Blackthorn Photography

About Blackthorn Photography
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Blackthorn Photography is timeless, heirloom portraiture and evocative, romantic wedding photos. It is observing quiet moments of tenderness, joyful moments of celebration, all the little quirks that make each human being unique. It is capturing dynamic, candid images with a fine-art soul. Above all, it is telling stories—your stories. I might be telling a love story when I shoot a wedding, a story of birth and growth and connection when I take family photos, or a coming-of-age story when I do senior portraits, but it is all story, it is all human, and it is all beautiful.
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I specialize in on-location, natural-light photography. My style has a luminous, meditative quality, sparks of effervescent exuberance, and a deep connection to nature. I love the classic elegance of black-and-white photography, and always include both black-and-white and color images in my packages.
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How I Work
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If we are doing portraits, we will talk over location, clothing, and props beforehand, and I will begin to get the shape of your story. At the session itself, we will take the time we need to get the shots you want, and we’ll have fun doing it!
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If I am going to be shooting your wedding, we’ll go over the plan for your whole day and talk through how photography will fit into your schedule. My work should never interrupt your experience of your wedding day. As your photographer, it is my job to find the best way to document the true story of your wedding with grace and flexibility, not to direct it. As much as possible, I want to become invisible. We will set aside some time for posed portraits, but outside of that time, I want you to enjoy your day and ignore me while I take care of capturing every detail, each special event, and all the tears, smiles, and kisses.
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If you are ready to discuss how we can create the heartfelt, heirloom-quality images you want, please contact me by email, phone, or text. I would love to help you tell your story!
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About Ilana
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In my life I have worn many hats, many skins. I have been an actor, a writer, a mother, a partner, even a cake decorator. Through it all, the one thing I have always been, ever since I can remember, is an artist.
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Growing up in Portland (I’m a native!), I leaped headfirst into every type of creative expression I could get my hands on—photography, to be sure, but also drawing, sculpture, dance, theater, and writing. I discovered my vocation while I was studying English and creative writing in college, when I was given the opportunity to apprentice with a wedding photographer. What started as a part-time student job quickly became a passion, and by the time I finished my degree in 2005, I was shooting weddings and portraits full-time, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
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When I am not taking photos, I tell folk and fairy tales onstage, cook everything possible, read voraciously, go thrift shopping, hike, sew, knit, and above all spend time with my wonderful children, Rowan Isilmé and Lark Blackthorn. (Yes, I did name my business after my child.)