IT'S SENIOR SEASON!

I just read an article in today's paper that it is strawberry-picking season. And I am hearing different people talk about cabin season and grilling season and all those fun summer-time opportunities.

Well, for me one of my summer opportunities are the high school Seniors who will be graduating this next May - 2009.

I want to tell you about some of the sessions we have been photographing this past 10 days, but before I do I want to express what our Seniors are telling me right after we have finished their session... guys as well as girls... It is so cool to hear them tell me how much fun they had and how they are so excited to see their proofs. It is so cool to see the big smiles on their faces with their eyes dancing with excitement. It is so cool to see how pleased and happy they are. It is just so cool.

We have photographed a guy from Foley on a tree that was overhanging into the Mississippi River.

We photographed a girl from Monticello with her truck and with the rifle that her grandfather gave her.

We have photographed a girl from Sartell in the studio, downtown, at a park, in her home, with her grand piano and at St. John's.

We photographed a girl from Albany all around her home - with her horse, with an old Ford truck and we took an awesome chair outside when the sun was starting to get low and got some gorgeous evening light.

We photographed a guy from Holdingford with one of his closest friends, his dog, a boxer - TBone.

We photographed a girl from St. John's Prep in the woods of St. Johns - barefoot, with a sundress on and carrying her violin. THEN... we photographed her with her swimsuit at the beach. We got great shots of her jumping out of the water.

These stories are small synopsizes of their full sessions. These Seniors are not only going to have some phenomenal images, but they've had a darn good time, too.

Call to schedule your session!
320-202-0288

Have a MAGNIFICENT day!
Denise

FAMILY IN THE PARK

There are a couple of parks around town that I really, really enjoy taking my clients to. One of them in the Knights of Columbus Park on the Sauk River. I particularly enjoy that park at about 6:30 in the evening. The back lighting is so beautiful. There are many areas to photograph with the river as a backdrop. The portraits that I have here are from a family that I photographed last Saturday night... JUST before the crazy storm came through. I've often said that I get some of the best images just before, during and right after we have rain. This session was proof of that.

As I have often said ... June is a great month for outdoor portraits and we are surely getting some great images right now. I hope that the rains and moderate weather hold out through July.

Call me to schedule your portrait outdoor session.
It is sooo beautiful right now.

320-202-0288

Have a MAGNIFICENT day!
Denise

CREATIVE SENIOR SESSIONS!

Hello everyone!

I'm sooo excited. I've been visiting with many Class of 2009 Seniors and making plans with them to do some super cool things. Truly. The ideas that we have come up with just gets me all jazzed up. We've got great things planned.

--- One girl, from Cathedral, will do a shot in a prom-like dress, her long curly, wavy hair will be a bit damp to show off those curls. She will be holding either her basketball or volleyball.
--- A girl, from Albany, will be photographed on her family's 300 acres which include a lake, a cabin and a wheat field.
--- Another girl, from Sauk Rapids, will be photographed in a sunflower field by St. Stephen.
--- We have a girl, from Monticello, coming in for some portraits at Hester Park.
--- We have a girl, from St. John's Prep, who will be photographed in a 'twirly' dress, barefoot, with her violin, in the woods around St. John's.

There are other sessions that are percolating. I will keep you posted on them.

If you know of a Class of 2009 senior who would like a FUN portrait session with UNIQUE and CREATIVE portraits ... please send them to me.

320-202-0288

Thank you!
Denise

CLASS OF 2009 - SENIOR PORTRAITS

Everyone is talking about the graduation ceremonies and parties right now. And I am getting ready to photograph the Class of 2009. Yup, now is the time to schedule those appointments. I am super excited to be getting appointments scheduled in June. Most all of the Seniors are interested in outdoor portraits and as I have said before... June is the best month for the outdoor session.

I am very proud of the photographs that we take for Seniors as well as the quality service we give. Our sessions are two hours long and we will do as many outfits and locations as possible within those two hours. I know of a couple of sessions this summer which will take us out to a farm. I am really excited about these sessions. I am also looking forward to a session that will be a woodsy setting. Plus, we photograph the more urban/city kids within all the character of downtown St. Cloud. Man! As a creative person it is very exciting and will be such a blast. I can hardly wait.

Because I am so interested in the outdoor sessions being taken during the best month of the year (June) the session fees during the month of June are just $50. That is amazing. You will get sooo much for that $50. I promise. It's important to book your session soon. Our days are filling up FAST. Truly.

Call today - 202-0288

Prior to your session I will talk with both the parent and the Senior to see what your likes and dislikes are. We will talk about what to bring to your session; what to wear and what time of day would be best for your session. Plus, many more tips and ideas. As my tag line says "Portraits by Design".

If you now of someone who is a 2009 grad and who would like fabulous photos taken please have them give me a call. I will be happy to talk with them.

Thanks!

Have a super duper day,
Denise

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Why God Made Moms

BRILLIANT answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions!!

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother & not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2 . She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Happy Mother's Day!

Denise

Q. & A.

Do you have a topic that you would like me to talk about??? If you do, email me with your suggestion. If I have not already discussed it I will give you a FREE FAMILY OR CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT SESSION. If I have already wrote about it, but you missed that blog ... I'll give you $25 off your next family or children's portrait session.

I have so much that I can talk about, but would love to hear from you.

Thanks!
Denise

WANTED: Props

Can you help me find a few things ... ?

• I am looking for one of those very colorful lollipops that looks like a long "rope" of lollipop that has been swirled into a circle... like a spiral. They are usually about 3-4 in diameter.
  
• I am looking for shrugs. You know the small little cropped tops. They cover your shoulders and then tie right under your chest. I'd prefer long sleeves. I definitely want a black one and a white one, but may consider other colors. I will use them for maternity sessions. I don't see them in stores. If you see them let me know what store to go to. If you have one (or more) that are still in good condition and you were planning to sent them to Goodwill - can I have them?
• One more thing... I am looking for swimsuit cover-ups. The kind that are completely sleeveless. They have a lot of elastic around the chest area and then they blousen out under the elastic. (I know that blousen is not a word, but do you know what I mean?) I used to have two of them, a white one and a black one. They were made of terry cloth and I found them in the swimsuit department at Target. I had a seamstress cut a slit up the front and then stitch the edges and I used them for maternity and newborn sessions. I can't find an image that I have permission to use to show them to you ... : ( darn)

I offer a free session to anyone who can help me find these items. I'm not a very good shopper so I really appreciate having shoppers out there helping me out.

The portrait proof that I have attached to this blog post is one that makes me giggle. I hope you giggle, too.

Have a fantastically fabulous day!
Denise