Hometown: Hood River, Ore.

How she ended up in the photography biz: McAllister has always been passionate about artistic endeavors. “I’ve had the creative eye in me since I was a teeny, tiny girl,” she said. When she was a teenager, her photog brother gave her an old film Pentax. She started snapping pics on family trips and fell in love with the art form. Today, she is a trained photographer who specializes in weddings, portraits and family photos as well as fashion, landscape and fine art work. She runs her own photography business (it’s growing every year) and although many of her clients are local, her work has also garnered national and international interest.

How she ended up in Cannon Beach: She’d always loved Cannon Beach, and McAllister figured that relocating here would provide her with ample opportunities to shoot weddings, which account for about half of her photo jobs. So she called on a few connections two years back and had soon relocated to the coast full time.

Her daily duties: A typical wedding is an all-day affair. McAllister usually arrives as the wedding party is getting ready at the salon. From there, she follows them through the big day, snapping photos of people, events, and any special details that catch her eye. She tries her best to “blend into the background” as the day unfolds, and she shies away from too many posed photos.

“I like candid, fresh, natural images,” she said. “I supply requested images, but I also try to use my own eye.”

Other jobs she’s had: She’s been a barista, a server, a bartender and a gymnastics instructor. All that service-oriented work has prepared her well for life as a photographer, she thinks. “Being a people person definitely helps,” she said. “I love interacting with others.”

The best part of her job: Taking part in what is often the most special day in people’s lives, and helping them to capture it all permanently.

The hardest part of her job: Weddings can be unpredictable, and each one is just a little different than the last, but McAllister relishes the opportunity to work in an unpredictable environment where she can truly put her skills to the test. “Shooting doesn’t feel like work to me,” she said. “I like the challenge. You roll with the punches.”

Her job also entails spending endless hours staring at a computer screen, editing the images she gathers. It’s fun, and another opportunity to put her creativity to the test, but it’s also time intensive.

Her approach to customer service: McAllister’s goal is for all of her clients to be thrilled beyond belief with her work, and amenable to her photojournalism-oriented aesthetic.

Common and not-so-common photo requests: Unsurprisingly, most every bride and groom want a photo of themselves kissing in front of Haystack Rock. Others are after something novel. Some women even ask for a “mess the dress” shoot, during which bride and groom rollick in the sand and waves, effectively destroying the bride’s wedding dress, but getting some great photos in the process.

Why the world needs a photographic record: McAllister believes photography’s greatest value is that it allows us to capture those tiny bits of our personal and shared histories that so often go unnoticed. “Documenting moments is huge,” she said. “It helps you remember details you wouldn’t otherwise.”

What she’d do if she weren’t a photographer: She’d be an art director. In fact, she already dabbles in creative styling on the side, including jewelry making and custom design and sewing work.

What makes working in Cannon Beach great: She loves having the opportunity to live out her life near the ocean, which has been her favorite place pretty much since forever. McAllister is also crazy about the many friends she’s made here.

“It’s a really close-knit community,” she said. “They have your back and it really feels like a family.”

Learn more: Go online to www.sarahmcallisterweddings.com, or www.sarahmcallisterphotography.com.