Twin Cities Fashion Photographer - Pocketful of Sunshine

That song is running through my head on repeat - but it really has nothing to do with this post.

Or does it?  My models do look rather sunny...

Anywho, I've wanted to start playing around with other, more commercial genre's of photography.  So I found two awesome ladies willing to pose for me, and we headed out to the Stone Arch Bridge and surrounding areas.  Beautiful scenery around there...and the decrepit old buildings were perfect for what I was looking for.


You'll be seeing a couple more posts of images taken from this photo session...enjoy.

Twin Cities Child Photographer - On Photographing One's Own Children

One of my initail motivations for pursuing photography, was so that I could take better photos of my own kids. This worked very nicely for the first couple years of my daughters life, but as soon as Debbie turned two she suddenly became very difficult to photograph. She just doesn't like it. Not usually - and especially not if her mother was behind the camera!

Much to her grandparents dismay, most of Debbie's pictures from the past year are of her looking the other away - or simply giving me that blank, smile-less stare. As if to say, "Okay mom, I'm looking at the camera - but I'm not going to like it."

Yesterday I tried to sit Debbie down for a quick little session in front of the living room window. The lighting was just perfect, and as I saw the way it lit up her blond hair I knew I had to capture the moment.

Only moments before I took this picture, Debbie was perfectly happy reading books and re-arranging the furniture. But the moment I tried to get her to sit still, this is the look she gave me:

[caption id="attachment_2078" align="aligncenter" width="700" caption="Seriously, how heart-wrenching is that?  I just want to take her picture, not her reason for existence."][/caption]

Apparently she was not going to make it easy for me.  Now I had to really work it.

Tickles, funny faces and peek-a-boo proceeded.  But it was her personal favorite that tipped the scale. You see, the one sure way to make Debbie laugh,  is to..

wait for it...

make scary growling dinosaur noises!

Girly, huh?

After a few growls (and reciprocating squeals), she gave me this:

But as soon as I took the shot she must have thought:  "Uh, oh, mom got me laughing! I'd better compose myself quick!"

This is OK though.  This look is so Debbie that it truly deserves to be captured.  Smiling is not always important - as long as you catch that gleam in their eye!

A couple tickles later, I got the look I really wanted.

[caption id="attachment_2082" align="aligncenter" width="467" caption="Ta-da!"][/caption]

Whew! That was a 10 minute work out right there.

As soon as I took this photo she was done, and on her merry way she went.

(As a side note, I am continually amazed at how exuberant, emotional and particular an almost-3-year-old can be!!! Where does this come from anyway??! - Oh. Right...)

And that my friends, is what it's like to be a photographer, photographing one's own children.  Not as easy as you might have thought, eh? :-)

Twin Cities Child & Baby Photographer - Deck Mornings

My sweet babes.



I live for mornings like this.  :-)

Twin Cities Family Photographer - Shula's One Year Old!

One year ago, this little sweetheart was born 2 months early. You may have read all about it here. Three months later I had the pleasure of taking this photo of her after she returned from the NICU. And now, she's one year old!



As you can see, Shula is such a joy to her parents and those around her.  We are so thankful to have her with us!

Twin Cities Family Photographer - Familial Love

Almost every family has them - the child or parent who does not want to be photographed.

But lucky me - this was not one of those families!

This session was such a pleasure.  I love it when clients get into the process and start coming up with their own ideas. They had such enthusiasm about the session, and you can tell from the photos how much fun they were having.  Sometimes the best part of a session is simply watching families play.  It's such a joy to see. :-)

Twin Cities Wedding Redux Photographer - Wedding Photos (Re-done) a Year Later!

My friend Jen had a beautiful wedding. Everything went perfectly (for the most part!), and everyone had a great time. But to her, there was one disappointment...her wedding photos.

One year after her wedding, Jen formed a grand idea to resolve this problem. Why not fly her friend Elizabeth all the way down to TN, to do a Wedding Redux?

Well, this turned out to be more than a grand idea - it was a GREAT idea! Jen and I had so much fun planning this session, and all without the wedding-planning-pressure like the year before. We had the time and leisure to visit 3 different locations and to get all the poses she wanted. Her husband Zach was a great sport about it as well - I think he enjoyed seeing his wife so excited and happy. :-)

My favorite part was seeing the amazed look on Jen's face as I periodically showed her images on my camera. Jen forgets how beautiful she is, even though she could be a model. It was my pleasure to provide irrefutable proof of this! :-)



Before you go, be sure to sign up for the Christmas Giveaway!

Twin Cities Baby Photographer - 6 Month Smiles

Are you ready for your daily dose of cuteness? You've seen this little sweetie before here.  Now she's 6 months, and such a smiley, round little thing!  I had so much fun with this session today and just love the results we came up with.  Take a look and be sure to sign up for the Christmas Giveaway before you go!

Twin Cities Baby Photographer - A Baby's Many Looks

I recently put together a custom photography & print order for this family.

When their first child was one month old, they had a collage like this made.  So for the second child they wanted me to adhere to the same style and design - and similar poses.  This was my attempt at same-ness. I think it turned out very well!

Twin Cities Family Photographer - A Session of Adorable Red-Heads & Their Parents

I guess you could say I have a photographic affinity for red-heads. I've had a few people point this out, as they look through my portfolio. I suppose they are drawn to me for some reason, just as I am drawn to photograph them.

I don't often get such adorable subjects as I did with this session, however! Such cute kids. And the shy fiesty-ness of the little girl made the session all the more challenging - and rewarding! Her expressions were just perfect.



Do you need new family photos?? Enter the Contest!

Twin Cities Maternity Photographer - Pregnant is Beautiful

This week I had the opportunity to shoot a really fun yoga session at Blooma Yoga (more on this, to come!).

After capturing some amazing yoga positions (really, they were impressive, especially at 7 months pregnant!!), our beautiful model Mindy asked if I could do a little "mini" Maternity session with her.  Well, of course! She was such a joy to photograph, and we came up with some beautiful, lovely photos that I can hardly wait to show her.

Below you will find my personal favorite from the day. She looks so peaceful and happy.  I just love it.  Thank you for letting me share this, Mindy!

Enter the contest.

Twin Cities Baby Photographer - Baby Jael & Slideshows

Jael is such a great name. I love rare but solid names like that. And she was such a fun one to photograph!



For the next couple months, all clients will receive a free slideshow like the one below, with every session.  It's a great way to show your photos with friends and family...you can even share it on your blog, website or Facebook!

Twin Cities Newborn Photographer - A Baby Peek

I had a newborn session this morning! Only a few weeks have past since the Maternity session, and now I get to take pictures of their precious Lilyana. Big sister loves the camera, too! So here is a little sneak peak at this very adorable photo session.









Enter the contest.

Twin Cities Sibling Photographer - My Sister's Keeper

Twin Cities Mother & Baby Photographer - Pure Joy

As soon as I snapped this photo I know I had captured something special. I just love the look of pure joy on the baby's face. It warms my heart. Truly.

It is such an amazing, precious wonder, to have a child. My own child is one of the best, most important parts of my life.

I love being a mom!

And I love to witness the love other parents have for their own children.

I love being a photographer.

Twin Cities Toddler Photographer - Because She's My Favorite

It's been a while since I really, seriously, took the time to have a photo session with my own little Debbie. So last night we went off to the park, armed with 3 super cute outfits, and my awesome new lens (***LOVE!***).

Debbie was so excited to be out and about, so I was able to get adorably animated shots. It's always tough to catch a toddler on the run, but I was pretty pleased with the results.

Prepare to have a cute-attack!


And by the way, the contest is still going on!
Looks like we only need 33 more comments before we can choose a winner, so be sure to sign up and tell your friends about it.

Twin Cities Cousin Photographer - My Cousin Emily

Isn't my cousin Emily simply beautiful??  I snapped these shots of her during our Memorial Day picnic, at my parent's house.  She just finished up her Jr year with flying colors, and I'm so proud of her. She's so smart, creative and talented!

I wish I lived closer so that I could be more involved in her life - but I suppose this way she'll always have a nice place to vacation in the summer (riiiight? hint,hint!).

Love you, girl!!

Enter the contest.

Twin Cities Family Photographer - Morning at Lake Calhoun

I had such a great family session this weekend! We met up at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, and the beautiful overcast day was just perfect for photographs. And by a happy happenstance, someone had left a boat on the beach for our own personal use. It made for a fantastic prop! I couldn't have planned it better myself. We returned home with some great photographs, and one particular funny story... ;-)

Here are some of my favorites from the session...

Enter the contest...

Twin Cities Child Photographer - My Girl

Here's my current favorite photo, of my little growing girl...


Enter the contest..

Twin Cities Mother & Baby Photographer: Baby Thomas

Spring is back!  Oh, and I'm lovin' it.  Currently a gorgeous 72 degrees in Minneapolis, and it seems a crime to stay indoors for very long.  Here in Minnesota we have such hard, long, Siberian-like winters that I have sometimes questioned why I still live here (..."ooh, that's right...I'm in deep crazy love with my adoring husband!"), but the amazing spring and summer months really does make it all worth it (- the love does too, of course!).

I've been taking lots of pictures with my new Canon 7D , but haven't had much time for editing lately.  I'm looking forward to showing all of you some really cool new photos - and video!  So stay tuned.  In the meantime, take a look at these mama and baby photos from a session the other day.  And be sure to sign up for my current contest if you have not already (I still need about 50 more entrants before I can pick a winner!).

Twin Cities Family Photographer - Spring Family Portrait Sessions

What a lovely family to photograph! And such a positively perfect day to take photos by the lake. The vibrancy of spring seems to be catching on!




If you like what you see here, be sure to enter my current giveaway, to win a free photo session like this!!