Eugene, Oregon maternity photographer: Ashley

This lovely lady is Ashley, who decided she’d like to add a mini maternity photography session to the newborn session she purchased for her little boy—who arrived just a few days ago!

Ashley liked the idea of having lots of flowers in her maternity photography session, so rather than meet at my photography studio in Eugene, Oregon, we decided on Owen Rose Garden as our location for the shoot. Owen Rose Garden is a beautiful spot nestled right beside the Willamette River here in Eugene, and is at its best in late June and early July—which is exactly when Ashley booked her session! She has impeccable timing. Truth be told, this little garden has some great scenery at all seasons of the year, but it’s never more beautiful than when the roses and other flowers are in full bloom and the bushes and lawns are a rich, lush green, creating that riot of color that is irresistible to a photographer like myself. 

In addition to flowers, Owen Rose Garden boasts a small gazebo and a pretty stone pathway guarded by arches, over which flowering vines have been trained to grow, combining a sense of shelter and openness at the same time. It’s no wonder this is a popular spot for weddings and special events, or that there is almost always a photographer or two wandering the paths. This time, the photographer was me!

Ashley and her husband and I met in the garden near sunset so we could catch the brilliancy of the setting sun. The warm rays were a perfect complement to the brightly colored flowers that surrounded us, and gave a lovely, rosy glow to all of the pictures. There’s nothing like a soft summer evening, and that relaxed, peaceful feeling permeated every aspect of our photography session.

In keeping with the laid-back, summer feel, Ashley decided she wanted more of a casual look for her maternity photography session, so we didn’t bother with a maternity dress. Her flowered top went great with the garden setting, and there’s no need for fancy clothes to show off that gorgeous wavy hair and sweet smile of hers! 

I’m really glad Ashley chose to do this mini maternity photography session as well as the newborn session later on. I think it’s great to capture the different stages of this exciting part of life! It’s so special and really does last such a short time—but photographs like this mean that in some ways it can last forever. I hope Ashley and her family will be able to look back on these photographs with fondness for many years to come. 

It was wonderful to spend this time with Ashley and her husband in such a beautiful place. They are such nice people and are so excited to start their family together. They’re going to make fantastic parents! I can’t wait to meet their little guy later this month and have the chance to photograph him as well. Keep your eyes open for his pictures!