Gretchen Fawn Photo - part of the Snoqualmie Moms Support Collective

This lilac plant was given to me from my Step Mom, Debbi when I first moved to Snoqualmie. I stuck it in this pot and in the last 6 years, It took off and grew into a beautiful bush! This momma junko has a surprise she's keeping! She's been flitting around in my yard for the last two or three weeks. She's been gathering dry grass and dog hairs. The Daddy has been right there by her side gathering and building. It's been so sweet to watch them both from our dining room window. If we go outside, they "chit, chit, chiit!" their warning that we better stay away from their special project. I had not gotten to planting or weeding my lovely mother's day pots this year. And it's a good thing....this one is holding some special treasures! Check back on the blog in a day or two and I'll reveal the surprise. Promise! Enjoy~ Gretchen

Although Hannah and Serafina hadn't seen each other a ton lately, it was fun to get them together for some senior portraits.  They were best friends for years when we lived near to them in Seattle. Our two families have been through thick and thin together and that has left a very special place in my heart for the whole Cunliffe family! Hannah has 7 other sisters and one brother. Serafina has two sisters.   Now they are both 17! I cannot believe it. And I cannot wait to see where the two of them will be in the next 5 years. Hannah is a world renowned track star and Serafina is a very talented musician. When they were little, they sang in the church Christmas Choir together, played outside for countless hours, went to LBC together and generally smiled and played whenever they could. It's been a sweet time looking back at the pictures from their childhoods! Enjoy each moment, they fly by before you can say: "super-cala-fragile-istic-expe-alidocious!" En...

East of the Mountains, there was sun and no clouds! Bits of snow here and there, but a beautiful model and radiant light! We love to capture your son or daughter in a unique, natural setting! This rock was so big, we shot through the middle of it! It's that time of year again! I know it seems early, but the best time for Senior portraits is the spring or summer BEFORE your senior year begins! The year book photos are due in October in our area and it takes time to take the portraits and have our slideshow presentation. I know there is so much to think about Fall of Senior Year as well, so getting them done when the weather is nice and stress is low, is the PERFECT plan! We also have free wallets for everyone who either schedules their session in March/April or refers a friend! What could be better? You would want to choose us for your portraits if your son or daughter wants an outdoor, natural feel to their portraits, if they are either shy or outgoing, and if they wa...

I have been updating my website and blog and branding myself. No, I did not burn a mark into my flesh with a hot iron...It means choosing what you want to portray and then making your blog and web "storefront" reflect this. Do I want to be seen as serious or fun? Elegant or trendy? Modern or Vintage? What words would describe me? These are the kind of things I have been mulling over these last few months. Who would have thought this would be so hard? Growing is hard I suppose. You must clear away the "weeds", plow the "ground", choose and plant new "seeds", then you must cultivate that garden of your creativity. Taking time most days to consider all of this has been a great way to define myself. I'm not quite done, but as many of you know, ReSTARt with Jasmine Star has been an amazing catalyst for the last three months. Below are the images I have collected that represent me for my "Photo Safari" assignment. I have been challenged a...

It's been two weeks and I still have not gotten my blog post about this. I think I have been on Facebook using all my time to like all the pages we have been sharing on the ReSTARt pages. I am on three! It's been my new hobby, liking pages. But let me get back to the reason I am blogging.   ReSTARt! What is it you may be wondering? Well, I'll fill you all in on the details. I came in late to the game myself. One day, I get a email from my hubby, Joe. It's a forward from Creative Live studios here in Seattle, WA asking if you would like to be part of a studio audience for an upcoming show with Jasmine Star.  I have a flexible schedule so I fill it out and think nothing more about it.  A few weeks later, I get an email saying I have been chosen to be on the show! Then I start getting excited! Someone starts a facebook group for those of us in the audience and we get to know each other. It's only got about 20 or so people in it. Then one day I get up and ...

I got the idea today to play dress up with my little girl in my wedding dress and have our puppy, Bacca, be the "groom". We were taking some cute shots and he was not cooperating very well. I told Josie to blow on him and we laughed and laughed as we saw what the camera shot that we hadn't seen! Puppy in action! More "serious" pictures to come later. Enjoy~Gretchen

10 year olds. I had a lot of fun today photographing my 10 year old daughter. It's one of those in between ages. Not quite a young woman, but not wanting to be a little girl anymore either. Her comment, "I like these Mom, they make me look older." That's how it is isn't it, you want to be older looking when your younger and younger looking when you are older! The truth is that beauty is only skin deep. All the same I enjoy capturing all those sweet smirks, giggles, smiles and looks she sports for me. It still brings me joy every time I shoot and that is why portrait photography is for me! Until next time, Gretchen