My Candid Moments

Once of the things I love the most about being a photographer is the wonderful network of friends I have. The Internet has made it possible for me to have photographer friends that share my joy and love of photography from Florida all the way up to Alaska and even further in Fiji and New Zealand, and so many places in between.

One of my friends, Amanda Andrews of Amanda Andrews Photography, had a great idea. Since so many of us don’t always find the time to take and share images of our own children, she is going to do a Mine on Monday post. I just LOVE this idea. It will force me to not only take photos of the kids but get them off the memory card and share them with you!  Head on over and check it out and enter to win the AMAZING bracelet she is giving away (I am not ashamed to admit that I am entering as many ways as I can — if I lived closer I would hire her to do our long over due family photo — wonder if she would trek out here! LOL).

Here is my Mine on Monday:

I took this image last year at the Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis. We did not go this year, there was so much to do that we decided this will be an every other year tradition for us. However, this image still resonates with me. Is it perfect, no it’s not. However, it is about the magic of the season for me. A little boy who was GLUED to the window of the tent because the parade was such a magical thing. Then at the end, who comes but Santa, a larger then life Santa, to me, who at this moment was nothing more then a Mom, it was pure magic.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. I know my kids are excited about the snow — truthfully so am I. It means we will have tons of fun while they are on break from school.

Shannon

I just love newborns.  They are always so much fun.  I don’t care if they sleep like tanks or are more fussy.  They remind me that life is beautiful and full of so much promise.  There is nothing more wonderful then a photograph of a little one so fresh and new.  The one thing that amazes me is how unique each one is.  I love that each newborn is different and that although many of my poses and ideas are the same from session to session each child helps me to make their newborn portraits unique.

This little gal came to me from Cottage Grove, her Momma and Grandma drove through morning traffic to make it out to me.  I am so honored that they chose me to photograph Miss S for her firt professional portraits.

I am working on your gallery it should be up just after the holidays!

This is the result when I try to take fun portraits of my kids — chaos that results in hair clips and hats going the wrong way and many funny looks from them.

I just love what I do.  I know it sounds very cliche to say it, but I give families memories and images to hold on to for years to come.  I also get to balance this work with being around my own family, which means that I am luck to have the best of both worlds. I work and I get to be home — at times it can be frustrating — but it is so rewarding.

I had the pleasure of working with the L family just before Thanksgiving. Mom and I had been trying to get a session on the books all fall.  Between having three kids with busy schedules and the weather, it felt like we might end up with either a session in the cold of December or have to move things inside.  Our patience and persistence finally paid off.  We not only found a day before December but it was during a brief warm spell, it was nearly 50 that afternoon.  The afternoon we met in Plymouth, at a park, the sky and the light were amazing — making everything beautiful despite the lack of leaves.

L family — I  just loved working with you — I hope you enjoy your images as much as I loved creating them.