Hi! My name is Colleen Martinelli

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I live and base my business in the Beaverton/Hillsboro side of Portland, Oregon. But, I do photo shoots all over the Portland area. I’ve always got at least one camera with me at all times, taking pictures of the people and sights around me. I love being a small business owner! It allows me to be creative and personalize my business in a way that best suits my clients and myself.

HOW I BECAME A PHOTOGRAPHER

I picked up my passion for photography at a young age. As a child, I almost always had a Kodak film camera in my hand, constantly taking pictures of my friends and family. Since then, not much has changed, haha! I got my first digital camera for my ninth birthday. That year, I began taking one-on-one photography lessons with a local, professional photographer and started taking photos (as well as my first selfie seen below.)

I booked my first portrait photography session in 2017. Since then, my business and love of photography has only continued to grow and become a constant in my life. I’ve had the privilege to photograph many more fantastic clients all over the Portland area- you could be my next client!

WHO I PHOTOGRAPH

The term “portrait photographer” can be a confusing one. In short, what I don’t photograph are events such as weddings. Although, if you need portraits for an event, I got you. My work has no limit on age or gender. I photograph kids, teens, and adults alike! Whether it’s for high school senior photos or business headshots, I’m your photographer!

Myself as an Artist

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. At a very young age my favorite means of creating art were drawing and ceramics. Over the years, I’ve continued to practice this as as well as other mediums and methods of art. Currently, my primary art practice is acrylic painting. In addition, I love exploring illustrating & painting with different mediums and surfaces, particularly on various wooden surfaces. Painting ceramics is another creative outlet that I also love. I currently get and fire my ceramic bisque from Jan’s Ceramics in Aloha, OR (check out her business!) In addition to ceramics, you can currently find one of other my crafted products, beaded bracelets at Barre3 at Orenco Station in Hillsboro, OR.

I have been doing art installations and galleries since December 2021. My installations include acrylic paintings, ink illustrated wooden plaques, and occasionally various crafted products. To see some of this work go to the Home- Fine Art tab on the website. I am currently booking more installations for 2024. To contact me, go to my Contact Me/Inquiries tab or email me at artbycolleenm@gmail.com. This is also where you contact me about art piece commissions.

A very proud 9 year old Colleen taking her very first selfie with her first digital camera in 2010- the beginnings to becoming a photographer!

When I’m not taking photos or making art, I also love spending time with my family. My immediate family includes my mom, dad, and my little brother (and our pets!) We love spending time outdoors, doing game nights, watching movies, playing sports, and going on excursions together. Family and friendships are the most important thing to me in my life, and I love being able to capture our memories through my camera lens.

I graduated in spring 2022 from Portland State University with a major in Arts Practice and a double minor in theater and business. I’m enjoying life post undergraduate and looking at graduate school in the future. I currently work as a teacher at Oregon Children’s Theatre and also as an academic teacher at a learning center in Beaverton.

I’ve always got my camera in my hand! I especially love taking photos during my travels. England, Ireland, Italy, Arizona, and the Oregon Coast were some of my favorite places I went to in the past year with my camera.

Nice to Meet You!

Here’s A Few Fun Facts About Me:

  • I have a degree in Arts Practice with a double minor in Theatre and Business from Portland State University

  • I have a pet parakeet and three other pets at home

  • I’m a huge tea enthusiast

  • I have over 500 polaroid photos

  • I have no connection to the Martinelli’s apple cider company ;)

  • I love animals, especially cows, llamas, alpacas, and dogs

  • Reality t.v. is my guilty pleasure

  • Pastel colors are my favorite

  • I love making friends!! (especially through art & photography)

  • I love walking through museums

  • I think doing photography is the best and most rewarding job :)