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10 things I Have Learned in my First Season as a Wedding Photographer

by Missy Fant Photography | Sep 10, 2014 | General, Photography, weddings

After a few years of being a portrait photographer, I decided to challenge myself and try my hand at wedding photography. I talked another portrait photographer into helping me out, and off we went. Knowing a little about landscape, portrait, and essential lighting we...

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It’s that time of year where I can come up for air It’s that time of year where I can come up for air, while also finishing up editing my last wedding of the year. This is the season where I love revisiting some of my adventures from the year, sharing them here, and quietly hoping a few of you feel inspired to go wander a little too. Each August, my family takes about a week or so off and we almost always point the car toward a road trip. This year turned into a full two-week ramble through eastern Washington and Oregon. The kind of places that live off the main highways, get skipped by many, and absolutely deserve more love. I have so many spots to share, especially if geological history makes your brain light up, but I’m starting with one we hit on the way back. Why not kick things off at the beginning? Because this place feels like the start of an adventure all on its own. We stopped at Hot Lake Springs, just outside of La Grande. We did it as a day trip, staying in a super chill Airbnb up in the hills where we could watch the sun melt into the valley at night. The small fee to soak in the tubs was absolutely worth it. Warm water, wide-open views, nervous systems fully exhaling. Inside the historic building? Slight creep factor. In the best way. Definitely haunted energy. There’s preserved history throughout that gives you this quiet, echoing sense of everything the place has been through. One of the original buildings burned down years ago and is still up on the hill, though blocked off now. We couldn’t get close, but even from afar it felt like a chapter you could almost hear. Also, I absolutely need to plan a friends weekend here with the sole goal of doing nothing. No agenda. No rushing. Especially since there’s basically no service. Just soaking, snacks, long conversations, and letting time lose track of us for a bit. If you’re looking for a place to slow down, unplug, and let your thoughts wander before heading deeper into your own adventure, this one’s a solid north star. More hidden gems coming soon.
Makayla and Ryan | Letting the Park Lead | A Mount Makayla and Ryan | Letting the Park Lead | A Mount Rainier Engagement Session This Mount Rainier engagement session wasn’t about checking off locations. It was about following the road, skipping the crowds, discovering hidden waterfalls, and letting the Pacific Northwest set the pace for something real and unforgettable.... https://missyfantphotography.com/2025/12/18/makayla-and-ryan-letting-the-park-lead-a-mount-rainier-engagement-session/
With the amount of business I’ve been incredibly l With the amount of business I’ve been incredibly lucky to have this year, I’ve also been able to do something that matters just as much to me as the work itself: give back. In the words of my dad, “The best thing you can give someone is your time.” This year, I’ve been able to donate time and photography services to organizations and events doing real, meaningful work in our community: • YWCA - https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/donate • Humanities Washington - https://www.humanities.org/donate/ • Habitat for Humanity - https://www.ehfh.org/donate/ • Clark County Historic Museum - https://clark-county-historical-society.monkeypod.io/give/support-clark-county-historical-society • The Historic Trust - https://www.thehistorictrust.org/donate/ • Council for the Homeless - https://councilforthehomeless-bloom.kindful.com/ • Pride Block Party - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=E8CZJLXTHG2A2 • Clark County Pride - https://clarkcountypride.com/donate • Clark County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=QZGMBUXKLN5Y6 • Ohana Self Defense - https://givebutter.com/ohana-sponsor • The Diner – Meals on Wheels - https://www.mowp.org/donate/ I’ve included donation links for each of these foundations, so if you’re able and feel called to support them directly, the opportunity is right there. Community care works best when we all pitch in where we can. And to my couples, families, seniors, business owners, and organizations who hire me for weddings, portraits, and commercial work: thank you. Every commission you trust me with helps make this possible. Your support doesn’t just create images for you, it directly fuels my ability to show up for nonprofits, community events, and causes that need visibility and care. Photography isn’t just about pretty images. It’s about visibility, storytelling, documentation, and support. If my work can help amplify missions, raise funds, preserve history, or simply show people that their work matters, then that’s time well spent. This is why I do what I do, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of a community that believes in showing up for one another.
Being able to help the people who help everyone el Being able to help the people who help everyone else is something I don’t take lightly. I recently had the honor of photographing search and rescue teams. The folks who head out when the weather turns, when daylight disappears, when someone doesn’t come home on time. They train hard, show up without hesitation, and put community first every single time. Grateful to play a small role in supporting the people who run toward the hard stuff so the rest of us can make it home. If you’re a nonprofit doing the work that holds communities together and you need images to support your fundraising or marketing efforts, I’d be honored to help. Reach out and let’s make visuals that work as hard as you do.
If you haven’t eaten lunch yet… I’m genuinely sorr If you haven’t eaten lunch yet… I’m genuinely sorry for what you’re about to see. One of my favorite parts of my job is teaming up with local restaurants to make their food look as good as it tastes. I get to bring their dishes front and center, show off the heart of their menu, and create images that help them connect with the folks who already love them and the ones who haven’t found them yet. These shots aren’t just for scrolling either. They’re headed for menus, websites, and all the places where “what should we eat?” decisions are made. Supporting local, telling their story, and making you hungry in the process.
Bryson | La Center Class of 2026 Byson’s senior p Bryson | La Center Class of 2026 Byson’s senior portraits took us through downtown Ridgefield at sunrise, dodging the holiday crowds and soaking up that quiet-before-the-world-wakes vibe. The sunlight showing up felt like a small miracle and a very welcome break from all the rain we’ve been swimming in lately. Brick, sidewalks, soft light, all the good stuff. After wandering downtown, we made our way to the boat launch along the river, where the calm water and open sky gave us a totally different feel without ever leaving town. Huge congrats to the Class of 2026, and especially to seniors like Byson who are already checking big milestones off the list. Senior year comes fast, and those yearbook deadlines have a sneaky way of showing up before you’re ready. Friendly reminder that some schools still have time to submit senior portraits, so if you’ve been putting it off or thought you missed your window, it may not be too late. Reach out, check your school’s specific deadline, and let’s make sure you end up in the yearbook looking like yourself, not a last-minute panic photo.
Jeanae // Fort Vancouver High School, Class of 202 Jeanae // Fort Vancouver High School, Class of 2026 Senior year energy, but with a future already taking shape. Jeanae is headed toward early education, which means classrooms full of tiny humans are about to get a whole lot more patient, kind, and fun. Class of 2026, you’re officially on deck. And Jeanae, the world needs more people like you.
You know that generational photo session you’ve be You know that generational photo session you’ve been daydreaming about? The one where everyone actually shows up, Grandma tells the same story she’s told since 1984, and the kids somehow behave long enough to capture proof that your family exists in the same timeline? Yeah… that one. It’s easy to keep pushing it to “someday,” but here’s the thing: moments stack fast. Kids level up. Parents become grandparents. And these seasons deserve to be documented before they slip quietly into the vault. If your heart’s been whispering we should really do this, consider this your sign from the universe. Or the cosmos. Or the Pacific Northwest fog rolling in like an ancient wizard muttering “book the dang session already.” Let’s gather your people. Let’s make images that feel like home. Rain or shine, your story deserves to be told. Ready when you are.
Photographer-to-photographer real talk: Can we ple Photographer-to-photographer real talk: Can we please stop pretending you have to niche down to be successful? Because… no. You don’t. And I sure as hell didn’t. Also? You do not need to spend THOUSANDS on “workshops” just to have someone on a stage tell you the same thing with a slideshow and a hype song. Their “success” is literally you paying them to tell you to shrink your business. Hard pass. (But do go to them to fill up your tank of creativity) Here’s the truth: Why on earth would you build a business you don’t actually enjoy? Why give up the stuff that lights you up, inspires you, and makes you excited to pick up your camera? You’re allowed to love weddings and newborns. Dogs and seniors.Brand work and elopements in sideways PNW rain. All of it. Every messy, magical bit. So embrace your awesome. Create what you love. THAT is the real magic. And it’s way more fun than forcing yourself into a tiny little photography box. END RANT #MissyFantPhotography #PhotographerTruth #CreateWhatYouLove #MultiNicheMagic #PNWPhotographer #BadassBizEnergy
While everyone else thinks I’m living in a world o While everyone else thinks I’m living in a world of nonstop holiday parties right now… surprise! I also snuck in my last wedding of 2025 this weekend. Nakaiya & Alan tied the knot up at The Hilltop at Anderson Lodge, and let me tell you — it POURED. Like… classic PNW “did we accidentally get married inside a cloud?” levels of rain. But we stayed warm, stayed dry (…mostly), and still managed to sneak outside for some family photos between the showers. Totally worth it. Their little guy, Sebastian, was the real MVP — demanding to be in almost every picture with Mom to taste-testing the cake to make sure it passed inspection. Quality control king. The reception was pure cozy perfection: their closest friends and family gathered inside the lodge, sharing delicious pasta, playing board games, and keeping the vibe warm and intimate while the rain kept soaking the forest outside. Even with the weather doing its thing, the day was full of warmth, laughter, and the kind of love that rolls with whatever the PNW throws at it. Huge congratulations, Nakaiya & Alan — thanks for letting me capture your beautiful, soggy, wonderfully chill day.
Fifteen years. Fifteen years of bundling up and Fifteen years. Fifteen years of bundling up and heading out to La Center’s holiday celebration — and somehow this little town finds a way to make it bigger, brighter, and even more magical every single time. From the teenage bands absolutely shredding it, to the school band + choir bringing the festive feels, to the rows of local vendors serving up handmade goods, hot food, and heaping amounts of small-town charm — this event just keeps growing right along with the community. And of course… the Big Man himself rolled in again this year — with Mrs. Claus in tow! We wrapped up the night in true PNW style: cold air, warm hearts, a glowing tree, and fireworks lighting up the sky. It’s an honor to capture this celebration year after year — watching it evolve, watching the town evolve, and getting to photograph the people who make this place feel like home. Here’s to 15 years, La Center. And here’s to many more. #lacenter #holiday #treelighting #christmas
It’s holiday party time! That means when I’m not It’s holiday party time! That means when I’m not out capturing weddings, families, seniors, and businesses, I’m out and about with my photo booth and camera capturing all the crazy parties!
There’s something about a hometown Christmas celeb There’s something about a hometown Christmas celebration, and no, this isn’t the Hallmark channel. I’ve been in the La Center community since the 90’s. My grandparents lived out here then, and I spent a lot of my summers with them. Later, my family moved out here when we purchased land from my Husband’s family and built a house. La Center puts on a yearly gathering in town with a tree lighting and Santa. I have yearly pictures of my daughter with him at these celebrations (the one included is from 2011). This year, we’re not just going to the event, but we’re putting up our photobooth with Santa himself! I’ll be photographing the event, from the 5k all the way to the fireworks. But we’ll also be photographing the families with Santa and my now adult daughter, will be running the printer and getting images out to the families. We love being able to get involved and get back the communities we grew up in. So if you’re looking for a fun place to celebrate on Sunday, come on up to our little town of La Center and say hi!
Kelsie | La Center Class of 2025 Kelsie has been Kelsie | La Center Class of 2025 Kelsie has been wandering in and out of my house since she was in kindergarten, so getting to photograph her senior portraits felt less like a booking and more like watching one of “my kids” step into her next chapter. We tucked into the cozy corners of @metallioncafe letting the warm lights, moody tones, and those perfect PNW-café textures wrap around her portraits. It was the ideal spot—laid-back, creative, and just the right amount of artsy for someone who’s grown up with a whole community cheering her on. Kelsie, you’re out here becoming your own badass self, and I’m ridiculously proud to capture a piece of that story.
This morning was an absolute blast I got to hang This morning was an absolute blast I got to hang out with an amazing veterinary clinic crew and create some images just for them. Honestly… spending my morning surrounded by animals, humans who care for them, and all the behind-the-scenes chaos that makes a clinic run? That’s my kind of fun. Huge thanks to the team for letting me invade your space with my cameras this morning. Can’t wait to show off the magic we made together. #MissyFantPhotography #PNWPhotographer #VetLife #BehindTheScenes #PNWCreatives
If you’re gathering with your family for the holid If you’re gathering with your family for the holidays… guess what? You’re already one quick email away from making sure this moment in time actually gets documented — not just lost in the chaos of casseroles, kids, and that one uncle who still can’t work the group selfie timer. This afternoon I met the Smithline family out at Fort Vancouver to do exactly that — capture a rare moment when everyone was together, laughing, wrangling kids, dodging puddles, and just being wonderfully themselves. It was perfect in that beautifully PNW, real-life kind of way. The holidays are one of my favorite times to photograph families — everyone’s together, the season is glowing, and the energy is real. Cozy, chaotic, heartfelt, hilarious… whatever your crew looks like, let’s bottle it up before the moment passes.
Happy big 1-8 to my now adult! Watching you grow Happy big 1-8 to my now adult! Watching you grow into the crafty, artistic, and deeply caring person you are today has been one of the greatest joys of my life. You’ve always had this magical way of seeing the world—turning scraps into art, moments into memories, and people into friends. Your creativity shines in everything you touch, but it’s your heart that leaves the biggest mark. I’m so proud of who you are and excited for who you’re becoming. Here’s to your art, your compassion, your fire, and every adventure ahead. You belong among the wildflowers.
Lasseigne Family // Tree Farm Takeover There’s ju Lasseigne Family // Tree Farm Takeover There’s just something about a good old-fashioned Pacific Northwest tree farm that brings out the real stuff — the laughs, the chaos, the quiet moments, the whole messy-beautiful family story. And the Lasseignes? They showed up ready to wander, ready to play, and ready to embrace every bit of that moody Northwest magic. Fog drifting through the evergreens, boots crunching on the forest floor, jackets zipped against that classic “yep, this is the PNW” chill — and me, your friendly neighborhood shadow with a camera, catching the in-between moments as they happened. No stiff poses, no awkward smiles. Just authentic moments in a place that feels like home. I’m always down to follow you through the trees. Let’s make something epic.
Some people wake up, see a giant spiderweb glisten Some people wake up, see a giant spiderweb glistening in the morning dew, and immediately go full nope. Me? I’m over here admiring the architecture like it belongs in an art museum. Little galaxies spun overnight by eight-legged engineers who apparently skipped the memo about “no scaffolding without permits.” Tell me I’m not the only one who thinks dew-covered webs are straight-up magic. Because if loving tiny nature masterpieces is weird… well, welcome to my world.
If you want your brand to blend in, you don’t need If you want your brand to blend in, you don’t need me. But if you want images that actually feel like you — the grit, the personality, the “hell yes, this is what we do” energy — that’s where I come in. My branding sessions aren’t stiff headshots and fake smiles. They’re real moments, real spaces, real stories. Because authentic images come from authentic places… and your brand deserves more than canned stock photos and awkward poses. Whether you’re a maker, a builder, a brewer, a healer, or a full-on entrepreneurial badass, I’ll capture who you are in a way that stands out — loudly, confidently, and unmistakably you. Let’s make your brand look as unique as the work you pour your heart into. #PNWBrandPhotography #SmallBusinessStorytelling #AuthenticBrandImages
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ChaRee DiFabio 2 months ago
Missy has taken our family photos over the years and we are never disappointed. She is smart, kind, ambitious and an outstanding photographer!
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Laurie N 2 months ago
Missy made my daughter’s senior photo shoot a truly joyful experience. She’s not only an exceptionally talented photographer but also has a gift for drawing out genuine smiles, even from the most nervous subjects. My daughter is incredibly camera shy and was worried she’d look “awkward,” but from the moment we met Missy, she was at ease. I’m so glad we chose the package with all the digital images—Missy captured so many stunning shots, I couldn’t have chosen just a few. I can’t thank her enough for making the process fun and beautifully capturing such a pivotal moment in my daughter’s life.
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Kristin Nordberg 3 months ago
Missy Fant took beautiful photos of my child. She was wonderful to work with, friendly, and fun. She suggested delightfully photogenic spots around Vancouver, WA. I highly recommend her.
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Jackson McCoy 5 months ago
Missy is truly amazing! Due to unforeseen circumstances we had to find a photographer for our May 2025 wedding with only about a month to spare and we were so lucky to come across Missy. She immediately put us at ease with her humor and down to earth personality.
Day of the wedding she arrived early, took amazing photos, stayed a little late to get some final shots of us with our family and almost immediately sent us a sneak peek of some of the pictures.
If you are in need of someone who obviously loves their work and puts their all into each and every picture, Missy is your best friend!
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