A Completed Set of Elders 22 October 2017

For some reason, when I say this, it sounds creepy but I really don't mean it to be...I finally completed my set of Elder children! I've been photographing various branches of the Elder family for several years now but this was my first chance to photograph the youngest brother, Josh, and his cutie patootie bride and baby. So in a sense, I have been collecting these Elder families like Garbage Pail Kids Cards for years and I finally got the elusive "Adam Bomb!" I know, creepy. Anyway, this was my first time photographing Josh, Rebecca and their newish baby who looks a ton like her momma. Little miss Abby had a great time sampling the leaf varieties off the ground and I enjoyed watching her parents keep snatching them out of her mouth. Very funny. Young humans who are meeting me for the first time produce some interesting reactions when I cackle in their face and Abby was no exception. She seemed to enjoy my cow moo the best as well as her dad's orangutan screech. Red Cloud Park provided some reliably beautiful fall colors if not a little soggy from rain the night before. In the end, I think we got some great images of both the whole family together and just miss Abby by herself. I hope I get to see you guys again as your family grows (wink wink) or at the very least, as everyone gets a little older. You did a great job at just being cute. Enjoy the previews!

When Izzy the Cat Got Together with Joe Dirt 21 October 2017

Riverside Park on the particular day we used it as a backdrop can best be summed up as: There was a man illegally feeding bread to birds, there were raindrops, there were other couples with photographers, there were volunteer gardeners with wheel barrows, there was a guy in top hat and tails and then there was us. Lots to contend with during this shoot but I think we pretty much made it look like Lisa and Joe were the only two people in the park and the little bits of rain make it feel sort of dreamy I think like they're walking in Paris. I couldn't believe workers already setting up the Rotary Lights at Riverside Park, roughly 6 weeks before the opening but it was neat to watch the behind the scenes making of the awesome event. I haven't seen Lisa since she was a bridesmaid in Amanda Hoy's wedding and it was great to see her with her beau Joe. The first time I saw Joe and Lisa together at the same Halloween party, by the way, he was dressed, extremely convincingly as Joe Dirt and she was dressed like Amanda's cat, Izzy. I really had no idea what Joe really looked or sounded like. Way to commit Joe! It's pretty obvious to me that this pair as a couple laugh a lot together which is so great to interact with on my end. These first time clients did a wonderful job doing whatever I asked and keeping their love and smiles and laughter in the forefront. Congratulations on the engagement, YOUR ring is gorgeous Lisa. Enjoy the previews!

Not the end...just the beginning.

Frischmanns at Ferugsons for the Win 15 October 2017

Ferguson's Orchard and Family Farm was in fine form for this family of Frischmanns. After a push-back due to rain the day before we all headed out to the farm which, I quickly found out, little miss Carrie LOVES. I fell in love with her outfit from the maroon sneaks to the pink dinosaur tights and her little wheat-colored cardigan, it all just seemed so comfortable and natural for her. It's one of the things I love about mama and papa Frischmann. They don't seem to mind letting her be whoever she wants to be and I think that just makes her personality shine. Whether it was fresh apples off the trees, candied apples during a sugar break or pumpkins in every shape and size I think we all had a great time. It was super busy on the farm as usual but we managed to find some quiet corners and Carrie even dictated shots she wanted like the heads sticking through the board. Good eye on that one. Maybe because I don't have children of my own but it always surprises me to see how children grow over the years. They're facial features and expressions seem to stay the same which cracks me up but everything just grows and exaggerates. It's really fascinating. The Frischmanns are about to add another sibling to the mix and I hope I get the honor of photographing this family again when the baby arrives! Thanks for making the sacrifice and getting down in the mud papa Mike, I think those shots came out great. Enjoy the previews gang.

The Other Side of the Family 8 October 2017

Last year I was asked to come out to Arcadia, WI to photograph the extended family on the Rotering side of a family. THIS year, I was asked back to photograph the other side of the family (the Thomfords) out in Brownsville, MN. I've said it before and I'll say it again that extended families are one of my favorite things to photograph. Yes, they are a little more work and require lots more energy but the kinship and love that comes through seeing a family all together is priceless. I like to get all soggy and picture them 20 years from now looking at the photos I took of them on this one day and cherishing them. Like I said, soggy. lol. Photos are moments in time and I have enjoyed photographing both sides now. There was a lot of cow poopies to contend with but it was such a beautiful property and was well worth the effort. Enjoy the previews gang!