In the snow | White Bear Lake Engagement Photographer

As promised, here are a few more pictures of this stunning couple. I really had so much fun with them. They have a really playful relationship and I think I could have taken more pics, only the cold sort of got the best of all of us. 🙂 So we went inside for some hot chocolate to warm up. It was the perfect way to end our session. S & J, I hope you enjoy your pictures. I’m so excited for you guys to embark on this crazy journey together. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!!!

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Santa baby part II | North Oaks Baby Photographer

I love my job. Love, love, LOOOOOOVE! Not only do I get to meet super cool people, but I get to capture these wonderful stages in peoples’ lives. Like baby “A”, for instance. Is she not completely adorable? You saw her a few months ago here, looking as cute as can be. When I did her 3 month session, she was able to hold her head up, and already, a few months later, here she is sitting by herself! She is such a strong little girl and a sweetheart. I have loved both sessions, and I am totally looking forward to her next session when she turns 1!

“B” family, you guys are awesome. Truly. You are such a treat to work with and to get to know. I will be in touch soon when your products arrive!!!

Here’s darling baby “A”.

love her flirty little look here!

This family kills me — they are all gorgeous! And they are the nicest people too!

 

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Miss Personality | White Bear Lake Baby Photographer

As promised, here are a few more photos of little Miss M at her 6 month session. She had grown so much since she was a tiny newborn (pictured here), and I had a blast photographing this awesome stage in her life. Will & Carrie, I know you already have your gallery up, but I wanted to be able to share these sweet pictures anyway. Happy viewing!

Look at how little she was only a few months ago … they change so fast!

and a few more of her from her recent session

and, i couldn’t help but share her funny facial expression here!

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christmas baby | North Oaks Baby Photographer

Okay, the title of this post could be misleading, because she wasn’t born close to Christmas. But, with this cute smile she sure could be a Christmas baby model, no?

I had to share this one — and I promise to share more later when I get caught up with my blogging. “B” family, here’s one to whet your appetite until I am able to share more!

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All smiles | White Bear Lake Baby Photographer

These smiles are killing me. I am having the hardest time narrowing down which photos to edit, because this 6 month old cutie was such a ham! So, in the process of narrowing down, I thought I’d share just this one storyboard — how cute is she?!

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Tenderness | White Bear Lake Newborn Photographer

I came away from this session with a full heart. Baby sessions are always fun for me to photograph (who doesn’t love cuddling a sweet baby?), but this one was extra special. It is this couple’s first baby, and the way that they interacted together was really sweet. I loved the glances that the mom and dad stole, and especially how they looked at their little baby. Or, how they would look at each other, when the other spouse was holding the baby. Plus, I just really like this couple, so it was an extra added bonus for me. 🙂  Jason & Julia, I hope you enjoy your photos of sweet Benny. Here’s a few more of you guys.

love his little expression (and the cute sweater he’s sporting!)

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just one | White Bear Lake Newborn Photographer

I am in the midst of editing and I just couldn’t help but post this one image (a few more will be coming with a sneak peek … I guess you could call this the pre-sneak peek?! :)). seriously though, how beautiful is she, and how precious is this little guy? Love love love love love this photo.

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Surprise! | Lino Lakes Newborn Photographer

Baby “K” arrived five weeks early — much to her family’s surprise! She was a little over 6 pounds when we met and still very sleepy, and also doing tremendously well. The “S” family was completely awesome to be with and even brought me a surprise latte (and the dad guessed my flavor of choice as well). I really enjoyed our session, and hope you enjoy your pictures of your sweet baby girl and family. Here are some of my favorites. 🙂

 

And I had to share one more of the mom here because she is just stunningly beautiful! I love this capture!

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Three sisters | Minneapolis Children’s Photographer

I had yet another fun session with the daughters of the Enchanted Treehouse owners (and if you haven’t yet been to this fabulous children’s boutique, you must!). First of all, how cute are their outfits? You could tell that the girls really liked the outfits, because they were on full-twirl mode the entire time. The girls were full of energy, spunky, and we had a great time. They were totally into posing for the camera, finding rocks, dancing dancing dancing, and laughing…I think they laughed their way through the session (which, of course, had me laughing the whole time too!). It was really impossible for me to narrow down my favorites, so I included a few more than I normally share. Here are a few of my favorites from the session — enjoy!

(in the bottom right of this storyboard, check out their awesome tights & boots their moms got them — LOVE them!)

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Newborn sweetness | White Bear Lake Newborn Photographer

I had the pleasure of photographing my best friend’s fourth baby — please have the honor of meeting Ben. My friend lives in New York (upstate, not the city ;)) and as soon as I found out she had him, I booked my tickets to fly out to be with her. You see, my goal was (since it is her FOURTH baby), was that I was going to go out there to help her. I was going to cook for her, clean, play with her kids, and of course, have the honor of photographing Ben during his newborn sweetness. But knowing Erin, I should have realized that all I would be doing was the photographs (and maybe some play time with the older kids). You see, Erin is SUPERmom — she does it all, and with a happy spirit. She never ceases to amaze me.

But I digress — I need to give you some background information first. Erin is a planner. And like any good planner, she likes to know as much information about things as possible. So, when she was pregnant, the doctors gave her the option of doing the nuchal translucency screening test, she took them up on it. It was shocking when the results for Down syndrome came back elevated, but her doctors assured her it was probably nothing to worry about. So, she opted to go for the amniocentesis. And when she got the results back, she not only found out that she was going to have a boy (hooray!), but that her little boy had Down syndrome (Ds).

I can only imagine finding out the news that your child has Ds — and all the accompanying feelings that go along with it. Erin and her family took time to go through their grieving process, and then decided to find out all they could about Ds and some things they could be faced with after the birth of their son. I can honestly say that it’s been amazing being an outsider looking in. Erin has handled the whole thing with grace, and her inner beauty has really shone this whole time.

I was on pins and needles during her last trimester … just waiting for that phone call to tell me she was in labor and ready for me to fly out! And then, one morning, I found out she’d had little Ben. I booked my tickets that day.

When I arrived that evening, the whole family was there to greet me — her Mom was there visiting (who’s like my 2nd mother) and had made an amazing meal, and they were all so welcoming (they always are). And, I got to meet Ben. Precious Ben. Perfect, little wonderful Ben. I fell in love instantaneously. He is such a gift.

And his parents? They blow me away. Seriously. Erin and Nick make parenting look so darned easy, and they are so smitten with all their kids. They are the most amazing parents.

It was really a life changing weekend for me — to see them handle everything with such grace, and to be so thankful for all they’ve been given. And I can imagine that having a child with special needs, a typical response would be to be angry, or be sad or depressed, or just overwhelmed. I think I would be feeling any of those feelings … but the “M” clan are quite the opposite. They are overwhelmed with love, joy, and a thankful spirit.

Erin & Nick — you two are so amazing. I am so overwhelmed with love every time I think of you guys. You are amazing people and your children are all so lucky to have you as their parents. And I am so thankful to have your family in my life. Here are some favorites of Ben from our weekend. xoxo

Edited to add, if anyone would like to follow Erin’s family on her blog, you can read it here

isn’t she beautiful? I so love this picture

If you look closely you can see the little hairs on his lip

Love, love, love this little boy.

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