Hey there,

I’m Monica Veles (VELL-ess),
an easygoing portrait photographer based in Gig Harbor, Washington.

I think the best studio is the outdoors, so that’s where you’ll find me with my camera! When I’m not taking portraits, I enjoy searching for the best chai latte, going on day hikes and watching Friends. And yes, I am just as much of a neat freak as Monica Geller from Friends!

Alright…maybe I’m not that bad!

ONCE UPON A TIME…

If you would’ve told me that I’d go back to school and start my own photography business, I would’ve laughed! Mostly because I thought I was going to be a broadcast journalist…

I graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in journalism, and then things changed. Funny how life works, huh? Two years after graduating, I decided to go back to school to complete a Certificate in Photography at the University of Washington in Seattle.

I believe there’s a correlation between my love for journalism and photography. What fascinates me about journalism is the opportunity to learn about people’s lives and tell their stories. I think photography lets me do the same thing!

Although photography wasn’t a part of the original plan, I am so thankful that this is where I landed.

A few of my favorite things…

  • Chai latte with oat milk

  • Clueless (I’ve seen it approximately 5 million times, so I guess you could say I’m a fan)

  • Summer forever and always! Summer in the PNW is hard to beat!

  • Paloma (with a salted rim, of course)

  • Friends (could I be anymore predictable?!)

  • Tolmie Peak, Mt. Rainier National Park
    It’s not easy, but the view is SO worth it!

  • Hawaii
    (Can I still say that if I’ve only been once?)

  • Burt’s Bees Honey Chapstick

Lover of Color & Adventure

A few other things to know about me…

  • I find beauty in the colors of nature and my editing style reflects that. My editing style is bright, colorful and natural.

  • I live for going on adventures and am constantly planning what’s next on my calendar (very Enneagram 7 of me). Whether it’s a coffee date with a friend or a trip to Mount Rainier National Park, I like to stay busy.

  • While I love putting on my hiking boots and exploring the outdoors, I also love getting dressed up, even if it’s just for fun. I’m a firm believer there’s a dress for every occasion, and that’s exactly why I own too many to count!

Everyone has their ‘why’

This is mine…

  • MY STORY

    At my parents’ house, there are photo albums filled with old family photographs. Sorting through them, I see my Mexican maternal grandparents from Nuevo León with their six children, my Puerto Rican paternal grandfather who’s parents migrated from Ponce, Puerto Rico to work in the sugar cane fields in Honolulu, Hawaii, and my great-uncle’s military portrait. These are more than moments captured in time—they are stories that document my family’s history. I never tire of pulling those albums out and asking my parents about my relatives from generations ago.

  • A PASSION FOR STORYTELLING

    Photography is storytelling. My love for stories led me to a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Seattle Pacific University, where my love only grew more. My courses gave me the opportunity to interview people, hear their stories and occasionally photograph them.

  • PACKING THE ESSENTIALS

    The ability to freeze a moment in time with a camera has always fascinated me. I was beyond excited when I received my first camera in high school. I would take photographs of my family, friends and pets. When I found my love for hiking, packing my camera was as essential as my first-aid kit.

    Spending time outdoors has left me with hundreds of photos that I often look back at to remember the beautiful places I have been. I share them on social media in hopes that the images will inspire people to see the beauty of these places for themselves.

  • MY MISSION

    My mission when taking photographs for clients is that they will cherish the captured moments, share them with their loved ones and pass them on for generations to come. So when I’m taking portraits, I’m not only capturing images for my client to treasure—I’m documenting a moment in their life that their future children, grandchildren and others can treasure as well.

    Photographs are stories that have the ability to bring people together. It is truly an honor that I get to be the person behind the camera.

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