Late Winter Relaxed Engagement Session: Mount Tabor Park
Sara and Alec | Portland, OR
I like to spend a decent amount of time on the phone with my wedding clients to get a feel for our best fit. We swap stories, laugh, and kind of embark on a "first date". I am not offended if they decide to choose someone else who can do a better job of representing them and their style on their wedding day, but am also super excited when couples and I hit it off. Sara and Alec are some of these people. Relaxed and yet super organized and intentional. Wanting to slow down and do the right thing. Not at all caught up in the wedding industry but also realizing the importance and gravity of marriage and their wedding day.
Last weekend we met up at Mount Tabor Park in Portland, OR with their doggy Chrys and a friend to help keep us (and the doggy company). We soaked up the perfect late winter weather and made some images together. It was cool enough to feel good in a sweater and sunny enough to just bask. A little bit of cloud gave us a sunset and we were set.
I always tell my clients that I can't "make anything up". I feel fairly confident in my craft, but I am not a magician. I can only get what they GIVE me, and so I ask them to be present and just enjoy the time together. Sometimes I step back and give them space and at other times I give them fun things to think or talk about. Each couple is unique and sometimes needs more or less prompting and that's okay! It was clear to me however that Sara and Alec felt comfortable in each other's arms, they knew how to play, and most importantly they trusted each other. I feel so honored to be able to document a glimpse into their relationship and to journey with them for their special day this fall. Congratulation you two. Keep on leaning in :).
If you enjoyed this post, you'll also love:
The subject of exploring the paths taken by graduates feels more interesting when there is room for a reader to stop and ask their own questions. A career story can show the changes and decisions that a short job title leaves out. That connection helps me see why graduate career pathways can be worth a closer look. I am more curious about the process than a polished result, because the steps in between are usually where questions appear. Which questions would make an interview with a graduate useful for current students?
I find making maths understandable through clear examples easier to think about when there is a concrete question to start from. Following one worked example slowly can reveal the reasoning behind a method. This is why I would approach mathematics learning support with a specific question rather than a fixed expectation. I am still thinking through the details, and a small example would help me picture how this works in practice. What helps a learner move from copying a solution to choosing a method independently?
Thinking about keeping educational competitions enjoyable, I find the smaller practical questions more interesting than a quick conclusion. A challenge can be motivating when the experience matters alongside the final result. I would use that point as a starting question when considering student learning competitions. I would probably come back to this question after trying to work through one concrete example rather than deciding immediately. How can a competition reward curiosity and persistence as well as correct answers?
There is something approachable about discussing choosing books for a varied reading collection through situations people can actually picture. A balanced collection can include familiar interests and a few titles that invite something new. It also gives the phrase book selection ideas a clearer meaning than a label on its own. The part I would like to explore further is what happens when the idea meets a real situation with its own limitations. How do you choose books for readers with very different tastes?
What draws my attention to building everyday cybersecurity awareness is the possibility of making an unfamiliar subject feel closer to everyday life. Recognising an unexpected message is a useful first step before deciding whether to trust it. I would use that point as a starting question when considering cybersecurity awareness basics. I would probably come back to this question after trying to work through one concrete example rather than deciding immediately. Which examples make online safety lessons memorable for beginners?