Art & People Photographer: Susan's Zimmerman Session

Susan is talented. She is gifted. She is blessed. However you word it, this girl can draw like no other! When she approached me about photographing her and her work for her website, I immediately pictured rustic chairs in a field- showcasing her beautiful drawings!

Last Friday was the day. The light was perfect- overcast and soft. The weather was crisp and cool. Susan and I carried her art work, and my camera, chairs and vintage suitcase throughout the fields and pathways to get her images that truly showcase her talent! What a fun and unique session!

Here are a few images from our time together!

This goes without saying but, if you're looking for a beautiful idea for a gift or to capture your children in an incredible and artistic way, contact Susan HERE.

Minneapolis Photographer: Cancer, Beauty, Friendship & Joy

Suffering has a way of either making or breaking you. Within 30 seconds of meeting Kenzie, I knew which one she was choosing. After battling cancer once and receiving a clean bill of health just months ago, Kenzie found herself once again facing this ugly monster head-on. But she isn't alone- far from it. Kenzie has a team supporting, loving and encouraging her and it is beautiful.

I didn't really know what to expect as I drove to Mill City in Minneapolis. I felt both excited and unsure as to how this would unfold as we all met. But the latter quickly vanished as I encountered only joy- pure, beautiful joy. Kenzie and her friends radiate this. It is contagious and inspiring; it is amazing. Beauty. Friendship. Joy.

To add to what is already an amazing story, Kenzie's friends decided to shave their heads as she lost her hair from Chemo. Most of them are just weeks away from Prom, some are graduating, like Kenzie, in just a couple months, all are teenagers. And yet, their maturity is so far beyond most adults. What's more, they are gorgeous- each one of them- both inside and out, hair or no hair. Beauty. Friendship. Joy.

I am not sure if Kenzie realizes the impact she is making. Her attitude in the face of cancer, her strength, her smile- all I can do is grin as the tears flow and I thank God for allowing me to cross paths with this beautiful girl and her wonderful friends. All I can do is pray for her healing and recovery and know that this girl is loved- and loves back deeply. All I know is that she makes each person she encounters better for knowing her. How many people can truly say that? Beauty. Friendship. Joy.

Here are a few of the images from their session- perhaps the most memorable session I have ever and will ever have the honor of photographing!

Kenzie and her mom- such sweet love between them.

And I have to end with this... because it so perfectly portrays these girls!

Things I love: Baby Chub + Warm Summer Night Air

My baby boy had a blast playing in (and eating!) the grass last night. I was able to capture some sweet baby chub! :) I love these moments. I soak them in and enjoy every second. I am one blessed mama!

Prom 2011

The hair. The shoes. The dress.

No, I am not talking about a wedding day but PROM! It is something most high schoolers greatly look forward to and talk about for weeks to come. I have had the honor of photographing Princeton High School's prom for the last 3 years and it gets better every time. Northern Lights in Milaca hosts it and does an unbelieveable job. This year, I decided to switch things up a bit and do the formal portraits outside. I LOVE natural light and I think they turned out great.

The dresses have become more elaborate and beautiful since my own prom nearly 9 years ago! Amazing!

Wanted: Vintage Chairs

I am on the lookout. I LOVE using cool looking or vintage chairs for sessions. So many people have them lying around in their garage, on their grandpa's farm or run into them at garage sales. I often find mine at yard sales or at Ramshackled Treasures- love this place!

So, as I enter my busy season and have dozens of sessions in the next few months, I am in great need of more chairs! If you have one you would like to donate or sell for a reasonable price, contact me! The more unique, the better!

A Look Ahead: The Month of May

I have always been a planner. I relish the picking out of my planner every year and live by lists. Very few things satisfy my type-A needs like crossing something off my "to-do" list. In fact, I often will write something down that I ALREADY accomplished just to cross it off! Whether you think that is pathetic, funny or both- this hyper-organization helps me be a full-time stay at home mom and a full-time business owner. May is the beginning of the six month busy season that creates quite a bit of insantity around the wenzel house. I am attempting to have it be more of a "controlled chaos" this year with calanders, lists, planners and more to help keep our lives running smoothly.

I am so very excited for this month! There are SO many fun shoots coming up and I have ideas ready to be put into action! At this point, May will include the following:
2 sports teams
2 engagement sessions
1 prom
1 session for a church website
1 wedding
1 speaking engagement and
2 family sessions

That means lots of fun, and much more to blog about! :) Thanks for reading so far... more to come! :)

Sports Pictures

It's spring. Well, you sure wouldn't know that looking out your window. But it is the season of getting outside and enjoying that Minnesota (frigid) air. For me, it also happens to be the season of sports photography. I do take sports pictures nearly year-round but April seems to be a month full of them. I'm enjoying them more each time. I love that I get to see the same student-athletes as they grow, season-to-season, year-to-year. Photographing 45 middle school boys always leaves me laughing but exhausted. High school girls tend to need a good 2-3 minutes to fix their hair. Never a dull moment. I love it!
Here are a couple examples from a few of the many teams I have had the privilege of photographing. These are memories you don't want to forget!