Baby Bump | Monticello photographer, Buffalo photographer

Archive: ‘baby bump’

Men using Pinterest?? | Farmington, MN children’s photography

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Call me crazy, but I think I’ve got my husband hooked on Pinterest…I was surfing the site last night, and he kept peeking over my shoulder, “hey, that meatball recipe looks good”…”oooh, white chili”…”I like the landscaping and that deck”. I think I might need to get him his own account. Do men pin things? I don’t know. But it would be interesting to see what dude boards would look like…

“MY DREAM BOAT” (pimped out fishing boat pics featuring built in beer coolers and TV’s with ESPN playing)

“HAIRSTYLES I LIKE” (pictures of Will Ferrell in Anchorman perfectly coiffed)

“SIX PACK” (toss up here…could be favorite beers, or a washboard stomach)

“MANLY FOODS” (recipes of burgers and all things beefy)

“I LIKE TREE’S” (tips on how to plant as many tree’s on your property as humanly possible)

“MAN CAVE” (articles on how to convince your wife that if you build a bar in the basement, you will use it ALL the time)

“SHOES I GOTTA HAVE” (a pair of Napoleon Dynamite in his moon boots)

“VACATION DESTINATIONS” (images of KOA’s and log cabins in the woods, preferably within a 2 hour drive of your home.)

“WORDS TO LIVE BY” (featuring canvas prints with hand painted quotes such as: ‘I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal out of this’ ’six to one, 1/2 a dozen to the other’ ’so, does this mean you’re mad?’ ‘it’s twelve o’clock somewhere’ ’shhh, the games on’)

Wow, that turned into a weird tangent….

One of my favorite little boys is growing too fast…I think I need to extend my baby plan into a 5 yr deal…one year is too short! Here was his six month session, isn’t he a love?

Posted in Uncategorized, baby bump, baby photography, childrens photography, cute baby pictures, family photography, family portraits, first birthday, kids photography, modern portrait photographer in minnesota, toddler photography | 2 Comments »

My favs of 2011~Minneapolis, MN baby, family and senior photographer

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

This year has been pretty darn excellent. I am slowly but surely working on refining my business into what I want it to be…when I first started a few years ago my goals were wishy-washy at best. I knew that I had to make a certain amount of money a month so that I didn’t have to work at the Target Deli e.v.e.r. again. Now that I feel confident that I never have to slice roast beef again, I can move on to different goals!

Some plans for 2012:

*Specialize more. My focus will be solely on newborns/kids/families/high school seniors.

*No more weddings. I LOVE photographing weddings, I just don’t LOVE everything that goes along with it…the planning, the stress, the huge amount of editing, the loss of valuable weekends with family! Not to mention, there are SO many amazing wedding photographers in Minnesota already, why not leave all the bridezilla drama to them? (I’ve never actually dealt w/ a bridezilla…but surely my luck would have run out sooner or later).

*No more extended family sessions. Basically, my reasoning for this are the same reasons I don’t do weddings any more (see excuses listed above!).

*Decide if hiring a very PT employee is beneficial, or if it will be a big headache (this is what Korey thinks…but he lovingly fights me on every big decision I make!).

*Become more known in my community…especially for high school seniors portraits.

*Begin entering image competitions…Also begin working on becoming certified or accredited…but first figure out which word it is; certified or accredited. Is accredited even a word?

*Fit into the jeans I wore in 10th grade. Okay, lady…now you go too far.

Here are some of my very favorite pictures from the past year. I really tried to keep it to 10, since I love a good top 10 list. But the numbers kept growing, and I had to stop looking at every-one’s files. So here are the top 20 (in my humble opinion).

Have a wonderful New Years Eve~I’ll see ya on the flip side

Posted in Minnesota Photographer, Uncategorized, baby bump, baby photography, childrens photography, cute baby pictures, family photography, family portraits, high school senior pictures, kids photography, maternity portraits, mn high school seniors, mn senior pictures, modern portrait photographer in minnesota, modern senior pictures in minnesota, newborn, newborn photography, newborn twins photography, pictures of newborns, pregnancy pictures, senior pictures, toddler photography | 2 Comments »

your mission: the casual wink | minneapolis maternity + newborn photography

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Winking is hard. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to master the art of the wink. I have recently found myself mildly obsessed with working a wink into conversation. For instance, I’ll be in the middle of a photo shoot, and I’ll say something cute and witty (usually it’s more tacky/raunchy, but just go with it), “Can I have you sit on this chair…no, no, uncross your legs…that’s what he said.” BAM, right there, perfect time for a sweet little smile and tiny wink. Only, it doesn’t look right. I look like I suffered a mild seizure. Or at the very least, developed a tic. I’ve practiced a lot in the mirror…it’s getting better, but it still seems to be missing something. I think it’s confidence. Or maybe it’s a gender thing, and only men look natural doing it (oooh, another ‘that’s what she said moment’). When a sexy, smouldering actor winks at me from the big screen….oh, I’m a blushing puddle. But in the real world, the only winks I’ve received have been from creepy Uncle Bob types.

So I challenge you all: go forth and wink. If you, like I, are naturally twitchy, keep firm rein on your non-winking eye, lest the wink turn into a blink.

Now that we’ve got our mission planned out (seriously, start simple, like a little thank you wink when you’re checking out at Target today), we can gaze at this combo maternity/newborn blog post! These pictures were all taken on the same day, as I moonlight as a mid-wife (GIANT WINK). Sorry. Anyways, love this couple~they are awesome….and they made a super cute baby…double awesome.

Fast forward a few weeks…..and TADAA! Baby girl is here and looking totes adorable

Posted in Minnesota Photographer, Uncategorized, baby bump, maternity portraits, minneapolis, modern portrait photographer in minnesota, newborn, newborn photography, pictures of newborns | 1 Comment »

Good reasons for baby making | Hutchinson, MN maternity photography

Monday, July 18th, 2011

There are plenty of reasons to have kids…here are a few I’m sure you’ve heard: *to pass on your family name. *because your clock is ticking. *because you crave that new baby smell. *because this farm isn’t going to run itself (okay, I am laughing waaay too hard at that one). *because Michelle Duggar and Nadya Suleman (octo mom) are your idols. *for that nice tax break you get with each additional kid. All of these are excellent reasons to breed…here are some of the reasons Korey and I wanted kids.

*Kids are funny. Not a day goes by where they don’t make us laugh at something they’ve done or said.

*Built in birthday card makers. For the next 18 years, we do not have to give Hallmark a dime. Just throw some markers and paper at the kids, and let them create adorable works of art for everyone in your family.

*The ultimate exit strategy. Ever been to a party or get together you didn’t really want to be at? Nobody can argue with a crying kid…and inevitably one of them will cry, and that is your excuse to leave gracefully.

*Want to eat junk food and watch cartoons? So do your kids. If you do it together, you look like a doting parent instead of an immature slob.

*Valid excuse for a mini van. When I was in high school and college, my parents let me drive their old minivan. It was pretty embarrassing (although I secretly loved it…so much space in there!). Now, I can drive my minivan with my head held high, because I have a legitimate number of passengers to justify such a roomy vehicle.

*They make a cuter profile picture than you. Have you taken a recent picture of yourself? Is it depressing? Double chins, bad hair days and wrinkles can now be eliminated from your identity, simply by uploading an adorable kid picture into your profile image. Now all your friends will think, “Gosh, that Kelly… she was sure cute in high school, and now look, she’s made some cute kids.” No one will even think to wonder why you haven’t put an image of yourself there. Surely it’s not because you are old and falling apart?

Here are some pictures of some people with the right idea…more kids! They came a few weeks ago to do some maternity pictures…and since I’m behind on blogging, they’ve since had that little baby. Congrats on your little guy~I can’t wait to meet him on Wednesday!

She’s on baby #3 and still manages to have that perfect little round tummy…jealous? yes I am.

Posted in Uncategorized, baby bump, family photography, family portraits, maternity portraits, pregnancy pictures | 1 Comment »

belly phobia | minneapolis maternity photography

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

You know what I’m starting to love? Maternity sessions. I’m not gonna lie, I used to hate them. Capital H to the ate. hate. You feeling me? Years ago, when I started in this business, maternity clothes were nasty. We’re talking baggy shresses with strange floral designs. Let’s face it, we all (with the exception of this lovely little mama to be in the pictures today) get bigger when we get pregnant. And not just our tummies…everything. So, imagine trying to make a woman look and feel beautiful when she’s already feeling fat, and she’s wearing a giant tent?? No amount of photoshop is gonna make a tent dress attractive. Since those days…a few things have happened. 1. Maternity clothes got cuter, and more form fitting, which makes pregnant woman look a million times better. 2. Maternity pictures have become more mainstream, and people now have the confidence to proudly show their bellies to the camera for the sake of capturing a special time in their lives. 3. I got over myself, and things got better. I stopped stressing, stopped doing awkward poses, and things started to look better.

So, now that you know my maternity phobia, I’m sure you’ll all be flocking to book your appointments, right?!! No, really, I’m cool with it now, come on over! See how awesome you can look? I love that this couple was brave enough to try some ‘daring’ poses (not quite demi moore, but close!). We were going for soft and romantic, and I think they pulled it off beautifully! Thanks so much for trusting me, I can’t wait to meet you sweet little boy!

Posted in baby bump, maternity portraits, pregnancy pictures | 3 Comments »

turning country | farmington maternity photographer

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

For the last month, I’ve been debating how I’m going to decorate the front entrance to the new studio. The side that we drive up to used to have 2 giant garage doors, and now it’s just a sea of siding. It needs something. We can put some planters out, and a bench or two. But it needs a centerpiece…something to really make a statement. Like a…wagon wheel. There, I said it. I’m waiting for the townsfolk to come over and pin a badge on my shirt that says, “Buffalo welcomes you to the dark side”. Seriously, when did this designing ‘no-no’ become acceptable in my mind? Some people out here like to keep a minimum of 8 junker cars on cinder blocks displayed in their front yard…will I think a junkyard is aesthetically pleasing down the road too? I need help. I’ve already ordered my Martha Stewart Living magazine….hopefully she’ll have some better ideas than my ‘country cute wagon wheel’ travesty.

Meet Bruce. Bruce is the baby in the tummy. Momma may name him something else…but to me, he’ll always be Bruce.

We spent about 42 seconds outside…sooo cold & windy.

Ella and I went to college together, so we had a lovely time catching up during our session…it was frightening how quickly we slipped back into our old banter (complete with creepy lisps and talk of Bruce-cakes).

When you’re pregnant, sometimes you grow hair in strange places (all the hormones)…but if you’re really lucky, you grow a handlebar mustache…

Tiny stripes on clothing can sometimes do crazy things to computer screens…love this shot, but the stripes are making my eye twitch

My favorite shot from the day…you’re gorgeous Ella

Posted in Uncategorized, baby bump, maternity portraits, pregnancy pictures | 4 Comments »

could have been bff’s | minneapolis maternity photographer

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

I grew up in Crystal…my best friend grew up in Robbinsdale…and we lived on the same block. We used to call each other on our parent’s cordless phones (they were a fabulous new invention back in the day), and start walking towards each others houses until the receiver went dead…the service usually cut out before I passed old Wally’s house. We kept ourselves pretty busy…We would spend hours choreographing entire dance routines to Janet Jackson’s ‘nasty boys‘ and Paula Abdul’s ‘cold hearted snake’. In the summer we would bike up to Crystal pool every day and try to perfect ‘the lift’ a la’ Dirty Dancing (what? That’s not normal?). In the winter we would roller-skate in my parents unfinished basement. We each had an imaginary boyfriend that looked an awful lot like a support post in the middle of the basement floor. My boyfriend’s name was Randy…he was a very good dancer/listener/kisser…for a pole.

Mandy came out to my studio for maternity pictures (good news-she’s a baby planner…so you’ll get to see the resulting baby in a few weeks!). We got to chatting…turns out, we grew up only blocks away from each other in Crystal! We could have been the best of friends…as long as she didn’t move in on my Randy.

Working with studio lights…now that I have room in my studio, I plan on using them a little more often!

Their dog Kenny. He’s a model.

Sorry the fan attacked your hair…you still rocked it!

It was f-f-f-freezing that day, you guys were troopers!

Posted in Uncategorized, baby bump, maternity portraits, pregnancy pictures | 7 Comments »

Highlights from 2010 | minnesota modern portrait photographer

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Well, I’m heading out of town today for a long New Years celebration. This is the only weekend every year when I realize that I do not own a pair of snow-pants…and when the kids inevitably beg me to go sledding with them, I have to put on 4 pairs of sweatpants to survive. I prefer to wear my bright pink polka dot ‘zumba-esque’ pants over the top of the layers to give it that really ‘finished’ look.

Without getting sappy or sentimental (neither of which I do well), I want to thank all of my clients for being so awesome. Thank you for trusting me to capture a few of your memories…thank you for being normal (that’s a biggie), decent people who I feel comfortable working with…thank you for bringing me such COOL kids that make my job easy…well, I think that’s enough sap, don’t you?

I have a few more sessions to blog, but I think I’ll save them for next year (HAHAHA, sorry, that line cracks me up e.v.e.r.y. time…what am I, 12?). Instead, I’d like to share some of my favorite images from the past year. I shot over 90 sessions this year, and it was so hard to only show a few…I attempted to limit my share to ten favs, but I might have gone over a bit…

Oh, and just an FYI…session fee’s will be going up a wee bit in 2011, not like crazy-high…but probably about $20 more or so…if you’d like to book your session now & get the 2010 rates (even if you don’t plan on taking the pictures until July), you can go ahead and do it! This offer is only good until I get my butt in gear and re-work my website and shopping cart area! Operators are standing by.

Here we go: