...and you aren't a Pinterest Model. 

I'm here for that.

I actually get REALLY EXCITED when I get to do something DIFFERENT than the rest. 

I hear it more often than not (and I love it, as these are my people) that my client and/or their partner don't look like Instagram/Pinterest/whatever is the hot new social of the moment models. 

I am a big advocate for being YOU.

LOUDLY. 

Without hesitation.

Rock & roll and death metal dads and moms still want photographs that capture this beautiful time. Moms who "don't wear makeup", or "do their hair", still want to feel gorgeous while their body creates the miracle within them.

I want you. The real you. The quirky, loud, eccentric, adorable, wondrous you. 

I think people may be confused as to some of my questions during our consultations. My brain is simply learning you as succinctly as possible and flipping through the catalog in my brain of locations and ideas.

And the people that see my vision get me the most excited. 

I create art for your walls. For your children. For you.  

There are endless ways to create portraits in numerous styles. 

I have what I like, but I also want to do what YOU like. However, when researching photographers, please do not shop by price. Read the bios, look at the galleries, see their style. 

These two "red" images are from my first maternity shoot, I think. And it was welcoming a second baby. We wanted to be sure to include the eldest kiddo, Carter, while being excited for his little brother Cohen.

And this will forever be one of my most favorite images for many, MANY reasons. 

BE YOU. BE REAL. I will click happily away.

I will tell people all the time "just love on each other". I am not actually sure exactly how other photographers do their shoots. However, in my experience, sweet moments don't look authentic when they're posed. 

BUT! When I tell people to whisper to each other, kiss on each other, whatever little weirdo saying I say during that shoot, I get real looks. Real moments. Real laughter and smiles. 

This photo shoot here is with one of my longest friendships. Becky and I have been friends since Kindergarten. She's been there for me through all of my miscarriages. Her son is my Golden Child. To be a part of their maternity photographs, and later their newborn images, and family portraits, means the world to me. 

We called this the "birthing tree".  The goal was to continue to take pictures there every year, however, it was torn down. 

My dear friend is NOT a makeup girl. She gets her hair colored and does her nails. This is the one skirt she owned at the time. She was worried about what to wear during her session as she doesn't do dresses, doesn't do the things that are common in photographer's portfolios.

And this is why I like to share a variety of models, a variety of my editing styles, in the hopes that I will show potential clients that everyone is beautiful, I can photograph you, and you don't have to look like everyone else. I never have, and I never will.  That's why this is so important to me. I am also teaching myself that it is MORE THAN OKAY to not look like every Tik Tok woman. 

  Jessirae was 5, almost 6, the first time I photographed her. While I was just looking for one of the shots from that shoot, I looked through several sessions from that day. It was my very first Meet Me At. "Meet Me At" is the name I gave my mini session days. The idea being that I would say, "Meet Me At Robbins' Island" or "Meet Me At Cashmann Park". 

I would have a time limit and then sit there the whole time. 10a-2p? Cool. 9a-5p? Great. Whenever someone would show up, either myself or my ex-husband would go over the contract with them, show them my props, get them ready for the shoot.

And then I would wait, and wait, and wait.....wondering if I should pack up and call it a day or if I should continue to sit there until the end time. 

Yes, there were flaws to my system.

(MY GOODNESS. I love this image the MOST. She's SO GORGEOUS!) (MY GOODNESS. I love this image the MOST. She's SO GORGEOUS!)

(MY GOODNESS. I love this image the MOST. She's SO GORGEOUS!)

Part of me wants to delete all those files. I know many are probably wondering why I still even have them. BECAUSE. I can't let go. I don't want to let go. However, I don't really want to show them to others. They're embarrassing. BUT! I see growth. I learned more. I practiced more. I kept on. And I'm proud of myself. We all start somewhere. 

I have Imposter Syndrome really badly. I feel like one of these days everyone is going to find out I'm a fake and a fraud and I'm no good. 

But I really don't think that's true. Is every shot a stunner? Nope. But I am pretty positive no one has a whole shoot with hundos. 

I finally accepted that Photoshop, Lightroom, and the like are not the enemy. They are helpers. They assist me in telling the story the way I see it in my head. 

Would I want little Jessirae to see me quit? Nope! Give up because not everything was 100%? NO WAY!  I want everyone to feel proud of themselves to see where they were and were they are now. AND where they're going. 

I gotta say, I thought I already posted this and then found out I was completely mistaken.  

And that's how my life has been going lately. HA!  This is why I love lists. 

Holden is from South Dakota but is completing his High School career in Hastings, Minnesota because he's an amazing hockey player. Isn't that cool!?  I can't wait to see where he goes from here. 

And by coming to Owatonna for his Senior picture session, he isn't going to have the same images as any of his classmates. I dig that, personally, as I try to march to my own beat. 

Holden's mom AND dad both came to his session with him. I LOVE THAT. In my 24 years of being a professional photographer, I can count on one hand how many times this has happened. I love that everyone was able to work it into their schedule. 

That being said, my Dad did my Senior pictures. I was awkward in front of him (and in front of everyone, always, forever) but he really grabbed some great images of me. I very rarely liked pictures of myself back then. 

During Holden's session we drove in two vehicles with me leading the way. I always have an idea of where I'm going, point A to point B. But I ALWAYS tell them to tell me if they see something they want to do, and I tell them to watch me because I may quickly slam on my brakes because I see something.  This location above has been on my radar for a long time, but I also always forget about it. 

When I sent mom the link to Holden's gallery, I got the best compliments from Holden. I am hoping they'll post it themselves, because I don't want to be embarrassing. HA!

I really love the rusty colors in the background in the portrait below. 

Winter is coming, and therefore my snow bunny pictures will be coming up. If you want SNOW in your Senior Portraits, let me know!