From the Haugen Heart

Graduation is right around the corner and completing a college degree is an important milestone. Here are three young people that have graduated from Western Oregon University.

This is not the time of year that most of us are looking to do outdoor portraits but there are plenty of options in the studio where it is nice and warm! Here is a little sampler of what we have.... The white background lends itself to all kinds of possibilities. This is our Tuscan Wall. This background is actually blue-gray and look awesome in black and white or sepia tone. The classic beige... This is the Tuscan Wall again... This is real barnwood from a reclaimed barn. We call this our Old Master background because it evokes the feeling of  a Rembrandt painting. Our studio is in a building that is 120 years old and we have the wall to prove it! Black is timeless. Here is the blue-gray background in color. Would you like to have your face on our blog? We have more backgrounds to show and would love to have your family here!

  This is an amazing time of life as you transition from the child that you were to the adult you are becoming. Scary because of so many unknowns even if you think you have your whole life mapped out.  You are young. You are beautiful.... and you don't even know it! You will see yourself the way I see you when you see your portraits which is amazing, beautiful, and full of possibilities. Photography that makes you look good.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to clothing for your portrait but planning does make a huge difference. The goal is to have an artful image on your wall. We want the clothing you are wearing to enhance the image, not distract from it. Usually, the goal is to keep the clothing simple so that the attention goes to the faces and the relationship between the people in the portrait, not the eye catching new outfit.   1. A color scheme is the number one thing to consider. Here are ideas:  Dress everyone in one family of colors or two complimentary colors. For example, light to medium blues work well and are easy to find in most closets. Earth tones are another good choice.  Put everyone in white shirts and jeans. It is easy (despite protests about being too "matchy") and works really well at the beach or with light backgrounds.   Swap out the white shirts for black shirts or sweaters. This looks great with a medium to darker background and it...

These old fashioned Molasses cookies are a Haugen family favorite (except for our oldest who doesn’t know why you would waste time on anything that doesn’t have chocolate in it). The recipe came from my mother. The cool thing is that it is easy enough for young children to do with a little help so it was always part of our Christmas baking tradition and was great for gifts. Ginger Crinkles      Ingredients: 2/3 c. vegetable oil 2 c. flour 1 c. sugar 2 tsp. baking soda 1 egg ½ tsp. salt ¼ c. molasses 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ginger Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix oil and sugar thoroughly in a large mixing bowl.   3. Add egg and beat well.  4. Stir in molasses.   5. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add a little at a time to liquids and mix  thoroughly.   6. Put ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl.   7. Spoon out walnut-sized balls of ...

After you have chosen your main wall display, what do you do with the other images from the session that you love? Here are a few ideas: The Watercolor Panel- Three images framed and ready for your wall! 325. The Watercolor Panel with the typical black frame. The vertical orientation is perfect for small walls. 325. The Modern Collage is four images presented on a canvas wrap with one larger image and three smaller. We will customize the design to fit your images and style. 556. Show all those faces that make you smile. The Expressions Collage is  typically presented as a 20x20 canvas. 495. The 10x20 Standout Collage is a perfect wall display for up to 8 images. The traditional folio holds 8 4x5 prints. 245. The perfect keepsake! The 10x10 book will hold 20-50 images. Wait until you see it in person. Stunning! 499. Traditional prints never go out of style. These packages are a great value for those that using their portraits as...

What do you see in a Haugen's portrait? Not superficial signs of aging but rather a meaningful evolution in relationships. Beyond a mirror image, it can clarify who you are and how you see yourselves. Not the weight of responsibilities but a thousand memories. Your portrait will trigger special feeling like when you hear an old song.... taking you back to a special time. Meaningful connections that you will want displayed in every room. Do you want us to create a Haugen's portrait for you?