portland wedding photographer
evidence of the
that existed in these moments
This sacred day should unfold in a way that’s meaningful to you. Your wedding day is not a photoshoot, it’s not a series of stiff poses. As a Portland wedding photographer, I take a documentary approach because I feel the organic moments you experience is what matters most.
Focus on what matters to you.
When you imagine your wedding Day,
When you think back on your wedding day, what do you hope you feel? What moments stand out when you imagine your experience? What matters most to you? When you look at your wedding photos, you won’t just be reminded of the perfect visuals you curated, but you’ll be brought back to how you felt. Creating an honest narrative of every drop of emotion, the way you felt it, that’s where I come in.
As a Portland based wedding and elopement photographer, my goal is to preserve what you feel on your wedding day. This is your visual legacy to keep and pass down. The way your experience feels, matters. However that looks, it should make sense for you and your partner.
It should fit.
what do you feel?
AS SEEN IN:
I ADORE film and analogue cameras. I have a collection. An obsession. A problem maybe. I still have my old 80s Konika film camera I used for my high school photography classes. I pack it with me on every trip I take and every wedding I document.
Hi there, I’m Elissa.
One of my favorite late poets, David Berman, penned, “Souvenirs only reminded you of buying them.” This must have so many meanings, but the one I take from it is that the photographic evidence of an organic experience is vastly more important than the posed photo that took you out of the moment.
I feel that any photo spotlighting human interaction, emotion, a truly lived experience is much more interesting than a stiff, posed one. Posed photos have a place, they are important and purposeful, however I’m much more drawn to the moments that occur, for instance, when a family is interacting while they get arranged before and after the few seconds they look at the camera and say ‘cheese’ rather than the ‘cheese’ moment itself. The in between moments are the real real, those are the smiles that will offer a glimmer into a personality, that will show you who they are. This is why candid photos will always have my heart. I do love a photo that has been purposefully set up as well, so when the time calls for it, I guide and direct to create something beautiful and artistic with you. Though one key will always be the leading force and inspiration: it should look and feel like you. You should see yourself and feel what you felt.
Kind Words
“So many endless wonderful things to say about Elle.
Not only is she so easy to work with, she’s also so much fun!! She took our engagement and wedding photos and both have turned out absolutely amazing. She is great at taking candids without you even realizing she’s there- even when she’s right in front of you!”
Bri + Chris
“I lover her aesthetic and ability to capture candids so perfectly!”
She was so fun to get to know and so reassuring on our wedding day that we didn’t have to be overly posed or know how to act in front of a camera. We love our pictures so much! They are exactly how I remember everything.”
Lizzy + Trey
Frequently Asked
