Summertime Family Photos at the Lake | Cass Lake MN Photographer Norway Beach Resort
Sunrise Session at the farm.
Little Red Riding Hood Gets the Mail| MN Storyteller Lifestyle Photographer
This beautiful winter scene is a snippet from our everyday life. I am always on the mission to be present, and in doing so, using intentionality to #documentordinary. Our daughter is wearing this red wool coat for her third winter. It is possibly the last year, as she is outgrowing it swiftly. Last week, with one of the snows we were blanketed with, she and I set out for the mail together, and I asked if I could photograph her in (my) her favorite red coat. After the dog tromped down the lane to join us, I told her she reminded me of Little Red Riding Hood and the dog was like her wolf.
This first image in particular struck me as a submission for the cover colour contest with This Detailed Life photography magazine, so I am going to share it there! #thisdetailedlife. The pop of Red color is truly perfect against the dusky snow-laden walk.
MN Snowy Winter Engagement Session | Lake Bemidji State Park Couple
I had the privilege of photographing this energetic couple! I’m so grateful to have met them. What a fun pair! They brought a few outfit changes, we played with layers and a blanket, switched out boots, hats, and tromped in the snow a bit. It was a fun way to stretch my photography muscles for the cold afternoon. And, it was great weather, too! Take a look at her gorgeous rose-gold ring in a stunning setting of smaller diamonds. GORGEOUS.
Winter Wedding, Bemidji MN Snowy Wedding Day
This was one of my favorite winter weddings! The couple was so in love, and it was a short engagement, with spontaneous touches to make the ceremony and portraits stand out. A Beautiful Winter Wedding with simple decor: Inspired by greens and berries, gold rings and white leather boots and a jacket. This bride chose just the right amount of layers, colors and textures to naturally dress for a Minnesota Winter Wedding. A classic and traditional winter wedding in Bemidji, MN
Family Lifestyle Images : Storytelling in Nature
If you know me or my kids, you know that we spend an exuberant amount of time out of doors. In our homeschool life, we get outside every day. We play, explore, work… It’s a vivid part of our routine. And we are so grateful! Sometimes I bring my camera along and capture the mundane and ordinary moments. #documentordinary
Lifestyle Photography at Home PART 2 NATURE WALK | photos moms and dads can take
Document your life.
I said this in the first post too: When Families look back at photographs and memories from years past, there is a much richer story to the little details than there is when you see a picture of everyone dressed pristinely with smiles directed at the camera. Those a lovely images. But what makes a memory come back is when you can see the details. I’m adding a little more examples into each post I’m doing in this series, to try to help families. Help a mom or a dad capture the ordinary, everyday moments.
The details make a memory come to life.
The chubby little fingers. Scrawny legs. Summer scratches on their summer knees. Remembering the smells and sounds of those days… that’s what we want. When you document your every day life, you’re going to capture those memories clearer! Keep snapping pictures of the little things.
THIS IS PART OF a FOUR PART SERIES exploring examples in storytelling. Be sure to click over and read the other three posts with photographs documenting life at home in the little years.
In the FIRST post, I shared with you some photos from the couch of the elusive toddler NAPTIME.
TODAY, I’m sharing with you a NATURE WALK WITH THE KIDS.
I wanted to share a nature walk for a few reasons. Primarily, Getting kids outside is always a good idea. Next, taking a walk down the driveway or through the field is something we do every day. I want to remember the kids in their element, doing things that we do! Lastly, Watching children delight in the exploration and discovery that nature affords is just a really easy way to get some distance, boost their interest in what’s a hand, and get natural smiles, moans or other emotions. As a bonus, you feel better and learn something every time you go on a walk in nature. Enjoy!
A walk at home, looking at bugs, and spiders.
Swinging on scraggly tree limbs wet with dew.
Running with the dog.
Snatching up handfuls of too-short-stemmed “flowers” for you.
These are the little details you want to remember and will be capturing if you focus on letting your kids do their thing, not saying “Look!” “Hey, over here, Smile!”
Nope.
Just walk behind them a ways, letting them explore.
Wait for moments when the squat down to inspect a creation.
Watch for the little squeals of delight when a butterfly flutters by.
Catch the moments of “in-between” but try let the moment happen naturally, without creating the moment.
****Additional Thought: Oh, and did you see those pictures of me here, too? Getting in the frame with kids is quick and easy if you learn how to set your timer. (on my canon it’s just two clicks away to the 10-sec timer.) But this step also got easier when I taught my kids how to handle the big camera. They’re better at it than with a phone. No more fingers in the way and more likely to focus on the subject. Oh, and they usually take it more seriously when I give them the real camera, and don’t snap nine hundred images in bursts like they would on my iPhone. Insert eyeroll emoji.
ENJOY!
As I mentioned in the previous post, it is so helpful to have a goal in mind in taking pictures, but you don’t have to have it just right, you just have to have it! Capture it as it is.
Don’t get caught up trying to make it look different than it is. Sure, you can pick the angle and the composition to simplify it, but any picture will be better than none!
So, whatever you do to document the little years, just document it. It’s fast, fleeting and so full of beauty and learning! And remember, even something as simple as a walk outside does a wonderful job canning those memories up for you to enjoy again and again!
Again, this is part of a four-part blog post series focusing on parents documenting their life with kids in the little years. Each of these posts offer a quick tip to just take the picture, each post focusing on a different tip.
Be sure to check out the others in this Document Life series with examples of how to take pictures of your kids when they aren’t looking!
PART ONE In the first post, I shared with you some photos from the couch of the elusive toddler NAPTIME.
PART TWO Here I shared with you a NATURE WALK WITH THE KIDS where we hiked out and found some raspberries.
Summer Photo Vibes | Greens and Yellows Inspiration for your photo session or mood board.
I TOOK A WALK AND WENT TO LOOK FOR INSPIRATION FOR SOME UPCOMING SUMMER PHOTO SESSIONS FEATURING MUSTARD YELLOW TONES. THERE WAS SO MUCH TO BE FOUND!
Family at the Cabin | Pennington MN Kitchi Lake Cass Lake Family Portraits Up North
This rainy day photo shoot was fun. The whole family isn’t all together often, so getting pictures while they’re at the lake is a great idea! They stayed at and fished from Bliss Point Resort. This was my first time seeing and visiting the resort; it was so nice! Very peaceful and quaint. Their docks were super! You can rent cabins or stay in your camper. This lake connects to Cass Lake, so this family mentioned boating over to Star Island for the day, too.
How Fun! Great fishing 🙂
Next time you’re all together, consider hiring a photographer to capture some of your time. I hope you don’t forget these fun summer memories!
Springtime in MN | Bemidji MN Cass Lake Minnesota Photographer
