~K~ TMB Class of 2015 Senior {Southern Minnesota Senior Photographer}

K is one of our foreign exchange students here at Tracy High School. She is from Norway, and I loved hearing about her travels and the traditions of her home country. Senior portraits isn't something she would ever have the chance to experience at home, so her host family decided that she should have the whole American senior experience! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to wrap up Class of 2015 portraits! 

She was a natural! 

One of the first shots, amazing right?!

I just love the drama of this one. 

Right before this photo, we were picking cockle burs out of her sweater. Welcome to Minnesota! 

Just stunning. 

The light! Ah!

I rarely had to tell her how to pose, she just knew. 

Had to get her TMB sports stuff in there! 

Have I mentioned my love of evening light? 

Ok, so I have wanted to get a shot like this for awhile. K had the hair, and was up for trying. I don't know how many times she shook her head, but she was game! I actually like this. 

Thank you K for allowing me to capture your American senior experience! I had so much fun with you and I hope you did too! Good luck in all you do! I hope a piece of Tracy is with you always ♥

Class of 2016~ Now is YOUR time!! Call me today to book your session before my schedule fills up!! It is never too early to think about senior portraits! 

~D&T~ Mom and Me Session {Southern Minnesota Family Photographer}

These two hold a special place in my heart, and always will. I met D almost 11 years ago while working at Target in Fergus Falls, MN. She was one of my first friends. She and I just had a connection, we are so much alike and can say anything to each other. I mean, we can literally say anything and know that the other won't be mad. Friendship like that doesn't come along very often. Her little man, who isn't so little anymore, would come to our office at work and sit with me and color. The last time I saw him, he was so small. Now he is as tall as me! 

We had so much fun when they came to visit, taking photos and playing baseball in our backyard. I just love them so much! 

 Now, all these years later, she has found her prince and he lives in Georgia. They are off to start a new chapter in their lives. I will miss her dearly, but I know we will still be in touch. Picking up right where we left off every time. 

I love you D & T!! 

So sweet! 

Look at those smiles! 

There is nothing like the love of mother and son

He's so grown up! Stop it! 

I love getting light through the trees!! 

T wanted shots on the tires, we made it work! 

I'll be honest, this was T's idea. I like it, the dramatic effect. I don't know what they were looking at though :-) 

Oh how I love you two! Safe travels to your new home and always know you have a place to stay here in Minnesota!! 

Time for a "fresh" start! New offer~ Fresh 24 Sessions! {Southern Minnesota Newborn and Fresh 24 Photographer}

I have thought long and hard about this. I love babies. I love capturing babies in their natural state. I was looking over the photos I got in the hospital when my daughter was born, and imagine that, I am not in any of them! This bothered me.

I am now offering "Fresh 24" sessions. These sessions will take place within 24 to 48 hours of your child's birth in the hospital room. It will be of the new bundle in their bassinet, the room, the parents with baby, each parent with baby, siblings, little details of the room, etc. Things you wouldn't think to take yourself as you are so tired after having a baby. Let me do it for you.

Here are the details:

I would arrive at the hospital and just start shooting. Very lifestyle session-like. You would receive:
 a 10x8 hardcover book of images chosen by you
Private online album of the photos (mostly black and white) for you to share with friends and family

$150.00 plus tax and travel fees

Sessions must be booked well in advance of your due date. I will keep days open around in case of baby making up their own timeline, which they tend to do!

Newborn special~ book a newborn session WITH a Fresh 24 and receive BOTH for $325.00 (normally $375 booked separately) and receive a book from each. See Fresh 24 and Newborn Investment for details.

Now for the fun part! For the first TWO fresh 24 sessions booked they receive their session for $100.00 a $50 discount! Photos must be able to be used for marketing purposes. ***Spots have been taken*** 

Contact me SOON!! I want to capture some sweet new baby moments!

J&D New littles {Southern Minnesota Newborn Photographer}

I have to say that shooting newborns is growing on me. Sure, they take more time then the average session, you  may or may not get peed on, and it takes A LOT of patience. But, I have really enjoyed snuggling these littles and it quiets my uterus down, lol.
These little girls are too cute. And their brother was so well behaved, I was really impressed! I had so much fun with this sweet family! Like I have mentioned before, I do a lot of shots with the family because a newborn is an addition to the family unit. I don't use a lot of props or anything, it is more about the babies in their moment. They aren't little forever.

So sweet

Definitely a favorite!

Such a proud big brother

These two, so precious!

~D~ did not want to sleep. She gave me a run for my money. 

~J~ was very much interested in what I was doing!

I love baby smiles

Put them together...out cold. 

Sweet baby toes!

~M~ is 9 months! {Southern Minnesota Children's Photographer}

Oh this little man. I have so enjoyed watching him grow in front of my lens. He is turning into such a little charmer! I was so happy we were able to take his 9 month photos outside! Yeah for spring! I am ready for more sessions outside!

Oh those cheeks!

He sure loves his wagon!

Those eyes, too cute!

He was not thrilled with me at this point, but still looks good for the camera!

He is saying, "seriously? are we done?" Yes, sweet man, until your one year session!

Imaging USA 2015 (Southern Minnesota Photographer)

I am finally blogging my Nashville trip!! I really thought I would take more photos, but when it came down to it, I was just so busy trying to learn as much as I could, then being exhausted at night, I hardly took my camera out. However, I now know what to expect, so next time, I will shoot more! 

I was so excited to take this trip with my friend Heather of Red Barn Photography and learned so much! We flew into Nashville on Jan. 31 and we were able to go out on the town that evening. We stayed out WAY to late at the fault of the shuttle driver who decided to be a half hour late to pick us up. We stay at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center and it was AMAZING! It is the largest hotel in America that isn't a casino. So, we had everything we needed right there. 

Three straight days of learning, meeting and networking with new people, and I even got my first massage at the spa. Yes, I am 32 and haven't been to spa, I am a sheltered girl :-) 

We did go out again on Monday night and took some photos. I realized I am so much better at taking photos of people. Landscape and architecture photography is just not my forte, but I tried! 

These tap handles just looked really cool to me. 

I love how the lights pop in this one. 

I got Heather to pose for me :-)

I tried, and I do like how some of my shots turned out. 

There was live music at almost every bar on Broadway, I had to stop and get shots through the window. 

The three floor bar. 

One of the photographers we met brought a tripod and was trying to get traffic shots. I took a stab at it. Now, this is just bracing my camera as still as possible against my body. Not bad for my first try. 

And that's Heather. 

As photographers we are always willing to do crazy stuff to get the shot. She laid on the sidewalk, I leaned over a nasty trash can. It's what we do. 

My favorite "window" shot. 

Oh how I can't wait for the next Imaging I will attend in 2017. I am amazed and inspired. I am going for my certification in these next two years which will bring my photography to the next level. Get ready, it's going to be WAY fun!! 

Always wanting to learn...

I love photography, I love meeting new people, I love capturing moments for others to cherish for the rest of their lives. However, this isn't an easy profession to be in. I have learned from my mistakes through the last six years and like the saying goes, "if I knew then what I know now" things would be different.

But I didn't know, and I that's OK, so far, I am still here. The reason I think I am still going after all the mistakes I have made, is because I WANT to get better. I want to learn how I can service my clients better and make my art the best it can be. I am the first to admit I don't know it all. I learn constantly and enjoy that about photography. It grows, and as photographers we need to grow with it. 

For three years I have been a member of Professional Photographers of America, and am able to contact colleagues when I am in a pinch, or just need some inspiration, along with many other benefits to enhance my business. This is the best investment I ever made in my business.  

With this said, I am so excited to announce I am headed to Imaging USA this weekend to learn from the best photographers around the world. This convention is three days long and covers things from wedding photography, seniors, marketing strategies, business and more! 

I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Get ready, when I get back things are going to be BETTER!