Category Archives: Family

September 7, 2017

How to prep for your family session:: Part 2

Tags: babies, baby photographer, baby photography, Children, children photographer, children's photographer, Family, family photographer, family photography, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Baby photographer, Minneapolis children's photographer, MInneapolis family photographer, Minnesota, Minnesota children's photographer, minnesota family photographer

Yesterday I shared some tips on how to get yourself ready for your family session BEFORE the actual session, but today I want to share with you some tips on how to make your session amazing and more of an experience and event that your family can love and enjoy together!

Arrive just a few minutes early. If you are driving for a while, this allows kids to burn off some energy right away, you can get your little one in the outfit they will be photographed in, you can do one final touch up and you can feel prepared to walk into your session confidently.
Just relax. I know photos are a stressful time and you are paying a lot of money, but when you are stressed out, your kids feel it, your hubbie feels it and the photos will show it. Just go into your session ready to enjoy the moment. You have done everything you can to prep for it, now go into your session ready to just be yourself.
Bribes. It is amazing what sugar or a loveie can do. Sometimes just the sight of a fruit snack or a well loved toy can bring out the biggest smiles from little ones. There is absolutely no judgement here, I am all for bribes on the day of the session, mainly because they work!
Go with the flow. It is amazing what can happen in a session. Your toddler may start the session by being the shyest child, and end in joyous leaps and screams (or cries!). Your school-ager may need to tell me all about the newest Logo creation or movie they have seen. We may need to dance a bit in the first few minutes just to get everyone relaxed and ready to go. I’m all for it. In the last 15 years, there is nothing I haven’t seen or heard, and quite frankly, this is what makes the session unique to your family and can sometimes bring sweet memories. I’m all for it, and love the uniqueness of capturing these precious moments for you.
Have confidence in me. I go into each session wanting to capture the best photos of you and your family just like I would for my very own family. I know photos can be stressful, but I also know they can be incredibly fun. Remember this is my business and passion and I want to make sure you are happy with the photos that are being taken. So trust me that I know what I am doing and can not wait to document you and your family in these sweet moments.

If you are still looking to book family photos, I would love to talk to you. Head on up to the contact button to reach out for pricing and availability; I can’t wait to hear from you!

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September 6, 2017

How to prep for your family shoot:: Part 1

Tags: babies, baby photographer, baby photography, Children, children photographer, children's photographer, Family, family photographer, family photography, family session, Minneapolis children's photographer, MInneapolis family photographer, Minnesota, minnesota family photographer, Photographers, real life

Fall is here and with that so is the time for family photos! I love family photos, but as a mom, I completely understand the stress of undergoing a session. Clothes to buy, faces and bodies to clean and wash, hair to do, getting hubbie and kids on board when they’d rather be doing something else… and that is only BEFORE the session!

During the session there is that stress to get that absolutely perfect photo for the wall or your Holiday card. Non-cheesy smiles, keeping clothes clean, finding that perfect location… And I completely get it. Just the thought of it has my palms sweating!

But today and tomorrow, I wanted to help you, my sweet blog readers, on how to get yourself to be a better, happier, and calmer people as you get your family ready for photos.

Here are three tips to help you prep for your family session BEFORE you even get to your session

Clothing. What do I wear?! This is probably the biggest question I get from clients after they book their session date. To that, I would answer, Start with yourself. Choose something that you love and feel most comfortable in; a plaid shirt, floral dress, solid, whatever makes you feel incredible and then work the rest of your family’s outfits around yours. Chances are if you feel good, you will be confidant for the photos and that shows. Solid colors typically photograph the best, and I always suggest accessories if you have them, but if it is a hinderance to kiddos and becomes annoying, I would say it isn’t worth it, no matter how cute it is! Once you have decided on what everyone will be wearing, lay out each outfit together to see how they look as a complete unit. It will help you decide on if the clothing choice is too busy, plain, or just perfect!
Get Dad on board! I can not stress this enough, I know in past years my husband hasn’t been nearly as excited as I am about photos (can any of you relate?!) but the year he got on board and pumped it up to the kids was the year everyone was happy throughout the session and ended with some of the best photos to date. Now he dances for the kids, makes silly faces behind the camera and helps my school agers to understand how important this is for me. If you have toddlers, this might mean that hubs is tickling them during the session, being patient as they work through tears, helping play peek-a-boo, or just walking with them when they need a break.
Hair and/or Make up. This year was the first year I came to the realization, “Why don’t I get my hair done on the day of photos?!” I don’t know why I had never thought of it before, but if you have a later session in the day, might I suggest a morning hair cut, color, or blow out? I also planned ahead and got all three kids hair cut and styled the same day before the session. It was a breeze and I had less to worry about than I ever did before. One of my clients this year told me that she ended up making a mom day out of her session and got her hair, make up, and nails done before her session. Brilliant, I thought. Next year, I think I am going to take it to that next level!

I can’t wait to share more tips tomorrow for your actual session and how to help make it stress-free. Have a wonderful day and make sure to check back tomorrow!

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August 31, 2017

Langseth Extended Family:: Chippewa Falls, WI

Tags: babies, baby photographer, baby photography, Children, children photographer, children's photographer, extended family, Family, family photography, park session, summer family session, wisconsin family, wisconsin family session

These are my people. No really, they are. They are my family.

See that sweet girl with the curly hair, and looks like me? She’s my baby sister. She got the curls and the height, I got the stick straight hair and the short genes of our family. She’s fast and super athletic, and I just try to be. She is an amazing mom of six incredible kids, and I can hardly handle my three.

That guy she’s standing next to… He’s my brother in law. We’ve all known each other since they were 15 and even that short time when they were broken up, we all somehow knew Claire and Andrew would end up together. I’ve known his brother since he was shorter than me, and have photographed his sister’s and his brother’s weddings in the past few years and have known his parents for as long as I can remember. They are my family. Even though my sister and brother in law are really the only ones that are directly related to me, my kids call Andrew’s mom Grandma Lynn, and my son still is convinced that somehow Gabe, Mikaela, Rachel, Jared and Luke are his aunts and uncles.

So when sweet Naomi entered the world this summer and Jared contacted me to do an newborn photos and an extended family photo of the entire Langseth side, I had to convince Ben that he wouldn’t be seeing his extended aunts and uncles this time around. We met in the quaint city of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (of which I never knew was so cute, I will be going there again!) at a park that was perfect to photograph all their family members, as well as end with celebration of joy and jubilee and water!

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Kim Lampe
Karen, I met you briefly one afternoon, at a shower for Claire. I had the good fortune of snagging your lovely sister off of Sittercity.com, a random crossing of paths if ever there was one. She and Andrew were boyfriend/girlfriend at the time. We enjoyed their friendship for a few years….you do beautiful work. And I love to see their family pop up from time to time. Blessings to you all!

August 30, 2017

Dow Family and Anniversary Session

Tags: Anniversary, anniversary session, Children, children photographer, children's photographer, Family, family photographer, family photography, family session, Minneapolis children's photographer, Minnesota, Minnesota children's photographer, minnesota family photographer, real family

When Jessica contacted me from Kansas City to discuss doing a family/ anniversary session on their trip up to Minneapolis, I was thrilled. She discussed doing their session on the campus of the University of Minnesota where she and her husband were married ten years ago, but adding their three kiddos to show how their family of two had become a family of five over the years. We meandered the campus on a hot summer night where they pointed out where they had gone to classes, met friends for parties, studied on the lawn to their children. We were even serenaded by the U of M band as we finished throe session in the iconic Goldie chair! It was so wonderful connecting with this sweet family, and cheers to ten more beautiful years of marriage!

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August 29, 2017

Family Session Sites

Tags: Children, children photographer, children's photographer, Family, Minneapolis, Minneapolis children's photographer, MInneapolis family photographer, Minnesota, minnesota family photographer, session sites, St. Paul

It is that time of year already… fall has arrived. I know we still have the oh-so-glorious month of September, but that crispness is in the air, and along with it, preparing for the holidays and family photos! Weather you are a spring or summer go getter and get those photos done before the fall kicks in, or if you wait for the colors of fall to make their appearance, there is always the question of WHERE to do family photos.

SO hallelujah, hallelujah, today I will be sharing with you some of my favorite places, or ideas, on where to do family photos.

Location can make the difference, and most of my clients are in the Minneapolis area, so that’s where I am going to give you a list of suggestions!

If you are still wanting beautiful late summer blooms and greens, booking your session for the first few weeks of September would be my suggestion. Most days are still warm enough for cute dresses without leggings, and you are still able to catch that gorgeous fall light in the evening hours. Some great places I would suggest would be:

Arneson Acres in Edina
Centennial Lakes in Edina
Millennium Gardens in Plymouth (there is a small fee to shoot there around $25)
MN Landscape Arboretum ( a more hefty fee to shoot there… $75)
Como Park in St. Paul, but only after the fair is over!

If you are looking for more fall color, the best time to get that color is generally the last week of September through the second week of October. Typically by MEA weekend (third weekend in October), most of the leaves are blown away and the color is gone. Sometimes we get that extra week, but if you are really wanting that color, I would suggest booking your session during that time! Some locations I have seen with beautiful foliage:

Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove
Minnehaha Falls In Minneapolis
Como Park (near the water) in St. Paul
Local Parks near your home
Northwestern College campus in St. Paul

If you decide that you want more winter photos with snow or evergreens or you missed booking a session with the leaves, the best time to do that would be once the snow has fallen (obviously!) Typically I photograph up to the second week of December with a guarantee that photos will be ready for Holiday cards. I would suggest an urban location or a place that you are able to get warm fast (especially if you have young kids). Some thoughts on where to shoot for later sessions:

Stone Arch Bridge or Father Hennepin Park in Minneapolis
Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis
Boom Island Park in Minneapolis
Rice Park in St. Paul
Christmas Tree farm (most owners will let you shoot for free on their property up until they open for the season, then there is typically a fee. Check with your local farm for details before going on any property!)
Or if you are a cold person like me, book a studio session!

If you are still in need of family photos, feel free to contact me for more information on availability, I’d love to connect!

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Category Archives: Family

How to prep for your family session:: Part 2

How to prep for your family shoot:: Part 1

Langseth Extended Family:: Chippewa Falls, WI

Dow Family and Anniversary Session

Family Session Sites

Minneapolis Wedding and portrait photographer for the Modern & timeless

Get in touch with Karen for any questions.