Most outdoor headshot sessions happen in a park or somewhere downtown. Which is fine – parks are great, city backdrops work well, and we can get beautiful portraits in both. But every once in a while, a session comes along where the location itself becomes part of the story. That’s exactly what happened when I photographed Nicole at Elk Rock Island. Nicole is an author and poet, and Elk Rock Island is a place that holds real meaning for her. So when she brought it up as a possible location, it was an easy yes from me.
I do a lot of headshot sessions around Portland, and I’m always happy to wander and see what we come across. But shooting somewhere with personal significance to the client adds something you just can’t manufacture. The connection is already there and that makes my job a lot more interesting.
This place has a little bit of everything, and that’s what makes it so fun to photograph! Tall trees provide color, shade, and texture. The Willamette River is right there, giving you open light and a beautiful shimmery backdrop. And the rocky landscape has this ancient, almost alien quality to it that I’ve never seen anywhere else in Portland.
That combination of scenery in one location means we can get a lot of variety without driving all over town. The photos come out looking genuinely unique, not like every other outdoor headshot you’ve seen.
When I’m photographing headshots, I love having options. Different backgrounds, different light, different moods – all from the same session. A location like Elk Rock Island makes that easy because you’re not limited to one look. We can go from a forested portrait with soft, filtered light to something more open and airy near the water, all in the same place!
I love a good park session as much as anyone. But if you have a location that means something to you, or one that fits your personality or your work, let’s talk about it. Elk Rock Island is one of my favorite places to do sessions in the Portland area. It’s definitely a hidden gem, and it photographs beautifully every time.
If you’re looking for Portland headshots that actually look like you – your personality, your vibe, your story – I’d love to help make that happen. Let’s chat!