Home is where the heart is. The S-W Family (since 2017)

It’s a bit intimidating to first meet your client in their own home. One spring day in 2017 I pulled up to Callie and Ben’s house to take maternity photos before Oliver was born. Oliver was their second child, so I also got to meet Ophelia who was three at the time and absolutely adorable. I do remember the beautiful stained glass window on their stairway, but what sticks with me most is how they never felt like strangers, and were so welcoming.

They both completely trusted me, and it wasn’t just because they let me, a stranger, into their home. I will admit that back then I was new to posed newborn photography and I can also see now that my lighting was off. They were patient with me and although I criticize my art now, they are still lovely photos that bring back warm memories.

In late 2020 I was asked to photograph another special home for them. It was Ben’s birthplace, his first home, the home his mother still lived in. And anyone who knows St. Paul will tell you it’s “St. Small,” so when they gave me the address I had to laugh. It was only a block away from my own home. Ben grew up in the same neighborhood my kids did. Ben’s mom had been sick AND it was 2020 which was super challenging for the family. We took photos outside of their home in the snow. There was a big snowball fight in the end which Ben’s mom participated in gleefully. I was sad to hear she passed away in 2023 and her home was sold last year. In the meantime Callie told me she had had a fourth baby, which was a surprise to me, so when I was in their home taking newborn photos last year they mentioned the sale of Ben’s family home. We decided to take photos with the entire extended family in front of the home before it closed. It was such an honor to be allowed to walk inside of the house and hear all of their wonderful memories there.

As a photographer you are always looking for the light. It doesn’t matter how bad the background is as long as you find the light. Grief is like that too. There is always a light to find in dark times. I hope those photos of their last day in their family home was a light in the darkness for the family. Callie and the kids gifted me some raspberry jam made from the raspberries in their grandmother’s backyard. I savored every bite of it knowing how special it was to them.

Thank you Ben, Callie, Ophelia, Oliver, Beau, and Violet for letting me into the homes where your hearts are. I always feel at home with you.

The Zibrowski Family (since 2017)

Snuggles with Nellie at the same location I met this family 7 years ago.

I have been photographing this family since they were a family of three. Their first born was just a baby when I met them at Hidden Falls. Owen is now a big brother to Jay and Nellie. Snuggling Nellie this past Fall was a highlight for me.

Sally has a real talent for styling the family with coordinating colors in comfortable clothing for rough and tumble little boys. I always look forward to see what they are wearing they arrive.

I love that we can just play and get some fun photos of the boys being boys. I can’t wait to see how Nellie rolls with it at our next session as a toddler!

I always say it but the greatest part of my job is watching these families grow year to year. It’s icing on the cake when I get to meet a new family member.

The Schneider Family (since 2017)

Meeting new families when you are a photographer can be very nerve wracking. I liken it to online dating. You meet online, set a time and place to meet and hope for the best. I definitely had butterflies when I met Rachel and Pat Schneider at Hidden Falls for their maternity photo session. There is definitely a chemistry between a photographer and her families. The more relaxed we are, the more creative and authentic we can get.

Luckily, our first session was so easy going. I even got Rachel to go knee deep into the river where she got splashed by the wake of a passing boat. As I got in my car after their maternity session I felt like I had known them for years. When I posted a photos of Rachel laughing in the river her mom commented that she could see her as a child laughing. What an amazing compliment. I had captured her happiness during a magical time in her life.

A couple of months later I was at their home taking photos of newborn Elin. It didn’t go well. Elin wasn’t having any of it. We got a few good photos of her (after 3 plus hours of trying), but I left that session feeling defeated by a 10 day old and was afraid I would never see this couple I really liked again.

I am so glad I was wrong about that. I have taken their family photos yearly ever since. Every year we would catch up on each other’s lives and every year when I posted my family session schedule she was one of the first to sign the family up. I’ll never forget when Rachel told me she was expecting twins at our Fall 2020 session. Such uplifting news at such a tumultuous time. Everett and Ada joined them in 2021.

I adore this family. My dream is to take the kids’ senior photos one day. I am so glad that the Schneiders have grown with my business these past 8 years. I think it’s safe to say our “first date” was the beginning of a wonderful relationship.