PARALLEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Carrie's Baby Shower

2012-02-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

Our good friend Carrie, owner of Absolute Interior Design, is expecting her first baby this spring. In anticipation of her baby girl, Carrie's sisters and friends threw her the perfect pink party. Although the color theme may have been traditional, this shower had some wonderful non-traditional twists. From the spicy Indian food cuisine to the bar-hopping after party, the day was unique and quintessential Carrie. Congratulations Carrie and Jayson!! We can't wait to meet your beautiful little bundle in just 7 weeks.

Flowers for Your Valentine

2012-02-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

Parallel Photography is so happy to be friends with Anna Mara! Like us, Anna Mara Flowers is a female-owned business and has been creating her beautiful bouquets for nearly 3 years. Just recently she opened her first shop in the hip Schoolhouse Electric building in NW industrial Portland and is flourishing. This Cinco de Mayo we are collaborating on a wedding and we can't wait to see what colorful creations she will put together! Congratulations on your new space, Anna Mara Flowers!

Be sure to consider Anna for all your Valentines, wedding, date-night, or other floral needs!

Draven's Quinceañera

2012-01-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Senior Center
Portland, OR

Our first quinceañera was everything we always hoped it would be…pink! The party, thrown in honor of 15-year old Draven at the Hollywood Senior Center was replete with homemade tamales and teenagers in their finest dancing clothes. A Master of Ceremonies directed the evening's activities which included whacks at a candy filled piñata shaped like a giant cake. Draven was clearly the belle of her ball dancing amongst her friends, family, and court of honor wearing matching black dresses. Thank you Denise for inviting us to be part of Draven's birthday celebration!

McKechnie/Oukherfalla Family

2012-01-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

Cathedral Park
Portland, OR

On a cool winter day in late December, we joined Ben, his sister Jen, and their mom Becky on a photo shoot with their kids at Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge. Jen and her children were visiting from the UK for the holidays, and the family took advantage of the opportunity to photograph all the kids together. Ben's son Maculeigh (age 6 1/2) brought a ton of great energy to the photo shoot , and Jen's sweet daughter Elise (age 2 1/2) and happy son Caius (age 10 months) were wide-eyed in wonder as we toured the park. After a few family portraits we let the kids loose and followed them with our cameras as they chased birds, climbed trees, and played in the sand on the river bank. The whole family was a pleasure to photograph and we look forward to doing it all again next time Jen and her family are back in the US.

Zoo Lights!

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, armed with hot chocolate and lots of energy we went with some friends and their families to Zoo Lights at the Oregon Zoo. The zoo was packed with happy parents and kids and colorful, glowing decorations which got us even more excited for Christmas! Next year we highly recommend bringing your favorite little ones with you to the zoo for a magical evening full of bright creatures and imagination.

Dara and John's Wedding

2012-01-02T15:07:00.000-08:00

Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel
Portland, OR

Dara and John are truly a "modern" couple. More than six years ago they were both surfing the web and managed to land in the same internet chat room. Here they struck up a conversation that ultimately led to their first date. Many dates later, somewhere on a beach in Mexico, John popped the question. In the meantime, John and Erin had been friends for nearly 15 years. Their friendship began when Erin stopped into the camera store where John worked, looking to buy her first SLR camera. Since it was the camera that brought them together, it seemed a natural choice for John and Dara to ask Parallel to photograph their wedding.

As a couple, Dara and John have an ability to enrich people's lives, inspire others, and remind people how important it is to have fun. A big thank you D&J for including us in your amazing day. It was a pleasure to document your wedding and we wish you all the best!

Christmas Tree Hunting

2011-12-14T21:04:00.000-08:00

We were invited to join a multi-family Christmas tree hunt near ZigZag this last weekend. Playing in the snow on a bright sunny day and chopping down our own tree in the forest (don't worry, it was legal) really put us in the holiday spirit. Thank you to the family friends who invited us along and made us feel at home. Here's to making our future presence a part of the already established tradition!

The Willis Family

2011-12-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

When we arrived at the Willis' house in late November, 5-month old Ryder was sleeping off a bad cold and 2-year old Tate was slightly apprehensive of us two photographers poking around her house. But within minutes, Tate was eagerly showing us her room and toys, and Ryder popped out of bed with a smile on his face... and away we went. We bundled up and went outside to find some adventure in their beautiful Northeast Portland neighborhood. We had a blast making pictures of them as they uncovered caterpillars and pumpkins, and played in the last of the season's falling leaves. Thanks Stef and Gene for inviting us to document a day in the life of the beautiful Willis Family!

The Lillard Family

2011-11-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Autumn weather in Portland is often hit or miss, but this year we've had a spectacular showing of color coupled with beautifully crisp fall days. So, we took advantage of yet another rain-free day and followed the Lillard family to Fernhill Park in NE Portland. We joined Dean and Fiona on a tree-climbing, leaf throwing, acorn hunt, while baby Leo took in the sites and enjoyed some outdoor napping. We had a great time running around and exploring the park with this beautiful family. Happy Fall Lillards!

The Conway Family

2011-11-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

We lucked out with a sunny fall day at the Conway's house in NE Portland this past October. Maisie and Della took advantage of the beautiful weather and had a mini-tea party and painting session in the backyard before heading inside for an impromptu song and dance routine. Megan and Dan joined in with the girls and all enjoyed a fun family afternoon. Photographing the girls in their environment helped them feel at ease and we were able to capture genuine emotions. The Conways were such a pleasure to photograph and we enjoyed getting a peak into their lovely lives.

Tim and Betsy Get Married!

2011-11-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

Add 1 math teacher and 1 art teacher. Multiply by # of days working at the same school = true love! Tim and Betsy met as co-teachers at a school in NYC and the chemistry was instant. They started quietly dating, then moved in together, got a dog - now the rest is history! They married on a lake in Vermont on a hot July day at the beautiful Equinox Resort. To Tim and Betsy for letting us celebrate your wonderful love - we thank you!

Baby Gryphon's 100th Day Celebration

2011-11-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

My friends Chena and Brad recently brought their first baby Gryphon home to Portland from the east coast to meet all his adoring fans. One of many gatherings thrown in their honor was Gryphon's Baek-il or 100th-day celebration. During a traditional Korean Baek-il the family gives offerings to Samshin (the birth goddess) for helping the mother and infant survive the baby's first 100 day period. Relatives and friends celebrated with rice cake, soup, and other delicacies. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with families and delicious Korean cuisine. Welcome baby G!!

Elsa and Francisco are Expecting!!

2011-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Elsa and Francisco are expecting their first baby!! With only 2.5 weeks left in Elsa's pregnancy, we set out to document her beautiful baby bump at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Francisco was a wonderful tour guide and Elsa was a real trooper as we trekked around the expansive campus, seeking out beautiful photo backdrops. Thank you both for a lovely shoot. We can't meet to meet your new addition!

Mai and Kyle's Wedding

2011-10-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

August 20, 2011
Portland, OR

Mai and Kyle are architects/designers who appreciate Portland's urban and industrial flare. So, it was no surprise when they chose wedding venues that offered a blend of edgy, gritty and architectural back drops. We started the day photographing bride & groom portraits on the industrial edge of the Pearl District, along the railroad tracks and on the docks of abandoned warehouses. Then we moved on to their ceremony at Tanner Springs Park, followed by their reception at Central restaurant. All in all, it was a fabulous wedding complete with great music, scrumptious food and specialty drinks. Congratulations to the Myles! Thank you for including us in your special day.

Holiday Photo Special

2011-10-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Reuben

2011-07-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Reuben currently split their blessed life between their house in Olivebridge, NY and their apartment in Brooklyn, NY. In the solitude of the majestic Catskills they work on their art; Reuben as an installation/sculpture artist, Nicole as a graphic designer. In the hustle and bustle of the city they show and sell their work, catch up with friends, and soak up the big city life.
They met years ago collaborating on a project for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF - both were artist, both were transplants to New York, and both began falling in love with each other. This last June they married at the beautiful Ashokan Dreams near their home in the Catskills where the expansive location, the happy family and friends, and the loving atmosphere inspired us and created some fabulous photography.
Thank you to Nicole and Reuben for including us in the celebration of your relationship! We wish you both many happy years ahead and look forward to celebrating more milestones in your lives.

Adeline

2011-07-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

After seeing some of our recent baby shower photos, Adeline's mom Kelly was inspired to have photos taken of her own beautiful 6-month-old. So, on a bright and sunny day in late June we met Adeline and her parents at the Portland Rose Gardens. Adeline couldn't have been a more charming baby or a better model. No matter where Kate and I were, Adeline watched and smiled, allowing us to capture the amazing baby wanderlust in her eyes. What an absolutely delightful photo shoot with a lovely family and baby.

Mel and Roger's Wedding

2011-07-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

For Memorial Day 2011, Mel and Roger shared their very intimate wedding at the First Unitarian Church with us. We felt truly lucky to be treated as extented members of their family and friends. Their approach to the wedding was laid back and personal and the whole experience left us feeling full of hope and happiness for the newlyweds. After the ceremony the entire wedding party (just under 20 people) jumped on a streetcar and headed to the fabulous Wildwood Restaurant for a cozy reception.

We are so grateful to Mel and Roger and can't wait to see what the future holds for this blessed couple!

Bring on the Baroque!!

2011-06-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Wildwood Consort
Portland, OR

We recently had the pleasure of photographing the Wildwood Consort, a wonderful Portland-based Renaissance and Baroque trio complete with a flutist, a string player (lute, theorbo, bass and violin), and soprano singer - our beloved Mel. The highlight of the photo shoot was when the group performed together, music echoing through the studio, as we captured action shots. We're looking forward to seeing Wildwood perform on a big stage!

Mel's Studio Portrait Session

2011-06-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Erin met Mel at a musical performances for the The Julian's all-women singing group (Mel is one of the group's talented singers). Erin was immediately drawn to her confidence and personality. Not long after the performance, Mel contacted Erin. It turns out that in addition to her musical career, Mel is the owner of a local business (Counterpoint Data Services ) and was looking for updated headshots to represent both of her seemingly opposite worlds. Enter Parallel Photography.

Our goal was to create photographs that projected Mel's professionalism, along with her beauty and personality. With her performing background, it wasn't a difficult task! Thank you Mel for your support of our small business. It has been a joy working with you!

A Day in the Life of Alex

2011-05-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

Alex at 2 yrs old

Portland, OR

Alex's parents wanted to document Alex doing the things he loves at this stage of his young life. So, they told him he could do whatever he wanted and then we followed him around the house and yard with our cameras. Alex has many favorite activities and makes a wonderful range of facial expressions while doing them. This photo shoot kept us on our toes, and we loved every minute of it!

San Juan Island!!

2011-05-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

The Island Inn at 123 West Street
Friday Harbor, WA

Our recent trip to San Juan Island was a photo shoot and vacation all in one. Our charge was to photograph the Island Inn, a gorgeous property in Friday Harbor offering both hotel and vacation-rental accommodations.

Built into a hillside, the hotel faces the San Juan Channel, the harbor, and neighboring Shaw and Lopez Islands. The views were simply breathtaking! The Inn itself was luxurious, contemporary and comfortable. Our hotel room included two-stories. On the first floor - a living room with fireplace, dining room, bathroom and full-size kitchen. On the upper floor - large bedroom (with a bed that felt like a cloud), bathroom with steam shower, and a large deck that overlooked the harbor. Did I mention the views!!! If you ever get out to Friday Harbor, look into the Island Inn at 123 West. You won't be disappointed!

Weddings

2011-04-14T21:19:00.001-07:00

Melissa's Bachelorette Party

2011-04-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Wakelea's 1st Birthday!

2011-03-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

We had the sincere joy of photographing Wakelea's 1st birthday last Sunday and celebrating her year on earth with young friends, family, and cupcakes. Her parents, CJ and Sarah, pulled out all the stops and created a beautiful party that was fun for both kids and parents alike - with Wakelea's cake-eating extravaganza being the highlight of the day's event. Thank you CJ and Sarah for letting us be involved in the first of many celebrations in Wakelea's life!

The Blanks

2011-03-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

The New York landscape offers a great backdrop for documentary-style images - and the photos of the Blanks are some of our favorite family portraits. The twin girls were a joy to work with and the warm summer day made it a perfect setting for a play date in the park. Thank you Blanks for your inspired city-scape portraits!

Rebecca & Julia's 1st Birthday

2011-03-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Photographing Rebecca and Julia's 1st birthday was truly a wonderful treat! The Hackers rented a space in the Upper West Side Jewish Community Center and invited all the friends the girls had made in their young lives. The party goers celebrated with sing-a-longs, balloons, bubbles, and cake and the twin sisters loved every minute of it! Happy Birthday, girls!

Elizabeth and Rajeev's Wedding

2011-03-08T01:01:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and Kate go way back...to High School days. So when Elizabeth asked us to photograph her wedding - we jumped at the chance! Elizabeth and Rajeev have been together for many years and there was a beautiful sense of ease and comfort when we were around them. They currently reside in L.A. but decided to fly up to Portland, where Elizabeth is from, and marry in the cool shade on a summer day in a Northeast Portland water tower park. The wedding guests then walked down to a local restaurant, Lucca, and ate and danced the night away.

We feel privileged to be a part of the celebration of Elizabeth and Rajeev's love and hope that our photographic relationship will continue as their family grows.

Jenny and Nic's Wedding

2011-03-07T21:40:00.000-08:00

Sarah and Curtis' Wedding

2011-03-07T21:24:00.000-08:00

Karyn and Scott's Wedding

2011-03-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

Karyn and Scott were married on a beautiful hot and bright day at the Portland Rose Garden (June 26, 2009). The ceremony was small and intimate, followed by a large reception at McTarnahan's brewery. The wedding coverage included three photographers...including Kate, Erin, and Erin's husband Ken. Prior to their ceremony, Karyn and Scott planned ample time to be photographed. This not only permitted us to get some wonderful "getting ready" shots, it also gave us time to walk around the gardens with the bride and groom looking for unique photo opportunities.

The ceremony took place in the afternoon only one week after the summer solstice. We were inundated with intense sunlight, and shade from nearby trees. This created a massive lighting challenge, but one we took full advantage of. This shoot really enabled us play with shadow, light, and spacial composition. For these reasons, you may notice that the following photos have an 'ethereal' feel to them, especially in the photos that embrace light rays and lens flare.

Furry friends!

2011-03-02T10:44:00.000-08:00