Family portraits are a cherished keepsake that captures the love and bond between family members, including children, pets, and grandparents. They are a timeless reminder of the special moments shared together and a way to preserve memories for generations to come. One of the best ways to create these beautiful portraits is by having them…

Genel and her family own a small family-owned lavender farm in Eagle Creek, Oregon. She wanted to capture some memories of her and her husband and their adult children just before sunset during the golden hour on their property. But, family portraits in lavender fields aren’t just for family farm owners! There are many reasons…

This family of three was feeling a bit elfish this holiday season, hence the matching pajamas. I helped them create this adorable set images to show off their family’s playful sense of style in their annual Christmas Cards. Even the dog got involved! Gracie was a bit reluctant, but she played along because she loves…

I had the opportunity this year to help an elementary school family with school picture retakes of their two children. The parents were not happy with the results of the natural light photography of the traditional school photographer. So, I was able to step in and help them with some well-lit images of the two siblings (a boy and a girl). The images show beautiful catchlights in the eyes, while still retaining a balanced, natural, and outdoor feel that the parents were seeking. School pictures aren't just for high school seniors! If you want beautiful portraits of your children to document their school year or their current age, I can help! Don't miss this opportunity to capture beautiful images of this unique period in your child's life.

Few things bring more joy to a four-year-old girl than finding Big Leaf Maple leaves, jumping in leaf piles, and searching for pumpkins! Do you need to document this time in your child’s life? Are you looking for beautiful images of your kids to place on the walls of your home? Click here to learn…

Creating fine art children portraits can be challenging when you have a high-energy five-year-old girl. But, Isabel had so much fun during her recent <a href="https://www.brianpasko.com/winter-portraits-eagle-creek/">family portrait session,</a> she decided she wanted a fine art portrait session of her own! With the Oregon winter weather upon us, we decided to take Isabel's portrait session indoors. We used a wide variety of backgrounds, some creativity brought by Isabel;'s mom, and a bit of color theory to create a nice variety of images for Isabel. And while all of the images were designed to bring out Isabel's personality, we also sought to create some fantastical images that transported Isabel to a land of the imagination.

This family's idea for winter portraits on Eagle Creek came from 5-year-old Isabel. This past year, Isabelle's older sister, Samantha, graduated from high school and headed off to College. Not just any college, mind you. Samantha decided to study history --- in Dublin, Ireland. So she's a bit far away. And this left one fiery red-headed, Oregon based child longing for a photograph of her entire family together. When Isabelle asked for a family portrait, the request took her mom by surprise. it made Katie and her husband, Josh, realize that they hadn't made the time for a family picture since Isabel was born. The four of them live in Sandy, and they wanted something simple and close by. In other words, they needed a plan that would withstand the attention span of an energetic 5-year-old girl.

"We need a holiday card photo...oh and headshot for me too," was the request I received from Laurel in early December. But the odd combination didn't phase me one bit. I've spent a lot of time with this awesome family over the years. They are always super relaxed, flexible, and a ton of fun to photograph! Quinn is a big soccer player. Sela is a ham. Laurel has a hilarious sarcastic wit. And Eric, the Chief Financial Officer of Blue Dog Bakery, is passionate about healthy dog treats. Needless to say, we can't talk about their family and fail to mention their two dogs! Poor Bruno is the oldest of the two and does his best to keep up with energetic Bisou. Bisou is a small Boston Terrier who, as Eric explains it, was Laurel's impulse buy. Apparently, it was love at first sight during a random visit to the local animal shelter. (I think Laurel and I are kindred spirits!)

Earlier this fall, I was privileged to capture this close-knit family's portrait along the Cazadero Trail in Boring Oregon. Jane, Micheal, and Mia are the three remaining members of their mother's familial line. Michael lives in Alaska, so they don't get together very often. Hence Jane's request for a simple portrait of the three of them together. Jane owns Fagans Haven Bed and Breakfast in Damascus Oregon. She's also an expert quilter. And her bed and breakfast attracts people of that sort. If you're into crafting (or even if you're not) an be sure to check out Jane's Bed and Breakfast! And while you're in the neighborhood, have your portrait taken too! Whether you're looking to update your family portraits or you need a professional headshot, we can help! Contact Brian Pasko Photography today to learn more!

There's nothing like a happy toddler chasing the family dog along national forest trails. Or swimming in the cool mountain lakes of the Pacific Northwest. In these days of ipads, cell phones, and other pervasive electronic gadgets, our family has made a concious effort to give our toddler an anundance of outdoor time --- while limiting time spent in front of a screen. Family hikes and camping vacations are one way we make this happen. It's a great opportunity to make lasting memories and capture some beautiful family portraits too.

Earlier this summer, Winnie went searching for a photographer. She needed beautiful family portraits she could hang on the walls of her Happy Valley home. After stumbling upon my website, she scheduled a phone conversation with me to learn more. And it didn't take long to discover that we were a match! <span data-offset-key="dqs97-0-0">Winnie and her husband Manuel have a </span><span class="adverb"><span data-offset-key="dqs97-1-0">beautifully</span></span><span data-offset-key="dqs97-2-0"> manicured backyard. And they live in their home with Winnie's 100-year-old mother! Winnie did not <span class="qualifier">just</span> want photographs of her with her mom and grandchildren. Instead, she wanted framed artwork that she could hang in her foyer and family room. <span class="hardreadability">She also wanted to gift canvasses to her son and daughter in law so that they would also have family portraits hanging in their home</span>. <span class="veryhardreadability">Winne sought to </span><span class="adverb">intentionally</span><span class="veryhardreadability"> create family portraits that her grandchildren will one day cherish and pass on to future generations</span>.</span>

Oregon's Beach Bill was passed in 1967 allowing free beach access to everyone. It's unique as far as state laws go, and it's one of the many things that make Oregonian's proud. It also makes my young daughter and her puppy very happy. The beach is a pretty amazing place to photograph. It's the perfect setting for a family portrait, for candid images of children and dogs playing on the beach, or even for that standout personal branding headshot.

<span class="hardreadability"><span data-offset-key="qk8s-0-0">Orcas Island is the largest island in the San Juan archipelago, a chain of islands located in the Salish Sea in Northwest Washington</span></span><span data-offset-key="qk8s-1-0">. <span class="hardreadability">One of my favorite places on the Island is Rustic Falls, a small waterfall along Cascade Creek inside Moran State Park on Orcas Island</span>. The water <span class="adverb">gracefully</span> cascades about 10 feet into a shallow pool. And a large tree rests at the top of the falls, providing for a unique and interesting photograph. <span class="veryhardreadability"> This image, entitled "Forces of Nature" recently merited at the Professional Photographer Association's International Print Competition</span>.</span>

Family portraits at Powell Butte nature park in Portland are always special. But come fall, when the late summer sun kisses Powell Butte's golden fields, family portraits taken there seem to have an extra sparkle. They give off an almost magical luminescence. And photographing the Smith Family---Annie, James, Michael, Mathew, and Ellie---turned out to be as magical as the location we chose for their portraits.

My family and I had an eventful set of trips in August that took us across the country and back to the Eastern Oregon desert to witness a total solar eclipse at totality. Our adventures began with a trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota where my wife and I lived just after we were married in 2003. It had been ten years since we had visited our old haunts. We had a great time taking our two-year old daughter to see our first home and to visits with old friends. Of course, we took her to our favorite eating establishments too such Maria's Cafe, where Kiana enjoyed people watching through the large windows while feasting on eggs and pancakes. We also took the time to visit our favorite parks. She splashed in puddles at Powderhorn Park. Relaxed in the gross near downtown St. Paul. And put her feet in the mud of the Mississippi River where we gave tribute to our old pup at her favorite dog park.

Samantha and Isabel embody sisterhood despite their difference in age. Isabel is about to turn four years old and Samantha is a high school senior at Robert A. Long High School. After graduation, Samantha is headed to Ireland for college, so Mom wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to take some family portraits of the two of them together and as individuals. They were looking for outdoor portraits with a variety of backgrounds and outfits. As a result, we settled on two separate locations. The first was at Clackamas County's Eagle Fern Park where we photographed the girls against a backdrop of green ferns and old growth forest. The second location was in a natural area near Barton, Oregon where the golden fields provided a perfect idyllic setting to display the connection that is shared by these two girls.

The Oregon Coast can be downright cold in early spring but that didn't stop our famiy from spending a chilly day on Beverly Beach this May! Beverly Beach is one of Oregon's most popular. And its long stretch of sandy beaches make it an ideal location for playful dogs, kids, family photographers and sunbathers.

Over the holidays I had the honor of photographing the All Service Academies Military Ball at the Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon. It's a prestigious affair for Oregon and Southwest Washington cadets and their families who are enrolled in the Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Service Academies. The evening began with a cocktail hour, where the military cadets posed for formal portraits with their dates and families in a beautifully decorated room at the Benson Hotel. A tall Christmas tree decorated with lights, large bulbs and lace added a touch of holiday spirit to the event.

My 15 month-old daughter, Kiana, considers our two cats her best friends. Meeko, a white cat with brown spots, is a rambunctious one year old kitten and she gives Kiana a run for her money. Pigeon, our fourteen year-old black cat reluctantly puts up with the antics of the other two. As you can imagine,…

Photographing Quinn, Sela, and their beautiful dog Bruno has become an annual event that I look forward to every year! There’s nothing more fun than photographing this family near their Mount Hood area cabin in the fall! (Click on the images below to see larger versions.) Are you interested in getting out and capturing some…

My fascination with cameras has never been just with their ability to freeze snapshots in time. Rather, the reason I love photography is because it allows me to grab hold of a moment, to make a memory tangible, and then hang it on the wall so that I can cherish it forever. These past few months…

For this family, having their portraits taken on the family farm was the obvious location choice. Here’s a look at three of the five generations who have been farming the Baggenstoss property in Sherwood, Oregon since the 1920s. If you haven’t visited the Baggenstoss Farm store recently, it’s sure worth the trip! It’s a pretty awesome…

There's truth in cliches. Your home <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">is</span></strong> your castle. And in many cases your home is a family's most valuable asset. And a well decorated home creates a sense of place, comfort and belonging for everyone under the roof—not the just the adults, but the little ones too. So, when it comes time to decorating your own personal refuge, what better option is there than to fill the walls with the people and places that you love the most?

This past weekend I had the honor to witness and photograph a very generous community of people pour all of their love into a birthday party for a very brave four year-old boy who is battling cancer. In 2014, Omar was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was just two years old

For a lot of people, family portrait sessions can be really stressful. Are the kids going to have a meltdown? Is Dad going to throw a temper tantrum? What if junior decides to play in the mud in his Sunday best? Does my hair look okay? There's just so much pressure to get the perfect picture!

If you’re looking to take better pictures and snapshots of your children and family, consider the rule of thirds! One of the things that I learned from my mother growing up is that the value of a photograph isn’t always about technical perfection, it’s about the story that it tells. Yes, there’s a time and…

Our Christmas gift came a few months early this year, but the lights of the holiday season provided the the perfect excuse for some fun and creative portraits of our three-month old Kiana! (Click on the images below to see larger versions).

Christmas in Boring Oregon comes with the long tradition of our annual community holiday party hosted by the Boring/Damascus Grange. Every year we gather at the Boring Station Trailhead Park, located in the heart of “downtown” Boring. We sing Christmas Carols with our friends and neighbors and await for Santa’s arrival on a decades-old antique…

On the evening of September 21st, my name was etched onto a nondescript paper certificate and in a blur I found myself with a new title: “father.”

On September 21, 2015 at 6:57pm my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful, tiny baby girl we named Kiana Sophie. 5 pounds, 7 oz. 18 inches long.

Once again, this year I had the privilege of photographing my favorite hometown event, the “Celebration in Boring.”

Folks that know me know that I’m a big fan of Mount Hood and the forests that surround it, so when I got the chance to photograph this beautiful family at their cabin near Rhododendron, I grabbed my gear, hopped in my truck expecting to have a ton of fun! (Click on the images below…

Nine year-old Gabe is a boy who is passionate about Dinosaurs. I would even call him an expert. He sure knows A LOT about them—certainly more than me! We all know that time passes way too quickly. Drop me a note and I’m happy to work with you to create the perfect portrait session. I…

As a portrait photographer, one of my biggest responsibilities during a portrait session isn’t to click the shutter button, but to make the person in front of the lens look as natural and relaxed as possible. This is not always easy, and I take a lot of pride in the experience I have posing people so that…

Shari and Justin are good friends of mine from law school. (Yep, you heard that right. I’m a recovering lawyer — they say acceptance is the first step toward recovery, right?). Be sure to click on the images below to see larger versions. If you would like more information about family portrait sessions with Brian…

When their three girls and their grand children flew home to Damascus, Oregon from far away places, Karla and Larry jumped at the chance to take some family portraits. And I was honored to help create them. (Be sure to click on the images below to see larger versions, and click here for more information about…

Abby and Keely are the best of friends, so we decided to take them out for a summer photo shoot, matching outfits and all!

If you follow my blog, you already know that I am a BIG FAN of the Pacific Northwest, and Oregon in particular. And, as far as the weather goes, I am of the view that there are definitely worse places to be. You won’t find me complaining about cloudy skies and wet days. In fact, overcast days…

Mia is moving! Her mom has a new job in California, which means that this was Mia’s last visit to Maplewood elementary school in Portland. But, what could have been a sad and sentimental goodbye quickly turned into a super-fun “mom and me” session complete with hula hoops, cool shoes, fun backgrounds, and lots of…

Yesterday, we celebrated the opening of the Springwater trail in Boring. After the ribbon cutting, I discovered Audrey drawing away near the side of the Grange Hall. I guess sidewalk chalk tends to bring out the artist in all of us.

It’s not everyday that you get to hold a beautiful 3 day-old baby girl…let alone photograph her and her family. Here are a couple photographs of baby Stella. (Click on the images to see larger versions).

Some friends of ours hosted a Halloween Party this past weekend. You know, the kind where the only people that dress up are the kids? Okay, so that’s not exactly true—just about everyone was in costume except for me!So, I decided that I was dressed up as a “professional photographer” and used it as an…

Here's 9 year-old Claire rockin' the Lumberyard - a bike park that Claire's parents own in Northeast Portland. The Lumberyard is a pretty cool place for big and small kids alike! If you're in Portland be sure to check it out (<a href="https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ne-portland-indoor-bike-park-to-permanently-close-this-fall/283-6f8dc6f7-d4a1-47d6-8170-90fb7961aed0">www.lumberyardmtb.com</a>)!

Kim and I headed out for a late breakfast this morning at the Portland Saturday Market with some friends and their daughter Callie. I figured that when you put a market and a kid together, there would be photo opportunities abound. Turns out I was right. (Click the images to view larger versions).

I had so much fun photographing Karen and Rani this evening - two beautiful women who aren't just sisters, but the best of friends.

I got to spend Valentine's day on a photo shoot with my favorite adopted niece, Abby!

And here are some shots of the girls basketball teams that I photographed at the Portland Rose Garden over the holidays:

Over the holidays I had the chance to photograph a youth basketball tournament. It was pretty cool to be able to shoot on the floor of Portland's Rose Garden where the Portland Trailblazers play! Here are some shots of the boys basketball teams.

During Matt and Karely's wedding reception earlier this month, I stepped outside the Bell Tower Chapel for some fresh air. As I looked back, I saw this small toddler in her mother's arms peeking out at me through the antique window.

I was recently asked to help a fellow photographer make images of her beautiful family. We shot these photos on their friend's property at the edge of Damascus and Happy Valley, Oregon, just as the sun was setting over the hills.

This one year old isn't ready to walk just yet, but she's quite intrigued by the alphabet magnets on her parent's refrigerator.

Today was my niece's first birthday...and her first taste of cake!