A Little Bit of Preparation Can Go A Long Way | Vancouver, WA Newborn Photographer

This winter has been the winter of the awake babies. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a sweet, alert, open eyed little one but the sleepers make my job so much easier.  Safety is always my priority when working with newborns and there are some poses that are simply not achievable in a safe way is babes are awake. This winter has been full of wrapping but this little gal finally changed all of that! When Grace and her mom arrived, mom was so excited. She had read through the prep guide she received before her session carefully and did everything she could to make sure we would get the most out of their time in the studio. Her work definitely paid off and Grace was already out hard and ready to go when they arrived. We were able to start immediately with some sweet naked setups on the beanbag and we got through all of them without any pees or poops. I had a feeling she had some business brewing so we opted for a diapered wrapped setup next. About 10 minutes in, she got a little fussy and then totally let loose. We got her all changed up and fed and she was ready to do some more naked setups in props. She seriously was one of the and easiest babies. She did manage to pee on my pink fuzzie right at the very end of her session but I walked away clean and dry, which honestly is rare win for me. Little baby Grace is proof that a little bit of preparation can go a long way! 

Please enjoy some of the highlights from baby Grace's session <3

This Is My Happy Place | Vancouver, WA Newborn and Family Photographer

Seriously guys, this is my happy place! 

I love my studio so much, every time I walk through the door I just feel like I am home. I am overwhelmed with the feeling that I am where I am suppose to be when I am in the studio, with my amazing clients, creating beautiful pieces of art.

My journey to this point has been a fun one with lots of changes along the way but I wouldn't change anything about it. So let's go back to the beginning; I moved into my first studio nearly 4 years ago. I met a wonderful friend of mine, Tara Thackeray Photography, back in summer of 2013. We instantly bonded over our love of photography. The next Spring I needed to rent a studio for a day and Tara was the first person that came to mind. After renting her studio for the day, she came to me with the idea of sharing her studio with her. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity. It was the perfect stepping stone for me, it gave me a place to grow and learn from. 

A little look into the space I shared with Tara

After nearly 2 years in her studio, I was ready to move into something that I could call my own. I knew I didn't want to leave the Academy Building. It is in such an amazing location and the building itself is full of so much history and beauty, it was a no-brainer. After a little but of looking a small little suite on the second floor became available. It was definitely a little on the smaller size but it had everything else I was looking for and it was a great first step into a space that I had control over.

The second floor studio

After just less than a year in the suite I was ready to stretch out a little and have some more room. So my wonderful friend Missy Fant Photography decided to look at some other suites available in the building and BOY, did we luck out! We found this amazing suite on the first floor that was being converted from 1 large unit into 2 smaller units. The first time we looked at the suite it was still under heavy construction being renovated but immediately I could see all of the potential. In classic Brianna fashion, we jumped on it. We signed our lease that day. The next couple of weeks waiting for the suite to be ready for move in was torture but it was so worth it. Now after almost a year in 101-A, I am still as happy as I was that first day we got our keys and I rolled all over the floor in joy. We have settled in so well and the studio is everything I could have wanted or asked for.

Please enjoy this little look through the studio. If you want to see it for yourself, I would love to have you by! Contact me to set up your free photography consult today, I would enjoy nothing more than sharing a cup of coffee with you in my happy place! 

Have you ever had a place that you just loved? A home, an apartment or a work space that made you feel at peace every time you were there? Or have you ever had to make any big decisions you have had to make in your life or maybe a business? Let's have a conversation about it, leave me a comment and tell me about your story!

Aryanna Newborn Session | Vancouver, WA Newborn Photographer

I really loved getting to know this couple through their maternity session so as you can imagine I was very excited to meet their little lady. Only 12 days new and Aryanna already has so much personality, she has the most expressive little face that will just tug at your heart strings. She also has the thickest head of hair, it is quite impressive. Even though Aryanna managed to pee all over my lap, I had such a fun afternoon hanging out with her and her parents. She got me in just the right spot and made it look like I peed myself and so we all got a good laugh out of that.

It was such an honor to be able to capture this precious time in her sweet life! Go check out her mom and dad's maternity session here;

A Sweet September Maternity Session

How To Get The Most From Your Engagement Session | Portland, OR Engagement Photographer

Did you know that the holiday's are the most popular time of the year for people to pop the question to their special someone? Really, could you ask for a better holiday surprise then getting asked by the one you love if you'd spend the rest of your life with them. 

Were you one of the lucky ones who got engaged this past holiday season? Let me say, congratulations! You are about to embark on a very exciting journey! Although exciting, wedding planning can be a lot of work and even a little overwhelming at times. Put your mind at ease and keep these simple tips in mind before your engagement session and make one step of the process a lot easier on yourself!

1. Pick a location that has meaning to you:

Pick a location that you love or holds some sentimental value to you both. If you are somewhere that makes you happy that will absolutely shine through in your photos. Consider picking the place you guys had your first date, your favorite place to hangout, your favorite hiking spot or even the place your sweetheart popped the question. 

2. Consider the season:

Plan ahead and book your session accordingly. Do you want beautiful, warm, summery photos? Or are you wanting to have an adventure in the rain? Or do you really love the beautiful colors of fall? The location you choose may be very different given the time of year so make sure that you are keeping that in mind. Are you planning on using your photos for your save the dates or invitations? Make sure that you book your session with enough time to get the photos you need before the wedding date.

3. What to wear:

There is a lot of things to consider when choosing your outfits for your session but the number one priority is, is it comfortable and practical for the location? If you are not comfortable in what you are wearing, it will show in your photos so no matter what you choose, you should feel good in it.

Coordinate, don't match. Matching is outdated. Pick complementary colors and only one person should be wearing a pattern.

Layers and accessories add dimension to your outfit and make it more interesting. Scarves, sweaters, jewelry are all great ways to spice up an outfit.

Shoes matter! Avoid wearing tennis shoes unless that are trendy (think converse or vans) and that go with the look and feel of your session. Try to avoid stilettos if you are in a grassy field. If you choose a location that is a bit of hike, wear a comfy pair of shoes to hike up in and change into the shoes you want to wear just before pictures.

Think about your location when picking choosing your outfits. An evening gown or tux may feel a little off in the middle of the woods.

Consider the weather, you probably won't be comfortable in a sundress is it's 40 degrees out. Dress to match the weather because comfort is key.

Bring outfit changes. Most engagement session last about 2 hours and having more than one outfit will help to bring some variety to your session. Don't be afraid to bring more changes of clothes than you may need, you never know when inspiration might hit. It is always better to have more options.

4. The ring and your nails:

We want to show off that beautiful ring of yours, get your ring polished and get a manicure before your session for a more finished look in close up shots of your ring.

5: Props and pups:

If you have something you are envisioning for your session, don't hesitate to bring it along. Props can really make your images stand out and add a fun and unique element to your session. Bringing your fur-baby to your session can be a fun little treat. Now that being said, I have noticed that when some dogs are included, owners tend to stress more and that will show in your photos. Think about your dog's obedience skills and whether or not you feel adding him or her will be stressful. Bring treats, a squeaky toy and poop bags if you do decide to include them.
Sometimes the best photographs are the simplest, where a beautiful backdrop and subjects really shine, so don't worry if you just want to keep it simple.

6: RELAX AND HAVE FUN!

You engagement session is all about you and your love story, it should be a fun and memorable experience. Come to your session relaxed and ready to have fun. Take a little time to breath and relax before your session, sit down and have a quiet moment with a nice hot cup of coffee to wind down.

Are you feeling excited about your engagement photos? Are you thinking about booking your engagement session? Let's chat! I would love to create some beautiful memories together. Contact me at Brianna@BmwPhotography.net or (360)721-5536 to set up your free engagement session consultation!

A Sweet September Maternity Session | Vancouver, WA Maternity Photographer

Round Lake is one of my hands down favorite session locations and this session is just proves why I love it so much. It is such an easy location to access, just a few minutes outside of downtown Camas and it is so versatile. This location has so much to offer, it's a photographer's dream and so was this couple! Sweet, funny and affection. You really couldn't ask for more. I had so much fun walking around the lake and spending the afternoon with these two. We had awesome conversations and shared some really great laughs. These two had my crying from laughter more than once. I ask Haris to whisper some sweet nothings into Cambria's ear and she responded by saying to him "Talk to me about food!" He happily obliged and started sweetly whispering to her about steak. I just about lost it then, these two were so funny. These two were so excited to meet their sweet little Aryanna and you can feel it in every single picture.

Enjoy the highlights from their session!

Cairo's Cake Smash Session | Vancouver, WA Baby Photographer

First birthdays are a big deal. They are such an awesome milestone not only for your baby but for you! Your family made it through the first year, you made it through birth, through all of the changes and so much growth. First birthdays aren't just a celebration of the day your child was born but they are a celebration of your family and your strength. 

One really fun way to commemorate your little one's first birthday is with a cake smash session! Your baby is left with just a cake in front of them, it will peak their curiosity and force them to explore just like 1 year olds like to do. It's a great way to capture your little one candidly and chances are you will see the whole gamut of emotions through the session.

Here are some of my favorites from Cairo's cake smash sessions. 

When you try to use the straw but no cake comes out! 😂

Sometimes you just need to eat cake off your toes

I'm happy, I'm super happy! Ok, get this cake off of me now!