the worst clients *ever* {Portland Family Photographer}

Some of you may remember my complaints after a little photo shoot with *the* worst clients ever a few weeks back. Photographing your own children stinks. Yep. So we throw the clothes on everyone and head out to explore Hagg Lake, only to find out that Hagg Lake is closed for the winter. So we do what any photographer would do. We stopped at the first cool trashy building (across from the dump) and pull out some smarties. My only goal for this particular afternoon was to get a cute picture of the girls all together and some good shots of Lilly and Elise, solo. Mission accomplished. I guess I should have warned you, but this post is totally a Christmas Card Spoiler. Sorry.

Elise, so sad. Not because I am taking her picture, but because I asked her what her favorite train is. Apparently, Lady is her favorite, but Lady is MIA. (thus the pout.)

Seniorlicious {Portland Senior Photographer}

Another senior session, another amazing senior. You can't help but leave a senior session feeling so positive about the potential these girls have. (It's the mom of 6 girls in me.) Maybe I chit chat too much, but it is refreshing to hear their perspective and to see into their soul a bit through the lens. Oh...and I love the curls. I wish I could carry them off!

the marvelous J {Portland Senior Photographer}

I think I should have been doing Senior Photography all along. Whenever I do a newborn shoot, I leave wanting a baby to cuddle. Leaving a senior shoot with a young woman who really has her head on straight and was just pretty dang cool....makes me feel a whole heck of a lot better about raising 6 such girls. As you probably could guess, I feel quite a bit of anxiety about the idea of 6 teenage girls that could, theoretically, be just as stinky as I was. Turns out, senior pictures make me feel so much better about my future in parenting! J, you are going to do big things.

thank you {Portland Family Photographer}

On this Veteran's Day, and the many days in between, I find myself so grateful for the many men and women that have sacrificed so much to secure our nations' freedoms. Every time I see a veteran or a soldier, I find myself wanting to run up and give them a hug. Each one of you are so incredible and our country would be a very different place if it weren't for all of you! Here is my little way of saying "thank you" to you.

{free session for one fabulously lucky veteran}

If you are a veteran or know a veteran in the Portland area, put your name in the comments and I will draw a name for a free family session.

{$50 off sessions for every one of you selfless,

courageous and awesome veterans out there}

Second of all, all veterans that schedule a session over the next 3 days will receive $50 off of their session and get a custom album of the portraits from your session. (the session just needs to be scheduled for a date before March 2010)

Sarah {Portland Senior Photographer}

Maybe it is the mother of 6 daughters in me that is talking, but can I just say that I love girls? I can't imagine being a mother of 6 boys and being a photographer. Boys just don't get excited about gathering different outfits for a shoot. This shoot was, to me, like a trip to the park is for the kids. We tried out a few new locations that I have been driving past with drool on my chin and had some wonderful lighting, to boot.

amazing. {Portland Senior Photographer}

Amazing person. Amazing shoot. Girl, you are going places. What more can be said? Oh...I know. Mister Sun? Yeah, you. Could you stay out just a wee bit longer next time? A half an hour would be perfect. Thanks.

little miss {portland child photographer}

Remember this? I offer more proof that I am spot on when it comes to this little theory of mine. The other night, this little miss and I snuck around the corner for a little photo action. This is my daintiest of misses. The one who ate her first birthday cake without getting messy. The one who loves picking blueberries and hates picking strawberries, because of the dirt factor. Ok. So skip ahead to the end of our little photo shoot. She informs me that she has an idea and proceeds to lay down on her stomach on a dirty sidewalk, risking all cleanliness and the well being of her favorite top. For what? A pretty picture. Why? Because she is a girl. Girls of all types will do just about anything for a good picture. And this is why I love having six of them. (among other numerous reasons.)

ha. caught ya. {portland child photographer}

Since this one was about 4, I have had the hardest time getting a good picture of her. The poser, the one who tries so hard and more recently, the one who likes to stick her tongue out or make weird expressions with her eyes in every stinking picture. With her big sister, I fought the rolled eyes. With her, I fought the serious giggles (I mean serious! 75% of her mini-during-soccer-practice-session was spent laughing uncontrollably!) and the "I want to show everyone my teeth post-braces" smile. Even with all of that, I think I captured her real self in a few shots. She just couldn't help it. The top 4 are the ones that, when I look at them, I think "Now that is my Autumn!" And that is why, as a photographer, I have a hard time narrowing down shots. Those 4 might not look like anything special to you, but they are the expressions that I have been seeing for the last nine years from her. I guess that is something that is just a mom thing.