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 ...

Planning an outdoor portrait session? I get asked all the time if I have any favorite spots so I decided to share with you two of my favorites... Gentle House Gentle House is a beautiful place In Monmouth to photograph. Since it is rented out for weddings and events, we need to be careful that it isn't booked for something before planning your portrait session for this location. There are lots of ideas and backgrounds available and it is handicap accessible! Here are a few of the ideas that are possible: Haugen's Portrait Park Located on the outskirts of Monmouth-Independence, the portrait park is 8 1/2 acres of beautiful, rustic landscape. We have a pond, swings and an old tractor that little boys love. This is more farm-like and not as manicured as Gentle House. Do you have a special place or activity that you love? Let's get together and brainstorm about YOUR perfect portrait session.

Celebrating new life and relationships.....

What is a Superhero? Fighting crime? Running into burning buildings to save lives? Running faster than a speeding bullet? We all have ideas. Your child's idea of a superhero may be the Dad who Can Fix Anything or the Mom who Knows the Answer To Every Question.... or the way a kiss always makes a hurt feel better. Our focus is on Superheros and raising money for Doernbecher Children's Hospital during the month of April. What is it all about?  Read more...

"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...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

"There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure."                                                                                                                                                ...

“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...

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...