Persimmon Images – Handmade, heartfelt photography for Lovers + Friends »

Masthead header

Category Archives: Family

Portland Maternity Photography in St Johns | Sara + Brad

Our dear friends Sara and Brad are about to welcome their baby girl Beatrix into their lives. They’re some of the first from our college crowd to be expecting, and I was thrilled to photograph their maternity portraits in Portland, Oregon. We stayed with them while we were in town to attend the Jerry Ghionis workshop and the drizzly weather finally turned nice on Friday just in time for their session.

Sara and Brad wanted some photographs in their favorite Portland neighborhood, St Johns, so we headed there to snap a few portraits with the St Johns mural, next to the old city hall (now the St Johns police station), and with the St Johns Bridge. I let them spend a bit of quiet time together just to relax. Then, we headed back to their ‘hood next to the University of Portland to take a series of night shots on the bluff with the lights of Portland in the background. Before the session, Sara told me that she’d rarely had a photograph taken of herself that she actually liked. (No pressure there!) I’m so pleased to hear that she loves these pictures and plans to put them up super-big on their walls.

We can’t wait to welcome baby Beatrix when she arrives, so keep an eye out for some darling photos of this little girl after we meet her!

Portland maternity photographer in St Johns pregnancy photographs in front of green wall

Portland pregnancy photographs with maternity silhouette of couple against green wall in St Johns neighborhood

Black and White Portland neighborhood maternity photographs with St Johns mural

Maternity photographers at Persimmon Images photograph pregnant kiss in St Johns Portland Oregon

Colorful, modern engagement photography of hands on belly in St Johns Portland Oregon

Maternity photographs at sunset in Portland Oregon St Johns

New mom and dad take a quiet moment during Portland Oregon maternity photograph session

Maternity photographs in St Johns Portland at the city hall / Police Station

St Johns city hall police station photography by maternity and baby photographers at Persimmon Images

Maternity photography at St John city hall police station rotunda Portland Oregon

St Johns Bridge maternity photography in Portland Oregon

Black and White fine art maternity photography in Portland Oregon on St Johns Bridge

Portland Oregon maternity photography on St Johns Bridge

Maternity portrait photography in Portland Oregon

Portland Oregon creative, colorful maternity photography of pregnant belly in blue

Night photographs of couple overlooking Portland on the bluff next to University of Portland

University of Portland maternity photography on Waud

Couple embraces against the cold in University of Portland beloved maternity shoot on Waud

Portland city lights surround young couple during University of Portland maternity portrait photography session on the bluff

Couples maternity photograph in the long grass on the bluff near University of Portland

Portland Oregon maternity photography at night in black and white among the tall grass on Waud

Tacoma Museum of Glass Family Session | Jessie, Jeremy, and Connor

Remember Jessie, Jeremy, and Connor? They’re the family who won our Giving is Awesome family photography contest back in January. We had one photo session with them at the Olympic Sculpture Park early this year, but it was quite cold and rainy, and Jeremy was still working with crutches and a chair, so we decided to offer them a second chance to catch some nice weather. After much rescheduling (at least once unfortunately due to Connor having a seizure) we finally were able to meet for photos at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. This time, it was sunny, Jeremy had completely recovered full mobility, and Connor was much happier with the temperature.

I really can’t say just how much working with this family makes me happy to be a photographer. I wouldn’t know them if it weren’t for Jess’s sister’s nomination of them during the contest. She’s a burgeoning photographer in Texas, who knows me through another photographer, Jenna Cole, who knows me because we both blogged about our weddings for Wedding Bee during 2008. How’s that for a small world!

We’ve become good friends with Jessie and Jeremy (though I’m still not sure what Connor thinks of me… but he didn’t sign “Don’t Like” or “Go Away” this time!). They’re a very sweet couple who have come graciously through some very hard times with a great sense of humor. You can read Jess’s daily documentation of their lives with Connor on her clever, well-written blog.

Thanks for another awesome photo session, you two! See you soon.

Tacoma Seattle family photographer Kat Speyer captures a photograph of a mother holding her son at the Museum of Glass

Contemporary family photography at the Tacoma Museum of Glass with a mother, son, and father

Dale Chihuly glass on the bridge walkway of the Tacoma Museum of Glass

Mother holds her son in her lap during a family photography session in Tacoma, WashingtonA father looks at his son during a family photography session in Tacoma, Washington

A black and white casual portrait of a father embracing his son

Modern family photography of a mother hugging her sonA father playfully touches his son

Child portrait on location at the Tacoma Museum of Glass by Seattle photographer Kat Speyer

Family by Steel Cone at Tacoma Museum of GlassFamily by Steel Cone at Tacoma Museum of Glass

Couples portrait of military husband and wife at Tacoma Museum of Glass

Child portrait photography in Tacoma of green hi-top sneakers on a little boyContemporary childrens photography in Tacoma, Washington of a mother carrying her son under one arm

Portrait of a soldier at the Tacoma museum of glass near Seattle, Washington

Blue glass sculpture against the sky at the Tacoma Museum of GlassStainless steel cone against the sky at the Tacoma Museum of Glass

Fun, casual family portrait photograph of mother, son, and father holding hands

Casual family and child photography by Seattle photographer Kat SpeyerChild portrait photograph of Connor regarding the photographer

Sweet couples photograph peeking around in Tacoma

Modern couples portrait of loving husband and wife in Tacoma

Husband and wife photographed posing against a stainless steel wall at the Tacoma Museum of Glass

Tacoma photography of family with child sitting in fountain at Museum of Glass

Tacoma Museum of Glass

Tacoma Family Photography at Marine Park | Kat + Kendall

Kathleen was nominated by her sister, Chasity, for our Giving is Awesome contest way back in December. She was one of our runners-up, and got a free family portrait shoot and a framed triptych. Chasity is also a wedding and portrait photographer in San Antonio, so I knew I had to make this session with her sweet sister extra-special. So, on what was probably the nicest day this year prior to last week, Justin and I headed down to the Tacoma waterfront and met Kathleen and her little girl, Kendall, at Marine Park.

Kendall had just recovered from a six-month stint in a body cast to combat her hip dysplasia, but you wouldn’t have known for all the smiles and laughter she brought with her. She’s even learning to stand and walk, which is a big, big accomplishment for her!

Kendall’s favorite thing right now is doggies, and there were so many dogs at Marine Park while we were photographing that it was almost impossible to keep her attention. But she was so cute shrieking at each puppy for attention that we found it hard not to immediately forgive her.

Her mom, who also goes by Kat (like me!) was simply radiant and beautiful. Aren’t they just a lovely pair? We’re so happy to have photographed them!

Tacoma family portrait photographers Kat and Justin Speyer capture Kendall playing on the grassFamily portrait photography, contemporary image of mother and daughter in the sun in Tacoma

Tacoma Marine Park family photography of mother and daughter together by Seattle photographer Kat SpeyerCute Tacoma baby photography of little girl smiling and laughing

Contemporary lifestyle portrait photography of mother and daughter in Tacoma by Seattle photographers Kat and Justin Speyer

Modern and fun black and white family portrait of mother lifting baby girl in the airTacoma family portrait by Seattle photographers Kat and Justin Speyer depicts a mother holding her baby girl on a Tacoma beach

Marine Park baby photography of mother kissing child in front of old ship

Seattle-Tacoma photographers capture mother embracing child in Marine ParkFamily portrait photograph of mother and daughter embracing and smiling

Watch their gorgeous photo slideshow to see more images!

Corona del Mar Portrait Photography | The Smilak Family

In May, I visited California to attend The Simple Plan business planning workshop in L.A. and then the EscalateLIVE photography conference in Newport Beach. While I was on the coast, I had the pleasure of photographing a family referred to me by our friend Maria, whose family we’ve photographed twice now. At the time of our session, the Smilak family had one darling little boy and was expecting another quite shortly. They’ve since welcomed their second son to the fold and I can’t wait to meet him!

We had a leisurely, casual, and contemporary family portrait session on the beach at Corona del Mar one morning. While the weather was surprisingly like Seattle (perhaps to make me feel at home?) we managed to evade the rain and spent several hours exploring the beach together, while I got to know them and their sweet little boy.

They were such a wonderful family, so good together and good to each other. It was really a pleasure to photograph them, and I think the results speak for themselves. I had such a hard time choosing photos for this post, and I totally over-delivered on their session. But, what can I say? It’s jobs like these that make me feel really glad to be a photographer and not like I’m working at all.

Thank you all for a fabulous California experience, and I look forward to seeing you later this year!

Casual family photography at Corona del Mar, California, with the family posing on beach rocks

Child portrait of little boy peeking out from California beach rocks toward the photographer

Son rides atop dadDuring family portraits, dad smiles at the photographer while holding his son on his shoulders

Contemporary lifestyle photography of a mother and son searching for shells on a California beach

Modern and casual lifestyle portrait session with the Smilak family near Newport Beach, California

Seattle lifestyle photographer Kat Speyer captures the family in a classic family formal pose on the beach

Casual beach family portrait photography with mother and son looking at kelp

Contemporary beach family portrait of a little boy smiling near tide poolsFun family photograph of dad holding his son upside down on a California beach over a tide pool

Casual family beach photography at a California tide pool by Seattle photographer Kat Speyer

Family photograph of dad and son finding shells on Corona del Mar beach in California

Photograph of a little boy showing the inside of a mussel shellPortrait of boy peering into a shell on a California beach during a family portrait photography session

Little boy playing in the surf and on the rocks at Corona del Mar with his family on a cloudy day

California beach contemporary portrait and lifestyle photography of father and son walking

Fun family photograph of the Smilak family playing leapfrog on Corona del Mar beach near Newport Beach, CaliforniaPhotograph of little boy running toward the camera from a lifeguard station

Portrait of a little boy in blue jeans and white shirt playing on the Corona del Mar beach in California

Beach portrait of a little boy on Corona del Mar in CaliforniaFather and son photographed together sitting on a lifeguard tower by Seattle contemporary lifestyle photographer Kat Speyer

Contemporary portrait photograph of a family on a California beach lifeguard tower

Little boy in a white shirt pouting while on the beach

Family portrait photography of mother and son playing in front of the surf at Corona del Mar beach in California

Expectant mother photographed on the rocks at Corona del MarCalifornia pregnancy photography at the beach

Destination photography of Corona del Mar beach in California by Seattle wedding photographer Kat Speyer

California maternity photography on Corona del Mar beachSilhouette of an expecting mother on the rocks at Corona del Mar beach in California

To see more images from their session, visit their online photo gallery or watch their slideshow!

K + J
R e v i e w s
F o l l o w   U s
S u b s c r i b e