Zahradka Engagement

Hopping back to the damp and dreary winter days of Portland from sunny California was made easier by way of these two, ready to venture out for a fun day of shooting — rain or shine.

I will be covering Jeremy & Kate's wedding in April, they chose to shoot their engagement photos with me as well. I often encourage couples to use the same photographer for both of these events for a few reasons:

1. Many photographers, including myself, offer a discounted rate if you book these events together.

2. Doing an engagement session with your wedding day photographer allows a low-pressure avenue to get comfortable in front of the person who will be following you around on your important day. Also to get a feel for how your photographer operates. We each have our different approaches to shooting; my style is to make you comfortable, but also for me to be as invisible as possible. My primary goal is for you to be present — aware of the environment, the emotions, and the people/person you are with. I want you to remember your day, not your photographer.

Please enjoy a few shots from our venture around Portland together, making a cozy time out of a wet day.

I want to offer a special thanks to Wildwood Bespoke for providing a stunning and warm place to shoot. If you are curious about their space and are looking to rent it for something special (a meeting, retreat, party, music event, photoshoot, video shoots, etc.) travel over to this link and inquire about reservations. If you are in need of a custom suit or are someone who enjoys high fashion and the finer things in life, visit their shop tucked away behind Barista in downtown Portland. They have an amazing collection of items (some local, including my amazing friend Lyle at Handforge) that will make your eyes happy and give you plenty of treasures to put on your Christmas list.

You can thank me later!

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Joshua Tree, California

There has been a lot of whining from us Pacific Northwesterners about this year's winter, and I am not at all exempt. This season has been so brutal and exhausting! Yes, I hail from Colorado. But no, none of us are blasé about the inclement weather we've been having here in Portland. It has cost us much — major accidents and highway closures, shutting down the cities that are ill-equipped to operate under this form of winter. Lost business, lower paychecks, crunched cars, cancelled appointments, doleful demeanors, the inability to get a good bowl of ramen anywhere...I could whine on. I'll spare you. All that to say, an irresistible urge to seek the sun was bubbling to the surface for me, and so a styled shoot in the always enchanting Joshua Tree with a few of my most creative and lovely friends was a no-brainer. If you are in need of some sunshine, I hope that these images of warmth can transport your mind to a happier place, or inspire you to physically go to one. How the sun can heal a soggy soul...

DAY 1

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DAY 2 & 3

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Andersen Construction Headshots

When you hear the words "executive headshots" I doubt your interest is piqued, but shooting with the Andersen Execs was an unexpectedly entertaining task. These are not your every-day-joe's, nor your stuffy type of business men; they are a group of hard working but good humored guys who loosened up their ties and worked the camera to bring a little approachability to the Andersen corporation.

Barnes Family Shoot

The beautiful momma in this shoot is one of my oldest friends in Portland. Nancy is someone who I served alongside in the earlier days where we roamed downtown to provide resources for those experiencing homelessness. It was there that we bonded over many things but relevantly to this blog post, we bonded over our mutual love for photography. Nancy is a talented shooter herself, and so when she scrambled to book me before her and her family's big move back to the East Coast, I was honored to spend some time documenting an evening of play with the Barnes family on Sauvie's Island.