The Story Behind the Photograph

​The chrysanthemums were dying.  The last few days as I walked by the vase on the table, it made me feel kind of sad.  Two weeks earlier, I had bought the flowers because the rusty gold color caught my eye while grocery shopping at a Vancouver Safeway.  I loved how tall the stems were, the texture and layers of all the petals on each head, and the way the rusty gold and the ivory colors complimented each other.  From the moment I put the flowers in my cart, I started imagining a photo in my head of my youngest mini with the mums.  I could visualize the styling, the colors and the way I wanted to edit the image.  The portrait photographer in me had already photographed the image in my mind.
 
Two weeks after buying the flowers and I had still yet to take the portrait I had envisioned.  It was getting late last night and my youngest mini was getting ready for bed.  As she walked by, I decided we would do a quick session with the flowers.  I didn’t care that she would get to bed a little late, she was wearing her pajama top in the photo, she had chipped blue nail polish, or that the flowers were dying.  It took less than 15 minutes to take the portraits I had envisioned.  No bedtime citations were issued and the chrysanthemums are freshly trimmed back in the vase and may live to see another week.  Now when I walk by them, I will smile as I think of this portrait of my youngest mini – wearing her pajama top, staying up late and holding these flowers.
 
Being a portrait photographer for newborns, high school seniors and families in the Vancouver, Washington area provides countless beautiful outdoor settings for portraits.  However, there is something so timeless and classic about an indoor studio session on a black background.  These are portraits that stand the test of time, strike emotion within the viewer, and feel no need to follow trends.