Happy Thanksgiving
November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings. ~J. Robert Moskin
Archive for November, 2009
we are headed north
November 19, 2009I’m heading out of town this weekend. All emails and phone calls will be returned on Monday.
In the meantime, enjoy a kitten.
(And also the song referenced in the title, if you care to.)
The D Family | Minneapolis Family Photographer
November 18, 2009They don’t know it yet, but I have a bone to pick with this family. Before I go to a shoot, I send each family a questionnaire so I can get an idea of what they’re looking for. On theirs, this family indicated that they prefer black and white photos. That’s no problem at all. But then they told me we could shoot in the area across from their house and I showed up and it’s full of beautiful, amazing fall color! So I may have to strongarm them into a few color shots as well. ;)
I love this session, though. It’s so full of life and boys being boys and family time and exactly what I love to capture.
I’m into triptychs lately…love how they tell a story.
Jennifer Chaney: Such a great session! I love the little boy w/ glasses - he's so happy and cute! Okay, they all look happy and cute. You black and whites are perfect!
LK: Wow.
Orange Ruffy: I'm so glad you did some color photos. I do love black and white but it would have been a shame to miss out on the boys colorful sweaters in the fall leaves. As always, nice job
Home for Life: The Animal Sanctuary of St. Croix Valley
November 17, 2009This post is a bit different from my usual ones but it’s an important one. Thanks to another local photographer friend, Katie of Kage Imagery, I had the opportunity to spend two afternoons at Home for Life: The Animal Sanctuary of St. Croix Valley. Home for Life is a different kind of animal shelter in that it’s just that…their home for life. It houses animals that are unadoptable due to disability, temperament, age, health, etc.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for animals. Big time. I have a hard time volunteering for shelters because I want to take every animal home and it breaks my heart when I can’t. I thought Home For Life would be a good opportunity to volunteer because I’d be comforted by knowing that they did have a home (and also not be allowed to adopt anything!) To be honest, many of the animals arrived there in much worse shape than I had imagined. Paraplegic, missing eyes, tattered, abused. It was hard to see.
But all of these animals have a home and are being taken care of. And not just half-heartedly, either. The staff know the names of every single animal there (250) and the story behind each one. The animals have couches and beds and baskets and cubbies and yards and wheels to replace missing legs.
And that is pretty cool.
Home for Life depends on donations. The animals below are have sponsors but many of the animals there do not. You can sponsor an animal, donate time and skills, or a variety of other things. Go to the Home for Life website and click on the How to Help tab for details.
Because look at these faces…
.K: These are really great, MK.
Becky: Great pics! Some of those faces really kill me.
Betsy: Oh my god - I love these!!! How FUN was this day?
stalker: i am exactly like you when it comes to animals. i'm in tears. they're such beautiful animals. how could you not love those faces!
LK: These made me cry - not out of sadness, but because they're such beautiful photos!
Rachel Clare: Such a great post MK- that first dog with the "wheelchair"- I want it, bad. Good for you for photographing these lovely creatures!
Michelle: All of these images are very touching and beautiful. How wonderful of you to volunteer for such a great organization!
tara k: these are truly incredible, my friend... heartbreaking, inspiring and real. i could feel the personality of each one of these gorgeous and loving creatures. SO glad you're doing this!
Mason | St Paul Baby Photographer
November 8, 2009I got connected with this family through Deb Miner who I also met recently. Deb has a really neat line of products called i get around – helping kids go places which encourages kids to be curious, creative, and connected to the world around them. Go take a peek!
Mason was only 16 weeks when we did his session but he is a looong little fella. Smiley, too! I feel like I’ve been saying that about a lot of kiddos lately but I think I’ve just been lucky. I can’t look at this first photo and not smile back.
stalker: the last one, of the big, bigger, and biggest smiles? so precious.
sara montour: oh. my. gosh! what an adorable, smiley little man!!!
Jennifer Chaney: Oh wow! This is my favorite session. Honestly - I'm so impressed. That last little series is priceless. Beautiful, beautiful work.
Kathi C: Brilliant session! What a cute little guy he is! You captured a lot of personality with this tiny one. His smiles make me giggle, and his eyes are absolutely sparkling! Tender moments captured too. Gee, could it get any better?
Dawn: I so wish I had pictures like this of my daughter when she was this age. You did a great job capturing his sweet personality and the family's connection. Beautiful work!!
Dana F: Stunning. You captured so many facets of this little man, I am excited for the family to see these! That last series of 3 is gorgeous - Imagine being a little boy and seeing these on your wall - it would be incredibly affirming to him to know that he began his life filled with such Joy! AMAZING!
Allyson: These are fantastic, and I agree with the other comments - that last series of 3 is just GREAT!! Love the one of him snuggled up close to his mommy... they grow so fast, that it's great to catch that moment now...
alison Connor: What fantastic shots! Seeing a session like this makes me so sad that I did not hire a photographer just like you when my kids were little!
jacey cosner: OOO! I love this session, what a gorgeous little tootheless grin you captured. Those last three are priceless, his blue eyes are killer, and I really love the one with daddy kissing his head, such a fleeting moment and you got it!
Linda Blackwell: Soooo cute...love his eyes, and you really captured his adorable smile!
Julie: These are so sweet and precious! You do such great work especially with such a hard age to photograph! Those last three are my favorites- so amazing that you were able to get these!
christy: Mandy, these are fabulous! You captured him so beautifully, and those last three just make me smile inside. This family must be over the moon!!
Rachel Clare: These are the most darling pictures!! This is such a hard age to capture, and you did so perfectly my dear! I love his smiles!! Mom must be SO happy! Great work!
Johanna: What a cutie! I love these! I would kill for images like that of my baby at his age. That last series of 3 images - that's perfect for one big, long canvas to go right over the changing table. I'd want to see those every day! Awesome! Nice work girl, as usual.
Hope: Oh my goodness, these are amazing! This is such a difficult age to capture and you made it look easy! Your images are just wonderful!!!
tara k: i am so in love with these sweet images! what a beautiful, happy little boy, captured perfectly through your artistic eye. gorgeous work as always, mandy!
Susan: omgoodness. so much sweetness. the first image positively melts my heart. I would so love to have had these kind of photographs from any of my 3 babies ... who are no longer babies! ;-)
Tamara: What a doll and those eyes!!! What Happiness. These are priceless!
~SarahInParis~: Fabulous images of this little cutie Mandy. That first image is just divine and I love the image on the green background. Lovely lovely images!
Jen: Oh wow these are SO darling. You captured such joy! Perfection!
Patti: What gorgeous captures.. that smile is contagious!
Jeanmarie: Ohmygosh! Absolutely gorgeous! LOVE the series at the end. Beautiful work!
Katie Williams: MK, these are the most precious, most beautiful pictures of a baby I have ever seen!!!!!!
Last Mini-Sessions of the Year – November 15th
November 6, 2009I’ve had several more requests for mini-sessions from folks looking to get some holiday cards done so I’m setting up one more day of them. They will be held on November 15th in St. Paul. They will be held outdoors so if the weather is cold, you’ll want to dress warmly! This is the last weekend date that I have available for which I can guarantee holiday delivery so if you’d like to get prints or cards for the holidays and aren’t available on the weekdays, this is an excellent chance to get your session in!
Contact me to get your session booked!
Mini-sessions are 20 minute sessions and include a an online gallery of 10-12 images for purchasing. They’re a great way to get your holiday card photos done or just fit in a quick session if you haven’t otherwise been able to or if a full session doesn’t quite fit into your budget this year. I’m offering an awesome Digital Deluxe package this year which includes your choice of 5 digital files from your gallery – you’re free to use these to make your own prints, Christmas cards, blog posts, email newsletters, etc.
I’m also offering an entirely new batch of custom-designed holiday cards this year for those of you who want something personalized and unique but don’t want to do it yourselves.
*Session fee includes up to four family members. $25/ea for additional family members.