I had fun yesterday… we should all hang around with people like this and have some real fun from time to time. Put down the iPad (or NOOK Tablet in my case) and get out and have some fun with the kids. Some of these shots are not in focus. Does that matter? Heck no, look at those faces. Every bit of emotion of the moment still comes beaming through. So, lighten up… don’t sweat the small things… and have some real fun!
I have known Reid and Autumn for a handful of years now… actually quite a handful. They are both wonderful people. I have seen them move to marriage and now parenthood with two wonderful children. However I had not ever met anyone else in their family.
Subsequently I was excited when they asked me to shoot their family along with Autumn’s side. But you know you kind of get an idea in your head when you start talking about a session with someone. I can honestly say all ideas went out the window when they got in the studio.
Sometimes a photographer needs to step back and let people be, just be. They all had so much energy, and it was not going to be contained. They were so much fun and so pleasant to be working with that it really turned out to be a session of me just capturing them being their selves.
So with that here are some samples of a wonderful family who one day walked into my studio and just sort of took over the place. (smile)
I had the wonderful honor and privilege to photograph Colleen along with her husband Ken and family… including the wonderful grandchildren. My friend Karl whom I have known for five years is Colleen’s Son-In-Law. Through Karl and his wife Erika I was made aware of Colleen’s battle with cancer and the many miracles that have happened in this battle. I had not met Colleen until the day of the shoot but I have held her in prayer for a handful of years so this was a shoot that was near and dear to my heart. I felt so blessed to be asked to do this family session.
Here are some shots of Colleen, her husband Ken, Karl, Erika and the grandkids. A beautiful and wonderful family.
I was so excited to get to spend some time with Mabel again. I first photographed her when she was only five days old. During that session she slept most of the time which did not do a whole lot to prepare me for photographing her now just after she had turned one. Quite a difference. She was very much attracted to the camera and would come crawling at me everytime I started shooting. I had so much fun trying to keep up with her. It was also so very nice to talk and catch-up with Mabel’s Mom and Dad. A very creative couple to be certain with Rebecca’s cooking and David’s web design. I am interested in seeing how Mabel grows and what she does with the incredible life that lays before her. I am blessed to have a window into her life’s journey.
So after our shoot I emailed David and Rebecca a shot to tease them with while they waited for the rest to be processed (I am so mean like that) only to find the next day that they had made a blog post about our shoot the day before. I was very honored by what they wrote.
Thank you David, Rebecca and Mabel. You are a wonderful family and I am so grateful to have been able to take these shots with you all. I sincerely hope we can get together like this for years to come. God bless!
I have recently gained access to studio space and within a week of signing on I had the Johnson family in for a portrait session. Just in time for the holiday season. I had shot Ashetin’s Senior Session (daughter) in the Fall so I had met most of the family at that time. Such a great family to work with, and so full of life. At seven people they were a bit larger of a group than I was accustomed to for a portrait session but it made it that much more fun. I was happy to hear on their long ride home all the talk was about the session. I am glad they all enjoyed it as much as I did. Thanks Johnson family for a wonderful time together. Next time I will remember to keep the Oreos hidden until we are done. It will make editing a bit easier for me. 
The studio is located just outside downtown Minneapolis with easy freeway access and plenty of free parking. It is equipped with all the comforts of home and I am sure you will find it very welcoming. Please contact me via phone or email to book a session indoors during these cold Winter months. I would love to have you out there.
Here are some of my favorite shots of the Johnsons as we “broke-in” the studio.
I met Reid and Autumn at a park in Bloomington on a late Summer day. It was one of the last really warm days we have had this past season. We managed to find some places to shoot out of the blazing afternoon sun and here are some of what we came. I love their precious children and their great personalities. What a wonderful family. So fun to get out with them all again. Love you guys!
Enjoy!
I had the great pleasure to get out with Kari and her daughter last Sunday to do a session. It was a hot, and I mean hot, day getting hotter by the minute. We started about 11:00 so the sun was not at its kindest but we managed in the heat and glare of its light.
Kari’s daughter was so much fun to hang around with. We started at the park and then she was excited to show me “her” tree at their home. She loves to climb on this old tree shown in the images. We even managed some time with the family dog.
I enjoyed our time together and the opportunity of rising to the challenge of heat and light.
Here are some of my favorites from our time together, enjoy.
Sometimes things just happen. You have to be alert, you have to be ready and above all you have to react.
I had just finished the Schirmers session and I heard laughter behind me. Never one to miss a laugh, especially when it sounded so darned cute, I spun around and saw these three angels running at me with their balloons. I dropped to my knees and started shooting. The girls were so cute and these shots just warmed my heart and put a smile on my face so I wanted to share them with you. I hope they do for you what they do for me… bring a smile to your face and warm memories of summer days lost in the innocence of youth to your mind.
