Kathryn Elsesser Photography Blog

Lifestyle, Travel, Vineyards and Wineries

Vineyard Photography in Oregon’s Illinois Valley

August 10, 2017

This past spring, I took a road trip to take photos for a feature story for Oregon Wine Press. I had never been to the Illinois Valley before and was excited to visit a new wine growing region in Oregon. Driving down from Portland the area seemed quite remote and beautiful with stunning views of the Siskiyou Mountains. Unfortunately once I got to my destination it rained almost every day with the exception of one afternoon when I went to visit Deer Creek Vineyards. It was not until then that I was fully able to appreciate how special this area is. Because I had never stayed in a tree house before I made arrangements to spend one night at Out’n’Abut Treehouse Tresort. I loved it and it was delightful to go to sleep up in the trees.

Out ‘N’ About Tree house in the Illinois Valley, Oregon

Deer Creek, Bridgeview, Foris and Augustino Estate are all located near Cave Junction.

Bridgeview’s vines are planted along the Sucker Creek, which has recently become problematic as the vineyard is losing valuable land to the creek.

BridgeView Vineyards along Sucker Creek.

Rene Eichman 3rd generation wine maker and co-owner continues the European winemaking tradition.

Rene Eichmann winemaker and co-owne of BridgeView Vineyards in the Illinois Valley in Southern Oregon barrel tasting his Pinot Noir

Rene Eichmann winemaker and co-owner of BridgeView Vineyards in the Illinois Valley in Southern Oregon

Cellar Master, Joe Imholz at Bridgeview Winery inspecting wine

My one day of sunshine was happily spent at Deer Creek Vineyards with its breathtaking views of snow capped mountains. Owners Katherine and John Bryon restored this 1988 vineyard in 2010.

Deer Creek Winery in the Illinois Valley

Augustino Vineyard, the southern most vineyard in the valley is a relatively new comer to Oregon with it’s treehouse tasting room. Also boasting beautiful views of the Siskiyou Mountains, the porch of the tasting room is a great place to spend time enjoying their wine.

Augustino Vineyards at Rock’n’ranch

Augustino Vineyards at Rock’n’ranch on a cloudy morning

Augustino Vineyards at Rock’n’ranch

Foris Vineyards in the Illinois Valley, Oregon

The tree house tasting room Augustino Vineyards at Rock’n Ranch.

Wine and Cheese in the Tree house tasting room at Augustino Vineyards in the Illinois Valley, Oregon

Augustino Vineyard in the Illinois Valley, Oregon

Stephanie Pau recently joined Foris Vineyards as the vineyard’s new winemaker. She is the 4th, in the 30 year history of the winery. I am looking forward to trying her first vintage.

Foris Winery's winemaker Stephanie Pao barrel tasting.

Wine maker Stephanie Pa0

Food Photography

Product photography for One Fork Farm Caramels

March 20, 2017

David Herzog sprinkling Oregon’s Jacobsen salt over freshly made One Fork Farm Caramels in Mcminnville, Oregon

4 packages of One Fork Farm caramels

David Herzog owner of, as well as caramel maker for One Fork Farm Caramels, makes an outstanding and delicious product. So of course I was more than happy to photograph for his company. We decided to go with a “rustic” approach with the images that would complement their branding and packaging. It was also fun to style the caramels with the ingredients used in the various flavors. David wanted to create a product that used locally sourced ingredients such as Woodblock Chocolate, Jacobsen Salt and Portland’s Eastside Distilling. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite.

David Herzog cuttling his One Fork Farm Caramels for packaging.

Vanilla Bean One Fork Farm Caramels

One Fork Farm Below Deck Coffee Rum Horchata Caramels

Wild Honey One Fork Farm Caramels

Velvet Chocolate One Fork Farm Caramels

Food Photography, Lifestyle, Vineyards and Wineries

Photographing the 2017 Oregon Truffle Festival

March 14, 2017

From truffle inspired dinners to participation in actual truffle foraging with trained dogs there are many events associated with the Oregon Truffle Festival. It is a truly a unique event in the United States and draws people from across the country. The Truffle Festival expresses a sense of place like no other event. Against a backdrop of Oregon Wine Country and covering a span of 10 days it celebrates the rich bounty of Oregon wine, culinary delights and of course Oregon Truffles.

Woman’s hand holding a foraged truffle at the Oregon Truffle Festival

Truffle hunting in the winery at the Oregon Truffle Festival

Cooking with portable wood oven at Alexana Winery for the Oregon Truffle Festival

Culinary experience at Alexana Winery at Oregon Truffle festival 2017

Pinot Noir and Oregon Truffles at the Oregon Truffle festival 2017

Lunch at Alexana Winery for the Oregon Truffle Festival 2017 Oregon Truffle festival 2017

Slow cooked short ribs with Oregon White Truffles prepared by Sara Schafer of Irving Street Kitchen

Celebrating the Oregon Wine at Lady Hill Winery for the Oregon Truffle Festival

Celebrating Oregon Wine at Lady Hill Winery for the Oregon Truffle Festival

At Lady Hill Winery for the Oregon Truffle Festival Lunch

Lady Hill Winery luncheon for the Oregon Wine Festival

Black Truffle and chocolate cheesecake prepared by Sara Schafer of Irving Street Kitchen at Lady Hill Winery

Sara Schafer of Irving Street Kitchen at Lady Hill Winery

Farro and Truffle Risotto prepared by chef Jesse Kincheloe of Village Commissary Restaurant

Truffle infused lamb at Nick’s Cafe

Thistle Restaurant

Oregon Truffle

Appetizers at The Barberry

Fine Art Portrait, Vineyards and Wineries

Celebrating the Walla Walla Women of Wine Calendar for 2017

February 16, 2017

Last year I partnered with talented winery owner and winemaker Mary Derby of DAMA Wines to produce a fine art black and white portrait of the notable women of wine in Walla Walla. At first we thought it would be fun to feature naked women. We actually collaborated on a lovely portrait of Mary just wearing her muck boots while holding a glass of wine and sitting on a wine barrel. While quite a lovely photo, not all of the women were receptive to the idea of posing nude! I could not exactly blame them.

I was then inspired by Annie Leibovitz’s work on the 2016 Pirelli Calendar. I wanted to focus on the women’s strength and character, by having the images all in black and white in the same location. Ali Mayfield generously donated the production space at The Walls Winery before it opened to serve as a “studio.” To further the Leibovitz aesthetic, I painted my own canvas backdrops to emulate her photographic style. The calendar itself was beautifully defined by graphic designer Whit Gurley of Angled End Identities.

It was also important to the women that a portion of the sales, once printing expenses were covered, would be donated to the Enology and Viticulture scholarship program at Walla Walla Community College. At first Mary and I were concerned that there would not be enough women to include in a 12 month calendar. We ended up with 16 – not all winemakers, but all who have an influential role in the local industry.

Amy Alverez Wampfler wine maker for Abeja Winery

Darcey Fugman-Small of Woodward Canyon

Ashley Trout of Vital and March Cellars

A portrait of Anna and Kathleen Schafer of aMaurice Cellers for the Walla Walla women winemaker calendar

A portrait of Anna and Kathleen Schafer of aMaurice Cellars for the Walla Walla women winemaker calendar

Holly Turner winemaker for Three Rivers Winery

Elizabeth Bourcier, assistant wine maker and Cecile of Cayuse Vineyards

Mary Derby owner and winemaker for DAMA Wines.

Mary Derby owner and winemaker of DAMA Wines

Denise of Eisenhower Cellars

Marie-Eve Gilla, winemaker for Forgeron Cellars

Annette Bergevin general manager and co-founder of Bergevin Lane Vineyards

Annette Bergevin of Bergevin Lane Vineyards

Ali Mayfield of The Walls Vineyard.

A portrait of Nina Buty, founder and president of Buty Winery in Walla Walla, for the women and wine calendar

Nina Buty of Buty Winery

Julia Russell owner of Mansion Creek in Walla Walla, Washington

Julia Russell of Mansion Creek Cellars

Vineyards and Wineries

Mellen Meyer Winery

January 13, 2017

Back in November I had met Robert Mellen Rowett at a wine tasting industry event. I immediately fell in love with his sparkling wines. I was thrilled when shortly after, his business partner and wife Julie, contacted me to take some images to update their website for Mellen Meyer Winery. The first project was to collaborate on “winemaker” portraits. We had a vision of doing something that had a very northwest environmental winter feel to it. I definitely did not want a bright sunny day, and was hoping for a foggy morning. I was lucky and the weather was cloudy and misty and my subject photogenic!

Winemaker Rober Mellen Rowett and owner of Mellen Meyer WineryWinemaker Rober Mellen Rowett and owner of Mellen Meyer Winery

Robert Mellen Rowett of Mellen Meyer Winery

Winemaker Rober Mellen Rowett and owner of Mellen Meyer Winery

Robert Mellen Rowett owner and winemaker for Mellen Meyer Winery, inspecting winter vines in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

Robert Mellen Rowett winemaker and owner of Mellen Meyer Winery in the vineyard.

Winemaker Robert Mellen Rowett and owner of Mellen Meyer Winery.

Robert Mellen Rowett of Mellen Meyer Winery

Winemaker Rober Mellen Rowett and owner of Mellen Meyer Winery inspecting winter vines

Robert Mellen Rowett of Mellen Meyer Winery inspecting winter vines.

Robert Mellen Rowett of Mellen Meyer Winery

The next project was to photograph their bottles of sparkling wine, as well as his Pinot Noir. Mellen Myer Winery’s primary focus is 0n Methode Champenoise. They are a small or boutique producer creating high quality and delicious sparkling wine. For me it was especially fun to edit because the labels are so beautiful! Photographing wine bottles is tricky because they are glass their surfaces are highly reflective. It is important that the label is beautifully lit, because I recognize that vineyards put much thought and expense into producing those labels.

Mellen Meyer Rose de Saignee

Mellen Meyer Carey Creek Vineyard Sparkling 2015 Reisling

Mellen Meyer Pinot Noir

Uncategorized

Vineyard Life at Carlton Cellars Winery

November 26, 2016

Dave Grooters & Robin Russell of Carlton Cellars with their animal family

I have photographed for Carlton Cellars in the past, but this time Robin wanted to focus on the menagerie of donkeys, goats, chickens, cats and the vineyard dog, Coltrane. While Dave just wanted a portrait of him with Robin and Coltrane in the vineyard, on my wish list was a family portrait featuring as many of the animals that we could possibly assemble and that would cooperate to some degree. I think we were able to accomplish what every one wanted from the photo shoot. It actually ended up as 2 shoots because on the first day a goat escaped from the coral and poor Robin ended up with 2 black eyes trying to entice, beg, and lasso the goat back to where he was suppose to be and not free and roaming through the vineyard. I was not able to finish up what we wanted to do until she healed. Yes, it was an adventure!

Dave Grooters and Robin Russell walking through the vineyard at Carlton Cellars Vineyard.

Dave Grooters and Robin Russell owners of Carlton Cellars

Dave Grooters with one of the resident chickens at Carlton Cellars

Robin with her donkeys Carlton Cellars Vineyard

Robin with her donkeys Carlton Cellars Vineyard.

Resident chickens at Carlton Cellars Vineyard

Carlton Cellars Vineyard and farm

One of 3 goats living Carlton Cellars Vineyard

Robin with her goats Carlton Cellars Vineyard and farm

View of the vineyard at Carlton Cellars

Engagement Session, Lifestyle, Vineyards and Wineries

A Vineyard Engagement Session at Carlton Cellars Vineyard

October 27, 2016

I was so looking forward to this session with Monique and Jeff. Monique is a certified sommelier so of course the engagement portraits had to be taken at a winery. We chose my friend’s Dave Grooters and Robin Russell’s vineyard, Carlton Cellars as the location. We were lucky to be able to shoot between an extended rain break. I enjoyed watching the 2 of them interacting together, you can tell how much they value their friendship and of course their love for each other.

Monique & Jeff's Engagement Portrait at Carlton Cellars

Monique & Jeff’s Vineyard Engagement Portrait at Carlton Cellars

Business Portrait, Vineyards and Wineries

Portraits of Marc Meyers, Four Grace’s new Winemaker

September 15, 2016

Earlier this summer I photographed Marc Meyers, Four Grace’s new winemaker in Dundee, Oregon. Marc previously worked for Gran Moraine and La Crema in California before coming to Four Graces. The winery wanted portraits in a variety of different settings, so we started at 5 in the morning to capture the best light. Mid-day in the Willamette Valley on a very sunny day in the middle of the summer can be a bit harsh. This was my second shoot at the winery and I was familiar with the setting. I knew that we would have to start early for the outside shots. We then ended up at a shared production facility because I wanted to create some images of him with barrels. They have since finished their own new production space. I am looking forward to trying some of Marc’s Pinot Noir.

Marc Myers winemaker for The Four Graces in Dundee in Oregon

Marc Myers winemaker for The Four Graces winery in Dundee in Oregon

Marc Myers winemaker for The Four Graces in Dundee in Oregon

Business Portrait, Lifestyle, Product Photogaphy, Vineyards and Wineries

Photography for Blakeslee Vineyard Estates

July 26, 2016

I was really excited to work with Beth Eriendson of the FAB Marketing Group on a website makeover for Blakeslee Vineyard Estates. We first started with portraits of Bill and Sheila Blakeslee, both in a production context as well as outside in their vineyard with it’s stunning views of Mt. Hood. I have to admit that I love creating portraits on-location, so I was very pleased when they agreed to work with me at two locations. The portraits taken with their wine barrels are a bit more formal in how they are posed. I thought that doing something a little bit more relaxed and loose would be nice to reflect their warm and engaging personalities as well. So shortly before sunset we headed back to the vineyard to finish up with the portrait session.

The following week, it was time to style images that showcased the beauty and hospitality of the the wine tasting experience at Blakeslee Vineyard Estates. Beth did a wonderful job in organizing the “models” and clothing colors. The day was beautiful and very sunny, which of course for a photographer brings it’s challenges. While hoping for overcast, to make my life easier, I was prepared for full sunlight bringing my strobes and battery packs. In the end, I was happy that it was sunny because a cloudy day would not have created the happy ambience that come across in the photographs. As I write this, the new website is not yet finished. I can’t wait to see the website when it is finished.

Sheila and Bill Blakeslee owner of Blakeslee Vineyard Estates

Sheila Blakeslee

Sheila and Bill Blakeslee owner of Blakeslee Vineyard Estates

Sheila and Bill Blakeslee owner of Blakeslee Vineyard Estates with their vines.

Wine Tasting at BlakesLee Vineyard Estates

Blakeslee Vineyard Estates Rose of Pinot Noir

Blakeslee Vineyard Estates Pinot Noir

Business Portrait

SAIF Corporation Executive Portraits

June 10, 2016

It was time for updated portraits of the executive staff at the headquarters of SAIF Corporation in Salem, Oregon and Mike Watters, the communications and design manager, whom I had met several years ago, contacted me. He believed that my portrait style was exactly what they were looking for. They wanted images that presented the executive leadership as professional but yet portrayed in a relaxed manner. While I often shoot business portraits in the studio, I actually prefer to work on location. I enjoy the challenges of lighting and posing that setting up on location presents. I think portraits especially business portraits can be more compelling than those done taken in front of the standard grey background.

Environmental Portrait of a SAIF Corporation executive

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