Get To Know Elena S Blair Associate Seattle Family Lifestyle Photographer, Beth

Get To Know Elena S Blair Associate Seattle Family Photographer, Beth

Tell us a little about yourself:

Hello! I am so excited to be able to introduce myself to you! I am mom to 3 amazing humans. They are always inspiring me and challenging me to be my best self. I am recently engaged! I can’t wait to marry my love next summer. :) I am what they call an “introverted-extrovert”. I can be quiet and seem reserved when you first meet me (people have called me shy most of my life), but being around people fills me up. I love people and once you are one of my people you are there for good. I have a LOT of energy (ex college athlete here (soccer). You won’t find me sitting down much. I love kids and the chaos that comes with them:). I am a right brained dreamer and I love thinking about the possibilities life lays out sometimes very unexpectedly. I am an empath and I think that is in large part why I am so drawn to photographing people. My passion is showing my clients all of the beauty in their story.

Why do you love photographing families?

I love being able to help a family tell their story. Each one is so unique. Meeting families at any stage of their journey and being able to give them something to remember where they are at this time feels like such an honor.

What is your favorite type of location to capture a family and why?

I love to photograph families in their homes or in a special location that is familiar to them. When people are in a space that is comfortable they are more themselves. I find this particularly so with children. When kids are at ease and wanting to talk to me and show me things that are important to them, their personalities really come through in the images.

When did you become a photographer?

I started taking photographs when my ex-husband took a job in a state far away from family and friends. I was home raising our 3 babies and I wanted to document them and our life. I didn’t know until then that I was an artist. Having that camera and documenting us really brought something out in me that I didn’t know was there. After all of my children were a little older I began to take it more seriously and started taking classes and really learning and developing my style and abilities. In 2017 I decided to start my photography business.

Do you have any more session dates left on your fall calendar?

Yes! It is a busy time of year, but I do have session spots left. Weekdays or in home shoots (which are scheduled earlier in the day) are a great way to snag a spot on my schedule too. :)

This is Life | Seattle Family Photographer

Anna and I had exchanged a handful of emails prior to their session, as I usually do with my new families. We had to reschedule a few times but finally our date came. It was a cloudy Seattle summer day, nothing out of the ordinary. When I read Anna's session form submission she explained that their oldest child came from adoption and that the is their fifth child as they have four biological children. It's not often that you hear of a family adopting a teenager so I was very excited to capture this very unique family.

When they hopped out of their van I couldn't believe the beauty before me. Each child dressed perfectly and mom and dad were also just as well clothed. But here is the thing... that isn't the beauty that you will see when you look at these photos. You won't see anything but instead feel. Feel their deep love and connection. They were so obviously deeply connected with each other. The respected each other, laughed, played, and snuggled. Really, the embodied what most families strive for, I think. There was an ease about them. Just simply comfortable with each other and so loving I can't even describe it. I felt honored to simply be in their presence. It was one of those sessions that left me feeling so fulfilled. Anna talked freely about the adoption of her daughter and it filled my heart to the brim with joy. It isn't my story to tell but I do encourage you to follow her journey on Instagram. Her name is cheerful_mama.  

Family photography should be a lot more than a perfect portrait. It should be an experience that results in photos that speak to who the family really is. I hope I was able to even just do the smallest bit of justice to this very special family. 

Bartsch | Seattle Family Photographer

This family. They mean so much to me. We met nearly 16 years ago when we all attended Seattle University. Brenda and I were in nursing school and Jonny was in Ultrasound school. It seems like yesterday we were cramming for an Anatomy & Physiology test. Little did we know what was in store for us. 

Brenda and Jonny just built their dream home. It was an absolute pleasure to capture them there. What makes this more special is that they built this house on the property that Brenda grew up on right on the Puget Sound. We took a few shots inside and then played on their gorgeous grounds. Family photography allows me to capture so much more than a portrait but rather to freeze moments in time to last a life time. I am so excited to share this session with you all. Enjoy! 

One Cloudy Day | Seattle Family Photographer

Hey friends! I am super excited to share this family with you all. The mother, Amy, and I have really had a chance to get to know each other this past year but I had yet to meet her family. I really looked forward to our session together as it had been on the books since this past November. Well, typical for spring in Seattle, we have had a good combo of sunny days and rainy days. We had to reschedule once because of the rain but went ahead with the session on the new date even though it was cloudy and a bit chilly. I find it interesting how the weather really sets the tone for a session. I know these boys are active and love to explore, like most boys, however the chilly weather made them turn into their comfort, their family and we ended up with a much more cuddly session. My guess is that had it been sunny they would have been much more rowdy.

Our session began a bit strange with Dad helping an old man who was lost in the parking lot. It made if very clear to me just how he is both kind and selfless. Then, we played, looked for crabs, threw some rocks, and they snuggled with the best of them. There were lots of hugs and kisses. Even though it was in fact chilly, I felt their warmth the whole time and I think these images speak to their bond and closeness.

I will admit…I take a lot of photos. Once, when I was still finding my way in photography, I would spend hours culling, trying to get down to that “magic” number that my peers were telling me that my galleries need not exceed. Well guess what? Who cares! I am a storyteller. Some single moments have 30 images and I am not ashamed of that and you shouldn’t be either. Be the artist you want to be. Take the photos you want to take. Your work will be richer and mean more to you and the families you photograph if you put your heart and soul into it. And if that means taking a million photos, then do it. So here is a sample of this family's huge gallery. I hope it warms your soul a little as it sure did mine.

Sunshine In Seattle | Seattle Family Photographer

Still catching up on blogging my Seattle fall family sessions. But, I just feel like I have so many stories to share so I plan to blog them all even if it takes me until this fall. :)

Most of my clients come from word of mouth but this mama found me on Pinterest. I find that so interesting. We met on a sunny fall evening, however it was a bit chilly. Like many of my family photography sessions, we wandered through the park finding beautiful light and lots of fun. Seattle has some of the most gorgeous locations in the world. And guess what? The sun shines here a lot! I never make families do anything but be with each other. I love finding the unique beauty in every family. These three children were some of the most respectful, well behaved children. I could just feel how close these siblings were. The whole family was quiet and peaceful. Their love for each other was so apparent. When the little one got cold, everyone joined in to snuggle her and make her feel comfortable. It was really cute. I loved how dad looked at his family with love and pride. I have a special place in my heart for mother and child images. I feel like even if the mother isn’t a professional photographer, she is typically the photographer of the family. I like to get as many images as I can just being her with her babies.

I always take a lot of photos and I never apologize for that. My images weave a story, a memory. A memory of our time together and this time in their life. I am not after that mantel piece, but rather a collection of images that speak to your family. So, here are a bunch of my favorites from their gallery. If you stop by here, please comment and let me know.