Ada (she/her)
Born in a Polish village. Raised in Southeast Ohio. Currently living in Portland, Oregon.
I am a film-forward documentary photographer & visual artist. I have had a camera in my hands since I was seven and I have been taking photos professionally for thirteen years.
Growing up, I would spend hours rummaging through a giant drawer of old film photographs in my babcia’s (grandmother) house: witnessing births, holidays, weddings, snapshots of daily life, funerals. Looking into the eyes of those who are no longer with us. From a young age, I understood that photos play a large role in telling the story of our lives.
I make images with reverence and nostalgia for the present moment. Photographing in the documentary style allows me to deeply appreciate life exactly as it is; us exactly as we are. I am interested in honest storytelling, focusing on candid & real moments, that reflect back the unique feeling of the day.
I enjoy working with creatives, weirdos, healers, & tender hearts. Folks who value authenticity over perfection and true presence over performance.
I would be honored to make photos with you.
P.S. Curious how to pronounce my name? You can hear it here.
Client Testimonials
We just received our family gallery and I am blown away! Ada has a true gift for capturing the 'real' moments. We were worried about the kids being fussy, but Ada was patient, kind and flexible and made the entire session feel like a fun afternoon at the park rather than a stressful photoshoot. The lighting, the composition, and the emotions captured in these photos are something we will treasure forever. If you’re looking for someone to capture your family’s true personality, Ada is the photographer for you!
— Dena
Ada is truly an expert of this craft. Her warmth, playfulness, and fruitful guidance made it an incredibly fun, magical, and creative experience! She takes photos that make you think, "I can't wait to show these to my grandchildren someday." I highly, highly recommend working with (or rather, playing/exploring/laughing) with her! Ada's ability to capture your essence and crystalize it in time is a gift.
— Karen
Ada is holding you gently behind the camera. She has a good sense for how to collaborate: when to direct, when to lean back, when to break into laughter, when to get quiet. She's going to want to know what you want to capture, and she's going to see things you won't. Somewhere between those two things is where the magic is in her photos. If you are new to having your picture taken she will provide a space to get comfy. If you are a seasoned vet she will delight in trying to find new angles with you! Ada has taken photos for my music project in both live and studio settings. I liked them so much I put them all over the insert of my last record.
— Julian