Summer 2021
It isn’t news that I haven’t been as actively posting on my website (or taking photos in general) since the pandemic started. I went from being out in the hustle of the big city of Seattle, to working my day job from home. I was very fortunate to do so, but that kept me inside my home walls, away from others, tucked in and doing almost no real photoshoots. I also decided to go carless when I realized I wasn’t going to need to drive anywhere for a bit, as the pandemic progressed on. Needless to say, this left me with few options to get together outdoors to shoot safe pandemic photoshoots.
This time did give me a chance to focus on other creative endeavors, and to focus on my health and fitness. I became quite the cook of healthy meals.
That all being said, I really have missed photography. So so much. I was so thrilled to be vaccinated once I was eligible because I of course wanted to keep others safe and myself safe, but I also knew that so many more things would be open to me again. I am not ready to go back to full on concerts just yet, but I hope that in the future I will feel safe enough to attend and photograph them. I miss live music more than photography.
Chelsea and Lana.
At the beginning of Summer, I finally got together with my friends Chelsea and Colleen again, from my last job. It had been so long since we had caught up. I brought my camera and only took one photo - of Chelsea and her pooch, Lana, the poodle. My photography was finally staring back up with this photo. Besides photographing music, my favorite thing to do is take a portrait of someone, especially someone I care about!
Rina!
Also early in Summer, I got together with my friend Rina, to celebrate her birthday. We both had been lacking any social interaction during the first year + of the pandemic and it was so good to reconnect with her and take some birthday photos after we grabbed coffee.
Shayna, Lee & TBD.
Also this Summer, I got to photograph some families that were expecting! Here, Shayna and Lee anticipate their little one, due this November.
Lillian, Ollie and Andy.
I also got to photograph my friends Lillian and Andy, along with their son Ollie and in anticipation of welcoming their baby girl to the family.
Minnesota Road Trip
Gorge, Washington.
Here, there is an invitation to my father’s Celebration of Life on my cousin’s mantlepiece. We used one of my favorite photos that I took of him.
This Summer, we went back to Minnesota for a long overdue celebration of life for my father who passed last Fall. He passed away in Minnesota during the peak of the pandemic in the area there, where snow was plentiful and we didn’t think gathering the family indoors was safe. We postponed until Spring/Summer and felt fortunate there was also a vaccine available before we made the trip back to settle him.
St. Hilaire, MN.
Lee, my fiancé (who does NOT travel) came out to support me on this trip and I was briefly able to show him around the town my parents grew up, and the family farm that my parents had spent some of their lives living on.
Pit stop for laundry during our Minnesota trip.
Steve and Linda.
Sky, Cooper and W-alle in the back.
We got to visit with Steve and Linda, and their dogs Cooper and Sky.
Lisa, Dana and Vienna.
In Halstad we got to visit with my Aunts Lisa and Dana.
Wild turkeys were abundant.
Gene and Trixie.
Michelle, Yvonne, Gene and Mavis.
Some of my dad’s siblings made it out to his Celebration of Life.
Lee and Bella at Oakland Park.
Chans at Oakland Park.
Frances and Randy at Oakland Park.
Steve and Brain. My uncles!
W-alle!
A rare photo of me! Somewhere, MN.
My beautiful mother.
My fiancé and I at my father’s burial.
RIP, Dad.
Secret Photoshoot
My friend Tim Billick has been cooking up some new solo music. We spent some time photographing a bold idea he had - more to come on that later. Check out his music here.
When Tim and I took a break at the end of our shoot, we grabbed a quick picture of him with his pup, Herbert.
Seattle Design Festival
I love attending the Seattle Design Festival every year- and I always have a blast if my best friend can attend with me. This year was one of those lucky years. The theme this year was “emerge”. We happily checked out the different exhibits and interpretations at South Lake Union park.
Wrapping Things Up
Maddie!
As the end of Summer came, my friend Maddie visited Seattle for the first time on her own solo trip. We’ve been online friends for years because we are both massive Foals fans, and it was SO EPIC to get to meet her while she was here. It was even cooling down that week, so she was able to wear some flannel! So Seattle.
Maddie’s Foals tattoos.
As I come to a close on this post and this season, I am so happy. I have gotten to photograph and see so many people I care about over the Summer. I got to lay my father to rest. So many things I did had me feeling like myself, once again, after so much time spent alone. I really hope to be photographing more friends and events from here on, and focus on reconnecting.