Matt & Ria | Wedding at McMenamin’s Gearhart Hotel

Planning a wedding on the Oregon Coast is difficult for so many couples. While you can control many elements of your day, you can’t control the weather. As a wedding photographer I have photographed outdoor coast weddings in wind, rain, clouds and sun. You roll with the punches, listen to your clients, and think about their comfort over your own.

Thankfully Matt and Ria had little to worry about on their August wedding day at the McMenamin’s Gearhart Hotel. Rather than stay overnight, I drove out to the coast the morning of the wedding. When I left Portland it was in the 80s with a forecast for the mid-90s. By the time I arrived in Gearhart, a small town just four miles north of Seaside, the weather was cold, overcast and a bit foggy/misty. And with an outdoor ceremony just a couple hours away, I wasn’t sure what Mother Nature would toss at us.

Thankfully by ceremony time, Matt and Ria’s celebration at the McMenamin’s Gearhart Hotel was picture perfect. The couple was blessed with sun and blue skies. Even a little bit of heat. 🙂

The couple’s wedding had a beach/nautical theme that was so perfect for the setting. Their amazing cake was made by the groom’s step-mother and the attention to detail was fantastic. Guests enjoyed noshing on delicious appetizers and lunch provided by McMenamin’s Gearhart Hotel. And when it came to dancing, a McMinnville-based DJ spun the hits.

Even more fun was our mini photo shoot on the beach. Gearhart/Seaside is the only place (that I know of) on the Oregon Coast where you can actually drive on the beach. The DJ volunteered to play chauffeur, and the four of us climbed into his Honda CRV for an adventure through the sand dune. What a blast and what great memories! (Which included almost getting stuck in deep sand!)

Here is a look into Matt and Ria’s wonderful day. I enjoyed meeting the couple months before during their engagement shoot. And I felt honored to be a capture their wedding memories.

Allie | Lifestyle Portraits and Headshots

Headshot photography is a very interesting genre. It can range from the serious corporate portraits you see of executives to fun lifestyle portraits that show the subject’s personality and interests.

When Allie called me for her headshot session. We talked about how she would be using the images. She is an artist and graphic designer and wanted to rebrand her website and her work. As we talked, we decided that we would try our take on a more formal headshot and the remainder of her portraits should be lifestyle portraits that display her fun-loving personality.

To soften the formality of the headshots, we stepped outside the studio. An outdoor session always offers a nice array of backdrops and colors. It also creates a portrait that is more friendly and approachable.

Allie and I chose to do a longer session than more normal headshot package so that she could play with a few different looks. While all of the wardrobe items came from her personal closet, she wasn’t sure which look translated best for her rebrand. We started with a more formal, professional outfit (the red). While the images were lovely, Allie didn’t feel it was  reflective of her personal brand.

After working with an adorable dress option, we settled on a look that was young, hip, yet professional with the blazer/top/shorts combination. And it was most comfortably Allie. Allie accessorized with fun jewelry and took the look a step farther with her signature headphones (since music is important to her!) to push the image from headshot to lifestyle portrait.

I love the results of her lifestyle portraits. In the end, Allie selected one of her headphone portraits for her website. She felt it was the right balance of professionalism and fun, mixed with a bit of who she was. 🙂

James & Katie | Backyard Wedding Bliss

The Portland Metro Area has some incredible venues. I have been fortunate to work in so many of them. However, sometimes there is nothing better than a backyard wedding. Especially when the backyard is like that of Katie’s family home! I was blown away when I arrived at the family home and saw the view and how elegant the wedding was going to be!

I met James & Katie last year. When they came into the studio for a Meet & Greet appointment, we instantly hit it off. They are a great couple. Very fun and such sweethearts. You can tell just by being with them how much in love they are.

The wedding that the couple planned was so elegant, and yet, wasn’t stuffy! I loved the wedding colors and dresses. I also loved the cake and cupcake combination. The bride’s brother acted as officiant, which meant a very personal ceremony.

And while everything was so lovely, the food truck catering really made the event a blast. Koi Fusion rolled in with not one, BUT TWO, food trucks. And the party really began.

I also loved watching the guests at James and Katie’s wedding. Some really embraced the port-a-loos as props for their selfies–including actor/comedian Richard Lewis. It was worth quite a few laughs by all.

When it came time for the dances, Katie and her Dad had a little something cooked up. They surprised guests with a great dance routine, and even the bridesmaids got in on the action as a mini flash mob!

It was such a wonderful backyard wedding. The day was heartfelt, elegant and fun. And I enjoyed the invitation to be part of their day.

Robert & Anndrea | Wedding at Lucy’s Garden

There is something so special about an outdoor wedding. Especially when it is a wedding at Lucy’s Garden in Ridgefield, Washington. If you have never been to Lucy’s Garden, it is a spectacular setting in rural Ridgefield. The meticulously cultivated gardens just keep getting better with time as the foliage matures.

My first wedding at Lucy’s Garden was during the 2014 wedding season. When Robert and Anndrea invited me to photograph their 2015 wedding at the venue, I was excited! It is always great returning to a venue as you get to know the great locations, backdrops, etc.

Robert and Anndrea’s wedding at Lucy’s Garden was a fantastic day for the long-time sweethearts. A bit hot, by Oregon summer standards, but it didn’t slow down the excitement and joy of the day. Guests came from all over the Northwest to celebrate with the fun-loving couple.

Anndrea’s vintage book them was so sweet and lovely. From the specially curated centerpieces to the divine smell of lavender placed throughout the event, the day was so picture perfect. I also loved that family members serenaded guests with smooth jazz.

As a photographer, I always love when a couple is willing to give different creative ideas a go. Anndrea was not afraid to lay down in the grass with her wedding gown on. This lead to some adorable couples photos! Oh! And Anndrea was such a great sport during the cake cutting. She just had a great laugh when Robert decided to do a cake smash.

And don’t get me started on the flower girl cuteness. As a mom, even I was starting to tear up watching this sweet little gal dance on her dad’s toes during the father/daughter dance.

All in all, the couple’s wedding at Lucy’s Garden was such a special, emotional day. Here is a little peek into the celebration…

  • Portland Wedding Photographer Acorn Studios

Wedding at Lucy’s Garden by Acorn Studios

Anastasia | Senior Photos

Each year, I love making senior photos more and more. Senior year is such a special time in a person’s life. It is filled with celebration, excitement, and even a little trepidation.

When I look back on my senior photos (I won’t tell you how long ago that was!), I am transported back to a time where the world was my oyster. I was at the proverbial fork in the road and life could go in any direction. I love that my senior photos can take me back there and I can relive memories and emotions.

At each senior portrait session, I strive to give my clients the same emotional look back. In 10, 20, 30 or more years, I want them to be filled with the joy and amazing memories that I have when I look at my portraits.

When Anastasia called me about senior photos, she was a bit nervous. Senior photos were something she had been excited about for three years. And now that her time had come, she wanted to do it right–which lead to her anxiety. When we met, I explained to her that the best part of modern senior photos is that they are a reflection of the person. Long gone are the gown and drape. Senior photos are about who YOU are at this moment in time.

As a senior portrait photographer, I love fusing my portrait experience with my fashion photography experience. I want the photos to be amazing lifestyle images–the kind you could see on your wall or in a magazine, they are that interchangeable.

When Anastasia and I met for her senior photos, all nervousness was gone in about five minutes. We joked, we talked, and most importantly we made beautiful images!

Here are some shots from Anastasia’s senior photo session. Talk about a stunning gal–inside and out. In addition to her natural beauty, Anastasia has the warmest, kindest soul. I could see it in the way she interacted with me, her mother and others around us. This is a gal that is coming up on a cross road, and I know she will take an amazing path for her future.

Senior Photos by Acorn Studios

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