I just sent in my registration form for the 2009 TCACCC (Twin Cities Area Council of Camera Clubs) Spring Break. It looks like there are going to be some really good classes this year. The event includes a full day of seminars, model sessions, portfolio evaluations, vendor booths and animals from Minnesota Wildlife Connections for nature photographers to shoot (with their cameras, of course!) if they so choose.

A couple of years ago they had wolves and tiny bear cubs. I have always been an animal lover, so naturally I was completely intrigued by them!! The people from the Minnesota Wildlife Connections let us hold the cubs, and I fell in love -- they were so incredibly soft and cuddly!

I started digging through some old CDs this afternoon and was happy to see I still had these photos my friend Paul took of me holding one of them.

NOTE: Some of the pics are a bit soft and grainy when we weren't by the window... We had to refrain from using our flashes to avoid freaking out the bears!!

Wedding Gallery Posted - and its ABOUT TIME!

Well, I got most of the wedding gallery posted to my site today. (I plan on adding some more images within the next day or so, but I felt like I had enough to start with, anyway!) If you get a chance, please check it out and let me know what you think! (I'll take any criticism; Good or bad!! I can handle it!) I just have a tendency to drive myself crazy over analyzing everything... Choosing the right images was a bit of a daunting task. Paul and I had thousands of edited images from the weddings we shot; and I'm hoping I picked a well rounded bunch!!

I know now that despite my recent plans, there is going to have to be another site to feature the wedding gallery. There are just no two ways around it. (For lots of reasons, including the fact that I feel like my gallery drop down is now a bit heavy...but mainly because weddings are really a completely different business!) For now I just wanted to get something posted for those who have inquired about a wedding portfolio.

I have the wedding prices/packages pricelist in PDF format. Please contact me and I can email it to you right away!

Wedding Site Update

If you happen to be one of the people I've spoken to about the upcoming wedding site this year, I just wanted to explain why I'll soon be removing the link to the wedding site on my splash page. Paul and I have decided, at least for the time being, to make the wedding gallery a part of my site.

When Paul and I first sat down with our plan to photograph weddings together, we both agreed that we both wanted to shoot no more than 4 or 6 a year. Our first wedding confirmed our suspicion that each job would be a huge time commitment, especially because we both really care about the final product we're delivering to our clients. The truth is, that once we leave a wedding, we each put hours into editing, from color correcting, to exposure correcting, to retouching and enhancing, black and white conversions, and finally applying effects to about 10% of our favorites.

Since our first wedding job, Paul has expanded his editing business to an effects and portraiture business as well. With all that and a full time day job, understandably he wants to stick to the original game plan.

I, however, have decided to expand my wedding business. I have shot a couple weddings alone, and the bride, groom, and I were all extremely happy with the results. I figured I can offer my services at a lower rate than with two shooters, and that might look pretty nice to couples getting married during these hard economical times. Of course I won't be able to be in two spots at once, but I fully intend to enlist the help of a knowledgeable assistant!

Paul and I are still moving forward with shooting weddings together whenever anyone is looking for complete coverage of their special day; but from here on out I'll be your contact person, and mine is the go-to site for the wedding gallery.

I'll be spending the next couple weeks getting the gallery up on my existing site. My goal is to have it posted by the end of March. Please contact me for the updated price list and other details!

Michelle, Radde, and Michelle's Belly!

Michelle is due and May, and wanted to have some maternity photos taken of herself along with her son, Radde, as a surprise for her husband's birthday on Friday.

Radde was just a doll, (with BEAUTIFUL complexion, I might add!) and at just two and a half years we really had to work to get him look at the camera!

He was a little shy at first, until I came up with the idea to let him draw on his mom's belly with a washable marker. I thought it would be fun to get a shot of the two of them showing their bellies with faces drawn on them, (since Radde seemed to get a kick out of lifting his shirt along with his mom) but he got a little carried away with scribbling. In the end, I drew a face on Michelle's belly--and even though Radde decided he wanted no part of that shot, I think the pic turned out fun anyway!

Avery and Natalie

Wednesday morning (after the storm) I woke up thinking that the roads would be bad and little Avery and Natalie might not be making the drive from Richfield with their moms for their six month appointment that day. As it turned out they made it safe and sound -- not only prompt, but also ready to work it for the camera! (Despite the fact neither of them napped on the way!)

These ladies are not twins, but rather, first cousins born just four days apart. I get the feeling they spend A LOT of time together, and so I guess they may as well be sisters! I photographed them not long before Christmas, and as usual, was surprised at how much they've changed. (I see it all the time yet, I swear, I will never cease to be amazed at the progress a human being makes in a few short months of the first year.)

For just six months old, these girls had tons of personality! Just check out the expressions in some of these pics! I can almost picture them together 15 years down the road. Little Miss Natalie already has her own designer stilettos. (*see pic below!) If only she could walk in them!!

Not quite sure what was happening here but this next one has got to be one of my favorite expressions of all time:

Check the shoes!! Baby Blahniks!! :)

Gift Cards

Recently I have been receiving more requests for gift certificates. I just think this is such a great way to give a special and lasting gift to new mothers, families, and couples!



My gift cards are printed on fine art linen card stock and are presented in a gift box. They can be ordered in any dollar amount, which may be applied toward session fees and/or prints. Shipping and handling is complimentary with all gift card orders.



Please contact me for further details!