Featured post

What to wear for a photo shoot in Portland

Ideas for what to wear for a photo shoot

You’ve got a photo shoot coming up and you are looking for inspiration and ideas for your photo shoot wardrobe? You’ve come to the right place. I’ve written a number of articles that give ideas for what to wear for a photo shoot in Portland. The articles are each focused on a certain type of photo shoot or a certain season. This page will serve as a resource for you and a convenient place to find all of the articles. I hope it helps!

What to wear for a photo shoot in Portland. This is an image of a client choosing a formal dress with Rayleigh Leavitt, the photographer for the Tualatin, OR photography studio, Photography by Rayleigh

A Fall Photo Shoot

Ahhh… the time of year I look forward to most! I know some of you ladies treasure your sunny days, but all summer long, I’m dreaming of the day when I can don my cozy Fall attire. Whether you are doing a family photo shoot or an individual beauty, boudoir, or maternity session, you may be wondering what to wear for a Fall photo shoot in Portland, OR . Here are some ideas to give you inspiration.

What to wear for a Fall Photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is a boudoir image of a woman wearing a sweater off the shoulders.

A Winter Photo Shoot

If you have a Winter photo shoot planned, you might be looking for some ideas for how to dress for the season. These ideas can give you inspiration for a family, boudoir, beauty, glamour, headshot, couples, maternity, or senior portrait session.

What to wear for a winter photo shoot in Portland, Oregon. This image shows a family photo shoot with a mother and her two daughters.

A Maternity Photo Shoot

If you are reading this, it’s likely that you are neck deep in planning and preparing for your sweet baby to arrive on the outside, all while having pregnancy brain. It’s a lot! I get it and I’m here to help. Here are some ideas to help you decide what to wear for a maternity photo shoot.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, Oregon. Beauty and Maternity photographer.

A Pin-Up 50’s style Photo Shoot

I’ve pulled together some images from a few of my past 50’s inspired photo shoots to give you a little inspiration for your own retro pin up session. It may seem daunting at first to come up with a few outfits, but it’s actually pretty easy to find some really cute pieces online. You may even find that you have some things in your own wardrobe that will work. Here are some ideas.

What to wear for your 50's retro shoot - Portland Pin Up Photographer. This woman is wearing a button up blouse with a cherry print and red nail polish.

Coming Soon

I’ll add more articles to this resource as I write them. I intend to add some articles soon about wardrobe for Spring and Summer sessions, a modest boudoir session, and a bridal photo shoot. Please sign up for my emails, if you haven’t already, to be sure to get that info when it comes out.

Let’s chat!

Is there anything else you want help with? Just let me know. If you are ready to book your photo shoot, I’d love to be your photographer. Please send me an email and we can chat!


You may also be interested in these topics

What to wear for a photo shoot in Portland, OR. A Victorian inspired boudoir photo shoot.

Victorian Inspired Boudoir

What to wear for a photo shoot in Portland, OR. This image is a from a boho (bohemian) inspired session.

Boho Inspired Boudoir

Free Guide to Preparing For Your Shoot

Featured post

Why you shouldn’t do a photo shoot

Trust me, I get it.

You’re considering a portrait session but there are so many reasons why you shouldn’t do a photo shoot. You are thinking one or more of the following thoughts…
– I need to lose 10 pounds first
– I’m nervous to be in front of the camera
– I can’t afford this
– I’m not photogenic
– I’ll never look as good as the ladies on your website

STOP.

Just reading the above thoughts is some tiring stuff.

I want you to repeat after me, “I’m perfectly imperfect.”

Why you shouldn't do a photo shoot. Addressing common concerns. A before and after collage of a woman doing a beauty portrait shoot. She is wearing a blue sparkly formal dress and an intense gaze and serious expression. Her hand with red nail polish is in her hair. It's a close up head shot with a white background. These images are taken by Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com
Before After

Why you shouldn’t do a photo shoot

It sounds like you have a lot of reasons NOT to do a photo shoot. But it’s time to start thinking positive thoughts and start living your life now. Don’t wait until you become the person you think you should be. These concerns are so common, though, so let’s take a minute to address those.

I need to lose 10 pounds first

Wow, I REALLY get this. I think this thought often (except it’s usually more than 10 pounds, let’s be honest). But I want you to know that you don’t have to have a “perfect” body to feel beautiful. You can enjoy a photo shoot and feel amazing right now. Besides, I can do more with posing and lighting than you can do in 6 months in the gym. So there is always that! Perfect posing is my strength and that means helping women of all shapes and sizes look their best. Accentuating the curves you love and downplaying the curves you don’t love.

I’m nervous to be in front of the camera

Pretty much every client that comes in to my studio is nervous at first. But try not to worry because my past clients will attest that the nervousness goes away so quickly. My hair and makeup artist will have you feeling confident and gorgeous. You’ll feel comfortable, you’ll have a blast, and you’ll leave wondering what there ever was to be nervous about. If you haven’t already had a chance to read my blog about what to expect when you do a photo shoot, you should definitely check that out.

I can’t afford this

It’s true that I provide a luxury service and it may not be a priority over something like, say, paying the rent. But I do believe that every woman should experience what it’s like to look and feel beautiful. I offer easy payment plans for this reason. I read a great article about the importance of investing in yourself that included marking things off your bucket list. So let’s chat about how we can make this happen. It’s worth the investment! I promise!

Why you shouldn't do a photo shoot. Addressing common concerns. A before and after collage of a woman doing a maternity portrait shoot. She is wearing a lace dress and holding her belly bump and looking down while standing against a white wall. These images are taken by Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com
Before After

I’m not photogenic

“Not photogenic” women are some of my most favorite clients because I LOVE the reaction I get from them when I prove them wrong and they see their wonderful photos. If you think you aren’t photogenic, you probably just haven’t experienced a shoot with the right photographer, yet. 

I’ll never look as good as the ladies on your website

The ladies on my website are not models. They are just regular women who treated themselves to a day of pampering. The thing I love about beauty and boudoir photography is that it levels the playing field between magazine models and regular women. You will still look like you in the photos. But a more famous version of you. 

Why you shouldn't do a photo shoot. Addressing common concerns. A before and after collage of a woman doing a boudoir photo shoot. She's wearing black lingerie and red lipstick while while standing against a black wall. These images are taken by Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com
Before After

Are you ready to do this?

What do you say? Are you ready to take the plunge and have the experience of a lifetime at my studio near Portland, OR? Or do you have any other concerns? I’m here for you and I’m happy to answer any questions you have. Let’s chat about your shoot!  I can’t wait to hear from you.

Featured post

What to expect when you book a photo shoot

If you haven’t, yet, experienced a beauty shoot in my studio or if you’ve never done a shoot as glamorous as this before, you might be wondering how the process works. I’d love to share with you what to expect when you book a photo shoot with Photography by Rayleigh near Portland, OR.

First, I invite you to watch my video below (created by Ambient Sky) because it’s a really great way to get a feel for what the experience is like. Then we can go over the steps of the entire process.

Now let’s go over the details of the process from the time you book, to the time you hold your luxurious album or folio box in your hands.

BEFORE THE PHOTO SHOOT

Ultimate Guide to Preparing for your Photo Shoot

If you haven’t received my prep guide, you can click here to get that sent to you. It’s loaded with info to help you…

  • Prepare for your session
  • Know what to expect when you book a shoot
  • Learn how to feel relaxed during your shoot 
  • Put your outfits together
  • Know what NOT to do!

Session Consultation

In addition to the detailed prep guide, we can also have a phone, video, or in-person consultation to go over details and specifics for YOUR photo shoot and to go over any questions or concerns you might have. The more prepared you are, the less nervous you’ll feel.

YOUR SESSION DAY

Come as you are

All of my sessions include professional hair and makeup by my talented hair and makeup artists. This is done in my studio in Tualatin (near Portland, OR). All you have to do is show up with a clean face and hair. Then relax, sip on some wine, if you’d like, and listen to music while we all chat and have a great time. If you have ideas for how you want your hair or makeup, you are welcome to bring pictures to show her. Otherwise, you can just sit back and let her do her magic. Hair and makeup typically takes about 60-90 minutes. Although pin-up styles can take longer.

What to expect when you book a photo shoot. This is a behind the scenes photo of my makeup artist and my client. My client is sitting in the makeup chair, having her eye makeup done. The background is my pink wall. This is the studio of Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com.

Your photo shoot

Don’t worry about knowing how to pose or how to look good in front of the camera. That’s my job! My strength is perfect posing to help every woman look their best. Accentuating the curves you love and downplaying the curves you don’t love. Just relax and trust me!

How many outfits?

I don’t have a specific limit to the number of outfits you can wear during your shoot, but we typically shoot for about an hour and in that time we can fit in about 3-5 outfits. I recommend bringing a variety of outfit styles (casual, dressy, formal, etc).

What to expect when you book a photo shoot. This is a before and after portrait. This girl is in a sitting pose, wearing a casual sweatshirt and legging against a white background. She is smiling with her hand in her hair. Photo by Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com.

CONFIDENT NEW YOU

the ordering session

The ordering session is where you get to view all of your gorgeous photos and choose your favorites. You’ll be shocked at how much you can LOVE a photo of yourself! I am sometimes available to do this immediately after your shoot! But if there isn’t time in the schedule for that, we can do the in-person ordering session within a few days of the shoot.

Images can be purchased individually, however, the best value is in my packages that include gorgeous presentation products that are truly the top of the line in the industry. I offer high quality wooden folio boxes and luxurious Queensberry albums. All images purchased come with the digital copy of the image, which gets sent to you shortly after your ordering session. The printed products take a few days to a few weeks to receive, depending on the product you choose.

What to expect when you book a photo shoot. this is a photo of the album I offer my clients after their photo shoot. The image in the album was taken by Photography by Rayleigh and is a picture of sisters wearing white t shirts and jeans in a sitting pose. For more info, visit byrayleigh.com

Wall art is another way to display your stunning images. I’ll be your personal designer, helping you to design a beautiful display of images for you walls.

What to expect when you book a photo shoot. The image in the frame was taken by Photography by Rayleigh and is a picture of an Indian woman in a pink formal dress sitting on the back of a white couch. The rest of the bedroom photo is a stock photo I purchased and have permission to use. For more info, visit byrayleigh.com

Now that you’ve learned what to expect when you book a photo shoot, I hope you can see that a photo shoot with me is more than having your photos taken. It’s an amazing experience that can help you change the way you see yourself. Do you have questions? I invite you to check out my blog that goes over some common concerns that my clients have before their shoot. Also, I’m happy to answer any questions that you have. Let’s chat about your shoot near Portland, OR!

Santa Sessions in Portland, OR

Santa Sessions in Portland 2022

I’ve certainly purchased more than my fair share of mall photos with my kids sitting on Santa’s lap. Or in front of the sheet of plexiglass 6 feet away from Santa in 2020 and 2021. The photos are okay, but I’m never quite satisfied with the final results. I always want something much more magical looking and feeling. So I decided to create my own Santa photos this year. I love them so much that I’m now offering these Santa sessions in Portland to you!

Santa Mini Sessions

Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon.. Experience the magic of Christmas. The children are looking amazed at Santa's magical bag for their photo shoot.

The Santa mini sessions will be held at my studio in Tualatin on December 10, 2022. The session fee is only $99. This is introductory pricing since this is my first year offering these special sessions. If I offer them, again, next year, the price may change.

Photos are purchased separately. Photos are $190 each and are “buy 2 get 1 free.” Each photo purchased includes the digital file and a matted print.

Wardrobe

Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon.. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is reading a book to the children during this photo shoot.

If you want a “Christmas morning” feel, then I suggest dressing your kids in pajamas for the session. Alternatively you can go with something more dressy. Once you book your session, we will have a wardrobe consultation to go over ideas.

Personalization

Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is reading the Bible while the children recreate a nativity scene with a manger and baby doll for this photo shoot.

The first Christmas is a story that is very meaningful to my family so I loved incorporating a manger and baby and having Santa read from the Bible. These nativity props I do keep in my studio in case you want to use them. I also invite you to bring in props that are meaningful to you. A special blanket, book, or toy, perhaps?

Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon.. Experience the magic of Christmas. This child is holding Santa's hand for this photo shoot.
Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Experience the magic of Christmas. These children are posed smiling with Santa during their photo shoot.
Santa Sessions in Portland, OR. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is ringing is magical bell during their photo shoot.
Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is putting a Santa hat on a child for the photo shoot.
Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Experience the magic of Christmas. A family portrait with Santa during the photo shoot.

Parents are invited to join for a few family photos, as well.

Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon.. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is helping a little girl put a Christmas ornament on the tree for the photo shoot.
Santa Sessions in Portland, OR. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is reading a book to the baby girl during their photo shoot.
Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Experience the magic of Christmas. Santa is having milk and cookies with the children during the photoshoot.

We end the Santa mini session inviting the children to have milk and cookies with Santa!

Let’s chat!

If you are ready to book your shoot, please click here for the scheduling link. If you have questions first, feel free to send me an email and we can chat!

Santa Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Experience the magic of Christmas. These children are holding candy canes to form a heart during their photo shoot.

You may also be interested in these topics

Nativity photo shoot in Portland, Oregon

Nativity Portrait Experience

Christmas boudoir session in Portland, Oregon.

2 Spots left for Christmas Beauty or Boudoir sessions

Beauty and boudoir photo shoot in Portland, Oregon.

Beauty Portraits Galleries

Only TWO more spots left before Christmas!

It’s almost the end of the year and appointments are limited.

Does is seem to you like we went straight from Summer to Winter? Fall is my absolute favorite! So I’m a little sad it was so short this year.

That being said, when planning photo shoots for Christmas, you have to plan ahead in order to get your photos in time for gifting. So the Christmas set in my studio has been up since mid October! 

This is a busy time of year and I only have 2 spots left to book photo shoots before Christmas. 

Mother Daughter Christmas family photo shoot in Portland, OR

Christmas Beauty, Boudoir, or Mother-Daughter Sessions

Are you thinking about booking a Winter photo shoot? If so, reply to this email and let’s chat about your session!

Christmas boudoir pajama photo shoot in Portland, OR.

Send me a message!

If you are ready to book your shoot, please send me an email and we can chat!


You may also be interested in these topics

Beauty Portraits Galleries

Session Tips

Breast Friends Fundraiser

October is breast cancer awareness month

I’m happy to be hosting my 2nd annual fundraiser for an organization in Tigard called, Breast Friends. Breast Friends is an amazing organization that helps women survive the trauma of cancer, one friend at a time. Breast Friends’ mission is to ensure that no woman goes through a diagnosis of cancer alone.

During the month of October, $50 from every session fee paid will be donated to Breast Friends. This applies to any kind of shoot, booked for any future date, as long as the session fee is paid in October.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Breast Friends, providing portraits to women who have lost their hair due to chemo. I invite you to check out these “Bald Is Beautiful” portraits.

Bonus: special pricing for one day only!

Do you need headshots for your business, your dating profile, modeling, acting, pageantry, or just for fun? November 3rd is the day I’m hosting a mini session marathon at my photography studio in Tualatin, OR. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. Even with the special pricing, $50 will still be donated to Breast Friends. This calls for a happy dance for us all!

Business headshots mini sessions are happening in my Tualatin, OR photography studio. This can be used for pageant, acting, or modeling headshots, as well.

In need of something more custom?

If you are looking for a longer and more custom session, like branding photos, a full length beauty or boudoir portrait session, or you just aren’t available on the date of the mini session marathon, just reply to this email and let me know what your needs are. We’ll go from there!

Business headshots mini sessions are happening in my Tualatin, OR photography studio. This can be used for pageant, acting, or modeling headshots, as well.

Let’s plan your photo shoot!

If you are ready to book your shoot, please send me an email and we can chat!


You may also be interested in these topics

Beauty Portraits Galleries

Free Guide to Preparing For Your Shoot

Headshot Marathon

Do you need professional business portraits?

Who’s got time and money to waste on, yet, another headshot session that ends up in photos that you don’t like? With Photography by Rayleigh in the Portland area, you’ll be amazed at how much you can love a photo of yourself. With an expert guided process from start to finish, you’ll look and feel your best every time.

Book a Headshot Mini Session and get ready for your best headshot ever.

October is breast cancer awareness month

In support of breast cancer awareness month, I will be donating $50 from each session that is booked in October (for a shoot scheduled on any future date) to Breast Friends. This includes headshot mini sessions during the marathon day or any custom session booked on a different day.

Breast Friends is an amazing organization that helps women survive the trauma of cancer, one friend at a time. Breast Friends’ mission is to ensure that no woman goes through a diagnosis of cancer alone. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Breast Friends, providing portraits to women who have lost their hair due to chemo. I invite you to check out these “Bald Is Beautiful” portraits.

When I ran this same fundraiser last year for Breast Cancer Awareness month, I had the pleasure of photographing Michelle, who works with Breast Friends. She was able to take advantage of the special headshot marathon pricing while also helping to raise money for her organization.

Office and group photos

Does your business have multiple employees all needing business headshot portraits? If so, we can talk about setting up a shoot just for your crew. If you need some group shots, I can help with that, as well!

Looking for something more custom for your personal or business portraits?

There are more options for you to consider. If this date doesn’t work for you, or you are looking for a longer, more customized session, including branding photos (such as the photo below), that is an option I’d love to discuss with you.

This is an image from a headshot business portrait photoshoot in Portland, OR. This branding photo shows a woman sitting on the floor and working with her laptop and cell phone while holding a pen prop.

Whether you are interested in the mini session marathon or any custom session, let’s chat!

    Related Topics

    Business Portrait Mini Marathon. Photography by Rayleigh in Portland, OR. For more info about business headshot photos, please visit byrayleigh.com

    My business portrait and headshot gallery

    Business Portrait Mini Marathon. Photography by Rayleigh in Portland, OR. For more info about business headshot photos, please visit byrayleigh.com

    What to expect

    A Fall Beauty Photo Shoot in Portland

    Fall is here!

    I’m sorry for all you sun seekers, but Fall is here and I am so happy. I’ve busted out my sweaters, even though it’s actually still too warm to wear them. But they are ready as soon as that temperature drops a bit. My house has been decorated for Fall for a couple of weeks as I, admittedly, jumped the gun on that one. But I’m not even sad about it. So when my beautiful client, Teresa, brought in an Autumn wardrobe for her beauty session, I was over the moon. It made my little photographer heart so happy. Fall is my jam! I’d love to share with you this Fall beauty photo shoot that was recently done in my studio near Portland.

    A Fall beauty photo shoot in Portland, Oregon by beauty and boudoir photographer, Photography by Rayleigh. This is a backlit portrait of a woman wearing a hat and Fall wardrobe in front of a window in a photography studio. She is posed sitting on a chase lounge.

    Hair and makeup

    Teresa is a hair and makeup artist at Strut Salon in downtown Portland. She arrived with her hair and makeup camera ready. She looked amazing, as you can see. This is her third photo shoot with me and I was thrilled to have her back in the studio! As Teresa can attest, these shoots are such a great confidence booster and can become a bit addicting, in a good way!

    By the way, Teresa gave me a hair cut recently and she also taught me how to tame my unruly natural curls. Oh my goodness, you guys. I never knew my curls could look so good! If you need some help with your curls, Teresa is your girl.

    A Fall beauty photo shoot in Portland, Oregon by beauty and boudoir photographer, Photography by Rayleigh. This is a modest boudoir image of a women lying on a bed, wearing a white sweater and Fall wardrobe.

    Your most beautiful self

    Teresa was kind enough to share some sweet words about her experience in a Google review. She said, “Rayleigh made me feel so comfortable from beginning to end! She photographs you in way that is so natural and so perfect. You’ll leave feeling like your most beautiful self!” This is exactly the experience I aim for all of my beautiful clients to have.

    A Fall beauty photo shoot in Portland, Oregon by beauty and boudoir photographer, Photography by Rayleigh. This is a modest boudoir image of a women lying on a rug on the floor, wearing a white sweater and Fall wardrobe.

    Business headshots

    The photo below makes for the cutest business headshot for Teresa’s salon. Although my clients always have such a great time with beauty sessions, I’m also a Portland business headshot photographer. A need for business headshots gives a lot of my ladies an “excuse” to come in to my Tualatin studio. Of course, my favorite reason for you to come in is to treat yourself and to allow yourself to feel like the amazing person that you are.

    A Fall beauty photo shoot in Portland, Oregon by beauty and boudoir photographer, Photography by Rayleigh. This is an image of a women in a sitting pose in front of a white backdrop. She is smiling for a business headshot.

    Beauty, business, and boudoir

    Photo shoots in my studio often end up a mix of beauty, business, and boudoir photos. When you make the time to come in and have a session, you may as well capture all the facets of your personality. While shooting photos for different purposes, you get the most mileage out of your makeover and your time in the studio. That’s a win, for sure!

    A Fall Beauty Photo Shoot in Portland

    If you love Fall as much as I do, I’d love to schedule a photo shoot for you in October or November. Just send me an email and we can chat!


    You may also be interested in these topics

    What to Wear for a Fall Photo Shoot

    What to wear for a fall beauty photo shoot in Portland. This modest boudoir image is of a women posed lying on a bed with a sweater and tutu skirt.

    Beauty Portraits Gallery

    4 tips for choosing a Portland Senior Photographer

    Choosing a Portland Senior Photographer

    “They are just pictures,” she said. “Just go to JC Penney” she said. Sorry, Mom. You got that one wrong. My experience was sorely lacking. 26 years later, I still feel disappointed that I didn’t have a senior portrait experience that made me feel special and beautiful. Instead, when I look at my senior photos, I feel embarrassed to show my kids because they might realize their Mom was totally unfashionable and clueless about hair or makeup back then. They bring up bad memories of being one of the uncool kids. So now I’m on a mission to share my best tips for choosing a Portland Senior Photographer. I hope for other high school girls to have an amazing senior portrait experience where they feel like the special ladies that they are. Here are 4 questions to ask a photographer to see if they are a good fit for you.

    4 tips for choosing a Portland Senior photographer. This image is of a high school senior girl lying back on a couch.

    Is professional hair and makeup provided?

    Whether you wear makeup in every day life, or not, professional hair and makeup makes a huge difference in the final photos. Even if the makeup look you choose is a very natural look, you’ll find that a bit of makeup makes your features pop. Features look more subdued in photographs. Facial features can blend in to the skin. Hair can look flat. A professional hair and makeup artist with experience in working with photographers will know how to apply the makeup in a way that will photograph beautifully.

    How to choose a Portland senior photographer. This image is a of a teenage girl sitting on a blue sofa in a photography studio.

    It’s also true that the time spent being pampered in the makeup chair is an amazing part of the experience. My ladies start their shoot off feeling beautiful and confident. Those feelings show up in the senior photos.

    Does the photographer offer studio or outdoor senior sessions?

    One of the most important questions when choosing the right senior photographer for you is whether they offer studio sessions or outdoor sessions. Which do you want for your shoot? While some photographers give the option of either one, some photographers don’t have a studio and are unable to shoot indoors. It’s also sometimes the case that studio photographers don’t offer outdoor sessions.

    Studio photo sessions are my favorite because I can provide perfectly beautiful lighting. Also, the photo shoot isn’t dependent on unpredictable Portland weather. That being said, I do offer outdoor senior sessions for those who have their heart set on that.

    Do you like the photographer’s shooting and editing style?

    Every photographer has their own look and it’s simple enough to advise you to find a style that you like. In addition to that, though, please make sure you get a good look at the photographer’s portfolio on their website. Is their look consistent? Can you tell exactly what to expect for your own photos? I urge you not to just go off of a small handful of photos that you see on Instagram. If the photographer has inconsistency in their work, you may not end up getting photos that are what you are expecting.

    How to choose a Portland senior photographer. This image is of a teenage girl posed in a sitting pose in front of a white wall in a studio.

    Is quantity the priority or is quality most important?

    Of course, price is an important part of your decision when choosing a photographer, but along with that, you might consider quantity vs quality. Speaking for myself, I’d much rather have 20-30 amazing photos that I absolutely love than 100 photos that are just good (or not so good). That’s what my clients want and that’s what works great in a stunning album layout for the final keepsake product.

    Choosing a Portland senior photographer

    The last year of high school is full of traditions and social rights of passage. At the end of the school year is prom and graduation, of course. But long before that, the year starts off with the tradition of senior photos. Start the year off right with an unforgettable senior portrait experience. I hope these tips help you to choose the best senior photographer for you.

    Let’s chat!

    If you feel like I might be the Portland senior photographer that you are looking for, please send me an email and we can chat! I can’t wait to get to know you.


    You may also be interested in these topics

    How to choose a Portland senior photographer.

    Senior Portraits Gallery

    How to choose a Portland senior photographer.

    Senior Portraits Blog Articles

    How to choose a Portland senior photographer

    What to Wear for a Fall Photo Shoot

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot in Portland

    A collaborative styled photo shoot

    A fun new restaurant recently opened up near my Tualatin, OR photography studio, called 60’s Diner. My family has had lunch there multiple times. As a Portland pin up photographer who loves doing 50’s and 60’s themed photo shoots, I kept thinking about how much fun it would be to do a pin up inspired diner photo shoot.

    I asked the manager, Michael, if that would be a possibility and he was happy to have us in. So I went on a hunt to find a model and a hair and makeup artist to join me on this creative collaborative project. I absolutely love when small businesses come together to support one another.

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a retro themed image of a smiling woman sitting at a diner bar, with a milkshake.

    Miss Portland

    I did some Instagram surfing to find a model for this collaborative styled photo shoot near Portland. Happily, I came across Karson Fair, who just so happens to hold the crown for Miss Portland Metro. I love her commitment to helping women know their worth, which is an important aspect of my photography business, as well. So I knew she’d make a great addition to the team. It certainly helps that she’s cute as a button and has the sweetest personality. She was a dream to photograph.

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a retro themed image of a woman sitting at a diner table, drinking a milkshake.

    60’s Diner

    What I love about 60’s diner in Tualatin is that it’s so family friendly, which is great for people like me who have little ones. What my kids love is that they have TVs sprinkled around that show old cartoons that they get to watch while they eat their grilled cheese sandwiches. The burgers and fries are great, but the milkshakes are what I show up for. In fact, after spending a few days working on all these photos, I just had to pop in for a peanut butter milkshake earlier today. It did not disappoint. They even have boozy milkshakes if that tickles your fancy.

    Wardrobe

    I chose a few outfits on Amazon that I thought would work well and then Karson let me know which ones she liked best out of the options. I didn’t have to spend a lot of money for the outfits, which was a bonus. She was able to find some pearls and retro looking shoes from a friend that worked great. The hair and makeup artist brought the headband. So these looks were really a team effort.

    You can almost hear Chubby Checker singing, The Twist, from the jukebox when you look at these photos. Of course Elvis made a couple of appearances through the speakers, as well.

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a retro themed image of a smiling woman standing in front of a vintage jukebox.

    Professional hair and makeup

    It’s not easy finding hair and makeup artists who have experience with retro inspired looks. My go-to artist for pin up inspired photo shoots was unavailable but I’m so thankful she was able to refer me to Crystal Sanchez. Crystal was so great to work with and I’m happy to have met another talented hair and makeup artist. She’s great at what she does and she is super nice. Her and I enjoyed a delicious lunch together afterwards (Burgers, of course), and I loved making a new friend. Crystal loves doing hair and makeup (not just retro style) for photo shoots and weddings.

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a behind the scenes image of the model and makeup artist.

    The team for this pin up inspired diner photo shoot

    We grabbed a timer selfie for all those who took part in this collaborative, creative photo shoot. Crystal (the hair and makeup artist) and I (Rayleigh, the Portland pin up photographer) are in the back. On the left is Taimi, the diner server who made us a photogenic and delicious milkshake for the shoot. In the middle is Michael, the manager of 60’s Diner. We are posed around his impressive Harley Davidson bike, which is always parked outside the diner. And on the right is Karson, our beautiful model.

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a behind the scenes group photo of the creative team.

    Right after this photo was taken, Karson headed off to a work meeting. Can you imagine showing up to work looking like you just stepped out of the 1960’s? I love it!

    A pin up inspired diner photo shoot

    I’m so glad my shoot idea was able to come to fruition. I loved the team that I was able to gather together and we all had a blast. As a photographer, it’s always so much fun getting to know other people in the Portland community and working together to create something fun and beautiful.

    Want to see more of my vintage themed photography work?

    Pin up photo shoots are typically done in my Tualatin, OR studio. If you’d like to see more of my themed studio work, please click here. I even have some super cute maternity photos done pin up style and you can view those by clicking here. I don’t only do pin up work, so feel free so peruse my website to see my other beauty photography.

    Are you interested in experiencing a photo shoot?

    If you think this looks like a ton of fun, let’s chat and see what kind of session we can design for you. Please send me an email and we can talk details!


    You may also be interested in these topics

    A pin up inspired photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a retro themed image of a woman with a coca cola bottle.

    What to Wear for a Pin Up Photo Shoot

    A pin up inspired photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a retro themed image of a woman lying on a bed with a vintage telephone.

    Pin Up Portraits Gallery

    A pin up inspired maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR by Photography by Rayleigh. This is a retro themed image of a pregnant woman using a vintage iron.

    Pin Up Style Maternity Session

    My Experience with Portland Microblading

    What’s the deal with eyebrows?

    Ladies. Can we take a minute to talk about about eyebrows? I’ve lived most of my life without them. For a while it didn’t bother me because I was just used to that being my normal face. But at some point I realized that faces are supposed to have eyebrows and I started feeling a little self conscious about mine. It took me a while to decide to go for it, but I finally took the plunge to get myself some eyebrows. I’d love to share with you my experience with Portland microblading.

    I’m a really late bloomer when it comes to my own makeup and far from being an expert. That’s exactly why I hire a highly skilled professional makeup artist for photo shoots in my photography studio. She makes my clients look fantastic. If you are like me, though, and you are not super “in the know” when it comes to makeup and things of that sort, I hope sharing about my experience with microblading in Portland is helpful to you.

    Are eyebrows really important? I’ll just put this funny Anne Hathaway meme right here and let you decide for yourself. This meme made me laugh because I could relate so well to the non-eyebrow image.

    An Anne Hathaway meme on a blog about my experience with Portland microblading.
    source: unknown

    Blonde eyebrows

    I’m a red head with strawberry blonde hair (under the darker red dye). My natural eyebrows are virtually non-existent. I technically do have eyebrow hair. They are just such a light blonde that they are basically invisible. Below is a cell phone photo of myself and my natural eyebrows, before having microblading done.

    The before picture on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading. I'm a red head with blonde eyebrows.

    My previous attempts at giving myself eyebrows

    For a while I just tried to use my bangs to cover up most of my forehead so my eyebrows were hidden. But that only worked when my bangs would lay just right and my hair was cooperating perfectly. We all know that lasts about 5 minutes.

    So I started coloring my eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil. Trying to draw on the right eyebrow shape was something that caused me stress every morning. I just never knew if I was drawing the line too narrow or too thick. Or with the right arch and angle. And don’t even think about getting my two eyebrows to match.

    Once I had my eyebrows drawn on (imperfectly), it usually worked okay for a few hours. But then the pencil would start to rub off and I’d be left with half an eyebrow. Or striped eyebrows. Not the look I was going for!

    So, this is what lead me to microblading.

    What is microblading?

    Microblading is a cosmetic tattooing procedure. It differs from a traditional tattoo in that the artist uses different tools and a smaller amount of pigment. An esthetician uses a microblade tool to apply color pigments that look like real hairs. If you choose the right esthetician, it looks pretty natural. Microblading tattoos usually need to be touched up after a year, or so. They aren’t permanent like a traditional tattoo.

    My experience with microblading in Portland, OR

    It took me about 7 years to finally go ahead and do microblading because I was afraid that whoever did my eyebrows wouldn’t do a good job and it would look terrible and unnatural. However, I’m so glad I found Erik Berntsen of Permanent Cosmetics NW. He had great reviews and my experience was top notch. I trust him and highly recommend him for anyone in the Portland area.

    Does microblading hurt?

    I won’t lie. It did hurt. An anesthetic cream was used and it did help. But I felt quite a bit of pain in the beginning, before the anesthetic had fully kicked in, and then again at the end, as the anesthetic cream started to wear off. I’ll also note, though, that a common feature that many red heads share is that anesthesia doesn’t work quite as well (this was confirmed once by an anesthesia technician who knew I would require extra anesthesia for a surgery I was having). So it’s possible that non-red heads may not feel it as much as I did.

    How does microblading look with blonde eyebrows?

    Microblading for someone with blonde eyebrows is tricky. The procedure doesn’t color your real hair. Just the skin underneath. If your eyebrow hair is thin but dark, the new ink blends in beautifully and gives you a fuller look. However, if you add darker ink under blonde eyebrows, it kind of just gives your blonde hair a dark backdrop and makes the blonde stand out in a weird way. For this reason, Erik made sure not to go too dark for the ink color, even though I color my head hair a darker color. The photo below show what my eyebrows look like with my blonde eyebrows and the tattoo.

    The "after" picture on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading. I'm a red head with blonde eyebrows.

    Did you throw away your eyebrow pencil?

    This completed look (microblading with blonde eyebrows) wouldn’t bother some people. Erik, the expert, feels that my eyebrows look great, as is. A couple of my friends said the same. Even so, I choose to use an eyebrow pencil over my tattoo, in order to color my real hair. The one I use is from Mary Kay.

    I know, I know… you are probably asking, “What is the point of getting a tattoo, if you are just going to use a pencil over it?” And that’s a valid question. But I absolutely love having the tattoo, in spite of preferring to still use a pencil.

    For one thing, the shape is already there for me. It’s so fast and easy to color my eyebrows in the exact shape that Erik created, in his expertise. No stressing or wondering if I got the shape right. Having that shape tattooed on also helps me when I’m removing the extra hairs outside of the shape I want (although I honestly hardly ever do that because you can’t even really see the natural hair, anyway).

    Secondly, when the pencil starts to rub off in spots, as it inevitably does, it’s not super noticeable. I no longer peek in to the mirror and end up feeling totally embarrassed that I’ve been walking around in public with half an eyebrow.

    Thirdly, on days when I don’t feel like putting on makeup, I just leave my eyebrows alone, and it’s fine. I’m happy to have the tattoo so my face doesn’t look totally colorless and washed out.

    The "after" picture on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading. I'm a red head with blonde eyebrows.
    An eyebrow pencil was used over my microblading tattoo.

    My experience with Portland microblading

    If you are looking in to microblading in Portland, I hope this article is helpful to you. Especially those of you who have red hair or just light blonde eyebrows. I’m really happy with my decision to have microblading done and my only regret is not doing it sooner!

    The "before" and "after" pictures on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading. I'm a red head with blonde eyebrows.
    Before Microblading After Microblading

    You may also be interested in these topics

    The "beauty portraits" gallery on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading.

    Beauty Portraits Galleries

    The "session tips" link on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading.

    Session Tips

    The "prep guide" link on my blog about my experience with Portland microblading.

    Free Guide to Preparing For Your Photo Shoot

    Mother’s Day Gift – Portland

    A Special Day Just For You

    It’s time for us all to acknowledge and appreciate the hardworking and loving ladies in our lives. And to take some time for yourself, as well. As a Mom, you deserve to wipe the peanut butter and jelly off your shirt, ditch the mom-jeans (wait… aren’t those back in style now?) and get all fancy. Beauty sessions can make you feel like a whole new woman and this sale is the perfect time to treat yourself. I’ve got a PORTRAIT SPECIAL for you! My annual Mother’s Day special can be purchased as a Mother’s Day gift for yourself or for someone else.

    Short on time? Scroll to the bottom for the nitty gritty details.

    Beauty Photography by Rayleigh in Portland, OR. Mother's Day Gift Portrait Special. This backlit, color, glamour photo is of an Indian woman sitting on the back of a couch in a formal dress. For more info, visit byRayleigh.com

    The experience a portrait session with Photography by Rayleigh offers is so uplifting and incredibly fun. Professional hair and makeup, wine, and girl time are all included in this session.  It’s a day all about you, and when you leave, you’ll feel like an entirely new woman.

    A Mother’s Day Gift Idea

    A photo shoot experience can be purchased for yourself or for someone special and it is a fantastic Mother’s day gift idea. You can purchase a gift card for $99 and receive a value of $390. Scroll down for more details.

    Maternity Sessions

    Not everyone gets to celebrate their first Mother’s Day before their little one has met the world. Some mothers aren’t pregnant over the holiday. If you are, it’s certainly a fantastic time to commemorate the special experience with gorgeous portraits.

    Mother's Day Gift portrait special. This is a maternity portrait in a studio in Portland, OR.

    Mother-Daughter Sessions

    Another great way to celebrate Mother’s Day is to enjoy a Mother-daughter session. That is a beautiful way to make use of the Portrait Special. This experience and the resulting heirloom portraits are a gift, not only to Mom, but to her daughters, as well.

    Photography by Rayleigh Mother's Day Gift portrait special in Portland, OR. This is a black and white image of a mother and her two daughters. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com

    Getting in front of the camera and existing in photos with your children is one of the best gifts you can give your children.

    Portrait Special Details

    The “Fine Print”

    • 10 available sessions at this special price.
    • $500 minimum photo purchase required.
    • No session fee refunds.
    • Sessions to be scheduled May 9, 2023- August 31, 2023.

    What if I’m not a mother?

    No problem! This special is available to anyone for any type of session that I offer, excluding mini sessions. Senior portraits, business headshots, couples, and beauty sessions.

    This experience really changed how I look at myself. Because of you and the beautiful pictures that you took of me, I now have a new confidence. I will be forever thankful to you.
    You have forever changed my life

    -Marlena

    Are you ready?

    I want to show you how beautiful you are!

    If you have questions, feel free to send me a message and mention this promo so we can chat about your photo shoot experience. Also, if you’d like to purchase a gift certificate for a loved one while allowing them to schedule the session later, just send me a message.

    If you are ready to grab your spot and get on the calendar before the limited special pricing sessions run out, go ahead and click the button below. Don’t forget to use the coupon code MOM2023.

    Mother's Day Gift Portrait special! My special includes this modern 8x10 Folio Art Frame by 3XM. The image in the frame is a beauty photo of an Indian woman posing against a wall with a white background. For more info, visit byRayleigh.com
    A popular product that is available, called the Folio Art Frame by 3XM.