From the Haugen Heart

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! As a “military mom” this video really stuck a cord with me.

I was photographing little Seth the other day and had this inspiration to photograph myself with him. I have been photographing him since he was a baby and feel like “Auntie Miriam”. I may start a whole series of photographs of me with “my kids”. Sounds like fun! www.haugensgalleri.com

This year has been one of the best as far as the wonderful fall colors go. Take a look at some of the families who took advantage of the wonderful backdrop mother nature has offered!

The winner of our first online giveaway is... Kristina ! Thank you to everyone who entered, it's been so much fun catching up with you. Make sure to check in often, we'll be having more giveaways. And until then, keep in touch! Congratulations Kristina!

Want to know what we are giving away? A FREE portrait session during our Family Christmas Card Event , 25 customized HOLIDAY CARDS and a fun HOLIDAY BASKET . Here's how it works... 1) Leave a comment here or email us and you'll be entered in the drawing. 2)Join our Myspace or Facebook page and receive FIVE more entries. 3)Leave us comments on our blog, Facebook or Myspace and receive ONE entry per comment. Leave as many as you want, we LOVE comments! 4)Blog about our contest and get 20 entries! Just make sure to include a link to our homepage, http://www.haugensgalleri.com/ , then email us with a link to your blog or website to verify. 5)Add our blog to your blog sidebar and earn 50 entries 6)Sign up for our Family Christmas Card Event BEFORE October 22nd and get 100 entries!!! The drawing will be held Wednesday, October 22nd. We'll post our winner. Good luck! Haugen's Family Christmas Card event is taking place on Saturday, November 1st. Click here for more info...

all of the great athletes we've had visit our studio this year!! McKenzie Joseph Leigh Anne Taylor Taylor Trent Molly Avery Joey Sarah Jaimie Ashlyn I had so much fun getting to know and photograph all of these seniors! You can catch them all in action this year as the compete in their last year of high school athletics! Good luck to you all!

I have always wanted to work on a Habitat for Humanity house and finally got my chance August 9. Habitat for Humanity is one of my favorite charities and got the idea that I could celebrate my birthday (August 1) by giving back to the community. Neil wants to do it with me next time (His birthday is August 12). I spent the morning installing windows in a two story, two family home in south Salem that will become home to the Flores family. I loved doing something very tangible to help a family improve their lives.

I wrote something about Jed Lowrie last year and realized I was long overdue for an update. Jed is a Salem native, now playing for the Boston Red Sox . This is a portrait I did of him and his family when he was 10. The Red Sox placed shortstop, Julio Lugo, on the disabled list in July and called up Jed from Pawtucket (AAA). He has a .260 batting average, 2 home runs and 44 RBI’s for the Red Sox.

I have a new camera phone! I never thought I would want one until I realized that I could post, “See what I’m doing now!” photos on the blog so much more easily. It is really fun! This was taken on a hike up Paulina Peak in Central Oregon on Labor Day weekend. We live in a beautiful state!

We met Lisa Cowan of Sweetwater Entertainment at Scott and Katie’s wedding in August. She provided music for walking in and exiting for their outdoor wedding ceremony and did a great job as DJ for the reception. A good DJ makes our job as photographers, so much easier! Thank you, Lisa! Click HERE to check out all Sweetwater Entertainment has to offer!

Had a great time photographing David and Dana with their horses, Jackie and Prince, at our portrait park. This was a celebration of Dana’s 50th birthday. Can you believe it? You go girl! The best is yet to come! www.haugensgalleri.com

I just did engagement portraits of Jenna and Trevor. It was a perfect day to be photographing a wheat field at sunset. Trevor is a wheat and grass seed farmer so it was VERY important that the wheat be perfect with no fall down spots. I love the one of them from the back. Anyone have suggestions for a title? It was really fun to go to Tangent and do a session so close to my old stomping ground. I grew up on a dairy farm in Oakville and taught music for three years at Tangent Elementary. Congratulations Jenna and Trevor! http://www.haugensgalleri.com/

must be a lucky day. The weather was absolutely perfect. The setting for the portraits with the water and tall trees expressed David and Meesh’s love of the outdoors beautifully. It was so much fun to photograph you. Neil and I are looking forward to doing anniversary portraits for years to come! Congratulations! My favorite qoute from the wedding was: "When the cookie pans arrive we will start"

I love children and love to sing. Back in high school, I decided that I needed to be an elementary school music teacher and I actually did that for six years. Now I let the dancing and ridiculously loud singing Miriam out once a year at Vacation Bible School. We just finished a week long “Rainforest Adventure” at St. Mark Lutheran in Salem. What fun! www.haugensgalleri.com

It was 100 degrees on the day of their wedding but Camas and Kyle were awesome to work with. What a beautiful day!Congratulations Camas and Kyle! (Click on image to view a slideshow from Camas and Kyle's Wedding.) We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness. http://www.haugensgalleri.com/

It is really amazing to see the children that we have photographed over the years grow up. When I photographed Kristy at age two, she was running around the studio like a wild thing but I managed to capture this image that totally embodies sweetness and innocence. I titled it "Close to My Heart" and it was selected for the National Loan Collection for the Professional Photographers of America. This is the highest award given to a single image by the largest and most prestigious organization in the world. This has remained one of my favorite images. Now, 19 years later, Kristy is getting married and came into the studio for a bridal session. She was much more cooperative this time! Congratulations Kristy! http://www.haugensgalleri.com/

Lars is taking swimming lessons at the Independence YMCA pool this summer. He's losing some fear, learning how to move through the water and having a lot of fun. He just turned 10 and he's already 5'3" and wearing men's 8 1/2 sized shoes!! They grow so fast... www.haugensgalleri.com

Ashlyn, Taylor and Trent, who are triplets, came to us for their senior portraits. Check out how involved in sports they are. Did I mention their mom is a triathlete?!? Can't wait for the whole family to come in for their complimentary family session. www.haugensgalleri.com

Check out this great slideshow of Leigh Anne, one of our Senior Models from Central! (Click image to start slideshow) www.haugensgalleri.com

I am having so much fun photographing the Class of 2009, and Ashlyn in no exception! She is another one of my senior models and her portraits turned out great. Fun Fact: Ashlyn is a triplet! Her brothers came in for their senior session yesterday, so you will be seeing them as well.

Avery is another one of our Senior Models. What a great girl! Make sure to check her out on the soccer field and the tennis court.

It's that time of year when I am busy photographing Senior Reps for the Class of 2009. Sarah is such a pleasure to be around. Her positive attitude and sunny smile is contagious!! Here are a couple of images from her session. Check out the one of Sarah in her softball uniform. She is an awesome pitcher for the Central High School softball team.

As an artist I (Miriam) feel down and frustrated with my work at times. The little voice inside starts to ask, “ Are you really any good?” “Do you really have a unique vision?” It was at such a time that a friend sent me this quote. There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. And if you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is: Nor how valuable it is: nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly To the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is ever pleased There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine satisfaction, A blessed unr...

Neil’s father is nearing the end of his life. It is a time for family closeness and quite a few tears. I (Miriam) feel very grateful to have had him as a father-in-law. He has loved me like a daughter, overlooked my flaws, spoiled my children, and filled me with wonderful stories. Ah, the stories! Stories of growing up in North Dakota, spending the summer in Norway when he was 9, and driving truck during World War II with nothing but starlight to see by. The faint distinction between dark trees and barely lighter sky was sometimes the only way he could tell where the road was. We heard some of the stories so many times that the characters are like old friends. With all of our parents still living, we have not had to deal with the sense of loss and emptiness that many of our friends have had when they lose a parent. We feel fortunate to have had Bob for as long as we have. It has been five years since our fateful trip to Iowa to attend a weekend of Christmas concerts at Luther College w...

by Miriam Haugen Eleanor had me sorting through some old papers today and I found this wonderful quote from Philip Charis that I just had to share. Philip Charis is one of the great portrait artists of our time. Classic elegance with stunning clarity and resolution best describes his work. "Photography is the last link in a chain which started when people began drawing on the walls of their caves. From the days of the portrait painter portraying the privileged few, to the arrival of the daguerreotype that gave millions the possibility to have their own portraits, a fascinating development. "Why then the need for the professional photographer? Simply, the professional photographer does not find pictures, he creates them. The success of the portrait still lies in the eye and in the mind of the professional photographer. "Constant practice with constant goals, diligence, perseverance, and esthetic harmony are what define the professional photographer. He has the power to sh...

by Miriam Haugen I learned something new yesterday about the importance of this "photography thing" that Neil and I do. I’ve always known that when the big day is done, the wedding cake is gone, the flowers are wilted, the dress is cleaned and packed away, what is left is the wedding album. Brides and grooms look at that album year after year, while the memories come flooding back of that most important day in their lives. But recently, a man that has been married over 25 years taught me a new way of looking at what we do. Yesterday, I had a newly married couple and her parents in the studio to look at their wedding images and plan a wedding album. When we were finished and Mom had left the room, Dad turned to the couple and said. "You know every married couple goes through rough times. It’s inevitable." The couple were thinking, "Oh no, here comes the lecture." He continued, "No this isn’t a lecture. I want you to know that I found something that hel...

It is time to celebrate! No, I am not talking about the studio’s 30th anniversary, or Nels and Danielle’s upcoming wedding, or Anna preaching her first sermon to her home congregation, or Lars reading his first chapter book. They are all things in our life that we are celebrating right now. This time the spotlight is on Neil. Drum roll, please! Neil has earned his Master of Photography degree from the Professional Photographers of America! This is harder to achieve and therefore more meaningful than any academic degree. You earn merits toward the degree through teaching, judging, attending accredited classes and service to the organization but you must also prove your talent by entering prints in the PPA competition and have them accepted as "merit prints". That is the big challenge. Let me tell you a little bit about the process. Every year, you go through all the images you created over the last year looking for the very best. You can only choose four each year. Then you ta...