The 9 Best Engagement Photographers in Portland

Portland, OR, is one of those places that genuinely has something for everyone. The weird little city is home to some of the country’s best comforts: coffees and coastlines, bookstores and breweries, vintage stores and herb shops (not to mention a Blazers team determined to make a run for the Western Conference Finals this year, depending on who you ask). For as many different strokes of folks you can find in Oregon, there’s an equal number of supremely talented photographers. We here at Peerspace couldn’t be more thrilled to share our favorite Portland engagement photographers with you today.

These creatives are poised with cameras to tell the uniquely beautiful love stories of Portlandians of all stripes — be they hipster café owners or survivalists in unmapped parts of the sprawling forest or sneakerheads or activists or Fred Armisen-lookalikes. Without further ado, and in no particular order, here we go!

1. Mark Federighi

A Chicago native who’s relatively new to the Pacific Northwest, Mark Federighi has already established a name for himself in the world of Portland engagement photographers. There’s a Windy City-type of crispness to his work, even when he’s shooting in the wild green of the PNW. His contrast is purposeful, and we love some of the more unusual angles he uses to capture the moment in its essence. His work allows him to travel pretty extensively, so make sure you check out his travel schedule well in advance!

2. Kelsey Straus

Kelsey Straus could practically run her own all-inclusive, one-woman wedding universe, as far as we’re concerned. When she’s not spending her days working at a local event-planning company or helping others get zen in her yoga classes, she’s running around capturing beautiful images of some of the most wonderful and important days in people’s lives. (Think about it — a cross-trained wedding guru who could also help you focus on your breath and remain calm in the middle of a teeny-tiny, totally understandable but ultimately avoided Bridezilla moment? Sign. Us. Up.) She’s clearly a versatile talent, and her photos evoke an intimate, relaxed mood we can’t get enough of!

3. Lauren Mihae

An exciting new name among the incredibly talented flock of Portland engagement photographers, Lauren Mihae caught our eye almost immediately after we began our research for this list. Joy just radiates from each of her photos, their warm and shadowy tones casting a golden-hour hue all throughout her portfolio. Look at the featured photo here and tell us you don’t feel that desert sun as though you were there?! She services the Portland area and beyond, and we’re definitely going to be keeping an eye out for her future work.

4. Marcela Pulido

If you caught our feature about our favorite Portland wedding photographers, the name “Marcela Pulido” might ring a bell; if you didn’t, you’ll remember her name after this, we’re sure! Marcela has lived and worked in areas as gorgeous as San Bernardino and the Bay Area, Seattle, and even Yosemite. And with just one quick look at her portfolio, you can see how her style has been inspired and informed by the expanse of the wild West Coast. Her imagery is beautiful and dramatic while still remaining joyful, spontaneous, and modern, and we just adore the photo we’ve chosen to feature here.

5. Maddie Maschger

Portland engagement photographers often tend to reflect the eclectic, funky vibe of the city itself, and Maddie Maschger is one of our funkiest featured photographers here today. We can’t get enough of her work! The way she incorporates urban signage and typography into her shots gives such a dynamic boost to the composition, and each session results in photos as unique and varied as her clients themselves. Seriously, no two of her pictures look alike, and that’s what we dig about her.

6. Sarah of Elated Light Photography

Working frequently in both Portland and Ohio, the mastermind behind Elated Light Photography is Sarah, and she’s been a part of so many couples’ sweetest moments. The true driving force behind her work is her love for people and love itself, and that influence is evident in the quality and meticulousness of her work. Whether you’re looking for a Portland fairytale forest engagement shoot or planning to tie the knot under a Midwestern sky, she’ll be there, ready and determined to immortalize the moment and make it into a piece of art you’ll treasure forever.

7. Jessica Hill

A well-established name in the Portland engagement photographer world, Jessica Hill’s award-winning work has been featured by the likes of Oprah Magazine and Portland Bride & Groom, among others. The reason she was named the city’s best independent photographer in 2013 and 2015 couldn’t be clearer — just take one look at this Instagram page and try not to swoon! The particular photo we’ve chosen to feature here took our breath away. Jessica’s keen ability to capture the fall foliage in its burning honey-hued glory is unmatched, and her bold, structured style serves to inspire a sense of permanence and comfort in every single image. 

8. Taylor + Madye

We here at Peerspace are complete suckers for lovebirds who take pictures of other lovebirds! Taylor and Madye are a husband-wife dynamic duo who travel all over to document their clients’ love stories at several different stops on their journeys. Their work is more than just portraiture — it’s an artful representation of the unbelievable beauty that love brings to our lives, fine art and storytelling and memory-keeping braided into one incredible display. They’re in pretty high demand from the looks of their travel schedule, so if you like what you see, don’t hesitate to reach out!

9. Analy of Analy-Photos

Rounding out today’s list of our favorite Portland engagement photographers is another relatively newcomer to the scene, Analy of Analy-Photos. What we love most about her work is the unabashed comfort and ease on her clients’ faces. There’s no questioning Analy’s ability to put her clients at ease and allow their love to shine as brightly in print as it does in their real lives. This Portland native brings spunk, authenticity, and sweetness to every session she shoots, and we absolutely love her editorial touch.

We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed checking out some of our favorite engagement and couples’ photographers in the Portland area. If you’re in or around the Pacific Northwest and looking for someone to document the day you put a ring on it, you know what to do — we think you’d be absolutely pleased with every single person on this list!

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