Hello and welcome! I am so grateful that you are here!

First of all, I love focusing on the connection between all of you. So get ready to look at each other, snuggle, play, and laugh. With a few smiles at the camera. Let the kids be kids! I will guide you the entire time!

Let’s dive in~

What the heck should we wear?

Wear colors that pop from the green trees - fall colors are awesome in the forest!

What to wear? Well , let’s take into account you will be in nature (unless we are in the city or inside your house) so fancy shoes are out. Also if it’s chilly, you may be taking your coats on and off, or choose a coat that’s “photogenic” if it needs to be on.

NEUTRALS ARE GREAT, ADD A POP OF COLOR TO ONE OR TWO OF YOU OR A FUN PATTERN.

I love browns, beige, ivory and a splash of rust and or blue.

Solid colors are your friends. A pattern or two is fine, just try to be aware that they can clash when together. For example, if dad wears a flannel, and baby is wearing floral -and he’s holding the babe, you will make my eyes burst into flames(haha, it takes away from the subject) You want the attention on the subject. So often what people will do is say if mom has a dress with a pattern she has to wear, the rest of the family can kind of pick that color scheme and go easy on the patterns. Or if dad is wearing a flannel, mom and baby wear a solid. Also feel free to bring an outfit change for the little ones. Layer up to change it up!

Also steer clear of matching exact colors or outfits, you tend to blend in together.

Since we are most likely in the forest, natural colors look much better. Green will get lost in the trees. I love the fall color scheme. Burgundy, blue, burnt orange, browns, mustard. Stay away from super white stark whites and choose an ivory or antique white instead. Steer clear of bright pink and choose antique pink or rose. Pinterest is a great resource or see what calls to you on this website!

TEXT me outfit ideas! I can give input.

Check the links below after you read through this blog, they will shoot you off of here!

Here are a few suggestions from a Pinterest board I created.

Here are a few suggestions from an AMAZON list I created. Note that the COLORS I choose for these may show a different color- scroll the colors - stay away from forest green you will blend with the trees.

I actually made two here is another for mountain shoots but it applies.

You don’t always have to buy something, you may have some of these things!

Also ladies (or gentlemen no judgement here), I LOVE THESE dresses - just know you can only return for credit, but there is bound to be something beautiful to exchange for, and the price is right!

MORE AFFORDABLE DRESSES HERE FROM JOYFOLIE -MY FAVORITE

ShouLD WE Do a FuLL SeSSION oR A MinI SEssION?

I love both! The minis are only at Lincoln Park in West Seattle, they are perfect for families who don’t want as many photos, need a Christmas Card, or if you have a wild child and you fear they won’t last through the hour+ session. On that note, I bet they can!

Benefits of a full session.

Sometimes with the full session, the magic happens at the second half- or even at the end. I make video clips so you get a short movie of the session, we can take our time and walk to different spots. For example if we are shooting at Lincoln Park, we can hit the water (Lowman Beach Park) at the end. We jump in the car for that - just a one minute drive. Also if your littles need snacks or have a meltdown, the full session gives us time to work through all the things, without a time constraint.

Full sessions are available for any park in Seattle, although I have my favorites. I also love shooting at Rattlesnake Lake or Gold Creek Pond (weekdays are best for these spots) and those locations are full session only. The extra investment is worth it.

PRICES -MINI SESSION $550 30 minutes 30 photos Lincoln Park

Full Session- $850 75-90 minutes 70-90 images and a video

Where should we shoot?

I have a ton of favorite spots around Seattle, as you see I’ve already listed a few. I do like to pick the spot, us photographers are picky where we shoot! Why? I’ve gone to parks to meet a family where the options are limited, we don’t know where we are going, the lighting isn’t ideal. We like to know our spots like a studio.

The Arboretum is nice but can be VERY BUSY on the weekend, I would recommend that on a weekday in the fall. I love Discovery Park and Lincoln Park. Discovery and the Arboretum are both typically LONG WALKS with big hills-I am happy to do that, just a note. The reason I love Lincoln Park is that it has a beautiful forest and then a little beach we can drive to in one minute to end the session with a few beach shots. And there is a beautiful spot where we can do most of the session, a short 5 minute walk in.

Lincoln Park is my favorite- it’s basically my studio. I love it and connect with it and know it like the back of my hand. Here is a LINCOLN PARK blog to see more.

Gold Creek Pond Snoqualmie Pass - BEST ON A WEEKDAY! Season Ends when the snow comes up at the pass!

Ebey’s Landing State Park, Whidbey Island

Gold Creek Pond -Snoqualmie Pass (one hour from Seattle)

Lincoln Park West Seattle - beautiful forest, easy walk, 1 minute drive to the beach, I often end there!

Lincoln Park Lowman Beach (early am light)

Lowman Beach Park Lincoln Park- Sunset (above)

Discovery Park Photoshoot Seattle — Discovery Park - I love the fields! Sunset is best here.

“What do we do in front of the camera? We’re not photogenic. We are awkward”

Well, I am very bossy!! I will be guiding you the entire time. Although I love the smile and look at the camera images, my primary focus are the images showcasing your connection with each other.

I believe everyone is photogenic and beautiful, and every family is a work of art. My superpower is making people feel comfortable. Partly because I am such A DORK. Yes, that is a superpower.

I shoot each child together and alone, and just work different combos of posing and non posing the whole time. It goes by fast and bam! It’s over and you won’t know what hit you!

WHAT TIME DO WE SHOOT?

I prefer to shoot in the early evening, and this depends on the time of year. A few hours before the sun goes down. If it’s summer I know that happens late, so as late as YOUR KIDS ARE HAPPY! I can do a morning session, but I prefer those to be done early. The reason is the sun is very bright in the morning and when your in a park, that bright overhead sun can reflect the green grass on to your face. Nobody wants a green face.

It’s that evening light that I like best. Of all my years of shooting, I promise this is the best lighting. But some babies are happiest in the morning!

Keep in mind if you want a beach shoot, closer to sunset or super duper early is best. Anything before/after that can be harsh lighting.

If it’s cloudy, doesn’t matter but you sort of have to plan for sun- and be flexible if weather permits the beach.

Lowman Beach Lincoln Park, early morning sunlight. Can be bright, but pretty.

WHAT DO WE DO IF IT RAINS?

Well, we do live in the PNW, and the weather is everchanging and a little unpredictable. The way I like to roll -is to wake up in the morning and text about it if the weather looks dicey. Often times 40 percent chance of rain is totally fine at shooting time. Once in a while we change the time based on the weather that day. If it’s just total crap - we just reschedule and you go have a different kind of fun day.

In the event our session gets cut short and we did not get enough photos and the rain comes, we either embrace it and shoot through- or I will make it up to you. This has only happened twice:)

Tip: Clear umbrellas are cute for photos!

WHAT IF MY KIDS ARE GRUMPY OR DON’T LISTEN?

It’s okay! ! Don’t stress about that- because it’s totally normal. We ROLL WITH IT. One helpful hint is no sugar before the shoot. That’s entirely up to you, obviously.

Bring snacks, bribes, songs, have something fun planned to do for after as a reward (ideas). Talk about the shoot in advance- try to get them excited, maybe make sure they are okay in the clothes they are going to wear and that they fit before the day we shoot. I’ve seen many a tantrum from a new outfit never been worn before.

Seattle Newborn Session — I use this studio in Pioneer Square

Whidbey Island sessions-and I LOVE it there

Now booking Artists Point for Aug-October 2025 (below)

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DECIDE TO BOOK?

First a $200 to hold your date via my Venmo @DawndraBudd or PayPal. I can do Zelle, Apple Cash, send an invoice, whatever is easy!

The rest of the payment is due THE DAY WE SHOOT pretty please:) Full family sessions are $950

We pick a location and you decide on clothing, using my help if needed. Feel free to text me outfit questions or options, I’m happy to help!

We meet up and have some fun!

After your shoot you can expect sneak peaks within days. Feel free to post and share(tagging Portraits by Dawndra of course:) Tell all your friends! Most of my business is word of mouth, so I appreciate that VERY much.

In 6-8weeks you will receive your gallery with all of your beautifully edited images. YES- I edit every image with love. I touch up skin, I might tuck a chin in. I take out trees that bother me. All the things. You can print directly from this gallery. Yes there are books, cards, print boxes, frames, and even calendars. I suggest printing your photos from a professional printer. Why use a professional photographer with a super fancy camera and then go to Costco or the drug store? Please don’t. Because I love you.

HOW LONG DO WE SHOOT? An average session lasts 90 minutes. Heck, if we walk and chat a lot and walk a lot -it could be 2 hours. For family photo sessions you will receive anywhere from 80-100 edited images. Each session is different.