Meet Tammy

—

A boy mom and a lover of Alice In Chains and Star Trek, as you might have guessed from the Star Trek quotes sprinkled all over my website. Totally unnecessary but fun doing.

I’ve been the owner and operator of Fraley Photography for over 15 years here in Vancouver, WA. I’ve had a love for photography since high school and a true passion for photographing fairies along with families, children and high school seniors. My sessions are laid back and calming. I want to capture the purity of your child.

I know from personal experience how quickly time goes by and how important it is to preserve the little moments. It’s hard to believe my kids are two grown men now! It wasn’t that long ago they were little demons terrorizing my home.

My son helped me find the courage to follow my dreams.

When my youngest son was five years old he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, now referred to as ASD (autism spectrum disorder). At the time I wasn’t sure what it meant for him or his future. One thing I discovered very quickly was this diagnosis made school a nightmare for him and me. I spent many years going to IEP meetings, parent-teacher meetings, and fighting with the schools to provide my son with the services he needed.

It was stressful and exhausting and at times I was truly afraid for his future. When he was in 8th grade he was put in a program that changed his life for the better. He spent two years there and then was able to be mainstreamed into high school where he graduated with his class.

Along this journey with my son, I realized something. I realized that I had unconditional love for my children. No matter what they did or what they believed I would be there for them. I also realized I had patience and a lot of it. Before I had kids I didn’t know what that word meant! And I also learned that I had strength. Strength to overcome whatever I was faced with.

Now my son is living on his own in his very first apartment and doing well. He will always need some assistance from his family and he will never quit taking his computers apart and rebuilding them, but he loves his independence and his future looks bright.

Without the challenges we’ve been through together, I wouldn’t have had the strength or courage to start my own business. I’m so grateful for who we both have become through these challenges. Now every time I take portraits for a client, my heart sings because I get to do what I love and provide my clients with a piece of art you love and will cherish forever.

Because of my son, I’ve met so many great kids and families.