Ariel Dawn Photography

10/13/2026

Emily + James ✨🏔️

These two seriously had one of the BEST sunsets I have ever seen at Smith Rock, and the fact that it happened on the night of their engagement session was just incredible. 😍

You truly never know when the sky is going to decide to put on an epic show like this, so getting to photograph these two with THAT sunset happening behind them was an absolute dream. 🌅✨

We explored around Smith Rock, captured so many fun photos, and Emily + James were laughing and giggling together the entire time. 🥹🤎 You can just feel how happy these two are together.

And of course, Emily looking absolutely gorgeous! ✨
Hair + Makeup: Edge Hair & Makeup

Such a magical evening and one of those engagement sessions I’ll definitely remember. ✨

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09/26/2026

Flashback to when I helped a local dentistry get a bunch of stock photos of our beautiful Cascade Mountains printed on panoramic canvases and acrylic prints. 🏔️✨

I also had a ton of fun doing some touch-ups and adding a little extra artistry to the images. You can see one of the before + afters in the last photo! 👀

One of my favorite parts of running a full-service photography-to-print business is getting to see a project all the way through from the photos themselves to the finished artwork. There’s something so satisfying about seeing an image in print and knowing it’s going to be hung on a wall and enjoyed every day. 🤍

Such a fun project!

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07/11/2026

Dreaming of sunsets… and the quiet moments in between. 🌅

The way your hands naturally find each other.

The way you laugh before the kiss.

The way the world seems to disappear for just a little while.

Those are the moments I’ll always be chasing.

Dreaming of wandering through golden light with you and your favorite person, creating photographs that feel less like poses and more like memories you’ll carry for a lifetime.

Here’s to slow evenings, wild landscapes, and love that feels like home. 🤍

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07/06/2026

I was going to text (email, message, call) you back… I did this instead. 🌿🤍

We’re eight months into motherhood, and I’m learning something I never quite understood before.

Sometimes the email waits.
Sometimes the text waits.
Sometimes the to-do list waits.

Because these little feet won’t stay little forever. 👣👶🏽

One of the greatest gifts of this season has been realizing I don’t have to choose between building businesses I love and being present with my daughter. I get to do both. Maybe not perfectly. Maybe not as quickly as I once did. But with so much intention.

For years, I’ve worked hard to build Ariel Dawn Photography around an experience that feels thoughtful and timeless. Beautiful galleries. Films you’ll watch for decades. Slideshows that let you relive your day for the very first time. Communication that makes you feel cared for from beginning to end.

As our family has grown, so has our business. We’ve added assistants, second photographers, a videography branch, and an editor we’re continually training in the Ariel Dawn Photography style. Every step has been with one goal in mind—to continue giving our clients the experience they deserve while never sacrificing the quality of our work.

That hasn’t changed.

What has changed is our rhythm.

So if it takes me a little longer to reply to your email, text, message, or phone call, thank you. I promise I’ll get back to you.

To our clients, thank you for trusting us with your memories and for giving us so much grace during this season.

To our friends and family, thank you for understanding when it takes us a little longer to call back, text back, or make plans. Thank you for loving us through this new chapter. Your support means more than you know.

We’re still here. We’re still photographing weddings, creating films, delivering galleries we’re proud of, and booking sessions and weddings for this season and next.

These little feet won’t stay little forever.

Thank you for giving us the grace to slow down and enjoy them while they are. 🤍

With love,

Ariel Dawn

06/25/2026

Just had such a great engagement session this week… but it definitely didn’t go exactly as planned. 😂

I left 30 minutes early so I could scout the location, find some new spots, and see how the light was playing. I grabbed my camera, my favorite lens, and a fresh battery.

My couple arrived, and I said, “Give me one second while I grab the rest of my camera gear…”

I go to my car and pull on the handle —Its locked…. and instantly realized my keys were locked inside my camera bag. 😅

There wasn’t much I could do in the moment, so I quickly sent Louel a voice text asking him to find the spare key and come rescue me while I photographed the session.

The funny part? I didn’t even tell my couple until about 20 minutes into the shoot. We were having such a great time that we just kept photographing and ended up finishing the entire session in the same beautiful spot.

By the time we wrapped up, Louel pulled in with the spare key… and our sweet 7-month-old was asleep in the back seat. ❤️

I was so grateful he came to save me. We ended up driving over to my favorite sunset spot together, and I’m so glad he did because the sky absolutely showed off. One of those sunsets you just stand there and soak in.

Just a little behind-the-scenes reminder that even when things don’t go according to plan, they somehow still work out. Sometimes they turn into one of your favorite memories of the day. ✨

06/25/2026

Blue skies. Mountain views. One hell of an “Just Married” moment. 🤍⛰️

Crystal & Dennis made it official at Aspen Lakes with the Cascade Mountains as their backdrop—and if the walk back down the aisle was any indication, the celebration was only getting started.

From heartfelt vows to tequila shots, a packed dance floor, and a sparkler exit, their day was unapologetically them.

Here’s to forever, doing life your own way. 🥂✨

Vendor Team
💒 Venue:
📸 Photographer:
🎥 Videographer:
🍽️ Caterer:
🍰 Cakes/Desserts:
✅ Planner / Coordinator:
💄 Makeup:
💇‍♀️ Hair: Emma | Tangerine Salon
🌸 Floral:
🎶 DJ:
👰‍♀️ Bride:

06/15/2026

Couldn’t decide which one I loved more in black & white. 🤍✨

A magical sparkler exit at Aspen Lakes in Sisters, Oregon surrounded by the people who love them most. These fleeting moments at the end of the night always feel a little extra special—the celebration, the excitement, and that final kiss as newlyweds.

Congratulations again, Cassidy & Owen! 🤍

Vendor Team

💒 Venue:
📸 Photographer:
🍽️ Catering:
🍰 Desserts:
🎶 DJ:

06/06/2026

A recent wedding as beautiful Aspen Lakes. 💍🏔️

Congrats Cassidy and Owen! 🎊

The bride looks fantastic in her dress. ✨

05/25/2026

https://www.arieldawnphotography.com/blog-bend-oregon-photographer/a-beautiful-winter-day-for-engagement-photos-at-smith-rock http://www.arieldawnphotography.com/blog/

A Beautiful Winter Day for Engagement Photos at Smith Rock Ariel Dawn PhotographyMay 25, 2026Engagement PhotosComment Facebook0 Twitter Pinterest0 0 Likes

04/29/2026

Cassidy & Owen | Cascade Mountain Engagement Session ❄️

Cassidy and Owen’s wedding is coming up this May and I am so giddy to photograph their day 🤍

Owen had Cassidy laughing the entire session—which made everything feel so effortless. This is exactly why I love photographing couples like this… when you’re this natural and comfortable with each other, the candid, in-between moments just happen. No forcing, no overthinking—just real connection.

We planned this session right after fresh snow hit the Cascade Mountains, and it gave us the most incredible backdrop with the North Sister showing off in the distance. Overcast skies created the dreamiest soft, even light—one of those rare Central Oregon moments where everything aligns and you can capture it all in a single frame.

P.S. Cassidy and Owen were claiming they didn’t know how to do a dip kiss… but from this photo I’d say they might be pros. What do you think? 😏

Ariel Dawn Photography
Bend, Oregon Wedding Photographer & Videographer