Hello! I’m Ara.
Clad sometimes in muddy boots, sometimes in a pair of heels, my career as a wedding photographer often requires both sets of footwear as I follow my clients on their romantic adventures all over the world. Catamarans, towering ballrooms, glacial lakes, rooftops, mountains, bed and breakfasts, mossy forests and craggy coastlines all enchant me. My spirit is undaunted, and I am forever inspired by relationships, nature, wind and light.
Photographing weddings constantly reminds me that love is alive, strong, deep, unexpected, and worth fighting for. My couples are very dear to me, and I often follow them on more adventures through their lives. My husband and I still have sushi dates with my very first wedding couple from 2008.
I live in Portland with my husband, Nathan, who makes me really happy. I love hiking, traveling to cold and rocky places, rock climbing, reading, dinner parties, drinking IPAs like a good Pacific Northwesterner and Scotch like someone who loves Scotland, puttering around the garden, playing at the arcade, planning our next big trip, and our dog, Ukee. I'm a shameless waterfallaholic. I might love Star Wars a little too much.
I look forward to meeting you and going on an adventure!
xoxo
Style & Approach
I use a combination of photojournalism, artistic portraiture, and landscape techniques to tell stories heavy on emotion and atmosphere. While I don't aspire to be your weird new best friend, my goal is get to know you so I can document your event through the eyes of a friend. I don't have a formula or template for photographing weddings--each day, couple and story is unique.
As an alternating combination of wallflower and cheerful taskmaster, I quietly get in the thick of things to capture events as they unfold, and provide clear, positive guidance for everyone to look their best in portraits. I think it's fair to say most people feel awkward having their photo taken (I feel the same unless the right person is behind the lens!), so I'm very forthcoming with direction, dialogue and inspiration.
With over 300 weddings under my belt, I'm also happy to assist with those things normal humans don't do on a daily basis: bustling a gown, pinning a boutonniere, troubleshooting a zipper on a bridesmaid's dress (why are they always terrible?), hooking French buttons, cutting the X threads from suit jacket backs, and reminding you to take your hair tie off your wrist before photos.
I enthusiastically support marriage equality. Humanity is beautiful. Bring it.
The Process
Once I create your photos, I begin my custom artistic mastering process. I want your photographs to look amazing for decades to come, so I edit my wedding and engagement photographs as I would my landscapes: true, vibrant colors that feel like they did in person, and classic black and whites that focus in on the moment. I don't do extensive Photoshop unless under a special request--I believe in real, natural beauty (and doing my job with flattering posing in portraits).
Giving Back
A portion of Aralani Photography's profits and time enthusiastically supports the following organizations:
Friends of the Columbia Gorge - Oregon State Parks Foundation - Trailkeepers of Oregon
Three Rivers Humane Society - The Cat Adoption Team