meet haley
hi! i’m haley (they/she)
born + raised in southern california,
i’m a queer film photographer now living in portland, oregon.
i’ve been professionally documenting humans + the world around me for… 8? 9? years (whoa) and shooting film professionally for 4 years - a camera has been glued to my hand for as long as i can remember.
to me, photography is a creative entity. it’s a dance with vulnerability and empowerment, it’s a tool that we get to use to memorialize these fleeting moments in our lives. photographs gift us the chance to breathe life into the stillness of a memory - at the end of the day, these moments are what we find ourselves clinging to, for years to come.
living an honest, authentic and creative life is something that’s really important to me, and i like to think that my work really reflects that, too. initially getting my start documenting concerts, festivals, and every music infused moment in between - i decided to switch gears back in 2020 and lean into the softer, more intimate moments - portraiture, branding, weddings/couples and more.
essentially, i dusted off my film camera and moved to portland - and the rest is truly history.
i am a firm believer that capturing the small, intimate moments - the in-betweens - is what’s most important, and creating and holding a space where my subject feels both safe, and inspired to push an edge - is what i strive for, every time.
i’m here to capture your unique story, i’m here to cultivate a container for you to really step into yourself. and at the end of the day, i want you to leave our session feeling seen, inspired and confident as hell - period.
getting to make art for a living has given me a life beyond my wildest dreams. getting to be a witness to some of the most intimate, transformative moments in peoples lives, has molded and changed me for the better. i am who i am, because of what i get to do. to get to travel the world, capturing humans in the most organic and meaningful way… like, what the hell!
what a gift, what an absolute gift to get to be the record keeper of these moments. i don’t take it for granted, it is my absolute honor to be immersed in such a big, beautiful, creative life.
i think overall - to know me is to know that i wear my heart on my sleeve. and i hope that by doing so - i can really create and hold that space for my clients to do the same, too.
i think it’s important for us, as humans, to fully embrace who we are. to lean into all the different parts of our story - and allow those bits and pieces to carry us into our time spent making photos together.
so often, when booking clients, i am met with:
“oh but i am so uncomfortable in front of the camera..”
or “i hate getting my picture taken!”
or “this feels really vulnerable/scary.”
to which i answer:
yes! yes, being captured is confronting, it’s raw, it’s real. and i’ll be here to guide you, direct you, and hold that space - every step of the way. i think it’s wildly important to name that being photographed is a vulnerable act, and it’s my top priority to cultivate a space that feels both engaging and inspiring and fun - together.
by showing up as my full, silly, authentic and vulnerable self - i really hope it gives you the permission to do the same, too. after all, we’re doing this together, yeah? it’s a collaboration, a creative act, an incredible gift - to get to freeze these moments in time together.
if you’re here for the slowness, the realness, the imperfections of film, the magic of coming alive and want to make something really f*cking special together.. hey! hi. i’m your human.
and i’d absolutely love to work with you.
who am i when i’m not creating?
a micro deep dive into off duty me.
i’m a pisces sun, capricorn rising and gemini moon.
and when i’m not behind the camera, you can find me curating playlists at home, hanging at a park or a river with my friends, definitely out on a late night dance floor immersing myself in new sounds, often on stoney walks around the neighborhood, usually in my notes app writing long form and stream of consciousness pieces that are inspired by being in a deeply reflective state, moving my body within the heat of a hot yoga studio, immersing myself in nature, sipping matcha at a cute cafe in pdx, or scrolling through airbnb + pinterest + tumblr (yes, tumblr) + making vision boards as though my life depends on it (because it does) etc.
my favorite movies consist of ‘arrival’ + ‘all of us strangers’ + ‘i orgins’ + ‘aftersun’ + ‘interstellar’ + ‘victoria’ and ‘inception’ (clearly there’s a theme lmao)
my favorite shows would be ‘one day’ + ‘normal people’ + ‘beef’ + ‘parks and rec’ + ‘fleabag’ + ‘euphoria’ and ‘ripley’
my favorite landscape is the desert and if i wasn’t living in portland, i’d be living in berlin ★⋆. ࿐࿔
sounds like we’d vibe on more than a working level?
sweet. and hi hello, i’d love to be your friend.
sweet words from past clients..
“working with haley is a very special experience. it was my first time doing a photoshoot for my art brand, and she instantly made me feel so connected & comfortable. she is an artist and creates genuine magic every time she steps behind the lens. her portfolio speaks for itself but her work is what it is because of who she is and how she views humans and the world. absolutely recommend working with her to get photos that you'll always cherish from a moment in time.”
— neeka alami
“absolutely have LOVED being captured by haley throughout the years. the most enjoyable human to work with hands down. her ability to truly understand your vision yet creating a space where you just let go knowing she's about to bring your crazy gorgeous light to the forefront. worked with her on a high conceptual project and those are easily my favorite pictures ever. everything from the dedication to her craft, the experience itself, the unique point of view, and editing is so thoughtful and inclusive. i admire the time she takes to let everyone of all backgrounds truly shine! :') 10/10 recommend.”
— geneva martinez
“haley has a keen eye for colors, lighting and composition. her passion for her craft results in stunning, timeless images. i was blown away by the level of detail and clarity captured on film. the results truly exceeded my expectations.
what really sets haley apart, though, is her ability to make her subjects feel beautiful and confident. she has a warm and friendly personality that immediately puts you at ease,
i highly recommend haley to anyone looking for a skilled and personable photographer. her talent is evident in every aspect of her work, and i can't wait to work with her again in the future. thank you again, haley, for an amazing experience!”
— alyssa durant
“HALEY IS TRULY the best human and creative i’ve had the pleasure to work with. they have continuously showed up for me in my journey as an artist and have taken the most beautiful and unique film and digital photos of my process as a muralist, painter, and sculpture. i’ve been working with haley for three years and the final photographs are sent with such a quick turnaround and with care/love towards the editing… they have the ability to bring my true raw authentic self through the lens and elevate me and my practice. 💙 recommend 10/10”
— salomée souag
“haley made me feel so comfortable and seen in our photoshoot. she very gently directs you on how to pose and leaves space for your own expression too. i use she/they pronouns so most people just use “she” and haley was one of the first people to address me with “they”… she had no idea but it was really special. with that, haley creates a very safe and inclusive environment. the overall experience was incredible and i wish she lived closer so i could create more art with her”
— erin landa
“i worked with haley on a media team for an international festival and immediately was drawn to her ability to capture moments that felt natural yet ethereal. i've seen her work grow tremendously as she's leaned into her craft with film photography which defines her work visually. her commitment to capturing what speaks to her vs what is typically seen in event, branding and wedding photography is what draws me to working with her. we've done a number of branding and portrait sessions in special locations. each time i left feeling more inspired to lean deeper into my work and self. her gift is being able to draw out the individual spark and to empower everyone she photographs. can't recommend her enough if you're looking for a photographer to connect with beyond just taking a photo.”
— tenley spencer
“the worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. the worst walls are the ones you put there.”
- ursula k le guin