Van Valen Photography

I blinked, and it is June! I am wrapping up images from a wedding in New Hampshire, then have to finish a local wedding at the Kennedy School here in Portland. But last night I took some "me time" and finally published a blog about our vacation to Hawaii. It's mostly a photo essay of the things we did and saw - what a week!

Maui Wowie — Van Valen Photography The winter of 2021, sitting on the lanai of our rental in Kailua-Kona, I said to my husband, “I want to do this every winter,” and he said, “Duh.” And I said, “And I want to bring The Kids,” and he said, “Okay by me!”

One of the coolest parts about working outside is how dramatically the same scene changes from moment to moment.

At first it was stark blues and crashing white waves, then it warmed as the sun sank, and then the skies turned to cotton candy and a magenta mist hung in the skies and over the blue water - what a night. Same beach, same couple, same camera, and so many moods.

Just a sneak peek - going to be a bit before this engagement shoot is wrapped up.

12 years ago today before flying to NH, I went and enjoyed a rare freeze in the Columbia River Gorge. Hours later, I was stranded in Chicago for the night and built a fort out of cots and blankets with another traveler from Oregon so we could try to get some sleep, and we shared my box of Voodoo Doughnuts that had been destined for friends in NH. (We're still friends a decade-plus later!) After finally arriving in NH more than 24 hours later than intended, my luggage wouldn't arrive for another 16 hours.

But hey. I got to see Multnomah Falls looking like this!

I've been so busy with photos I haven't blogged in forever! I still have a gorgeous little beach elopement to share, and some maternity photos that are now so outdated the kid is already here. I have a really special engagement shoot that will be wrapped shortly I can't wait to share with you all.

2022 brings me to a large wedding in NH, a super fun wedding at the Kennedy School in Portland, a stylish weekend wedding in Walla Walla, and a taco-truck party of a wedding in the Gorge.

In early February I get to do a special portrait session in Hawaii for friends whose wedding I shot nearly 12 years ago in San Juan Capistrano, CA - it will be so fun to work with them again!

And perhaps most special of all, I will get to do engagement photos for my step daughter and her new fiance while we are on Maui, too!

It certainly feels like people are trying to be together again after so many months of isolation. With that in mind, stay safe over the holidays. If you feel sick, don't risk it!

Amberly & Jason, Engaged! — Van Valen Photography I was pretty giddy late this summer when Amberly messaged me on Instagram and said she wanted to talk about wedding photography…

Man! I have been slacking - I owe you all a couple of blogs, featuring a beach elopement and a recent maternity shoot.

The past 18+ months have been strange (obvs) but I'm looking at 2022, and it's shaping up to be a busy and exciting year! Very special portraits in Hawaii in February, a formal wedding in NH in May, a fashion-forward fun-fest wedding celebration in Walla Walla in August, and last night I booked a very intimate and fun (hello, tacos) event in the Gorge in September. It's nice to feel a touch more "normal," - but I hope you're all still staying safe and healthy out there.