Welcome to my blog, which is primarily aimed to helping clients choose a location for their photo session! Each entry highlights a different place, photo examples I've taken there, when it works for lights, along with pros and cons. Be sure to click on "older posts" to see them all!
20 minute mins and Santa Photos
October 28, 2025
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I loooove minis! I offer them at specific times of year when I am not too swamped with traditional sessions.
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...
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Location Spotlight: Skansie Park
October 20, 2024
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Location Spotlight: Skansie Park in Gig Harbor 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...
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Location Spotlight: The Woods of Sehmel Park
April 15, 2024
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Location Spotlight: The Woods of Sehmel Park
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...
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Location Spotlight: Chambers Bay in University Place
May 18, 2023
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Location Spotlight: Chambers Bay in University Place
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 dr...
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For Your Photos: Classic or Modern?
September 29, 2022
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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 dur...
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Location Spotlight: Donkey Creek Park/ Austin Park
September 19, 2022
Location Spotlight: Donkey Creek Park
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 v...
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Location Spotlight: The Tacoma Tideflats
September 13, 2022
Location Spotlight: The Tacoma Tideflats
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...
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Location Spotlight: Narrows Park
September 07, 2022
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Location Spotlight: Narrows Park
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), wh...
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Location Spotlight: Pt Defiance Park
August 20, 2022
Location Spotlight: Point Defiance Rose Garden, Woods, and Owen Beach
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 be...
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Location Spotlight: Tacoma Bridge of Glass
August 12, 2022
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Location Spotlight: Tacoma Bridge of Glass
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. I...
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Location Spotlight: Wright Park in Tacoma
August 05, 2022
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Location Spotlight: Wright Park in Tacoma
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 grum...
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Location Spotlight: Kopachuck State Park
July 18, 2022
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Location Spotlight: Kopachuck State Park
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...
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Location Spotlight: Sehmel Park (field) in Gig Harbor
July 17, 2022
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Location Spotlight: Late Afternoons at the Field at Sehmel Park in Gig Harbor
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: tal...
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Location Spotlight: Bella Bella Beach (DeMolay Sandspit Reserve) on Fox Island
July 17, 2022
Location Spotlight: Bella Bella Beach (DeMolay Sandspit Reserve)
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 photographe...
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Location Spotlight: Ancich Park in Gig Harbor
July 17, 2022
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Location Spotlight: Ancich Park in Gig Harbor
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 betw...
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