the darkroom project...

I started photography 4 years ago as digital photography started to boom. I was pretty much self-taught which means I never started out in film or got to experience developing my own photos. I was recently inspired to build a darkroom in my studio and I am so excited!

I am on the hunt for a vintage camera and can't wait to shoot off a roll of black and white film. I can already envision the photos of my boys hanging from the clothespins. :) I'm not sure when the darkroom project will be complete but I look forward to making it happen!

Pet Portraits

This year I want to try something new! I have plans in November or December to team up with Pet Perfect Grooming (my studio neighbor) for fall/winter pet portraits. A day of pampering for your dog then a personalized pet photo session! Just in time for holiday cards!

Look for an official announcement with dates coming soon! For now, leave a comment below or shoot me an email if this is something you'd be interested in.

FYI- these would be pet photos only, no additional children or family shots would be taken.

Riley and Tenley

If you've ever logged onto my website, I'm sure you recognize this little girl! I am so in love with photographing her, I almost feel like I need to pay her mom instead of vice versa! Their mom is the best, she shows up with cute outfits and then sends them off with me, allowing me full creative freedom! The kids did great and we had a lot of fun together.

I am hoping to lean more towards this direction with my kids sessions next year. I would love to do more fashion-inspired sessions with the main focus on the children and not trying to capture that perfect family photo where everyone is looking and smiling at the camera. I just think it's less stressful on everyone involved and check out the results below:





Look at this little stud!
I am so in love with this outfit. It is the perfect example of how layers and textures add to the photo. Not to mention the to-die-for brown boots she's rockin'! The photo just wouldn't be the same if she was wearing a plain shirt and jeans for instance.



She told me she was writing, "Tenley heart Matthew" on this tree. Look out mom and dad! Her mom did say she was 6 going on 16. :)
This was all her! I did not tell her to pose like this!
I haven't shown a before/after in awhile and I love this photo. On the left is straight out of the camera and on the right is a little Photoshop.

Do you see why I wanted to take her home with me? :)

How cute!

Kelsey | Princeton High School Senior

"Kelsey isn't your typical 17 year old. She's like a 30 year old trapped in a 17 year old's body. "

-Kelsey's mom

This is so true! I immediately clicked with her. She is advanced at school so she's actually already in college this year taking classes. She has a love for literature (and chai lattes) and is currently writing her third novel. We had such a fun session I really enjoyed getting to know her. I told her that I get to shoot her head shots when her first book gets published. :)






My friend Tara is Kelsey's aunt and she had a great idea that we should find a coffee shop!


Thanks Kelsey! Good luck with your school year!

Jonathan, Elizabeth, and baby Lucia

This was a special session. Elizabeth has brain cancer and began chemotherapy last week. Jonathan's co-workers purchased this session to capture their family before she begins the next chapter in her battle. I was so happy to be able to work with them. One thing we definitely take for granted is our health.

Tara & family

I heart this woman! She was a client last year, then my hairdresser, and now my friend for life. I love acquiring unexpected friendships!

Need a fabulous hairdresser? Tara runs Blue Sky Salon specializing in organics. Give her a call!

612.210.7980

She actually works out of my very first studio space on Main Street in New Prague by appointment only.

Painted.

My studio got painted a couple of weeks ago. Since March I've been having to tell people that it's a work in progress and guess what? It still is, but I can at least show you the most major transformation. It's much like buying a new house, there will always be little projects that you want to accomplish but for the most part things are they way I want them.

Here is the space before I acquired it. It used to be an antique store:
Freshly painted! I still need to make my wooden oval sign to hang from the sign post but who has time for that?
Thanks to Nick Slavik for doing such a great job! He asked me to shoot some promo shots of him for his website and local advertisements. He has such a great eye for color and loves everything vintage. He mentioned using his old pick-up truck that I am in love with so I got to have so much fun with this shoot!