Passionate Nerd with a camera
Get to know Loren Hansen Photography
Petaluma Photographer
Photography runs in the family. We’ve got snapshots going back to 1897 — gritty, grainy little windows into life as it was, long before I ever existed. No styled setups, no perfect poses. Just real people doing real stuff.
That’s the heart of what I love to capture now: the in-between moments that say a lot more than a perfect, static pose. The ones where your personality slips out, where your relationships show up, where you're fully yourself. Sure, I’ll still get you those jaw-dropping portraits with gorgeous light and good angles — but what I really care about is documenting the truth of the moment, not curating it.
Whether it’s your wedding day or a Tuesday afternoon with your family, I’m there to document your life the way it actually happened.
Why I do what I do
(And how I do it)
All are welcome here.
All love, all bodies, all kinds of families — come as you are. I’ll meet you there.
Get to know Loren (she/her), your friendly neighborhood photo creep
I grew up in Sebastopol, CA with my parents and my younger sister (and best friend), Lily. These days, you’ll find me in Petaluma with my partner, Mike, his son, Marshall, our pittie named Lewis, and a couple of chickens (I don't know their names, I never asked).
When I’m not behind the camera, I’m probably making something — a big cozy sweater, an over-the-top meal for friends, or a suspiciously gourmet midnight snack from whatever’s left in the fridge. If I'm not cooking, I'm camping, or I'm doing both at the same time. To relax, I love knitting sweaters while watching horror movies or listening to true crime podcasts. I love to laugh and do so loudly and often.
The Laugh Behind the Camera
- I lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba for most of my 20s.
- I've been wearing glasses since the dawn of time.
- I used to shoot only film and developed all my photos in my own darkroom — my childhood home is basically an analog selfie museum.
- My booty is famous.
GET TO KNOW My crew
For my full-day wedding clients, you’re getting me and a second photographer who’s the real deal — not just some rando I found last week. I only team up with seasoned wedding pros I trust completely, who bring the same energy, eye, and experience I do. We work together seamlessly so nothing meaningful goes undocumented.
Jen and I met many years ago in downtown Santa Rosa when I was just a full-time barista, part-time photographer and she was just starting out photography. I loved to talking to her about it over drinks at the local dive (what can I say, next to actually taking photos, just talking about it is my 2nd favorite activity). I shared tips and tricks and hand-me-down equipment. First and foremost, Jen is an supportive and caring mom to her son and daughter but, it's been so fun mentoring her and watching her grow over the years into the successful photographer she is today. Her exceptional eye for catching moments and her command of light is a gift that can't be taught, you either have it or you don't and she's got it! I know I can always trust that she will see beauty in the everyday moments, not just the highlights, and capture them with care.
Jen (she/her)
I first met Holly while she was photographing a client at a local photographer's hotspot. In that short meeting there was something about her personality that really resonated so, like most people, I just creeped her IG for months until I saw that she recently photographed my stepson and his mom. I messaged her, "hey I know those people!" and the rest is history. She's my industry bestie, we share similar views on photography as well as life and she inspires me to always keep learning and trying new things. As a team we compliment each other perfectly and can communicate through facial expressions alone, if needed. I respect the hell out of her for always being confidently herself while making it look cool in an industry where a lot of us are encouraged to conform. Her kindness and passion allow her to connect with clients in a way that always brings out the best in them and it shows in all of her breathtaking photography.
Holly (she/her)
On a whim I attended a little photo workshop, kind of a styled shoot where multiple photographers photograph the same subject in an ideal setting. As it turned out, I was super intimidated to be around a bunch of other local photographers. Katy was the first person that just started talking to me (honestly everyone was so nice and I walked away with some incredible photos, 10/10, would recommend. I made a lot of friends that day). Her kindness and passion for the art of photography made an impact on me and and that's why I appreciate her as part of our team. Katy is a hardworking and enthusiastic wedding photographer who thrives on capturing the heartfelt moments that make your big day unforgettable. With a deep passion for storytelling through photography, Katy takes pride in preserving memories and she has fun doing it.
Katy (she/her)
