Driscoll Shoot

Last Thursday, the weather here in St. Paul was very unstable with sustained 30 mph winds all day with a forecast of possible tornadoes later in the afternoon/evening. So, we shot earlier rather than later. It was very sunny at 10:30, and other than the wind, the day turned out to be fine. Anyway, enough weather talk - it was a joy shooting these 3 out and about in St. Paul. We shot in front of so many great textures and colors just within a 3 block area of my studio. St. Paul is so rich in wonderful architecture and lush landscapes. Thanks, Driscolls!

Just Some Recent Work!

I've been so blessed with so many great client photo sessions lately. I just wanted to share some of my favorite images of late.

3 Handsome brothers...


from a senior shoot...



Precious 2 yr.-old at her home!


Fun little one who was sipping water off the day lilies after the rain. So funny!


Mom and her new son! Gorgeous!

2nd SHOOTING WITH JOHNNY THE GREAT!

I was fortunate to get the opportunity to shoot with my fellow OSPer Johnny Magnoski for Chelsey and Prince's wedding last Saturday! It was a great day, beautiful couple and ceremony. This image below sort of sums up the experience with Johnny... THANKS, JOHNNY!



The following images are from the day!
Getting ready!








Prince, the handsome groom!




Beautiful bride Chelsey before walking down the aisle...






... a sweet little pep talk for the flower girl...




...trepidation...


Proud father of the bride...




Congratulations, Chelsey and Prince!!!

Framing Services Soon Available!

Claire Kayser Photography is announcing a new service allowing clients to order prints and have them beautifully matted and framed upon receipt of their order! Choose from over 100 different mouldings of high quality and classic character. 8 ply matting (producing a deeper bevel) is available, too. I'm excited about this new partnership with my new framer, and you will love your fine art prints ready to be hung as soon as you get them!

Just got home from Chicago where Pictage hosted Partner Con! I'm so happy to be a part of the Pictage family with so many of the best of the best in photography. Pictage is on the cutting edge of providing photographers and their clients with the best prints, books, proofing products, greeting cards, and more. They are an essential part of our workflow to bring to all of our wonderful clients the top quality products and services in the industry.




On Tuesday night, a group of us went to see the Blue Man Group It was an amazingingly artistic, musical (percussion), strange, fun, exciting show all rolled into one. I loved it! Lots of audience interaction with those blue, intensely eyed, expressionless men. Very amusing! This image is Carole with one of the blue men after the show.



Another great thing about the Pictage PartnerCon is listening to some of the best of the best in the photography today. David Jay is a great wedding photographer working nationally and worldwide. He is the most famous "Love Cat" as he shares so much about himself and how he works and mentors all of us. He is responsible for starting the great forum Open Source Photo that allows for photographers to network and share information. Thanks, DJ!!!

OSP Rocks!!!

We had a wonderful 2 full days of shoots and talks about photography with some great photographers around! OSP is just plain AWESOME! I love sharing with you all and love getting to know fellow LOVE CATS! Relationships are the most important thing in life and really are so much a part of being a successful photographer. I certainly love and relish in the great relationship with clients and students in all that I do in my business. I feel so blessed to be doing my passions - photography and painting. Anyway, here are some of my favorite images of the last 2 days. Let me know what you think!

Be blessed, All!
Claire

House Portrait Commission Special!

From now through August 30, I will be running a special for house portrait commissions!
The Deal:
For the first 10 clients
Canvas sizes anwhere between 16x20 and 24x36
$900 - $1200 plus MN tax (if you're in MN)

I will come photograph your home or you may supply the image. You may choose to have me paint the whole house, just a charming part of it like an entryway or strong architectural element, an interior room - whatever you like that includes some architectural features.

Email me! if interested, and I will give you further details and a contract.

PRAYERS!

... for all those involved in the senseless Virginia Tech tragedy!

CORINNE BAILEY RAE & JOHN LEGEND!!!

We went to see Corinne and John last night at the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis last night with friends and had a blast! We didn't have great seats (as you can see from the top pic of the theatre, but fine nonetheless), and I shot with my little Canon Powershot SD900, so please forgive the lack of detail in the images. Corinne was great - very mellow and super voice. John Legend is very passionate and is awesome on the ivories! His music is hard to categorize, but I find it to be sort of Otis Redding, jazzy, funky - but overall so enjoyable.

John Legend is doing great things for poverty-stricken children in Africa after his recent trip to Ghana. He shared so much of this effort in his concert. It had a profound effect on his life, and he is doing his part and is encouraging any of us to contribute to the cause. Check out his "Show Me Campaign" and see touching images from his trip. You also have a chance to donate. Every little bit helps!

Be Blessed, All!
Claire

SNOW DAY!!!

This painting is one I've recently done after our HUGE snow in March. I got this image from the paper and immediately had an idea from it to paint it. Now, it's April 12, and we have a fresh snow here in St. Paul - new meaning to "spring!"

Be Blessed, All!
Claire

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

I love Holy Week and all that it means to me. Today is Maundy Thursday which is the time when sorrowful Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, saying "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on.[b] See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." Then Judas, one of the 12 disciples, betrays Jesus leading Him to his crucifixion. Matthew 26:36-46 gives the account.

Holy week is a time that I think about my own life and look at how I spend my time. I love my morning devotional time and time of prayer. It helps keep me sane in this busy life knowing that God loves us so much that He sent his only son to die for us! Let's all remember that Jesus is the greatest gift we will ever know! Through HIM we are saved!

Our Spring Break

We just ended our spring break here in St. Paul- 2 weeks! Most families from our school go to exotic places and use most of the 2 weeks for family fun. We just stayed home and kept it low key. Our weather was quite wishy washy with some warm weather that reached 81 degrees one day! Today - it's about 45. Anyway, the warm days allowed for a lemonade stand and tennis in the alley. These images of the girls are from those days outside. No Sam in any of these, but I'll find some later. Notice the snow in the background of the lemonade pic.! Love the irony! I wish I had shot images of the fort the kids made in the living room and lived in for 2 weeks sleeping in it at night. FUN!!! Hope all are enjoying fun family time and good spring weather!

Be Blessed!
Claire