Cute x 2
July 18, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
This weekend was loaded with little cuteness! I had two very adorable toddler visitors.
First up was Mr. O. He’s creeping up on being two. Apparently, he’s been practicing his little-boy-that’s-up-to-something face!
And when he got bored with smiling upright, mommy just tickled him silly on the floor!
Can you believe the eyes on this guy? So pretty! Heartbreaker in training!
Then, I had Miss G. Oh MY! Between the wavy hair, those cheeks and her little personality, I was smitten!
SEE? Just wait…there’s more…
Like we didn’t have enough cute already, we headed outside. I LOVE this next one!
Oh, and that’s not all! What could end a fun photo session better than…
A CUPCAKE PARTY! So cute!!!
{sigh} Makes me want to have a picnic! Cupcakes only, of course. 
Until next time,
Independence Day!
July 5, 2010 | Filed Under babies, kids, natural light, studio | Leave a Comment
I hope all of my readers had a super and safe Fourth of July weekend! May your suntans be many and your mosquito bites be few. Amen.
On the third of July, my little veggie pal came to visit again. Know why? BECAUSE SHE’S TURNING ONE. How does that first year go by so quickly, but with all of the challenges of new motherhood, sometimes seem so agonizingly slow? I work with Taytum’s mommy, so I’ve heard lots of stories about her first year. When I think about them all, it seems like so much longer than a year, but at the same time it doesn’t feel like a year since I took these? Well, it was so appropriate that we do her session so close to the fourth because this girl is IN-DE-PEN-DENT. Which I’m totally cool with. It’s okay to be a woman that knows what you want, when you want it. You go, T!
We started outside. Oh, how I love outside…so many adventures, so many…ummm…things that can happen.
A perfect little princess!
Once she wasn’t trapped in weeds on a chair anymore, she was ON.THE.MOVE! Really, this next image is more of a personal victory than anything else: SHE’S SITTING AND SMILING AND I CAUGHT IT!!! 
Due to her unlimited supply of energy and the very limited supply of my, mommy’s and daddy’s eagerness to chase her around my 5 acre yard anymore, she got plopped back in a chair…in the weeds…nature’s playpen.
Check out the giggle! Paige, your efforts were NOT in vain. Nice job making her laugh!!!
I do have a trick or two up my sleeve. Know what ALWAYS make a kid slow down for pictures?
CAKE SMASH!!!
Here she’s just testing it out…
Yep! She likey. Let’s get this party started!
Now, I will share with you that there are four specific markers that indicate that a cake smash session was successful. I will illustrate them for you here:
And, the most important one:
A frosting filled smile.
Taytum, it’s been such a joy to watch you grow this first year. I swear you get cuter every time I see you! And tell your mommy to try not to get too emotional on your birthday…because you will be around for at LEAST seventeen more years { and lucky you because your mommy and daddy are over the moon in love with you, Sweetie!} . Have a happy birthday, Tayter!
Until next time,
So Happy Together
July 1, 2010 | Filed Under engagement, kids, natural light, studio | Leave a Comment
It’s summer. I mean, it’s really, officially, kids are on each other’s nerves already summer. Even with the activities and social outings keeping them all busy (and my head spinning) they’re managing to drive each other crazy. There are times I wonder if we’ll all make it to that point that parents of grown children tell me about where their kids all love each other and appreciate the time they spent…uh…’bonding’ while still living at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love them all dearly. But there are days….oooooh, there are days.
Needless to say, when I get to work with people that enjoy not only MY company, but the people they’re with, it’s a real treat these days! Last week I had the pleasure of TWO sessions that fall into this category!
First up? Hilary and Marty.
We met in Northfield. Have you been? SO STINKING CUTE, this town! The shoppes alone will bring me back…and mostly likely send me home broke!
Hilary and Marty are getting married in the fall. I couldn’t have asked for a more fantastic couple in all the cute places we found to take pictures!
At some point I said my usual “act like ya love each other!” and Marty, without hesitation, let me know there was no pretending here. And he was right. Every image from this session looks genuinely happy and connected.
They were also up for ANYTHING I wanted to try! Neither of them batted an eye when I mumbled “i’m just taking a picture of your shadow right now.”
After we were finished in the adorable downtown area, we headed out to a place a little more nature-y.
See? So genuinely happy and lovey!!!
We all know I’m a sucker for some hazy, sunny images…lucky for me, Hilary was looking for a little of that, too!
The next one is probably my fave. If I ever get around to having my own picture taken with the hubby, I’m pretty sure I’d blow something like this up GIANT for our bedroom wall. It might help just a little that Hil is cute as a button and has fantastic hair.
I really did have SO VERY MUCH FUN with you two! I can’t wait to meet your friends and photograph your wedding! Hang in there through the rest of the planning and I will see you in the fall!
Next up? Piper and Sammy.
My amazing and wonderful friend, Laurie, gets to see her darling nieces only once or twice a year. I feel so honored that she and her mother take time out of their visits to come see me while the girls are in Minnesota!
Auntie Woh-ree might be just the teensiest bit of a Twins fan…so the first image was a given.
Grandma Mary went and did a little shopping for these little divas. No little girl’s summer wardrobe is complete without some killer shades.
{ I love that this image is like a split second glimpse into their girl talking future. Doesn’t it look like Sammy’s telling Piper a secret? Or saying something like “can you believe this lady and the noises? ridiculous.” }
Of course, we headed outside. It was a beautiful summer day…and honestly, the way the weather had been, I felt like we should enjoy every second we could outdoors while the tornado sirens were taking a break!
Now, I know from experience that nearly EVERY sibling shot turns into somewhat of a wrestling match…is it so wrong that I giggle as I hard as I do whenever it happens? It’s so worth it when the result is an image like this:
Sweet, sweet Sammy. Darling little girl…THAT HARDLY EVER LOOKED AT ME!!! This child was on the move. She had grass to pick and a doggy to pet! She had no time for this silly photo shoot! Luckily, I was quick with the snaps the few times she did connect with me.
Don’t you want to squeeze her cheeks?
I think it’s so cute how she sucks two fingers. Not her thumb, not a binky…two specific fingers. I think I’d worn her out a bit at this point.
The next image is one of my favorites. It’s not full of eyes and smiles like everyone wants to frame and put on the mantel, but it’s perfect just the same.
It’s quiet, restful and makes me remember what it’s like to be young. Remember staring at the clouds? Seeing shapes they made? Daydreaming? As grown ups, I think we get way too caught up in real life and the constant “what comes next” of our day to day life. I think Miss Piper would agree that we all need to take a few minutes to lay on blankets in our yards and daydream a bit. {sigh}
Laurie, Mary, girls…so much fun, as ALWAYS! I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek!
Until next time,
Crossing My Fingers
June 15, 2010 | Filed Under family, studio | 2 Comments
Last weekend, four lovely ladies graced my humble studio with their presence. I’m sure the little one will look familiar to those of you that frequent my blog…she’s one of my favorite models. The other ladies are her mommy, her grammy and her auntie. That little E has got all three of them wrapped around her finger…I’m tellin’ you!
Meet the ladies:
If I titled images, I think this one would be “couch ‘o’ lovely”. Hmmm. Maybe that’s why I don’t name my images? Regardless, these women really ARE lovely. Lovely to look at, lovely to talk with and lovely to photograph. They make my job so easy!
I told ya…they are absolutely gaga over that little girl!
Love the grammy shot. I wish SO MUCH that I had something like this of my grandmother and myself. Beautiful.
More of them loving Elyse to the moon and back. I do believe this gigantic smile was because of me singing some insane Ostrich yodeling song.
Yes, we’ll go with that.
{ On a side note, have you ever seen more perfect teeth? On all of them? It’s crazy. They could be a big, dimply toothpaste commercial. }
The last image is what inspired my post title. I look at it and something about it makes my heart melt.
I don’t know if it’s the obvious connection, the closeness, the fact no one is posing or caring that I’m even there with a camera…it doesn’t matter. I look at this and cross my fingers. I cross my fingers that in twenty years my beautiful brown eyed girl has a beautiful, healthy baby. I hope her petite blonde sister is head over heels in love with her little niece or nephew the way Marie is. And more than anything, I hope that in the craziness that is life, one of us has the presence of mind to say “we need to capture this. this bond we have, this love we share.” Because it is special, it is amazing and it is something that, if you are lucky enough to have, should be celebrated.
I can’t even tell you what a pleasure it was, ladies. I can only hope my work did your amazing relationships justice!
Until next time,
Whit ‘n’ Louie sittin’ in a tree {minnesota wedding photographer}
June 4, 2010 | Filed Under wedding | Leave a Comment
That’s right! More people in love! It must be that time of year!
Last weekend I spent the day with Whitney and Louie. I had met the couple for a brief consult, but you can’t really get to know someone while you talk a million miles a minute trying to explain how their wedding day is going to go. Needless to say, within fifteen minutes of hanging with the bridesmaids, I was completely at ease and looking forward to my day. What a fantastic and fun group of people. I get so lucky! I ALWAYS have fun weddings!
First, some details of the day. I loved the blue of the bridesmaid dresses, Whit’s shoes were adorable and her ring was fantastic. Love, love, love!
Meet the newlyweds: Whitney and Louie. SO. VERY. IN. LOVE.
The next image makes my heart fuzzy…
The entire crew. So cute, so fun and SOOOO cooperative! YAY for me!
The flowers were gorgeous. There are sweet peas in there! So CUTE!
The fellas…who made me laugh all day…
Off to the reception! The Mr. and Mrs. donning their new aprons…labeled very appropriately.
{sigh} First dance. I mighta cried a little. These two really are in love…and you could not only see it, but feel it.
I had to include this next one. Quite possibly one of the cutest candid dance images I’ve snapped.
Congrats, guys! The day was beautiful in so many ways. I really am honored you chose me to capture your memories.
Until next time,
Chad + Cara {Newlyweds} Waseca Wedding Photographer
May 7, 2010 | Filed Under wedding | 1 Comment
Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending the day with Cara and Chad. It was so much fun! When I got to Cara’s parents’ house to take the ‘getting ready’ photos, I saw who some of the wedding party was and immediately asked “Really, Cara? Couldn’t you find anyone FUN to be in the wedding?” I was being my usual, snarky self, of course!
Meet the new Mr. and Mrs.
Here is the moment I let Chad see Cara first on their big day. It was pretty cute. He was speechless.
We braved the wind for a few…which was really REALLY windy. Really windy. It was windy that day…get the point?
And even by the lake, the entire wedding party were such good sports about almost blowing away.
The boys were pretty worried about their hair getting messed up.
The lovely ladies:
The whole unruly crew:
Their future’s so bright…what, too cliche’? Okay, okay…I won’t finish.
A little fun between venues…
On to the party!! Their big entrance:
…they gotta wear shades! Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.
First dance pictures are always some of my favorites. These two were no exception.
Congratulations, guys! It was a fabulous and fun day…the type of day wonderful memories are made of!
Congrats again…
Full Circle
April 25, 2010 | Filed Under babies, kids, studio | Leave a Comment
I met Jason and Liz a looooong time ago in a land far far away. Over the years we have lost touch a little here and there, but thanks to facebook (and a slight addiction for Jason and I to it…but don’t tell anyone…) we’ve been able to keep our friendship in tip top shape. I couldn’t have been more excited to find out that Liz was pregnant with a baby girl a few months back and was THRI-to the-ILLED when they mentioned me taking newborn pictures. Way back in the day, when their son was born, I snapped some photos of him brand spankin’ new. They were, most definitely, my first newborn customers. How wonderful that I was able to capture their daughter’s squishy newness for them.
First I got to hang out with Gavin for a bit. Gavin is smart as a whip. When his parents said “see? science can apply to photography, too, Gavin!” I thought “uh oh. i may be on an episode of are you smarter than the kid you’re taking pictures of.” Gavin did a great job explaining some things to me and when he needed a break, he went outside and taught my dog tricks. Great friends, fantastic pics and my dog had someone to play with…I’d call that a win/win/WIN!
Thanks, buddy! It was nice meeting you (again) and I can’t wait until we can hang out again!
Now, onto the little sister.
Meet Miss Mairin.
I could almost stop right there, right? Really, how much cute can one shove into a single post?
She was happy as a clam in this basket and blanket. No fussing, no wiggling…just happy and content with her little back wrinkles and big squeezy cheeks. BTW, she came complete with dimples…baby fever, anyone?
How about now?
Gavin did take a break from dog whispering to hang with his baby sis for just a bit.
{sigh} I think I’m in love with the next two images.
It makes my heart fuzzy to know that as these two get older, they will have these images to look back on. Relationships between siblings aren’t always black and white portrait worthy (my household can attest to that) but when you can see the love in a big brothers eyes and see how tender he is with his baby sister so early in her life, you know that that won’t ever fade. He’ll love her forever and ever.
Congratulations, Jason and Liz! Phase two of Mission: Create and Raise Amazing Children is a complete success! Thank you so much for spending the evening with me…it was a pleasure!
Until next time,
My Favorite Veggie
April 12, 2010 | Filed Under babies, studio | Leave a Comment
Ever make up a nickname for someone and they don’t like it? But you just keep using it…because you think it’s cute and you’re quite certain it’s the most clever thing ever thought of? Yeah, I do that. In fact, I do that for this little bunch of cuteness. I call her Tayter. I’m not 100% sure if her mommy and daddy are so cool with that…but I keep doing it. I mean, who DOESN’T want a food nickname? This, coming from a girl who’s friends call her T-Bone. Maybe misery loves company…I dunno.
So, meet Tayter (or Taytum…whatever):
She’s nine months old, doing all those 9 month old big girl things, has the cutest smile ever, and is a dead ringer for her daddy.
…aaaaand she may or may not be representing the lollipop guild in this next picture:
HA! I couldn’t resist.
I love how her teeny tiny toes are curled under in this one…
Every time this child shows up with one of these headbands, I about tip over from cute overload. LOVE!
Thank you so much for coming to play, Taytum! I can NOT wait for your one year session…it will be warm enough to venture outside! YAY!
Until next time,
Spring Has Sprung!
April 4, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments
It’s finally here! Nice weather! And along with it? Runny noses and itchy eyes. I spend all winter wishing for spring, and when it’s here, I look at my poor children with their allergies and feel a liiiiiittle guilty that I begged it to come. Sorry, Babies!
Speaking of babies…Elyse came to visit me this weekend. She’s changed so much in her 365 days on this earth. We did her first shoot when she was just 6 days old. {sniffle!} She’s come to see me every three months, so I feel like we’re old pals.
She is SO ready for spring in this fierce little ensemble. Look at those legs! I just wanna squish her!
Those eyes and those dimples. I just LOVE. HER. I wish we got to spend more time together without a big ol’ black contraption in front of my face!
She wasn’t too terribly sure about the birthday crown I pulled out for her…but she humored us and let me snap a few with it on. Apparently, she’s very serious about hot pink lame’ crowns.
The next image is so special to me. These are my first customers that have come to me from maternity all the way to first birthday. I asked mom to bring something we used in her maternity session for E to hold in this session. How cute is this? It makes me tear up a little!
I can’t believe that’s you in there, E! It’s been so fun watching you grow and change. We’ll have to make some dates to see one another now that you won’t be such a ‘regular’. Big girls don’t necessarily go see their photographers every few months {sob!}
Happy birthday, Sweetie! You’re absolutely beautiful!
Of course, it IS Easter today…so I HAVE to leave you with this:
…i tell ya. What I put these kids through!
Until next time,
Club Tara Bjerke is Officially Open!
March 30, 2010 | Filed Under family, kids, studio | Leave a Comment
Okay, okay…maybe that doesn’t follow that whole ‘truth in advertising’ rule, but for one afternoon last weekend, my little country studio was as close as it’s ever been to a dance club. Like taking pictures for some of our best friends isn’t fun enough, they HAD to take it up a notch.
The brothers…seriously, those eyes and the strawberry blondish hair makes my heart melt.
My little blue eyed buddy, Blake, cooperated for a bit…
But when he got bored with me (wha????) we had to get creative. Mom and Dad took out a CD so we could listen to his favorite song. Now, I’m expecting Elmo’s Greatest Hits to hit the airways. NO. Blakey, here, likes Black Eyed Peas. Apparently, when you’re this cute, every night is going to be a good, good night.
Adorable.
Big brother knew all he had to do was smile for a few more and then he could escape to go play with my kids. He totally delivered on the picture perfect grins. I asked him if this was his smile for ‘the ladies’ and he promptly informed me that girls are YUCK. Got it. I’ll remind him he said that in about ten years.
Aaaaaand just in case anyone is wondering how you know when the session is officially over, this is a pretty good sign:
Hee hee!
I had so much fun, guys, I may play that song over and over for every session from now on.
{okay, maybe not}
Until next time,