Capturing the Essence of Zoe: A Look into Her Senior Portrait Session
Zoë is a high school senior at Franklin High School who is absolutely crushing it on the soccer field and has a passion for thrifting. We had the pleasure of capturing her unique personality in her senior portraits at Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, and we are so excited to share her story with you!
First and foremost, Zoë is a talented soccer player who has dedicated countless hours to the sport. Zoë was a natural in front of the camera, and we were able to capture her essence in each shot.
In addition to soccer, Zoë is an avid thrifter and has a real eye for unique vintage pieces, and she brought some really cute outfits along with her. Zoë was in her element, and we were able to capture her individuality and glow in each shot.
One of our favorite things about Zoë is her positive attitude and infectious smile. She has a way of lighting up a room and making everyone feel at ease. We wanted to capture this in her senior portraits, so we made sure to include a few shots of Zoë just being herself, laughing and having fun.
Overall, Zoë’s senior portraits are a true reflection of her unique personality. We feel so grateful to have been a part of this milestone moment in her life and cannot wait to see all the amazing things she will accomplish in the future. Congratulations, Zoë!
The sweet couple at their Edgefield wedding in Oregon
A Great Environment To Celebrate Love
We love Edgefield. The uniqueness, the variety of beautiful areas for photos, the staff, but most of all the people who have such a great time there (guests can book a hotel room and take advantage of their soaking pool).
Something For Everyone
Meaghan and Alex’s wedding was off-the-charts fun! They’re so madly in love and cater to one another in really sweet ways, like serving cupcakes for Meagan and ice cream for Alex. There’s no need to choose, you can have it all! The evening wrapped up with dancing as the sun set, and we all had a blast – the photographers playing with light, and the guests belting out their favorite tunes as they threw glow sticks around.
Shout it for the whole hotel to hear!
No need to choose – you can have cupcakes and ice cream!
Having a fun moment in the garden!
We all had a blast with the glow sticks!
Are you having a Portland wedding and in need of a wedding photographer? We’d love to chat with you! Please contact us to find out about our current specials, and in the meantime you can check out our prices online!
We’re often asked for recommendations for the best locations for senior photos in Portland. We’ve photographed seniors here for a few decades (see dozens of our senior photos on our website), so we know so many great options for senior photo locations. If you have an idea for where you want to take your senior pictures, great! If not, we have lots of recommendations. We thought we’d share a few of our favorites here..
Quick Links to The Best Locations for Senior Photos in Portland
Here, in no particular order, are some of our favorite locations for senior photo sessions in Portland (including Beaverton, Tigard, Hillsboro, Sherwood, West Linn, Lake Oswego, and more!):
Best Urban Locations for Senior Photos in Portland
Northwest Portland Senior Photo Locations
Our photo studio in Northwest Portland is strategically located within 3 blocks of 10 amazing locations for great senior photos. We use our studio as a staging ground for our sessions, so your clothing and valuables stay safe. And if you want to be pampered with hair and makeup before your session, that happens in our studio before your shoot. It’s a great option for a mix of urban and natural in a senior session!
The Portland Bridges and Waterfront Park
Portland has so many great bridges to photograph, and adjoining waterfront parks. If you know how to light it right (and we do), you can get spectacular senior photos day or night. Just check out a couple of these examples on Portland’s Broadway Bridge and Waterfront Park:
Secret Graffiti Locations!
When you’ve been photographing senior photos as long as we have, you end up with a few secrets. And one of our secrets is knowing where some of the best locations for graffiti, murals, and ‘urban art’ are in Portland. If you want some bold color in your senior photo session, talk to us about the Secret Graffiti!
Best Senior Pictures in Natural Locations
Laurelhurst Park Senior Pictures
Laurelhurst Park is a great location right in the middle of Portland. It has a wide variety of trees, a pond, a cool stairway, sculptures, and more! We love taking senior pictures in Laurelhurst Park.
Mt Tabor Senior Photos in Portland
Who doesn’t want to have their senior photos on top of a dormant volcano? Trees, stones, old stairs, and views of downtown Portland make this a cools spot for senior photos.
Hoyt Arboretum Senior Photos
If you love trees and nature, the Hoyt Arboretum is the place to be for senior photos. Located right in the middle of the metro area, near the Oregon Zoo, it’s a great location with a lot of texture!
Cathedral Park Senior Sessions in Portland
Cathedral Park has one of Portland’s most iconic bridges: the St John’s Bridge. The architecture on top is amazing, but the view from below (which looks like a cathedral) is also stunning. Plus, there’s the river, lots of trees, some hidden graffiti, and more. It’s a fun and iconic place for a senior session, and a nice mix between urban and natural. However, in late 2022 through 2023, construction on the St Johns Bridge (covering the arches beneath the bridge) may make Cathedral Park a less-great option for senior photos. Read more here about Cathedral Park construction here.
Jenkins Estate Senior Photos in Beaverton
One of our very favorite locations for senior photos in the Portland area is actually in Beaverton: Jenkins Estate. It’s a historic estate (owned by the Jenkins Family) that was donated to the Tualatin Parks and Recreation District. It’s never crowded (unless there’s a wedding), it’s huge, and there’s so much variety! From the historic house, to the little Japanese Garden, to the variety of flowers that bloom through the year, it’s a hidden gem for senior pictures!
Cook Park Senior Pictures in Tigard
Cook Park is just behind Tigard High School, and is a great (and hidden) location for senior photo sessions. It’s right on the Tualatin River, and if you know where you’re going, there are some great places among the trees to photograph as well. It’s worth the trip, even if you’re not from Tigard!
George Rogers Park Senior Photos in Lake Oswego
Even if you don’t live in Lake Oswego, George Rogers Park is worth the drive. It’s a great location for senior photos, right on the river. And there’s a historic smelting plant there, too, which makes for some cool photos with historic architecture!
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Senior Pictures in Sherwood
This is one of our favorite locations for golden hour senior photo sessions. Because it opens up to the West, we can use that beautiful golden light all the way through sunset! There’s also the Tualatin River, and so many beautiful oaks here. Plus, we’re likely to see herons, geese, nutria, and even deer while we’re photographing your senior pictures!
Macleay Park/Forest Park Senior Photos
Macleay Park is within Forest Park, and is a bit of a hike. But being able to photograph along the stream, in the trees, and even at the ‘Witches Castle’ is a real treat for senior pictures!
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Cooper Mountain Nature Park is a place that some photographers like to take senior photos. However, there are signs everywhere reminding folks to stay on the trail, because leaving the trail damages the ecosystem they are trying to preserve and protect. It makes us sad to see photographers ignoring these signs, and trampling the habitat by taking their seniors and families off-trail. Also, there’s a lot of poison ivy there! There are other great locations (as we’ve listed above!) where we can photograph seniors without breaking the rules or damaging the habitat–or getting poison ivy rash.
Even More Great Locations for Senior Photos
We could go on and on about other locations for senior photos, including Pier Park, local cemeteries, The Pearl District, Jamison Park, The Burnside Bridge, The Hawthorne Bridge, local schools, and so many more. We’ve photographed at them all! You can see more samples of our senior photos on our website.
Finding the Perfect Location for Senior Pictures in Portland
Finding the perfect location for senior pictures in the Portland area takes many things into consideration: the type of landscape (and how well it’s maintained); water features; when flowers or trees are in bloom; architecture, ease of access; cost for parking or entry; openness to the West (for golden hour/sunset light); and so much more. You also have to think about what locations can be used when it’s rainy in Portland (which is so much of the year!). Most locations are free, some charge a fee, and some (such as the Lan Su Chinese Gardens and the Japanese Gardens) sadly don’t allow portrait photography at all. We know all the ins-and-outs for finding you the best location for senior pictures in Portland.
We take all these things into consideration when recommending a location to our high school seniors, so we can TAKE GORGEOUS SENIOR PICTURES and HAVE THE MOST FUN!
We have so much fun photographing senior photos. Whether a senior wants their session in an urban environment with cool architecture, or against graffiti, or in a local park, we know all the best locations for senior pictures in Portland. And in Beaverton, Tigard, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego…you name it!
Contact us today to schedule your senior photo session. You’ll love the experience, and you’ll love the amazing photos we create together. Contact us today to schedule your senior session, while we still have openings!
I love photographing dancers, and Jessalyn was no exception. We photographed at Jenkins Estate in Beaverton, closer to sunset so that we could capture the beautiful golden light. We were also able to utilize the lights they have there, which was so fun! Read on to see what this senior enjoys and looks forward to.
When talking about dance, Jessalyn told me:
“I attended the National High School Festival in 2020 which was so much fun especially being able to meet people all over the U.S.”
“Before Covid I went to a summer intensive in Austin, Texas. It inspired me so much to see other dancers in love with dance as much as me!”
Dance isn’t her only passion, though!
“My favorite hobbies are computer gaming, making my own jewelry, and thrifting with friends.”
When talking with Kiersten, I found out some really interesting things:
“I’m on the school timber sports team where I do choker sets and arbor climbing and spur climbing and sometimes axe throwing, also backpack and snowboard in the winter. Timber sports is cool because I like climbing stuff and it’s neat to participate in the traditions of Oregon’s loggers.”
She’s excited to “buy a cow and work with it for my FFA project,” and plans to “go to Montana State or Oregon State to study agriculture.”
She participates in Future Farmers of America(FFA), forestry class and Future Natural Resource leaders(FNRL) team events, and her biggest hope is to “own a farm with potatoes and dairy cattle, and work with other farmers and lawmakers about soil and agricultural sustainability.”
I’ve known Hannah’s dad for many years, so when they asked me to take Hannah’s senior photos I instantly agreed. She’s just as creative and awesome as her dad, and we had a lot of fun on her shoot.
Hannah’s Interests and Hopes
“I love playing music! I’m in my school’s jazz band (I play the keys). My favorite instrument is the accordion. I play at a Balkan music workshop in Mendocino. I also love the guitar and have been writing some guitar songs recently. I love making art communally– playing with other folks and having that shared experience.”
She loves “reading the classics, playing music, making playlists, and watching classic films!”
“I hope to make lots of deep interpersonal connections with folks. I think by learning about others we learn more about ourselves. I want to learn to write well. And I want to learn to experience emotions in their entirety instead of logically analyzing each and every one of them.”
When Stevie and Adam asked us to photograph their wedding, we jumped with joy! Stevie and Adam are some of the sweetest people, and we’re so honored that they shared their wedding with us. They both love the outdoors, and as soon as they met one another they knew they were the perfect fit, even if they had to wait to find each other. Their ceremony was at The Well Church, and then their lovely guests filled The Village Ballroom with great energy.
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
The love they have not only for each other, but their friends and family is incredibly endearing. As much love as there was, there was also so much fun – seen in the sword they cut their cake with, and all the fun dancing! Congrats, Stevie and Adam! We wish you all the best.
Are you having a Portland wedding and in need of a wedding photographer? We’d love to chat with you! Please contact us to find out about our current specials, and in the meantime you can check out our prices online!
Amy and Rick love wine, so they came to Oregon for the first time to spend a week in wine country. We met up on a beautiful fall day to celebrate their union, and drink wine! They reserved the cave at Domaine Serene to enjoy some charcuterie and cheese, and champagne to mark the occasion.
Every Little Detail
Amy and Rick thought of every little detail, from flowers to cake to vow booklets. It was a beautiful celebration of their love, and since they were hopping on a plane the next day, they shared their cake with us! Thank you so much for sharing your afternoon with us, we’re incredibly happy for you! We absolutely love celebrating and photographing weddings! Please contact us to talk about your special day, and be sure to ask about our current specials. In the meantime, check out our pricing on our website!
From sun to sand, snow to forests, we just love photographing engagement portraits. Take a gander through these beauties, then call us when you’re ready for your own photo session! We’d love to create something gorgeous with you to celebrate your love….
Waking up at 3am to drive to Trillium Lake is something we will not pass up! Arriving at the lake when the sky was just beginning to lighten is invigorating, not to mention the chill in the air, even in August. Amy and Jonathon traveled to Oregon specifically for the natural beauty, so it made perfect sense to have their ceremony with Mt. Hood in the background.
A hot beverage for everyone!
Their ceremony was awe inspiring as the sun peaked out and the fog moved over the water. With their closest friends and family, Amy and Jonathon promised a life of adventure and love to one another. Then they had hot beverages and a picnic breakfast in the woods. Nothing could have been more perfect for these two!
Emily and Chris are made for each other. When you first meet them you can tell they love and cherish one another, but seeing them celebrate their love with their family was one for the books. They are selfless, caring people who want nothing but the best for those they love, and they love a lot.
Emily and Chris are in sync
Emily and Chris had a really special wedding at McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. They make the best of whatever comes their way, which I got to witness first hand. They opted not to have a DJ, and put Chris’s brother in charge of playing their first dance song. It wasn’t hooked up properly, and cut out shortly after the song began. As they scrambled to fix the issue, Chris started stomping his foot to the beat and singing A capella as he and Emily danced. Then Emily started harmonizing with him! It was such a beautiful and perfect moment.
You can see all our wedding packages and prices right here on our website, and contact us about your wedding photography! When you contact us, ask us about our current specials. We absolutely love weddings, and we’d love to work with you!
First and foremost, Zoë is a talented soccer player who has dedicated countless hours to the sport. Zoë was a natural in front of the camera, and we were able to capture her essence in each shot.
In addition to soccer, Zoë is an avid thrifter and has a real eye for unique vintage pieces, and she brought some really cute outfits along with her. Zoë was in her element, and we were able to capture her individuality and glow in each shot.
