Skagit County, WA Children’s Photographer | Bella Vita Creative

Long before I became a photographer, one of my favorite pastimes was to frequent a local art gallery. Mind you, I didn’t have much money to spend on the art that I loved, but simply perusing the beautiful paintings somehow gave me a feeling of peace and serenity. I was especially drawn to images of fields, flowers, women, and children.

Eventually, I saved enough money to buy a favorite framed print of a woman in a beautiful hat, working in a field of flowers, her face unseen. I sometimes fancied myself as the woman, surrounded by the vivid array of colors and the golden sunset. It was a magical escape I could look at again and again within my own home.

After my daughter was born, I became even more enamored with the visual arts. I found the best photographer in town, who happened to be a commercial photographer. In other words, he mostly photographed products and occasional adult models for marketing campaigns. I prevailed upon him to photograph my darling baby (how could he resist, right?), and what came out of that photo session were the best baby images I had ever seen! He captured her personality perfectly, using only a step ladder as a prop. To this day, I treasure those photos of my now adult daughter.

Since becoming a photographer five years ago, I’ve been blessed to photograph many families, couples, high school students, children, and babies. But it was only recently that I realized how much I enjoy photographing children!

I realize, now, the art that most resonated with me over the years laid the foundation for the type of photography I am passionate about today: romantic, timeless, and beautiful. I love gorgeous landscapes with vibrant colors, lovely women with timeless clothing, and children and babies full of life and joy. Yes, you could say I am drawn to a more romanticized view of life. 

What can I say? I’m a “moment junkie” and a sentimentalist.

Vincent van Gogh once said that painting children was the only thing that “excites me to the depths of my soul, and which makes me feel the infinite more than anything else.” Painting children, in particular, represented rebirth and the infinite to the renowned artist.

Well, I think ol’ Vincent was on to something. Photographing a child’s world reveals a sense of joy, wonder and a lack of pretense–something this world could use more of, don’t you think? Photography preserves a moment in time, like a time machine. What better moments to capture than childhood?

I hope you enjoyed some of these images of childhood. If you are interested in portraits of your own, please email me at: dana@bellavitacreative.net