A bride and groom sharing a kiss as bubbles fall around them during their wedding celebration, with guests smiling and taking photos in the background.
A family of six sitting on the sand at the beach, smiling and enjoying the moment. The family includes two adults and four children, dressed in light-colored clothing, with a sandy beach and dunes in the background.
A bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet, and a groom in a military uniform, sharing a moment on a beach with greenery and a blue sky in the background.
A family, consisting of a woman and man, sitting on a bed and feeding a baby in a bedroom with white walls and two nightstands with lamps.
A woman with shoulder-length dark wavy hair, smiling, wearing a black top and a layered black and silver necklace, standing against a pink background.
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A sleeping newborn baby wrapped in gray cloth, lying on a soft furry blanket with a pillow, outdoors on grass surrounded by greenery.
A person in a white shirt and another person in a black sweater holding her pregnant belly, both hands resting on her stomach. The image focuses on their hands and the pregnant belly.
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Baby dressed in a unicorn costume with a hood featuring a unicorn horn and ears, sitting on a pink background.
A bride and groom sitting on the tailgate of a blue pickup truck in a grassy field, smiling at each other. The bride is wearing a white wedding dress and the groom a black suit. There is a bouquet of flowers on the truck bed next to the bride.
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A couple, a man and a pregnant woman, standing close outside in a park or garden, smiling at each other with her hand on her belly. The man is wearing a dark shirt and tie, and the woman is wearing a purple dress with a light shawl. They are surround
A woman with curly black hair wearing a blue headscarf, large hoop earrings, a white top, against a textured stone wall.
Two young girls in matching strawberry-patterned dresses playing on vintage school desks in a classroom with wooden floor and chalkboard.
A young couple walking hand-in-hand in a park with green foliage in the background.
Group of people celebrating at a party, with a man in a tuxedo being lifted and dancing, smiling, surrounded by friends.
A woman with red hair in vintage pin-up style clothing sitting on a colorful inflatable pool float beside a swimming pool in a backyard with trees and houses.
Women at a wedding reception celebrating, some jumping and reaching for a bouquet, others clapping and watching.
A couple happily touching foreheads and holding hands outside in a snowy park, smiling at each other.
A clown with a red nose, clown makeup, in a red checkered suit, black and white polka dot shirt, and yellow tie, standing cheerfully at an amusement park or carnival with a Ferris wheel in the background on a bright sunny day.
A bride with long dark hair, wearing a white wedding dress, is sitting inside a car, smiling and looking up as someone reaches in to assist her.
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A young boy with blond hair and a white button-up shirt smiling indoors near large windows with wooden frames.
A bride and groom sharing a dance at their wedding reception, with guests and dim lighting in the background.
An elderly man and woman standing outdoors in a green garden, smiling at each other. The woman is holding the man's arm and looking up at him.
A woman in a white dress and floral necklace is holding her hands together, with a rainbow visible at the bottom of the image. She is wearing earrings and hair styled in a bun, with a background of large green leaves and dim indoor lighting.
A woman with two young children sitting on the grass by a stream in a lush green park.
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joyful celebrations of being

A young boy and girl dressed as a prince and fairy, sitting on a pink fuzzy blanket under a canopy decorated with hanging purple and white flowers, in a backyard with green grass and trees.
Light blue background with a faint pattern of text.

Sparkling, Magical Memories.

At Bright Thorne Photography, every shoot is approached with care, creativity, and intention. Kristen’s goal isn’t just to take photos — it’s to preserve the feeling of a moment so you can return to it again and again.

If you're looking for a photographer who sees you, gets you, and makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera — someone who can capture the beauty in both the big celebrations and the quiet in-betweens — you’re in the right place.

Meet Kristen
A newlywed couple walking arm in arm on a brick path through a lush green forest. The groom wears a light gray suit and holds a bouquet of pink and white flowers. The bride wears a white wedding dress with lace details and is smiling.
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Capturing Radiant Joy & Boundless Love.

My photo stories are light, bright, joyful celebrations of being, even in the softest, most tenderest of moments. The not so subtle glance at your partner while the kids are making mischief? Yup, I’ve got that. The look in your parent’s eyes when they see you moments before your major, life-altering rite of passage? Snapped that too. The quiet peace of your new family, cuddled up and cozy as you love on each other? I see you. 

My approach honors the sweetness of being… of being human together… and I'm here for all of it. I'll laugh with you, I'll cry with you, I'll dance with you. And most importantly, I'll keep your story safe. I'll return it to you with care, so you can tell your tale for years to come.

Contact Bright Thorne
Woman in a white dress with floral accessories and pearl jewelry, standing with her eyes closed, in a dimly lit indoor setting with plants and a rainbow effect.

My Work

You may have noticed that my work is bright. Light. Vivid. Joyful even. 

The images I capture reflect how I see the world. My eye perceives color, light, and shadow as a mysterious tableau, with colors dancing and light prancing, as if each moment is a magical show. 

Even when I try to be moody & broody, my work is still... bright. Bursting with color, full of felicity. Honestly, most days I'm not really sure how it even happens. Magic, maybe? Maybe I see magic... Radiant joy is all around us and we can see it shimmering in the corners of our vision, feel it deep in our hearts, if we just slow down, pay attention, and cherish the time we have together.  I think maybe we're all more than a little magic, and I'm just lucky enough to catch it on camera.

Services

A couple is dancing at a wedding reception, with the bride being dipped by the groom on a wooden dance floor, guest seated at elegant tables watching.

Weddings

From first looks to last dances, I capture the radiant joy of your day as it unfolds — the big moments and the quiet in-betweens that make it yours.

Weddings

Portraits

These are more than just pretty pictures. They’re windows into your heart — honest, artful reflections of who you are right now.

Portraits
A priest giving communion to a girl in a white dress at a church wedding ceremony with stained glass windows in the background.

Special Events

Whether it’s a milestone birthday or a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, I document the energy, emotion, and sparkle that make your event unforgettable.

Special Events
A pregnant woman holding her belly, dressed in a pink and white floral dress, against a light pink background.

Maternity

These quiet, awe-filled weeks are fleeting. Maternity sessions celebrate the strength, beauty, and tenderness of new life on the horizon.

Maternity
Two young girls in strawberry-print dresses playing on old wooden school desks in a bright classroom with a chalkboard and window

Little Ones

Squishy cheeks, tiny toes, wild giggles — I photograph your little ones in their most natural light: joyful, curious, and completely themselves.

Little Ones
A woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling, wearing a black top and a purple striped sheer cover-up, standing in an indoor setting with blurred background.

Headshots

Feel confident, feel seen. My headshot sessions are collaborative, relaxed, and designed to capture your most polished, authentic self.

Headshots

About Kristen

Kristen Thorne is a highly creative, forward-thinking photographer with a sharp eye, a steady hand, and a deep love for capturing life as it unfolds — beautifully, honestly, and often in the moments in between. As the founder of Bright Thorne Photography, Kristen specializes in documenting weddings, special events, portraits, maternity, little ones, and professional headshots — always with a blend of artistry and emotional truth.

With a background as an executive-level media professional, Kristen brings more than just technical skill to the lens — she brings storytelling. Her work reflects a unique balance: editorial polish with authentic soul, meticulous attention to detail with a natural, effortless feel.

Clients often describe Kristen as calming, collaborative, and deeply intuitive — someone who makes you feel seen and at ease, even if you're camera-shy. Whether she’s guiding a couple through the most important day of their lives, capturing a quiet moment between a new parent and their baby, or helping a professional feel their most confident for a headshot, Kristen creates an atmosphere that lets real emotion rise to the surface.

Man in blue shirt lying on the dance floor at a celebration, smiling and holding a piece of cake, with people seated at tables in the background.
A bride and a man in a military uniform holding playful photo booth props in front of a sparkly gold backdrop.
Learn more
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  • “I highly recommend Kristen to photograph your next event. Kristen photographed our wedding and we could not be happier. She is very professional, but also makes you feel special; not just like you're another customer. Kristen was amazing throughout the process and always responded promptly to any questions we had. She captured all of the special moments and all of the fun that our guests had. I promise you will not be disappointed!”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Janine

  • “We had a wonderful experience working with Kristen! She captured the joy of the day so vividly. These are photos we and our guests will always treasure. I highly recommend working with Kristen. She is kind, fun, and inciteful. She'll work with your ideas in making the photos special to you and your venue, as well as highlighting you on your special day to look your very best and capture those natural, smiling moments!”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tori

  • “Kristen was absolutely amazing! She captured every moment that was important to us. The pictures are so beautiful and colorful. She made everyone feel so comfortable and we had a great time hanging out with them. She is so responsive, caring, and understanding. She is just so talented, I could not say enough good things about our experience. She got all of our pictures to us before she even said they would be done. Love her!”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amber

  • “Kristen was amazing! She was so easy to work with and very flexible with our needs. I have a very large, very loud, Italian family and she was able to handle our liveliness and take incredible pictures. I would 100% recommend her to anyone in need of a photographer. She is seriously awesome!”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brittany

  • "Kristen was great, we used her for family pics/pics of my daughter. She was professional while also being really warm, our baby took to her immediately! We had a lot of fun and she took a ton of pics, even volunteering to take extra shots of special mementos in the baby's room, which was a really nice touch. Good turn around time on the photos too. Would definitely use her again!"

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meg

  • "Kristen Thorne Photography was the perfect fit for our wedding. She perfectly translated the mood and spirit of the evening, and did an amazing job at getting wonderful candid shots. She was a consummate professional the entire night, unobtrusive yet still able to capture the "unseen" moments which I was too busy to see for myself. I 100% recommend her for any special occasion."

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cassie