can i interest you in something FREE?

I'm giving away a FREE print!  Over here on my internet friend, Tricia's, blog.  :)

The giveaway is not only for this lovely print... there are a bunch of other neat things included as well!!

more photo fun at the guthrie. { frost on flower }

This post is quite photo heavy.  We had a great time and I want to tell you the story.  :)

I do my best to facilitate enjoyable sessions for my clients, especially when there are kids involved.  With adults I'm always cracking (not always good) jokes and really trying to squeeze out those real smiles.

With the little kiddos I like to do a lot of exploring and following along rather than directing.  Of course this more challenging during the cooler months but thanks to awesome free public spaces like the Guthrie Theatre.. it's still possible.  :)  There isn't much to explore in a little studio when you're working with a toddler and on a schedule.

Here is a little friend of mine who is the same age as my little Olive.  I've had the pleasure of photographing her 1 year and 18 month photos and it was great to see her again for her 2 year session!  She is about to become a big sister and I can't wait to meet her little brother.



After meeting outside while parking we headed inside and up the giant escalator.  Our first stop was the red lobby.  This space has many large windows overlooking the Mississippi River and comfy black furniture.  My little friend was more interested in running back and forth and hiding from her mom around the corner than attempting to sit or even look out the windows for long!



I did my best keeping up with her but we soon headed upstairs to the Amber Lounge for a change of scenery and a little less space for running away!

I really enjoy bringing both kids and adults up to the Amber Lounge.  The views of the city and the river are wonderful.  I enjoy seeing the different ways that everyone reacts to the big window in the floor.  She was certainly very curious but also quite cautious.







All of the windows in the Amber Lounge are yellow.  Depending on the lighting outside the color insides varies from bright yellow to a slight dark amber hue.  Editing photos from this room takes a little extra work but I love the muted and almost metallic looking results.







It was difficult to get her to pause for a moment for some sort "maternity" shot with her mama.  We enlisted the help of some stickers but she was much more interested moving than staying still.



I really like the little series of attempting some closeness but getting climbing toddler instead.  Toddlers are so insistent on climbing parents but there really isn't anywhere to go.  I also love the depth in the photos.











And another example of typical toddler.. Needing a coat while you're inside running around and very far from cold.















Even with a few stickers stuck to a bench.. and even one in her hair.. she kept requesting more.



To get over the sticker hump we headed to the blue lobby.



This lobby space spans multiple levels and has blue carpet and blue walls.  It wraps around the building and has various size windows.. again letting in wonderful natural light.





We then went outside for a few photos in the bright fresh snow.  I think she was a little unsure about what our exact plan was but eventually jumped right in the snow.. despite not having her boots along!

the lowry cafe show. { frost on flower }

On Tuesday Olive, Scott, and I went to the Lowry Cafe.  Olive and I ate fruit and Scott had the new corned beef hash.  Brooke met up with us eventually and also enjoyed the corned beef hash.

Scott and I met there to see our framed prints up on the walls.  That's right... we're having a show!  Scott was out of town this weekend while I hung 12 of our prints - 6 from each of us.  They're hanging right now at the Lowry Cafe and they're all for sale.  I encourage you to stop in and take a peek and enjoy a good meal while you're there.

Here are some photos of our prints up on the walls (still missing the title tags & prices though) and Brooke enjoying her hash.























I used my new 85mm 1.8.  It's taking a little getting used to since I've been using my 50mm 1.4 so much recently.  I really need to get my 50mm repaired.  The 85mm looks great but isn't what I would probably choose to use in this setting.. I couldn't quite get the perspective I wanted of our work on the walls.  Brooke's meal looks great but get myself positioned correctly was a little odd.  Great results still the the quality looks perfect.  I like my kit and learning what each lens is best suited for.  :)

lowry hash { northside 365 }

My neighborhood has this really neat yearly photograph project called Northside 365.  A person is assigned a day of the week, takes a photograph within north Minneapolis on that day, and then it is posted to the website, Facebook, and more.

I've just picked up Tuesdays.

This is my first contribution to the project and a brief description:



Yesterday I visited the Lowry Cafe with my friends and Olive.  We went to admire our newly hung prints on the walls - 6 by myself and 6 by Scott Tuska.  It was exciting to see our work framed, hung, and for sale, but this delicious, new, and authentic Corned Beef Hash took the spotlight and hit the spot.

a winter wedding. { frost on flower }

I photographed a wedding the weekend after Christmas.  It's a busy time of year for a wedding and has the potential to be quite chilly.  But everything seemed to go quite smoothly and no one lost any appendages to frost bite.. though it was touch and go there for a few minute!

I was excited when scheduling this wedding - the church is very close to my house which always makes for a nice ending to a long day.  I've never been inside this lovely building with the bright green doors and was happy to have the chance!  It sits just down the street from the new Minneapolis Public Schools headquarters building.

Before heading in to meet the girls getting ready I snapped a few shots of the building.  Daylight was not going to be on our side so I wanted to grab that even before I was on the clock.

I absolutely love doing the "getting ready" shots in black and white.  They really make emotions and expressions stand out.  I find them much more moving than the same shots in color.

Lots of serious hair work was happening.

Got lucky to have such a lovely framed mirror around.  :)

It was a chilly and potentially snowy day - a good choice to have bridal boots and leg warmers on hand.

I was excited to see how these flowers would look outside against the bright snow!

Photographing the guys getting ready typically takes about 1/16 the time it takes to photograph the girls.

Time for first look!

Such a lovely door.  Look at the detail on top!  And the hinges!

And a very lovely bride as well!  :)

My favorite bouquet shot to date!

This lovely couple actually lives in Arizona!  The groom has only been to Minnesota a few times.  He has hand warmers in his hands.  ;)

The bride did a wonderful job looking warm and cozy despite the frigid temperature.

I believe it was about 10 degrees... You can't even tell.

We gathered up the entire wedding party and headed across the street.

By this point the sun was nearly gone.

The reception included a wonderful hot cocoa and coffee bar so we grabbed some mugs for a few outdoor shots.

I love the simplicity of this sanctuary.

The sanctuary was very very dimly lit.  We didn't have much flexibility with the available lighting - it was either very bright (which the couple did not want) or very dim.  A few spot lights in the balcony helped shine a little more light on them during the ceremony.  They made the choice to face the congregation rather than face the back wall.. which was quite helpful for me in terms of lighting.

She had a nice long train.

They did an amazing job turning a church gymnasium into an entirely different world.  It was a wonderful setting and I was impressed by their ability to change the room so well.

I also really enjoy reception photos in black and white.

There were wood cuts, Christmas trees, candles, lights, and wonderful little touches everywhere.

This cake was calling my name all night.

I love the way the lights created a canopy and made the room feel much more intimate.

The reception was relatively short but included everything important.  They got the job done joyfully without the event dragging into the night.

They were even able to pull off a sparkler exit!  Thanks to wonderful guests who were willing to brave the cold and not light each other on fire.  :)

Congratulations!  :)

I'm actually thinking of giving this church a try now!