Kayla & Joe : Engagement Portrait Photography

These two lovebirds are just the most fun couple I have photographed in a while. For some reason, around Kayla, I get totally silly and act like 100% Becca - my friends will know what I mean. LOL! We were just laughing the whole session.
I loved it. I just couldn't stop. This leads me to believe that the wedding will be a blast as well. I am pretty sure I'll be more toned-down that day, but I'll still be working my magic, getting them to laugh and smile so they aren't focused on the fact that they're in front of the camera, but on the real reason we're photographing them... because they are in LOVE!
You can totally tell from these pictures and if you meet them in person, you would agree. They are going to have a lifetime of happiness, I can feel it.
Enjoy!
Rebecca

Ava : Family & Baby Photography

This little girl is so sweet! She won me over the minute her mommy carried her into my studio. Her eyes are just amazing. I love her fun-loving personality. It wasn't too hard to get her to smile and clap her hands. I am really glad her mom and dad brought her to my studio after seeing the work I have done for their friends.
Sorry I don't have time to write much more about the session, I need to get cracking on another session I hope to share soon.
Enjoy!
Rebecca

Signs of Spring

Well, it was a beautiful week and then the weekend hit and it was a lot of rain... and still today there has been plenty of wet, wet, wet. But I did manage to have a little fun outside taking some "just for fun" shots with my cute little point and shoot. I get tired of lugging the big camera around. ;)
Hope this brings some sunshine to your day!
Enjoy!
Rebecca
P.S. Check back soon as I have a beautiful little girl named Ava to share soon and today I have a fun engagement session!!



A raccoon with babies in our apple tree...

Baby Grayson: Newborn Photography

Hi there! How's it going for you today? Good I hope! I'm happy because I painted my kitchen this weekend and it looks FAB-U-LOUS! I can't believe it took me 8 years of living here to do it! :)
Back to the workload... I just put the finishing touches on my good friend's baby pictures. Her little guy, Grayson, was featured on my blog back in February just after he was born, about two months premature, but he's doing great now! He looks amazing. He was at around 6 1/5 lbs, I think, when I took these... And he was such a good little guy.
I wanted to do something very clean and classic. I went right to their home and took these there so she wouldn't have to bring him out and he was just happy as a clam.
I'm so happy for Lynsie and Matt. Such a beautiful, healthy boy.
Enjoy!
Becca

Good Deeds

This week has been flying by and I'd like to take a second to share with you a few good deeds I've done lately. I am a firm believer in the philosophy that the more you give, the more you receive (not that it's your reason for giving... but that just seems to be what usually happens)... So I'm sharing the love lately.
The first group I'm helping out is an organization called “Hope’s Angels” that grew out of an idea by Northwood resident Kim Koenigs as a way to reach out to mothers with children who have left abusive marriages. Rather than give money, volunteers provide services that may be needed, from a home-cooked meal to help with odd jobs. A local church has offered handmade quilts for mothers and their children. Other individuals have offered to provide hair styling and to prepare meals. I am planning on donating my photography services to these moms. I believe everyone deserves beautiful memories of their children.
Secondly, I will be giving St. Theodore Catholic School a donation for their live auction to be held this Saturday, April 17th at 6:30pm. This annual event helps raise funds to help support this great school. The item featured from my studio will be on the live auction and is an On-location Session and 20x30 Canvas Gallery Wrap. This donation has a total value of $720. I really hope it raises a good amount of money for the school.
Lastly, I am donating my services to the Humane Society of Albert Lea. This opportunity to give back came to me from one of my Pet Model participants. On a quarterly basis (as my schedule allows) I hope to continue to photograph some of the pets that need to find homes. I already took photos of several of them last week and I'm excited to share their pictures with you. To be totally honest, I got a little nervous when I saw the pitbulls since they have such a bad rap, but they were both very sweet dogs! I couldn't believe how well behaved they were, they all kenneled easily and weren't wild at all. Feel free to contact the Humane Society at (507) 377-8501 if you think you'd like to adopt one of these cuties into your family.
Hopefully, these new, updated portraits will help these guys find new homes faster!
Enjoy,
Becca

Nick : Senior Portraits

I'm very excited to share a few of Nick's senior portraits with him and his mom. They turned out awesome!
I know you're probably wondering why on earth I'm posting these now... haven't most seniors taken their portraits by now?? Well, the answer is yes, but Nick had to wait a bit longer than most.
He wanted to wait until his braces were removed and that joyful day finally arrived a few weeks ago! I can totally relate. I had my braces on for five or six years! And I got mine removed right before my senior year so I know what it's like to not want those annoying brackets on your yearbook pic.
It was raining the day we were supposed to do the session, but Nick is so easy going, he was up for anything. So we shot half of this in the rain... and then we took a break and he came back and it was sunny! So there's a real variety of lighting situations in the outdoor pictures!
Enjoy!
Rebecca

Graduation Announcements: Awesome Designs

Hi there! One of the best benefits of having your portraits taken at my studio is being able to purchase your graduation open house announcements (or Christmas Cards) from me. These are double-sided, beautiful full-color, vivid, heavy cardstock cards available in two sizes, and available folded like a greeting card or flat like a postcard.
I use your favorite images and help you design a layout that is tailored to your own unique style. Add your favorite baby/childhood photos and really make it a keepsake that won't be throw in the trash after the day is gone.
I just wanted to share a few of the ones I've created in the last week. If you had me take your senior pictures and haven't your design consultation to order yet, give me a call 507-383-2344 to set that up. Time is flying by and before you know it, graduation will be upon us!
Enjoy!
Becca
P.S. Sorry I had to smudge out the last names and addresses for their privacy. Don't need to give them a bunch of party crashers! :)

Spring Cleaning + Couch for Sale!

Good morning! What a beautiful day! I am excited to share more with you about my project to Throw Out Fifty Things based off the book by Gail Blanke that I blogged about on Monday.
I have been getting lots of compliments from my mother-in-law who thinks my house has never looked better!
Anyhow, on to our task at hand. We start with your bedroom. When you walk in, what do you see? How do you feel? Throw out anything that doesn't make you feel relaxed and comfortable. Bedrooms should be havens.
Don't just move stuff around, actually get rid of it. Remember, if it makes you feel good just to keep it (positive emotional attachment) then keep it, regardless of whether or not you will use it again... but be bold!
Your aim is to create not merely a "tidy" life, but to clarify who we are and what's important now... and answer "What the heck am I doing here?" Pretty deep stuff for cleaning out your bedroom, I know! But if you read the book you will understand. She explains how holding on to clothes that aren't really your style anymore has a way of keeping you in the past and not living in the present.
One more thing... a direct quote from Gail... "you've got to catch yourself, too, if as you go through this process you beat yourself up about how you should have done it sooner or better. We're here now. And we're doing it now. And it turns out that now is exactly the right time."
Powerful stuff! LOVE IT.
Well, hope you're finding this interesting. I know it's not my regular posts about how cute peoples kids are that I'm photographing, but this seemed really important and timely to me right now... being the season for spring cleaning and all. Plus, I want this blog to give you a better idea of who I am, not merely what I do.
Have a great day and an amazing Easter weekend!
Becca
P.S. I have a pretty nice couch I'm selling for $10. :) That's right. Ten bucks! Just want to get it sold, so call, email or forward this info on to someone who might be interested. (It's big and comfy and has a hide-a-bed)