Olivia Wagner Photography Blog

2012-08-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

Crewcuts | 40% off sale!

2012-01-23T23:09:00.000-06:00

What is my favorite? An additional 40% off sale items at J.Crew! A certain handsome little 7 year old of mine is going to look dapper in this Italian chino suit and bowtie for his First Communion this Spring!

Our duck!

2012-01-17T21:32:00.000-06:00

We have a new neighborhood pet! She's a muscovy duck and I have no idea where she came from, but this species originates in South America. My boys started noticing her hanging around their bus stop at the corner and she can be seen in a couple of other neighbor's yards including ours. She's not timid and the boys often "follow" her home as she walks the street like a pedestrian. I love her! I hope she sticks around!

NEW! | Apply to be an OWP Senior Socialite!

2012-01-09T19:35:00.000-06:00

Kayd & Abhrajeet | Eagan Wedding Photographer | Indian Wedding Ceremony

2012-01-08T21:17:00.001-06:00

Wow, where do I begin? Kayd and Abhrajeet had an amazing wedding day. Let me preface by saying that they were high school sweethearts and have been together since the 10th grade! Their parents used to have to drive them around when they were dating because they didn't even have their drivers licenses yet, isn't that sweet? You definitely don't hear stories like that these days! Kayd and Abhrajeet celebrated their marriage with both a Catholic ceremony and an Indian ceremony. It was a whirlwind of a day! We started with the first sight and some wedding party portraits, went directly to the church for the Catholic ceremony at St. John Neumann in Eagan, and then directly after the ceremony we all traveled to the Airport Marriott so that everyone could get ready and dressed for the Indian ceremony. There literally was not a moment to spare and being that the wedding took place in November, we ran out of daylight fast. That was a bit of a bummer because I would have loved to photograph all the ladies in their Sarees in some gorgeous natural light but with weddings you can't always control everything.

This was such a big day, I couldn't tell their entire story in one blog post but here are some of my favorites:

At the hotel- there were a limited number of Indian women that could help the wedding party and guests into their Sarees so this getting ready part of the day took some time. The detail and design is so intricate, it's not a matter of putting a dress on. These rolls of fabric were draped, wrapped, and folded onto each woman ever so carefully. It was a beautiful thing to watch!

The results are breathtaking!

This was my first Indian ceremony and it was amazing to watch!

This canopy held by the bride and groom's brothers was placed between them so that they could not see each other initially. The moment it was lifted Kayd had such a great expression and the guests all cheered!

There is a lot of interactive ritual and many, many steps that they need to go through.

I love that not only did the wedding party wear traditional Indian clothing, the parents, family, and many of the guests dressed up as well.

Now this was the absolute best... Kayd and her father did their traditional father/daughter dance and as the end neared... they busted out into THRILLER! This was all planned out and a surprise for all the guests.

Kayd's family and the whole wedding party participated!

This day was such a great example that as a bride and groom- you can make your day exactly how you want it! There is no need to do what everyone else does or follow tradition for the sake of following tradition. In the end, it is your day so live it to remember it how you want it! Thanks K&A for having me!

Oliver | Twin Cities Live Cutest Baby Contest

2012-01-06T00:03:00.002-06:00

I cannot believe I will soon be the mother of a 2 year old! Oliver turns two this Valentine's Day. He is not talking much so I still feel like he's a baby and I will probably cling to that until he goes off to college! :) But really, how does 2 years go by so quickly? I am always telling new moms (especially first-timers) to truly cherish every moment. I think we constantly wish their lives away- especially if they are going through a challenging phase. With Oliver (knowing he's our last child), I am a lot more lenient this time around because I know how quickly it goes by!

Twin Cities Live is hosting a cutest baby contest so I thought, what the heck, I will enter Oliver! The catch is, professional photographs are not allowed. What?!?! So I had to dig through my point and shoot camera and I found this photo that my 7 year old took and thought it would be funny to enter. Oliver seriously loves these red heels of mine! He digs them out and wears them all of the time. You can click here to view his entry. There will be 5 finalist chosen and then it will be opened up to voting to choose the winner. The winner ends up on the cover of Savvy Magazine in February, a guest appearance on Twin Cities Live, and a $250 Amex gift card.

Here is the original photo, taken by Aidan:

Wish us luck!

Maggie & Family | Jordan Family Photographer

2012-01-05T21:26:00.000-06:00

I shot some family photos for Maggie in the fall of 2010 and I was so excited when she booked again in 2011. Typically, most families with older children don't update their photos every year so that said to me that she values photography and she enjoyed working with me! I really enjoy working with this family- they are fun, like to laugh, and are up for anything! Tori is the oldest and this year she brought along her boyfriend Ben.

There were a lot of laughs during this series!

Since we shot in the country the year before, this time Maggie wanted some "city" photos.

Do you see the resemblance?

Thanks again so much Maggie! It was an honor to work with you again!

My Dream Shoot | Hot Air Balloon Photo Session

2012-01-04T02:11:00.000-06:00

I never got around to blogging this last year even though it was such a big event for me last summer! In my defense, when it is busy, it is BUSY and I always feel like I'm in survival mode. Blogging seems like a luxury during those times.

So, this all started with a dream of mine. I am constantly thinking up "dream shoots" and challenging myself to think creatively. I became obsessed with the idea of shooting an engagement session during a hot air balloon launch. The more I thought about it, I loved the idea so much that I quickly turned the tables and realized I would want these hot air balloon photos for myself! I never looked into it until one day in July I had some free time and started Googling. I had to find a hot air balloon festival that had at least a dozen balloons ascending for the full impact of the concept. There were quite a few all over the country and then I ended up finding one in Indianola, IA during the week of my birthday! I remember that evening vividly... I ran downstairs to excitedly announce to my husband, "I know what I want to do for my birthday!" I told him about my concept and being the wonderful, supportive man that he is, replied, "Okay." I could NOT sleep that night. I knew I wanted to ask my friend Tasha to shoot it for me but I began to worry if I'd be able to pull it off.

The next morning, as soon as I knew I wouldn't wake her up, I called Tasha to pitch the idea. I was barely three sentences in when I asked her and her reply was, "I'm in." We began plotting and she happened to have a few days open that week in between shooting weddings. It all ended up coming together and I could not have been more excited!

This is not my first photo shoot so I completely understand what it's like to be in front of the camera. I think that as a photographer it's important to put yourself in your client's shoes from time to time. The stress of putting together coordinating outfits not confident what will photograph well, and to communicate with your photographer your vision and what you want to capture is a priceless experience! From my end as "the client," I was stressed about looking my best and hoping for the best captures knowing this is a one time shot!

August 3rd, 2010

The balloon ascension was at 6 pm and we could not get any closer to the balloons than being behind this fence. If this launch didn't work, there was another ascension at 6 am the following morning. This was our only opportunity!

I did not expect, however, for my children 10 minutes into the session to start complaining that they were hungry and that their new shoes hurt their feet. Thankfully some after session rewards did the trick!

Let your one-year-old have a sip of pop to keep him happy? Sure! Why not?! There was far too much on the line for this not to work out!

There was a night glow after sunset so we stuck around for that. This photo looks so peaceful but little do you know that Oliver was crying and we were all getting eaten by mosquitos!

With our family session wrapped, I couldn't help but feel jealous for Tasha being able to shoot those amazing balloons... I pitched the idea to her about me shooting her and her husband Tony the following morning at the 6 am ascension. They were up for it so it was my dream come true x2! I got my family photos and I got to shoot as well!

The lighting that morning was not what I envisioned. It was my first sunrise shoot but there was no sun! It was cloudy and gloomy. When we got to the launch field the following morning, there were no balloons! We asked the officials what was up and they said that the morning ascensions were competition driven and since they have to follow the wind pattern, they launched from a field far away and would float over the launch site vs. starting there.

Here we are waiting for the balloons to come...

Here they come!

Is Tasha not the cutest?!

My FAVORITES:

It was such an amazing trip and my kids still talk about it to this day. I encourage all of my future clients to search your soul for your next photo shoot. What do you want to capture? There is no dream too big and I would be so excited to make your dream come true!

I once heard a great quote from Jennifer Hudson who was giving a future young singer some advice:

"If someone tries to discourage you, it's because they just don't dream as big as you."

Words to live by!

A New Year! | Olivia Wagner Photography

2012-01-02T17:23:00.001-06:00

I have been a busy little bee over here at Olivia Wagner Photography! The new year brings new changes and investing back into the business which I love. I updated the blog with lots of new posts (more to come!) and added some extra design interest which is exciting! I had a great 2011 and over the holiday break I had some time to reflect and make the changes I want to incorporate.

My CD price has slightly increased from last year. I wanted to take a moment to educate clients about selling digital files. Digital files are a highly sought after product and nowadays I think everyone expects to receive them with custom photography. I certainly would want digital files if I were to book a photographer. Understand that as a business owner who makes a living doing photography (meaning- no other full-time job or way to make income), selling our digital files generally means a cap on a sale from a client. Once a client has digital files in hand, there is no need to purchase any additional prints or products from us because they can easily and inexpensively make their own. You can see the value in owning these files as a consumer- you own them for a lifetime and can reproduce them as often as you'd like. As a modern day photographer, they are the bread and butter of our business so you can imagine that we would need to profit off of them to be able to not only sustain a business, but earn a paycheck for ourselves. Don't forget we have to pay taxes, pricey health insurance policies, hire employees, as well as put food on the table. I'm not trying to make this sound like a pity party, but I think that since photography has become such an easy side business for creative people with regular full-time jobs, that clients take for granted that the professionals who make a living doing photography need to charge more.

There are no other price changes with the exception of a new payment schedule. As usual, the session fee is due at the time of booking but the new change is my minimum order amount will now be due the day of the session. That minimum will act as a deposit on your order and the balance of your order will be due when you actually place your order.

To help enforce my policies, I have created some informational pieces which you will receive when you book a session. I look forward to a new year, building client relationships, and forming some new ones!

Now scroll down and enjoy all of the new posts!

Corinne and Bill | Red Wing Wedding Photographer

2012-01-02T15:51:00.001-06:00

I had the honor of shooting this wedding with Tasha Herrgott of Red Bird Hills Photography. Tasha is friend's with the couple and her husband Tony was a groomsman in the wedding. Tasha and I co-shot up until the reception, then she got to put her camera away and be a guest for the night!

What a fabulous wedding it was! Red Wing is so great and full of photo locations, I was in love! Tasha was there the night before for the rehearsal dinner she got to scout locations for me in the morning and found some great spots!

I love a good emotional first sight!

This was one of my favorite shots... it was a shot I envisioned even before we started portraits.

Tasha found this great location down on the water- it was filled with funky tin floating sheds.

Bridesmaids (the movie) inspired shot!

Corinne and Bill's dogs Tank and Nala were flower girl and ring bearer!

A quick stop a a local bar...

This was my first reception emceed by Bill Hermann, he does such a great job! I highly recommend his DJ services! This next set of photos can only be described as "The roast of Corinne" done excellently by Corinne's father. Seriously, this guy needs to start touring! The place was roaring in laughter!

I love this shot... Dad dancing with Corinne while her mom watches...

What a wonderful day! Thanks for having me C&B!

Gwyn, Hope, and Noah | Farm kids

2012-01-02T14:06:00.000-06:00

My friend Tara's kids got all dolled up for me when I visited them in October. We had a fun mini-session exploring rural WI and those kids put up with a lot of what Tara and I put them through. :)

Land of Nod | Storagepalooza

2012-01-02T12:45:00.001-06:00

I bought these storage bins as a Christmas present to "the house" and they have been a lifesaver! My oldest son is 9 and we've gone through a LOT of toy storage, but I couldn't be happier with these Storagepalooza bins. They got over 300+ 5-star reviews on their website and I agree! They are stylish, durable, and do such a great job of organizing all our toys. I love that they can be in our living room and still look like a nice piece of furniture and they hold a TON of toys! If your house is in need of de-cluttering I highly recommend these! I also love that they come in a wide range of colors and you can mix and match. Espresso brown, antique white, french blue, navy blue, and tomato are my favorites!

Alex | New Prague Senior Photographer

2012-01-02T12:25:00.001-06:00

Alex was the only male I photographed this season and he was a lot of fun!

Get to know Alex!

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Landscape Architect

What is the very first thing you'd buy if you won the lottery?
Exotic car or lots of clothes

Mac or PC?
Mac

Favorite store to go on a shopping spree?
Marshall's

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
music player, sword, shampoo

What is your favorite place on Earth?
our old barn

I've always wanted to try _____________ (fill in the blank).
driving an exotic car

You couldn't pay me to ______________ (fill in the blank).
eat anything odd

Thanks Alex! It was great working with you!

Tash | Modeling head shots

2012-01-02T12:07:00.001-06:00

I shot Tash's senior pictures last summer with her horse and in the fall she asked me for some modeling head shots. She's definitely a natural!

Cleary Lake | Fall mini-sessions

2012-01-02T11:50:00.000-06:00

Hidden Falls | Fall mini-sessions

2012-01-02T11:31:00.000-06:00

My boys | Christmas Card Session

2012-01-02T11:03:00.000-06:00

I've been so excited to share these! They now fill my walls in my home because I was so excited about them. We shot these at a local Christmas tree farm on what I thought was going to be the last nice day of the fall. Little did I know that it would stay 40-50 degrees through December!

What handsome little dudes they have become... I couldn't be more proud!

Amy and Ryan | Jordan Engagement Photographer

2012-01-02T10:50:00.001-06:00

Amy chose to shoot their engagement session at her grandparent's farm which I loved! I always encourage my couples to choose someplace meaningful or personal to them. They were such great subjects and we had some great light to work with!

I told Amy this was a Sixteen Candles moment and she told me she'd never seen that movie. What?!?! I think I still have a crush on Jake Ryan!

A picnic in the country, how romantic.

The absolute perfect way to end the night... a kiss at sunset!

Thanks A&R! I can't wait for your wedding this summer!

Jessie and Nate | North Oaks Wedding Photographer

2012-01-02T09:41:00.001-06:00

Jessie and her mom were some of the nicest people I've gotten to work with. From the moment I arrived, Jessie was there to open the door for me, greet me, and show me the same hospitality throughout the whole day. It was unbelievable because I think she probably had enough on her plate to deal with than little old me! It truly was a testament to how she was raised though because Jessie's mom was the same way, even making sure I had a chance to eat dinner before anyone else.Jessie's grandma had a large part in the day in planning all the florals - she truly had a vision and wow, it was beautiful!

Jessie's grandma borrowed her these Manolo's!

A chandelier hanging down over the head table... yes please!

I should preface this series by saying Nate is seriously the silliest groom I've ever worked with! It's no secret to anyone that knows him that he likes to have fun and is wired to do so. Did I mention he's a professional chef? What a lucky girl Jessie is! So this series... we had a lot of fun with photos and here are a few out-takes:

The beautiful Jessie!

What a beautiful day I got to share with you, thanks J&N for letting me be a part of it!

Nicole and Ryan | St. Cloud Wedding Photographer

2012-01-02T01:15:00.001-06:00

Nicole and Ryan were married on a windy day in July in St. Cloud, MN. I love a good road trip wedding and this one didn't disappoint!

Nicole got ready at her parent's house. She had some fun touches, adding her personality into the details.

It was insanely windy out and the golf course we were at had no natural wind breakers. Good thing it was nice and warm out!

The wedding party surprised everyone with a choreographed group dance upon their arrival!

Nicole's details were so colorful and fun!

The DJ played a fun game with them in which they both had one of each other's shoes. He then proceeded to ask them questions about who would be doing what in their marriage. They had to hold up the shoe of who their answer was. It got a lot of laughs from the guests!

Thanks N&R for allowing me to be a part of your day!

Chandra and Patrick | St. Paul Wedding Photographer

2012-01-01T23:56:00.002-06:00

Chandra and Patrick were married on a beautiful August day. We had some pretty amazing MN weather in 2011. It now just got cold and snowy and it's the beginning of January. Their wedding took place in Mears Park and the reception at 413 on Wacouta.

Chandra's friend did this beautiful calligraphy on everyone's wedding invitation envelope. Frickin' amazing!

I loved Chandra's bouquet!

I loved photographing them- they're so cute and relaxed. You can clearly see their love for each other in the photos, it made my job so easy!

Look how proud her dad is walking her down the aisle. :)

I was in love with these two! They will someday be my future assistants!

Thank you C& P for allowing me to be a part of your day!

Rachel and Mark | New Brighton Wedding Photographer

2012-01-01T22:34:00.004-06:00

A new year... and new changes to the blog! I will be the first to admit, this blog has been severely neglected but all of that is about to change! I had such a busy fall and now that things have calmed down I am excited to get back to showing off some work and updating my websites. This is such a great time of year to reflect and make the changes I've been wanting to make.

Rachel and Mark were married in August and it was such a fun wedding to be a part of! I did something with Rachel that I don't normally do with my brides... I had a drink with her the week of the wedding! We sat down and talked and it was so fun to casually get to know her and hear all about her hopes and dreams for her wedding photos. She had lots of fun ideas in mind including big balloons, a trip to the grocery store (a favorite errand they liked to run together while dating), and capturing her free spirit. Sometimes as a photographer, it feels great to take the creative reins but it can also be refreshing to fulfill the client's wishes as well!

This was a shot I've always wanted to try and Rachel allowed a big chunk of time for her and Mark's photos which was perfect!

More fun with post-processing! Rachel described her part in the relationship as the free spirit with Mark keeping her grounded. I immediately envisioned her dancing circles around Mark and it was fun to be able to capture that!

I was so in love with this series in the grass. Rachel was not afraid to sit down in her dress so I took full advantage!

This trip to the grocery store was such a riot! Rachel asked the manager the week of the wedding if we could stop by. It was so fun to walk in there amongst the gawking grocery shoppers and make some noise.

Silverwood Park in New Brighton had such great areas to shoot in. I loved this giant oak.

The pastor was incredible. He took the guys and girls aside separately and had a moment of prayer with each of them. It was so powerful.

It was a perfect outdoor ceremony on the balcony!

Rachel and Mark made this cupcake stand themselves!

I always try to take my couples out for sunset shots if possible. I loved these! One last quiet moment...

Thank you so much R&M for letting me be a part of your day!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-07T13:57:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas! From, The Wagners

The loves of my life.

2011-11-19T21:00:00.001-06:00

I finally got a chance to snap a few photos of my boys when the had the day off from school earlier this month. I had to share these! They are the loves of my life and I cannot imagine life without them.

Clothes are a mix of miniBoden, Zara, and J.Crew. Outfitting my kids is my favorite. I think everyone's got their "thing" that they love to spend money on whether it's designer purses, going out to eat, etc. Mine is buying my kids clothes! It brings me so much joy to see them dressed so cutely. That's my thing!

Holiday Mini-Accordion Albums!

2011-11-16T13:11:00.001-06:00

I love mini- accordions. I always design one for myself after I shoot photos of my kids. It's the perfect way to gift multiple photos and in multiples of three, you can keep one for yourself! This holiday design is so cute and will be a big hit with grandparents and other family members! Contact me to order!

Kayd | Minnesota Nice meets Indian Spice

2011-11-13T18:06:00.001-06:00

The beautiful Kayd. I photographed my first Indian wedding recently, it was so amazing!

Recent sneak peeks

2011-10-21T22:59:00.002-05:00

Bill and Corinne | Red Wing wedding... more to come!

Alissa and Adam | Jordan wedding... more to come!

Eva and Jeremiah | Prior Lake wedding... more to come!

Alex | New Prague high school senior... more to come!

If you're not yet doing so, follow me on facebook for the latest sneak peeks and updates! I don't always have the time to update here...

The boys | Urban Session

2011-10-21T22:49:00.001-05:00

I have been meaning to get my boys out for a session for quite some time now. All of my clients have had such awesome weather for their sessions lately and I knew if I didn't get out soon I would miss out and end up with snow!

Coordinating a session with three kids is a lot of work! Maybe you think since I am a photographer I am constantly snapping photos of my kids but that is SO not the case. I need to schedule it just like a client session! I am always inspired by clothing so here is what I am calling Part I of their fall photos. I have more outfits I want to play with so it definitely calls for another session.

Nacoal and Mike | Boat engagement session

2011-10-12T21:22:00.001-05:00

This weather has been to die for! I had a really fun engagement session that I wanted to share. This is a sneak peek for Nacoal and Mike, whose wedding is next June. Nacoal had the fun idea of shooting out on the lake, the couple's favorite place to be! I always ask my couples to choose a location or activity that is meaningful to them for their engagement photos. I am so glad Nacoal took this to heart and made the most of their session. We had such a great time shooting this, and what a gorgeous place to be on a warm October evening.

Kara | Sneak peek

2011-10-04T00:43:00.002-05:00

More of Kara soon... isn't she gorgeous? Busy, busy, busy! Weddings every Saturday, family/senior/engagement every Sunday and scattered into the week. Three more weeks until the craziness settles down. The weather has been perfect so it makes my job pretty amazing right now.

I hope to blog more soon.. wait, blog "more?" I should say, I hope to BLOG soon... :)

Follow me on facebook if you don't already. It's easier for me to put up one photo there vs. writing up a blog post.

No more studio for me! I moved out on Friday... oh yeah, add moving out of a studio into my crazy mix of shooting and editing. I have access to a studio if need be, but otherwise I will be shooting on location for the time being. I'm excited! It's a new chapter and hopefully some new challenges and new locations.

Like the carpenter with no woodwork in his own home, I have yet to take my kids out and update photos of them. I picked out and bought their outfits weeks ago, but no time to actually take them. I hope Oliver's still fits, he's growing like a weed! Hope you're enjoying the beautiful fall!

Sasha | Hill Murray High School Senior | Maplewood senior photographer

2011-09-20T19:51:00.000-05:00

I had the best time with Sasha! She had so many fun ideas for her session! We ended up shooting on Grand Ave. in St. Paul, Sasha's favorite hangout. I can't tell you how much attention we got with her awesome bike. Everyone had to stop, comment, watch, and ask her questions about it. She was so great to work with!

Get to know Sasha!

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Happy.

What is the very first thing you'd buy if you won the lottery?
0A 1969 GTO Judge. Hands down.0

Mac or PC?
Mac!

What song gets the most plays on your iPod?
No Quarter (Live in Madison Square Garden 1973) - Led Zeppelin

Favorite store to go on a shopping spree:
Free People

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
If all survival items were already taken care of?
My beloved pillow.
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk.
Notebook and pen.

Which movie can you recite every line from?
Pulp Fiction

Celebrity crush?
Michael Fassbender

What is your favorite place on Earth?
Napa Valley, Wine Country.

I've always wanted to try _________________. (fill in the blank)
treking the path to mordor and climbing Mtn. Doom.

You couldn't pay me to __________________. (fill in the blank)
Live in Florida.

Thanks Sasha! So. Much. Fun.

Simplicity workshop images

2011-09-20T15:53:00.000-05:00

I had the most amazing time in Salt Lake City! I have always admired Angie's style so it was amazing to be able to learn from her and soak up everything she knows. We got to shoot three sessions and style our models so it was so fun to be a part of the whole process. My favorite was when we got to work with the models one on one and get the images we wanted. The landscape out there is amazing with mountains and the awesome orchard we got to shoot in. We stayed an extra day in Park City and I fell in love. It's such an awesome resort town! So, I'm back, refreshed, inspired, and ready to take my business to the next level! I just enrolled Oliver in part-time daycare so I am excited to be able to stay on top of my work and have some work/life balance restored. Hopefully, no more 3 am work nights. Lots of changes here, but exciting ones! Here are a few of my images from the workshop:

Angie's daughter Chloe modeled for us. It was a little surreal seeing her in person after seeing her on Angie's blog for so many years... it was like photographing a celebrity child!

These three were my favorite models. They LOVED it and would have sat there and modeled for us all day long!

Stay tuned for more excitement, I'll be doing a model call soon so I can create more of these images for myself.

Out of the office...

2011-09-13T01:18:00.000-05:00

My goodness. My life could not get ANY busier, and if it did, that would mean I am getting less sleep than the few hours I am getting a night right now! My poor blog has been neglected, along with so many other things in my life (my messy office). My schedule has been insane and my husband has been working 12-14 hour days so I am currently a single mom to three kids with work piled up and not much time for anything else.

For the exciting news... I will be headed to Salt Lake City this week for some mentoring with Angie Monson... the Angie Monson, I'm so excited to get my learn on! It is so important to continue your education as a photographer and always be trying to perfect your craft. I love being able to invest back into my business! I will come back inspired, refreshed, and ready to rock it out!

For the official announcement- I will be out of the office beginning Wednesday, September 14th through Saturday, September 17th. With so much work to do, I will be answering emails when I get back but will try to squeeze in some editing on the plane. Follow me on facebook to see what I am up to in UTAH!

Milk... eggs... a bride and groom?

2011-08-29T00:26:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Matt at the New Brighton Cub Foods for letting us have fun in the store! Congratulations Rachel and Mark! Rachel had so many fun photo requests... more photos from this wedding to come...

Now available!

2011-08-25T23:49:00.002-05:00

I had a cancellation and the 3:30 pm time slot on Saturday, October 22nd at Cleary Lake is now available. Email me if you want to snatch it up!

olivia@oliviawagnerphoto.com

August.

2011-08-23T03:26:00.002-05:00

Whoa. It's been a crazy, fun summer! I can't believe school is right around the corner. I wanted to give a quick personal update since it's been awhile! First of all, I apologize for being behind with editing at the moment. If you are waiting, it won't be much longer! I have been pulling some near all-nighters almost every single day just to get caught up. I have been shooting weddings every weekend and haven't even had a chance to blog, it's killing me not to be able to share!

If you are friends with me on facebook, you have probably seen my super top secret family shoot posted. Exciting! I will be posting my own personal story and images here soon, as soon as I get a chance to look through them all. I loved my sneak peek, Tasha did an amazing job! In other exciting news, I will be attending some personal mentoring with Simplicity Photography in just two weeks! Angie Monson is one of my photography idols based out in Salt Lake City. That's right, I will be flying out on a jet plane and can't wait to learn everything that I can! Not to mention, doing some personal shooting in a beautiful city!

More big news: I have decided to end my lease on my studio space in Lonsdale. I have been there for 2 1/2 years and have shot there possibly a handful of times this past year so it makes obvious sense that I let it go instead of paying for nothing, essentially. I will still have access to studio shooting when I need it, so clients have no fear! This means nothing besides a little more financial freedom. Yay! I am actually excited about the decision, but will have to do some downsizing with my furniture and props so stayed tuned for a big studio sale sometime in September.

That's about it for now. Now I need some serious sleep. These 3 and 4 am work nights are killing me! As soon as I can, I will post some of the many recent images I've been shooting. Fun, exciting stuff!

p.s. There are still some afternoon spaces left in my Back to School minis! Since my fall sessions booked up, these are the last available minis of the season until... dare I say it... WINTER!

Back to School Sessions!

2011-08-16T19:45:00.015-05:00

This is a fun collaboration between Kayla and I. We live in the same city, have become great friends, and discovered how much fun it is to work with each other!

This is a great day of sessions because it offers such a range of choices to suit everyone's needs. The location is in one place but we will have lots of options to choose from as far as which type of theme you want for your child or family. My family mini-sessions booked up fast so if you missed out here is another opportunity! Two experienced photographers, a great location, lots of options, it's a win-win-win!

Session times are:

9:00 | booked
9:30 | booked
10:00 | booked
10:30 | booked
11:00 | booked
11:30 |
1:00 | booked
1:30 | booked
2:00 |
2:30 |
3:00 |
3:30 |
4:00 | booked
4:30 | booked

Sessions are 15 minutes for a child session (20 minutes for two children) or 20 minutes for family sessions.

If you would like to book a session, click the Buy Now button and follow the instructions.

Here are some examples of the props and backgrounds we have. Background scenery may vary as we will be moving around a bit as the light changes throughout the day.

Antique desk:

Lace canopy:
Blue sofa:
Tea party:
There are also barns and fields nearby- lots to choose from!

Oliver | 18 months

2011-08-16T17:36:00.004-05:00

This kid is growing like a weed! I have been a bad momma as far as picture taking goes. One evening I decided I just need to DO IT so I snapped these quickly. 18 months just may be the toughest age to photograph!
Oliver is a bit obsessed with his belly...

I get asked a lot for styling advice for kids sessions... I am thinking about offering some sort of service. I haven't put a ton of thought into it as far as how to charge, etc. but I LOVE doing it so for now just inquire and we'll see what I can do!
Often times, he will go looking for other people's bellies too!

This just makes my heart smile.
Stop growing so fast baby! Love you. -Mom

Tash | Hill-Murray Senior Photographer | MN Equine Senior Photographer

2011-08-16T16:28:00.008-05:00

I shot Tash's sister Grace's senior photos last year and was honored to be asked to photograph Tash this year! The family owns two horses, last year we shot with Blue and this year we worked with Dune. Dune is pregnant, due in the Spring, so she has been acting odd such as rearing up like a stallion! Much like working with small children, animals are unpredictable but I LOVE getting asked to work with horses.

Tash was a blast to photograph and aspires to not only be an interior designer, but possibly do some modeling on the side. She will be great at both!

Look at this girl! This was Grace's idea to put her in the street, then we got yelled at by an old lady driving by. "Get out of the road!" she said.

About Tash:

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Interior Designer

What is the very first thing you'd buy if you won the lottery?
A condo on the beach in Miami or San Diego

Mac or PC?
Mac

What song gets the most plays on your iPod?
Just a Kiss, Amen, Are you gonna kiss me or not

Favorite store to go on a shopping spree:
Forever 21

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
My phone, my drawing stuff, and a swimsuit

Which movie can you recite every line from?
John Tucker Must Die

Celebrity crush?
Christiano Ronaldo

What is your favorite place on Earth?
Under the waterfall at Willow Falls

I've always wanted to try _________________. (fill in the blank)
Cliff Diving

You couldn't pay me to __________________. (fill in the blank)
Swim with whales or sharks

Thanks Tash! So great to work with you and your family once again!

Fall Mini-Sessions! | BOOKED!

2011-08-14T01:26:00.001-05:00

It is crazy to think about August being just around the corner, school starting soon, and the thought of fall family photos but my dates are beginning to book up fast and I wanted to get these announced so you "planners" out there can get rolling! I chose afternoon sessions for the best lighting and for the fact that morning sessions can be iffy as far as colder temps and wet dewy grass. I am very excited about the locations this year, both are gorgeous and we should get some amazing fall color!

If you'd like to book a session, please click here and complete this form for a session request. I will confirm your session time and once your deposit is received you will be all set!

*I will keep this posted listed at the top for awhile so scroll down for new posts!*

Fall mini-session availability | New opening!

2011-08-02T11:25:00.005-05:00

Fall mini-sessions are booked! Please contact me if you want to be put on the waiting list. It is a possibility that someone will not be able to make it and an opening may occur. If I get enough interest, I may open a couple of earlier time slots. Thanks!

October 15th:
3:00- booked
3:30- booked
4:00- booked
4:30- booked
5:00- booked
5:30- booked

October 22nd:
3:00- booked
3:30- NEWLY OPEN!
4:00- booked
4:30- booked
5:00- booked
5:30- booked

I will be out of the office beginning Wednesday, August 3rd and returning Monday, August 8th. I am celebrating my birthday in a big way with a family road trip and our ultra top secret family photo shoot! I cannot wait to finally share!

Addison, Lincoln, & Jameson | Lonsdale Family Photographer

2011-08-01T22:12:00.002-05:00

We have this thing where every time this family and I have a session scheduled it seems to rain and this day was no different! Although we were limited to the studio most of the session, we managed to sneak outside at the very end once the rain passed through. Addison and Lincoln recently welcomed their new baby sister Jameson to the family! I am so in love with Jameson's curly dark and light hair. It was so unique, it was dark when she was born but is now growing in lighter so she has these really awesome natural highlights!

So good to see you all again and congratulations on little J! She's precious!

Eva and Jeremiah | Engaged! | Prior Lake Wedding Photographer

2011-07-27T02:27:00.004-05:00

When Eva and I brainstormed for their engagement session location, she professed their love of vintage objects. I knew the perfect place to take them! After we scheduled, Jeremiah surprised Eva with a pair of vintage bikes for their shoot! I was so excited! I love when my couples put their own personal touches on the session, after all, the photos are about you! Here are a few teasers from their session. I look forward to their October wedding in Prior Lake!

Jacob and Elle | Twin Cities Children's Photographer

2011-07-26T23:52:00.004-05:00

I was so happy to be able to document these cuties again!

Shadows.

2011-07-23T00:04:00.001-05:00

Madeline | Mankato Senior Photographer

2011-07-18T00:23:00.008-05:00

Madeline is a senior at Mankato West High School. I had the best time working with Madeline and her mom! I contemplated rescheduling our session due to the high heat and humidity but since they have lived in Georgia for 10 years, this was nothing! :) Madeline is not only talented in so many ways, they have such an interesting life of travel and experience. Madeline excels in many areas and is on the swim team and plays piano among other things. She is also in the running for Miss Madison Lake... I wish her all the best!

We started at the studio with a few indoor shots at her mom's request...
Madeline is 6'1"... 6'5" with those heels? :) Gorgeous long legs!

Madeline and her mom had a great moment to end the session... I was in tears!
Meet Madeline!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A neurosurgeon

What is the very first thing you'd buy if you won the lottery?

An awesome car... Probably a yellow mustang convertible.

Mac or PC?

Mac

What song gets the most plays on your iPod?

Don't you want me (glee cast version)

Favorite store to go on a shopping spree:

There's too many to choose from :)

Which movie can you recite every line from?

Mamma Mia! And Kicking and Screaming And Hairspray

Celebrity crush?

Patrick Demsey and James Marsden

I've always wanted to try _________________. (fill in the blank)

Bungee jumping

You couldn't pay me to __________________. (fill in the blank)

Kiss a frog

So great to work with you Madeline! I wish you an amazing senior year!

Jenna and Trevor | Mankato Wedding Photographer

2011-07-15T00:46:00.006-05:00

I was so excited to work with Jenna and Trevor! When we had our final consultation before the wedding, Jenna told me she had lots of fun props she wanted to incorporate including red balloons and picture frames. I was so excited to play around! Jenna's priority was fun photos and she, Trevor, and the wedding party were so great to work with.

For their honeymoon, they have a connection who works for an airline so they had no idea where they were going up until 24 hours before. They were basically going to pack their bags and show up at the airport and see what flights went out that day. Isn't that romantic?? Since we're all dying to know, maybe Jenna or Trevor can leave a comment on this post and let us all know where you went. :)
I ADORED Jenna's dress... I am so in love with ruffles!

We happened to be right by this great old book store that I loved.

The Verizon Center in Mankato is HUGE. The couple had a slide show which included video clips of when they were kids. It was so great! What an amazing day!
Congratulations J&T!

Senior model session!

2011-07-14T14:31:00.001-05:00

Summer is here!

2011-07-14T13:44:00.005-05:00

My blog was begging to be updated so I figured I'd let you know what I've been up to. :) Summer is here and I have been loving it! It is so much fun now that Oliver is a toddler and can run around with his older brothers. We're constantly at the park, the pool, or going for a bike ride. As Minnesotans, we know this little season we call "summer" comes and goes so fast. This year I am making a point to enjoy it (in between the busy wedding season). It makes me sad because I haven't been taking photos of my own kids but that will change soon. I am getting the itch so we'll see what I come up with.

Reason #2 that I love summer... my birthday! My birthday is August 5th and I was raised to believe that birthdays are meant to be celebrated! I have something HUGE up my sleeve for my birthday this year. Let's just say I have had a photography concept in my head forever and finally decided to make it happen. My good friend Tasha is shooting it for me and I could not be more excited! I have become obsessed with this project and cannot wait to produce these images. Did I pique your curiosity? Let's just say that this has NEVER BEEN DONE, which is difficult to say in the world of portrait photography. I will keep you updated on the big surprise, it is going to be EPIC!

Countdown Clockgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

More weddings and photos to come soon!

Cassie and Brad | Eagan Wedding Photographer

2011-07-14T01:42:00.001-05:00

Cassie and Brad were so fun to work with! Cassie is a beautiful, confident, knows-exactly-what-she-wants kind of girl and Brad is kind, genuine, and as Cassie's brother states, "knows how to handle Cassie." Their wedding took place at the Church of St. John Neumann in Eagan and their reception at Mendakota Country Club.

Cassie's mom made her veil for her.

The guys had a lot of fun with these shots!
The guys got to jump so the girls requested a running shot:

These cupcakes tasted so heavenly. I can still remember just by looking at the photo. YUM!

I always try to do some sunset photos... they are my favorite!
I have heard a lot of great toasts over the years but these two have earned my top prize as the best toasts EVER! They were funny, witty, sentimental, and so well delivered. Kudos! You two should start a side business doing toast consulting!
Congratulations C&B!

Lauren | Elko/New Market Senior Photographer

2011-06-28T01:03:00.006-05:00

I've said it once and I'll say it a million times more, senior girls are my favorite thing to photograph! Lauren was an amazing way to kick off my Class of 2012 senior season! Lauren is home schooled and comes from a family of 7 total siblings. They are a tight knit family and it shows! I got to meet Lauren's mom and her younger sister at the session and we all had a great time watching Lauren do her thing. She was so AMAZING to photograph, within two clicks I knew how the session was going to go and sure enough we captured some wonderful photos!

Hello gorgeous!
I was seriously giddy while shooting her. She did such an amazing job!

LOVE.
Lauren's "most favorite-ist shoes ever!"

I love taking one last photo with mom + senior. Now Lauren will have this image of her with her mom to bring to college (and forever)!

Meet Lauren!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A film director/editor

What is the very first thing you'd buy if you won the lottery?

Dodge Challenger

Mac or PC?

Mac

What song gets the most plays on your iPod?

Anything by Maroon 5

Favorite store to go on a shopping spree:

Charlotte Russe

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?

My Burt's Bees Lip Balm
My iPod
A Picture of My Family

Which movie can you recite every line from?

The Hangover

Celebrity crush?

Adam Levine

What is your favorite place on Earth?

Cocoa Beach, Florida

I've always wanted to try _________________. (fill in the blank)

acting in a movie

You couldn't pay me to __________________. (fill in the blank)

give up watching football

Thanks so much Lauren! I loved working with you!

Tea Party Mini Sessions!

2011-06-14T12:48:00.004-05:00

You are cordially invited to an event hosted by Olivia Wagner Photography and Kayla Paler Photography:

Please email me to book your time slot- slots are scheduled on the half hour. Since we are both booking, space is limited and spots will fill up quickly. A clothing guide will be provided.

This was such a fun collaboration between businesses and friends. We look forward to more themed sessions in the future. Keep checking back because we have lots of ideas up our sleeve!

If you have a theme request we'd love to hear it! If your theme is chosen you could win a free session!

Tara's Family | Wisconsin family photographer

2011-06-14T12:46:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful visit to a dear friend. Tara, I became so blessed when God brought you into my life! I truly adore knowing you and you have changed my life in so many ways. You remind me to slow down and remember that a child with a skinned knee means "a good day." It was wonderful to spend time with you and I look forward to our next visit!

Class of 2012 senior contest! | Win a FREE session!

2011-06-06T01:48:00.005-05:00

Contest rules:

Photo must be submitted by 12 midnight (Central time) on Sunday, June 19th. By submitting your photo, I have permission to use your photo on my facebook fan page.

Facebook fans will have a chance to vote beginning Tuesday, June 21st. Fans must first "like" my page, then "like" your photo. The photo with the most "likes" by midnight Saturday, June 25th wins a free senior portrait session! Photo comments or wall posts will NOT be counted- only likes!

Session details:
The free session is a full session which includes 2-3 hours of photography with unlimited outfit changes. Locations include anywhere within 45 miles of 56071, including downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. A $300 minimum order requirement is still required but you will receive 15% off your entire order. 15% discount is not applied to any additional orders placed in the Spring including grad party invitations.

The contest is open to ANY high school class of 2012 senior from any school or city, but the session must be photographed within 45 miles of 56071.

Contest is void if there is only one applicant.

Good luck!

Two one-year-old's are pretty cute.

2011-06-01T20:59:00.003-05:00

If you are a blog follower you know that my friend Megan and I had babies just one day apart. Oliver was born on Megan's due date of February 14th and Olive was born on my due date of February 15th. Megan contacted me as a photographer wanting some more wedding experience so I had her assist me. It came time to lift some lighting equipment and both of us revealed our little secret that we just found out we were expecting. Needless to say, we bonded and have been friends ever since! Then we found out that I wanted to name a boy "Oliver" and she wanted to name a girl "Olive." This was all just written in the stars!

Our play dates are few and far between but we always have so much fun when we finally get together! I enjoy my friend, our babies, and a chance to talk shop!

andy + olivia | by amelia + dan

2011-06-01T01:51:00.008-05:00

When we planned our trip to Charleston, I knew that I wanted to schedule a photo session for our 10 year anniversary. I was not happy with our wedding photos and my husband and I don't get to vacation often so this was a big deal! The task was daunting... using Google to find the perfect photographer. After weeks of searching through a lot of bad websites I came across amelia + dan. If you are the "picture taker" of the family, I highly recommend booking a local photographer on your next vacation! For one, you don't want to always be the one taking the photos, you actually want to be in some. And two, you can't always trust a stranger to take your photo, you'll end up not in focus or with a photo of your feet chopped off. Finally, you don't want all cheesy, posed vacation photos.

Here are some photos I wanted to share from our session. There are things I would have done differently as far as outfits but I was so busy leading up to the trip that I just didn't have the time to put into it. I definitely know the stress my clients feel and I am actually working on a clothing guide for my clients to help plan their session.

These were shot by Amelia Hale and edited by yours truly:

After Charleston, we headed out to Folly Beach, about 25 minutes from downtown. Let me just state that the beach is my favorite place in the whole. wide. world. My goal is to get my boys out to the ocean for the first time next year!

I absolutely loved our time together on vacation and now I have these photos to cherish forever.

Thanks so much amelia + dan!

Abby and Mike | Bearpath Wedding Photographer

2011-05-31T01:16:00.004-05:00

Just a quick sneak peek of a few of my favorites from Abby and Mike's recent wedding. This is my favorite dress shot of all time!
Books. These two are no stranger to books, she is a law professor and he is an astrophysicist.

The gorgeous Abby. If you know her, she is not a typical girly girl, but MAN... she made a gorgeous bride!

I love sneaking the bride and groom out during dinner!
More to come! Congratulations Abby and Mike!

My baby is 9!

2011-05-30T17:28:00.005-05:00

It's official. I am the mother of a 9 year old! I keep thinking, if the next 9 years goes by as fast as the first, it will feel like he's graduating from high school tomorrow! Owen celebrated with his friends at the park and we had a kickball party! The weather held up nicely and all the kids had a blast.
Owen's great grandmother turns 90 and she and Owen share a birthday week, just 5 days apart. I surprised her with her own cake. Nine and ninety!
Just a week after he decided to have a kickball party, I found this t-shirt at crewcuts!
Oliver loved running the bases.

It was so great spending the weekend with my family. I am already dreaming of our next family vacation. If only there was a job to get paid taking family vacations... :)

Chandra and Patrick | Engaged!

2011-05-27T23:30:00.003-05:00

Chandra and Patrick chose Minnehaha Falls for the location of their engagement photos. It's only fitting since they live near there and Patrick proposed at Gooseberry Falls. We had a perfect MN spring night. Chandra and Patrick will be tying the knot in just a few short months!

New Websites! | Sneak Peek

2011-05-26T01:30:00.007-05:00

I've been busy with lots of new updates and I just wanted to share a sneak peek of what I've been cooking up. There is still some work to be done but the fundamentals are in place! Next up is a new online ordering site and a new wedding site.

New senior site! I have been SO excited to launch this and the timing is perfect because senior season is just starting up. I worked really hard to portray "my style" and I can hardly wait to start shooting some of these sessions!

New family/kids site! I am still working on loading galleries into this site. It is tough narrowing down years worth of images down to just a few dozen!

Cutey Booty! | Product

2011-05-26T01:04:00.006-05:00

I picked up these cute britches for Oliver at a boutique in downtown Charleston. This isn't my "official" shoot in them, but I had to take them out for a test drive when we got back! I have something else in mind but I need the weather to cooperate!
These originated in Charleston but you don't have to go there to buy them! Click here. I loved the white boxers, the material is so luxurious, but ultimately I fell in love with the britches.
It has become increasingly difficult to capture these busy Wagner boys!

South Carolina!

2011-05-21T01:24:00.007-05:00

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary in South Carolina last week. What an amazing time! I finally took a minute to upload and look through my photos. Charleston is one of the coolest cities, I highly recommend a visit! Myrtle Beach wasn't for us, but it was quiet and relaxing. We had horrible beach weather but it warmed up quite nicely when we got into Charleston. Surprisingly, I didn't take too many photos since I was on vacation but it was hard not to in Charleston! My only regret was not bringing my full-frame camera body because my widest lens just wasn't wide enough for the amazing buildings but narrow streets. It was impossible to get the shots I wanted. We stayed right in the heart of the French Quarter and I only wish I could take all my clients there for their sessions. It was a photographer's HEAVEN!

This sums up Myrtle quite well. Gaudy seafood restaurants and dozens and dozens of beach shops!

This was a very cool bridge in Charleston and it kills me that I didn't nail the shot and have perfect symmetrical lines, but we were in a moving car and I had one shot at it. I still like it!
This is the feel of Charleston. LOOOOOOOVE.
These incredible women can be found weaving intricate sea grass baskets. What an amazing talent!
MY BIKES!
Bike taxis are so awesome! I wish we would have went on one. This was King Street which is blocks and blocks of retail shops and boutiques.

While we were there we had a photography session with Amelia + Dan, local photographers I found on the internet! I can't wait to see them!

I am already daydreaming about my next vacation! I could get used to doing this regularly. :)

Carnival Sessions!

2011-05-18T11:55:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited to announce these! I have always wanted to do some fun fair type family sessions and I found a local fair next month! These sessions will be semi-posed with some fun family shots but mainly lifestyle type photos using fair food, games, and rides as "props." If you'd like more information about the fair, check out their website.

As always, contact me with any questions! The fair hours that day are 10 am- 11 pm. In the event of rain, we will attempt to reschedule for Sunday, June 19th. Times may differ as the fair is only open from 10 am- 5 pm that day. Let's hope for awesome weather!

Birthday Surprise

2011-05-02T02:39:00.002-05:00

I got a call from a husband wanting to surprise his wife with a family photo session for her birthday. I thought that was the sweetest surprise and was happy to be involved!

You have such a beautiful family, it was so great to work with you!

Finn | Hats

2011-04-26T02:19:00.002-05:00

It's waaaay too late and I need to go to bed, but I couldn't help but post a few of these from a recent 4 month old session. This little cutie's eyes were to die for!

More to come!

Oliver | Someone is getting big.

2011-04-26T01:45:00.000-05:00

Hayley | Shattuck-St. Mary's Senior Photographer

2011-04-26T00:53:00.005-05:00

Hayley is a 2011 senior at Shattuck-St. Mary's. It is late in the year for senior photos but I am so glad that Hayley decided she wanted them! She chose the Walker Art Center for her location and we had a great time. I am SOOOO excited for this senior season.... I am working hard getting my 2012 pricing and website up. It will be very soon! Until then, I wish Hayley a great year and wish her luck at college this fall!

This was my favorite series with this casual outfit on the white. Hayley is such a natural beauty and this just "fit" her.

Spring mini-sessions | Previews

2011-04-22T00:59:00.005-05:00

I posted these on my facebook fan page and realized I never posted them here. Just a few favorites from my spring mini-sessions...

If you're not a fan on facebook yet, head on over and "like" my page to stay in the loop on my latest photos and announcements. I recently posted an inquiry wondering what kind of topics to discuss in an upcoming workshop I will be co-hosting. Kayla Paler and I will be teaming up to host a workshop for beginners. We frequently receive emails from other photographers asking for advice. I try to reply as best as I can, but often I don't have the time or there is only so much that can be said over email. If you are interested in this, I would love to hear any feedback you may have on topics you'd like covered. Examples would be (but not limited to) posing, pricing, business, composition, lighting, etc. We want to maximize the learning and keep the workshops geared at the correct skill level. I look forward to hearing from you!

A healthy me | Olivia

2011-04-19T22:18:00.005-05:00

If you're friends with me on facebook, you have probably heard about a cleanse I recently completed. I am not exactly sure what inspired me... I have had a hard time taking off the baby weight from Oliver with exercise alone so I talked to my trainer about doing a cleanse to get me jump started into healthier eating.

My husband and I completed the Advocare 24 day challenge and had some great results! In 24 days, I lost 6.5 pounds and a total of 13.5 inches! My husband had killer results, he lost 16 lbs. and a total of 11 inches. During the cleanse, which consisted of fiber drinks, vitamin supplements, and probiotics, our diet was very restricted. We were limited to lean meats, fresh produce, and lots of protein from eggs and natural peanut butter. Nothing processed or fried, no dairy, no sugar, low salt, no carbs, and no coffee or pop. This was quite a challenge for us! We quickly wondered what we could eat. It was a very big adjustment for us and a complete lifestyle change.

The whole process for me was a huge eye-opener when it came to what foods we were putting into our bodies. Pre-cleanse I pretty much ate anything I wanted. I wouldn't say I was the healthiest of eaters but I thought I knew health food from junk food and enjoyed the occasional fast food drive thru visit. Now that we are done with the cleanse and I have such a better education and awareness of the food we eat, there is NO way I could put even half of that food we used to eat into my body. I think our society is out of control with the junk and it is so wrong that to eat healthy in this country it is so expensive, yet the over-processed junk with ingredients I can't even pronounce costs pennies.

I could preach on and on about my thoughts but if you are tired of the junk and would like to start becoming more aware, take the time to educate yourself. An easy first step would be to start reading labels on the foods you buy. If it has too many ingredients and anything I can't pronounce I don't buy it. You would also be surprised at how "health food" is deceiving. I looked at some flax seed multi-grain pita pockets the other day and saw that the sodium levels were 500+ mg per serving! I'm not going to lie, eating a clean diet is expensive and takes a lot of work to constantly prepare fresh food. But aren't you worth it? If you are willing to buy a $250 pair of jeans that go on the outside of your body, you are worth $250 of good, clean food to put inside of your body. I love that my husband and I are teaching our kids about what is healthy and they are seeing first hand how fresh food is prepared. So much of bad eating habits stems from our parents, and sadly it gets passed down from generation to generation. These life lessons are taught but remember, it is never too late to start and to change.

I want to end on this note. So much of dieting is inspired by losing weight. We all feel like we have pounds to lose and when you think about it, they were pounds probably put on from unhealthy eating. When you truly change your lifestyle and eating habits, it is no longer a diet and food is not the enemy. When you think of it in terms of wanting to take care of yourself in the best possible way, wanting to devour a box of Twinkies no longer comes into play. You know how bad they are and wouldn't even touch them. I hope this post inspired someone to make some changes in their life that they deserve.

If you aren't watching already, check out Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. It airs Tuesday nights at 7 pm Central time. It is chock full of knowledge and I guarantee you will get riled up about what the food industry is doing to our kids!
If you want to learn more about the Advocare products I used, take time to connect with me.

Introducing baby Grace!

2011-04-19T00:05:00.004-05:00

It is such an amazing thing to see a family grow before your eyes. Sarah & Dave welcomed beautiful baby Grace just two weeks ago. They decided to be surprised about the gender and Dave got to announce it was a girl when she came out! I could not be happier for them and she is the perfect little angel. It was so great to spend time with them at their home and watch them soak up every little bit of new-ness of her.

She's even adorable when she cries and makes a pouty lip! :)
Dave is the proudest new daddy!

This bassinet has been passed down from generation to generation and it is estimated that about 30 family members have once slept in it!

Congratulations S&D! She is amazing.

Senior Grad Party Invites | Product

2011-04-18T02:21:00.006-05:00

It is that time of year! Senior season is coming to a close and grad party planning is in full effect. These are the choices I have this year for grad party invites. I am also available to do custom work. These are printed on 5x7 linen card stock and include envelopes.

Please inquire for pricing... a minimum of 100 invitations is required for ordering. They are ordered in increments of 25 once the 100 minimum has been reached. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Henry, Bea, and Penny

2011-04-02T23:31:00.004-05:00

I have had the pleasure of photographing these kids since Henry was little and his mom just found out she was expecting Beatrice. Now they have a new addition to their family, little Penny! Penny's gender was a big surprise which is so fun. Henry and Bea are a great big brother and big sister and I am so happy for their new addition!

PROM!

2011-03-31T11:05:00.002-05:00

I am trying to get a test shoot put together for mid-April and I need 3-4 prom couples (group of friends preferred) to model. If you're selected, you would receive a free session for you and your friends and a CD of 5-10 edited images.

Please email me with a photo of yourself along with a photo of your dress, if you have it already. All girls in the group must submit a photo of themselves and their dress. I am hoping for more of a vintage style, but all styles will be considered.

olivia@oliviawagnerphoto.com

Lego Olivia!

2011-03-27T23:59:00.003-05:00

My 6 year old Aidan made this for me today! It's pretty awesome... that's me! Always working, busy as a bee! When I thanked him for it, he asked, "Do you want me to add a mouse to it?" So this was photographed pre-mouse but there is now a little round mouse next to my right hand.

Dang, I love that kid.

Senior Season!

2011-03-25T23:46:00.004-05:00

I was working on a senior photo order when I came across this lovely image:

I've begun to receive my first 2012 senior inquiries... I'm so excited for senior season! I am working hard on a beautiful new senior website. I am ready to ROCK these sessions out this year!

I couldn't help but add these as well... yummy!

Mundane Days.

2011-03-24T23:27:00.005-05:00

Do you ever get so involved with your daily routines that every so often a moment just smacks you in the face and knocks you back to reality? Today was one of those days. I feel like I have been so self-involved with the daily routines of my life. Work, kids, housework, waiting for the change of Spring... this MN winter has been so long and we are waiting... waiting... waiting. Waiting for what? A nice day so we can finally go outside. An upcoming vacation only for it to come and go. An exciting milestone for our kids to reach. The end of the work week so we can have fun. It seems like those little daydreams define life and make those mundane days seem worthwhile. But what about those little mundane days that pass us by like cars on a freeway?

Today, I attended my third grader's performance at school and it smacked me back into reality. He has been planning for it since January. He was so excited when he found out that he got to research Abraham Lincoln. Together, we proofread his report and ordered a hat and beard. This morning he told me he was nervous for his big day. I quickly comforted him, with so many other tasks to manage. Mornings are hectic at my household! When we got to his performance I watched him walk in and he was nervous. I knew he was nervous. He had to be nervous. He was about to stand up in front of a roomful of his classmates and parents wearing a silly hat and beard. He went up there. He said the words... then it hit me as I watched him. He looked so little up there and suddenly his life flashed before my eyes. How did my baby become big enough to stand up there talking into a microphone and pronouncing those big words? You have no idea how hard it was for me to fight back bawling my eyes out. I could not have felt more proud of him at that moment, yet devastated that I have let time pass by so quickly and I couldn't help feeling like I have taken these past 8 years for granted.

There will be many of these grade school milestones and reminders of how far they have come. I don't want the major events being my only reminder to stop and smell the roses. I hate that I have become so busy with these mundane days that I have forgotten just how important they are. Each and every one of them is a milestone. Life can easily get the best of you and there are definitely some hard times. I have to remember that even the hardest day is another day that we are blessed with just to be here LIVING it.

So don't let those little mundane days fool you. They can turn out to be amazing.

Cute for Spring!

2011-03-16T15:21:00.006-05:00

Yay for toddlers!

2011-03-16T00:18:00.002-05:00

Baby boy or girl? | Maternity session

2011-03-11T16:26:00.004-06:00

Sarah and Dave are expecting their first baby sometime next month! Most couples choose to find out the gender of the baby but Sarah and Dave are keeping it a BIG surprise! I love them for it! I can't wait to meet the little guy or gal next month when I get to shoot their newborn photos! I am going to go out on a limb and guess that it's going to be a... BOY! We shall see!

Isn't she the cutest!

We had a great day so we headed outside to get some fun photos with their first "baby."

Congratulations S & D, I can't wait to meet your new little one! You are going to be such great parents and I am so excited for you to begin this journey in your lives.

March Madness Mini-Sessions!

2011-02-17T19:05:00.011-06:00

Chace and Autumn | 3 month old twins!

2011-02-17T18:44:00.001-06:00

We used to play Tetris in her basement.

I have known Nicole since junior high when we used to play Tetris on her NES in her basement. We had not been in touch much after high school but surprisingly reconnected when she asked me to shoot her wedding years and years ago. To my surprise again, she contacted me for photos of her new twins Chace and Autumn! These cuties were born in the record speed of 1.5 hours the good old-fashioned way. Is that not unheard of?! What a blessing they are and I am so happy for my friend!

Oliver is ONE!

2011-02-15T09:44:00.003-06:00

Yesterday not only Valentine's Day but Oliver's first birthday! I cannot believe a full year has gone by! I feel like this past year has gone by as fast as the photos in the slideshow do. We have enjoyed having a new baby around but now that he is one, it's like something clicked in his head and he's officially a head strong, stubborn, tantrum-throwing toddler! Here's to the next chapter in our lives...

Here's a look back the past year... there is also some new one year photos at the end of the slideshow so check it out!

Alex is 1!

2011-01-28T22:13:00.004-06:00

I have been photographing this family since their first born was little and now their third son is ONE! How does that happen?!

Wagner Boys | Walker Art Center

2011-01-28T21:04:00.007-06:00

With Oliver newly walking, I figured what better place for a photo shoot than the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis! I thought it would be cool for him to have photos here to look back on. I had this shoot in my head for weeks and I had to patiently wait for the boys to have a day off from school. These were not the images I had in my head and it just goes to show that you just can't plan everything in life! I had all three boys with me by myself, a stroller, my camera backpack, diaper bag, and a duffel bag filled with outfit changes, and all of our winter coats piled on top of the stroller. I couldn't pack lightly and needless to say I was sweaty and exhausted after this!

The older boys did have fun at the museum despite the bored look on their faces. :) I think they just got "pictured out" after awhile and Oliver was ALL OVER THE PLACE! I think I was just 3 weeks too late because he wasn't walking very much just that short time ago.

It was impossible to get the three of them together looking happy. I understand what my clients want but sometimes it just doesn't happen! That is the craziness of an 8 year old, a 6 year old, and an 11 month old.

This was a cute 35mm juice box camera I found on Photojojo. I can't wait to see THEIR captures!

We still had some more outfits to shoot but I think they had enough! Another day...

This is everything.

2011-01-20T20:26:00.004-06:00

Every once and awhile Oliver will come up to Owen and hug him. I MELT and I never have my camera handy so I hold that in my heart and file it away in my memory bank. I finally captured it and it means the whole world to me.
They are 8 years apart...

Snowmen | and a new year!

2011-01-19T01:00:00.004-06:00

I came home from a shoot one day to find these three snow boys greeting me. It was the cutest thing!
I really wanted to do an awesome 2010 year in photos post, but then I realized how much work that would be so I decided to just write a bit instead. :)

2010 came and went in a flash! Seriously... a year ago today, this was my view:Now that little guy is walking around and getting into trouble left and right! Last year was definitely a year that was focused on my growing family and new baby. Although my family always comes first, I am excited to start the new year off with a clean slate. This year, I want to invest back into my business and am taking steps to make some great new changes for my company.

Some things I'd love to shoot this year:

- a live birth (I have photographed two before and they are amazing!)
- an engagement... not the usual engagement session but the actual proposal!
- more photojournalism in general... posed portraits are nice, but it is such a thrill to capture real moments!

If you know of these or any other opportunities that you think I'd like please contact me! I will continue to add to my list but it is late and my brain is only half-functioning at the moment. :)

St. Benedict's | Documenting history...

2011-01-14T11:06:00.004-06:00

*edited to add...

Unfortunately... as excited as I was to be able to cover the closing ceremony of this church, my family and I came down with the stomach flu late Saturday night so I wasn't able to attend that early Sunday Mass. I was thankful that I did get to shoot some church details on Saturday morning. Here are just a few, I plan on putting together a slide show and making these available to any parishioners that may want some photos of the church. I will keep you posted!

_____________________________

I've photographed lots of events in the past 5 years, but nothing like this. I will be photographing something really special early Sunday morning. St. Benedict's, a small Catholic church just outside of New Prague will be closing its doors forever. Although I am not a parishioner there, I was asked to capture the last Mass and closing ceremony by my father-in-law, Deacon Bob Wagner who will be presiding.

For many, this church is such a part of their lives and has been there for generation after generation. They as children were baptized there and are now attending the baptisms of their grandchildren. It was built in 1851 and is the oldest church in the area. Imagine the history over the past 160 years.

I feel honored to provide these families with some imagery that will truly go down in the history books. Soon there will be nothing left in its place and only the memories that these parishioners will hold in their hearts.

To read more, there is an article I found here. I will be sure to have lots of Kleenex in my pocket that day. It will be an emotional one.

Kyle.

2011-01-12T21:49:00.006-06:00

This shoot was a collaboration between Kyle and I. He is home from college where he is studying musical theater and wanted some fun, updated photos. He was hoping for some dramatic, iconic photographs so this is what I came up with:

College-age is a great time to be photographed! I think that at this age you are truly in your prime and looking and feeling your best.

Snow lovin' Linnea

2011-01-12T21:34:00.005-06:00

Linnea is home from college in southern CA and as crazy as it sounds, she prefers snow to sand! She is my favorite to photograph so we did some fun snow photos today. It was freeeeezing, but she rocked it out of course!

Miss you L!

Awesome.

2011-01-11T09:09:00.002-06:00

It's an iPhone 4 decal! Buy here.

Mini-sessions?

2011-01-10T22:37:00.002-06:00

I feel some mini-sessions coming on... for those of you that would book a mini-session in the next couple of months, would you prefer something indoors in time for Valentine's Day or some fun in the snow outdoors? If you have another idea, feel free to enter it in the poll below.

Oliver | 11 months... almost!

2011-01-09T01:10:00.003-06:00

Meal time is always fun with Oliver and I make sure to have my camera handy. These were just a few expressions I got within a matter of 5 minutes... my sweet baby boy is almost a toddler!
Seriously, when he puts his head to the side I can literally feel my heart melting.

love. that. boy.

For those of you that remember that I do have two other boys... I haven't featured them because I haven't taken any photos of them lately. :( It's hard because they are in school all day every day and we are usually busy on the weekends. I do have a fabulous shoot planned for them next week so check back!

Sonya & Dan | St. Paul Wedding Photographer

2011-01-09T00:50:00.007-06:00

I first met Sonya when she booked me for head shots almost 2 years ago. We had some great conversation and I found out that Sonya is a true romantic at heart and she mentioned that if she were to ever get married that I would be her wedding photographer.

Fast forward a year later when she contacted me for wedding photos! I was so happy for her and was looking forward to the event all year. We shot in late November on a frigid MN day. We managed to sneak outside and do some walking downtown and ended up at the Science Museum. Here are a few of my favorites:

Thanks Sonya & Dan! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day!

Oliver | First steps!

2011-01-06T15:22:00.004-06:00

Oliver is starting to take his first steps! He still crawls to get around but he's definitely discovering what his little body can do.

A little gem to start the new year...

2011-01-01T10:58:00.006-06:00

I found this wonderful photo that I forgot about while looking through files... I now have it framed on my desk. Aside from some business changes, most of my New Year's resolutions have to do with my family. Make great memories with my kids, capture day to day moments with my nice camera (not my iPhone), put together photo albums for my kids to look through and talk about, and enjoy every little bit of them.

Happy New Year! It's going to be a great one!

Mini-accordions | Session albums

2010-12-29T21:52:00.005-06:00

I am so in love with these! I ordered a bunch for grandparents and great-grandparents as Christmas gifts and they were such a big hit. They're the perfect little size to give away or keep in your purse to show your co-workers. They feature all of your favorite photos from your session. These would also be great for senior sessions or a cute little wedding book. If you have photos done on a regular basis- for example a new baby, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, etc. it would be cute to order one of these from each session and then you'd end up with an entire volume of books to put on a shelf. My son figured out that they stick to the refrigerator since they are magnetic so that is where I keep mine.

I have the cutest little template designs like the album featured in the photos, or if you wanted each photo to fill the page order the "just photos" album. One photo can also be spread across two pages if you have a horizontal photo that you love but don't want to crop it.

Contact me if you have any other questions! These are just one of the great new products I will be offering when I restructure my pricing in May. More on that later... exciting new changes will be coming!

Lindsey and Reed | St. Paul Wedding Photographer

2010-12-29T21:17:00.006-06:00

Lindsey and Reed were married in November during the weekend of our first snow storm. It's hard to imagine back to the first storm because there's been so many since then! Lindsey wasn't phased by the snow (aside from the fact that some guests couldn't make it) and it ended up being a beautiful winter wonderland! It was a shame that the slushy streets of downtown St. Paul didn't mesh well with a wedding gown train and heels otherwise Lindsey would have been up for anything! Here are a few of my favorites:

Brian & Family | Winter fun!

2010-12-28T00:48:00.009-06:00

I received the nicest email last week. Brian is a photographer from CO and is in town visiting relatives in MN. He told me that I had shot his sister-in-law's photos a few years ago and they all loved the photos so much that it inspired him to pick up a DSLR and get into photography! He now has a business back home in CO but booked a last-minute session with me while they are in town.

We had so much fun playing in the snow. Apparently, they left snowless Colorado and arrived to our winter wonderland! They have such a great family and this shoot really was just fun and games! Here are some of my favorites from the session:

Poor Brian... he got the brunt of the snow that day! I loved how they just let loose and didn't care about being wet or cold.

So nice to meet you Brian! I was happy to be able to capture you on the other side of the camera.

Baking Contest Photos!

2010-12-27T15:24:00.005-06:00

Rochelle and Adriana were the winners in my holiday baking contest giveaway. I spent the afternoon at their home while they baked batches of Christmas cookies. We had so much fun and I got some great "real moment" captures. I would love to have these with my own children!

If you would like to book a session like this please contact me for details. Baking is not necessary, it can be ANY fun activity that you love to do with your children! Posed photos can be great, but these photos are priceless images that can be handed down to your great-grandchildren. These types of photos are truly an investment in the preservation of your family.

What Rochelle had to say:

My family truly enjoyed sharing our home with you. The images you captured are treasures that will be enjoyed forever. I have been telling people that part of the magic of these pictures is that we were not stressed trying to get the "perfect" shot. We were just ourselves, in our home, doing things we do all the time. Cooking in the kitchen, Adriana playing with toys, and laughing. You just happened to be there to capture the moment, which is exactly what I had hoped for. My favorite is the black & white of Adriana with her chin on the counter. Like you said it wont be long before I wont have to lift her to reach the sink, or that she will be taller than the counter. Now I have these photos to remember those little details that are currently part of daily life.

I would encourage any family to consider this kind of photo shoot. It conveys who you are so much better than sitting in a photo studio and saying "cheese." I'm amazed how much more heartfelt a smile can be when it's genuine. I have hundreds of pictures of Adriana smiling, but knowing that Adriana was smiling because she got caught licking her fingers after dipping in the sugar makes the memory so much better. I'm looking forward to our next session!

Oliver 10 months | Real moments

2010-12-17T13:35:00.000-06:00

I swear the next photos I post won't be of Oliver, but these were too cute not to share! Oliver turned 10 months this week and since I haven't had time to plan an elaborate photo shoot, I focused on getting some "real moment" images during lunch today since mealtime can be so much fun! I served his lunch on a plate vs. the high chair tray and these were the results:

Please note the food particles mashed into his hair.
Although it may seem like it, it's not always smiles from him.
He thought it was pretty funny when I put the plate on my head.

Sticky food makes for a useful hair gel.
Happy 10 months baby boy!