Models this Spring

New website and blog coming soon, so I need some fresh faces. Details coming up soon. Be on the lookout! This could be your chance to take advantage of a free session!

Mackenzie -- 6 months old now!

Boy how time flies. When I showed up to shoot Mackenzie's 6 months portraits I was surprised at how much she had changed. I photographed mom's maternity session and Mackenzie's newborn session. She is so big and has beautiful strawberry blonde hair. She was so funny because she was quite intrigued by all the textures I brought along. First the soft fuzzy rug, then the flower mat, and then the soft white blanket. After all that, the floor vent was quite interesting! She is such a doll and I can't wait to take her 1 year photos. I'm sure I'll be chasing her around when that time comes.

Flaming Basketball!

I had a FUN and sort of funny shoot with my son this weekend. Traveling basketball ended a few weeks ago and he wanted me to take some fun shots in his #1 jersey. So I put it in his head that we would try something "different" if he was down for it. It was going to be a flaming basketball shot! He smiled! But first, we needed "buy in" from dad because he would have to assist and not call me insane. Well, as the three of us talked about how to pull this off, Mya and Mario were very interested in how this was going to turn out and wasn't going to miss this. So I set everything up and did a few test shots. I decided I wanted to go with a little bit of drama in my lighting set up. After we played around and warmed up, it was time for the money shot as some would say. Mya had a bottle filled with water, D was ready and holding the basketball, I was ready to fire off a few shots, and Mario was a talking machine but stayed out of the way. Dominique prepared the basketball for flames. "Get ready...I'm lighting it now..." Dominique said, and OMGoodness, the flame was so high Mario gasped loudly and Mya said "Oh my", but D stayed cool and calm! We put that one out and went at it a second time and this is what we came up with!

Whew! The house is safe and D loves his cool flaming basketball shot and the ones that show off his muscles! LOL! He asked his dad if he was jealous! Hilarious kid!!!!

Zachary -- Senior 2010 { Minneapolis Portrait Photographer }

I had a great senior shoot with a really cool senior last weekend. I had to "untype" the word kid because he is no longer the "kid" I knew years ago. Zach is my neighbor and is quite a few years ahead of my "kids", but I remember the days when he was only 11 years old or so. I had not seen him in so long that I was very surprised to see how much he had grown and changed. He has a super personality and it was so much fun photographing him.

Cute in Pigtails { Minnesota Childrens Photographer }

On Sunday I was able to bribe my daughter (Mya) into doing a mini-session. I promised to keep it short and treat her to a mini-blizzard from DQ. When she said "sure", I said - "I mean today". She said, "OK". So I rushed to the closet to find any dress that would fit and figured we would go with traditional pigtails for the hair. She had only one demand and that was that her older brother come along to make her laugh. Of course he gets a great deal out of this situation. He gets into the car and says: "This is great, I'll get to have ice cream and I don't even have to take pictures." Hmm, are you beginning to see what I'm usually up against? We get to the park and I shoot a few shots and then we wonder into a tall grass area. I get my daughter to go into this area for a few shots, then all of a sudden:

My son says: Mom, a snake!
Mya: (shrieks and yells)
Me: What? OMG, don't let it get in my purse -- Mya, hurry squat and smile! (snap,snap,snap).
Mya: Mommmm, hurry!
My son: Mom, mom he's going by your purse. Hurry! Mom let's get out of here. Ok mom, he went under your purse. But let's get out of here!
Me: Grab my purse! OMG, let's get out of here!

So we ran out of the tall grass and took a breather and laughed our heads off. The kids thought it was funny and certainly earned the ice cream treat in the end. And, the pictures turned out great! The last photo is her nervous look. :-)
(Oh, and it was a small garden snake. eek!)

Baby Harliegh { Minnesota Childrens Photographer }

I had so much fun photographing 9 month old Harliegh. This is technically my third time shooting her. I did mom's maternity shoot 1 month before she was due, then again when Harliegh was 2 months old. She is a pretty serious baby but so cool and relaxed. It was so fun to just watch her enjoy the weather and take in all of the sights and sounds around her. I can't wait to photograph her later this summer when she turns 1. I think I'll have my work cut out for me...she is showing signs of walking already!

Super Mario! { Minnesota | Portrait Photography }

Whenever I sense the moment that my 3 year old will let me capture his beautiful smile, I dive at the chance. I usually have to bribe him with skittles, suckers or bubble gum. But last Sunday he was all smiles as he explored the front garden and picked the lilac bush! He is in love with the lilac bush and judging from the smiles (and flowers) he gave me, he's in love with me too! I love you too boo.