyard wedding, check out my blog post full of fun images!

Meekoh & Chandler

Meekoh and Chandler’s wedding was straight perfection. Their wedding had style written all over it, on trend florals, stylish centerpieces, neon accents, mood lighting….every detail was planned out according to M&C’s vision and executed perfectly. Set at Running Y Ranch Resort in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the location had a chic, desert vibe with all the amenities for guests to be entertained and comfortable during their stay for the wedding.

Dress: David’s Bridal

Ring: Burbank Jewelry Outlet

DJ: Casey Vann Pure Pulse Entertainment

Cater: Running Y Ranch

Florist: Fry Family Farms

Wedding Coordinator: Angelica (simply elegant seating)

Videographer: Nick Alexander Films

Rentals: Motif Event Rentals and Party Time

Invitations: Minted

Hair: Kristen Kurey

Makeup: Kristen Kurey and Chandler

Dessert: Haley Sobotta (cynder desserts)

Linens: Angelica (Simply Elegant Seating)

Venue: Running Y Ranch

Kevin & Kaylie - Backyard Wedding

Kevin and Kaylie had the most beautiful backyard wedding in Beaverton, OR last month. They invited 20-30 of their closest friends and family to share in their special day. They made the day theirs with customized signs, favors, cake and dessert station did I mention a giant light up Just Married sign? Kevin’s parent’s backyard had a beautiful long table that all guests were able to gather around, their dance floor was the back patio and their ceremony took place at the neighborhood park and gazebo that they rented! Their wedding was so special and I am so honored that they chose me to be their wedding photographer!

Dress - BHLDN Whispers , Echoes Milano Gown

Ring - Shane Co.

Cater - QDOBA

Videographer - Richardson Media

Rentals - Lily & Cane / The Party Pros

Invitations - Minted

Other - Cake It

Christine & Taylor

Christine and Taylor’s wedding was so much fun and so full of heart. I love to photograph weddings, especially because you see love on full display everywhere you look. Ron’s Pond was a wonderful back drop for Taylor and Christine, you felt like you were in the middle of forest, which is right where they both love to be!

Ally + Spencer

Ohh man where do I begin. I knew from our first phone consult that Ally’s wedding was going to be special. Ally’s attention to detail, organization, the way she added special moments into her timeline made her wedding day gorgeous and so fun for all involved. Eola Hills was the perfect backdrop to Ally and Spencer’s special day. I love it when my bride’s and groom’s embrace their wedding day to make it a truly special experience!

Dress - Bridal Gallery

Rings - Shane Co

DJ - Audio To Go

Cater - Divine Catering

Cupcakes - Sweetly Baked

Rentals - For the love of Pete

Invitations - Made by the bride!

MakeUp/Hair - Hair - Bel Salone, Meg Harris.

Other - Coordinator, Events by Lisa Marie - She is in fact an angel on earth.

Jazmyn

Senior picture season is in full swing over here! Jazmyn’s senior pictures were so fun to take! We started off at Silverton High School and ended in beautiful downtown Silverton, OR. Jazmyn was so great, relaxed and down with where ever I wanted to put her :)

Noah's Childhood Session

I had the honor to photograph this little boy Noah, and his mom, Katie. We had 3 different locations to capture Noah and his mom together. We first stopped by The Grey Lab in downtown Salem, OR. The beautiful light and neutral backdrop really made Noah pop out of the images. Next we went to Dulce Mama’s in Salem, OR for a fun ice cream break. Lastly we made it to a park for Noah to splash around and play with rocks…typical little boy fun!

Ali & Alex

I had the privilege of being hired as the photographer for Ali & Alex’s wedding at Horning’s Hideout in North Plains, Oregon.  It was a lovely wedding day made even more special by the details Ali & Alex included in their day, from the lawn games to the souvenir beer cups guests got to take home. They kept the guest list small for their wedding, making the whole day feel that much more intimate. 

Hansen Fam

I love seeing having return clients!!! I first met Haylee when Cloe was just a newborn and we did an in-home lifestyle newborn session. This sweet little family was so fun, we found a nice little park in Albany, OR to meet at. It was an extra special time because Jake is leaving for his work soon, for several months, so capturing Haylee and Jake’s love was really important to me.

Client Closet

Check out all the items I have for you to borrow for our session! Let me know if anything jumps out at you and I’ll be sure to pull it.

Baby

Girls

Boys

Women

Shoes & Accessories

Morgan's Maternity

Morgan’s maternity session was such a dream. Morgan vision for her maternity session was perfect and I was so happy I could help her bring it to life. Her outfit choice was on point and those choices helped to create stunning emotive images. We shot at The Gray Lab in downtown Salem, OR. I can’t tell you how much I loved this session!

Johnson Family

The Johnson Family is always a good time, not only because Mom, Erin, and I have known each other since we were 5, but because they always bring the love and connection that fuels my lil photography heart. For this session we went to Talking Waters in Albany, OR on an early fall afternoon.

James and Kim’s Wedding at Yellow Gold Farms in Albany, OR

Awww it’s winter now and I’m able to catch up on some summer sessions and weddings. Kim & James, what can I say about these two. They were absolutely stunning, both of them (but I mean mostly Kim, I mean come on)! Their day was filled with personal touches, loved ones they held dear and a beautiful day at a beautiful venue, Yellow Gold Farms in Albany, OR. Kim and James were so relaxed and genuinely enjoyed their special day with their most special people.

Venue: Yellow Gold Farms

Catering: Capricorn Catering

Ring: Blue Nile Diamonds

Dress: Bridal Exclusives