Behind the Scenes at an Eighth Generation Photoshoot 

Photoshoots are a big deal at Eighth Generation! Of course, we need high quality lifestyle photos to show off our products, but what’s most exciting about a photoshoot is that it’s another opportunity to support and uplift creative Native professionals in our community. From photographers and models to hair and makeup artists and caterers, Eighth Generation works with Native talent as often as possible for each shoot.


A woman sits on the front stairs to a mansion, draped in a blanket with mountains on itOur social media manager, Mayah, models on the front steps of Roger Nyhus's (Chinook) historic home with our Birch Layers Canvas Tote by Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe/Ojibwe) and Calling Mountains Throw Blanket by Josh Swift (Salish-Kootenai) 


At a recent photoshoot, we were incredibly fortunate to use the home of Chinook Indian Nation member Roger Nyhus. A communications and public relations expert, Roger is also a philanthropist, patron of the arts, and community-driven advocate who has advised major corporations and political figures. 

 

A yellow wool throw blanket on a dark couch under an abstract floral painting
Our Family Floral Gold Label Throw Blanket on a vintage sofa surrounded by some of Roger's incredible modern art

Roger’s home—a historic mansion on Seattle’s Capitol Hill—has been host to fundraising events, political rallies, and now an Eighth Generation photoshoot. He generously allowed our team to photograph a lovely family—shout out to Temryss (Lummi Nation), Orion, and baby Aquila (Lummi Nation)—to highlight our Gold Label throw blankets and baby blankets made in our Seattle studio. 

 

A family of three (dad, toddler, and mom) sit on a couch in a nice living room. A vintage sign above them says LAKE UNION PARK.Orion, Aquila, and Temryss underneath a sign that was gifted to Roger by the Seattle Parks Foundation for his work with them on a park project

 

“Roger is such a dear friend, and like me, has been a longtime supporter of Eighth Generation,” shares Eighth Generation CEO Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee, Athabascan). “Roger was so generous to allow us to photograph in his beautiful home, and it was a no-brainer to add that layer of Indigeneity to the photoshoot.” 

 

Colleen Echohawk, with black hair and a green camo sweater, stands next to her friend Roger Nyhus, a man with gray hair and a blue buttonup shirtColleen and Roger in Roger's home

A fusion of historic architecture and modern art, Roger’s home was a great backdrop for a photoshoot. While our photographer, Brittney Couture, worked to capture photos that would show off our products and Roger’s home, our team worked to keep our youngest model happy and entertained (and steered away from some of the priceless art Roger has displayed!).

 

A man sits on a couch behind his toddler. On the floor, a woman peeks up behind the couch to keep the baby entertainedOur marketing manager, Devon, distracts baby Aquila while our photographer gets some shots of him playing on the blanket and couch


Roger’s garden is just as beautiful as his home’s interior, and the team was able to get some great outdoor photos as well.

A woman wrapped in a pink, purple, and yellow blanket stands among pink flowersMayah models our Remembrance Wool Blanket by Geo Neptune (Passamaquoddy) 

Thank you to Roger, who so generously allowed us the use of your beautiful home, to Temryss and her wonderful family for modeling, to our amazing photographer Brittney, and to our excellent Eighth Generation team who made this shoot such an Indigenous production.   

 

A woman in a traditional Salish cedar hat twirls in a black, white, and red blanket featuring Northwest Coast formline designTemryss takes a final twirl in our Wolf Spirit Gold Label Throw Blanket by David Robert Boxley (Tsimshian) in front of Roger's house