Mark

Saturday I meet up with Mark and his mom at their home for his Senior session. It was fun shooting for a guy that has so many interests, it makes it more fun when we can add in some of those interests into the session. I couldn't wait to play with a couple for a sneak peek.
We finished the session off at Long Lake Regional Park, my most favorite park to shoot at.
Congratulations Mark on your upcoming graduation, I know we are going to see great things from you! Hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

Lindsey!

This one is just for you! :)
I met Lindsey when she was maybe 7? She and my oldest son were the only two kids in their primary class. She was always so nice to him and I always appreciated that, since he was the new kid at church, and a yucky boy.
Today she's adorably grown up and finishing up her last year in High School. I was so thrilled when her mom contacted me to do her portrait session, and even more thrilled when they said they could work around my crazy new schedule. Thanks for being willing to wait!
I know it's hard to wait, especially for something so important, so Lindsey I'm not making you wait much longer for a fun sneak peek, more to come in your gallery! I hope you enjoy your last year of High School!

I'd rather be photographing...

I have had to turn down several customers the last couple of weeks. That's been painful for me to do. I won't be taking any new customers until late September, other than those I already have on the books. I really wish I could keep doing photography as much as before, but as my schedule changes, so does the time I have to do the more fun things in my life, like photographing you!

I do have several friends who are in the business, so if I can't accommodate you, I can whole heartedly recommend several people that could possibly work for your needs.


But before I go I thought I would share one more favorite from the last wedding...

Rain is good luck!

Last Saturday I was privileged to be Hailey and Eric's Photographer for their wedding day. I met up with Hailey in the morning where she had her hair and make-up done at La Grande Salon and Spa on Forest Lake. Her hair was done beautifully in a 1930's sexy wave on one side and pulled back with a flower on the other side.
As I made my way from La Grande to where the ceremony was going to be held, a beautiful 10 acre farm Hailey's parents have, it began to rain and continued to rain all the way up until the bride met her groom at the end of the isle. Miraculously it stopped and the rest of the evening was wonderful!
Here's a sneak peek for the bride and groom, enjoy!

Eric and his brothers- this shot was their idea, love it!

Hailey has the cutest nephew who was a great sport through the day's activities-

One of Hailey's childhood dreams was to arrive at her wedding in a horse drawn carriage. Her uncle was able to help fulfill that dream with his beautiful carriage and Fjord horse.

Oh, and I have to mention, her hair held out beautifully through all that rain!

I hope you love your sneak peek Hailey and Eric!

Enjoy this summer!

A few more to share...

from Ellie's session... She's such a pretty girl!







I thought I'd give this one a 70's summery twist, it's also available in color, but sometimes it's fun to mix stuff up!

I heart this little girl!

I am so happy to know this kid. Ellie is an amazing little girl who also is a heart surgery surviver! She is strong and fun and has the most beautiful blue eyes that are the same shade as her mommy's. Recently she began walking while holding her parents hands, that's a BIG milestone! YAY!
I met up with her and her parents Erin and Matt for a session at Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton. Thanks guys for the fun session! I can't wait to show you the rest of your gallery!

You might remember this from Ellie's newborn session. It's one of my all time favorites.

After the park we went back to her house for an updated version, she loves to play the keys and look at her reflection in the piano. And oh my gosh, is that ponytail ever so cute?!

Reflections

I've always been an artistic person, at different times in my life expressing myself through drawing, oil painting, writing or photography. And now I'm even contemplating a beginning guitar class while I'm at school!

As the time for me to begin school comes close I find myself often getting lost in my thoughts. I've felt a heavy heart because I realize that with my new journey into the scholarly environment, as exciting as it is, comes the journey where I will no longer be walking hand in hand daily with my camera, but rather hoping for brief moments with it. (I've even thought about seeing if I could be a photographer for the school's newspaper.)

I've loved the challenges during my photography career, where I've had to stretch and grow and step out of my comfort zone. Who would have thought that photographing creatively the interior of an elevator, or finding dry spots on a wet wedding day, or trying to get 4 teen/pre-teen unhappy kids to smile, or getting 40 people together and shot in less than 10 minutes before dark could be so exhilarating?

My photography has been a very personal experience for me. Each wedding I shot, as I edited the images I captured of the couple's day, I've treasured their lives, their families and friends and the relationship they've shared with me. Each baby, I've loved. Each face, I've treasured. As I work on people's images, I gaze into their faces and they become someone I know, in some way. I see the lines in their faces, the curl of their smiles, the dimples in their chins or cheeks, the scars from years ago and I've gazed into their eyes. "The eyes are the window to the soul", and as I worked on images of people and gazed into their eyes, I've become acquainted with their souls.

I will miss the frequency of this type of connection with people that I've had, and will anticipate excitedly any sessions I can find time to do during my school year.

I've always had a love affair with words and learning. I admire those who write so eloquently and can draw me into their world, much like the way a photograph can make you feel like you've stepped into someone else's place in time. I love learning and growing and exploring new (to me) ideas and concepts.

I love being reinvented.

Although I am changing the direction my life is going, I know my love for photography will always remain with me and I will forever be taking my camera with me wherever I go. And when I am old and my mind is feeble and I can't do anything else, I will be happy if I am still able to lift a camera and move my finger .25 of an inch.

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." ~Ansel Adams

More Sneak Peek

A couple of years ago I got a call from a senior who wanted to be brave and daring and do something different for her senior session. This year I was lucky enough to also shoot her brother's senior session, he didn't know he was going to have to also be daring and brave rainy weather for his session! Thanks for being a good sport!

I love when people bring something of themselves to their sessions, to make it uniquely theirs. Mitch brought his snowboard and his longboard skateboard.









I gave this one a little 70's processing twist.



By the end of the session the rain was coming down pretty good, you can see some of it in this shot. Good thing his hair style already had the wet look. :)





So, with a little bit of creativity, we got his session done despite the uncooperative weather and he has a whole bunch more than what you see here in his gallery that I will be putting up by tomorrow.

It was nice meeting you Mitch, I hope you have a great summer and congratulations on your graduation!

One From Tonight

As I was loading tonight's Senior Session this one caught my eye and I decided to play with it before turning off the computer. Tonight I met up with Mitch for his Senior Session. This was our third attempt to get his images shot as the last two times had to be rescheduled. When I saw rain in the forecast for tonight I decided to be brave and go ahead, try his session anyway and if it was raining too much to head down to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to see if we could find some dry spots to shoot. Wouldn't you know it, when we showed up there, the ground was dry, but the rain quickly followed us. I think we got a few really good shots and some fun ones to play with too, like this one of him with his snow board...



Thanks for being a great sport tonight Mitch and braving the weather! Hope it didn't take too long to warm up again.

One Last One

This is my youngest daughter Joyanna enjoying her bike on the hill.

The images from these two posts are from the first time she's taken her bike down a hill ever. After the first time and she got to the bottom of the hill she excitedly began chatting about how the bike went all on it's own and she didn't even have to peddal!

Oh to be a kid again and enjoy the simple things in life, like gravity.

A couple of fun ones

From the other day...