photos by leslie

I think I've mentioned here a few times that the last month or two has pretty much been spent photographing portraits of people for their linked in, websites or other online presences. While this work is fine, it's not the kind that lights my soul on fire (unlike babies or pups or families!).But! In a few instances in the last month, the clients have brought along their dogs to work! And I've snuck in photos of them just to keep things interesting.Here are a few of those shots. The dog above was just too silly to ignore. The one below, Milo, smells and behaves exactly like my dear Merlin did, and he makes me so happy and sad at the same time. And at the bottom is sweet Miko, who followed me around yesterday melting my heart. I am so happy we live in a time when dogs are welcome in the workplace! I won't be blogging tomorrow as I'll be traveling (!!!), but here are some internet shares to tide you over in case this Cohen testimony isn't doing the job.+ This genius photoshopped celebrities with their younger selves and it's mesmerizing!+ Kristen Bell has come up with a new diaper line and I just can't stop loving her.+ Never give up on your dreams.+ An old TWA terminal has been turned into a hotel and it's GORGEOUS.+ This film is so beautiful -- skip to the 7:30 mark if needed. I promise it's worth it!+ Great tips on hosting a party in a very small space.No links on the Cohen testimony as we're only 2 hours in, but trust me I'll have some later!

post by leslie

A few weeks back, I spent the morning with that adorable kid up there and his family, and I got to make a short film for them. If you've checked out my family film packages before, you know photos are also included, so I'm featuring a few of my favorites below.This project was really fun on several levels (fantastic parents, beautiful house, stunning wallpaper, family dog, etc etc etc), but it was also such a creative shift from my other projects. One thing I love about film is how it forces me think differently -- it makes me plan my footage around a story, which needs a beginning, middle and end. It pushes me so much more than photography has, and it's so much more difficult! But also that's what makes it fun. I love to keep learning. And I love spending hours finding the music! And for your internet shares of the day!+ What happens when a chef gets sober.+ Life as an only child.+ Photos from inside the Hindenburg! 

post by leslie

This weekend included a photoshoot with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. I am lucky enough to photograph this group once a year, and it's always such a breath of fresh air in the midst of winter when I am booked solid with company head shots and product photography. Not  only do I find the instruments lovely to photograph, but hearing such fabulous music while I'm working is beyond inspirational. So here are a few of my favorites from the day.And for your internet shares today;+ Some gorgeous pies. Be still my heart.+ My new mantra. Many of you know I've been exercising like a fiend since November, and in fact I do feel great. And I gave up sugar for the month of February. Again, I do feel better. But while I'm fully in favor of making healthy choices (particularly when you are ancient and trying to parent a four year old and need the energy of a nuclear power plant), I also think it's important to live a full, happy and enjoyable life. And I will toast to that at tonight's book club.+ A rescue for foxes! Such fun!

post by leslie

What a week.I have been thrown off and derailed this week, and I am off my game for sure. Two days with a child home (one for a holiday I don't really understand and one for a snow day that I'm not really sure was needed), one day busting my ass on work every minute of the day, another day at a corporate shoot downtown followed by more portraits in the studio... And then today.I had this vision of sitting at my desk all morning catching up on work and email and all the things that I am behind on.But.But instead I crawled out of bed and worked out in the basement as a bit of payback for my delicious, but not so healthy dinner last night. Then I got the boys out the door and was about to sit down and work. And then looked at my dog, and realized this poor girl hadn't had a walk since Sunday and it was sunny out and let's just go do that right quick.And then my phone started ringing off the hook (hello old friends! hello new clients! hello telemarketers!) and I needed to deal with a shipping issue with amazon and THIS IS HOW DAYS DISAPPEAR. Is this too much information? Sorry. My whole week seems to have gotten away from me.But.Right now, I'm heading out the door to pick up a friend from college at the airport, who I get to spend the afternoon with. I am so excited and it will be lovely, but for the love of god, will someone please teach me how to forget about all the work that is waiting for me at my computer? Because I really need this day to reset.Here's hoping next week is more productive. And here's hoping Minneapolis stops cancelling school for weather.

post by leslie

One of Ezra's very best friends got a new baby brother two weeks ago, and I was lucky enough to photograph the little nugget! He looks JUST like his older brother, and it was so fun to document him in his first days home.School was out on Monday (Presidents Day) so I spent the day with Ezra. Then today school was cancelled again due to 10 inches of snow, so again I stayed home and entertained the kiddo. To say I am a bit behind in work, blogging and life would be an understatement right now. Here's hoping for more normalcy soon!

post by leslie

I was lucky enough to spend Saturday morning with this guy and his fantastic parents working on a family film. Can you even believe that gorgeous hair? And those eyelashes!?! This kid is amazing and hilarious and we had a blast with paper airplanes, building legos, and a bunch of toys and bubbles in the bath. You'll get to see the film in a few weeks, but until then I wanted to just show you this sweetheart.And for a few internet shares of the day:+ I would like this necklace.+ An interesting read on being a woman.+ Listen up, I have PLENTY of sneakers (it's a bit of a problem, really), but if I didn't, these sure are cute for summer...

post by leslie

Last weekend I got to photograph a lovely couple's engagement photos down by the river. The only hitch was that it was seven degrees and we had planned on being outside... so we punted.We started indoors and got some lovely images, then rushed outdoors to take photos in a quick (but maybe not quick enough) horse and carriage ride. I really wish I had been able to stop the carriage to take shots from outside or around it, or to try more angles, but frankly in that cold, we were just going as fast as we could.Anyway,  here are a handful of my favorite shots! Enjoy!   

post by leslie

This weekend I had a lovely engagement shoot. Since it was in the single digits (temperature-wise) we started the shoot at the Guthrie Theater before moving outside for a horse drawn carriage ride (!!) covered in blankets. I'll get to those shots later this week (I hope), but for now I wanted to share a snap or two taken from the Guthrie of this beautiful city and the Mississippi river in February. And that brave, brave runner down there! Wow!The lower shot is taken from one of the many windows in the theater that is flanked by mirrors -- I love the visual effects those windows create!