Russell Evans is primarily a portrait photographer, and lives with his family by the sea in Florence, Oregon. Formerly residents of Bend, he and Suzanne used to travel to the coast whenever they could, and are now happy to call Florence their home. Though retired now, Evans remains active in selective fine portrait photography.

​

Evans got his start as a photographer in the early 1980's, working primarily in photojournalism on California's Monterey Bay. Freelancing for Bay Area newspapers and magazines, he found what he most enjoyed was producing portraits, both environmental and studio. Over the years Evans worked with and learned from such noted photographers as artist William B. Giles, Martha Casanave, Lisa Evans, and Steve Kurtz. Evans also worked at Bay Photo in Santa Cruz with owner Larry Abitbol, learning critical skills in professional lab work and color correction. He eventually moved into wedding and portrait work full time, and joined forces with renowned portrait photographer David Peters in Marin County, helping expand Peters' studio while refining his own photographic skills. To all of these he owes much gratitude.

​

After a decade in professional photography, Evans and his wife moved to Washington's San Juan Islands, where their daughter Erin was born and they spent some five years. Later on the mainland, he pursued interests as diverse as advertising and graphic design, transportation for the disabled and elderly, and even spent four years working on horse and cattle ranches as a wrangler and ranch hand.

 

Eventually his deep interest in art and people led him back to portrait work, in Seattle and in Bend, Oregon.

 

"Every person has an interesting and often profound story to tell, if you take the time to listen," he says. "And in each face I see an introduction to that story. And it's my privilege to portray something of their character and features for their loved ones, their families, and for future generations."