Recipe for a Photo Shoot: Train-inspired

A question I get all the time is: Where should we go for our engagement session? And what should we wear? This series will give you some cliff notes to put together an engagement, anniversary or newlywed session that reflects you.

Engagement Session Ideas

The shoot: A throwback to the glory days of train travel.

Based on: Angela & Luke’s fun engagement session at Union Station.

Ideal location: There’s really no beating Portland’s Union Station for vintage charm. Check out the marble arrivals hall and the great brick exterior.

Wardrobe: Since the station has vintage charm, why not incorporate some items with a vintage flair? I love the above coat (in a bright color, which keeps it modern still) and those T-straps. A bright lip is a great vintage touch, but can rub off if you do too much smooching during the session. I love this lipstain for a smudge-free look.

Accessories: Think accessories that will look natural but have a certain vintage charm. How about a fun umbrella in a bright color, an antique photograph or camera. You could even carry a small nosegay of flowers. Have fun!

Engagement Session Ideas

Anniversary Session: My Mom & Dad

Ladies and gentlemen, meet my parents. These two incredible people are celebrating 30 years of marriage today. And we couldn’t be prouder of them.

Anniversary photography

My parents met here in Portland on a blind date and it seemed to be magic — they got married LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER. Yes, that’s completely insane. They acknowledge that now. Flash forward 30 years, and they’ve got three daughters, three son-in-laws and three grandkids.

Anniversary photography

There’s a scene in “Keeping the Faith,” which is one of my guilty pleasure movies, where Edward Norton’s character is talking to his head priest for advice because he loves a woman and is considering leaving the priesthood to be with her. The older priest tells him that with being a priest, with marriage or with any other commitment you make, it’s just an issue of making the same decision over and over again.

My parents have modeled that — when they were having fun, when life was just downright crappy and everywhere in between, over thirty years they’ve continued to make the same decision — to be together — for thirty years. It’s a beautiful thing, and something I’ve learned a lot from in my own relationship.

Anniversary photography

Congratulations, Mom and Dad! I love you!

I Love: Couple Time

It’s Friday, friends! I’ve been sharing things that I love on Fridays, and today I’m particularly excited to share with you something I’ve loved for some time now: Couple Time.

Couple Time is a series of short episodes about things that couples do when no one else is around. It stars Patrick Carlyle and Allyn Rachel. I went to high school with Patrick and it’s so fun to see my old friends go on to do amazing (and very funny) things.

What weird things do you guys do when there’s no one around? We have lots, trust me. My favorite of the Couple Time videos is the one about pasta sauce because it’s totally the kind of conversation we’d have (even though we don’t have a cat).

Happy Weekend!

Fun Facts: Megan Clark of Hi, Friend Design

We’re back with another fantastic personality that happens to be a wedding vendor. Of course she’s awesome, so we’ve covered that. But let’s learn a little more about Megan Clark, one of the brilliant minds behind the fab stationery at Hi, Friend Design.

Megan Clark Interview

Fun Fact #1: Megan grew up in South Dakota. She says that for fun, they used to do things like push hay bales around. Classic.

Fun Fact #2: She loves great danes. She had one named Mandy for three years.

Fun Fact #3: Megan didn’t go to Disneyland until she was 19 years old, and she totally hated it. Stressful and chaotic, she remembers, although says she’d probably like it more if she went back now.

And a little tidbit about stationery? Megan designed her own wedding invitations in excruciating detail, hand illustrating their wedding venue and she and her husband into the art and printing them using thermography. So fancy!

Megan’s a major overachiever — she’s got three businesses. Check them all out: Hi, Friend Design, Clark & Co. & The Exceptional Creative. Go, Megan, go!

Megan Clark Interview

Recent Work: Beach Photos

I have really pretty friends (and I’m about to prove that to you in this post). I also have friends who are very smart and who are good businesswomen, so when you combine all that, you sometimes get these really fun photo shoots that are loads of fun to work on.

Below are my photography pals — Christy of Studio Christy, Annie of Annie’s Sweet Pea Photography, Melissa of Soul Mates Photo and Deyla from Deyla Huss Photography. We like to go to the beach together, and on a recent trip we decided we could all use some updated photos. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot, on a beautiful February day on the Oregon coast.

Beach photos

Beach photos

Beach photos

Beach photos

I feel so lucky to be in the company of such beauties and such great photographers. Thanks, ladies, for being great friends!

Booking Bonus: 4×4 Parent Album

Hey blog readers!

I’ve got a busy summer coming up ahead of me, and I’m pumped about it — but I’d also love to have more of you working with me as your wedding photographer! Some months are all but gone for me, but for whatever reason I’ve still got a lot of availability in April and May. Getting married in April or May? I’m offering a booking incentive — if you book your April or May 2012 wedding with me before March 15, I’m going to throw in an extra 4×4 parent album. These little guys are super cute and people just love to carry them around after their weddings and show off their photos to friends and family.

Booking promotion details

Contact me through the site or e-mail me at [email protected] if you’d like to get in before the promotion ends!

Recipe for a Photo Shoot: Beach-inspired

A question I get all the time is: Where should we go for our engagement session? And what should we wear? This series will give you some cliff notes to put together an engagement, anniversary or newlywed session that reflects you.

Engagement Photo Shoot Ideas

The Shoot: Lovebirds on the beach. Instead of going to the ocean, why not take advantage of one of Portland’s local beaches? I love their character.

Based on: Liz & Eric’s sweet save-the-date shoot near the water in Willamette Park.

Ideal location: There are some great riverfront spots in the area. Check out: Willamette Park, George Rogers Park, Sellwood Riverfront Park or Kelley Point Park, where the Columbia and Willamette run together in North Portland.

Wardrobe: These two struck just the right cord with preppy, clean outfits. Casual but classic white button-up shirts for both (try his and hers from Gap). I love Liz’s skinny jeans, rolled up and paired with some fun suede oxfords (or kick off your shoes and go barefoot!) I like the idea of finishing it off with a cardigan and these cute sailor knot earrings and ring — nautical without being too over the top).

Accessories: I think too many props for a simple waterfront shoot would look like you were trying too hard. Instead, go natural: Look for big driftwood pieces you can sit on, take a walk down the beach hand in hand or (like Liz and Eric did) bring along your dog. Your four-legged friend not only will be a fun addition to your photo shoot, but says more about your relationship, which is always a good idea.

Engagement Photo Shoot Ideas

MarryThis! Valentine’s Day Giveaway

It’s Valentine’s Week! I hope you’re all enjoying this most romantic of holidays. Over at my other business, MarryThis!, we’re having a grand old time doing a big giveaway this week. We’re giving away our newest printable suite (which you can see below). If you follow us on Twitter, we’ll give you a code for a free suite!

Free printable giveaway

I Love: Instagram

Instagram Photos

There’s this weird phenomenon when you’re a photographer for a living; every time you snap a quick, casual picture on your phone, it feels like the world is watching to see if it’s particularly fabulous. But at the end of the day, it’s an iPhone photo. That’s why I love Instagram! You can do fun effects and filters (which I don’t usually do on my photos for Sara Gray Photography) so I don’t feel that pressure — instead, it’s just a fun way to document my life. Just looking back over the last few months that I’ve been using it, I love the candid life moments that I’ve been able to capture. Here’s a little sampling of some of those moments since November.

Are you on Instagram? Come find me — I’m @segray! It’s fun to see other people’s lives captured, too.

Extra tip: If you’re really into Instagram, check out Stickygram, where you can make magnets from your photos! (Thanks to Melissa for the tip!)

Instagram Photos

Meet The Bylines!

If there’s one thing I admire in others, it’s commitment to following their dreams. I love to watch people I know doing amazing things, and some of the most inspiring people I know are my friends Marianna Theielen and Reece Marshburn, who together lead The Bylines, a soulful retro pop group. They’ve been following their dreams of making music for a couple of years now, and it’s been a thrill to watch them find success.

Now, their second album is out (I got my copy last week!) and it’s great. I wanted to share some photos I took of them recently (one of which appears in the album). I think you’ll love their music and their passion just as much as I do.

The Bylines, Portland Oregon

The Bylines, Portland Oregon

The Bylines, Portland Oregon

The Bylines, Portland Oregon

The Bylines, Portland Oregon

The Bylines are having a CD release party on March 16 at the Alberta Rose Theatre — I’d encourage you to come out and see them (we’ll be there!), or get your hands on a copy of the new album. It’s really great.

The Bylines’ regular appearances around the Portland area are listed on their site.