From the Haugen Heart

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...

I love this time of year. There is a hint of spring in the air, I am photographing lots of children, and I get to support Operation Backpack and make lives better for children whose lives are a bit tough. The Children's Contest Our normal session fee of $125 is just $35 for the participants in the Children's Contest and ALL of that goes to Operation Backpack. In addition to the $35, we are donating 10% of all our sales to the cause of providing school supplies for needy school children. Last year over $1,000 was raised. That's something like 40 backpacks filled with supplies!   How does the Contest work? In a nutshell, we do a portrait session of your child or children (any child under the age of 13 is eligible). You choose any portraits you would like for yourself and one to go in the contest. The public gets to vote for their favorite by making donations to Operation Backpack. The contestant with the most donations made in their name wins the prize 24" wall po...

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!

It was a sunny day in September when I first heard Monica's voice on the other end of the phone. "I was just on your website and liked what I saw. Are you available on January 7 to photograph my wedding?" Neil and I were open so we set a time to meet in person. As we talked, it was clear that the ceremony meant a lot to Monica and Matt. It was to be a full Catholic Mass with all that entails: singing, praying, sermon, full communion, sitting, standing, kneeling.... after an hour and 20 minutes or so, you really feel married! The ceremony was to be performed by the priest that they had gotten to know as part of Campus Ministries at OSU. Its More Than a Party This got me thinking about how the typical wedding of the modern era places so much emphasis on the party. The vows the couple is making is a small blip in a day full of hairdressers, photography, cake cutting and first dances. But the vows are the reason for all the rest of the hoopla and what the couple...

Warm, yummy, fresh out of the oven, cornbread!  I can smell it now........ ahhhhhhh! I am not a gourmet cook. I have never been one to try new recipes for the fun of it or long to spend a day in the kitchen creating. Give me my camera and a few hours with Photoshop as my creative outlet, any day. But I do love the feeling of putting a home cooked meal on the table and having the family come running. Nothing speaks more to hearth and home and good feelings .... and that feeds me! I also love spending time with our 13 year old son, Lars. I love teaching him things, helping him with his homework (did I just say that?), helping him earn that next Boy Scout merit badge or get 4H exhibits ready for the county fair. Lars really likes to cook. It shouldn't be surprising because he loves to eat and he loves hearing people tell him what a great cook he is. What does this have to do with cornbread? Well, Lars had some in a restaurant and wanted to duplicate the sweet, moistness that you...

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!