Baby Victor – Newborn Photography
I’m excited to post the gallery online today for Baby Victor’s parents! They’re close friends of mine. His mom and I go way back to story hour at the public library! So it’s no exaggeration to say I care deeply about her and I was so thrilled when I found out they were expecting and then I prayed with all my heart for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
When she texted me to say their little one had entered the world a healthy, (almost) 8 lb baby boy and they named him Victor, my eyes filled with tears of joy. I was THAT happy!
So without further hesitation, here are some of my favorite portraits from his newborn session. I captured all these images at their home in the Twin Cities. Needless to say, I had LOADED my van down with blankets, backgrounds and wooden crates… anything that might be needed for this monumental photo session! I am sure they thought I was moving in when I arrived. I suppose they would have been grateful for an extra set of hands to help, although Victor’s daddy is not averse to changing a dirty diaper! He jumped at the opportunity to handle any of his needs, which I admire.
Congrats M & J!
Enjoy,
Becca
The Johnson Family Portraits : Albert Lea, MN Photographer
Happy Friday Everyone! I’m sad to see the beautiful fall foliage disappear off the trees, but today I get to re-live some of that amazing fall weather we were having a couple weeks ago. This family has been customers of mine for a while now and this year they decided to update their professional family portrait I had taken for them back when they’d first discovered me.
They are amazing and helped me find a great location to do their family portrait in the town where they live. I always like to take that responsibility on my shoulders, because my clients who are busy moms & dads don’t need one more thing on their to-do list. But, in the fall, every day the leaves are changing and what might have looked great Friday morning is a brown, bare tree come Saturday afternoon. Right?!
I love the outfits the Johnson family chose to wear. They just coordinate so well. I love jewel-tones and the rich peacock blue color just harmonizes so pleasantly with the rusty reds and golden tones of the leaves.
I am excited to meet with them and find out which ones they decide to use as wall art to decorate their lovely home. I know she’s used this color throughout her home-decor so the images are going to tie into that so nicely.
If you ever need help planning clothing for your session, I’d love to assist you so you can have portraits that truely become part of your home decor just like the Johnson family.
Enjoy!
Becca
P.S. These are going to make some AMAZING holiday greeting cards!!!
McNaughton Family : Professional Family Portraits
Hello again!
I’m excited to share a few great images from my most recent session with you. They are of the McNaughton family who has done several sessions with me over the last few years and it’s extra special because they come all the way from the Washington D.C. area! They are just THAT loyal! … Oh, and her parents live about an hour from my studio so they stop by there for a visit since they’re in the area. 😉
This time around, we have the little guy who is 2 years old, almost 3… and little miss who is 5 years old now. I laughed when I was taking these because for her 2 year old portraits, she was “challenging” my photo taking skills and her brother tried to follow suit, but in both cases I worked my magic and captured some of the family’s favorite portraits.
Carys now, after 5 years of working with me was amazing! Last session I was so impressed by her willing and eager attitude, but this time she just blew me away. I think she’s taken up watching America’s Next Top Model, judging from some of the poses this girl was giving me! Love her so!
Here’s a sampling of a few of my favorites. I really love the outdoor ones of Carys with the flowers and the family ones turned out great too!
Enjoy!
Rebecca
Gabie and Reese : Little boys portrait session
It’s so funny, after every session the parents to these little guys tell me I earned double what I charged for the session fee because I’ve been working my tail off to get the perfect pictures to document their growing family. I just laugh and tell them I wouldn’t have it any other way. Their boys are so active and healthy! (Thankfully, after a reschedule last week due to ear infections that don’t make for very happy children)
I feel ALIVE when I’m working that hard for a kid to look at me and smile, and focus and get the lighting and pose and everything just right! It’s certainly not EASY, but how realistic is it to think that having children that will do exactly what you ask be the rule rather than the exception?
I’m just happy because I know that their parents understand that it’s the imperfect shots paired with the perfect ones that tell the whole story of their personalities.
I just finished up their next session and helped them place their order from these pictures we took last fall! LOL! Definitely not the ideal schedule for me as a business person, but I totally GET IT. I’m a parent to two healthy little boys myself and I know exactly what life is like at this stage of the game, although I know I have it easier because I’ve got a lot bigger spread between mine.
(Side Note: My Henry and their Reese are only a week or so apart… He’s the reason I couldn’t force myself to take more than a week or so of maternity leave. They were so sweet and asked me who I recommended so they could take him somewhere else, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of not getting to do it myself.)
LOVE THEM SO!!!
Enjoy,
Rebecca
Walker Family Portraits : Clear Lake Photographer
When I got a call from this gal about taking her family portraits she made one thing clear, her kids and husband were not going to be real thrilled about having to get off their boat and get dressed up to take a new family portrait. I know all about that feeling. My husband equates getting our family portraits taken to going to the dentist or visiting the doctor for his annual physical. Something he knows he needs to do, but not something he will pretend to enjoy. LOL! Even if it is a lot less painless than he makes it out to be.
I reassured her, I had this covered. We had discussed what I thought would be a good location to get a nice uncluttered (the hard part) view of Clear Lake on a late summer afternoon. I made sure to be there ahead of time to make sure the location was going to work as I had planned. I was thanking my lucky stars that it worked out because if I remember right it was a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend so everyone and their brother seemed to be out on the water or enjoying the public parks.
I am thinking it was really only a 20 minute session, tops, because when you have full grown children, it’s much easier to get everyone posed and looking at the camera. (Although I’ll admit sometimes it is the older children that surprise me with how much attention I need to spend making sure they’re listening.)
I made sure not to drag things out and they were happy to be on their way back to the boat so quickly. I think I even heard one of her boys say it was actually kind of fun. (Who would’ve thought?! *wink*)
The best part is that the mom was thrilled with the results of our photoshoot and now has a lovely updated family portrait to hang in her home. Gotta love those happy customers!
Are you thinking it’s time to move out that family portrait you had taken for the church directory and your youngest who is now almost in highschool was only a toddler? Better give me a call and I’ll tell you all about the amazing experience you could have with your family here at my studio.
Cheers!
Rebecca
Mason : 6 Months Old : Little Miracles Baby Plan
This little stud-muffin has changed a lot since the newborn session I shared not so long ago.
I tend to recommend parents wait until their baby starts sitting up well on their own before doing another baby session. That way you can really see a dramatic difference in their portraits.
Mason’s mommy had lots of clothing options for him, and I have to say, he really was a trooper through all the changes.
My favorites are the ones in the baby legs and the stocking hat. I loved when the hat kind of fell over his face and when he was chewing on the tassels.
I also loved the ones with his daddy’s sunglasses. I caught one of him peering over them at me. (I can see him checking out the ladies like this in the future!)
Oh, and the cute little farmer look with the pumpkins turned out really adorable on my portrait porch.
Enjoy!
Becca
The McManus Family : Dubuque, IA
One of my great friends from Austin, MN moved to Dubuque, IA after her husband was tranferred with his job. It’s not easy maintaining long-distance friendships in this day and age. Even though it seems easy enough to keep “updated” on facebook, you still can’t beat a good ol’ phone call or better yet… an in-person visit!
I was lucky enough to find a weekend that worked for both of us, where I was able to drive down (sans Collin) to have a nice visit. We also were planning on taking some family portraits since it had been over a year since we’d been able to do that… and also to celebrate the fact that they ADOPTED a son! 🙂
This little heart-breaker stole their hearts last year before Christmas when they were sent the first picture of him. He was a little baby in an Ethiopian orphanage then, and now he just turned 1 year old and is a very lively toddler!!!
I felt so blessed having the opportunity to document this amazing moment in their lives. I know how badly my friend hoped and prayed for a new member to be added to their already wonderful family. I am so thrilled that their adoption went along so smoothly and they have a happy, healthy boy. He is totally adorable and has the BEST laugh!
His big sister, you might recognize from previous posts if you followed on the old blog… she is just as pretty as ever with her long dark hair and chocolate brown eyes. I just love her gorgeous eyelashes.
She is also very smart and loves to “read” books. She has dozens memorized and it won’t be long until she really is reading them.
I hope my friends love the images I captured for them, I sure put my heart into this job.
Enjoy!
Becca
The Schlaak Family : New Richland, MN
They’re baaaack! 🙂
It’s hard to believe it was just a year ago that this mama wrote me saying, “I have never taken them {my boys} to a professional because I never knew how they would act or how they would turn out.” LOL!
Well, last year we didn’t have the easiest time since it was their first full photo session and their ages were 1 1/2 and 3 years old… but we still got a couple really good family pictures and some really fun ones of the boys together.
This year was a totally different story! I couldn’t get them to take a bad picture!!!! Seriously! They were just smiles the whole time. Giggling and laughing and just plain enjoying every second of the portrait session. Craziness!
(Of course, I do my best to make every session fun so that they want to come back and do it again.) But when her little guy, who is 2 1/2, said he didn’t want to be done when I said they were finished… that took the cake!
I can’t wait to see them again. I almost feel bad for their mommy who has a TON of great images to choose from. It will be sooo hard. I already spent way, way too much time trying to narrow them down already. There are just so many great FUN shots.
I guess if I were her, I would look at it this way: It should be easy to choose because you just can’t go wrong!
I hope you feel the same way too! Let me know what you think of these portraits!
Enjoy,
Becca
The Houg Family : Garretson, SD
The next family I was honored to photograph while in Sioux Falls was actually a relative of my husband’s side of our family. They moved out to Garretson after I had begun professional photography and enjoyed my work so much they continue to book a session each year to capture new images.
In the past, we have frequented the beautiful Palisades Park near their home. This year we decided to go to keep thing really simple and easy, and drove to the city park right in town.
My brother-in-law was also along for the fun, watching Collin while I worked. (And he took the picture above) It also gave him his first opportunity to play with his cousins because every other time I went out there, I left him at home with Dad.
Everything went amazingly well and we were done within 45 mins. Next, they wanted to capture a few images of the newest member of their household, Elizabeth. She’s Kristen’s niece and a total cutie pie!
I just loved her cowboy boots! I think Kristen’s having fun shopping for a little girl again, since I’m sure her older daughter, has her own ideas of what she wants to wear.
I had better get back to work! Plenty more to do! I have a couple seniors, a 6 month old baby girl, and wedding images to finish proofing and share soon!
Enjoy!
Becca
P.S. Collin is always in daycare or has a babysitter for my sessions so it was a treat to have him there to see me in action. He really enjoyed it and was glued to my side. Too cute! (But not something I will start doing anytime soon, the poor kid took an elbow when I turned my camera quick and didn’t realize he was right there he was being so quiet! … He didn’t realize it was a contact sport I guess!)
Knutson Family Portraits : Canton, SD
When I was heading back to Sioux Falls, SD for an ordering appointment with the O’Connor family I decided to take the opportunity to offer my services to some families that were interested in having me photograph their families and I got two more takers! Yay! (Which was all I had time in my schedule for anyway! … so it was perfect!)
I got a little nervous driving out to Sioux Falls because it was pouring rain for about an hour leading up to the state line. But once I arrived in town, the weather was beautiful and I couldn’t have been happier!
I was pleased to find the Knutson family ready to have their portraits taken. (Although Dawn says it’s impossible to talk the guys into getting portraits taken, which is why she had me come right to their farm.)
I guess it didn’t hurt any that her hubby got to pose with his giant Case IH tractor! 🙂 Nothing like a lot of horsepower to get a guy to smile!
I just love their little doggie too! She had all the personality of a big, tough dog in a compact body.
Enjoy,
Rebecca
P.S. The one where their son is hugging the dog makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. I know it’s a little weird, but too funny!
Hagen Family : Happy Time Resort, Northwood IA
This fun family session started at the Hagen home with a very bashful little 5 year old… I usually can charm the socks off even the most rambunctious little boys, but this little lady had me grasping for straws to tell you the truth. None of my tricks were working for more than a second or two before she’d turn her head away. LOL!
Good thing I have a fast trigger finger! 🙂
You know, that’s the difference between a newbie photographer that you might get to take your photos for less and a true, experienced professional.
I never gave up, never gave in and didn’t let it phase me in the least because I knew I would be able to get the shots I needed.
Sure, it would be nice if I could brag that every photo session I do is a piece of cake because I’m THAT good… but this is REAL.LIFE and there’s a reason I use that as my tagline. I don’t believe in taking pictures that gloss over reality. There is such beauty in the imperfections of life.
Enjoy!
Rebecca
The Juhlin Family : Mason City, IA : Family Portraits
This family came to me via a referral from one of my favorite clients so I had a pretty good feeling we’d be a good fit and as soon as I arrived I was at ease. They were such a nice group of people!
I loved their home and their big, shady yard. The kiddos were just the cutest and so well behaved. It was like a dream come true! 🙂
Also, the one son just go engaged to the sister of the gal that referred me so they asked to do a little mini-engagement session at the end. Of course, I obliged!
The whole thing went so amazingly well, it made me thankful I accepted the Sunday morning session.
I can’t wait for the family to see these!
Enjoy!
Rebecca
The O’Connor Family : Lake Madison, SD
This great family comes to me from my wonderful brother-in-law, Dan Houg who works in Sioux Falls, SD and was on the Make A Wish Board of Directors last year.
The O’Connors and I tried to get together this winter to do a session, but the weather got in my way and I wasn’t able to travel that weekend.
Since a family this large doesn’t have the opportunity to get everyone together all that often, I was more than happy to accommodate their request to have me travel even further to Lake Madison, SD to do their family portrait session.
It was a very sunny and hot day, which wasn’t exactly ideal for a lake portrait. But I managed to work my magic and got a few different settings with the whole big group for Karla to choose from to display over her mantle.
Next, we headed to a more comfortable shady spot in the front yard where we took lots of great shots of the individual families and their kids.
It really was a great way to spend a Saturday. Such nice people! (And good looking to boot!)
Enjoy!
Rebecca
Rebecca Lynne Photography : Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota's Best Photographer! 