photography by mandy

The Hubrig Family

2011-09-25T18:40:00.003-05:00

I love how this family session turned out! You can tell that the five members of the Hubrig family are all really close. They were so easy to work with and just got the whole 'lifestyle photography thing' that I love!
Even the smallest member got into it toward the end (she was hard to win over let me to tell you!) and we ended up with some super fun images with love and happiness oozing from them!
Thanks so much Hubrig family for asking me to take your families photos!

My adorable, lovable little nephew

2011-09-25T18:13:00.002-05:00

My sister and her little man met me at the park in Pelican the other day and it couldn't have been a more beautiful afternoon for a session! I have been taking photos of Johnathan since the night he was born and I can't believe that he is already 1/2 way to being a year old!
Happy 1/2 birthday little man, I love you to pieces!

Maria. PRHS Class of 2012.

2011-09-19T13:26:00.002-05:00

I met Maria at her farm one morning a couple of weeks ago. I love taking photos at farms (have I mentioned that?) There is no end to the possibilities of locations!
I got to know Maria and her family when I took her older brothers senior photos 2 years ago. I was so glad when they asked me to take her photos and knew that it would include some cow shots, they have the most gorgeous cows I have seen!
Thank you Maria, and best wishes on your senior year!

Kaisen is 4!

2011-09-19T13:12:00.003-05:00

A few months ago, I got to take photos of this big guys little brother in the studio and this time around, it was his turn! His session went so smoothly because Kaisen was so easy and cooperative! He had a lot of fun playing with the cars and trucks in between shots and smiled so easily!
Thanks for the fun morning Kaisen! Happy 4th birthday buddy!

nash is 1!

2011-09-19T12:50:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday little guy! It has been a great year watching you grow!
For his first birthday session, I met Nash at his home and everything was going great with this happy go lucky little guy, until mom brought out the cake. He was not such a fan! As soon as mom brought out the balloon bouquet though, he went from unhappy because of being dirty, back to his sweet little smiling self!
Thanks 'S' family for having me take photos of your little man this past year! I have enjoyed them all!

Jed. PRHS Class of 2012.

2011-09-19T12:44:00.002-05:00

I met Jed and his mom at the football field in town a couple of weeks ago for his senior session. He came ready with great ideas and outfits that truly fit his sportsman personality. We ended our evening at his place where we took some great hunting shots. Hope you enjoy your sneak peek Jed! Thanks again!

the 'T' sisters

2011-09-19T12:32:00.003-05:00

These two sweeties belong to a friend of mine and I was so excited when she asked me to take their photos again. At the ages of 2 and 4, they are full of lots of energy and personality. Little 'M' didn't want to take photos the day I was there and only wanted her mama. She warmed up to me after awhile though and even let me take her and her sister for a little walk while mom was waiting out of sight.
Thanks for a fun morning 'T' family!

a gorgeous evening on the lake.

2011-09-19T12:26:00.002-05:00

I had the chance to meet up with these two cuties at their grandparents lake place last month when the weather was still warm! Hard to believe that it has already turned cool and fall is here...it always seems to happen to quickly!
I photographed these two last summer and they were so cool and cooperative. Anna had quite a few ideas of her own which is always fun! Thanks 'S' family for asking me to take your kids portraits! Your DVD is on it's way!

Casey. PRHS Class of 2012.

2011-08-27T21:45:00.003-05:00

I had such a fun evening hanging out with Casey and his family and finding awesome spots for photos! I was really excited when they asked me to take his senior portraits, but I think my son was a lot more excited than I was! Casey is one of the basketball players that Tanner idolizes!
He is definitely a sports guy and you could tell immediately when we switched from 'nice' outfits to 'sports' clothes. His smile was a little wider and he had a twinkle in his eye!
I loved all the locations we found and had a really hard time narrowing it down to just these few shots for a sneak peek! Thank you so much Casey! I hope you (and your parents) love your sneak peek!

Lana. PRHS Class of 2012.

2011-08-24T21:38:00.002-05:00

I met Lana and her crew at the park to start her session. She brought along her mom and brother and good friend to help us out. I am so glad that her friend was with and I might think of suggesting that to other seniors in the future! She warmed up to the camera and laughed so much more easily with her friend there! It was also great to have an extra pair of eyes to check for misplaced hair and other issues that can arise (especially when it was as windy as it was for her session!)
Thanks so much Lana, it was nice meeting you! I hope you love your sneak peek!

Kelsey. Class of 2012.

2011-08-24T21:16:00.002-05:00

Kelsey is the daughter of one of my moms good friends and I was so excited when they asked me to take her senior portraits! I remember when she was just a little girl with her blonde head of hair and cute smile (wow, does that make me feel old!).
We found some great spots all around Fargo, but one of my favorites was just on the outskirts of town, in a wheat field that wasn't yet harvested! Yay!
Thanks Kelsey for asking me to take your photos and congratulations on passing your driving test!

Chelsie. PRHS Class of 2012.

2011-08-18T14:22:00.003-05:00

Chelsie and I started at the park for her session the other evening and honestly, the weather couldn't have been more beautiful! There was no wind and the late evening sunlight was seeping through the trees making for some gorgeous shots!
Best of luck during your senior year Chelsie! Thanks for asking me to take your senior photos!

The Bakko and Isaman Families

2011-08-18T13:15:00.004-05:00

I had a blast at this big family group session on the lake! I know both of these families well and have taken their photos on a few different occasions. Out of the five grandkids, the two little guys gave us a pretty big run for our money as we tried to chase them and get them to smile.
The girls of course were more than ready to ham it up and even had a bunch of ideas of their own!
Thank you so much to both families! I had a great time! I hope you LOVE your sneak peek!

The Roisum Family

2011-08-18T12:18:00.005-05:00

I met up with the Roisums at their home last weekend and the weather couldn't have been more perfect! They are family friends of ours and when they asked me to take their first family portraits I couldn't have been more excited!
It took the little guy awhile to warm up to me and he gave me quite a few 'looks' but in the end, we were able to capture some fun smiles!
Thanks you guys for having me take your photos, I hope you love them!

Silseth Family @ the lake

2011-08-04T08:37:00.002-05:00

I met this family one gorgeous summer evening at their lake home. Luckily for me, they had some great spots scoped out before I came that included the lake as well as an old red barn and antique, rusted car.
For me, meeting large family groups is always a good time. There are so many different relationships to capture and this family came with loads of character and smiles!
Thank you Silseth family for asking me to capture your families memories! I hope you like your sneak peek!

Casey. Class of 2012.

2011-08-04T08:08:00.002-05:00

It was a perfect day for a session when Casey came to the studio for her senior session. When I met her, she seemed so relaxed and down to earth, I could tell right away that we were going to have a great afternoon taking photos! We took a few in the studio, but it was too nice of a day to pass up shooting outdoors!
We had a lot of fun driving around the country finding locations to shoot. Her mom even commented that we could take photos all day, there were so many great spots!
Thanks again Casey!

A sweet little guy and his adoring family.

2011-08-04T06:28:00.002-05:00

Little Simon and his mom and dad met me at the studio last week for his session. At nine weeks old, he wasn't too interested in me trying to pose him. His favorite place to be was with his mom and dad and I loved the shots of the three of them together! It is always fun for me when the family I am taking photos for forgets that I am there and just interacts with one another! There was no end to the 'true to life' shots!
Thanks 'J' family for coming to the studio and having me take your new sweeties photos!

Hayden. Class of 2012. + Maddison. Class of 2025.

2011-08-01T11:51:00.002-05:00

When I was asked to do an on location senior session on a lake by a friend, I jumped at the chance! I love, love lake sessions! Hayden was so easy going and laid back and made my job super easy and fun! His cousin Maddison joined in on the session too. He is just finishing his school career and she is just beginning hers (she'll be joining my daughter in kindergarten this fall.) Thanks to both families for asking me to capture your amazing kids!

a happy trio of siblings.

2011-07-24T22:45:00.002-05:00

Last summer, I got the chance to photograph these three cuties when little 'R' was just a newborn. It's always amazing to me to see how much kids grow and change in the course of a year. This was our third session (they met me this winter in the studio too) and I have to say our best one yet! The kids were happy to play in the park and run around and the warm summer sunshine just couldn't be beat!

Camilla. Age 1.

2011-07-24T11:23:00.003-05:00

Sweet miss Camilla and her mom met me in the park last week for their session and although we were a little hot, we still managed to get a lot of smiles out of her! Camilla is a new walker and I loved watching her hold her arms out for balance and explore the park. Thanks again 'E' family! It was great to see how much your little sweetie has grown!

an afternoon at the lake

2011-07-15T08:01:00.002-05:00

I love lake sessions! There are so many opportunities for fun, gorgeous shots!
I met little miss 'C' last year and captured some great family memories for her and her parents. This year, we met at the lake again but instead of her mom and dad, her gorgeous, older cousins joined in on the fun.
They were so helpful and we had a good time playing on the sandy beach together.
Thanks 'H' and 'M' families for having me capture some fun, summertime lake memories of your cuties!

an energetic + loving family

2011-07-15T07:48:00.002-05:00

I have taken this families photos since little Miss 'I' was a baby. It is such an honor to be able to see them year after year and see how much their family has grown and changed!
This year, we met at the park in our town and captured some fun family shots. We ended the session playing with sidewalk chalk in my favorite little corner behind a building. Thank you so much 'S' family! I hope you love your sneak peek!

The 'L' sisters

2011-05-23T15:17:00.002-05:00

I had a great time photographing the 'L' sisters last weekend at the studio! They looked so adorable in their black and white dresses and even did some dancing for me!
Thanks 'L' girls, it was great to see you again!

L Family. Ryder age 4 + Maternity.

2011-04-18T19:25:00.002-05:00

This family came to visit me in the studio this weekend for a double session and it couldn't have went better! Four year old Ryder was full of smiles and lots of kisses for his future brother or sister which helped me out tremendously! I had a hard time narrowing down photos to share on the blog, there were soo many! Thanks 'L' family for the great session! Good luck in the coming weeks!

Kallen. age 2.

2011-04-18T14:46:00.003-05:00

This little guy was such a sweetie! He started off a little shy but once we started throwing the ball back and forth, he was ready to go! I am in love with his bright blue eyes! Thanks for coming to see me in the studio Kallen!

Amika. 3 years.

2011-04-18T14:18:00.003-05:00

This little gal had lots of spunk! At first, it seemed like I might not be able to get very many shots of her because she didn't seem too interested in me and my camera. After spending some time playing with her however, she warmed right up and hammed it up for the camera! Honestly, doesn't she look like she could be a future model?!

and lastly, I can't help but post a photo of her with her mama! They look like they have a ton of fun together!

Natural light studio...coming soon!

2010-11-04T20:44:00.003-05:00

I have had a lot of inquiries about my nearly finished (in home) natural light studio so I decided to do a little blog post to show some images from it. These photos are of my favorite little models, my two youngest kids. Occasionally, they like to ham it up for me and I am able to get some fun shots (doesn't happen very often anymore). The following images were taken in the studio in the morning and early afternoon. The flooring is about 70 % finished and should be all ready to go in about a week. I would love to take some new little models photos in here, contact me if you would like to book!

this is me with my middle sweetie, I love how she is looking at me in this shot. I set the camera up on a chair, focused it and set the self timer, didn't turn out too bad for not having anyone to take it!

the isaman trio| mn childrens photographer

2010-11-02T14:34:00.004-05:00

These three are the gorgeous kids of an awesome teacher and friend of mine. I was so excited when she asked me to take her kids photos. The night of our session, the weather was amazing and the location couldn't have been beat! They met me at our farm and we walked around looking for great spots (there was no shortage!). Thanks 'I' family, it was great to catch up!

I love these next shots, the girls were trying to help me get their little brother to smile, I think that it worked! The setting sun in the background really added to the feel of the shots!

birthday girl | MN childrens photographer

2010-10-25T21:28:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned that I LOVE what I do?! It is such an honor and so humbling to me to be able to capture moments for families! I have known this little girls mom and dad for a few years and I was in seventh heaven when they asked me to take their sweeties 1 year portraits. We were even able to schedule the session on her actual birthday, which made it all the more special. The reason I was so thrilled to have her in front of my lens should be easy to guess once you see the photos. This little one is a beauty, the hair, the eyes, the cheeks...she literally had me melting the moment she walked in the door! Once again, I apologize for the image overload, I couldn't decide on just a couple peeks, I LOVED so many of the images!
And just in case you couldn't tell, these were taken in the studio! I am looking forward to a great winter season in here (and outdoors too, if the weather allows!)
Enough with all the talking, here is little miss aubry's debut on the blog! I LOVE her eyes, so gorgeous!

such a face!

modeling for ruffle butts! gotta love these!

i love these two...first one, cute....second one, so over the whole photo shoot!

Happy 1st Birthday!

the Rinde family | MN family photographer

2010-10-25T20:57:00.004-05:00

It has been one insanely busy fall around here, such a GOOD thing! Thanks to all of you who have patiently waited for orders, sneak peeks and emails, I appreciate your support so much!
I am proud to say that this family was the very first family to visit me in the new studio. It isn't quite finished (a little trim work and some more flooring and it will be all done!).
This is the third time that I have gotten to catch up with the Rinde's and i am still so honored and humbled that they travel so far to have me take their photos! This time around they brought new baby Eli with them, what a little sweetie he was!
Thanks again, I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

I love this shot of the little guy in his daddy's hands.

and with mommy.

and we did get to venture outside that day, it was very hot out! Amazing for a mid October day in Minnesota!

the Yost Family | MN family photographer

2010-10-25T16:25:00.002-05:00

I love when families suggest new locations for their photo sessions! I met this family close to their lake home at a park I had never heard of (and I am sure not many have, outside of the locals!). There were so many spots, I had a hard time narrowing them down! The Yosts were a fun and easy group to work with and I apologize in advance for the image overload, I couldn't decide on just a couple! Thank you for a fun day!
The original members of the Yost family.

The Yost family today..

a grandparent/ grandchildren shot!

The Swenson Family | MN family photographer

2010-10-25T16:03:00.002-05:00

When I heard that I was meeting this fun group at their lake home this fall, I was pretty excited! I love lake shoots, but of course, the weather decided otherwise. That day was extremely windy and a little chilly, so outside (at least by the lake) shots were out of the question. I wasn't too worried though after I toured their home and discovered the great room had a TON of yummy light pouring through the many big windows. We set up in that room and took some family shots and then headed outside where the wind wasn't too bad. Being a photographer means being flexible and ready for anything, good thing I came with my game face on!

i had to include this one, she was a little beauty!

and we made it outside! yay!

the Nehk family 2010

2010-10-21T12:08:00.001-05:00

I loved this family session so much I decided to make a video! Aren't these images so fun?

a pair of active little guys | ND children & family photographer

2010-10-21T11:13:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I met this adorable family of 4 at Island Park in Fargo. It was a quick shoot with a pair of active brothers but sometimes those turn out to be the best sessions! I loved how these images turned out, they are so true to life! I apologize in advance for the overload of photos, I honestly couldn't help myself! There were way too many to choose from!
Thanks 'N' family, it was fun!

Ziva | ND newborn photographer

2010-10-21T10:56:00.002-05:00

I met this little honey at her home when she was 2 weeks old. She was such a little trooper for her first photo session, I was able to capture lots of great shots of her! With the gorgeous fall weather, we even ventured outside for a couple of family shots.

the 't' cousins | mn childrens photographer

2010-10-14T15:06:00.003-05:00

The cousins in the following photos met me in Pelican for their session a couple of weeks ago. With all of them at age 5 or younger it could have been very challenging! But with the help of their 3 amazing momsI, we were able to get some great shots! I have been able to watch all 5 of these kids grow because they belong to our family (their moms and dad are first cousins of my husbands) and we see each other at family gatherings and various activities throughout the year. I was honored when they asked me to capture the kids photos. Thanks 'T' family!

and sweet little miss tenley, remember her from a few months ago? she has grown! you can see her 2 month photos here

sweet, happy girls + cool parents | mn children and family photographer

2010-10-14T13:42:00.003-05:00

It was so good to catch up with this family when I met them for their session! The mom, Amanda, is a friend of mine and helped us out with our kids when we were between daycares last winter. My kids absolutely adored her and had so much fun playing with their three girls. I am so glad that I was able to capture some family photos for them especially after Amanda told me how long it had been since the last time they had gotten them done (I won't share that little tidbit on here!)
Thanks 'B family for a fun fall evening!

aren't they so sweet?!

charming cousins | MN childrens photographer

2010-10-06T09:02:00.002-05:00

These two girls were so sweet! I met them at their grandparents home and loved the location. They even had a little area set up to take some shots (complete with straw bales and pumpkins), I love when people have ideas like that!
Little 'D' just turned 3 and modeled some adorable fall outfits, I especially loved her boots! Her 1 year old cousin was a little trickier because she was so fast and didn't really want to have her photos taken, but I am happy to report that we snuck some great shots in anyway!
Thanks so much for asking me to take your sweet girls photos!

a quartet of sweet siblings | MN children & family photographer

2010-10-06T08:15:00.002-05:00

I feel so bad that I haven't gotten a blog post up for this family! They have already seen their sneak peek so it isn't a 'true' peek but I wanted to share some of their photos with the rest of you! The kids are gorgeous and so easy and fun to work with! And aren't the colors that mom picked out right on? She was great at picking out outfits..coordinating colors that weren't matchy. Thanks for the awesome shoot 'E' family!

lots of energy + smiles | MN children & family photographer

2010-10-06T08:04:00.002-05:00

This is the second fall that this family has met me for a session at Maplewood State Park. I had just as much fun (maybe a little more) this year watching the kids interact and run around. One of the little guys is full of tons of energy and gave me so many fun moments to capture. One of my favorite candids from our session is this one...can't you just tell that he is a great entertainer? I love it!

Thanks again for asking me to capture your moments 'A' family!

a fall family | MN children & family photographer

2010-10-06T07:51:00.002-05:00

It was fun to catch up with the kids in this family. Being a full time photographer now, I miss seeing and talking to students at school. Luckily for me, they brought along their super cool parents and we had a good time finding gorgeous spots for photos.
You could tell that they were a tight knit family by the way they requested particular poses. Thanks so much 'T' family!

storytelling | MN children & family photographer

2010-10-06T07:43:00.002-05:00

I met six year old 'C' and his mom at the park and he was pretty disappointed that I hadn't brought my son (they are friends from summer rec). He soon forgot about that though and started telling me lots of good stories. He was so talkative and happy, it was easy to capture some great shots of him. His mom and grandma even snuck in on a few. Thanks 'T' family!

stunning little one | MN children and family photographer

2010-10-05T22:55:00.002-05:00

Since I am on a roll tonight with blog posts, I am going to continue! This young family met me at the park on my busy day at a tough time of day for little 'C' who is almost 2. It was naptime. I commend her parents for scheduling at that time (the only time I could get them in) and braving the unknown with photos. Sweet miss 'C' did really well, and after we spent a lot of time talking about and looking for 'puppies' she warmed up to me and my camera. She was tired, no doubt about that, but her smile and warmness with her parents was so much fun to see. Thank you so much 'Y' family, it was so nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

a radiant fall afternoon | mn children & family photographer

2010-10-05T22:19:00.003-05:00

As I sit here listening to my favorite iTunes mix, I can't help but reflect on the past couple of years. I am living my dream, and although this dream can be stressful this time of year, I feel so lucky to be where I am! I wouldn't be here right now if I hadn't experienced some failures, stress, ect.
When I met this family a couple of weekends ago, I was immediately drawn to the teen daughter. She helped me remember what being 14 was like. At that age, the world holds so much promise and unknowns. For me, I remember feeling completely unsure of myself and who I was, but I did have HUGE dreams. And thankfully, I grew up with some pretty amazing parents who never shot those hopes of mine down and made me think that I could acheive them someday. I am so thankful for that. And I am so happy that I got to meet this family and their gorgeous daughter/sister to help me remember those hopes and dreams of mine from yesterday.

stylin' kids | MN children & family photographer

2010-10-05T20:48:00.002-05:00

I loved the clothes and props this mom picked out for her kids! It was fun and so true to their personalities.
The three of them were the first family to meet me during my marathon eight sessions at Maplewood State Park (crazy, I know! I have been a little busy the past few weeks, which is awesome!)
Thanks 'K' fam, it was great to catch up with you again!

the {moen} family | MN family photographer

2010-10-05T18:19:00.003-05:00

As soon as I pulled into this families farm, I knew that the session was going to go well! The setting is gorgeous with a big red barn and amazing fall colors. I have known one of the smaller families in this group for quite a few years (she was my kids' preschool teacher) and it was so fun to meet her family. Her mom and dad raised four beautiful daughters who all brought their own spouses and families with them. It was a large group but they were all extremely cooperative and it went by fast! I am so thankful that they asked me to capture their family. It was nice to meet you Moens!

a fun, busy family | MN family photographer

2010-10-05T17:43:00.006-05:00

I met this family at their parents home one gorgeous fall evening a couple of weeks ago for a large group session. There were 5 kids under the age of 6 so I knew it could be challenging, but I was up for it! Luckily so were grandma and grandpa and all four parents! I had a great time capturing their photos and am so happy with how they turned out. Thanks again 'D' family! Hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

harvest season

2010-10-02T21:58:00.003-05:00

Harvest is in full swing around our place lately and I am so excited that I captured a few shots of my family this evening. I said it once and I'll say it again, the late afternoon/ early evening light is amazing! It is by far my favorite time of day to shoot photos!
My youngest two really love the farm and were so happy tonight when I picked them up after a combine ride with dad. The smiles were plastered to their faces!

please excuse our lack of 'style'. The kids got themselves dressed today (I am learning to pick my battles!) Ty loves red, can you tell? And Miss Madi, well, she had to look like a girlie girl when she went out to the field! It is so them!

She was so happy and giggly with her dad...so sweet.

Tyson loves the truck.

And here are a few of the actual harvesting...not just the kids. I am having a lot of fun taking nature shots lately..who knew?!

picture perfect | mn family photographer

2010-10-01T11:11:00.003-05:00

This family hasn't gotten a chance to have a 'true' sneak peek and so I am going to post one now..I can't resist, I love the images! It was super hot and humid the day of our shoot and even though the mosquitoes were out in force, we braved the park for a very quick mini session. I am so glad that we did!
Miss 'C' just turned 2 and had such a fun personality, in fact, I used one of her photos for my new business cards. Thank you guys so much for letting me capture your family and also for allowing me to be your wedding photographer! I have had a blast getting to know you and your family.
I love this shot of the new sisters....so sweet (had to be very quick w/ a busy toddler and a hungry newborn!)

playing dress up!

the shot above and below are my absolute favorites from the session. Do you see what I mean about personality...or should I say charisma? She sure had it!

and the girls' amazing parents..

a glimpse @ my FUN weekend!

2010-09-27T16:19:00.004-05:00

There are so, so many more images to come, but I wanted to get a sneak peek up now for the families and couples from yesterday. It was a beautiful indian summer day and the gorgeous fall foliage made for some awesome photo ops! Thanks so much for everyone coming to meet me yesterday! You are the reason I LOVE what I do!

aren't these two adorable?! i am soo excited for 2011 wedding season! they were such a fun couple!

thats it for now, I have a TON of editing to catch up on! enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts!

a new beginning

2010-09-23T08:11:00.004-05:00

This summer I said many times how I was ready for Tanner to go to school. He and I were knocking heads while he exerted his newly found independence. As a new six year old, he was more than ready to begin this journey and so was I, or so I thought. The summer flew by and before I knew it, I was putting him on the bus for his first day of kindergarten. I didn't think I was going to be that mom, the one that is crying the day her child goes to school. Afterall, we were both counting the days and weeks as the summer went by. It was harder than I thought. When I waved goodbye after snapping this photo, I realized that things were changing in our house. No longer would I have him around to help me play with the other kids or challenge me to a card game. He was a BIG boy now and off to bigger and better things. I did cry a little thinking about all that was over, but I am excited to think of all that is yet to come!
He was so happy to be a BIG kid riding the bus.

Every morning, he anxiously awaits the bus (and so does his little brother, Ty's new favorite word is 'bus'.)

and look who else started school (her second year of preschool) this week...I am so NOT ready for her to start kindergarten next year!

and both of my big kids getting off the bus {sigh} can't believe they are old enough for this, where oh where is the time going?

I can't forget to include the little guy in this post, things are changing for him too. Two afternoons a week, it is just him and I, a glimpse of what is to come next year. I know he misses them, but he is also pretty happy to have me and his daddy to himself!

And he is totally eating up the idea of having all the snacks to himself! He grabbed a pillow, snuck the pretzels down from the shelf and plopped himself on the kitchen floor. I couldn't resist taking a shot of this!

sweet & cuddly lil' guy + his big brothers

2010-09-22T19:51:00.002-05:00

Can I just give say once again how much I love what I do! It is such a dream to get to work with families and capture their true moments in photos. I met this family about a year ago when their twin boys were 1 1/2. They kept us on our toes (all three of us, mom and dad too!) but I had a lot of fun chasing them around! I captured a lot of 'moments' for them that time and was excited when they asked me back to take some more photos of the boys when they turned 2. This time around, they introduced me to their sweet new little brother Nash (love his name!). He was a model baby and slept most of the time, and when he wasn't sleeping, was pretty content to lay back and take it all in.
Thanks so much 'S' family, it was great to see you again!
these two are already some great BIG brothers!

a little brotherly love.

I love this shot, just wish I would have remembered to turn the 'N' around before I snapped.

and with his gorgeous mama, I love to capture mommy/baby shots!

The 'Z' family | MN family photographer

2010-09-20T08:37:00.002-05:00

The mom in this family is a good friend of mine from high school and I am always excited when she asks me to take her families photos! This year, they had some amazing color added to their outfits, I loved it!
Little 'B' was a ham and let me take so many fun shots of her, and with her adorable personality it was hard to narrow down to just a few for this post.
Thanks again for asking me to capture your sweet family! I had a blast!

see what I mean?? Isn't she sweet?

and she just had a birthday, happy late birthday Brynn!

look who's turning 1!

2010-09-20T08:30:00.002-05:00

This past year has flown by! I am so honored that I have gotten the opportunity to photograph Cora at each milestone this year! I know that her parents are anxiously awaiting her sneak peek as well as an adorable accordian book (can't wait for them to see that!) Happy Birthday sweet girl, so glad to have gotten to know you!

just believe

2010-09-17T21:43:00.005-05:00

Walking in the door tonight was a treat for me! Madi gave me a HUGE hug and loads of kisses and the little guy smiled his infectious grin while their older brother played computer and smiled after he realized I was home. I have been gone for a couple of days and am happy to be back!
As I sit down to write this blog post, my head is spinning with a whirlwind of ideas, information, and pure and total happiness! I had the best time the past three days and I want to write it all down while it is still fresh in my mind.
There have been times on this new and exciting journey of mine, where I have often wondered if I am totally off my rocker?! I turned down a teaching job, spend long nights in front of a computer screen, and suffer from nasty cases of poison oak for this?! Am I crazy? Maybe a little.
But, when I step back and 'get real', I can say with complete honesty that I have never been happier with who I am and where I am going!
I just got home from an amazingly awesome (albeit super quick) trip to Chicago to attend WPPI's roadtrip. I listened and learned from some of the best in the industry and although I am coming away with more knowledge about how to handle my business, the thing that I will remember and take with me the most is this, believing.
I believe. I know that I can do this!
She is for sure one of the reasons I believe this...(if you don't know her, she is Jasmine Star and you can see her beautiful work here .)

I was so excited to meet her, and felt like a giddy little girl meeting a celebrity. I had the whole dropped mouth, huge smile, shaky hand thing on goin on when I met her. Luckily, I wasn't alone!

She is proof, to me, that dreams come true.. if you make them happen. Thanks J for helping me see that! And I am soo ready to fail knowing that for all my failures, I am going to learn and have that many more successes!
Here is a lil' taste of what I experienced this week...

I can't wait to attend the big WPPI convention this winter, this really got me excited and 'itching' to learn more!

bright, colorful smiles | MN family photographer

2010-09-05T08:13:00.003-05:00

When friends from my past get in touch with me and ask me to take their family photos, I always get excited. Not only is it fun to catch up with them and meet their spouses and kids, it is a humbling experience. I love that they trust me to capture these special bonds.
I graduated from hs with this mom and it was fun to see her again. She has two of the most adorable little girls and her husband was one of the rare guys that are actually 'comfortable' in front of the camera! I am so excited to share their sneak peek, thanks again!

a lively bunch | MN family photographer

2010-09-05T07:58:00.003-05:00

When I was asked to capture this family in photos I was so excited! I knew that they might be tricky (with so many little ones), but I was up for the challenge and excited to get some great moments spent between them. Other than the large family group shots, it wasn't a tough session for me to be happy to just snap away. I had a hard time narrowing down my favorites, so there are a lot of images here! Thanks so much 'M' family for having me! I hope you LOVE your sneak peek (there are so many more!)

I love that this guys shirt says 'little rebel'. He was definetly the trickiest little guy to photograph out of the group, but this shot was so 'cool' i couldn't resist posting it!

happy baby | ND baby photograper

2010-08-31T10:45:00.002-05:00

Sweet baby 'A' was nearly 5 months old when I met her and her family for their session at their home. She was at that fun age where babies aren't scared, but very curious and smiley. She gave me so many wonderful photo-ops I couldn't help but add a bunch of them to the blog.
Thanks again N family, it was so nice to meet you and your happy little girl!

sweet, sweet baby | ND newborn photographer

2010-08-31T10:26:00.003-05:00

I love the images in this post! I met this new family at their home right after their little guy had his 2 week checkup. It was a perfect session in every way, the baby slept, the parents were easy going and open for ideas. I love my job!

Brenda & Tyler's beautiful day

2010-08-29T23:32:00.001-05:00

June 12, 2010

2010-08-20T11:29:00.001-05:00

For all of the brides who are inquiring about my work, here are two videos that I created from wedding celebrations this summer.

spunky girl + fantastic family

2010-08-19T21:38:00.002-05:00

Since I have already spent the day working, working, working, I thought I would end it in true fashion...by posting one more sneak peek for the weekend. I will be so busy this weekend that I know I won't get another one up until later next week.
The family in the following photos is near and dear to my own families heart. The dad, Kelly, built our amazing home last winter (check out Kelly Funk Construction if you are in need of any building/remodeling project, he is so so GREAT to work with, I highly recommend him!) and mom, Jamie, is our daycare provider. The kids have a lot of fun at her house and I feel so at ease knowing my three stinkers are in her care! I was excited when they asked me to capture some photos for their family, it is always a treat when I get to take my camera out with a family I am close to. All three kids were so cooperative, it made my job very easy! I know that Jamie thinks I didn't get that many shots of three year old 'S', so I wanted to prove to her just how many I 'didn't' get! Check out all the faces of this spunky little gal....

and all three kids, her big brothers are so good with her!

Thanks again you guys! It was fun!

chased away.

2010-08-19T15:17:00.002-05:00

This session had to be my fastest ever! It took place very close to home, which is always nice for me, but we were literally chased away by the thousands of biting 'skeeters' as the kids called them. Luckily for me, the kids were very very good and cooperative so we were able to get done fast. I have a ton of images b/c I snapped away, these are just a few of my favorites. Thanks 'A' family for asking me to capture some moments for you!

..and a fun little fact that this mom shared with me, she used to babysit my hubbie when he was small. I love that!

lots of personality + real life

2010-08-19T13:53:00.002-05:00

I am on a roll with posting today, why not keep it up? My kids are at daycare, which is allowing me a full day to work (almost) uninterrupted. I live on a farm and life is never dull during haying time (right now) so that is why I can only say 'almost' on being uninterrupted!
I met this family for their second photo shoot last week and it was great to catch up with them again. I love seeing families again and again, makes me feel so good that they liked my work the first time and want me to capture some more moments for them again!
These are some of my favorites from our time together, and although 8 year old 'C' wasn't always interested in taking photos, I think we managed to get some fun real life images, which are my favorites anyway. He is a great kid full of lots of personality and also happens to be a budding skateboarder...so glad that his dad suggested taking a few of him on it.

a book. a boy. a smile.

2010-08-19T12:47:00.002-05:00

When I was editing these images of a fun family session I had last week, I couldn't help but be super excited about them! They are the type of family that has some great ideas, but hangs back and lets me do my 'thing'. They are very comfortable in front of the camera (or, at the very least, are great at fooling me!). When mom, Kristin, asked me what I thought of meeting them at the library, I couldn't have been more thrilled! Not only was the location gorgeous (with lots of light pouring through the huge windows), but it is a library, full of thousands of books! As a former reading teacher, this couldn't have been a more cool place for me to shoot. The possibilities for shots was endless and the little guy did not disappoint! He grabbed some books and started 'reading' right away..have I mentioned that I love this family?! Mom and dad even sat down and read three year old, 'H', a book about fire engines and it was like I wasn't even there. I was able to capture some fantastic 'real' moments!
We did venture downtown to take a few more 'urban' shots of them together too, but my favorite images came from the library! Thanks 'K' fam for allowing me to catch some fleeting moments for your family!

The many faces of 'H', he was so much more interested in me and my camera this year!

catching up..

2010-08-17T22:54:00.002-05:00

I am in the heart of busy season and can't seem to keep up, thank goodness our daycare is back in session for the school year so I can start to catch up! Thank you to all of my wonderful clients for understanding that being a mom is my first job! Have I mentioned that I love this? I am so at peace with my decision not to teach this year, and even though I know that I will miss it, my kids mean so much more than a job. Pursuing this dream of photography gives me the best of both worlds, I get to meet new people and interact with other adults and kids all while choosing my own hours and staying home with my kids when they need me the most.
So, since I can't seem to keep up and blog every individual session, here are some of my recent favorites...

so excited to do their wedding next month!

at the Fargo Public Library, loved this location!

and last but not least, a beautiful member of the class of 2011, I love seniors! If you are looking for a senior photographer, please contact me!

love, laughs, small ones | minnesota children's photographer

2010-08-15T12:24:00.003-05:00

This trio of siblings met me at the park in my hometown a couple of weekends ago. I had a great time meeting their parents, and then laughing and playing with the kids (while we swatted at the nasty mosiquitoes!). They are about to become a family of 6 and I can't wait to come back in a couple of months and meet their new baby!

Love their expressions in this first one, the little ones still weren't too sure what to think of me and that big black camera staring at them!

The older sister was definetly more into the session, she kept asking me to take her picture at different spots in various poses!

The little guys eyes were gorgeous, so big and full of expression!

Wedding Video

2010-08-07T12:45:00.001-05:00

I know that most of you have seen this on facebook, but I realized that I haven't posted it on the blog. For those of you interested in booking weddings for 2011, please contact me at photosbymandy@gmail.com for prices and available dates, they are booking fast!

a brand new family of 5

2010-08-07T09:29:00.002-05:00

Aren't the sweet?

Eye Candy

2010-08-06T20:46:00.002-05:00

Little miss 'A' met me at the park in Pelican for her session. She came with lots of helpers (she has 3 older siblings that were able to get her to smile so easily). I used my brand new 85mm 1.8 lens with the aperture set wide open for those...I love the creamy bokeh in the background! It totally accentuates her gorgeous blue eyes.

and this is what I mean when I say 'eye candy'...love this series of shots, the light was perfect!

She is so pretty!

Pretty sure I am in LOVE with my new lens! This session was shot entirely with it! I am going to have a very hard time deciding between my two loves (50mm 1.4, or this new one)!

splashing + bright colors + fun = 'h' family

2010-08-06T16:30:00.003-05:00

This session has been in the works for a long time and it was great that we were finally able to get it in! It is always tough to schedule a session with older kids b/c they have such busy schedules and lives of their own.
I have had the pleasure of working with Nancy, mom (and wife) to the good looking bunch and I am going to miss her tremendously this year not being in school!
Although not everyone was super excited to see me and hear about my ideas (like splashing around in the lake ! ), I feel like the images came out fantastic! I am so excited to post this true sneak peek (they haven't seen most of these shots).
Thanks 'H' family, I had a lot of fun and am so glad that you asked me to capture these moments for you!

caterpillar adventures

2010-08-05T16:20:00.002-05:00

What an afternoon! Tanner and Madi and I ventured outside and went on a hunt to find some caterpillars and we ended up finding 3 (to add to the 2 we already had!). It was so fun to go on this mini adventure around the farm and then to check the new creatures out afterward!
Tanner joined me in capturing a few shots (he loves that I have let him have our old point and shoot to do his own photography) and Madi had a blast watching and naming our new little friends.

She is so thrilled with animals (and now bugs!). I love watching her face light up when she is interacting with nature!

And I couldn't resist but post this picture of her (however imperfect the focus may be!). She was cracking up about the caterpillar pooping! Oh, the little things that amuse a 4 year old!

Class of 2011..HHS

2010-08-05T13:27:00.002-05:00

A few years ago (more than that I guess, but who's counting, right??), the girls in the following photos were in my fifth grade student teaching class. I can't believe that they are all grown up and graduating from high school next year! If that doesn't make me feel that age thing start to creep in, I don't know what does!

I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to catch up with them and capture their senior photos, words can't even begin to describe how awesome that is for me! So thank you, thank you, Jill and Gabby! You are both incredible young women who will go far in life, I have always known you would!

busy, busy, busy

2010-07-29T00:23:00.002-05:00

For those of you who don't follow me on facebook, which, by the way you can check out here, I wanted to post a few of my favorites from the past month. I have been so so busy and have been neglecting this blog as I keep up with everything else! If you have any questions on booking a session, pricing, availability, ect. please email me @ photosbymandy@gmail.com. I am honestly having a blast doing what I LOVE and am so so blessed!
So, without further ado, a few of my favorites (there were a TON to sort through!)

baby 'j' - 9 days old

2010-07-05T13:33:00.002-05:00

I am not going to say too much about this session, other than that it was my favorite newborn session to date. Baby 'J's parents brought him over to my place for a session which is a first for me (and I am so glad that they did, I can't wait to have a studio!).
He was a model baby and let me do pretty much whatever I wanted with him. He was awake for most of the session (I am pretty sure that that was my fault since I had forgotten to turn the air off and the poor guy was chilled!).

I am going to let the images speak for themselves...I am so excited about them and can't wait to meet some more fresh little faces!

and my absolute favorite shot from the session, in his daddy's hands..

a day at the beach...

2010-07-05T13:03:00.002-05:00

I apologize in advance for the overload of images in this post, but I really couldn't help myself! This family was so fun, and the location we were in was gorgeous, just says 'Minnesota' to me!
This family is close to my heart (their mom and grandma is a fellow teacher and friend of mine) and I was honored that I was able to capture some moments for them! The last time that we met it was freezing cold and had just snowed the night before so this was a definite change for the better!
Thanks so, so much 'H' family! I had a great time!

and here are even more images on a video, LOVE this!

playing + laughing + running (w/ a few pictues in between!)

2010-07-05T12:35:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I met little 'N' at his house (which oddly enough is two doors down from my grandma in Lake Park, MN..small world!). He was a busy little one year old and showed me around his yard and home. We had a lot of fun playing in the summer sunshine, and I managed to capture some fun shots between our playtime. This is by far my favorite part of what I do, playing with kids and trying to capture their true selves. I love when I connect with the child(ren) I am taking photos of, makes for some great pictures and one happy photographer!
Thanks again 'A' family, hope you enjoy your sneak peek, it was nice to meet you!

fun in the summer sun...CONTEST!

2010-07-02T13:55:00.007-05:00

After sorting through what seemed like mountains of photos from the past month, I decided that I needed to share a few of my favorites and also get some people to check out the blog! Here's the scoop, check out the following adorable pictures below and vote on 1 favorite. You may vote once a day (contest will go through July 5). The winner will receive a 16x20 print from their session courtesy of photography by mandy! I love, love big prints!
So, on your mark, get set, and GO VOTE!
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

#20

#21

#22

#23

#24

#25

#26

#27

#28

#29

#30

#31

Whew, that was a lot of images! Thanks for voting! Remember to vote on facebook too!

sample of whats to come...

2010-06-29T09:29:00.002-05:00

I wanted another way to share my images (and sometime video if I have a chance to get some clips). What do you think of this video? It's really short b/c I haven't signed up for the service yet but I am thinking that I want to. I think it would be an awesome thing for weddings too!
Anyway, here is the amazingly adorable Hunter family, thanks so much you guys! I promise a better sneak peek blog post later (these are just a few of the ones I had done!)

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

accordian books are here!

2010-06-25T00:04:00.002-05:00

I am going to post one more time before I head off to bed...can't believe that I am staying up so late lately!
Anyway, I am excited to announce the arrival of accordian books. Here are a few that came in the mail today, I LOVE them! With a paid session, they are only $15/ each (a steal!) If you'd like to order a couple to show off (they are great brag books to keep in your purse and they stand up nice on a desk too!) the price is 2/$25.
Did I mention that I love these?! Honestly, I am a photographer and not a salesperson but as a mom who loves to show off pictures of my kids but never seems to carry a recent photo, these are perfect!

pink pettiskirt cutie

2010-06-24T23:45:00.003-05:00

I am so excited to post this session! When I got to the park to meet little miss Ripley and her mom, I could tell that a lot of planning had went into the photos that I was about to take. Ripley was getting all dolled up in some piggie tails (so cute!) and mom had a vast array of different types of clothing for her to model. She started out being a perfect little model and was even dancing for some shots (thanks to her amazingly prepared mom and her iPod!).
She soon tired of me and the whole situation and wanted only to snuggle with her mom or grandma. Luckily, her good buddy Brody (who made it in on a few shots) came at just the right time and helped Ripley smile.
I had so much fun at this session and although it took a little more work than the last time we met (she was so so smiley for her 9 month session) it was totally worth it! Hope lil' Ripley's mom agrees with me!
Thanks again 'K' family it has been an honor to capture your little girls first year in photos!

Red, White, & Blue...Happy (early) 4th of July!

and last, I had to post a picture of this little cutie, Ripley's future boyfriend, Brody.

sunshine & a quick little guy

2010-06-23T22:16:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, I met Brennen and his mom at the park to try and capture a few shots of him. From the beginning, I could tell that he was one very busy guy! He was excited to see some horses parading through the park and I was able to snap a few quick ones. His mom and I spent the next hour chasing him through the park and playing on the playground equipment with him. For all of the running we did, it was well worth it! Here are some of my favorites from the many photos I took!

I love this next series, his mom busted out some gummy worms to try and get him to sit still and maybe smile...he wouldn't look at me the whole time, but what a fun true to life moment!

Here he his with his mom, you can tell how close they are!

so much love... a brand new pair of brothers

2010-06-22T22:27:00.002-05:00

I met this family last summer when I took their son Noah's 3 year photos. That session is one of my all time favorites, there were soo many great shots! This time I was excited to meet his new baby brother, Jack. Noah and Jack already have this awesome relationship, I could tell as soon as I saw Noah lay his eyes on his brother. He had his own camera and 'captured' some great moments of his baby bro, which I loved! He is such a fun kid. Mom and dad snuck in on a few shots. I am so excited to share this sneak peek of an adorable new family.
Thanks 'P' fam, it was an honor!

a lil' cowboy + his sweet new sister + their big brother

2010-06-15T08:59:00.003-05:00

I know this mama has been waiting patiently for her sneak peek for a little while (thank you Jen!). There were soo many shots to choose from, I couldn't choose just a few! These three kids were so photogenic and I could have stayed at their house a LOT longer taking pictures of them!
Their mom has been following my work and referring me to a lot of people and it was fun to finally get to meet her and her sweet family. Thanks 'K' family for a great photo shoot!

baby blues + colorful clothes +an infectious grin!

2010-06-14T15:26:00.003-05:00

This is the 4th time that I have gotten to take Cora's photos and I am honored that her family keeps asking me back! This time we met in the park to get some outdoor shots. Mom and dad got in on a few shots, and grandpa too. What a fun afternoon session at Island Park! Thanks 'W' family for letting me capture your sweetie once again!

so happy!

2010-06-14T15:09:00.003-05:00

This little guy was so so happy! It wasn't too challenging getting him to smile! I met him and his family at their home and we ventured to the park to take some fun shots. They made my job so easy and fun! Thanks 'L' family!

beach baby

2010-06-11T13:25:00.004-05:00

I'm loving all the color I am seeing lately with my clients, you have all been doing fantastically dressing your kids for sessions!
This little girl was no exception, her mom had quite a few outfits all ready for her to model for her session at the lake..and they all had lots of fun colors! This was the second time that I have gotten the chance to meet with Piper and her family and this time I got the privilage of meeting her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins too! They all got in on a few family shots at the end of our session. The blue cloudy skies and the color of the lake made for a perfect backdrop, I couldn't be happier with the way this session turned out! Thanks 'J' and 'V' families for having me capture a day at the lake! It was fun!

on the go!

2010-06-10T19:51:00.004-05:00

Lily and her parents met me at the park in Pelican again for her photo session (we were here last year too when she had her 1 year old session!). For the first 5 minutes, she was very shy and clung to her dad. After discovering the park, however, she immediately warmed up and took off! This little girl was quick and wanted to explore everything! You can definetly tell that she is 2!
We found a couple of new spots and I snapped away, hoping to capture a few shots of her beautiful smile. I managed to get more than I thought I would, and her personality shined through! I love that, sometimes the best sessions are the ones you work for the most! Thanks 'J' family for asking me to capture your little sweeties smile!

sweet baby girl

2010-06-10T15:30:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I had the privilage of meeting little miss Tenley and her family for her first photo session. The sun was shining, the wildflowers were in full bloom and this little 2 month old had tons of adorable outfits to model. She did so well for her first time, and you can tell that her mom and dad are so in love with her! I captured quite a few tender moments between the three of them and I am excited to share them with you!
Thanks for being patient with me B & P, here is your sneak peek! Thanks for asking me to take your new families first photos, it was my pleasure!

pure JOY

2010-06-08T19:37:00.003-05:00

Meet Tyson, my littlest man. He is almost 2 and has more personality than I know what to do with some days! Tonight while he was enjoying an after dinner ice cream bar, I captured some fun moments with my camera! I love these photos! They say 'summertime' to me and the pure joy on his little face is priceless!

I love, love his bright eyes in this photo!

and after we were all cleaned up..he had to take a cruise on his bike!

little guy 'E'

2010-06-08T00:59:00.003-05:00

I love newborn sessions! A couple of months ago, some neighbors (and friends) of ours asked me to take some maternity photos for them. It was a first for me, and a definite learning experience, but I was happy with the end result.
It doesn't seem like this little guy should be here already (I am sure his parents aren't feeling the same way after waiting for his arrival for 9 months!) Little 'E' was awake almost the entire session, which is no easy feat for a one week old baby! I captured lots of his different 'newborn' faces and he modeled a few little outfits (have to say that I am partial to the diaper or naked baby shots though!)
It was nice out and we were able to venture outside for a few family shots and capture some moments between their new family. What an awesome afternoon, thanks Liz & Lucas, enjoy your sneak peek.

family + location + light = :)

2010-06-07T20:05:00.005-05:00

Fellow photog. friends...you know that feeling when everything is going right during a session, kids are happy, light is unbelievable, parents are laid back and just 'get it'?? Well, that was totally how this session went for me! I had a blast, and even though I probably say that of 99% of my sessions, this one in particular was one of my favorites to date!
I have known Molly and Casey since before Travis and I were married, in fact, I think that Molly was one of the first Pelican people I met...and I have gotten to know many in the past 8 years (wow, that seems like such a long time after I write that!).
I completely appreciated the fact that they didn't bat an eyelash at me being a little late (..even though it has been 8 years, I still don't completely know my way around the country!) Thanks for memorable morning 'H' family hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Sarah + Tyler = L.O.V.E....May 21, 2010

2010-06-03T22:47:00.004-05:00

I have been waiting to post the sneak peek for this wedding for a couple of weeks now and am just now finishing the editing process..there were soo many shots! I had a really hard time picking and choosing! Sarah & Tyler's big day was filled with laughter, love, friends, and family..all of the elements you need for a fantastic wedding day! We had some trouble with the HUGE wind gusts outside, but, luckily the church had some good light (with a little help from my flash of course!).
This church was special to me b/c it is where my parents were married 32 years ago and I had a great time checking things out!
Thanks to this beautiful couple for asking me to capture their day! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. B!
i think that some of my favorite wedding shots come from the 'getting ready, behind the scenes' moments..here are a few of my faves..

fun fun fun in the evening sun!

2010-05-25T22:43:00.002-05:00

I had my two oldest out for a walk this evening and brought my camera along to capture some of their moments, since I am forever capturing other families other than my own!
They were both happy to cooperate which doesn't happen very often so I was eating it up. The light was yummy and glowing (so anyone out there looking to book a session, late evening light is amazing!).
Madi was even up for changing outfits and trying an actual 'session'. What a fun night! This picture is my favorite of the night..

Love the light in this one too, this is why I love photography! Light, bokeh, cute kid, can it get any better?!

we had to do some 'jumping' shots, she has been wanting to since she saw the last wedding I did.

love the connection between them captured in this series.

and the big guy even let me take a few of him..doesn't happen too often anymore!

lovin' the light!

2010-05-23T20:47:00.003-05:00

I love working in the late afternoon, early evening hours. For me, there is almost no better time of day to take pictures in. The light isn't harsh, and it makes people and objects glow.
This family came all the way from the cities to visit me for a second time, and this time around had an adorable new baby girl with them. After the little guy warmed up, I was able to get some fun shots, as long as I was fast! He was one fast (and curious) kid! We were able to sneak a few family shots in (quickly) as well as brother and sister poses. What a fun evening, thanks 'P' family!

I love this last series of pictures. The boys' moms are making this a tradition to get their pictures taken together (I took them last summer too..if I could find them I would post them too.)

two years old...

2010-05-23T14:05:00.003-05:00

Drew and his family met me at the park with some friends of theirs for an early evening shoot the other night. I have to say that this little guy and his his nearly three year old buddy kept me on my toes! They were soo busy! But, chasing after toddlers is something that I have had a lot of practice with over the years and I honestly love a good challenge!
This first post is devoted to Drew and his family, I'll post their friends session soon (along with the pictures of the two boys together...and, wow, were those fun!

spring fever

2010-05-22T22:32:00.002-05:00

I have been having a major case of spring fever lately, especially with the super nice weather we are having! I have taken the camera out a few times when the kids and I are hanging out, but not nearly as much as I have in the past!
With me being so busy this year teaching and taking photos, the time that I have with my kids is precious! As much as I want to preserve those memories to enjoy years down the road, I don't feel the need to document every little thing, I think I miss out on some moments when I am trying to get the 'perfect' shot.

Catching up..

2010-05-21T22:32:00.005-05:00

I am back! I am patiently waiting for my new blog (and also working on a 'real' website)..so be on the lookout for that soon!
There are HUGE changes in store for photography by mandy and I am so excited to embark on this new journey! I'll announce on my blog (and facebook) when I have the website up and ready to check out! But for now..

I met this little cutie at the lake for her session. It was a beautiful sunny day, great for taking photos! Although it took her a little while to warm up to me, once she did, there was no end to the photo ops! Her parents even got in on a few, such a gorgeous family!

2010-05-17T06:30:00.004-05:00

I was very excited when a good friend of mine from high school asked me to be her wedding photographer! They were a beautiful couple who had chosen a gorgeous setting for their wedding. We spent the sunny afternoon taking photos in the courtyard outside the college. There were many awesome spots to shoot in, here are just a few of my favorites! Congratulations!

2010-01-14T07:15:00.002-06:00

Since I haven't been too great at keeping up with my photography blog this school year (for those of you who don't know, I am teaching as well as taking pictures!).. I put together a few highlights from last year. It's hard to grasp just how amazing this past year was for me. I can't say thank you enough. I am truly blessed to have gotten to know all of you and capture your memories. Thank you, I look forward to seeing what 2010 brings.