Emily Walls 11/24/25 Emily Walls 11/24/25

Farm Brand Photos: Why would we take photos of spent flowers?

Kari Parks, flower farmer and owner of Flourish Organic Farms sitting in her garden of wilted flowers

While not as vibrant as the growing season, following a killing frost, a flower farm has its own beauty and importance to the farm work after the blooms have faded: The clean up, the care and planning that goes into seed saving and digging up tubers, composting the crumpled, unharvested blooms, and celebrating what the land has given over the season. This is where the next season begins, which is why I asked Kari Parks from Flourish Organic Farms in Arlington, WA, if we could document the end of her seventh season - her putting the farm to bed to see the growing season from the other side.

During the shoot, we took our time strolling through her spent flowers and enjoying the sun’s warmth. While we talked, Kari showed me the different types of seeds she had already saved, dug up dahlia tubers, saved more seeds, experimented with hammer dyeing her flowers onto journals, and even let me see where she keeps her everlasting flowers. We referenced the mood board I had put together and posed a few photos in the field, but mostly I photographed Kari doing the hard work a flower farmer puts into her field and beds to get them ready for the next season, and enjoying the flowers that were left. The final gallery is a collection of images that show and honor how she nurtures her farm’s future.

After we were done, Kari and I asked ourselves what she would do with the photos since it’s typically beautiful photos of gorgeous in-season fields and blooms that help sell flowers. Do these photos have a place on social media and Pinterest? They do. When farms think about branding photos and how to use them to tell their story across their marketing, it’s important to show the whole process, and the people, along with the visually pleasing products and pretty landscapes. It humanizes the business. Letting customers behind the fence shows them the care and hard work that goes into growing produce and flowers and raising livestock. It builds connections and trust that can translate to loyalty. I’m already looking forward to working with farms in 2026 to create content that matters and help them gain visibility.

Thank you, Kari, for having me on the farm! It was a true treat to spend the day with you.

Kari Parks, flower farmer and owner of Flourish Organic Farms looking at her flowers

Kari Parks, flower farmer and owner of Flourish Organic Farms cutting back her wilted flowers

Kari Parks, flower farmer and owner of Flourish Organic Farms cutting her roses.

Roses on a tray at Flourish Organic Farms

Kari Parks, flower farmer and owner of Flourish Organic Farms holding cut flowers for dyeing

Seeds from Flourish Organic Farms on a bright blue tray

Kari Parks, flower farmer and owner of Flourish Organic Farms drying flowers from her farm

Larkspar seeds from Flourish Organic Farms

A hand extracting seeds from a dried Larkspar flower

Yellow flowers laid out to be hammer pressed into a journal

Woman sitting in a garden looking at a journal

Woman hammering flowers to dye a journal

Woman holding orange everlasting flowers

Emily Walls 11/21/25 Emily Walls 11/21/25

Artist Photography: Brand Photos with Printmaker, Leigh-Ann Friedel

I recently collaborated with Leigh-Ann Friedel, an artist and printmaker based in Seattle, Washington. She and I met when we both lived in Washington, DC, and since we both moved west, we have reconnected out here in the Pacific Northwest. Her studio is located within BallardWorks, and it is full of the nature, bird, and plant-inspired prints that she has been creating. I loved spending the day with her, capturing her process, artwork, and artist headshots.

While we took photos, she was working on two different projects. One is an upcoming release that I can’t wait to share. The one published here is of her carving a bird for a daily project she took on in October called, #Birdtober. You can check out her whole collection of bird prints from the month on her Instagram account, @Leighannmakes.

The curated and robust suite of images I delivered from the shoot can be used across all of her marketing channels to showcase how she creates, the materials she uses, and the final results.

Printmaker, Leigh-Ann Friedel, carving a bird into a linoleum black to create a linocut print

Printmaker, Leigh-Ann Friedel, inking a linocut block to print a bird

A disco ball lit by a lamp in Leigh-Ann Friedel's studio

Portrait of Leigh-Ann Friedel, Seattle Printmaker

Printmaker, Leigh-Ann Friedel, pressing a linocut block of a bird to make a print

Prints and sketches in Leigh-Ann Friedel's studio

Printmaker, Leigh-Ann Friedel, holding a linocut print of a bird

Print making and ink rolling tools in Leigh-Ann Friedel's Ballard Studio

Emily Walls 9/30/25 Emily Walls 9/30/25

Artist, Musician & Photographer Seattle Mini Sessions

When I started putting together my mini-sessions for 2025, I knew I wanted to work with artists, musicians, and other photographers alongside families. The short sessions are perfect for grabbing a few photos of new work, updating your profile photos and headshots, documenting your process en plein air and playing outside. Along with inspiring landscapes, The Center for Urban Horticulture has beautiful buildings, fountains, and seating areas that are made for photos. Here are a few ways you could use photos from a mini-session:

Update your website
Create social media content
Refresh your portfolio

Bring your works in progress, sketch books, cameras, and instruments, and let’s take branding photos off your to-do list!

My 2025 Seattle mini sessions are on October 11th at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Click here to learn more and book.

Want to book a full session at your studio? Let’s talk!

Book a mini session

Emily Walls 9/8/25 Emily Walls 9/8/25

Mini Sessions at Center for Urban Horticulture (UW Botanic Gardens)

I’m scheduling Seattle, WA mini sessions at the Center for Urban Horticulture on October 11, 2025. Here’s a little background on the location and my booking link.

If you are looking for a spot for earthy photos in Seattle, Washington, The Center for Urban Horticulture (UW Botanic Gardens) is a great option with what feels like endless leafy, floral backgrounds. A short walk from the parking lot (parking here was easy, btw!) brings you to a gorgeous fountain. Go down the small hill, and you are in a grove of trees. Walk along the paths and you will find yourself in a small forest. Just beyond that is an open field with gorgeous lighting.

I cannot wait to do mini sessions here again in October. With ample options throughout the gardens, I can offer families and individuals multiple backgrounds even in a short time frame. The variety of locations also means that no matter the time of day of your session, you will leave with a collection of stunning, frame-worthy images.

My 2025 Seattle mini sessions are on October 11, 2025. Click here to learn more and book.

Book a mini session

Mother laughing and hugging her daughter

couple sitting on the edge of a fountain holding each other

Family of four stanindg together laughing

father holding daughter's hand walking through the woods

Mom holding son looking at a bird feeder

woman and son walking on a trail with their dog

Emily Walls 1/9/25 Emily Walls 1/9/25

Photo shoot outfits: Mix those Patterns

I’m a big fan of color and mixing up patterns. I love that toddlers can get away with one print on top and a completely different pattern on the pants. So how about adults try it?

For this shoot the family went wild wearing three different patterns, all in purple. From a distance you think the father’s shirt is solid, but nope! It’s teeny tiny polka dots. Scroll down to see upclose.

All to say, for your own shoot you can be daring and each wear a different pattern. The key is to choose a color palette that is woven throughout the outfits. I also suggest limiting the large patterns to one or two family members depending on party size.

Now you just have to pick who in your family would wear the craziest pattern!