Jaquilyn Shumate Photography – Tacoma Portraiture & Collage Art Seattle & Tacoma Editorial & Portrait Photographer

We were all excited for Travis’ brother, Cory, and his wife, Danielle to have their first child. Danielle was beautiful as a pregnant woman, and is now a beautiful mother.


Travis and I were so happy to hear of Max’s arrival on Thursday. He is a perfect baby, and we love him so much.

While we were in Utah over Christmas, we had the opportunity to meet up with Shannon, Derek and their two beautiful girls, Evelyn and Emery, for a portrait session. Shannon and I met in a art school several years back, and it seemed to us that we were always friends. I will never forget the joyous news of her expecting a baby, because it was at our wedding reception! Little did we know then that she would have twins! Shannon is a photographer, a sweet mother and an amazing writer. Her family is beautiful.

We met the Broadbent family at Trevor and Sydney’s wedding early last year and were excited to meet up with them again for some quick family portraits over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Jessica and David were in town from Arizona a little bit ago visiting family, and we had the opportunity to photograph them. They are a sweet couple with the cutest little boy, Emmett! We had so much fun playing on Jessica’s parents’ property right on Lake Steilacoom.

Today, we hung out with Jeramie, Bethany and Evey. We showed them around Tacoma, ate good food, laughed and played at the park. I couldn’t pass up the chance to take a few frames of them. They’re a beautiful little family and we’re stoked to have new friends!

Our super friends, Evan and Lindsay, and their daughter Nina, met us in Utah recently as we traveled down for my sister’s graduation. We spent a nice weekend together, enjoying the heat and a little relaxation. Their family is so beautiful and they will be welcoming another girl to the family this summer! We are thrilled for them and their growing family!

Several weeks ago we were contacted by the Williams family to photograph them as a whole- for the first time. Their youngest son was serving a mission for the LDS Church. While he was away for two years, four grandchildren were born! We were thrilled at the opportunity because they have such a wonderful family, but a little apprehensive because we knew this would be difficult and maybe even emotional for us.

Kathy, the mother, was diagnosed with brain cancer about eight months ago. We knew (and they mentioned) these would most likely be the last family portraits with her.

The morning of the scheduled shoot, it was pouring rain. I thought many times about just canceling them for the time because there was no where large enough to photograph all these people and make them look half way decent. I thought about just not doing it and telling them it just wouldn’t work. I made the phone call and things changed immediately. Ron, the husband answered with a happy, chipper tone saying, “Are you ready for this crazy bunch, Jaqui?” I could hear kids laughing in the background as he tried to speak over the noise. I replied, “Of course! I am glad to hear you guys are still on and willing to brave the weather!” We planned the location and I told him we were excited to do this. He concurred.

We went to the planned location and scoped out a few spots. It was drizzling a little, so I started to get nervous. As the family arrived and we got everything set up, the sun came out and shone brightly. We could hardly keep our eyes open it was so bright! They all seemed so happy and calm. I was amazed. Once we were done and driving home, it started to rain again. A lot. And that let me know me how important it was to take these portraits. All we needed was 30 minutes of sunshine.

I kept thinking to myself, how selfish was I thinking of postponing the shoot! Ron’s voice changed my whole attitude about that day. Because although they were the ones having the photographs done, I got the most out of it. Things work out. They always do, if you have the faith. If I just decided it wasn’t going to work, I would not have the sweet experience of capturing this family in the last weeks of their mother, grandmother and wife’s life.

Here are a few of my favorites

Kathy died only a couple weeks after these photographs were taken. This has been the most important thing I have done as a photographer, and I thank Heavenly Father for this humbling experience. These photographs are not the most innovative or creative work I have done or will do, but to me they represent so much more. They represent a family that is eternal. One that death cannot tear apart. I have learned to try to keep an eternal perspective on the decisions I make and the things that occupy my time. Because when we die, most of the things we do here will not matter. Everything else seems trivial.

Kathy was such a wonderful woman. I didn’t know her as well as most, but it was obvious to me what a great woman she was. Full of so much love, kindness and laughter. She was charitable, selfless and thoughtful.

The love and faith Ron and Kathy shared will forever be burned into my heart. I wish I could thank her and hug her for this wonderful experience.

Click here to read Kathy Talbot Williams’s obituary.

This post is going to make my mother cry. My brother, Devin, and his family recently moved from Tacoma to South Carolina, leaving no grandchildren close to my parents. We all miss them so much. They are a beautiful family, and Jaquilyn and I love each one of them dearly.









This last photograph perfectly illustrates their family dynamic. One is crying, one is laughing, three are behaving, and one is being a mom.

Meet the Schwabs! We recently shot their family portraits down at Chamber’s Bay in University Place. We had wonderful weather and a great time! We love this family. They were troopers! It may not look like it, but it was freezing!