{December 17th} December Photography Project

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”
~ Gautama Siddharta

{Santa Pictures} Twin Cities Child Photographer

Guests that attended the buffet with Santa at Kincaid's resturant in Bloomington can click on the link below to locate their Santa picture. Once you locate you picture in the album, open the picture, move your cursor to the left side of the photograph and click download. You are free to as many downloads as you like. The album will be active for 10 days. If you would like to order prints please contact me at cordesphoto@gmail.com. Also, if you have problems or any questions feel free to contact me. Happy Holidays and thank you for a wonderful day!

Link

Kincaids

{December 12} December Photography Project

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
-Albert Camus

Ok. Just a bit behind with the one a day photo thing but who said I ever liked living in the box. So today I give you two!

{Up} Twin Cities Lifestyle Photographer

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
-- Buddha

As I mentioned before, I will be taking a small break for the next month to spend the time enjoying the holiday season with my family and friends.

I would love to thank all my clients this past year for the pleasure of working with you. I am truly humbled by how many people have trusted me to capture their memories and how the business has grown way past what I could have thought possible. I am lucky to say I love my job. It inspires me and challenges to grow individually, professionally and spiritually. Thank you.

A few notes before break.

2010 will be an exciting year for Stacey Cordes Photography and at the beginning of January I will be announcing changes, contests, plans and modeling searches. All these activities promise to be exciting, fresh and creative. Please stop back after the start of the year to see what is in store.

There will be a change in pricing structure for 2010. Clients who have booked a session for next year and paid the session fee have been locked into last years pricing. However, if you have not made your deposit by December 20th you will be held to 2010 pricing. This is true for portraiture and weddings.

I will continue to check email, do periodic photo of the day, return calls as I wrap up the holiday season. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to drop a line.

Happy Holidays. Enjoy the people you love and keep warm-
Stacey

{December 8th} December Photography Challenge

Snow day!

{facts of life} Twin Cities Family Photographer

Ya Take The good
ya take the bad
ya take em both and there ya have
The Facts of life, the facts of life

There's a time ya gotta go and show and grow
And now ya know about the Facts of life
the facts of life

When the world never seems
to be living up to your dreams
and suddenly your finding out that the facts of life are all about you...

{The Facts of Life TV Show}

Bare with me as we wander through childhood nostalgia. I could not figure out what part of this song, from one of my childhood favorite tv shows, to put as my quote so I put the whole darn song and it probably will now be stuck in your head all day. My apologies. It just seemed fitting for this lovely family shoot with such a genuine and loving family of five. Anyone with family, family with small children, family with lots of people....Ok just family in general know that the facts of life involve simple pleasures, getting through your day, sniffles, tears, running to work and praying your kids don't miss the bus and realizing you have pj and j on your nice work t-shirt after you drop them off and walk into work. Yup. Sigh.

....and then at the end of the day, flopping at the couch, staring at your own facts of life and realizing as you trace through your day {the parts you can remember} that it is all about you. A bit philosophical? Zen? I guess I used to be a counselor so you can frame it in your own way. For me, this family was flat out fun to photograph. Not only are they simply beautiful, but the love they have for each other was not hard to capture. That fact of life cannot be faked. It is a blessing and I simply feel so lucky to be able to document these moments for life and print. It was simply wonderful to see you again Jen. Thank you for bringing your family to the studio and spending time among the love, laughter and chaos.

{December 6} December Photography Challenge

I spy with my little eye....a messy entryway, a tiny pup obsessed with wicker, an abstract painting by Picasso???

{December 5th} December Photo Project

Neighborhood Holiday Light Bokeh. I love my 85 mm & my neighborhood.

{enduring} Twin Cities Family Photographer

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
-Thoreau

I've been meaning to post this preview for awhile now. On the tail end of the holidays {and the middle of achoo/h1n1/fevers/sniffle season} I'm afraid I got behind. Too bad it took so long. This session was a true blessing to photograph for myself. Over Thanksgiving I had the honor of celebrating the life and love of beautiful spirit Patricia and her family. This session was a gift to all involved as they gathered together and surrounded her and each other with celebration and memories. Thank you all for inviting me to your home and to share in Thanksgiving weekend. It was a joy to photograph and I left filled with gratefulness and a bounty of joy, laughter and love.

{December 4} December Photo Project

i wish we could open our eyes
To see in all directions at the same time
Oh what a beautiful view
If you were never aware of what was around you
And it's true what you said
Like I live like a hermit in my own head
But when the sun shines again
I'll pull up the curtains and blinds to let the light in
-Death Cab for Cutie {marching bands of manhattan}

{Dec 2nd} Decemember Photo Project

What wondrous life is this I lead! Ripe apples drop about my head; The luscious clusters of the vine Upon my mouth do crush their wine; The nectarine, and curious peach, Into my hands themselves do reach; Stumbling on melons, as I pass, Ensnared with flowers, I fall on grass.

-Andrew Marvell

For the month of December I am taking part in the December Photo Project found here. For each day in December I will take a photograph and post to my blog. A fun challenge to reflect on the month, get creative and challenge myself to grow as a photographer. Feel free to check it out. All are welcome.

{dedication} Twin Cities Pet Photographer

"Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don't worry...I'm here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you."
-Charlie Brown to Snoopy”

Wow. I just realized how neglected my poor little blog has become now that I am rounding down the holiday season and up to my ears in editing and packaging. I thought I would take a break to show off the new 5lb bottle of energy bouncing around the Cordes household. I hold the Klopp family (see blogpost below) responsible for this rash decision. I am normally so cool, concrete, rational and collected:)
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I am excited for this month of holiday gathering, joy and spirit. This weekend, December 5 and 6, will be the final weekend for sessions for the month of December. I will be taking the remainder of the month off to celebrate the season with loved ones and recharge for the exciting new year ahead. If you are interested in a session please contact me as soon as possible. Until then, keep checking back. It has been a great year. I feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful job and for all the clients who have joined me in this journey this year. I promise a wonderful New Year to come!

{unconditional} Twin Cities Family Photographer

A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water log stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if your rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?
-Marley and Me

The closer I get to the holidays the more I feel like a character out of "It's a wonderful life." This season is a time to reflect on the year, ourselves, what is important, what has passed and what is yet to come. And truly, what better time to be a photographer and to be alive. The holidays make us stop and believe, love and take time. Yes we should do it all year but life is life and we all get busy and it gets kicked, most of the time without knowing, to the bottom of our list. So I digress, another beautiful family session with one old time friend and collegue, mixed with a beautiful spunky daughter added with exceptionally beautiful and real wife and in-laws finished off with a adorable and energetic dog. Yes. Life is great. How many people make you feel pure, special and extaordinary. I am lucky to say many. I am thankful to say my life is overfilled with blessings. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Klopp for a visit to photograph your life party. It was a pure pleasure to reunite, watch how your strong and incredible your daughter has grown, meet new (and very talented family) and to share in Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!

{blessing) Twin Cities Family Photographer

The first time her laughter unfurled its wings on the wind, we knew the world would never be the same-Storypeople

For anyone who know Meghan and her beautiful family you are blessed. She is a dear friend I have known for a long time, along with her wonderful husband Jere. Like me she is a mom, wife, daughter, friend, school counselor and just a joyful spirit. Throughout the years we have grown together through significant parts of our lives. A true friend who sees the good and bad and sticks by you is rare in these times, and Meghan is one of those compassionate souls that has done that for me and the other people blessed to be in her life. I am lucky to call her, Jere and the boys my friends. I would have been lost if not for the times she made me laugh through the tears and rough punches that life often gives. And simply the encouragement she has given as I transitioned into my dream leaves me amazed and grateful. Her family is simply as special, unique and loving as she is. Thank you friend for your visit to the studio and for all the other ways you have lightened up my life.

{round and round} Twin Cities Family Photographer

Slowly, oh so very slowly

Accept that
There's no getting off
So live it, just gotta go with it
Coz this ride's, never gonna stop...
Don't forget enjoy the ride
-Jem

Family sessions are pure enjoyment to me because within an hour of time you can see the dynamics and preview into what someone calls their home. I think this family can understand what I am saying. Family systems. Correct Kari? I'm lucky with this job that it reunites me with favorite people from past, present and future. Kari and I attended graduate school together and spent many colored days learning psychology of human, community and family spirit and soul. She always had a way to make me laugh even during the most stressful periods of our program. When I greeted her at the studio door, with her family now (please note this was missing in grad school and husband was then only boyfriend), her smile and wit was just what I remembered and made me very happy. Our session was full of giggles, energy, family systems and psychology....ok ok.. forget the CSP talk...yes giggles and yes...parenting and marriage and getting your kid to sit still for a photograph and snuggling right after. Whew...and. Oye! I can't believe eight years later, here we are. Different and the same. What a journey, what a ride.
Thank you so much for your visit to the studio, for introducing me to your beautiful family and providing a session that gave me quite the work out. We are planning that reunion. Life is too short not to.

{holiday bazzar} Twin Cities Fine Art Photographer

This will come as no surprise knowing me but I wanted to tell you about a great even happening today. Yep. Real short notice but read on. Today, Saturday, November 14 I will be spending 9-3pm selling and showing my find art prints at my church's holiday bazzar. If you have time stop by and say hi. The entire event is held annually and features a variety of local artists and in general, if craft shows excite you, guareenteed a fun time. There is even a special store just for little kids where they can show for holiday gifts for the special love in their life.

Minnehaha United Methodist Church is located at 3701 E. 50th St. Minneapolis. I'd mapquest for directions because I am a visual person and and afraid you might end up in south Iowa if I tried to tell you:) Have a great day.

{aware} Twin cities Senior photographer

“Humor is perhaps a sense of intellectual perspective: an awareness that some things are really important, others not; and that the two kinds are most oddly jumbled in everyday affairs.”

Christopher Morley

Here's what I love about seniors, they are at a cusp of such an adventure. There is miss hayley. Who has such a sense of herself, her strength, her talent and together it forms such a dynamic person. I am just amazed when I meet people like this, because this poise and strength is hard at my age let alone 18. We had her session and her confidence, humor, talent and beauty blew me away. I'm continually amazed at the wisdom and courage of this generation. It is hard to put into words the knowledge they have at this age that I was not faced with, how they navigate through the changes and face their future with idealism and an expectation that the world better be ready and capable to handle them. I like that and and I am sure lucky to capture this point of the journey through pictures.
Congratulations to Ms. Hayley Grams. Little Falls Senior high school class of 2010. Head up, Plow forward strong woman.

{flip} Twin Cities Family and Landscape Photographer

"Whatever good things we build, end up building us"
-Jim Rohn

I'll make a small confession my brain is a bit of a tornado. I understand it completely well but looking in one may be confused, horrified, laugh or be fascinated depending how you think and be. But I understand it just well, how to use it to create for my clients beautiful pictures that capture love, art and life. As it is. Magnificent and Real all tied together. So, I'll confess to Kristin that when I came to her session I was turned for a loop. I thought I was shooting a couple session by their barn on a new hobby farm for their Holiday card. This was true... but, to my delight, there was so much more.
When I arrived, she was so warm, brought me into her renovated house and told me their story. Her husband and herself had purchased a 10 acre hobby farm in desperate need of major renovation and repair. Through the mess, they saw the potential and fell in love with the land. When finally it was theirs to have, work began and they poured their hearts and hands into making it a sanctuary that I could tell was their true home. Flipped House. Flipped Photographer. Yup. They wanted some shots of themselves of course, but they wanted to capture the beauty of their new home. As art.
Ok, you two no problem! How did you know this was my Dream Job. Thank you. The work you have done to your home blows me away {me=no talent in this area) and I only hope I have captured a small bit of the beauty that blankets your end of the world.

{A story} Twin Cities Family Photographer

Lovely. Lovely. Isn't it just absolutely just lovely? -Jan Brady {The Brady Bunch}

They jokingly call themselves the Brady Bunch which I just love. They are two families coming together about to unite in marriage this spring and working through all the newness, challenges, love and work that comes with a new story. I happen to have known half of this story for awhile and think the new half is enriching and growing the story quite nicely. The family is absolutely lovely. Five children with energy and spirit like I've never seen. Two parents that love each other and the entire lot a whole "Bunch." It was a complete joy and honor to spend the time photographing their story. The truth is there are all sorts of ways to form a family and that is why, I love, they call themselves the Brady Bunch.