From the Haugen Heart

Hey there, fellow adventurers on the wild ride of parenthood! There has been no time in my life that was more transformative and meaningful than when I became a mom and I want to share the magic with you through amazing photography. Let's take a stroll through the magical world of maternity, newborn, and family photography. Buckle up because we're diving into the heartwarming chaos of these unforgettable moments! First up, maternity photography – the ultimate celebration of that baby bump and the incredible journey you're on. Think of it as a love letter to your expanding belly and the excitement bubbling up inside you. From dreamy outdoor shots to classic and elegant studio images, these photographs are all about capturing that glow and the anticipation in the air. It's like freezing time to remember just how amazing it felt to be on the brink of parenthood. Now, let's fast forward to the big day – your little bundle of joy has arrived, and it's time ...

Celebrating new life and relationships.....

"Healthy self-esteem is like a child's armor against the challenges of the world. " "Kids who know their strengths and weaknesses and feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life. These kids are realistic and generally optimistic." Here are some tips to help you develop your own child's self esteem: 1 . Be careful what you say. Children are little sponges. What you say and how you say it is incredibly important. Praise your child not only for their accomplishments but for their effort. If your child didn't make the basketball team, you could say, "I am sorry you didn't make the team but I am really proud of the effort you put into it." or in another situation, "I am so glad that you had the courage to get up in front of everyone and sing that solo. You are doing so much better than you did a year ago." Be tru...

It was Saturday night at 10:15 when my cell phone rang. The night before Mother's Day. Neil and I had just finished putting away groceries after a last minute run to the supermarket. Lars wanted to make dinner for Grandma and me for Mother's Day so a ham,  potatoes and other sundries were needed before the big day. Who would be calling this late? I didn't recognize the number. Probably a wrong number, I thought, half expecting to hear, "Is Joe there?" when I answered. But that is not what I heard. ""This is Mary __________ from Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. I got your name from the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep website. We have a case of fetal demise. The mother is going to deliver in about an hour." For about a year, I have volunteered my services with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep , a non profit that connects volunteer professional photographers with families suffering from the untimely loss of an infant to provide beautiful heirloom p...

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Children's Contest this year and supported Operation Backpack. Today we announce the winners! People's Choice The People's Choice Award goes to the image that earns the most "votes" or donations to Operation Backpack. The winner this year is Vienna. Vienna is only two years old and she can already dribble better than I can. Of course, that isn't saying much since I am about as coordinated as a chicken trying to hang glide. It may be a little early to make predictions about a WNBA future for Vienna, but she is already chasing her big sister around the court and sleeps with her basketball! Best Expression Cooper is the boy of a thousand faces. He just turned one and really put on a show for us during the session. I love the vintage pedal car that has been in the family for two generations now. I see lots of car shows in Cooper's future. Best Storytelling This image deserves a good titl...

Something was not right.   Allyson had had some struggles with her pregnancy but all indications were that the baby growing inside her was strong and healthy. He was very much alive and kicking. Then one day, just three weeks before her due date, he stopped moving. Allyson and Jay went to labor and delivery for a "fetal well-being" unltrasound. Baby Nolan failed the test. They ran another test and he passed the ultrasound but the heartbeat wasn't spiking as it should. "No need to worry" they were told and were sent home. Allyson knew something was wrong and the next day she was back at labor and delivery. More tests were run and soon she was being prepped for an emergency C-section. Soon after, little Nolan entered the world. Unlike the noisy, squalling, little wrinkled turnips that get plopped on Mommy's tummies in hospitals everywhere, Nolan was silent. He was silent because his tongue was at the roof of his mouth and there was no clear passa...

“Sometimes when you pick up your child you can feel the map of your own bones beneath your hands, or smell the scent of your skin in the nape of his neck. This is the most extraordinary thing about motherhood - finding a piece of yourself separate and apart that all the same you could not live without.”  -Jodi Picoult, Perfect Match Mothering.......What do you think of when you hear this word? The aroma of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, a band-aid and a kiss to a skinned knee, or the creak of a rocking chair as a sick child is comforted in loving arms? It is this and much more. Being a mother is the most important job in the world. Period. A mother provides love, structure, consistency......security. A mother is a teacher, an authority figure, a mentor, and a nurturer. The job of a mother is to push, prod, cheer and love unconditionally as she guides a tiny miracle of creation to honorable man or womanhood. This is a life long process. It is ...

A tie? That's right, we had two winners for the Children's Contest this year. The donations were rolling in for Operation Backpack right up until the final cutoff at 5:00 pm on May 18. But, we had a problem. There were two contestants that were neck in neck. The difference in the amount raised was very small and we wanted to reward both families in their efforts to raise money for school supplies for needy school children. So, the decision was made to have two winners. Both famlies will receive a 24" wall portrait valued at over $700. The blond bombshell is Riley. She is 17 months old and full of spice and personality. Her favorite activities involve "reading" books and sucking her fingers. This is her at just a few days old: Lindzee is a familiar face to Haugen's followers because she has been a part of the contest every year since she was a baby. Now, at age 7, she is turning into a young lady. Her favorite activities are ballet and playing with h...

I never really thought about an alarm clock being an essential school supply until I went to a meeting of the Salem Keizer Assistance League Auxiliary the other day. I was there to talk about the children's contest which supports one of the Auxillary's favorite charitable projects: Operation Backpack. I knew that they provided school supplies to children who need them so these kids can be successful in class and with their homework. What I didn't know is that they get requests from some of the schools for alarm clocks.  After I thought about it, it made complete sense. The kids being served are probably not being driven to school by their parents. They probably don't have a cell phone or even a $5 alarm clock from Walmart. So how are they going to wake up on time to get themselves to school? An alarm clock is an essential for these kids. The members of the Salem Keizer Assistance League Auxiliary collect funds throughout the year to support their program and then, in t...

The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe.                                                                                                                            ~Lawrence Kutner Parents are always in such a rush to encourage their children to start walking. What they don't realize is that walking is a very short  interlude between crawling and running 100 mi...

I just created a short little video for you to enjoy. Have fun!

Schedule an Appointment The secret to  a relaxed experience with Santa is that we schedule appointments. There is no waiting in line and plenty of time to talk to Santa and calm frazzled nerves. He will be here all day on December 10 but the appointment times are filling fast so send us an email or call 503-838-5416 if you would like to schedule.  How Much Is It?   This event is really affordable. You can purchase a 4x5 print for just $12, or a package for $35-$65.  Come on and join the fun! 

"What should I bring to my session?" Please bring your children! Seriously, what else do we need? I know what you are really asking. What about clothing, props and things to make them smile. I have lots of things for making them smile and a lot of props but here are ideas for clothing and other things that you might consider bringing to the session Clothing I have a small but growing collection of clothing just for children's portrait sessions: hats, vintage clothing are the focus at this point but I am adding more all the time. Avoid logos and bold graphic designs. Solid colors are best and if this is a sibling or family portrait, color coordination is essential. 0-12 months I have always loved naked babies so for the under one year crowd, I always believe the less clothes, the better! I love seeing their toes, rolls and that skin as soft as velvet. It is nice to have an attractive diaper cover available and it becomes essential once they start walking. I keep a f...

Baby Photography in Monmouth Oregon sets the stage for Haugen's Children's Contest. "Hi, my name is Vienna. I like sitting in my Bumbo seat and eating Little Puff's baby snacks. "My favorite person? I have a lot of special people in my life: Mommy and Daddy, of course, and Grandma and Grandpa are very cool, and let's not forget my sissy, Callia. "My favorite body part is definitely my tongue. I can stick it out really far! "I think everyone should vote for me for the Children's Contest because I have an adorable tush and a sweet personality." To vote for Vienna, go to the Children's Contest website , click on Vienna's portrait and "order/ prices" in the upper right corner. Then you choose the amount of your donation. All of the money goes to support Operation Backpack which purchases school supplies for needy school children. No prints are included with your donation although you can purchase prints with the fam...

Warm and soft as velvet with that smell of baby powder and mother's milk, everyone who has ever held a baby in their arms has experienced the amazing feel and smell of babies' skin. I love it and I know that the images I create are powerful reminders of these memories. Sarah is a new mother, but not just any new mother, she grew up in a home with a canvas portrait on the wall that we did of her as a babe in her mother's arms. She knew what it had meant to her to see the connection and loving relationship with her mother in a beautiful piece of art on the wall. She wanted a portrait just like it on her wall for her son to see and experience every day as he grows. This is why I believe so strongly that wall portraits are the most important way to treasure the important images in your life. There is nothing that warms a home and expresses what is truly important to the people that inhabit it than large portraits of their family on the walls. Of course, the portraits have ...

Waiting.......... I feel like this bowl is waiting for something....... small. A baby, perhaps? I saw this bowl and pitcher sitting on a table at a charity auction Saturday night and at that moment, I knew it was waiting for me to take it home. Now it is waiting for the perfect little person to inhabit it. "A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for." unknown  

"Do you have a minute?" I was sitting at my computer multitasking with too many screens open at once when Autumn came out of her office and wanted to chat. "Sure, what's up?" Autumn is my right hand woman at the studio. We used to have a job title for her but her job keeps morphing and for the time being, I have given up on trying to describe what she does in a nice, succinct little title. I keep throwing jobs at her and she never says, "no." I try to tell her that never saying "no" is dangerous and she needs to let me know when enough is too much. We are still working on that one! "I am pregnant." Autumn said hesitantly. Holy Moly! Fast forward a few months and I was doing newborn photos of little Addie. Now, I am getting ready for her one year session, complete with birthday cake! How did this all happen so fast? That is one of life's eternal questions. It has been incredible to bounce Addie on my knee, watch her ...