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 We meet again! Last weekend I got together with Katy-Jo and Clint's crew at Mears Park in St. Paul. They are one of my big families (with big hearts) who have invited me to take photos for them for the past six years. I think our first session was when Annabelle had just turned one and we've had a session (if not two!) every year since. At this point, we are a well-oiled machine at getting individual and group shots as well as a mix of candid and posed photos. I can't thank you guys enough for not just being amazing clients, but also for constantly referring me to your friends and loved one. Hugs!!!   
 
 Thanks again, Clint and Katy-Jo! I hope your summer has been off to a beautiful start!
<3 Rachel
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 Earlier this month I was elated to take newborn and family photos for my longtime friend Jess, her husband Brett, their daughter Maddie, and their new addition Cooper Christopher. I've been photographing their family since Maddie was just a beautiful baby bump... and now she's a fab big sister! I always love shoots with the Yosts because they are so easy, laid-back, and humor-filled. (When Jess and I get together for ladies nights, we usually don't even order food or drinks until an hour into sitting down because we are too engrossed in story-swapping and laughing about all things motherhood!) Cooper is one fine addition to their family and was a fantastic baby model. He was awake for nearly his entire shoot before dozing off during the more prop-focused shots. I left this session with all of the warm fuzzies as well as mad baby fever. You guys totally do not have to keep booking me as your photographer, but dang, I'm so glad you continue to do so! 
 
 
   (Also, it's totally not a shoot with the Yost family unless we include Harmon, the STAR!)
    Hey everyone! I couldn't let the rest of the month of May pass by without doing a blog post recapping one of my favorite photography events of the year... Mother's Day mini sessions! It means a lot to me to be able to give moms photos of themselves with their kids because I know that they'll be cherished for a long, long time. (Honestly, whenever I see any photos of my own mom from early in my childhood I just think she looks absolutely young and beautiful!) About a week an a half ago, I photographed 10 mamas and their kiddos at Lake Elmo Regional Park. Even with an iffy forecast, it ended up being a gorgeous morning and we got SO many great shots! Above is my sis-in-law Andrea with her bunch of 3. It was very helpful for me to start out my slew of sessions with a family I already knew quite well!     This was my third session with Audrey and her boys and they are definitely one of my confidence-boosting family. They always are incredibly easy to work with and bring big smiles. Shooting and editing their family is basically a breeze. I am so, so glad I got to see them again this spring!    Next up, I got to meet some new clients, April and her two and three-year-olds: Rylin and Gunther. I kind of love photographing toddler/preschool aged kids because they are SO full of energy, personality, and give such genuine expressions. Usually they lead the shoot for me and I just follow their direction. I love how their photos turned out and I hope to work together again!     My fourth session of the day was for my friend/neighbor/Beautycounter hookup Amy and her three gorgeous girls. I love every single one of their images and it was hard for me to just not post every single photo of theirs in this blog post. But I need to keep moving on because time is ticking before my kids wake up!    Next up was another past client of mine, Tricia (who is super sweet, not to mention stylish!) and her little fellas Cody and Ezra. Her boys were so fun and energetic which translated to really fun photos for their family. So glad they came!    Next, I met Sterlynn for the first time and River (who at seven-months-old was my youngest baby of the day!). This was their first professional photo session and I was honored to take pictures of these lovely ladies!     Sara and her kids Julian and Evelyn were next. This was our third session together and they are always, always a family I look forward to seeing. I love watching little ones grow up in the photos from our sessions-- going from just learning to stand to confidently running. It's a pleasure to be able to document these moments!     I was so excited to finally photograph my neighbor Kate and her two. Ethan and Bella. I'm mildly obsessed with how their photos turned out.... they are just so spring-y and sweet and honestly, the vision I had in mind when I dreamed up these sessions! Fortunately, we already have another session on the books together so I don't have to bug them about letting me take their photos again. (After this group, I had a break in my line up and was able to have a lovely picnic lunch with myself. And then I had to flee the scene for a bit to buy band-aids as I had worn a POOR choice of shoes for the day. Ugh, lesson learned. Sometimes fashion over function is not the choice to make. Sometimes.)         So after my lunch break and bandaging my stupid foot, I was ready to take on my biggest group of the day, Teri and her crew of six-- and they totally nailed their session. Her two youngest daughters are friends with my oldest daughter so it was great to see some more familiar faces but also finally meet the rest of the family. It was such a blast to shoot a session with older kids and young adults. We were able to get a huge variety of shots in a short time and I love, love, love how they turned out!       I ended the day on the sweetest note possible, with Kelly and her one-year-old son Dax. He was such a perfect, happy, delightful, one-year-old boy. My face hurt when I was finished shooting because I was smiling so much! We were able to also squeeze in some one-year-milestone shots for him as well as some headshots for Kelly too! I really love being as efficient as possible during sessions and striving for the maximum variety of shots!
And there you go! Proof that 10 sessions can be shot in one morning and all photos can be edited and sent within one week. (Um... so much coffee last week though). These sessions are so very special to me and I'm so thankful for every family who was a part of this day. I truly hope these mamas and kids treasure and enjoy these photos for many years to come!  On a snowy spring day last month, I met with Jordan and Nate in St. Cloud to help check off "engagement photos" from their wedding to-do list. I'm so glad we got a chance to finally meet in person after many email exchanges and get a feel of working together! I can't wait to get them in front of the camera again during their wedding in October! We had a romantic, playful, classy, and candid style shoot at the Bridge of Hope in Sauk Rapids before going to Quarry Park and Nature Preserve to get a change of scenery and outfits. I'm so happy with how their photos turned out and I think their wedding is going to be an absolutely beautiful and joyful day!             (This shot really makes me feel the feels because it gives me a vision of them exchanging their vows on their wedding day in front of all their loved ones. And I love that they could gaze at each other just like that in the ridiculous cold weather with no one around... well, except me!)    Guys, I am honored to be capturing your wedding day this fall. I truly hope you treasure these photos for years to come!
 I am so thrilled to be shooting Wil and Jess's wedding this month! Here are some of their engagement shots we took in April (doesn't it look April-y outside?) We shot at Willow River on the sunniest day I've ever experienced and they brought along their bulldog Frank. In my opinion, way more photo sessions should include bulldogs. Even though it was blindingly bright, chilly, and windy, these two were totally good-natured about the day's conditions and we came away with some lovely photos.           Let's be honest, it's not the funnest to take photos when you're freezing, but it does result in people holding each other tighter, and snuggling in closer, which are all things I am ok with.
See you guys again on your wedding day!  Last weekend I met with Ella and her mom to get her two-year milestone pics done! Usually toddler sessions leave me out of breath and laughing since little ones are usually all over the place. But Ella had a more grown-up and mellow personality. It's not often that I'm able to photograph little ones who are willing to stay still, so this was a unique and wonderful opportunity! Ella was a little shy at first, but we made friends as I pretended the furry pillow she liked was a puppy woofing at her. (My random skill set is vast and, well, random.)     
Thanks again to Ella for such a great mini session and to The Juniper Loft for providing such a lovely space for us!
 Lots of firsts for me this weekend! First of all, I outsmarted winter and had several excellent indoor shoots at The Juniper Loft in Minneapolis. Oh, and I fell in love with this little lady during her mini session. No big deal. The only downside to this shoot was that my face kind of hurt afterwards from smiling so much! Miss Audrey, the world is a lovelier place with you in it and I'm so happy your parents asked me to take your pics! Thank you again, Mary and Justin!                  Well... those cheeks and that smile just slay me. That is all. Thanks for stopping by and scrolling on through my blog!
 Winter is just flying by! (SAID NO ONE EVER.) Fortunately, photo sessions with sweet families have helped to keep the winter blues at bay. Last month I got a chance to reunite with the Lindmarks at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and take some photos to celebrate Joe turning two. I love getting repeat chances to work with families. Everyone knows each other just a little better and the sessions usually go even more smoothly.             Happy Birthday once more, little guy! Two looks rather amazing on you!
        It's such a treat for me when I get the chance to take photos for family members. Last month while I visited my family in Chicago I took some photos for my cousin Lauren's baby shower and I also took photos of my aunt and uncle's dogs for them. The dog glamour shots went as well as they possibly could have! This past year has been my biggest year, by far, for having pets included in photo sessions and I hope this trend continues into 2019!  Love you, Aunt Gina! Can't wait to see you next time we visit!
 A couple weeks ago I had a chance to start off the new year by photographing our neighbor's new baby girl Blakely. She is baby number three for the Lewis family which meant lots of photos with siblings!       Is that a sibling stack of cuteness or what?       Blakely on her own and in her mother's arms was also absolute sweetness. I absolutely love that brief and beautiful newborn stage and it's always an honor to document it. Congrats once more, Lewis family! (And thanks for letting me bring my own kids to this photo session! (#makeitwork)
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Welcome to my photography blog!Rachel again! Here's where you'll be able to find blog posts about all things photography: recent sessions, upcoming events, and just fun musings on photography in general. Can't wait to fill 'er up with content! Archives
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