Jack and Josie

How excited was I when Kim showed up with a portable closet full of babyGap and crewcuts?! These kids were so adorable. Sometimes I wish I could submit my photos to Gap and they would publish them. ;)

This post is also an ode to all stay at home/work from home moms. I know and have been talking with so many lately and the challenges we face, nobody else can quite understand... especially our significant others! So, to all you SAHM/WAHM's... cheers to you!

Taunya and Bob

Taunya and Bob are engaged! They're getting married next year in New Prague and I'm so honored that they chose me to shoot their wedding. They decided to keep all of their vendors local which I think is so awesome. I had a lot of fun shooting their session- who knew New Prague could look so urban and cool? :) I am still loving shooting engagement sessions and couldn't wait to get these posted.

A little game: Taunya and Bob are pictured sitting down on two benches, but only one of them is real... can you spot the phony? LOL

Maddie and Chloe

These two adorable girls braved a chilly evening long enough for me to get some photos. What little troopers they were!

Photographers unite!

I was just asked to be part of a female photographers group, initiated by Sally Jorgensen. I am SO honored to be considered, truly I am. Last year when I started doing weddings, I met Sally through Bellagala. She was a lead and I was a new assistant. After seeing her work and realizing what a cool person she is, I contacted her directly and practically begged her to work with me. She met with me to view some of my work and agreed to do a wedding with me! This was HUGE for me because she was a huge idol of mine. Since then, we both have branched out on our own and have kept in contact.

This new group consists of 7-9 amazing Twin Cities female photographers and I get to be a part of it! We'll meet monthly and discuss our businesses hoping to learn and grow from each other. These ladies have truly outstanding work. The concept itself is amazing! We don't see each other as "threats" or "rivals," we just want to be the best we can be and are willing to support one another.

I'm so excited! I am all about taking my business to the next level and am anxious to see what I come up with.

New Online Ordering Gallery!

I'd like to announce my new online ordering gallery! You can visit the gallery a few different ways. Click on the permanent link to your right, click on "online ordering" directly from my website, or you can simply click here for now.

I just got this site set up today so I only have a few galleries loaded. I'm looking very forward to having this feature! Now, you can access the best images from your session, order them from the comfort of your own home, pay by credit card, and have them shipped directly to your home! This is also great for family and friends. You can provide them access to your images so they can order prints for themselves.

You will still receive a CD and prints, but can now order standard size prints, specialty sized prints, enlargements, and other photo products including T-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, etc. All prints are high-quality and are printed on gorgeous lustre finish paper.

For a limited time, all standard size prints (up to 11x14) are 50% off through the holiday season! I will be uploading galleries as I get to them, and each gallery will feature a select group of images. I will pick out the best of the best, but keep in mind you will receive more images on your CD. Please trust that the best images will be uploaded to your gallery.

If you are a previous client and would like to have your gallery uploaded either for yourself or your family and friends, please contact me. I'm starting this during the height of the busy Fall season, so my main focus is to be able to fill holiday orders.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me!

Ella, Claire, and Abby

Were these adorable babies really this happy and cuddly? The answer is... yes! I don't think Abby ever stopped smiling even once!

Animoto

Check out this new video production site I found. Here is my free little sample video that I made. Cool!

Documenting

I do all sorts of documenting with my camera and my computer, but I have been very bad with video. Tonight during family time, I busted out the camcorder and my shoe box of old tapes. The boys really got a kick out of seeing themselves on TV when they were babies! It was kind of sad because there wasn't a ton of footage of Aidan. I swear, his infant stage just flew by. I taped him at 6 months when he was just starting to crawl, then my next taping was 2 1/2 months later when he was just starting to walk! I was like, what the?! What happened during those 2 1/2 months that I didn't tape? It made me sad that I missed out on that. That's what I love about my job, that I get to help document these types of things for others. That's also why I made the big decision to quit my job. I just can't miss out on anything else! Then, I busted out the OLD camcorder tapes from the year 2000. Andy and I were still dating and living at home and we had just gotten Cherokee (our Malamute) so he was just a puppy. I have hours of footage of him sitting there chewing on various rawhides. I tried to remember what life was like before responsibilities and kids!

BTW- Construction is finished on Highway 19 coming into New Prague. If you have an upcoming studio appointment, you no longer have to follow the detour directions and can go straight through into Main Street. They have put in two roundabouts in a row. It may be a little strange if you have never driven one before, yet alone two in a row. We're also getting a new Coburn's and a strip mall!

Will, John, and Michael

This was my most challenging session to date- a 9 year old and twin 3 year old boys! These boys had lots of energy for my teeny, tiny studio and were pretty much bored with pictures after the first 5 minutes! Oh, come on boys, getting your picture taken is fun! Somehow, I couldn't quite convince them of that. :)