Aralani Photography - Portland, Oregon

Riannon B.

Ara just did our engagement photos for me and my fiance. We were beyond pleased. After hours of looking online for a photographer that understood the vision I wanted, she had it and did not disappoint. Ara knew where to go, and how to use our time effectively. Ara is absolutely down to earth, and I cannot wait for her to help us finish planning our elopement adventure scheduled for September. This girl goes above and beyond what is expected. I say this as a former wedding coordinator and all too experienced bridesmaid, she’s the whole package.

Rachel C.

Words could not express how overjoyed I am that we decided to elope in Oregon with the help of Ara. From looking at the photos on her website to the first ten minutes of our first phone call, we knew Ara would be the best person to capture our wedding day. Perhaps without realizing it, she generated a ton of excitement in my then-fiance to actually go through with the elopement plan. We bonded over Star Wars, and the rest was a breeze! She helped us narrow down what locations would best capture the experience we were looking for, gave advice for places to hike while in town, and recommended some amazing officiants and hair/make-up vendors. On the day of Ara was a delight to work with. She gave simple instructions to help us experience the moment, but still allowed her to take amazing photographs. My husband and I got to have a romantic, cute, cuddly day, with absolutely no stress, surrounded by beautiful scenery. Now, the pictures we received from Ara help us cherish these moments that were so elegantly captured in her photography. From butterfly kisses and skipping through fields, to wildflower picking and mild rock climbing, if you want an adventurous elopement Ara is the one!

Heather A.

After 10 years of being a couple, my boyfriend and I finally decided that we wanted to make things official. We are older and had both been married before and decided that this time we wanted to have a wedding that reflected us and our desires rather than our families. In March 2016 we visited the Columbia River Gorge for the first time, and much like our relationship, it was love at first sight so we knew this would be the location for our wedding/elopement. After weeks of researching Portland photographers, I happened upon Ara. Her photos seem to convey the essence of the couple and the surroundings, so in my gut I knew she was the one. Once I had spoken with her on the phone, I felt a connection and I knew we were in safe hands with her. Ara helped plan our entire event, from suggestions on our wedding location, floral ideas, hair and makeup, our "hiking" judge officiant, even her amazing friend that she coaxed to come on our adventure with us as our witness; in a nutshell she planned our whole day perfectly. I should add that all this planning was done approximately 4 months before our wedding though phone calls and email as we live in Colorado. Her photos of us captured the true essence of who we are, individually and as a couple and the magic that was our wedding. My words can not convey the gift she gave us through her artistry. She even somehow made old people look...less old? Ara will always be our friend and who we will chose if we ever need any photos of us or the beauty of the places she has traveled.

Nadia D.

I am so happy that Ara photographed our elopement. I was captivated by her portfolio from the beginning—she had the exact vibe and style we were going for on our big day. From our first chat, she was so personable and helpful with location scouting and logistics. We had an unexpected change in our location and I'm so grateful she was able to accommodate and still shoot for us.

Beyond the quality of her art and photos which speak for themselves, what really impressed me was how organized and helpful she was in coordinating our day. Because we eloped with only close family present, our setup was pretty loose. We hadn't really rehearsed how everything was going to go. There are so many little things you don't think about for your wedding day until you're there in the moment. Once Ara arrived on the scene, she was extremely helpful in coordinating logistics so things went smoothly. Simply put, she knows what she's doing! Ara was super efficient and professional, while being friendly and an all-around pleasure to work with.

Ara captured some absolutely beautiful moments of my husband and I, and our family. We'll smile at these precious memories for years to come. I would 10/10 recommend her and hope we get to shoot with her again someday!

Kirsten H.

Ara is indescribable. She is the absolute best person to have on your side at your wedding. The fact that folks will go to her for engagement, wedding, first baby, etc. is a true testament to her skill as a photographer and her genuine nature as a person. My wife and I were (Are) absolutely thrilled by the work that she did for us and are excited by the prospect of having more photos taken in the future.

Ara will go to the top of a mountain (literally) for you and will travel where you need her to go to get those photographs you have always dreamed of. I would highly recommend her for your special days.

Holly R.

Ara is so talented and amazing to work with. She sees the colors and light in a different way that produces the most brilliant images. Our engagement photos needed to be rescheduled three times due to our travel plans. In a wind and hail storm the skies parted and the light danced just right. She was comfortable with our dog being part of our photo session and getting the images requested by our parents. After our wedding Ara traveled four states away, hiked 9 miles on sand covered trails to bring my vision to life. Ara helped me into my dress, fixed my hair and gave me posing tips. She knelt in freezing water to capture the light, the water, the perfect image. We woke early and caught the sunlight on the Red Rocks of Zion National Park the next morning. Once again she helped me into my dress, pinned my hair and helped me dance across the sandstone hills as the sun kissed the rocks and the wind tossed my handmade veil across my face. I am grateful for her talent and insight but above all I am grateful for her friendship and will gladly have her capture the events of my life.

Abbie A.

I could not recommend Ara enough to be a part of one of the most important days of your life. Her kindness, compassion and knowledge of the East Cost areas are superb. From the moment we first spoke to her on the phone a year away from our wedding date we knew how much she cared about the couples she works for. She went above and beyond for all of our needs. We changed the date AND location after some pre wedding decision jitters and she was perfect to work with every step of the way. She helped guide us in what scenic location outdoors we wanted and what would work the best. The photos came out STUNNING, every photo was perfect we are very happy. If you choose to have Ara as your photographer, you will not regret it.

Cherie B.

I found Ara's work online after searching many hours for someone who would capture the spirit of adventure that my husband and I are so passionate about. After looking through Ara's portfolio, I had a feeling she would capture our elopement perfectly. I spoke with Ara early on, and felt so comfortable and understood immediately. We had several phone conversations leading up to the elopement, and I was SO grateful for Ara's insights on scheduling, itinerary, dinner recommendations, and other vendor recommendations. Since I'm not from the area, her wisdom was so, so helpful, and she helped redirect plans and navigate through any stumbles we encountered. On the day of our wedding, Ara arrived exactly on time and led us through such a grand and beautiful adventure. She allowed us flexibility with our schedule, never rushed us, but was considerate with the agenda we created. She was patient, fun, creative, and we seriously had THE BEST DAY ever! When she sent us the photos, I almost cried. They were more beautiful than I ever could imagine. Ara's work is absolute magic, and the way she captured us, the beautiful nature around us, and our family was perfect in every way. We are so grateful to have worked with Ara- she is a magical artist and a fantastic person.