Best of 2019

It’s the last month of the decade. Crazy we are already here. It makes me reflect back on the last 10 years and how it’s been full of so many milestones. In 2010 I just started a new job at Nordstrom and accomplished my first career goal I had set for myself, work at Nordstrom corporate. Fast forward, 10 jobs later and 5 companies, I now have my own company.

The last three years of owning my own business has been so rewarding. I’ve watched it grow and seen myself grow, learning things I never thought I would. It’s been challenging, exciting, exhilarating and at times tiring. And I can’t imagine not doing it. It’s become part of my lifestyle and an extension of my identity that I’m proud of.

2019 has been the busiest year yet, but it’s also felt like the year I fell into a stride. I navigated a crazy schedule with ease, my style has become more refined and I’ve felt the most comfortable behind a camera than any year prior. While everything began to feel easier, I still continued to focus on learning, honing in on new skills and techniques. Sometimes that was by using light in a new way to execute a creative look or evoking natural emotions out of my clients for better candids. I’ve bought new fancy equipment and pushed myself in post-editing. All of it for one goal = be better.

I was lucky to photograph many different styles of shoots this year and I’ve made connections with numerous old and new clients. I’ve witnessed some of the most intimate moments in people’s lives. An aspect of this job I will always be grateful for.

So I want to share 10 images that summed up my year, showing ways I’ve grown, moments that pushed me or images I’m just damn proud of. Whether you're a client or just fell upon this blog, thank you for supporting me on this journey.

1.Flywheel

The last two years I’ve been partnering with Flywheel to expand their social media presence and engage with their riders. This is one of the concepts I brought into this shoot. With the sun exactly where it was in the sky, it executed better than I imagined and I love this shot.

2. Olivia and Spencer

Olivia and Spencer became a really special couple to me this year. From shooting their engagement photos in the snow to their downtown Seattle wedding, I got to know their story and witness their love. After many conversations and earning their trust as a photographer (Spencer ;)), I was honored to witness a few very intimate moments they had as a couple. This one was taken after the ceremony before the reception. I wanted to give them a moment to soak it all in and pause during such a crazy day, before they went out to break it down for the rest of the night. I snapped this one photo, and only one, before they jumped up and we were off again. But I love this moment where it was just them, newly married and alone, for the first and only time all day.

3. Gordon

Gordon started following me on instagram two years ago and in an uncreepy way (haha) supported and encouraged me, until 1 year later (this last february) I agreed to go to a party and hang with his friends. He is friends with a lot of professional photographers in the industry who I was interested in knowing, but what I didn’t realize is this guy would turn into a great friend, hype-man, wing-man and good time. This photo was taken a week after we formally met and he invited me out to an epic snowball fight at greenlake during snowmageddon.

4. Boudoir

I shoot a good amount of boudoir and this is one of the few spaces I’m in complete control creatively. I choose the location, the time, the hair and make-up team and my clients put their FULL trust in me to make them look like the goddesses they are. I do light retouching, but typically I’ve kept it very natural. This shoot I was pushing myself to get moody, dramatic and hot as hell photos while still maintaining class and empowerment. While editing this photo I was drawn in and chose to remove 80% of the environment to focus your eye exactly where I wanted it. ;) The result intrigued me, excited me, and it’s still one of my most favorite boudoir photos to date.

5. Allie and Ahmad

My main goal is to capture my clients individual personalities, unique stories, and create art that feels like them. Not only are Allie and Ahmad a gorgeous couple, but they are independently unique and wholly supportive of each other. I wanted to create this photo to show their strength together and their commitment to their future together. The get married in just one week and I can’t want to be there to support them.

6. Maternity

For maternity I often go to a park or a home and shoot in a sweet and romantic way. There is something so beautiful about all my clients who are expecting and the anticipation of a new child. I could have chosen a few different shots to represent this category, however, this one was different. As you know now, I shoot boudoir and it is the perfect setting to capture more intimate and raw photos. I decided to open up one of my boudoir events to expecting mothers to find clients interested in this style. I’m glad I did, because I am really happy with the shift in vibe that resulted in some raw and gorgeous images of this milestone.

7. Orn and Jessica

Orn and Jessica asked me to capture their adventure wedding on the top of Quartz Mountain this summer. It was my first wedding of this nature and a super special place to them and their relationship. Twenty people caravaned up the one lane dirt road for 1.5 hours till we reached the top where they go stargazing. Jess set up a changing room in-between two trucks and the wedding party stood on the other side of the trees waiting for her to walk down the “aisle”. The wind was blowing at 20-30 miles an hour and they said their vows looking out at Mount Rainier National Park. It was stunning, meaningful and an adventure that perfectly suited them.

8. Family

This family found me through a recommendation this fall and was such a delight to meet. They wanted to bring their dog for half of the photoshoot and the images turned out so sweet. I got a dog this year and as much as I used to roll my eyes at dog-people, I now totally understand how they come into a family and take up a big piece of your heart. Maybe even considered as an additional child. :) I love this photo because it captures how much joy their sweet doggy brings them.

9. Greece

This photo is not of a client (at least in this session), but represents my travels to Greece with two girlfriends this fall. Traveling gets me excited to shoot my own stories and experiences while learning about different parts of the world. I could have put up a photo of a gorgeous sunset, empty white sand beaches or a photo of the greek acropolis (which are all mind blowing), but I’m drawn toward the quiet personal moments in photography that can tell a story with a single still. This moment was in Mykonos on our patio at sunset. We were enjoying our first night on the island, drinking Greek wine, curious if the wind was ever going to die down, and wondering why all the cats were following Kaylee around. Martha, in this photo, was in her happy place and I caught her eye right as the wind blew.

10. Newborns

A first child is a huge milestone in a couples lives and getting to shoot this sweet family in Snohomish was an honor. I met this couple two years ago and shot their engagement session up at Snoqualmie Pass. I remember having to talk Maddie out of wearing heels in the snow… for her own safety… haha. Since then I shot their maternity and now newborn photos, and that is one of my favorite things about this job. Following people’s lives and getting to personally document their BIG milestones. I am so lucky and so honored.

Thank you so much for supporting me this year. Even if you’ve never heard of me and are just now reading this blog, you’re supporting me. I honestly feel so honored every single time someone chooses me for a shoot and I hope to give back the same joy with each session. Here’s to next year, setting bigger goals, making more memories and meeting clients who become friends. Happy New Year’s all.