Family Memories

It is very important to have family photos taken. Why? In a blink of an eye, children grow up and begin living their own lives, sometimes far away from mom and dad. Memories of your time together as a family can fade quickly. Take time now to record those beautiful moments while you can. This summer, I had the distinct privilege to help the Ward family do just that.

Before her two kids headed off to college this fall, my good friend, Teresa Ward requested photos to be taken of her daughter in her high school cap and gown. The reason being that, in the excitement and rush of her daughter's actual graduation day in June, she had forgotten to take photos to mark the occasion. On the day we got together for the photo shoot, we made a point to not only recreate her daughter's graduation but to also capture moments of her whole family together in a park nearby. It was so much fun for me! Thank you, Teresa and the whole "incredibly awesome" Ward family, for allowing me to help keep your memories alive!

Landscape Photography

There are many kinds of photography that one can specialize in. Not to "pigeonhole" anyone, but...landscape photographers are a distinct breed unto themselves.

I do not consider myself to be a landscape photographer but I do enjoy traveling, beautiful vistas, mountains, sunsets, and waterfalls. Someday, I would even like to catch the elusive Northern Lights shooting up behind a lighthouse on the Northshore. But...that takes all kinds of patience, lots of specialized equipment, a tolerance for all things "nature" (ie, bugs, unpredictable wildlife, erratic weather, rough terrain) and, dare I say, an ability to afford expensive airplane tickets to exotic locations. I admire the landscape photographer's tenacity for getting that "perfect shot" of unbelievable beauty. I may not be equipped for that kind of photography, but I do admire it.

So...once in awhile, I'll join a group of photographers seeking to find something extraordinary in the local landscape. Last night, our group set out to capture the sunset at the Richardson Nature Reserve in Bloomington, MN. I got my sunset shot, as did the others, but I decided to go off on my own to find something uniquely mine. In doing so, I discovered that maybe I do have a little landscape photographer in me. I may not be consistently proficient at it, but skilled enough and lucky enough to get this "gem" of an image. This is not a grandiose view of the world's largest mountains, but to me, it's just as beautiful.

Those eyes!

Today was spent with fellow photog's in downtown Minneapolis, trying out a new lighting system. Photography is "light"! There are so many ways in which to use light to convey a mood, be it natural (from the sun) or artificial or a mix of both. As photographers and creatives, we are always trying to shape the light to our needs. I find, the easiest way to control the light is to add my own and not rely on whether the sun is going to cooperate or not. I must say that the best part of the day was working with our model, Tim, a real pro. Just look at those searing eyes and awesome dreads! Thank you, Tim.

It does make a difference...

Cameras, lenses, lights, etc! "They are JUST tools" to help the photographer create their vision. The question is: can having BETTER TOOLS make you a BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER? It's true that one must know how to use those tools to their advantage, but, when you have knowledge and quality, well-designed tools in your hands, it makes creating your vision a lot easier. I went out yesterday into nearby farmlands to test out a new lens that I'm interested in purchasing. It turned out to be a perfect match for my creativity. Now, if money just grew on trees...(sigh).

Sunny Days...

This weekend's sunny weather provided such a great opportunity for me to work on my "shooting-in-full-sun" skills. Most photographers know that you should avoid midday, full-sun and usually ask their clients to schedule on either an early morning, late afternoon or a cloudy day. I was excited for the challenge. This angelic beauty, Lizzie, asked for her senior photos to be taken at her favorite park midday. Full sun, no clouds, no problem! Let's do it!

Tiny Little Worlds

What a beautiful day for a "macro photography" hike in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Today, I met with a few fellow photographers and we concentrated on bettering our skills in macro photography. "Macro photography" gives a view into tiny little worlds that most of the time we don't even notice in our day-to-day lives. The plan was to capture images of Monarch butterflies, but it turned out to be too early in the season for them to make an appearance. No worries though, there were plenty of other tiny creatures and plants that I found to help me hone my skills.

"Bella" the Beautiful Rescue Puppy

Once in awhile I get the privilege to use my photography skills to help rescue pups find homes. Today, my good friend, Jill Burke from Angel of Hope Animal Rescue, brought her foster fur baby "Bella" to my studio. What a beautiful ball of fur and energy! I certainly got my puppy fix today! It was hard not to want to adopt her myself. I don't doubt that once the photos are formally posted, Bella will find her forever home quickly. Thanks for all of the puppy kisses, Bella!