That newly engaged bliss. ✨
I could have photographed these two for hours. They’re such a kind and energetic pair, and their love for one another is truly contagious. We met up at Gold Creek Pond, and in between photos (and constant laughs,) we even got to witness one of the most serene Pacific Northwest sunsets. Almost a month has passed and I’m still smiling about the whole thing.
When Dan and I became fully vaccinated in April, we made the realization that we could be in for a jam-packed summer. With work picking up and social lives getting back to normal, there would be less time for van trips than usual. So we put our calendars together and realized that if we left in a week, we’d have a whole 9 days free! OK great…now the more important question— where to go? We’d originally dreamt of road tripping out to Alaska this year, but with the Canada restrictions, this just wasn’t realistic. Instead, we decided to pick a destination that we’d never been to: Alabama Hills!
This pocket of BLM land lies just east of the Sierra Nevada and is filled with more hills and rock formations than you could ever imagine. Dan and I joked it was a playground for adults, and we spent our days climbing as far and high as we could. We proclaimed Ollie a desert dog, as he seemed more in his element than ever. And when we all got too hot to function, we made “van margaritas” and watched the sun set over the Sierra with smiles plastered to our faces. On the drive out and back, we slept at Mt. Shasta, Bishop’s Buttermilk Boulders, June Lakes Loop, Mono Lake, and Mt. Hood. This trip was such a special way to celebrate being able to safely travel again, and I’m already itching to get back to the California Desert.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and If you’ve spent any time enjoying these areas, I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Newborn sessions will always be close to my heart. When I started my photography business in Seattle, I was mainly photographing newborns in the postpartum section of hospitals all over King County. At this point, I've photographed over 5,000 babies! Due to COVID, I haven’t done a fresh 48 hospital session since February of 2020, but I’m happy to say I’ve been booking more in-home newborn sessions as things re-open. And each one reminds me how special this time is. The parents are usually in a smitten and sleep-deprived state, but so incredibly happy. And those babies…well you can only imagine how neat it is to photograph their every detail. :)
Where do you travel in your daydreams? For me, that answer is easy. I go straight to Alaska— Juneau, Anchorage, Sitka, Skagway, Fairbanks, Dutch Harbor, Homer…you name it and I’ve probably been dreaming about it. So when Alaska Ship Supply had me out to Dutch Harbor to take photos for their company, I was beyond excited. (Ask my housemates, I literally cried when I found out.)
And you know what? The trip somehow exceeded expectations. I woke up for every sunrise and stayed up for every sunset…if you’re a local, you know this means business in the summer months! It was a truly surreal week getting to know this little pocket of Alaska— its pace of life, its small-town culture, and its wild weather patterns. As a smal island, the Unalaska community is incredibly tight night and so kind to visitors like me. I’m already dreaming of going back!!
Alaska Ship supply, thanks SO much for having me out, and Alaska companies— if you’re in need of some commercial or lifestyle photography work, don’t hesitate to reach out here.
Every time I photograph a session at Gold Creek Pond, I’m reminded how lucky we are to live in the Pacific Northwest. This scenic lake lies atop Snoqualmie Pass and is only about an hour from Seattle! The fresh scent of pine and the alpine glow makes me nostalgic for summer camping. And those views…can you beat them? I had such a nice time getting to know Kate and Daniel. They are currently living long distance, so their time together felt even more special. They are both so sweet and easy-going, I instantly felt relaxed around them (and their incredibly cool rescue pup, Paloma!) Hope you enjoy scrolling through this engagement session as much as I loved capturing it. :)
I make the trip out to Tacoma yearly for this family session, and it’s has been such a wonderful experience every time. The laid back and relaxed attitude of the Tacoma parks is such a breath of fresh air compared to some of the urban parks of Seattle, and these twins are just about the cutest little beings on the planet. I love capturing them as they grow and I adore there parents (and their dog!!) just as much as I adore them. :)
Newborn sessions like these are some of my favorite things to capture. This type of photography has taught me so much about patience, lack of control, and the importance of truly appreciating every moment. Believe it or not, these little babies change quickly!! And in between the sleepless nights and never-ending tears, there are some INCREDIBLY moving moments. Moments i feel so lucky to witness and to commemorate…..because these are the moments you’ll be looking back on for decades to come.
Redfin recently reached out asking if I’d share some real estate photography expertise for Mike Cahill’s blog post on “Most Common Listing Photo Mistakes and How to Fix Them.” In my past 6 years of photographing homes, I’ve gained a lot of skills through trial and error, and one of the most unique tricks I've learned is surprisingly unrelated to light or gear. Check out what I wrote below, and then head over to Redfin’s Blog for more advice on how to best photograph your home. Whether you’re trying to get into interior design photography, or you want to put your home on the market, this article has all the best insight in one place.
“While it helps to have a tripod for home shoots, I recommend you always start by photographing the space without one. Tripods are great for photographing with slow shutters, height consistency, and artificial lighting, but they also tend to limit creativity in composition. Try beginning your photo session by walking around with your eye against the viewfinder, moving from corner to corner, and getting high and low. Embrace your inner yogi ninja! After taking enough test shots and identifying what angles are most flattering, set up the tripod, and click away. – Catie Bergman Photography”
So you have your session booked and you’ve chosen your date and location. Now what? Now comes one of my favorite parts— outfit planning. Many of my clients reach out with questions on this so I thought I’d compile some tips and tricks here. All this being said, please don’t stress about it. You can even have some fun with the planning, I like to think of this part as a creative outlet, and a way to let your family’s personality shine through. A lot of people think they need to splurge on all new outfits for the family, but keep in mind that you have plenty of great options in your closet already. And most importantly, wear what makes you feel happy, confident, and comfortable.
1. Choose your Color Palette
I recommend choosing 3-4 colors to base your outfits around. Mixing neutrals with earthy tones tends to look best. Where do you get your inspiration? I feel most inspired by fall foliage and golden hour, so you’ll notice a lot of neutral and earthy tones in my portfolio!
Location
Urban
This family’s session was in downtown Seattle, so they opted to stick with neutrals and dress formally! I loved how the outfits popped against the neutral and gritty vibes cityscape background.
Outdoorsy
If an outdoorsier location is a better fit for your family, don’t be afraid to dress the part! I love how plaid looks in front of PNW backdrops, and the rich and vibrant colors look great against earthy tones.
In-home
Neutral and muted tones with pops of color tend to work great for newborn lifestyle sessions. And for you new moms, pick something you are comfortable in!
Accessories
Don’t be afraid to add accessories like scarfs, hats, bow-ties and blankets. These items not only add a little personality to your photo, but they give you something to hold on to, something to sit on, and something to keep you warm! My client to the right was a little unsure if she should wear the hat she brought, but when I saw her in it, my jaw dropped! Same with the little man and his bow-tie. For the session below, I loved how the blanket added a casual touch and providing nice framing.
Patterns
Try not mix too many plaid or pattern outfits! Choose one outfit with a pattern (or two of the pattern is subtle from afar,) and the rest of the outfits should more be neutral and solid, with pops of color.
Newborns
I always recommend having out a few muslin swaddles at the beginning of our session. This material is loose and stretchy and looks so timeless when photographed. And it keeps them calm! As the baby gets comfortable, I’ll start unwrapping the swaddle and getting more photos of her arms, feet, etc. And if you have a fussy baby, I always recommend getting the outfit on ahead of the session, or saving the outfit photos until the end! Color wise, I tend to like neutral and earthy tones for newborn sessions. And don’t be afraid to mix different textures and colors, like the image below!
Toddlers
Choose something your kiddo loves wearing and something that you will love to look back on in the photographs! This family dressed their daughter in denim overalls, and when I arrived at the shoot, I just about melted. I mean, aren’t they always in style?
MaTERNITY
If you’re open to wearing a dress for your maternity session, I highly recommend it. There seems to be a style for all personalities, whether you typically dress more casual, formal, or flowy. And in the photos, a dress will really makes your bump pop!
Large Groups
Try to stick to a color palette, earthy tones look great! And if you’re mixing solids and patterns, I reccomend choosing two or three colors. This family chose blue, green, and neutrals, and while several of them were wearing patterns/plaid, it looked great since they were not all next to eachother.
I hope you found this blog post helpful! If we’ve got a session coming up and have more questions, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email, or text some photos of your options! I'd also be happy to send my Pinterest board for more outfit inspiration. I know outfit planning can be stressful at first, so remind yourself that you likely have plenty of options in your closets already. And most importantly, have fun with this! Outfits are such a great way to express yourself and add personality to your photos.
Five years ago, I was fresh out of college and had just moved to Seattle. I was still working on getting my photography business up and running, so I thought it would be a neat opportunity to work as a photo intern for The Reign, Seattle’s team in the NWSL. I remember seeing Jane (the team’s official photographer,) shooting for the first time, and being in awe of her work style and her skill. We chatted occasionally, but I didn’t get the chance to know her until 3 years later when she invited me on a coffee date. We hit it off, and she asked if I’d be interested in doing some second shooting at her upcoming weddings.
The rest is history, as they say, and I’m so happy I get to consider this lady a colleague and a friend. Jane is one of the most hard-working, kind, and authentic people I know. It would be an understatement to say she inspires me daily.
So of course, it felt like a huge honor to photograph her little family this winter! We tromped around Discovery Park, playing with her amazing pup, Yoda, and catching up with her and her super-cool husband, Galen. Scroll through and soak in all the yummy sunshine and puppy love that this session had to offer.
Maternity sessions are such a special thing to photograph. love capturing these sweet parents at such a pivotal time, talking about how they’re feeling and all the crazy ways that their bodies are changing. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from a year filled with maternity sessions, it’s that the pregnancy glow is real. Scroll through for some images of this beautiful woman and soon-to-be mama!
Jessica and Greg first reached out for engagement photos last spring. Two weeks later, the country shut down due to COVID, and we ended up postponing photos or whenever things got back to “normal.” Little did we know, things wouldn’t be back to normal for a while, and that we’d be planning their Seattle elopement within the same year! This wedding ceremony was so special to witness. Jessica found a private nook of Gold Creek Pond (a beautiful pond amidst Snoqualmie Pass,) and the clouds parted just in time for their vow exchange. It was one of those magical PNW winter days where I found myself questioning how lucky I am to actually call this area home. A huge congrats to Jessica and Greg, who both give off the most beautiful, warm, and authentic energy. Photographing your wedding was such an honor!
