Happy Mother's Day! (Portland Oregon Newborn Photographer, Portland Oregon Family Photographer, Gresham Oregon Newborn Photographer, Gresham Oregon Family Photographer)

04.18.2014 Newborn Session (Portland Oregon Newborn Photographer, Gresham Oregon Newborn Photographer)

{B} Family (Portland Oregon Family Photographer, Gresham Oregon Family Photographer)

I have had the opportunity to photograph parts of this family over the past couple of years and they are always such a joy...Cake smash photos, Christmas photos, Mom with her babies, and this time Dad was able to join too! It is one of my very favorite things about this job, when I get to photograph families over and over again and document them as they change and grow.

Please believe me when I say that I DO NOT expect kids to stand/sit still, look at the camera, and give me their best smile...and you shouldn't either :) If you try to force them it's probably not going to go well. You'll end up with upset kiddos and that's no good...for family photos, especially. So, when I photograph kids I want to do what works for them...though I have a few tricks up my sleeve :) If they sit nicely, look at the camera and smile - great! If not - great! I want to capture your family just the way you are...create images for you to cherish and to help you remember that time in your life for years to come.

Shea's Mission - Dominican Republic Outreach 2014: Photo Session Giveaway!

Shea is my younger sister. She resides in Medford, Oregon with her dog, her running partner, and faithful sidekick, Riley. She is a fiercely competetive marathon runner, an avid fly fisher, and a dedicated follower of Christ.

She has the amazing opportunity to go on a Dominican Republic Outreach trip coming up in late June/early July! Outreach activities will include construction, maintenance of the Mission Center, Mercy Projects Children's Ministry, feeding ministry and more.

The estimated cost of the outreach is approximately $950 + cost of airfare.

We have set up a fundraising site here: www.youcaring.com/sheasmission.

And I am giving away a full family session to include 30+ digital images to help support her!

Session must take place in the Portland, Oregon area or Southern Oregon area (between Roseburg and Medford) by November 1, 2014.

Support Shea's Mission and enter the giveaway here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

He turns four today...{Portland Oregon Child Photographer}

He turns four today. He doesn't speak clearly all the time, but he knows what tools to use and how to drive a tractor. He knows plenty about letters, numbers, shapes and colors and so on - but he will tell only on his own terms. He loves puzzles and books. He asks to go to Grandmas and Papas every day, sometimes even throws little tantrums...not understanding that they live four hours away. He likes hunting and fishing, playing outside, trucks, tractors, airplanes, helicopters and digging for treasures...and obviously, Spiderman. When we get to spend our days together we listen to music and he asks "Mommy, will you dance with me?", and he gives me hugs and kisses so willingly...when no one else is around. He sucks his thumb and drags around a soft blankey or stuffed animal when he's tired and he'll ask "Mommy, will you hold me?"...and that's about the only time he seems so little still, and I will stop whatever I am doing to soak up those moments for as long as I can. He is bigger than a lot of kids his age which can be challenging (though more so for me than for him, it seems) - when more is expected of him than he is reasonably capable of - and I find myself explaining to others that he's not as old as they might think. Not much seems to faze him. He's quite confident though he has such a kind heart - and he seriously cracks us up. He is our greatest joy...and our greatest challenge with more determination, attitude, and energy (since the very beginning :)) than we know how to handle sometimes. He is his daddy's shadow and my heart.

Happy birthday my love.