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Archive: ‘mn senior pictures’



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 :)

cole | dassel-cokato, mn senior pictures

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

I am *this* close to being caught up with gallerys/orders/shopping for Christmas.   I finally got my holiday cards out yesterday, so that’s a relief…every year I write a ‘bah humbug’ letter in lieu of a nice Christmas letter….after writing that, I can’t even think about being entertaining over here on the blog!  Check back next week for the full letter that I send out to my family and friends!  And I promise to share the card with all of you in a few days….it is a true masterpiece…if I do say so myself :)

Guess what I’m sharing today…pictures of a senior BOY!  The majority of my senior clients are chicks….so it was nice to change it up a bit.  I met Cole on his farm (yes, a real, honest to goodness working farm!) near Dassel-Cokato.  I learned a lot during our session…important things, like;

*never wear flip flops, unless you like manure between your toes

*cows do not take commands as well as dogs

*don’t go climbing around up in a hay loft unless you are in decent shape…just getting up there is a lot of work

*pigs are your pets…until they’re your dinner…thankfully, I was around during pet season.  Although I do love a good piece of bacon…

Cole, you did an awesome job!  If this whole ‘tractor driving’ thing doesn’t work out…you might consider modeling?

Okay, I’m scared for when my kids are old enough to drive….but at least I don’t have to worry about them driving a super huge & expensive John Deere!

kayna | rogers, mn senior pictures

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

I don’t remember if I mentioned it here on the blog, but my 9 yr old daughter is on the school newspaper.  How cute is that?  It came out yesterday, and she proudly showed me 2 different articles that were published with her name in the credits.  The newspaper tackles age appropriate fodder, such as, “do you prefer taco’s or popcorn chicken for lunch in the cafeteria?”  And one of my favorites, “teachers…they’re just like us!”  Which reminds me of ‘Celebrities, they’re just like us!’  Which makes me think that the student who wrote that article has a mother who is a huge ‘US Weekly’ fan.

One of Lucy’s articles was titled, “3 fun new recess games”.  Let me just share one with you:  Game # 2~Bonk the Ball into each other. You need: one ball for each person.  Step 1-throw the ball at the same time.  Step 2-see if the ball bonked in to each other.  Step 3-do it again and again. *note-play this game carefully!

Is it just me, or has my daughter just taught the school a very lame version of dodge ball?  I’m glad she cautioned everyone…and I hope that whoever trademarked dodge ball won’t come after her and claim that ‘bonk the ball into each other‘ is a copyright infringement.

Skipping ahead to another beautiful senior from earlier this summer.  I love how these turned out~Kayna, you are a rockstar…and so is her mom….she even knew how to ’smize’!  Smizing is a made up word by supermodel Tara Banks (america’s next top model)…it means to smile with your eyes.  I just googled it to be sure I had the spelling correct…and apparently there is more than one definition to that word.  Don’t bother looking…it’s quite nasty.  You’ve been warned.  Seriously, don’t go hitting the google search bar.  Some things are better left alone.  Ahhh, okay, let’s just go to the pictures~shall we!

This next shot is my favorite~the light is gorgeous, don’t you think?!

Looking at these pictures make me long for warmer temps…someday I’m moving this business to Arizona….this next shot could have been taken in the desert, don’t you think?

Vegas and Vampires | Sartell, MN senior pictures

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

I can’t think of too many companies that would consider Vegas to be a wise choice for their yearly business conference.  Unless you’re a photographer…then it’s all good.  I am so excited that I get to leave frigid Minnesota this February for a few days to attend a workshop and a giant tradeshow.  My focus for this trip is to gain a little more knowledge in senior photography…I love working with that age group…I also like to pretend that I still am that age.  So it’s a good match.  I’m hoping to roll out a new senior program next spring~so stay tuned for that action!

As I mentioned on the blog earlier, this weekend is TWILIGHT FEST with my 2 sister-in-laws down in Rochester.  It will involve a movie marathon and chinese takeout on Friday night…and Saturday we’ll head to the theater to see the latest release…breaking down part 1.  Then onward to the bar for drinks and stimulating conversations about Edward, Bella and the rest of the gang.  I loved the books, and thought the movies were okay.  I will admit that I’m more excited to eat the M&M’s and Nibs that I bought for the movie than for the actual show.  Don’t tell my SIL Krista, she is so obsessed she might need an intervention.  I swear, if I get there tomorrow and she has fangs, I am leaving.  Seriously, if she even thinks of twinkling in the sunshine, I am outta there.

Back to seniors…here is a beautiful senior girl that I photographed this summer…she is probably one of the nicest girls I’ve ever met (not even a hint or twinge of diva-ness in her…which, let’s face it…many 17 yr old girls have, especially when their mothers are nearby-a strange phenomenon) her and her sisters were so sweet and helpful….hopefully I’ll get to see them for THEIR senior pictures in a few years :)

mini vans…all the cool kids drive them | monticello, mn high school senior pictures

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

I am the proud new owner of a shiny Town & Country mini van.  It has more buttons and doo-dads than I know what to do with…honestly, I’ve almost driven off the road twice just trying to change the radio station.  A person could really hurt themselves just turning the wipers on.  And can I just say THANKYOU to the person who invented heated seats…I might even be cheerful as I drive around town this January!  Although I might feel a smidge guilty that my kids will be sitting on a cold leather slab in the backseat, while good old mom is sitting pretty while heat radiates up her butt in the front seat.  Maybe I’ll buy them a fur blanket or something.  Ease my conscience.

You know…I’ve been driving a mini-van since I was 16.  My parents graciously let me use their old mini senior year and into college.  Not gonna lie, it was embarrassing.  My friends definitely volunteered me to drive a lot.  We got a good deal on a lifetime warranty with this new van…so class of 2021, listen up:  Please don’t make fun of Lucy when she rolls into school with an old town and country mini van.  Because odds are; you will be begging her to drive your sorry butt to the party.

Have I mentioned that love photographing seniors…I hope to do more next year…this girl was amazingly photogenic, don’t you agree?  I love how her pictures turned out!

casey | monticello, mn senior pictures

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Well, the busy fall season is in full swing, and it’s months like these that I wish I could be a person that thrives on less than 3 hours a night.  Sadly, I require at least 7 hours to be a functioning human being.   In the midst of my busy season, we’ve decided to renovate our home office.  I am currently sitting at my old desk in the center of the office, covered by drop-clothes and paint cans.  So, if I miss a phone call or an email, or your order is taking longer than usual to get to you…feel free to blame it on the paint fumes.   Or the sleep deprivation.  You pick.

I’m skipping out of order again, but these seniors need to shine!  Meet Casey, my lovely babysitter.  She worked for us over the summer, and my kids sure miss her!  Probably because she lets them do things that mom and dad don’t let them do!  The other day I was looking through my daughter Lucy’s camera, and I found some incriminating photos of Miss Casey teaching the kids how to properly jump off the couch ;)   Busted.

I think this next one is my new favorite senior picture…something about it…

Random tidbit *I had to photoshop a scuba diver out of this next shot.  Have you ever seen people scuba dive in the lake?  All you see is a little orange flag slowly going by, and then *bloop* out pops a head!

I was a bit of a meanie pants, and made Casey dive all the way under the water before taking this last shot (I’ve also made her peel the meat off a rotisserie chicken once, you would have thought I was asking her to snuggle with a dead skunk).  However, this water shot was not part of our plan, so the poor girl had no towels or anything to dry off with…the ride home was a bit damp….but worth it, I love how this picture turned out!

Paige | Monticello, MN Senior pictures

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

This lovely senior girl named Paige is related to a neighbor of mine.  But not just any old neighbor…he’s the rich ‘mystery’ neighbor~LOL!  His house is set on thousands of acres (I think…I’m not so good with the estimating!)…and these thousands of acres hold treasures that would make any photographer weep with joy.  Vintage cars, old gas station, rustic buildings, fields of flowers…it’s sick.  It kills me to know all of that is sitting there and I can’t use it!  But hey, I wouldn’t want someone bringing strangers to my house on a regular basis, so I understand!  This guy made his millions in dumpsters.  I think I picked the wrong career.

The ‘love bug’ shot is probably one of my favorites from this year.  The cute girl, the fun car, the warm sun…it all just makes me happy!  Paige, you rocked this session!

The water in the next shot really was this teal blue color…it’s a man-made swimming hole.  And by hole, I mean, a pool big enough for 500 people.

See how much fun I had??  Okay, I can’t help it, I HAVE to show you a quick picture I snapped of the pool, because it’s awesome.

And the chicken?  You ask.  Well, it’s only funny if you know about Beyonce.  If you’d like a good laugh (and don’t mind some major profanity), google ‘the bloggess and the chicken’.

even I look good in the dark | Monticello, Mn high school senior photography

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

When you want something really bad, your mind starts to play tricks on you.

~When you’re single…all you see are couples rubbing up on each other…everyone but you is holding hands and skipping down the street.

~When you want to be pregnant…all you see are giant stomach’s looming in front of you…every woman you see has that glow that coordinates perfectly with her baby bump.

~When you’re married to the old ball & chain…well, there have been enough bad jokes on that topic, so we’ll leave it alone~you can fill in the blanks if you find it necessary.

~When you’re fat…all you see are model-thin women prancing about wearing the type of clothes you want to wear, but can’t.  Let’s all take a moment and hate them.  There, I feel better.

This morning I went to Target to get a few groceries before I went to the gym.  Yes, this is the same gym that I have happily avoided for the last 5 months.  They’ve taken to calling and leaving me messages, “Hello, Kelly?  This is Golds Gym.  We haven’t seen you here in a while, please give us a call.” Anyways, I’m at Target, getting my shop on, and as I cruise down the aisles, all I come across are tall, thin women wearing work-out clothes.  Tight black pants, running shoes and brightly colored sports bras covered by a thin sweatshirt.  Basically, the type of women that you dread exercising next to on the elyptical machine.  Why the french toast do they surround the gym in mirrors?  Psychological torture much?  So, before I knew it, I had filled my cart with the healthiest ingredients my body has seen in a long time.   Whole wheat everything.  Greek yogurt (I’m truly scared of that one, people say it’s good…I’m not sold yet).  Fish…chicken…before I knew it, leafy greens were practically launching themselves into the cart.  $3,467 dollars later, I headed to the gym for a Zumba class.  I surrounded myself by all those skinny ninny’s in their tiny sports bras…sigh.  Thank goodness that class turns the lights off.  Even I look good in the dark.

Allright, the whining portion of my day is over, my apologies.  I’m skipping ahead in my blog order (I know, sessions from the entire summer are piling up…it will give us something nice to look at this winter!!), to another senior session.  Amber is involved in dance, volleyball…and probably seven other sports that I’m forgetting.  I love the images from her session…we did a split session (hair curly in the morning, then come back in the evening with straight hair).  Amber’s mom grew up near my studio, and took me to a few cool new spots, including her dad’s farm.

These last 2 are my favorites :)