Who is Ladystardust?

I’m Laura Blackheart, a Portland OR photographer.

My photographic career started 15 years ago in San Francisco, shooting rock bands and working at a camera shop to pay my way through art school. In 2000, the hubby & I moved to Portland looking for a better life.  Portland works for us.  Riding the wave of technology from film to digital, I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful and talented photographers, art directors, and assistants.  Over the years I managed a commercial photo studio and freelanced as a professional Photoshopper, and have also run the gamut with clients like Adidas, Portland Monthly Magazine, and Sub Pop Records.  I feel so lucky to have been able to make a living within the medium that I love.

I took time off to have children (2 boys), and found myself wanting to work for fewer “clients” and more PEOPLE.  People who have kids, are about to have kids, or like to dress up their pug in a Christmas sweater.  People who are celebrating the amazing little lights in their lives.  So my business has shifted to documenting family.  Babies with the big chubby fat knees that you just want to eat up. Kids being kids. Pregnant ladies who are so incredible and radiant even when they feel like elephants.  Oh my gosh I love those big bellies.

I find joy in making photographs to remember by.  Time moves so fast – a photograph is the only way to stop it for just one second and make something to look back on for the rest of your life.  Images that are meant to last forever should capture you in a comfortable environment.  I don’t put time constraints on a session; sometimes we are done in an hour, and sometimes it takes four to get everyone comfy and showing real smiles. And if I need to come back another day to catch the kids in a better mood, then that’s what we’ll do.

Relaxed should be the word of the day when we document your family. Hope we get a chance to do it soon.  Thanks for visiting.

(Just to answer the common question, I’ve had this domain name since way back in the 1990′s. “Lady Stardust” is a David Bowie tune on the Ziggy Stardust album, in case you wanted to look it up. “Lady” is the nickname my father has had for me since I was a kid.)