This photo just completely captured the essence of summer in the country! I gave the photo as a gift to his mother, and she was stunned! I love those unexpected bonuses in life. :-)

All we needed for this image was a boy, a straw hat and a long stick for a fishin' pole. Much editing (to add patches and dirt) later, and I was beyond thrilled with this portrait! His mother was, too. She'll love having this moment in her boy's life on the wall for many years!

The only thing missing from my photo was a little element of magic, so I added a tiny butterfly perched on the fishing pole. It looks like Tom Sawyer caught a fish but doesn't want to disturb the butterfly! And now it's perfect.

This photo session happened on a spur-of-the-moment with my sister, so I didn't have much time to prepare. For the location, we visited the Olmstead Place State Park, one of the loveliest places I've visited in years. There's no lake there though, so we had to leave that part out. And our best efforts on short notice couldn't produce an authentic scythe, so we opted to use flowers instead.

My sister and her husband just happen to own a seed company, and they use old paintings like this one on their seed packets! I took pictures all around the garden of different flowers, and added them to the photo. (The picture was taken with my sister standing under a bower of trees, with not a flower in sight!) Here's the final image:

It reminds me of an old-fashioned postcard! Maybe they'll start using this image on their seed packets. :-)

I was drawn to her sweet expression, that tiny smile and her gentle eyes! I knew this image was the perfect fit for my model. 

My clients are always surprised by how short the actual photo session is, making it super easy for even busy families! Since I had found the costume elements ahead of time, we only needed 10 minutes to get the shot I wanted with that same sweet expression.

I had a background image I'd taken earlier, that I knew would be perfect for this image. So after I had edited the photo, I placed the "shepherdess" on the new backdrop. Viola!

I can't express how delighted I was that I managed to capture that same peaceful, gentle expression! I think the highest praise I could receive came from the model herself, who told me "I don't want to stop looking at it!" I have to say I agree. 

A Peek Behind the Scenes: most people don't realize how much of a hodge-podge these costumes are! Most of the elements can be found at thrift stores, since a lot can be done with safety pins and clips! I always have fun thinking up creative ways to use things. For example, the black vest was a tank top that had fringe all around the bottom. I used scissors and cut it short, so part of her blouse would show like in the painting. For the apron, I used a black twin-sized sheet, wrapped around and held in place with a few pins. And her headscarf was a lovely woven lightweight blanket, folded to hide the fringe. Having many elements like this in my "wardrobe" closet makes bringing these paintings to life a lot less complicated!

We found a field carpeted with white bindweed flowers (you know, the ones that look like tiny morning glories) and hopped the irrigation ditch. Little J immediately bent over and began picking the flowers, as if she knew just what I wanted!

I spent hours on my computer adding more flowers to the field, adding darker green shrubs behind her and painting in a blue sky. Once it was finished, it looked exactly the way I had envisioned it, which is always a bonus. :-)  Here's the final image:

We decided to use a sweet vintage apron belonging to my mother, and I love the added pop of color it gives. I know my sister will treasure this image of her baby girl forever!

Location: Olmstead Place State Park, Ellensburg Washington

First up was my youngest daughter (we call her Muffin) sitting in soft sunlight with a basket of apples. Here's the original painting by Emile Munier, and the final image I created:

Of course, I happen to think my daughter is even cuter than the original painting! ;-) I added hours of work making brushstrokes and manipulating the light to resemble the original as much as possible. I realize the basket was supposed to have plums in it, but all I had were apples so that what we used! Next up was Belle, and she did her pose outside in front of a large rose bush. Here's the inspiration (A William Bougeureau) and my image:

Want to hear a few secrets? When recreating a painting like this, you can use all kinds of crazy hacks to get it done. That red bandana on my daughter's head is actually a pair of tights! I used Photoshop to add more red to her lips, like the vintage style in the painting. I wrapped a brown curtain panel around her waist for her skirt, and made the top out of some white fabric and elastic. It's like a costume, not real clothes, so you can improvise! I had so much fun, I want to do more of these soon!

I couldn't help myself. I had to add some falling leaves with Photoshop to this one! This little girl was so full of wonder and took joy in everything around her.

These boys were so cheerful and well-behaved, it made my job almost too easy! All I had to do was watch that lovely golden light and press the shutter, to capture smile after sweet smile.

I always make sure to get a picture of just mom and dad during a family session. After all, they started the whole family together and their relationship is always a priority! This time, the grandparents joined our session toward the end with the other cousin, for a picture with all their sweet little grandchildren.

The bride-to-be quickly changed into a darling aqua dress for the second half of our session. After hiding for a few minutes under a tree while a brief shower passed, we got the rest of the shots they wanted.

They brought their fur-baby along, so of course we had to get a group picture!

Do you see what I mean about that amazing light? It was almost sunset, and we took advantage of every angle the park had to offer.

We finished the session with some dramatic shots, just as the light began to fade. 

 Here's the final shot, with the last of that gorgeous color.

Isn't that darling?!? It's like his little woodland friend was watching out while the baby napped. We also took the opportunity to get some sweet, intimate black and white shots.

This darling cherub was such a cuddle bug! I couldn't get over her amazingly soft skin and tight curls, and I savored every moment I got to spend holding her and breathing in her fresh, sweet scent.

She looked just like a porcelain doll while she was sleeping! Her lips were little pink rosebuds, and her dark lashes curled softly on her cheek.

I always create a mosaic of close-up images from each newborn session, it becomes a treasured collection for the family. I can't wait for the next session!

Black Butte Ranch west of Sisters, Oregon was a stunning location for this early Fall wedding. The couple and their sweet fur-baby Moo were surrounded by loving friends and family through the entire day, and their love was evident with every glance they shared.

After getting her hair and makeup done (by the always-amazing Lori Tompos of Edge Hair and Makeup) the bride was ready to meet her groom in an aspen grove for their first look. The sunlight filtered through the trees and sparkled on the couple as they caught their first glimpse of each other. For them, there was no one else on earth at that moment.

Wedding DetailsThe Groom's Details

The First Look...

Family Photography Session in BendFamily photos at Hollinshead Park, Bend Oregon

The Gorgeous Details of the Day...

Family Photography Session in BendFamily photos at Hollinshead Park, Bend Oregon

Family Photography Session in BendFamily photos at Hollinshead Park, Bend Oregon Family Photography Session in BendFamily photos at Hollinshead Park, Bend Oregon Family Photography Session in BendFamily photos at Hollinshead Park, Bend Oregon

I was thrilled to end this year's wedding season with one so beautiful! I loved editing these glowing images, and the newlyweds were thrilled with all the memories I captured for them. I'm looking forward to the next wedding with renewed excitement after my break!

Family Photography Session in BendFamily photos at Hollinshead Park, Bend Oregon  
 

We started off along a scenic trail that passes by a large expanse of wetlands, busy with ducks and birds. The river stretched along the other side of the path. Aaron and Amanda brought their adorable dog 'Moo', who trotted along happily and kept trying to steal the show!

The weather was perfect, with billows of moody clouds in the sky to add some drama to our pictures! 

This couple shared that they wanted to have this session at Dillon Falls because they love nature. Some of their best memories are of camping and hiking adventures that they've shared.

I love it when my clients choose a location that holds special meaning for them!

Their wedding will be at Black Butte Ranch in September, and I'm already excited about that amazing outdoor location! 

It's been an honor working with Aaron and Amanda so far, and I'm so glad they chose to include me in their next great adventure...

First of all, solid colors always look more elegant than prints. If you want your images to have that 'professional look', solids are the way to go. Try to avoid white, however. White clothing tends to draw the eye as the brightest part of the photo, and we want the focus to be on your faces.

It's best to avoid cargo pants, cargo shorts, baggy clothes and sweat pants. And keep in mind that any large areas of skin are going to look bigger in a photo, so ladies should make sure to wear something with sleeves, and nothing shorter than knee-length. You'll be amazed how much more flattering this is!

Try to dress up more than your every-day clothes (unless we're doing a farm, beach or camping themed shoot!) You'll enjoy the final prints on your wall so much more (and love showing them off!) when you look extra glamorous.

It's also a great idea to schedule your Engagement Session for the day of your hair and makeup trial. You'll have to have a trial day anyway, so why not get your pictures taken while you look amazing? Make sure to tell your stylist that you don't need makeup specifically done for photographs. Some makeup artists tend to use too much makeup for photo sessions, and that really isn't necessary. We want you to look like yourself!

I want to mention finger nails here too, since we'll want to get some great shots of your hand with that sparkly ring! Keep your polish to a light neutral color or simply clear. That way your nails won't clash with your clothes, and that will also let the ring have center stage. I think this sounds like a great excuse for a manicure the day before your session!

If you're still feeling uncertain and would like professional help in choosing great clothes for your session, I have a suggestion: a personal stylist! If you're up for a day trip to Portland, you can have your very own (FREE!) stylist help you choose the perfect outfits at Nordstrom. Here's the link to schedule your free style consultation: http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/personal-stylists. You don't have to buy anything either, if you just want help with some great ideas.

With all these suggestions, you're both certain to look your best in your engagement pictures! Now that you've read all of this, look at the pictures above and see if you can find examples of these tips (right or wrong!)

Above is a photo of a scrap book I made after Mark and I got married.  This spread shows some pictures from our honeymoon trip.

Then digital cameras came on the scene.  Suddenly you could save all your pictures on your computer, and on your phone.  We have pictures on Facebook and Instagram, and all our friends can see them whenever they want.  So why would a modern bride choose to spend money on prints or albums?

There's a reason that we include an album with all three of our wedding collections.  And there's a very good reason why we encourage our couples to order prints.  Think for a moment of the most important photograph that you have, one that's printed and maybe in a frame.  Think of the prints you have from your childhood, perhaps with a grandparent, or best friend.  Those prints are a physical object that links you with your past.  Some of us have old photos from 100 years ago or more, with unsmiling ancestors in stiff dresses staring out at us in shades of black and white.

I encourage my clients to think of their prints and albums as family heirlooms that they'll be passing on for generations to come. Digital pictures that are burned onto a disc may last anywhere from 50-100 years.  That's assuming that technology doesn't make discs obsolete, and that you're able to continue transferring them to your newest computer.

USB drives may last a little longer, especially if they're not used multiple times and are stored properly.  But we have no gaurantee that future computers will have USB ports.  Remember floppy discs?  (If you don't, they were a type of square plastic disc that was used for all kinds of digital storage.  Now they sit collecting dust because computers have moved past that technology.)

In 100 years, when your grandchildren are sorting through your belongings, will they recognize that stack of photo CDs?  Or will they assume it's a pile of outdated software?  What if they find a stack of printed family photos, or even better, a whole album full of pictures?  Those printed images will have become a treasured family heirloom!

This is the 8x8 boxed album that comes with the least-expensive collection!  No matter what your budget, you'll get a treasure book to pass on to your children.

So what's the best way to preserve your photographs for generations to come? Prints made at home on newer ink jet printers can last a surprisingly long time.  If you use the same brand of ink and paper that are made for your printer, they can last 35 to 100 years.  Unfortunately, cheaper brands of papers and inks will drop that number to 10 years or less.  

The lab that I order all my prints from uses Kodak Professional Endura Premier paper.  It has an archival value of 100 years on display, 200 years in dark storage.  Those are the minimum number of years that they'll last, and most likely it will be much longer!

I feel so strongly about passing down the images of our lives to future generations, that I offer a 50% discount for wedding clients to order their prints from me within the first month after their wedding!  No, I don't make a lot of money.  But I want you to have something precious to pass on to your grandchildren.

Our albums are really amazing.  I did a lot of research and decided to partner with GraphiStudio in Italy for our albums.  They are hand crafted, and the quality is outstanding!  You really should take a minute to look at their full product line here.

So, are prints and albums an outdated choice in this modern, digital age?  I think we could say with certainty that they're not only a wise choice, they're the gift we leave to our future.

(Before we continue, a "First Look" is a quiet moment when the bride and groom see each other for the first time, before the ceremony.)

1. Your wedding day will be crazy busy. No getting around it. You have so much to do and so little time to do it in. If you have a first look, it helps to calm down the day a bit. Instead of trying to rush around to get everyone together and have pictures taken between the wedding ceremony and reception while your guests are waiting, you’ll have that time to relax and enjoy your guests and not have to worry about being late to your reception. We can do all of the main portraits before the ceremony even begins – at the very least, the bride and groom and bridal party photos. This way, your hair and makeup are still perfect, since they were just finished

(Above: The bride is walking up to her groom , to tap him on the shoulder.  Then he'll turn around and see her in her wedding dress for the first time!)

2. A first look also gives you a very special, intimate moment with your soon-to-be-new spouse. If you are nervous or stressed out, this will especially help to relax you, and your spouse can comfort you and let you know it will all be OK. During the ceremony, there are many of people around and you can’t fully take in the moment because everyone is staring at you. With a first look, that moment is just between you and your spouse (and your photographers, of course).

3. Even if you have a first look, your husband will be just as happy to see you walking down the aisle and you’ll still take his breath away. Don’t worry that you’ll be spoiling the moment by seeing him prior to the ceremony.  This seems to be the main reason most brides initially want to skip the first look.  They want that picture of the groom's face when he sees her coming down the aisle.  However, when ever I shoot a wedding where they've opted to wait until the ceremony, the groom is under so much stress (and dealing with so many emotions) that he has nothing more than a blank look on his face!  

(Above: the groom reacts to seeing his bride-to-be)

I really don't want a bride to be disappointed when she sees that picture, and it's not as magical as she hoped.  If what you want is a picture of your groom reacting with joy to seeing you, then having a first look would be a great choice!  

When my husband and I got married 14 years ago, we had a first look so that we could save time and do photographs before the ceremony.  My husband has told me many times how incredible it was when he saw me walking toward him down the aisle.  The fact that he'd already seen me in my wedding dress didn't take anything away from that amazing moment for him!

Of course, your wedding is Your Day!  My job is give you the information I've learned through my experience, and then leave the decision up to you.  If you still want to skip the first look, I'll do my best to make everything as perfect as I can!  My hope is that you now have all the information you need to make the choice that's best for you!

I started with a simple set up on my kitchen counter, to the left of the sink.  There's a nice big window above the sink, and I removed the curtain to let in plenty of afternoon light.

For a backdrop I used thumbtacks and hung a sheer curtain on the wall and draped it over the counter.  A simple wooden bowl heaped with tangerines (left over from Christmas!) was set out, and I started taking pictures.  

Also I wanted to keep moving, changing my angle and distance from my subject.  Here's another version that shows more of the background:

Whenever I shoot still life, I have a process.  I start with something as my focal point, then slowly add elements to alter the scene.  This gives me a greater variety of images to choose from when editing.  So next in this session I added a small white pitcher with some dried sage.  This added more textural interest without changing the neutral & orange color scheme.

When composing a still life, I use the color wheel all the time.  I know that turquoise and orange are complementary colors, and will work well together in an arrangement.  So I start off any still life session by pulling a lot of items from my hutch and cabinets that fit the color scheme I'm wanting to use.  I keep them on a small table near me, so I can quickly add and remove items from the scene as I work.  This time I had gathered brown, white, orange and turquoise.  So I added an antique teapot to the scene.

This gave me something to fill in that blank spot, balance the image, and add another type of texture.

After this, I decided to remove the added color and go back to neutral and orange.  So I replaced the turquoise teapot with a creamy white one, and added two white teacups stacked together.

The girls all had their hair, makeup and nails mostly done when we arrived, and they looked amazing!  Bonnie Davee did a wonderful job making these ladies picture-perfect!  Megan, Joclyn, Ali and Emily were bride's maids, and Kelly's sister Lauren was maid of honor.  The girls all had personalized tank tops and robes as well.  Aren't they lovely?

We decided to get some photos of the beautiful wedding gown outside, and I found the arbor that would later be used for the couple to stand under during the ceremony.  It made the perfect place to hang the dress!  The coral color that Kelly chose for her wedding was so pretty, and the bride's maid dresses and her bouquet were like sparkling jewels in the sunshine.

Kelly's friends, sister and mother helped her into the dress, then tied on the sash and adjusted her veil.

When everyone was dressed and ready, Seth and Kelly had their 'first look'.  A special moment for just the two of them, before taking pictures with the bridal party.  Seth stood with his back turned on the patio, as Kelly approached from the museum entrance.  Erica and I stayed as far away as we could to take photos, while they enjoyed this time alone.

The bridal party gathered for group pictures, along with the adorable flower girl and ring bearer.  The lovely flower bouquets were created by Sandie Lichtenhahn of La Pine Florist & Gifts.

The ceremony stared at 6pm, and with beautiful golden light streaming over them, Seth and Kelly were married!  With some couples it's a challenge to get a good picture of the first kiss, it's over in a flash!  (More like a "first peck"!)  But Seth and Kelly thoughtfully gave us plenty of time to get all the pictures we needed.  :-)

Right after the ceremony, the family went to the patio behind the museum for pictures.  Seth and Kelly both have wonderful families, and everyone was so happy to have a new "son" or "daughter" to welcome into the family!

Dinner came next, with a wonderful buffet by Tate and Tate catering!  Guests had a choice of salmon or chicken (or both!), and both of the photographers were happy to be able to enjoy this delicious meal as well!

The reception kicked off with toasts, a serenade from Seth and his fraternity buddies to Kelly, cutting the cake, and of course the first dances!  The music and lighting for the reception was provided by Matt Shea, who did an amazing job as always!

The entire evening was wonderful, and we wish this happy couple a lifetime of joy together!

Her bouquet was studded with vintage brooches, and she added a touch of Superman just under the ribbon!  Her favorite super hero also showed up in her custom garter.  The pearl and diamond necklace and earrings were a gift from Anna's mother-in-law.  

The rings!  Anna ring was gorgeous, with a square diamond setting surrounded by smaller diamonds.  Lavender was everywhere at this wedding, and the smell was heavenly!

The outdoor ceremony had a breathtaking backdrop, as the guests all faced the red rock cliffs of the canyon.  The bride and groom said their vows under a wisteria-draped arbor.

The grand finale to this event was the stunning sunset!  The couple posed for this amazing shot just as the sun went down.

We're sure this sweet couple will have many wonderful years together!  Congratulations, Anna and Jeff!

I wanted to take her home!  Look at this face!

This has got to be my favorite baby photo of all time.  

The light was just natural light from the window over the couch, (no flashes going off in baby's face please!) so for the next picture I decided to position her so the light was falling on her face.  It wasn't very bright, but with a few tweaks in Photo Shop I was able to create this:

Isn't that precious?!  Her innocent face looking up at the soft light, and you just want to kiss that cheek!  

Also, I kind of fell in love with a soft sepia tone while editing these.  It just fit the softness of her skin so beautifully!  

See how happy she was?  Just heart-melting.  This last photo that I'll share, I must admit I had some doubts about it.  I'd found the idea on Pinterest, and I'm always hesitant to try to copy a certain pose from that website.  Either it won't live up to my (or the client's) expectations, or it might just be  a complete flop.  But my wonderful client thought it would be fun to try, and I agreed.  I'm so glad I gave it a shot, because (tooting my own horn just a bit here) It's awesome!!  One of those rare times when something turns out even better than the Pinterest version.

 Isn't that sweet?  Of course, it helps that their wedding rings are gorgeous!  I enjoyed this session so much, and I was able to get that baby craving out of my system.  Too bad that doesn't last long, so please somebody else get in touch so I can book another newborn session!  (I miss that cotton candy smell already.)

For the second one, I decided to have her sitting on a lily pad, using Pixie Dust to make a water lily bloom!  I also changed the color of her dress for each picture, to keep these from looking too similar.  I'm not sure if this one would be a water fairy, or a garden fairy, so take your pick!

For the next one, I wanted to include a dreamy forest and a friendly unicorn!  (More mythical creatures?  Why not!?)  I decided to call this one "Unicorns Only Eat Magic Apples."  Those magic apples must be picked by fairies, of course!  I decided to make this one Autumn themed too, and added a wreath of leaves around her head.  I loved the golden wings, too!

This last one is probably B's favorite, since it looks like she's really flying!  The trick here is to take two photos, one of her standing and the other laying over a table with her legs up.  Then I replaced the normal legs with the ones that were off the ground, to give the look of her floating.  I think she's making this flower bloom, so I guess she's a Garden Fairy!

I did a fifth one that looks like she's putting a rainbow across the sky.  That was one she asked for specifically, she said she wanted to be a Light Fairy!  So I gave it a try, but I just didn't like it as well as these first 4.  I'll let you decide if you think I should include it in the series:

I think I prefer the warmer look of the others, but B is thrilled with it!  By the way, did you notice her ears are pointy in all these?  :-)

Wouldn't any girl love to have pictures of herself like this??  I know I would have when I was little!  It is a bit time consuming, but so much fun to create these!  If you know a little girl who'd like a Fairy Photo Session, let me know!

I gave a soft blur to the edges to keep the viewer focused on the faces, and added a warm glow to the upper part of the image.  The little boy wasn't happy about being photographed that morning, but I think his personality is cute!

Another challenge of shooting in bright light was the need to keep my subjects back-lit (facing away from the sun)  or standing in shade.  To properly expose on a subject in shade, the background ends up washed out and too bright.  There are several ways to "fix" that in editing.  First, I used the lighting to my advantage, by giving some of the images a vintage feel:

The other option is to add a sky overlay.  In the example above, the sky was completely white from being overexposed.  So before making it into black & white, I added a cloud overlay to add some interest.  

The third option is to add a layer in Photoshop, lower your exposure until the background is properly exposed, then add a mask and brush that off your subjects to keep them bright, which is what I did here:

The next one was a fun one to edit!  I used a wide-angle lens and added a sun flare to give it a bright, glowing feel:

When adding flares, make sure they're coming from the same direction as the light in the photo!  

I hope this gives you some ideas for shooting in direct sunlight, and ways to edit your photos to bring out their best!  I get new ideas for the next shoot each time I do a session, and I can't wait for the next one!  :-)  

That was fun, but then I wanted to try something a little "spookier" so I did The Ghost Bride:

The last one is my favorite!  I used an image of a bride leaving the building for her reception, and created a Cinderella story!

So now I've had my fun with Photoshop, back to laundry and dishes! :-)

As I walked back to the house, I noticed the twisting grape vines made a pretty pattern against the sky.  I took several shots of their silhouettes until I got this one:

I can't wait until those vines are covered with green leaves!  Spring is so close I can almost smell it, and all the little green things popping up from the earth aren't helping me be patient. :-)

But what about the hummingbird feeder?  I wanted to save to that one for the final image.  It was hard to get, since my kitchen window is pretty high off the ground, and when I stand outside I have to hold the camera up as high as I can to get the same angle.  But I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, and that last drop of light captured in the red feeder is the perfect way to end a sunset.

But we're all up and running again, so here's to second chances!  

Another of my resolutions was to work on my pile of UFO's (unfinished objects!), so I finally got one of my many quilt tops in the frame and started working on the lengthy hand-quilting process.  There's just something relaxing for me about sitting down and making beautiful patterns with thread.  

I also like to crawl underneath the frame and look up at the back of the quilt.  The white backing fabric becomes translucent with the light shining through, and the colors of the quilt appear frosted and far away.  It brings back memories of playing in blanket forts as a little girl!  I'm not too dignified to crawl under a quilt frame for a few minutes with my camera.  :-)

I was also thrilled  to receive two seed orders in the mail last week, and I'm already making plans for an amazing garden this year!  We've been in our new home for a little over 2 months now, with all the landscaping brown and dead or sleeping underground.  I can't wait for spring, and seeing all the bulbs I planted pushing up through the moist earth.  There's already a wonderful herb and flower garden that I have plans to add on to, and so many wonderful patio planters that I hope to fill with fun new miniature veggie varieties!

Until then I'll keep making plans on paper, and finding colorful things to photograph while the world outside is still brown and grey.  Keep looking for moments of beauty in your own life!

I love getting down and peering into the imaginary lives of the villagers!  My second favorite this year was my homemade glass ornaments.  I bought plain glass ones and filled them with tinsel.

The lights on the tree made them really sparkle!  I hope your holidays were every bit as magical as ours!

Not a huge difference, but you can see the 'after' image has more detail, and the color is more accurate.  It also has a softer overall look, which I love for a romantic image like this!  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to re-edit this album before this client ordered her prints.  I want to always offer the best of my work!  

So, in the continuing effort to blog more often, I'm resolving to write a new post at least twice a week!  Wish me luck! :-)

Yesterday was an interesting combination of fun (visiting an Old-West style town in Oregon) and not so fun (car sick kiddos!).  In fact, the only reason we stopped at this picturesque place was so the poor kids could get some fresh air!  But it was a cloud with a silver lining, since we discovered a place we definitely want to revisit in the future. 

This old wood stove was inside a jail house!  The building was from the mid 1800's, and had three small cells.  It wasn't well lit, but the afternoon sun was coming through the door and lit up this pretty antique just enough for a photo.  I was drawn to it because of the delicate pattern and curving shape.

This weather-beaten piano was standing on the porch of an abandoned saloon.  I wonder how many years of music and fun it brought to the lives of the long-ago town?

This entire town was full of false fronts, boardwalks, old signs and charm!  I think it would be a fun place for an engagement shoot, or family photos.  My kids had fun climbing up into the old jail wagon, and having their picture taken as a 'criminal' holding the bars! :) 

If you're considering a trip through Oregon, you should consider a stop in Shaniko!  The town is 'open' April through September. 

I liked some of the results, and put them in the NEW "Weddings" gallery on my website!  I hope to find some friends who'll volunteer to get dressed up in a wedding gown and be the guinea pigs for some bride photos. :-)  Here's the one that's my favorite, just because I love tea cups:

Wedding Rings in a Teacup by Silverleaf Photography Bend, OregonA set of wedding rings inside a white tea cup, by Silverleaf Photography Bend, Oregon

I wish the photographer at our wedding 12 years ago had done some detail shots like this!  We hired the cheapest one we could find.  (I know.  Don't EVER do that!) She was a lovely person, and got some okay pictures.  But I've wished so many times that I had a wedding photo I really loved.  That's been the drive behind my new goal: to give every bride I work with the photos I wish I could have had! 

Yesterday was so beautiful, it really felt like Spring.  The kids and I spent a lovely afternoon outside, soaking up sunshine.  Of course I followed them around with the camera, but they're used to that by now!  We were excited to find a few clusters of miniature iris blooming.  Our first flowers of Spring!