Spring is officially here in Seattle! But definitely not in the mountains yet… Kevin & I ambitiously took Lemon up to Snoqualmie Pass yesterday to go on a hike only to find the road to the trailhead completely socked in with snow! Luckily, snow is one of Lemon’s most favorite things, so she had a blast playing running & diving through the banks. Kevin & I are anxious to get back to hiking, camping and backpacking (and we’re not quite as adventurous as some of our friends that do all of that in the snow!) but for now, we will enjoy the longer, somewhat warmer days in the city!
How to photograph with the Seattle cherry blossoms
I have had the pleasure of shooting not one, but two, maternity sessions at the UW cherry blossoms this year! The quad at the University of Washington has gotten more and more popular over the years, and for good reason! The entire area is surrounded by gorgeous cherry blossoms – it is truly a magical place. I honestly can just stare at the trees for a while and feel like I am in another world – or at least in a dream!
I’m hesitant to give away my insider tip since it may derail my efforts 😉 – but I’ve got to say, I’ve had great success this year with shooting with my couples at sunrise! There are far fewer people (mind you there are still some milling about) than there are in the afternoon/sunset hours, and it really is a peaceful, beautiful time of day. Dodging tripods & selfie-takers can be challenging, so limiting those distractions helps to have a much better photo shoot experience.
How to feel more comfortable during your session
This is true not only for the craziness of the cherry blossoms, but also for all of my shoots. You should definitely consider how crowded a location can be when choosing where you want to shoot. This is especially important for distract-able kiddos, and antsy dogs. Also for people that feel especially self-conscious having their picture taken. If you go somewhere more secluded, you will be able to relax more easily in front of the camera.
Taking maternity pictures with the cherry blossoms is such a fun way to put a time & place on your session. You can have fond memories of expecting your little one while the trees were blooming in Seattle. Another great example of time & placing your maternity session is Rachel’s snowy PNW Maternity Session. Again, Rachel will always remember being pregnant with her baby during the winter in the Pacific Northwest!
Meghan’s floral maxi dress was a perfect compliment to the blooms as well. She also mentioned that she got to wear this dress for her baby shower, so double win! That’s a great way to get a little more bang for your buck out of a dress if you want to spend a little more money on something you feel amazing in. I can’t wait to meet their baby boy in just a few weeks! Keep your eye’s out for Kimi’s cherry blossom session hitting the blog soon, too!
