Paczki

Mary Pat had her cousins over for a Paczki (it's Polish and kind of sounds like poonchkey) session. Paczki are sweet dough filled with poppy seed and they are awesome. The ladies had a great time and the results tasted fantastic.

WPPA

Just spent five days at the WPPA (Wisconsin Professional Photographers Association) WPPA-online, convention in Madison. This is one of the best state conventions in the country. There was a great line up of speakers from all over the states. I entered 3 images and all 3 were accepted to hang at the print competition. I would have entered 4, the max, but our Epson quite working and I couldn't get the final print finished. I get asked if I used Pshop to get the blue sky in the top photo....and the answer is no it was all done in camera. The photo was taken during the beautiful afterglow in June.

Plan B

This is how it goes sometimes......In preparing for Shannon and her two daughters, I prepared three areas for the shoot in the studio, using the beautiful north light. All I needed was the cooperation of the 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 year old to pull it off. They were a bit energetic for the quiet images I planned.....so enter plan B. We had a great time....I think they liked the open space......and we captured some wonderful moments.

Life Style Portraiture

Why not have part of your senior session doing something you enjoy, like fishing, or playing with your pet. For Brenna's session we started at the studio with her buddy Charity, then went outside around the studio, then on to Lake Bennet for her fishing photos. Even though it was misting outside, late in the fall, we still picked up a stringer full of winners.

Kenzie

During the senior session with McKenzie, she related a video to me which they had seen in school, and which is posted on You Tube. It's called Shift Happens, an interesting global view. McKenzie's photo session took place at her home and at the Lake Harriet Rose Garden.

Santa & Pets

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the Santa/Pet shoot a few weeks ago. We had some big, old dogs and some spunky little dogs, and only one accident. Oh yes, there were a couple cats also. Included here are some of the subjects with a few of the outtakes, which proves Santa's job can be a tough one. Have a great Holiday. Don

Flashes of Hope

Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life threatening illnesses. The portraits, taken by award-winning photographers, help children feel better about their changing appearance by celebrating it. For families of terminally ill children, it's especially important to have a portrait that preserves forever the beauty, grace and dignity of their child.

I've volunteered my services to Flashes for the last year. The images are enduring. I've found the subjects to be just wonderful, amazing people.

Threshing

As some of you know I have this hobby of photographing farmers in my spare time, especially old timers with stories of the days before electricity. I entered one of the photos, of a threshing in Prairie Farm, WI in the Minnesota State Fair. The entry was accepted into the fair for 2007. So if your in the Fine Arts building this year, see if you can spot it.

Books

Books are a wonderful way of saving those special times. Books from 2 inches to 20 inches can be printed for any occasion. Hard cover coffee table books to soft cover purse books. Birthdays, bar mitzvahs, day in the life series, family gatherings, vacations, community projects, or whatever subject you desire can be saved in a book, keeping the memories in a designed presentation which is handily accessible and easy to show.

Nathan & Jamie

It was a beautiful day for Nate & Jamie's wedding. After the ceremony the wedding party traveled by Al & Alma's boat to the Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka for the reception. It was touching to see the pride in their parent's eyes. I've known Nate's folks for a long time but haven't seen that look of happiness like they had on the wedding day and night. I felt the same way about Jim and Jolene, Jamie's parents, and I don't know them nearly as well, but you can tell by the photos, they are also very proud of these two.