How I Became a Bend Family Photographer

I’m one of Bend’s newest family photographer’s! I thought it might be fun to share my story, in how I came to be a full time photographer who loves working with families! I know every photographer’s story into the industry is different. Some go through years of training and schooling to learn how to use a camera, the business side of things and editing. They've known since a young age they were called to do this. Some have had it as a side hustle for a long time and then take the leap to go full time. Others have dabbled in different kinds of art and then stuck with photography.

I was one who probably from the age of 14 or 15 always had a small point and shoot camera with me. These were the times of myspace profiles and weird black and white picture filters with a certain color that you could select to only show up in the picture. Good times. I would set up "photoshoots" with friends and later roommates in college just for fun. We'd dress up, do our hair and makeup and have fun. Of course none of these images were every really saved anywhere or edited well. I wish I still had them as proof to this funny phase I went through. When I turned 18 my dad gave me his old Nikon camera, which was equivalent to a canon rebel (I am a canon girl now, so I don't even know what the Nikon equivalent is). This felt like the holy grail of all cameras and though I was still shooting on auto, this felt like such an upgrade from my point and shoot camera. This camera followed me to college and took some good cliche train track engagement pictures in Idaho, plenty of updated profile shots for Facebook for roommates and occasional personal work I would go out and do. Even though, every shoot was so much fun and going through pictures was so exciting to me it never really felt like anything more at the time. I think you need some proof of these types of pictures I was taking. They speak for themselves lol.

Now fast forward to 2016, I was expecting my first baby. My husband and I were living with my in laws in their basement with my MIL. This was my first time really living in Utah, we were at the beginning of my husband's year of clinical rotations for pharmacy school, where we would be moving around every 6 weeks to few months until he graduated. Once my daughter was born, I was hit hard with undiagnosed PPD/PPA. I was stuck indoors with my newborn baby, winter was quickly approaching, and all the hobbies and interests I was used to (like running, rock climbing, hiking) were out of the question after my delivery. I suddenly had this identity crisis and was wondering, "Who am I now? And what do I even enjoy doing?". The question marks started popping up all inside my head. "How could I financially contribute this next year? How could I find a job when we would be moving so often? How would this work with a baby now?".

Then it suddenly clicked. "Maybe I could find something where I could stay home with my baby and make money." I know plenty of people, women especially, who find success through MLM's and other small shop endeavors, but that never felt right for me. Then after looking into options I realized I had basically everything I needed to start doing photography. I know this probably doesn't sound like the best reasoning, and a lot of long time photographers would roll there eyes like "the world doesn't need another cheap, amateur photographer", but you gotta start somewhere. From there it was putting out a post on facebook and it snow balled from there. This gave me a bit of my sanity back, a bit of a break from the newborn haze, and a new hobby and purpose that really grew into passion. However, its become so much more than just these few things for me. For whatever reason, when I started my journey into motherhood, I just thought that would be it for me. No more progressing anywhere else in my life, the focus would just be my kids, staying home, doing my day to day list of “to-do’s”. I just want to throw it out there, that some women want this dream and do so well at it! But I realized I am happiest when I have a creative outlet and a purpose outside of the home. And photography has brought me so much joy within my own home of capturing my own family and the season were in and being able to do that for others. I feel like I'm setting a good example for my daughter, where she doesn't have to feel like she needs to fit societal norms. She can provide for her family while also raising her own family. I love the feeling of helping provide and getting us towards our financial goals, like paying off debt, saving for our home. I love these few pictures I have from the first year of my career capturing the growth and different places we were in our first year with Auden.

I have always been driven to continue to learn and grow as a photographer, so once I started I haven't stopped despite 5 moves in the last 4 years. I did it all when I started from weddings, couples, newborns, seniors, etc. It wasn't until we got to Hawaii where I was able to really niche down and where I grew the most, probably because we were there the longest. I actually had a chance to build some clientele and make connections. Granted, I was driving most times 3 hours total for photoshoots, I lived on the opposite side of the island where the majority of my shoots were. I am proud to say I have successfully grown my business over and over again. Please enjoy these "progress" pictures from the VERY beginning of how far my work has come over the years.

I want you to be confident when booking with me knowing that I have taken the time to learn and practice the right lighting, angles, posing, and how to make your family comfortable from the start when I am thrown into new circumstances. When I was in Hawaii, I learned to work with FIERCE, strong lighting during all times of the day (weddings don't typically happen during that golden hour, beautiful creamy light). Because of this I feel confident in telling you I can work well with any kind of light. Whether this be within your home, up Mt. Bachelor or downtown Bend. And while lighting is a very important part of photography, posing and making sure you look good is also equally as important. I have worked with dozens and dozens of families, mentored with some amazing family specific photographers and created my own list of prompts that I bring to every session that I base on the vibe of your family. All the poses and prompts I bring to our session will be fun, encourage play and connection and leave you with pictures that feel authentic to your family.

I am so grateful that I took the chance four years ago and decided to do this. It has been an uphill battle at times, but the successes have far outweighed the struggles. I am so grateful for the clients I have had the privilege to work with, at all stages of my career. I can't wait to see what the future holds for my business and the happiness I can bring to others through capturing families at all stages and seasons of life.