From the Haugen Heart

The Kairos Story For over 38 years, Neil and I have been photographing families, children, a ton of high school seniors with weddings thrown into the mix. We still love what we do and have no plans to slow down. Along the way, we had opportunities to photograph church directories but we looked at how the big national companies did it and just couldn't see ourselves doing it. High pressure sales and cookie cutter photography seemed to be "the way it was done". "No thank you!" we thought. Enter Cherie Renae.  Cherie has been our dear friend for many years. Long before she became a photographer, our kids played together, we played church league softball, sang together, cried together, prayed together. After her husband passed away suddenly, Neil and I became her mentors and she started her own portrait studio. When our church decided that it was time for a directory, Cherie said, "Let me think about it. Maybe there is a different way to do this....

True Friendship  is seen not through the Eyes  but the Heart. We are celebrating the love and friendship that only those that have owned a horse can know. We are creating a new exhibition of Horse and Rider images and are in search of  people and their horses to include. If you have dreamed of having your portrait made by famed photographer Miriam Haugen with your beloved horse, now is your chance!  The normal barn call is $400 and that is being waived for these sessions. We have just five invitational sessions available and they must be done before July 1, 2014. The goal is to capture the heart of the relationship between you and your horse. Our mission is to make you look good! There are only five sessions available and when those are filled, we will not take any more: call  503-838-5416  or send us an  email.

Time to Vote! This is your official voting site for the Haugen's Gallery Children's Contest. This is a fundraiser to support Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Every penny that is donated through this page will go to support the amazing work that Doernbecher does. Voting ends June 1!   Here is what you do: Select your favorite image below. Send us an email  Tell us the number of your favorite image Include your name Tell us the amount you are donating (that way we can match it up to the donation made through the Paypal site and make sure your favorite contestant gets credit!) Click on the "Donate" button below and follow the instructions.  

This year Haugen's Children's Contest - Tutus & Ties - benefits Doernbecher Children's Hospital. If you live in Oregon or Southwest Washington, chances are you've heard of Doernbecher Children's Hospital, maybe even have a child who has been treated there. Doernbecher's mission is to provide the premier children's healthcare experience in our region through excellence in care, advocacy, innovation, education and research. They do this by providing quality and compassionate, family-centered care to every child, every day. Doernbecher knows that going to the hospital can be scary so they've made sure that everything is designed for kids-- from playrooms and playgrounds, to medical equipment and exam procedures-- helping to take away that fear and uneasiness. Last weekend I had the privilege of meeting and photographing the Elstad family.  Jack and Hannah are four-year-old twins and big brother, Ryan, is seven. Ashlie and Jason are a...

It is only natural that I am a photographer. I grew up in a family of avid amateur photographers, learning to develop film and make my own black and white prints at the age of 12. I still have the camera that my dad bought me, a Yashica twin lens reflex that took 120 roll film.  A love of music led me to the small university town of Monmouth, Oregon to become a classical guitar major. There I met Neil in Basic Musicianship class. Love blossomed. Before long we were sharing a passion for photography, as well.  With access to cameras and a darkroom, Neil was soon finding any excuse to view the world through a camera lens. Photography, clearly was a calling for both of us and we opened a portrait studio in 1977. We learned from every source we could, reading, taking classes from well known photographers and business people, entering print competitions, and enrolling in the most effective university of all, SHK (School of Hard Knocks). Being run of the mill or merel...