I love shooting families year-after-year. It’s fun to see how kids’ personalities get stronger and how they get a little more comfortable with the camera. This year, I could not get over Logyn’s ruffle butt pants or Judd’s adorable wiggle dance. It was a chilly morning, but this entire family were such good sports. Nichole is an amazing project manager at work, and I could see she brings the same organizational skills to family life…this crew was exactly on time for yet another early morning session.
Read MoreWelcome, William!
When one of your favorite families adds another member to its ranks, it’s a lot for a heart to handle. Layer on top of that a toddler who can now say your name — why is “Kallie” so much sweeter from the lips of a 4-year-old? — and a Catboy suit and a dear friend and it’s all just too much. Needless to say, this was such a happy morning with the Jacksons — in their beautiful new home, no less! The occasion: welcoming baby William to the world, and this wonderful family. Sarah and Paul, it’s always a delight to be in your company. You make beautiful children, and I’m honored to have captured your first photos as a unit of four.
Read MoreA surprise engagement session!
While I’ve done engagement photos before, I’ve never been part of the actual engagement itself. Needless to say, I was about as nervous as Michael heading into this shoot…but also, so excited! The fall stars aligned to create a PERFECT October evening for a farm engagement and family session. I grew up riding around our farm on a golf cart, and so riding along with Michael, Kiley, and Colten (and engagement surprise assistant Morgan!) felt so familiar and sweet. I also love that this relationship got elevated to the next level on the family farm. It felt special, intimate, and relaxed.
Read MoreAlexis + Tyler are engaged!
The gender balance of my family, both immediate and extended, skews male, so it’s with great celebration we welcome other women into it. I’d heard of Alexis for at least a year or two before I met her, and I was scared that she might lose patience with the pace of farmers when it comes to big decisions (like engagements!) before I got to know her. Luckily, she has taken to farm life, and even luckier for the rest of us, she said yes when cousin Tyler popped the question.
Read MoreFamily K+B at Olaf Prairie
Amy and Scotty went to St. Olaf together, so it was fitting that their first photoshoot as a family of five was at the Olaf prairie. We had a perfect early fall evening, just cool enough for baby Olive’s adorable knee-highs, but warm enough for her romper that I couldn’t get enough of! Big brother Wesley and puppy Esther had a lot to explore, but between our rock and dirt excavations, we got a ton of sweet moments capturing how much this family truly seems to enjoy each other.
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Kalyn + Andrew & Co at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve
This adorably sweet crew brought the best photo session energy. It’s a lot to ask anyone, let alone those under six, to put on nice clothes and go to a strange place without a jungle gym on a hot night to do what an (almost) stranger tells you to do. But clearly these fine folks had been practicing their “cheeeeeeeeese!” They even (mostly) ignored the intense mountain bikers zooming by. Hot tip: Murphy-Hanrehan seems to be The Place for mountain biking.
Read MoreMuriel + Justin: Gardens of Castle Rock Wedding
The Carleton College listserv (aka, Carlslist) has brought me many things: Morning glories for our garden, contractor recommendations, a ring sizer. But by far the best Carlslist connection was the opportunity to photograph Muriel and Justin’s Northfield wedding at the stunning Gardens of Castle Rock. We connected via Muriel’s father, a Carleton professor, and after a January phone call with this couple, I was already counting down the days until August.
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Iceland: Ring Road in 9 Days...In a Camper Van
As a photographer, Iceland has loomed large in my imagination for years. I was leery of locking this trip in, given how popular a destination it’s become, and with that, how expensive it is. However, I’m so glad I made this trip happen. It was otherworldly. We could drive for hours and barely talk, there were so many jaw-dropping views to absorb. From the charming fjord towns to steaming earth hot spots to geothermal spas to art-infused Nordic cities, this was a dream trip in so many ways.
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Summer Stroll with the Vosejpka Family
I met Jillian, Chad, Reese, Shep, Charlie, and Taco for the first time the evening of our Northfield family photo session, but they are one of those families that immediately welcomes you into the fold and make you feel as though you’ve known them for years. Which is great, because they’re practically neighbors and I can’t wait to run into them again on the river trail.
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Maddy's Rochester Senior Session
Maddy is one of those rare souls who is so uniquely herself. This senior photo session was a dream shoot. At a time of life when it’s easy to feel insecure, Maddy oozes confidence yet humility. When it might be uncool to be BFFs with your mom, this mother-daughter duo is incredibly adorable in their affection for each other. As a fellow small-town girl, I remember trying to hedge my fashion choices, scared to stick out too much; it was empowering to see Maddy donning ‘fits that would be at home in LA, could be featured in Teen Vogue, and at the same time, had a classic streak to them. I also loved that while she could easily strike a glam pose that would make many models jealous, she has a laugh that is always just below the surface.
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