Announcing the Winner of the 2025 La Conner Daffodil Festival Photo Contest: Sarah Walls of Cedarbrook Studio
We’re thrilled to announce that the winner of the 2025 La Conner Daffodil Festival Photo Contest is local photographer Sarah Walls, owner of Cedarbrook Studio. Her breathtaking image of a lone daffodil catching the light and standing tall among a sea of blooms captured the essence of the season—and our hearts.
Sarah’s love for photography started early. “I’ve called myself a photographer since I was 9 years old,” she shared. “My grandma Arline gave me a pink 110 pocket film camera that year, and I took it everywhere!” That childhood curiosity never faded. Now a proud Skagit Valley resident since 2017, Sarah balances family life, a school job, and a thriving photography business rooted in celebrating the natural beauty of the valley.
Her winning photo was taken on one of the first sunny days after a long stretch of clouds. Sarah visited RoozenGaarde to enjoy the daffodils in full bloom and, as she described, “This one flower caught my eye and stood out as if to say, ‘I’m here, take my picture!’ I must have taken about 50 pictures of this one flower to get the angle just the way I wanted it.”
Using a Nikon Z6III mirrorless camera and her trusted Nikkor Z 70-180mm 2.8 lens, Sarah captured the image during the brightest part of the day—a challenge for many photographers, but not for her. “A great photo can be taken nearly any time of day if you know your settings,” she explained.
Sarah is no stranger to capturing La Conner’s magic through her lens. “I love the variety of the landscape—from the mountains, by the river, to the valley, and to the sea. And the people too! Our community events are some of my favorite things to photograph.”
As a longtime fan of La Conner, having visited since childhood, Sarah is honored to now live in the Valley and see her work celebrated. “I’m proud to live here in the Skagit Valley, and I enjoy featuring this beautiful area in my photographs—the way I see it.”
You can find more of Sarah’s photography under @cedarbrookstudio on Instagram and Facebook, or check out her scenic calendar (coming soon for 2026!) at local shops.
Congratulations, Sarah, and thank you for sharing your unique view of the Skagit Valley with us all!
