{many} Twin Cities Child Photographer

“Live your life, do your work, then take your hat” Henry David Thoreau

{yawp} Twin Cities Child Photographer

{Click} Twin Cities Family Photographer

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away-author unknown

Warning blog rant and picture overload coming up...

Here is my blog rant. Why does life go by so fast and why is it so hard to stay in touch and hold onto such special relationships as it passes at lightening speed. Hmmm. This makes me angry. I want to hold onto these people forever, and keep them recorded just like I remember. Am I asking too much. Am I just a tad of a control freak? No. Me. Never...Could I get an extra 2 hours in my day. Maybe?

In all seriousness, as I get older I realize the specialness and seasons of the people that enter, exit, re-enter, disappear and ebb and flow. Knowing this adult reality {boo to growing up...I'm a bit of Peter Pan} I try to stay in the moment and enjoy each precious exchange, laugh, breath and goodbye. Then to quote the Office, I take a mental picture and put in my vault for future memory surfing.

I was so happy to reconnect with a dear friend that I met when I first moved to Minnesota 11 years ago as a energetic and idealistic graduate student. We were both in the same program and, with along of few of my other dear friends, plowed through courses, studies, professor looongggg lectures, comps, papers and so on. As life goes, we fell out of touch for many reasons probably the biggest being she betrayed me and left the school counseling track and went into college student affairs....{kidding}. Well, long sweet story, we find each other over Facebook, caught up slowly but surely and when we met Saturday on such a sunny and gorgeous day in a week of wetness and dreary, it was a lovely reunion I cherished. Her family is absolutely beautiful. Not surprising, as she has always been an incredible woman with energy, a great sense of humor, fun and adventure. My dear friend, thank you for the pleasure of our session. I enjoyed our time together and capturing the beautiful, genuine love and connection your family shares together. It took my breath away. Don't exit too long now:) Click and Save...

{deal} Twin Cities Lifestye Photographer needing advice

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
~Scottish Saying

Anybody have advice to convince a 3 year old with a very vivid imagination that monsters are not in his bed nor his room. Hence let mom and dad can sleep. Please.

{getting to know you} Twin Cities Child Photographer

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
-Carl Jung

I love photographing young children. I love photographing family. Mix that together and it makes a pretty great session. In comes family member by my husband but I've known along time and we see each other, not enough, and always say that in a meaningful but life is crazy if you have little kids way....anyway...Ms. Piper and Mr. Tanner...trot into their studio with their mom ,who I just adore because she just is one of the nicest, strongest, most real people you will ever meet. One of the first people I met when I moved here and makes me feel happy whenever I see her because her smile and personality light a room. I'm not kidding. There are just people out there like that and I am so blessed to know them...
Long story short. It reads like a telegram...I move to Minnesota. Stopppp. I meet my husband's big German family born and bread in the wonderful town of New Ulm. Stop. That includes his cousin Tim and his fiance Paula. They are great. Stop. Tim and Paula Get married. Stop. Along comes Piper. Stop. Family Grows.2 years later. Stop. Here comes Tanner. Family reunion in New Ulm but we miss each other. Stop. Shucks!!!!!
I love family and I love these dear children and their wonderful parents and I wonder how it goes by so fast. I can only say about this session is that it was purely enjoyable. For a photographer, A 4 and 2 year old are playtime...or...you guess it.... With these 2 it was hanging out. Taking a photo or two. Catching up. Enjoying family. Reviewing the last few years of their life that was so near but I missed because life expands, grows and it is tough but beautiful all the same.
These two have such striking personalities that it was playtime for me to not only photograph their session, interact with their unique yet familiar personalities, but also to get to know a part of oneself with family. Thank you Piper and Tanner for such a great time. You were purely natural, beautiful and a great reunion. No work involved:)

{clue} Twin Cities Senior Portrait Photographer

“The final mystery is oneself.” Oscar Wilde

If last year I mostly spent my time doing senior portrait sessions with females it would be the reverse this year. Most of my clients of been young men. I have to admit it has been a different experience for me but wonderful all the same. As a former senior girl myself, I had a sense, even though it was a bit ago when I was a senior gal, what to expect because...well, I was one and just knew how important I thought these pictures are. Well, here comes the season of...men I call it. I end up having senior boys. Which are mysteries to me much like my young 3 year old boy and husband are...only because I have never been one. Each session has been mystery unveiled. Andrew came to my studio with his mom so pleasant and polite, with manners and respect that blew me away. As we grew past the awkwardness of the first few moments, I felt like I was hanging out with a really cool young man and his mom that I knew since he was writing his first sentences in cursive. As a mom to a boy, I loved watching their interaction. They chatted back and forth so comfortably and with such love that I felt just only a the surface of the bond that began 17 or so years ago...{insert tear}.
I dig my job. Such a mystery. Each character...er....client and such inspiration.

Congratulations to Andrew Alvarez. Woodbury High School Class of 2010. May your senior year be one of mystery unveiled and yet to be explored...

{between} Twin Cities Child Photographer

Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
And I'm wondering what it is I should do,
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face...
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you....
-Steelers Wheel

Brother, Sister...Sister...brother is there a middle or a more initmate bond from the beginning.I have the privledge of knowing this family since the tiny brother was only 6 months and now a year later, which doesn't seem like a loonnng timeeee....in adultttt worllld.... but he was just 6 month old a year ago and she was just a 3 year old a year ago. Then they came into my studio and they blossomed. Maybe I have a bit of a biased as I have an older daughter and and younger son and I know the mom who is an amazing kid supporter in the schools but what it comes down to in every shoot...Each child, each spirit, reveals, as they grow, bit by bit and it is absolutely amazing to witness. They love to play, learn, hug, jump and enjoy. Not too shabby of a job to witness. Happy Birthday to Ms. Pinkalicious (who happens to be a fan of my favorite book) and half birthday to Mr. T. Today was all play, no work and I absolutely adored being stuck in the middle with you-

{twirling} Twin cities fine art photographer

“Tree and Stone glittered, without shadows.
My finger-length grew lucent as glass.
I started to bud like a March twig:
An arm and a leg, an arm, a leg.
From stone to cloud, so I ascended.”
-Sylvia Plath

{Facination} Twin Cities Child Photographer

“Shades of grey wherever I go
The more I find out the less that I know
Black and white is how it should be
But shades of grey are the colors I see.” Billy Joel

This little man is two. And two year old children are my favorite work out. I think I have mentioned this before. Him and his entire family are dear to my heart. I have known all of them since he was a baby, most closely him mommy who I used to to work with and a big reason I still have my sanity it tack...:)..., and just in general they are a few of my favorite people in my life. This makes a session all the sweeter! From the second he blasted through the door, this little guy would not sit still. He wanted to move, dance, investigate and wander around the studio. I had him on the couch with the fancy strobes for less than a minute....if that. Then he was off. To explore. So I ditched the fancy strobes. Crawled on my hands and kness, ran, tumbled (not kidding) sang and danced with him. What a beautiful world Mr. C. I absolutely enjoyed the perspective from which you see.

{Rhythm} Twin Cities Senior Photographer

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." ~ Bob Marley

The first words out of this young man's mouth were "let's keep it simple." Senior portraits for boys always are interesting sessions. Yes, they are simple but also complex. Joe was quiet, reserved and just ready to get these photographs over with and go home. As the session simply rolled along I got to understand the complexity and dynamic artist this guy is becoming. Joe is a drummer and plays in a band. When he discussed music it was all about soul and rhythm. I could just tell how much he connected and expressed himself through his music and drums by the way he spoke about other artists, music and his instrument. He was eloquent, thoughtful and introspective. I admire at such a young age, instead of playing Guitar Hero like most of many teens his age (please note I have nothing against GH), he has the dedication and passion for his music to go out and do the real thing. This is truly inspiring as a fellow artist and lover of music.
Here is a preview for Joe. Woodbury High School Class of 2010. Keep on rocking and rolling because I have a feeling I'll be hearing more about you...maybe someday over the radio.

{breakfast at tiffanys} Twin Cities Family Photographer

“Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary's life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.” Angela Davis

I met Soma and her family almost a year ago to the date. She came in for pictures for her girls and there was an immediate connection. As I greeted her and we talked photographs it was as if we were friends that hadn't seen each other for awhile but were meeting for a quick cup of coffee to catch up. All of the sudden we weren't talking photographs but about other interesting and compelling things that made my brain spin and my belly laugh throughout the discussion. Tragically for me, until that moment I never knew Soma existed. But it did not feel that way. It was a meeting waiting to happen. Not to sound too "pull out the crystals and fairy dust mystical"....but I am glad our chance encounter happened.

A year later, I was beyond delighted to have her contact me for family pictures. This time it was her whole family and it didn't feel like an ounce of work. Her girls, husband and herself are empathetic, kind, passionate souls with a real drive to make the world a better place not just for themselves but all of us on board for this crazy ride called life. Revolutionaries, Wise, Kind and Intelligent. They carry a heavy weight in a time where it is easy to point fingers and see the lack and division as our country changes, expands, contacts, divides, conquers and moves forward.

We laughed, had fun, took pictures all the while discussing everything from artistic dreams to the direction of our country to one of their favorite movies they had seen recently involving Indian toilets. Thank you so much for our time together and your support of my growing dream. I look forward to many more coffee dates in the future...

{adjust} Twin Cities Family Photographer

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
Anthony J. D'Angelo

Well the weather, cold and clouds have always had a pretty big effect on me. Friend, family or foe if you are inches within earshot you have heard me whine like toddler about how COLD Minnesota is. {poor poor me}. I live in the Midwest but I confess I am a warm weather, desert or beach dweller on the inside. Shorts, tank and flip flops are my kind've wardrobe and laying in ths sun, feeling it's warmth blanket my body is a day of heaven.
Today left me feeling rather blue and tired. No sun. Just lots of rain and a wind that pierced through my body like teeny tiny needles. Brrrrr. I am about finishing this wonderful family shoot and these photographs made me smile. As I post this, my three year old comes running past me, panting, huffing and puffing. I look over to see a sweatband ala Flashdance across his forehead as he is pretending to take his daily jog. I break out in laughter. My own sunshine....brought to me on this lackluster of a day.