Portrait photography has always been part of who I am. Long before recipes, food blogging, and photographing dishes for Simply Suwanee, I spent years photographing travel photography, weddings, families, seniors, and stories around the world.
After stepping away from portrait photography for a season, I am finally finding my way back to it here in Spokane.
There are so many things I love about food photography. The colors. The ingredients. The challenge of making a dish come alive through an image. But if I am being honest, I miss shooting people with my camera.
Why I Miss Portrait Photography
I miss the conversations. I miss getting to know someone beyond the surface. I miss hearing their stories, laughing during a session, and creating photographs that help someone feel beautiful, confident, and seen.
My Background as a Portrait and Wedding Photographer
Before kids, I photographed weddings extensively. I photographed couples, families, seniors, and events. I traveled for photography and photographed weddings around the world. Photography was not just my job. It was a huge part of my identity.
Then life shifted.
Why I Shifted Into Food Photography and Blogging
When my husband had a demanding career that often required long hours and months-long trips, and when one of our children was born with a rare genetic condition and rare epilepsy that also causes developmental delays, I made the choice to stay home more and build a career with flexibility.
That is where food photography, recipe development, and blogging came in.
Simply Suwanee allowed me to stay creative while still being there for my family. I could work around therapies, doctor appointments, school schedules, and the many moving parts of life. I am so grateful for that season because it gave me the ability to be present when my family needed me most.
But the desire to photograph people never really left.
Why I Am Returning to Portrait Photography in Spokane
Even while building my food blog and photographing recipes, there was always a part of me that missed the art of portrait photography. I missed telling stories through photographs in a different way. I missed creating images that felt emotional, personal, and timeless.
The kids are older now. They are more independent. We have an incredible school and support system around us. After years of moving every few years for my husband’s career, we are finally staying put in Spokane and putting down roots.
And it feels like the right time.
My Goal as a Portrait Photographer
One of my biggest goals has always been helping women feel beautiful and seen through my photography. Whether it is a high school senior, a mom who is always behind the camera, a family documenting a season of life, or a small business owner building their brand, I want people to walk away from a session feeling confident, celebrated, and proud of who they are.
Portrait photography feels like such a natural extension of everything I already love about photography. It is still storytelling. It is still connection. It is still art.
Senior, Family, and Branding Photography in Spokane
Right now, I am focusing on senior portraits, family photography, and branded portraits for creatives and small businesses in Spokane and beyond.
I am excited. I am nervous. I am a little rusty. But I also know this work is still in me. Sometimes dreams sit on the shelf for a while. But that does not mean they are gone. This one is coming back.
Sign Up for Photography Updates
My new website is launching soon, and I have a lot of exciting things coming. Mini sessions, model calls, creative shoots, senior sessions, family sessions, and branding photography are all on the way.
I cannot wait to tell more stories through photos again.
Ready to Book a Session?
I am currently booking senior portraits, family sessions, branding photography, and creative portrait sessions in Spokane and beyond.
If you are ready to book, have questions, or want to start planning your session, I would love to hear from you. You can reach me by email at: hellosuwanee@gmail.com or through my contact page.
You can also follow along on Instagram and Facebook for recent sessions, behind the scenes, model calls, mini sessions, and future announcements.
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