Troy & Elise | Maternity Among the Roses in Portland
Troy is a family friend — the kind of client who comes with a whole history already behind them. I photographed his cousin Shelby's wedding (one of my all-time favorites — you can see it here), and getting to show up for this next chapter of his family felt like exactly the kind of thing I love most about this work.
He and Elise are expecting a baby girl, and they brought the whole crew: Troy's son, Elise's sweet black dog dressed for the occasion in a pink flower collar, and enough joy between them to fill the entire International Rose Test Garden.
Which, as it turns out, is exactly where we went.
If you haven't been to the Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, it's one of those places that does all the work for you. Rows and rows of roses in every color — deep reds, blush pinks, coral, white — with tall Pacific Northwest evergreens rising behind them and the soft open sky overhead. We just strolled. We let the roses do what they do.
That detail shot of the tiny shoes says everything, doesn't it? Two big pairs, one little pair right in the middle. A girl is coming.
Elise was radiant — whether she was barefoot in white lace, looking quietly out at the garden, or laughing into Troy's shoulder surrounded by pink roses, or holding a single bloom against her belly while the dog tried to climb into frame. Troy was steady and present the whole session, the way good partners are. And his son? Pure energy and easy smiles — the piggyback shot is one of my favorites from the whole afternoon.
We ended the session wandering through the rose arbors as the light went soft, and it was just beautiful. The garden, the family, all of it.
Congratulations Troy and Elise — that baby girl is so loved already. I cannot wait to meet her.
Looking for a maternity photographer in the Portland area? Let's connect.
Portland maternity photographer, International Rose Test Garden maternity photos, Washington Park maternity session, Portland Oregon family photographer, outdoor maternity session Portland, rose garden maternity photos, Rare Day Photo maternity
