Crosby and Keiller

If you’ve been following my blog  for a couple years, you might remember Crosby and Keiller.   They’re both super sweet, super cute kids, and their mom (who I know from college) is a pretty cool lady, too!

Although Crosby hasn’t always been as receptive as his sister to being in front of a camera, (probably because;  well…he’s a growing boy…) I think these photos prove he is finally starting to warm up to me;  Either that or he’s gotten older and is now wise enough to realize how much more quickly things roll when he cooperates!   (Maybe a little of both, I hope!)

I feel the need to point out that quite often in this line of work, kids walk in the door who are quite adamant about NOT wanting to get  their photos taken.  Add a backdrop and big  studio lights to the mix, and unless you use just the right formula to make them comfortable, things could turn catastrophic!  (On the flip side: A backdrop and studio light(s) can also promote over posing and what is commonly referred to as the “cheesy smile,” which are problematic in their own rite!)    If I didn’t live in Minnesota I would probably encourage more outdoor sessions than I do for these reasons alone!

I like to poke a little fun at Crosby because his mom is a friend, but I want her to know it’s all in good fun because  it’s such a common thing.  I never let it get the best of me and I’ve never given up on any session without getting a good variety of strong workable images.   Usually it just takes a little patience and some very gentle and strategic persuasion!

That said, I’ve always managed to sneak in some great shots of Crosby in the past, but this time (intentionally or not!) he made it easy for me.

Babies/Toddlers

I’m thinking this may have to be a two-part post, since this is the most extensive category!  Maybe I’ll shoot for just a few from each session.

(These first ones are from my August mini session!)

Kinley

Reagan

Alexander

Ben

Maddie

Greyson

Ethan

Natalie

Avery

Brady

Kids – Studio

I meant to get back to this a couple of days ago; but in all honesty my internet was down on New Year’s Eve;  and since then I’ve had some other things arise;

HERE are some studio shots from the end of 2010;  all of them holiday card sessions (including MY family’s!)

The “U” Family

The “L” Family

Nope; I don’t give kids alcohol to sedate them for photos;  Mike (the dad in these pics) works for August Schell’s Brewing Co.  His business is beer; and the photo below made their 2010 Christmas card cut!

The “P” Family

The “J” Family

When I told Karina and Annika to give each other a hug, here’s what they did!  It was a riot!  I think their mom and dad were as surprised by it as I was!!

My Niece & Nephew

MY kids…

(Wow– I got a bunch of great ones of them together this year!)

Sheesh!  This is overwhelming…Here are a few from some of my bigger kids’ outdoor sessions;  (in some cases along with their younger siblings!)

Gavin & Garret

Hannah – 3 years

Grace, Brooke, & Thomas

Ashley and Maddie

Olivia & Chase

(I think they look like they’re standing near the same pond Monet was when he painted his waterlilies!)

Ian, Maddie, Hannah, & Ethan

Tomorrow…  TODDLERS!  Goodnight!

Fletch

Last Saturday evening I headed out to Little Canada to photograph Fletcher at his grandparent’s beautiful lakeside home.  I can’t remember one appointment with Fletch where he hasn’t been all smiles;  I was looking forward to this one!

The backyard was gorgeous, with HUGE cottonwoods (Fletch’s pop pop told me they were over 3 feet around but I was thinking they looked closer to 4!) and a meticulously groomed landscape with giant hostas and other blooming plants.  The front was a pretty lake lined with giant white Hibiscus and Black Eyed Susans.

It was Fletcher’s mom, Emily’s birthday that day, and as a gift her parents handed down the freshly repainted monkey bars she used to swing from when she was a kid.   It was given to them in the 70’s by another family member, who had played on it in the 50’s! — I got the feeling from Emily that  it was sort of a tongue in cheek gift, but Fletcher seemed to love it, and I’m thinking one day he can pass it down to his kids!

Anyway, it was a great prop for Fletcher’s photographs, as were the balloons that were tied to the top of it in honor of Emily’s birthday.

Here’s a little glimpse at how I spent part of last weekend;  photographing this big extended family!  The weather that day was tricky.  When it quit pouring rain, the bright hot sun came out to make matters worse!  It wasn’t easy finding a shady spot for a shot including this many people, but this shed was our best option.

Considering there were so many different people to photograph, everyone was so patient and cooperative.  Even all the kids hung in there till the very end!!

This little thaw we’re having this week has me dreaming of summer.  Since I’m not scheduling sessions this week or next, I thought I’d post a few photos from a session this past year. (Right now it feels like a LONG, LONG time ago!)  I really loved these kids, and at the time that I finished editing them, I was just too busy to post them to my blog!  It always bugged me a little that I never got back to doing that–I guess now I can sleep better at night!

These were taken on super hot day by Lake Harriet.  Looking at them again makes me want to get into some shorts and flip flops!

I say it all the time, but I’ll say it again: I feel so lucky that I get to work with so many great families and be a part of their lives for a little while.    I loved working with these guys…I got the best vibe from Karen (the mom!) right away when she called to schedule a session.   It turns out my intuition was right on;  They were so cool!  Cool parents… Cool kids…  Cool dog, too!  It was just really obvious they all really like each other!  Karen and Dave are just laid back and not at all fussy.  This, to me, was great example of how well a session can flow when people are just willing to let things happen, without any expectations.

Good Boy, Captain!

I think Pierce, here, would have liked me to stick around all day for his own personal photo shoot!

I spoke too soon when I said things would be slowing down for me last week.  I had some families make last minute decisions to try to squeeze in some holiday photos just in time to get their cards in the mail before the 25th!  (Good luck with that, I’m pulling for you!!)     After I finish one more round of editing tomorrow it’s official:  I will be on Christmas vacation!    (I’m already as busy as I can be in January, however, so if you are thinking about portraits, don’t wait too long to schedule a session!)

Happy Thanksgiving

So it looks like the holiday season is officially here!

In just over an hour I’m leaving for my parents house in Wisconsin, and I won’t be back until Friday!  I’m looking forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving with my WHOLE family and my brother in law’s family as well.  My sister Sara won’t be able to come home from Colorado for Christmas, so these next couple of days it’s going to be really important for all of us to just enjoy each others’ company.

I love the holidays– they always make me so giddy and introspective– and this year, I plan on really absorbing every moment. I haven’t had a lot of time to spend with my kids lately, and since business will be slowing down a bit in the next couple of weeks, more family time is definitely at the tip top of my agenda.  On Friday when we get home I’m sure we’ll go get our Christmas tree and wreath for our door, and deck out the house and trees with lights… I LOVE IT!

Audrey and Aidan are already bursting at the seams with excitement for Christmas, and believe it or not, I’m (for the most part!) done with their Christmas lists!  (It’s really not like me to be so proactive–usually I’m the one fighting the crowds at the eleventh hour to get my shopping finished;  but my mom and sister Nicci had me all worked up about the possibility of their coveted toys being sold out early!)

Before I leave I want to wish everyone a fabulous Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season.  I hope you take time to enjoy the little things, and indulge in the company of friends and loved ones!

Here’s some photographs of a family who have a LOT to be thankful for this year!

The “G” Family

The dad in these photos, Brant,  is an old friend of mine from high school.   I got to see him again and meet his beautiful wife Wendy at our class reunion this past summer.  I think at the time we had all discussed possibly getting together for a portrait session (there was wine involved!) but still I was excited and pleasantly surprised when they contacted me a couple of months ago.

You could say Brant was a jock in high school, but maybe since I was never really into sports, I remember him as the very hilarious guy who used to make me laugh so hard in Math class that I would cry, almost wet my pants, and surely be moved to another desk in the room.   These days, he is a principal at an elementary school, and I have a really hard time imagining anyone being too frightened at the prospect of being sent to his office for misbehaving!

(Incidentally,  his dad was my principal when I was in elementary school!   I guess since I was such a well mannered respectful kid, I never had any close encounters with him!!) 

It goes without saying that Wendy and Brant’s kids are adorable, and mini versions of them.  Teagan has Wendy’s natural curls, and Brevin has Brant’s striking blue eyes.  It was cold out that day, but it was SO fun to hang with their family for a short while.