So… here we are. Starting Kindergarten in a pandemic.

It’s such a weird time as I love, love, love back to school each fall. I adore the fresh school supplies and calendars, picking out new backpacks and jeans — it really feels just like New Year’s to me. Fall is so magical and the light is stunning, and it just makes me happy.

But this year… there’s just not as much to celebrate. Ezra’s school is starting the year distance learning with the hope that they’ll move into the building within a few months. We shall see. Tonight we get to meet his teacher via the internet, and I know he’s excited about that (probably not as excited as I am though, let’s be real).

Anyway, since I think this year is funky in all sorts of ways, I’m offering First Day of School portraits this Saturday in front of my house for $20. I’ll take your kid’s photo and I’ll get it to you before the actual first day so you can share it with the internet as you like. If you’re interested, there are a handful of spots left, and you can sign up here. I promise to be more chipper when you see me!

Otherwise, we’re just tooling along over here trying to make life work with no childcare, school at home and crazy busy work schedules. If I fall behind on blogging this fall, you’ll understand why, I hope! Best of luck everyone, and please wear a mask, wash your hands and stay healthy!

Y’all have outdone yourselves with the back yard setups this year. I’ve seen amazing swings, saunas, zip lines, hot tubs, above ground pools, fire pits, climbing walls and bounce houses. And honestly, I think the kids are having pretty great summers, despite all the covid nonsense!

Here are some photos from one such session — oh how I adore these kids.

I had a super fun shoot last weekend with this family, whom I’ve been photographing since the eldest was just a baby. Oh how fun it is to watch families grow and change! Also, the smallest of the bunch could pack away the most doughnuts fo anyone! Hilarious!

I took the kid on a photo walk this weekend at one of my favorite local spots, and we found nests and feathers and cranes and fish and … the poor guy dropped his (our old) iPhone he was using for the camera on the boardwalk RIGHT between the slats.

I mean, you could attempt that 20 times and never do it again.

We spent more than an hour trying to dig it back out with sticks and grass and we tried loosening the boards and … we just couldn’t do it. It was 94 degrees and muggy and we were beyond exhausted.

But then, a park ranger happened upon us, and he had a drill! And he removed the boards and we saved the phone. And then we celebrated with ice cream. And all Ezra could say the whole ride home was, “Man! That was an adventure! I did not expect any of that to happen!”

Me neither kid. Me neither.

I’ve mentioned that I’m pretty busy these days, but I haven’t been showing off a lot of the work because, well, blogging takes time that I could be processing and delivering photos! But I know you all like seeing the work that I’ve been doing, so here are a few of my favorite shots from a session from last week.

There is a certain energy that young families — those with kids 3 and under — have that you (thankfully) lose as the kids grow up… but it’s so fun for me to photograph. I think this family was a prime example.

Um… a week has gone by since I last checked in.

You guys, this whole time-slip thing in the era of Covid is real. And man, am I feeling it.

I am currently booked to the gills in an attempt to make up my cash flow before either the virus sets in at an even more alarming rate OR until it gets so cold in Minnesota that I can no longer make kids smile outside. I am not sure which will happen first!

I was on a family shoot Saturday morning, when I spied these ducks and snapped one image of them swimming across the lake before getting back to my paid gig, and I still love it. I’m not sure what it is that captivates me… but I wanted to see it again so I thought I would share it with you.

Maybe it’s the sense of calm it brings? I mean… I don’t know about you, but my hair is on fire with the world news right now, so let’s all take a deep long breath and imagine the quiet sounds of these ducks paddling out to the lake, shall we?

I honestly didn’t realize a full week had passed since I had last blogged. Life is a little insane right now, obviously.

First, we are trying desperately to figure out child care for the fall and with so many unknowns, it’s like a special game of parental torture. But we’re coming up with SO MANY PLANS and watching some of them ignite into flames and some of them smolder and others we’re still seeing if they are viable. I mean, it’s really no big deal right? Your decisions only mean the health and well being of your child. No big deal.

But anyway! I took this last weekend off from shooting. I don’t have many weekends off these days since I’m trying to fit in as many shoots as I can before winter and the apocalypse settle in, and this was a nice break. We took one day to travel south to Minneopa State Park because some very dear friends were driving through and camping there that night.

We had a socially distanced dinner around the camp fire, and I took photos of the buffalo in the park while yelling at my son to PLEASE ROLL UP THE WINDOW AND PUT YOUR HEAD BACK INSIDE THE CAR as the large creatures approached us. Only to be answered with, “But why?” as he craned his neck out further.

Have you seen me lately? I have grey hairs. A lot of them.

But the photos of the bison were quite nice as they were so close, so here are a few to entertain you (and you don’t even have to yell at your child while looking).

I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. Some day we’re gonna have huge parties and be proud of our country again. Someday… in the very distant future.

Since I have super strict distancing rules in place to keep my clients safe, I can only photograph 1-2 newborn babies each month. And yes, that sucks for me. But I’m trying my best to make the most of it, and this family here was an absolute dream. Two enormous, fluffy dogs and a tiny baby? I was in heaven.