Marissa & Alex's Maternity Session | Final Seattle Session

*sniff sniff* This was my last portrait session in Seattle, done just 3 days before we moved. I will be back for weddings here and there, but I will no longer be able to jump in my car and be to Discovery Park or Golden Gardens within 5 minutes. How lucky was I to have these beautiful, stunning locations just minutes from my front door? I don't know if I took it for granted per say, but I really see how lucky I was now that I no longer live there. Sure, I have San Francisco less than an hour away, the beautiful golden rolling hills of the South Bay, ancient oak trees, and Lake Tahoe within reach, but Seattle holds a special place in my heart. It really is a beautiful city and a wonderful place to live. I am so lucky that we got to call it home for 3 years. Marissa & Alex were so, so sweet together. They are originally from Hawaii, a far cry from the Pacific Northwest but they both confessed that they loved living in Seattle. Isn't it funny how even people from beautiful, warm places like Hawaii or California can fall in love with Seattle? I never would have believed it, but it happens all the time.

We photographed their maternity session at Golden Gardens, one of my favorite places. The smell of people BBQing, bonfires on the beach, sailboats in the sound...it epitomizes glorious Seattle summers.

Their baby should be here by now too, so congratulations you guys!

Melanie & Justin at Discovery Park | Seattle Maternity Photographer

I am so excited that not only did I get to photograph Melanie and Justin's maternity session, but I will also be doing their newborn session in their home sometime next month! I can't wait to meet their sweet little boy :) Melanie reminded me a lot of myself when I was pregnant, in fact, I even owned a very similar blue dress! I love how she rocks her perfect baby belly. She and Justin have a wonderful connection which was easy to see in the way they laughed and giggled together. I am so thankful that they trusted me to put them in weird positions, like laying on the ground or having a 9 month pregnant lady straddle her husband's lap in a semi-tight dress. haha. Discovery Park is one of my favorite places to shoot. Not only is it less than a mile from my house (bonus!) but it is so large that all of the sessions that you do there can look completely different. It was warm on the day of their maternity session, but there were hazy clouds giving us a unique look, different than days where I've shot when the sun was shining bright or there were heavy clouds overhead.

The H Family | Seattle Maternity Photographer

If this family looks a bit familiar it's because this is my 4th time photographing them. First, for their maternity session with their now 2 year old son, then a family session when he was 6 months old, and again for his first birthday party at their home in Gig Harbor. They are now expecting a baby girl! I cannot wait to meet their little lady who is due in just 4 weeks! Aura enlisted the talents of Finch and Thistle for her stunning ranunculous flower crown. We opted to do the maternity session at their home, in their backyard. I had been to their house before but on a rainy day, so when I saw the golden rays shining between the trees I was so, so excited. We are spoiled by western exposure in Seattle, but in Gig Harbor it's a bit trickier to find. Their home is gorgeous and their backyard made for a special and beautiful setting. When they look back on these pregnancy photos they will have just a bit of extra connection since I'm sure their yard is already filled with a lot of special memories.

Can we just take a moment to acknowledge how dang cute little B is? He just celebrated his 2nd birthday and is a bundle is sweetness, love, and energy. He reminds me a lot of my own 2 year old daughter, although much better behaved for photos ;) After I would take a couple of shots he would come running up to me and say, "Camera!! Picture!!" wanting to see photos of himself. haha. Such a sweet little 2 year old boy!