My Girls!

It's been a while since my girls have let me shoot them in studio. Fun! Thanks, girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrls!!!

Thanks to Matt Antonio for his great tutorial on photo framing made easy!

GUARANTEED LAUGH THERAPY!

My twin, one of my best friends Diane (and Grace's godmother), and I this summer in Alabama being, well, our silly selves for a minute. Shot by my seven-year-old Grace!
Check it out!

BABY JOHNNA!

I had a wonderful shoot with the parents and this beautiful little baby girl, Johnna, last night. She's one month old, and we shot all black and whites. I'll post more soon. Also, I'm trying to create some photo frames and am learning to create PS actions to be able to quickly frame pics. Stay tuned and let me know which ones you like...

My New Parka!

I just found my new parka today! I know that I'm 40 years old, but I still love Abercrombie and Fitch for some clothing items. I shot 2 cute teen-age girls last night, and they each had a down jacket that I loved. They were from Abercrombie. I love the rugged, worn look of their clothes and have been shopping there for 12 years way before they have this "sexier" image but when they were more of a rugged, work clothier. Well, I have to admit that the posters in the store are easy on the eye! ;))) Anyway, I wanted a brown down jacket that fit more snuggly than the one I've worn the last 4 years, and this was the winner. Very warm with only a t-shirt underneath. Watcha think?

Kristo Pic!

I worked on a designer card image for my clients the Kristos. I had done a shoot with Charlie and Anna in the fall, and we wanted to get an image to use for the card that included them both. We didn't find a single image that we liked, so I created this image by merging two separate ones and adding some more brush graphics and an old paper layer to make it looked aged. This is what we came up with!

The first one is one of Anna


Charlie


Designer Image

Anne & Dogs!

Click here to see a cool slideshow with the beautiful Anne Thompson and her cute Border Terriors, Tu Tu and Finn. All black and whites. Fun shoot, Anne! Enjoy!

NEW PHOTO PACKAGES & DESIGNER IMAGES!

I'm always learning more and more about new software and more in Photoshop to produce cool effects to images that I call "Designer Images." There's so much you can do to produce different looks to your images. I've slowly been introducing some in my image presentations as I've been practicing using them. From aged looks, sepia with hand tinted to punched contrast and vibrancy, hi key to ones with great brush tool graphics. These effects may be applied to cards, too!

Below is the original straight out of camera...


This one shows an aged effect using a layer of old paper with some swirly brush effects.


Also, I've introduced some new photo packages that are designed around what most my clients like and what I specialize in. As always, I can further customize them for the kind of images you want. Just ask!

The Guthrie Theatre!

I'm embarrassed to say that in my 9 years here in the twin cities that yesterday was the first time a set foot in the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. What an awesome architectural structure!!! This place was built with thought put into every detail. It's very modern and expansive. It's views are awesome from almost every floor (about 10 floors). I went with my new friend Erin Kelly who I met sitting next to me on my Northwest flight to Memphis in September. What a great lady! We talked all the way to Memphis and had a blast. She's a lawyer from Edina and has worked closely with my father-in-law's firm Robbins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi.

This floor of the Guthrie featured this amazing blue glass the was so expansive and gave a very dramatic way to view the gorgeous view over the Mississippi.
This floor featured yellow glass and was so blazing with this warmer tone to view the same view. It was so cool!!! Kind of eerie...
I shot this outside of the 9th floor outdoor area. This outdoor area feels like stadium seating to allow viewers to sit and take in the beauty all around. The collapsed bridge is where to 2 cranes are which is between the distant arched bridge and the smaller one in front.
The windows from inside are like boxes. They are very deep, and the top, bottom and sides have darker reflective surfaces. It adds so much dimension to every view from them. This image shows the reflected surfaces on the top and left.
I shot Erin in front of the Gold Medal Flour building. I noticed that the Guthrie with it's blue and yellow color scheme matched the signage of the it's flour neighbor. I have to think that might have been planned...

Fun day! Go experience it! The restaurant was good, too. We had lunch there.

What We REALLY Value...

This weekend has really caused me to think so much about the things that we invest so much of our emotions and time in. I cleaned out my closet and dresser drawers with the intent to really get rid of a lot of "stuff" that I've held onto for so long for whatever reason - mostly for sentimental reasons. Lately, I've really wanted my life and my surroundings to reflect what is most important to me which is my faith, the love of my family and friends, art and my clothes.

YES, my clothes! I think a lot of us women really invest much into our looks by way of our outfits, shoes, jewelry, etc. I think it's ok because that's how God made us and is a part of being feminine. I realize that there's a fine line between how many shoes, tops, pants, skirts that we should have and what's too much. Since we've lived in this old house which did NOT cater to anyone having much in the way of clothes in 1894, I've let my closet size help me learn to pare down. At times, I've over stuffed it, but I think after cleaning it and my armoire out that the amount of clothing and shoes is now completely manageable and more sensible. See? Well, it might need a little more attention in neatness, but it's a start. Most of all, I felt such a sense of relief and of letting go that was very liberating and freeing!!!!


Today, I'm not at church right now because my throat is red and sore, and I feel slightly rotten - probably have what Olivia had a few days ago. So I've been dusting and while dusting in the living room, I thought again about what I value most as I was dusting off one of the most special things in my house to me (a ceramic piece made by the head of the art dept. at Alabama A&M University where I got my Art Ed. Master's. Dr. Clifton Pearson gave this peice to Tom and me for our wedding gift. He made these awesome African figures for a show he was having around the time of our wedding. I LOVE this piece and was so honored that he gave one of these to us!)
- that if our house were to catch on fire and could only take a few things (after my children, of course) what would those things be? Pictures and art, my answer.

This painting is one by a Russian Impressionist artist. (Tom and I bought this painting on our honeymoon in Amsterdam in 1995. It is a piece that has given joy to view each time. The light changes in it throughout the day. Gorgeous, impressionistic colors!

(Painting I did of Olivia when she was 2 that hangs over our fireplace in the living room.)

I think most people value pictures so much. Just listen to people on the news when a tornado has demolished their homes. What are people most sad about losing? Pictures. I've heard it so many times. I believe it's because pictures capture moments in time, our memories of people and places we've been. We like to hold on to those memories and moments. Also, for people like me who live far from their family (my parents and siblings) and where they grew up, pictures are even more valuable.

(an image of Carole and me taken by this photographer in '92 that I treasure and dusted this morning) (My wedding picture that was on the same chest as the other picture and African figure in the living room.)
Thank goodness for the internet to be able to quickly share pictures with someone across miles and oceans. AWESOME!

OK, I've shared my rambling thoughts about what I value, what do you value most???

Slideshow-Enjoy!

Enjoy the images from the last few months....! I'm so blessed to work with all these great clients. Thanks to you all!