Santa Photos in Gig Harbor:
Avoid lines and meet the World's BEST Santa one-on-one at this unique photo experience!
Usually offered two weekends in late Nov, early Dec.
What I love about these Santa sessions most of all is the sheer amount of fun and creative poses we can capture in such a short time. These are not your standard Santa photos! Bring your whole family, even your dog! Spend 8-9 minutes with Santa, doing lots of different creative poses, which can include a few, if not all of the following:
* a family photo (with or without Santa, or both!)
* looking at a scroll with your child's name on the Nice List
* reading a book (help Santa find objects in Holiday Eye Spy)
* ornament dangle (for babies)
* is his beard real? Give it a tug!
* making a heart out of two candy canes
* I will have 5 pairs of Aviator sunglasses on hand
* whisper a secret in Santa's ear,
and of course,
* The Classic Santa Photo!
In addition to lots of traditional and unique poses, your kids will also have time to tell Santa what they want for Christmas (bring your lists, kids!) Parents may also pass Santa a note on arrival if you have any special requests for Santa to tell your kids ("listen to Ms. Johnson in class" or "please put your legos away when you are done playing with them"). The look on their faces when Santa delivers a message only your family can know about is priceless!
Dates are released in mid October. Sign up Here!
20 minute minis in Gig Harbor:
Every Spring and summer, I offer 20 minute mini sessions at Skansie and Austin Park. For the latest offerings and to sign up for a slot, check here:
Cora Reuter Photography's Mini Session Signup Page
If you don't see what you want, I can set up a 30 minute standard session any time! Just contact me using the "contact" tab above.
Cap and Gown Minis at Skasnie Park:
Grab your cap and gown, your family dog, and have a fun 20 minutes capturing your grad's completion of high school! Dates are released in March and can be found here.
Cora Reuter Photography's Mini Session Signup Page
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Doing 30 minute photo sessions at Skansie park has become sort of an obsession of mine. I have gotten to know every nook, cranny, and angle to get the best shots during the morning hours when the light there is simply magical. Is there anything more quintessentially Gig Harbor than the Skansie Net Shed? I don't think so. And even if you aren't necessarily from Gig Harbor, there are few places with such ease of access that offer so many stunning PNW backgrounds in one easy place. Blurry sailboat masts? Check. Shabby chic reclaimed wood backgrounds? Check. Sprawling lawn with water in the background? Check. Dock with sparkly water and evergreen trees behind? Check. In 30 minutes, we can do them ALL (that is if kids are cooperating and we move quick).
Skansie Park works great for family photos, graduating seniors, headshots, even engagement photos.
Pros: Lots and lots of different backgrounds, including a couple neutral walls which are great for framed photos. Accessible and flat for less abled people.
Cons: only works on mornings between 9-11:00 (in fall, 8:30am-10am otherwise the sun is in your face). Saturdays can be busy there with canoe and kayak practices in spring and summer (lots of people in the background, but I can make it work). Sunday works best, and weekday mornings are even better.
Skansie works best in 30 minutes. Want to make it 60 minutes? Add on Ancich Park or the Russell Foundation.
A quick word about fall: Skansie Park STUNNING the first two weeks of November when the trees on the shoreline are at their peak! Here is a full gallery: https://www.corareuterphotography.com/p868201092?customize=3
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Kopachuck State Park has always been my go-to for yummy mossy woods and ferns, but it is closing in June 2024 for a year-long facelift! Luckily, only 5-7 mins away, Sehmel park (pronounced ZAY-mul; I know this because my aunt dated one of the Sehmel brothers back when she was in high school, lol) has us covered for families and seniors wanting the classic woods that scream "I Live in The Northwest!"
Pros: a fun adventure, stunning backgrounds, a boardwalk, moss, ferns, tall trees, not very crowded, even on weekends.
Cons: The biggest con is that is a walk, about 1/4 mile to the good stuff taking photos along the way. I do not recommend this location for young toddlers and new walkers. I have done it now three times and all three times it was a bit of a disaster. It is slow going, they insist on walking themselves, and once down, there is something abut a trail that just want to RUN. And is slightly downhill the whole way which makes them trip.
Another con: There are always some walkers to avoid, but it's easy enough to let them pass. Light can be harsh on sunny days, but as long as we can keep it at your back, the final product will be stunning.
Another con: the final result of your photos depends on the sun and the season. I put examples below from each season. Nov-March is my favorite but it is great year round!
February:
When it works: This route is perfect for either a 30 or 60 minute sessions. I prefer 60 so we can utilize all the cool spots.
You can park along the street. I'll send a map before your session. We will walk down to the boardwalk, about 10 minutes, snapping photos along the way and back) This session was on an April morning at 10:30am, so I would say it works best between 9:00-11am in the summer. It would probably also work well a couple hours before sunset (but I only offer 30 min sessions on weekdays only)
Be sure to look at all the examples below taken during different seasons
The following photos were taken in early March on a sunny day (clouds will look a bit different; keep scrolling down for examples of a cloudy day) and edited with my modern style (as always clients get to choose their edited style.)
These were taken in mid November when the big leaf maples change:
Here is a full example gallery: https://www.corareuterphotography.com/p1018745893?customize=3
My favorite season for this location is winter (Dec-March)! The canopy is open and the greens really shine.
The following photos were taken on a sunny June morning (before things get dry in July-Sept) and edited in my classic natural style:
And finally, here are some examples taken in July when things are reallly bright and the moss is starting to get dry:
Portraits, Headshots, and Senior Photos:
This is one of of my very favorite places for the variety of cool backgrounds!
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I have been coming here with my family for years. The area first found use as a rock quarry stemming as far back as the Steilacoom Indian Tribe and the first European settlers in 1832. It is now home to a beautiful park featuring and open lawn, cool bridge, and wide west-facing beach with driftwood.
When a graduating senior recently chose it for her session (sight unseen because she "heard it was cool"), I was so excited! And then I got home to edit. It was even BETTER than I could ever have imagined.
Pros: want a stunning variety of backgrounds? This is the place for you! It's got a grassy meadow, cool old quarry-related structures, a fantastic architectural bridge, and a long beach with a wide variety of driftwood.
Cons: Because it gets crowded on weekends, I will only shoot here on weekday evenings. 60 minute sessions only. Wind can be a factor, but I will keep and eye on the forecast and we can reschedule if it is windy on your day.
Accessibility: It is mostly flat, except for the stairs to get to the beach from the bridge. It is quite a bit of walking for those less abled.
Great for: senior portraits, families, headshots and branding, engagement photos.
When it works: weekday late afternoons, 60 minute sessions only.
Sunset sessions cost a bit more due to the extra weather/sky watching on my part, and extra time editing the colors just right, but Chambers Bay is GREAT for them if the weather works out (May-Oct only). Here is a full example gallery from Sept.
Every photographer has their own style when it comes to editing their final images, and I have developed two distinct looks I created using the tools in Adobe Lightroom: bright and light and muted modern. They are not filters. A lot of people use that vernacular shorthand mistake....I create each look by hand at each location on route we walked during your session, varying the contrast, shadows, whites, blacks, white balance, and color grading for each spot depending on the lighting conditions that day. Most photographers have one edited style that defines their brand. I have two, and you get to choose yours.
My classic style is colorful and happy, and true to what your eye sees, just a little more yummy. It is best used on bright and sunny days, as the modern style can tend to look odd on bright days (depending on the surroundings). Most of my spring and summer clients end up choosing this style:
My modern edited style is darker, richer, has more contrast, a slight vignette, and really brings out brown tones. They really POP. It is perfect for an editorial look and for that out-of-a-glossy-magazine look or a fall vibe. It seems to be all the rage right now with photographers. I love using most of all it in a forested setting because the green melts away and make the subject (you!) the star. It seems to work best on cloudy days. My Oct-March clients choose it overwhelmingly.
Want to go REALLY dark and moody, and ignore the light and bright option all together? Just let me know and I can have your style preview album have a dark and even darker choice!
How does choosing work? Within a few days of of your session, I send a preview album of a few photos edited both ways (side by side) and have clients choose the look they love most for their final album. It is HARD to choose! Some look better one way, and some look better the other. I ask that clients look on both their phones and computer monitors in a dark room, look carefully at their skin tones, and that they go with their gut!
Below are some images side by side in each style: the right is classic, the left is modern. It's hard to choose, right?! Which do you prefer? Comment below. I am always curious what people think.
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Want to get up and close and personal with Gig Harbor? Then taking your family photos or senior portraits here is a great option! This location works best for 30 minute sessions, or as an add on to a 60 minute session at the Russell Foundation, Ancich Park, or Skansie Park.
Pros: This small park has a variety of super cool backgrounds including lush green forest, a cool historical building, a small beach, and a rustic log for sitting. It is great in any season, but I love summer and fall because it has tall wildflowers called dara (Queen Anne's Lace), which look like something from a Dr Suess book, both when they are alive and dead. There is even fall color making it the perfect location for fall photos with an evergreen forest background, a Gig Harbor water background, a beach, tall grass and dying foliage AND an rea on the side with gorgeous fall color (see the end of this page for examples of that)
For those less abled, it's a great location since it is near parking, and its easy and wheelchair accessible. There is an option to park closer, right across the street from The Beach Basket, for an easier walk to the beach.
Cons: When the tide is super low, the beach is mucky and yucky, but we can shoot at the top of the beach where it's "clean." It is also suuuuuper bright on sunny days and we have to be super careful about flattering angles to have the sun at your back. It works for sessions between 9-10:30am.
This Park REALLY shines Sept-late October! It has the best fall color in Gig Harbor, and golden grass
Here is a shot with my classic edit vs my modern edit
Here are two full galleries from a 30 minute fall session:
Classic Edit
September examples:
Late July (below):
This is part of Donkey Creek, which joins Austin Park. Let me know if you want to use it, and I can save time to walk there.
Below is a mixture of photos taken on different days in the day. Some are edited in my classic style and some are in my modern style
Here is is in the spring on a sunny day, which can be tricky after 10am!
And a sunny spring/summer day in with my modern edited style:
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Looking for an edgy funky location that will make all your friends jealous because it will look like you are straight out of a fashion magazine? Look no further. The Tacoma Tide flats have graffiti, an industrial bridge, old derelict train tracks, and funky alcoves. It even has a functional hidden skate park. Is it kinda of sketchy? Yes, but I am not going to lie, this is probably my favorite location to shoot senior photos! It is a photographer's paradise!
When does it work? Weeknights and weekends 90 minutes before sunset (1 hour earlier if it is cloudy)
Pros: just beyond cool in every way. Plus, it's actually very easy to access all the shooting spots, with your car being right next to all almost all the sites (we would stop 3-4 places; the last stop at the bridge is the only spot we would have to walk 3 mins from your parked car)
Cons: there is no place to change outfits, so you would need to do so in your car. It isa kinda of shady area, but I have been there probably 25 times and have never had a problem. Seniors, if you feel unsafe about this situation, bring both mom and dad.
How it works: This location works for 60 minute sessions only. It is also easy to add on the Tacoma waterfront afterwards (package 4-- two hours-- for seniors). We would meet at a a dropped pin location and we would follow each other in cars along a 1 mile radius. I have all the best spots pinned on my phone.
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Is there anything more iconic than the Tacoma Narrows Bridges? I don't think so.
This location also has some cool driftwood and a swing on the right side of the beach (though I've never used it in a shoot, I have always wanted to!)
When does it work? I like shooting there in the early-ish morning (9-10am), when the sun is at your back. This is the only time to walk down to the bridges and get it in shots up close and personal (60 min shoots only). A lot of photographers like shooting there in the late afternoon, but I find the shadows too dark and the bridge too bright. I need to experiment there more for sure!
Pros: the bridges!
Cons: Not good for young kids since it is a far walk (half a mile). Tides can be a factor, so if you want to book a date, I will need to look at those. It can also be breezy, which is bad for long hair. If it's too strong on our chosen day (I have wind prediction apps) we can reschedule or have a Plan B location. Another con: to get down to the bridges to close up shots, it's a trek, over half a mile, but we will shoot photos in cool spots as we walk. This location doesn't have much to offer besides the bridges, though it does have some lovely driftwood and shaded arching trees. This location technically CAN be used to 30 minute shoots, so we won't be able to walk down to get under the bridges, but we would be able to get the shots below:
Above: Owen Beach and rose garden
Growing up in Tacoma, this was THE place to go for stunning senior and family photos. It offers everything the PNW is famous for, all in one park! My family often went there for picnics and we would have a contest to see who could find the best smelling rose, and now I do that same thing with my girls.
The reason I love it so much as a photographer is because of its versatility. Yes it has roses. But it also has fabulous foliage, ferns, hostas, a wishing well, and the best part: a scenic series of duck ponds and little bridges.)
When it works: The roses bloom mid-June-Sept. Weekdays only (it's sooo crowded on weekends), 2-3 hours before sunset.
Pros: endless backgrounds. Easy to fill an hour session with lots of variety. There is a bathroom at the pond and at Owen Beach, easy for changing outfits.
Cons: it can get a little crowded on weekends, which is why I only like to shoot there weekday evenings, 2-3 hours before sunset. This location is only valid for 60+ minute sessions (no 30 minute sessions).
Family, Engagement, and Senior Packages (which all include a style preview to choose my classic or modern edit):
Package 2: 60 mins at the rose garden and duck pond
Package 3: 30 minutes at the duck pond or rose garden, and 30 minutes at the woods or beach
Package 4: Two hours, which is usually enough time for the rose garden, pond, woods and beach
For pricing, click on the Sessions Tab^, then the type of session you are interested in.
The three areas I love to use at Pt Defiance are the rose garden and the adjoining duck pond, a trail in the woods, and Owen Beach.
Here are photo examples from the 3 locations I love to use at Pt Defiance Park:
The Rose Garden:
The Duck Pond: (note: the first two photos were taken in Nov and edited in my modern style)
Spring:
A trail in the woods:
Owen Beach:
The woodsy trails near the Rhodie garden are amazing year round, especially in the winter! These were taken in December and edited in my darker modern style:
This is in late November, early Dec in my modern edit, taken at the duck pond and Owen Beach:
I'm a proud born-and-raised Tacoman. This is one of my very favorite spots to shoot! The light is fantastic almost any time of day and the city and it's looming structures are just epic.
Pros: works almost any time of day, but I prefer the fall/winter light from 11-1pm, and also 2-3 hours before sunset. In Summer, I prefer mornings are evenings.
Cons: Good for 60 minute packages only. Lots of walking, but not difficult. Lack of natural elements, like trees. But we can get water and boats in the background. There isn't anywhere to change outfits except the cafe at the Glass Museum, which isn't always open. I also strongly prefer this location on week days since there will be fewer people to wait for, walking by (i.e. we will have time for more photos and less waiting)
Here are a few full example galleries:
Headshots Bridge of Glass 1 (modern edit)
Headshots Bridge of Glass 2 (modern edit)
This location is fabulous with my modern edit on a cloudy day:
I have traveled the world, and Wright Park in the fall is one of my favorite places on the planet!
What is has: more fall color in one place this side of the East Coast
Pros: stunning beauty, lots of different colors. It has a duck pond and a bridge. It even has am amazing playground if the kids get grumpy and we need some candid shots of them looking happy (bringing a rake and making a big leaf pile is great for the grumps, too!
Cons: it's a lot of walking and good for 60 minute photo sessions only.
Below are some photos taken in my muted modern style, followed by some in my natural style.
Examples of a Spring Session and Conservatory photos are at the end
Oh Kopachuck. I could wax poetic about how I love it so. I grew up in Tacoma and only ever went there a handful of times as a kid. But when we moved here from Federal Way 6 years ago, it didn't take long to notice that you can walk there from my front door.
I know every spot to take the best photos in this park, what the tide has to be doing and at what time of day, which tree has the best moss, which logs are best for sitting.
This location works for either a 30 or 60 minute session.
Here is a recent 30 minute session, meeting at the beach and working our way back up to the parking lot: woods: https://www.corareuterphotography.com/p856329129?customize=3
Highlights: as we walk down the trail, there are many spots to stop for idyllic NW forest photos. Mossy trees, a spot on a wide trail that looks like a cathedral behind the photo subjects, and a little wooden bridge. And it looks great at any season.
The beach is equally enchanting. It's a rocky beach a mid to high tide (great for throwing pebbles) and a wide sandy beach at a negative tide. This is my favorite in the summer, since we can take of our shoes and wade along the shore line with the yummy sun behind (between 11-1pm. There are many driftwood logs to climb on at the top of the shoreline, and tree branches that hang low for cool artistic shots.
Best time for photos there: 11-1pm.
Pros: hands down, the best spot for forest AND beach photos in Gig Harbor. This location works great for a 30 minute location if you just want forest shots
Cons: it's hard to get the time of day right with the tide and if it's sunny, it can be hard to get the water in the background. If it's too early, subjects can be looking right into the sun if they want the water behind them. A cloudy day is ideal. This location is a lot of walking down a step hill, so not ideal for those less abled. Starting in late October, it can be very cold at the beach if there is any wind.
Another con is that once small kids are at the beach, they get so into looking at the pebbles on the ground that they often don't look at the camera any more. Kids between 2-4 go more wild here than any other location I shoot at. This is fine as long as you don't mind more candids. As a photographer, it helps if you take charge and tell the kids that after their photos, they can stay awhile and play to their heart's content.
The above shot works on an overcast day only
Different looks: this is a location that is fun to play with different edited looks. In the fall, I can edit photos to be natural and bright (every photo above) or dark and moody. Examples below:
Since the remodel, the rangers now leaf blow all the leaves off the path (this was taken in 2021^)
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Sehmel Park in Gig Harbor is one of my favorite location as a photographer. It just doesn't have a bad angle! It works well at any season and when I edit the photos, I can highlight the season by going light/bright or dark/moody. It's soooo versatile.
What it has: tall rolling golden grass July-Oct and green grass Nov-June, a cool split rail fence, a tiny little pond, some yellow fall color, and a boardwalk in the woods (60 minute shoot only)
When it works best: in the Spring: mornings at 11am. In the Summer and fall: 2.5 hours before sunset (weekdays only). Unlike most locations, this one is THE MOST magical on sunny days. For that reason, I do not like scheduling shoots here after Oct 15, when our NW weather turns from mostly sunny afternoons, to gloomy. The sweet spot is July- Oct 15.
Pros: Sehmel Park is just stunning. Works for both 30 (weekend mornings and weekday evenings only) and 60 minute sessions. With 60 minute sessions, there is time for both the field and boardwalk in the woods. There are so many options for capturing natural beauty.
Cons: it's a 5 minute walk down a gentle hill to my favorite spot. Not the best for those less abled, but not the worst. There is no beach and nothing that screams "this is the Pacific Northwest"
Late August:
Spring:
Summer:
(this whole album is dreamy https://www.corareuterphotography.com/p861333323)
Fall:
Photo editing: I can edit your photos with either my classic look, or in my modern style. As always, I will send a preview gallery with side by side photos of your session to help you decide. Here are some modern examples:
All the above are bright and light. Here are some photos edited in my modern style which screams fall:
on Fox Island
This unique rocky-beach sandspit is the place to go for sunset photos in Gig Harbor. But even better, it's one of the few locations that works best any time of the day, as long as I can put the sun at your back. The best part: the stunning driftwood! It's a photographer's dream land! And the whimsical tall sea grass looks cool at any time of the year.
When it works: any time of the day! As long as I can put the sun at your back, which is anytime because of the sandspit formation. We will walk to the end so as not to have as many houses in the background.
I offer 30 minute sessions here on weekend mornings before noon, and weeknights 3 hours before sunset.
If you want a sunset session, see below.
Pros: works almost any time of day, it has fantastic driftwood, great for candids of kids climbing driftwood and throwing pebbles in the water. Works well for both low and high tides. On clear days, it is possible to get Mt Rainier in the background. Works well for both 30 and 60 minute sessions. (30 min sessions, AM times only, or weekday evenings) For 60 minute shoots, we would also have time for some photos in the small woodsy path area.
Cons: The number 1 con is the wind: I don't like shooting in wind over 7 knows because you will hate your hair in every photo. It is hard to find a still day between late Oct and May. If you book a date, I will be in close contact about the wind forecast, which are accurate about 12 hours before. If it's bad, we can reschedule at no extra cost.
Also, it's a short but steep walk down to the beach, so not easy for those less abled. For senior portraits, there is only a small port-a-potty to change outfits, so we would have to bring blankets to make a make-shift changing area. There is no shade, so getting really good shots can be tricky on super bright sunny days.
NEW Spring 2025: The park dept is doing grass restoration on the sandspit, so there is now a small fence blocking off much of it. Many of my favorite backgrounds below aren't possible any more without having a fence in the background. Please see these whole albums for what is now available for backgrounds:
maternity late winter mid-morning
SUMMER 2026: This location is closing mid-summer for the last of its big remodels. Kopachuck is a good alternative for a beach shoot in summer/fall 2026
Modern edit, 10am-noon:
Classic Edit, 10am-noon:
Bonus for longer sessions or if we have time in a 30 min session: there is a small woods section near the parking lot:
Beach Sunset Sessions:
Sunsets are fickle things in the great NW! There is constant wind and cloud monitoring to start at the right time, and they usually get rescheduled at least once because of the weather. My record was 5 times, but they are amazing shoots and worth the effort! Sunset shoots usually take 45 minutes, starting 30 mins before the sun sets, and going 15 minutes into "blue hour." Best on weekdays (fewer crowds!) May-Sept. $550 for 20 edited images. Here is a full example gallery: https://www.corareuterphotography.com/p513157189?customize=3
These were taken 30 minutes before sunset in late August (they chose a darker modern edit).
Modern edit, sunset in Sept
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Looking for photography at a maritime location with a rustic, shabby chic feel? Ancich park in Gig Harbor is the location for you! It's a nice add-on to Skansie Park if you want to do a 60 minute session with 2 locations (a 5-7 minute walk or super quick drive).
When does it work best? mornings between 9-11am. It does work for a quick PM shoot as well, but if you want the water in the background, the sun will be shining right in your eyes unless we shoot at dusk.
What it has: a really super cool old net shed with rustic wood, and a view overlooking the water and boats of Gig Harbor.
Pros: super easy parking. Very accessible for those less abled. Easy as an add-on to Skansie Park.
Cons: There isn't much here for anything longer than 15 minutes.
Looking for photos at maritime location with a modern flair? And/or fall color in the downtown area? The Russell Foundation in Gig Harbor is the location for you! It's a nice add-on to Skansie Park if you want to do a 60 minute session with 2 locations (a 5 minute walk).
When does it work best? mornings between 9-11am.
What it has: a super architecture plaza with cool vanishing points, a rad looooing stone wall, cool boulders for the kids to climb on, wood beams to lean against, and a view overlooking the water and boats of Gig Harbor. BONUS: the only real fall color I've found in downtown Gig Harbor. It's best in mid-Oct-mid-November.
Pros: super easy parking. Very accessible for those less abled. Easy for a 30 minute shoot, or as an add-on to Skansie. With a stand-alone 30 minute shoot, these is time to walk down to Maritime Pier next to the Tides Tavern for shots on the dock.
Cons: There isn't much here for anything longer than 30 minutes. For light, it only works in the morning between 9-11am.
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Doing 30 minute photo sessions at Skansie park has become sort of an obsession of mine. I have gotten to know every nook, cranny, and angle to get the best shots during the morning hours when the light there is simply magical. Is there anything more quintessentially Gig Harbor than the Skansie Net Shed? I don't think so. And even if you aren't necessarily from Gig Harbor, there are few places with such ease of access that offer so many stunning PNW backgrounds in one easy place. Blurry sailboat masts? Check. Shabby chic reclaimed wood background? Check. Sprawling lawn with water in the background? Check. Dock with sparkly water and evergreen trees behind? Check. In 30 minutes, we can do them ALL (that is if kids are cooperating and we move quick).
Skansie Park works great for family photos, graduating seniors, headshots, even engagement photos.
Pros: Lots and lots of different backgrounds, including a couple neutral walls which are great for framed photos. Accessible and flat for less abled people.
Cons: only works on mornings between 9-11:30 (in fall, 8:30am-10am otherwise the sun is in your face). Saturdays are busy there with canoe and kayak practices (lots of people in the background, but I can make it work). Sunday works best, and weekdays are even better.
Skansie works best in 30-40 minutes. Want to make it 60 minutes? Add on Ancich Park or the Russell Foundation.
To see full galleries taken at this location, click on "client galleries;" each album has the location in the title.
This Family chose my muted modern edit for their session. More on my two styles here:https://www.corareuterphotography.com/blog/2022/9/photo-editing-bright-and-light-or-muted-modern
My Light and Bright edit works well for bright sunny days:
