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HEATHER MCFORD — CASCADIAN EXPOSURES
“Let’s make this day yours”
That’s kinda the whole point, yeah?
You’ve already pictured your ideal day: present, free, a little messy in the best way. The people who matter most are there (whether that’s just the two of you or a handful of your favorite humans), the air smells of pine and salt, and somehow it feels like you’ve just exhaled for the first time.
That’s where we start. Together, we’ll trade rules, performance, and the need to impress for a day that’s wholly yours and photographs that whisper we were here, and we lived every second.
The best parts of your story weren’t staged
We’re certainly not starting now
You two have the whole “us” part down. You don’t need to know what to do with your hands. Or your face. Or your bouquet. Just show up, be in love, and I’ll take care of the rest, quietly preserving everything from the big feelings to the stolen glances.
The kiss you couldn’t hold back in the middle of your vows
Your partner wiping the mist off your glasses mid-hike
Champagne popping on the balcony of your forest A-frame
Your best friend laughing so hard they spill wine by the campfire
The quiet hand squeeze before you walk toward the overlook
The chef plating your first meal as newlyweds in a mountain lodge
The little look you share when you realize: this is our life now
Some people grow into their work
Mine raised me
I was lucky enough to grow up in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, where the river and woods felt more like home than the walls marking my address. My parents were photographers, so learning to read light, anticipate moments, and notice what others often miss came early. But what shaped me even more was the place itself.
The Pacific Northwest taught me that beauty doesn’t need to be directed. You can’t choreograph mist rolling through the valley or ask the sun to hit a peak just right. You wait for it. You witness it. You slow down long enough to notice.
Those same instincts guide how I photograph couples. I watch more than I interfere. I listen to who my couples are and help them find places that fit their story while honoring the land we’re exploring. I look for beauty in what’s right there, because your love already holds everything worth seeing. Then I hand it back to you exactly as it felt.
Oh, and I understand the itch to ditch tradition
Because we did the same damn thing
We planned the big wedding. Did the whole thing: guest list, decor, taste testing, and about thirty-six other “shoulds.” Hated it. Canceled it. Booked a flight to Hawaii and said our vows on a volcano. Hands down, best decision ever.
Once we ditched one rule, we couldn’t stop. So we combined our last names into McFord. Now I’m literally the only Heather McFord in existence. One of one. Google it.
So yeah, I’m totally on board for making your day exactly what you want it to be. My only question is, where are we going?
The Pacific Northwest Is My Forever Muse
Born here, raised here, still obsessed
You won’t have a hard time finding a beautiful view here. The hard part is finding the one that feels like yours: an overlook that’s empty at sunset, a tide that won’t sneak up mid-vow, an A-frame cabin tucked away from the world.
That’s where I come in. I’ve spent years (my whole life actually) learning this landscape and the people who bring it to life. From private chefs and florists who hike with their gear to pilots who will drop you off at an island and planners who keep the day running so you can just live it. When I say I know someone or some place for that, whatever “that” is, I mean it.
How to work with Heather McFord
ELOPEMENTS
INTIMATE WEDDINGS
VOW RENEWALS
PROPOSALS
ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS
COUPLES SESSIONS