50 Shades of May

Columbia River Gorgeous

Bella Beach > Oregon

Bella Beach is one of my most favorite places. It is so much like heaven on Earth. It’s like a storybook town from a kids book, with street names like Bunchberry, Elderberry, and Twinberry lane, a path that leads to the sea, and the best sunsets I’ve ever seen.

Dusk Under Yaquina Bay Bridge

There is something so magical about that last half hour of the day as the sun is setting and the sky is giving us a good night kiss. These are the moments that I always cherish with every passing day. Sunsets get old to a lot of people, but they will never get old to me. The beauty that the Oregon coast shows off is my favorite brand and I’m so very lucky to have this in my back yard.

These were all taken under the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, OR.

 

Spring at the Oregon Coast

The past few weeks have been absolutely blissful after quite a dreadful rain soaked winter. The flowers are blooming, the sun has breathed life into the trees, and the beach is the perfect place to venture with my pup. She is the star of this post. This is Mina loving life at the beach.

These photos were taken at Pacific City, Neskowin, Gleneden Beach, and Fogarty Creek.

Isn’t life grand?

Autumn in Sun Valley, Idaho

I work for a vacation rental company which has been absolutely amazing and has given me many chances to grow in my photography. I’ve learned what I really need to work on, such as indoor photography, so when I get the chance to go back to what I adore, nature photography, I am in complete and utter bliss.

The Assistant GM of my company and I were sent to Sun Valley, Idaho for a conference for the software we use, LiveRez, this week. We had the pleasure of hearing Picabo Street speak, which I still can’t believe. She’s absolutely amazing, by the way. Our conference lasted for five days. Torturous, I know. I say that quite sarcastically as I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Idaho. Nothing really came to mind when I thought of it, maybe snow, but that’s about it.

The moment our tiny little plane landed at the Sun Valley airport, I was quickly astounded. A mix of golden, green, and brown swirled together down below and wooed my little heart. While Oregon is beautiful, no doubt about it, and California has it’s charm, Idaho has completely blown me away. As we pulled up to the lodge, a gorgeous pond, complete with swans (I’m not even joking you, SWANS), greeted us with open arms.

I have fallen in love with this little slice of resplendent heaven on Earth, and I hope I’ve captured a little bit of that to show you.

Give Me Mo’ Sunset

Sunny Weekend in Seabrook, Washington

I work for a vacation rental company, which is a really amazing job. I get to see a lot of neat home here at the coast. Seabrook is a town up in Washington that was started by the same person as the two neighborhoods that I work for. I was lucky enough to be able to travel up to Seabrook on a gorgeous weekend to explore and learn how they work up there. There are all sorts of cool things up there! Here are a few of the shots I came home with. The last few were taken in Pacific Beach, WA at a cozy coffee shop called Surf House. 

The Cutest Little Family That Ever Did Live

I was asked by my boyfriend Lee’s sister-in-law to take their holiday portraits. It has been a long time since I have been that excited and nervous to do anything. Portraits are something that I’ve never done before, unless you define portraiture as hanging with my dog and taking a million photos until one works out, or sneakily catching pictures of a family member or friend when they aren’t looking.

I soon discovered, as I had already suspected, that this family is literally the cutest family I’ve ever seen in my life. I majorly lucked out with them as my first official models. I mean, really, look at them. No way to argue.

I think I’ve found something that I truly adore. I still have much to learn, as was proven to me when I had to scrap about five really great photos because I was not focusing correctly using my 50 mm lens, but learning is part of the journey. The other part is being thankful for all of things that make my life better. Like my camera assistant, kid wrangler, and all around handsome guy, Lee. Also, for having people in my life that are just simply amazing and provide a chance for me to grow and learn.

These were taken on the beach in Lincoln City, OR and at D’Lake in Lincoln City, OR. 

South Jetty

I’ve had very few peaceful times in my life than when I was in South Beach, Newport, Oregon. I have found this place that is completely breathtaking, and more than anything, quiet. Roaming the small hills of this area is one of my new favorite things.