
Sometimes I have visions for photographs I want to create. But I haven’t been good about *doing* something about those visions.
Two summers ago, a friend invited us to hang out on a beach at a park we’d never heard of, Elk Rock Island. Well, I got lost because there’s another place called Elk Rock on the other side of the river, but when we finally arrived, I couldn’t believe what a hidden gem it seemed to be. A big, jagged-looking rock outcropping island, next to some wooded areas, some tall grasses, and a small sandy beach. The water of the Willamette wasn’t too chilly, and my babies gently kicked and splashed with their feet as I held them up. Our friend was swimming and playing with her son in the water, and she was also pregnant with their second child, and the sun had turned golden light everywhere, and I wished that I could switch to photographer mode and capture the beautiful scene as a maternity session.
That scene stuck in my mind and this summer, after two years of thinking about, I finally decided to make the vision a reality. I asked online for some volunteers for this unique maternity photo session–a more artistic look than my traditional maternity images. This would be just the mother-to-be, interacting and contrasting with the harsh natural environment. I was so, so excited to make this artistic session happen!
I selected Kaitlyn as my model for this session, and she was incredible. Not only is she gorgeous, she’s athletic and didn’t mind climbing and clambering a bit. She’s a rock-climbing enthusiast, and coaches volleyball, even while pregnant! She was a natural at posing, and she was totally willing to get in the water and try new and different things.
The day of our session was gorgeous. We photographed at several places at the park and used a few outfit changes to get many different looks. I’d wanted to do the water shots with the golden hour light, but I misjudged the timing. It worked out, though–we did get a few golden photos, and later the dusky, darkening sky provided a beautiful background too. It created a more moody and dramatic feel in those images.
Overall, I love how it all turned out; the flowy, light dress in direct contrast to the rough, jagged rocks and the dark water. I *love* this session!









Thank you, Kaitlyn!!
If you are interested in artistic maternity photography, I would love to create a special session just for you! Let’s talk about your vision!