There is nothing quite like being woken up by crying in the middle of the night and opening your child's bedroom door to see him puking (and crying) over the side of the crib. Oh, and let's not forget the smell.So Ezra stayed home with Mom yesterday, and lucky for both of us he seemed fine. No fever, no more puking and great spirits. Because he had puked, I was too gun shy to take him out in public (a serious fear of mine is having my kid puke all over a public place -- ew), and he didn't want to even leave the house. So we watched Shawn the Sheep all morning, and then later I busted out this train I was saving for Christmas. It did the trick and he was happy all day long.In other hilarious news, for about the last six months, I keep getting contacted through my web form by actors in NYC who need head shots in the next day or two. The second or third person who reached out, said that their agent had sent them to me. I was completely baffled as, clearly, I cannot fly to NYC for a small headshot session on a day or two's notice. I kept emailing these nice folks back explaining I lived in Minnesota, and then I never heard a word back.Until today! An actress emailed me back, apologizing for the mix up, and said she had typed in the url wrong. Her agent was sending her here. HOW HILARIOUS IS THAT?!? SHUTTER. SCHMACK! I nearly died. Hysterical!Ok, and now for your internet shares of the day:+ This interview with one of the Black Keys made me laugh.+ So the local PBS station had a photo contest, and they are putting out a book containing winning photos that showcase the seasons of Minnesota. One of my photos was chosen, but I seriously don't know which one (I entered a handful). Anyway! If that sounds like something that might interest you, you can buy the book here. Also, there is an event planned to showcase the photos and the book, and if you're into that, you can go here. (Confession, I will not be there as I am already booked that night.)
I snapped this photo while shooting a family session this weekend at a lake. Sidebar: The fall color right now is so damn gorgeous right now! Everyone who likes this color, real quick shoot me an email and let's book a session for the second week of October 2017. Deal?Ok, back to business. So I love looking at pebbles in the water, but it had just started to sprinkle a little, and I loooooooove it when water ripples and distorts an image. I don't know why, but it pleases me to no end. I wish this image would have had a few more ripples in it, but beggars can't be choosers.So how are you guys doing this week? It's kinda nuts over here with the many, many, many photo shoots going on. But they make me happy, so that's not really a complaint. I did go to the doctor today for my physical and I got the flu shot and holy hell did it hurt bad this year. I actually sucked in my breath out of pain and the nurse commented that a lot of people were finding this year's shot more painful. It's not the needle, but it's the sting of feeling the magic medicine entering your bloodstream. Yikes. Is that graphic enough for you? Sorry. And yes, my arm is sore. That said, please get your flu shot. I need a world-wide effort to keep my family healthy this winter.For your internet shares today:+ 
Well, I still feel a bit bad about Monday's post not showing emotion or what something really feels like. I think for those photos to have done what I wanted, I needed fog coming off water or something like that.So I'm going to try to make up for it today with SO MUCH EMOTION.This little girl turned one last week, and to say she did not like the texture of frosting stuck to her fingers is a complete understatement (and sadly hilarious at the same time).Oh, toddlers and their feelings.For your internet shares:+ 
I feel like this week is a bit of a cop out because I'm not showing any emotion (or even alluding to it) but rather I'm showing weather. But you guys! The fall color is AMAZING right now! And we have crisp mornings and cool evenings and trees that are on fire with color. So that's what I'm showing you.Sure I could show a thousand other things that represent fall (blankets, tea, books -- I love to read in the fall), but it's a short window when I can show you the amazing color, so I'm grabbing it by the horns.
I am shooting a bazillion families right now for their holiday cards, and the scenery this week is out of control, don't you think? Man I love this time of year!
And you better believe I took photos of families frolicking in those tall grasses up there. But if I show you those images, you look at the people. And I want you to look at the nature. Just gorgeous.
So! How is YOUR day going?Yesterday morning, this sweet, sweet 9-week-old Vizsla came into the studio for some pictures. Her name is (Pap)Rika Rey (
Oh this little girl melted my heart! Look at those wrinkles!!!
And those toenails!!!
And she looks like her ears could maybe help her to fly, don't they? SO DANG CUTE!I only have two internet shares today, so if you have any, please add them in the comments!+ 
How much fun did I have on Wednesday out at the farm? SO! MUCH! FUN! Except for the freezing-ass cold (I know come January, I will kill for these temps, but for now it's chilly!). But even the 37 degrees didn't bug me too much! Because I got to photograph cows and sheep and chickens and those guys up there! And kids! And fields! And it was an amazing day.I would love to show you one of these images in color, but I want to save that for my client. So you just get this sneak peek in black and white. I'll be sure to tell you later when you can see them out in the real world though.And speaking of "out in the real world," I need some winter coats! I need one that is super warm and long and handles the February days, and I need one that is cuter, a bit lighter, and handles the December/March days. Right now, I'm drawn to the cuter ones (of course). So which of these three would you get if money were no object?
Yesterday was Jamie's birthday, and if you ask Ezra, my husband turned three.He took the day off of work (we kept the kid in daycare) and we had a fantastic and wonderful Tuesday. We took a leisurely walk around the lake with Magda, we went out for a delicious lunch, we went to Target and shopped at our own speed while childless (one of my favorite things EVER), we watched terrible television, we made homemade soup and then we picked up Ezra, had an amazing dinner, ate cake, opened presents, played games and settled in for the night.If you have children, (and especially if you don't have family in town for free babysitting), I seriously cannot over exaggerate how wonderful these full days together are. And then it makes you so happy and excited to get the sweet kid back home because you feel like you've had a little time to yourselves to become a couple again. Very important.I don't have any internet shares today because I was no where close to a computer (and it was grand). I'll try to make up for it later in the week, but no promises since tomorrow I'm on a real, live farm all day shooting. YEAH! You read that right! 
This was a random shot from an outing with a family this weekend at Fort Snelling state park.This year is the first that I've bought the state parks pass, and you guys! Why was I not getting this every year? The state parks here are *phenomenal* and it's only $25 for the year to get unlimited access to all of them. I think in the past, I've just thought summer here is only 3 months long and how can that pay off? But then I went hiking in the winter and realized how you can see wild animals WAY easier in the snow AND there are no bugs out there? Why have I not been doing this more? (Also, the bugs aren't out much in the fall either! And they might be clear in the spring, but that's too muddy for me to go hiking. Sorry.)For your internet shares of the day:+