03/30/2026
Saying goodbye is so hard, even when you’ve known it’s coming for a long time. Knowing your time together will be shorter than expected doesn’t make it any easier, but it does make every moment that much more intentional.
From the very beginning, Ellie’s early diagnosis of kidney disease meant Jen and Michael were going to have to fit a lifetime of love and adventure into far fewer years. And they did exactly that- with so much care, dedication, and delight. Watching the life they created for her (and for Ellie’s sister Rosie) has been incredibly inspiring.
I met Ellie when she was almost a year old in 2021, during a beautiful sunrise session at the tulip farm. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to photograph her many more times in the most beautiful places across Oregon, including Jen and Michael’s wedding, where they wouldn’t have dreamed of tying the knot without their girls by their side.
I love watching and documenting the pups hilarious shenanigans together, along with the evolution of their famous “hug sister” pose. Ellie also had a deep love for her beach ball, which brought her so much adorable comfort. We even did an entire session centered around it at the beach, and I’ll never forget how much we laughed that day.
Ellie was beautiful, goofy, gentle, and so deeply loved. To her family, she was everything- a bright, irreplaceable light that went out far too soon. I was really lucky to get to spend so many delightful evenings with her, and you can see some of my favorite moments with her in the following slides from our latest photo session all the way to our first.
Ellie crossed the rainbow bridge over this last weekend. Please help me send Jen and Michael love, comfort, and peace as they navigate this immense loss 🌈🤍