My trip to Portland was booked, planned, and ready to go when I got an email from Kelly Rae, asking if there was any way I could fit her in. The only spot I had was the morning before my flight home, and gratefully that worked for her, so we planned to meet early that day. The night before the shoot the nerves began ramping up. Kelly Rae is a well known, successful artist. I was intimidated. Anytime I photograph someone in a creative field I feel a little bit of extra pressure to make magic: what if I’m not cool enough, creative enough, imaginative enough, ENOUGH enough? What if they don’t like me? What if I don’t connect to the family? What if what if what if.

After the fact, like every other time, those thoughts were soon forgotten. Once I say goodbye and get into my car after a session, my brain is firing off only one thing: I CAN DO ANYTHING. There is nothing like the high after a shoot is over, that accomplishment after a job well done. I wish I knew how to stop the cycle, and stay with reality. I work on it every day.

With Kelly Rae’s family, it was exactly like that. I was swooped into her beautiful home, and not just beautiful but also so carefully loved and created – every inch and corner full of meaningful treasures and delightful surprises. I knew immediately her home was her sanctuary, an extension of her, and her family fills it with light and laughter, love and joy.

I had nothing to worry about at all.

A family with older children living in Portland. There are a few cute back stories to this session that I have to tell you.

When she booked, Mom told me that she had shared my Instagram feed with her son, to show him my work. He approved me for his senior photos, and THEN he redecorated his bedroom because the photos of my house inspired him. After I melted into a puddle and came back to life I was able to reply to her email. I MEAN – I have never felt so loved. I knew he must be a kindred spirit and as you can imagine, I was dying to meet him.

Two days before the session, Mom texts me about two things. One, her daughter had just dyed her hair hot pink and her son had bleached his. She was attempting to let it go. And two, they still weren’t positive what location they wanted for the shoot. I said “bring it on” about the hair, and pushed for the house, but she told me it looked like a garage sale and didn’t seem totally keen on the idea. I told her we could focus on her son’s room and see what happened from there. She agreed. I get there and I’m like, UM HELLO YOU ARE CRAZY AND YOUR HOUSE IS ADORABLE AND SO YOU. How could we NOT have shot here?!

BEGIN RANT**This just goes to show, your house may not seem photo ready to you, but what you consider photo ready and what I consider photo ready are dramatically different. There is always something interesting to find and being at home makes everyone relax and it is so important to add that dose of your family personality to your photos. Please, please let me come over.**END RANT

We start the session in the room inspired by my house (squeee) and I can’t stop smiling because it is such an unexpected connection and I feed off his sweet creativity and friendliness.

I ask about doing something in the daughter’s bedroom, and she says no, it’s okay, it’s too messy. I push a little harder but she isn’t budging so we go out back. After shooting a bit, I see pink walls and bright yellow curtains hanging in the window of a bedroom. The bedroom of the daughter with the hot pink hair, and I can instantly imagine her hair matching her curtains in a photo and I turn to her and say, “OH, you are taking me into your bedroom, RIGHT NOW.” And she laughs and she does and she is lovely and when I show her the back of the camera I know I was right to follow my gut.

Portland, OR.