A family photographer must not neglect her own walls…

Just a week ago, my daughter celebrated her ninth birthday. It was a little surreal to think that it was her last single digit birthday. She seems to have grown up in the blink of an eye! I haven’t been able to take birthday photos of her the last few years, as we have been traveling on her special day each year. As a family photographer, I need to practice what I preach and document all of these special occasions! Especially with a new home with lots of empty walls waiting for new portraits, it was a priority. We were in Montana for her birthday, as is becoming the norm, so we also had a unique opportunity to create some extremely memorable birthday portraits.

A birthday and Independence Day to celebrate…

One of my favorite things about Montana is how beautiful the Flathead Valley is. Nestled between mountains, and boasting a beautiful lake, surrounded by farmland and forest, it is certainly a location we won’t see often in Southern California. I took her to one of my favorite trails, and up into the forest on the mountainside to create stunning golden hour images. (Note: golden hour doesn’t start until about 9 p.m. this time of summer up here! It was a late night!) After spending about an hour in the woods, watching bald eagles fish, and otters play in the river nearby, we decided to capture just a handful of fun images to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Happy 9th Birthday, Maddie Claire! I am so impressed with the intelligent, witty, fun young lady you are growing up to be. You are my best buddy, my partner in adventure, and my fellow animal lover. You have so many amazing things ahead of you, and I must always remember to take the time to document these times in your life, no matter where we are. I love you!

So this is nine…

And Happy Birthday, America!!!

Dresses by Mayoral, Joyfolie, and DotDotSmile

Angela Powell Woulfe is an Oceanside Family Photographer serving all of San Diego and Orange County, as well as the Inland Empire. See more on her Instagram @powellwoulfe.