I never meant to be a photographer.

But it’s given me an immeasurably rich and fulfilling life with opportunities I’d have never dreamed. From documenting over 200 weddings and a 75th wedding anniversary, assisting a fine art and fashion photographer in France for a summer, volunteering at Youth in Focus, creating marketing images for the Seahawks and then the Sounders FC inaugural year, photographing musicians for KEXP, documenting hundreds of families from their engagement to the birth of their children and beyond, and now teaching photography, this medium has transformed my identity and experiences in exceptional ways.

I involuntarily cried the first time I heard Patrick Watson. His music is shattering in the most beautiful way. I was a few feet away from him, photographing his band’s live session in the old, teeny-tiny KEXP studio in 2009. I’ve since seen them 8 times and still tear up when I hear their music.

I blushed like a ridiculous teenager photographing Fredy Montero when he was signed to the Sounders in 2008. He was barely 20 and adorable AF. However, I was not impressed with the suffocating size of Freddie Ljungberg’s ego when I photographed him. Good thing he’s also a photogenic Calvin Klein underwear model because he let me snap about two frames before he was over it.

I get emotional thinking about one of my legacy clients who hired me for a pregnancy session in January 2011 and has worked with me extensively since. After pregnancy and newborn photos, we meet monthly to document her baby’s first year. She now has 4 children, and her oldest holds the title of Most Photographed Subject as he’s been in many of his younger sisters’ monthly sessions. We still come up with creative ways to collaborate, and it’s amazing to have documented a family over 50 times for 10 years and counting.

I’ve served as both witness and photographer at a wedding with just the bride, groom and officiant. We hiked for half a day up a trail near Leavenworth for a view of the top of the world. I’m also blessed to have photographed a wedding with 22 bridesmaids and groomsmen, and a stunning mix of everything in between. The sheer number of cultural, religious and personal traditions of this sacred ceremony I’ve documented leaves me gobsmacked. Has this really been my life? Measured in bearing witness to this exquisite celebration of love?

I’ve photographed same-sex weddings since I began documenting weddings in 2003, and it’s about time they’re legally recognized! From a lovely male couple in their 70s who finally tied the knot when it was legalized in 2012, to the final wedding I captured in 2019 of one of my dearest friends and her beautiful bride, I’m in love with celebrating all the love.

I was honored when an acquaintance flew me to Great Falls, Montana, to photograph her wedding. The next year one of her bridesmaids flew me to Philadelphia to capture her wedding. Eight couples have flown me to Hawaii to capture their wedding day. I’ve never paid for advertising, and I’m humbled by the countless referrals that made me a professional photographer.

While I teach photography now, I’m still available for a limited number of family and senior portrait sessions. I also love making empowering portraits of women, pictures of folks with their fur kids, and couples who need images for the adoption process. Contact me if you think we’d be a good fit.

In the meantime, revel in the spontaneous ~

Laura Anders