I love working with people over and over...building a photography based relationship is actually a lot of fun! I get to capture you and your family as they grow. I hope this will be one of those families. She's already thinking about signing up for the next Mini Sessions on June 4th! HOW FUN!
We had so much fun last weekend! Mini Sessions are the way to go with young kids with short attention spans...anything can happen but, our first shoot proved your kids can also have the perfect day! These girls were so amazingly easy to capture. Beautiful family makes beautiful pictures.
There are just a couple spots open for this Saturday's Mini Sessions.
Need to update your family portraits? Get your engagement photos? OR some corporate head shots? Mini Sessions are the best way to do it.
When: Saturday, February 12th, 2011 (there are only a few spots left! One at 10:30am and a couple in the afternoon )
Each session will be 20-25 minutes.
Cost: $150 plus tax
Every session will receive my favorite 20-25 images (fully-edited) on CD ready along with a release letter to print for your wall, a gift, albums, or cards!
When calling or emailing to reserve your time, please let me know your top three time preferences.
Email info@noemiphotography.com to reserve your session today!
Is it time for some updated images? On February 12th I’ll be offering a special on mini portrait sessions in Minneapolis. Perfect for updated shots of the kids, some new fun headshots/lifestyle pictures of you, or a mini-couples session. (Here's a link from past mini sessions) • When: Saturday, February 12, 2011
• Where: Minneapolis STUDIO (exact location to be provided with contract signing)
• Times: Sessions will begin at 10 AM
• Sessions will start on the hour and the half hour and are 20-25 minutes max in length:
• Mini sessions are for groups up to 4 people max (kids, families, couples, headshots welcome)
• Assorted posed and candid shots
• A few props will be on-hand for the kiddos (but, feel free to bring a few of your own)
Sessions are $150 and include:
• Time and processing
• Assistant on hand to help entertain the kids
• 25-35 final edited images uploaded to online gallery (PICTAGE.com) for proofing and ala carte ordering
AND the CD (final edited images) with ability to reproduce images.
To book your session or inquire for more details, please email me. (All photo-sessions are on a first come first serve basis.)
*** Mini Sessions provide a great opportunity to get some updated and fun shots of the kids or small families, but they are not the best fit for full-blown portrait sessions with outfit changes, or large groups. Those take more time that we would have on this date. If you are interested in large group family photography or full lifestyle portrait sessions, please do email for more information. Thank you! *
It was 10 and 1/2 years ago I married my wonderful husband Matt (which, by the way, means "gift of God.") When I left Canada and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota I left my family and friends behind. I married Matt and we start our new life together. That's 10 and 1/2 years of holidays, special occasions, birthdays and Christmases. I guess it's kinda catching up with me. I'm missing everyone so much this year. Seriously, I'm teary all the time and I'll been calling and skyping (if you've never tried this incredible free video chat - NOW IS THE TIME!) my family every day. The weird thing about living away from your family is sometimes you are caught off guard when you start missing them...It surprises me every time. This Christmas was amazing. Christmas Eve we spent with friends and then came home to get all dolled up for the Christmas Eve candle light service at Bethany. It's my favorite service of the year: cozy, small crowd, whole families sitting together, Christmas carols, reading the whole story of the Jesus and of course, candles are lit for the final song...Silent Night.
Everything is a little more excited with 3 kids under the age of 5. I'll give you a snapshot into my life. Matt is leading the service so is up and down from the front row but Leyton wanted to be with his Dad so he followed. I couldn't get to him fast enough (wearing heels and carrying my 22 pound 10 month old!) and by the time I did he was started crying, "I want Daddy!" and cried that the whole way down the aisle. LOL. I spent most of the night in the foyer letting Leyton run but, I came back in the church for my favorite part the lighting of the candles. What was I thinking? I'm holding Clara and Leyton and then I hear Adriah's little voice saying, "It's burning me!" She had been so careful holding her candle with pride but, the wax melted and was dripping on her hand. Poor girl. Matt stops speaking and comes to the rescue. Our life is so full...not perfect by any means...but, I wouldn't change a thing.
Christmas day started at 6:30am not cause our kids were excited but, because that's the time they get up every day! We opened up our stockings first and the kids play with the little toys while Matt makes breakfast! Yummy crepes with Nutella, berries, lemon and brown sugar...the works. After breakfast we take turns opening and watching each person open their gifts. We love draggin' it out and enjoying every moment. It was a wonderful time with my family...i have my own family...and I love them so much!
Highlights of the Day:
Adriah - Got a keyboard! She opened it, laid on top of it and said, "This is what I've always wanted!" She played piano (to the best of her ability) for the next 2 hours.
Leyton - Got trucks and trucks and more trucks in the form of LEGO! He didn't leave his truck station all morning. I love watching him tinker.
Clara - Got a cute little piggy bank. She ate the coins happily!
Matt - Got clothes (most were a hit!), waffle maker, and a spice rack! (kinda one of those things you really need and Christmas was a great excuse to get it!
Noemi - Got clothes...and I was happy. My last gift I opened put me in a state of shock. Matt blew the budget and got me an IPAD! Seriously, the coolest gift from the most amazing husband. (FUNNY THING: he loved it just as much as me and started planning the electronics he could sell to buy his own IPAD! LOL. I love my sweet man.)
The first thing I downloaded? Scrabble. The perfect Christmas.
We went to see family for dinner...it was lovely until Leyton got sick. And then got sick again. And one more time. NEEDLESS TO SAY we left early, came home, put the kids down, and had a quiet candle-lit roast-beef take-home dinner just Matt and I. It was a merry Christmas. In everything there is something to be thankful for.
I hope your day was just as lovely.
I'm home today. I don't like missing church. I love our church. But, just in case Leyton is still sick it's best we stay home...so home I will stay.
We took these family portraits at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN because the light is incredible! And since we spend 6 months of the year under snow...it's nice to have a public location that it inside. But, I also love the outdoor grounds in the summer (click to see green grass and blue skies!) I love taking baby pictures and 6months-ish is one of my favorite ages. This little boy loves the camera and the camera loved him! (Yes, his parents are pretty cute too!)
I haven't been shooting for a while and it was really nice to be behind the camera again. Have I mentioned how much I love my job? Well, I love it.
Ohh this family! They are absolutely adorable. We had tons of fun on this photo-shoot...we feels like ages ago now that we're covered in snow! I captured their oldest for her senior portraits earlier in the year and they came back for round two! I'm a firm believer in having family photos taken every year...even if your kids are older! As long as you are living under one roof your kids are changing and growing and worth capturing. I know that photo-shoots are costly and time consuming ("What are we going to wear?") but, so worth it! Instead of talking about it let me show you...maybe after seeing these photos you'll be a believer.
PS. Check out the end of the post...it's not every day you find a brown-eyed red-head! We look like sisters...crazy!
I don't think any of us were ready for the amount of snow that dumped last weekend! It was crazy and beautiful...so instead of canceling the family photo-shoot we went ahead and froze in it! But we had tons of fun doing it...and we're Minnesotans so we can take a little cold right? These three generation photo-shoots aren't easy...getting 15 people to smile with their eyes open at the same time is quite an undertaking! I LOVE A CHALLENGE...and I love this family.
Thank-you for braving the weather and choosing me to capture you at this moment in your lives. I these pictures will be precious now but, wait 5 or ten years and they will be an incredible keepsake.
#10 - JenniferOne Christmas when I was a baby, my family's landlord brought over homemade cinnamon rolls as a holiday gift. My mom got the recipe and ever since then on Christmas Eve, after the kids go to bed, my mom makes cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning breakfast. Now that there are grandkids in the picture and we have Christmas at my house, Mom still brings all the ingredients with her (from MI to IL) and makes the cinnamon rolls in my kitchen. They are so good that I look forward to them as much as the giving and receiving of gifts.
#11 - Vicki Our tradition is that the day after Thanksgiving, while Noemi is out shopping and we avoid the crowds like the plague - which might be kind of true, we put up the tree, decorate, listen to Christmas music, have a fire, and eat some yummy food (left over turkey) to kick the season off.
(For all of you middle children who are thinking that me picking Vicki is unfair...I'll have you know that I had one of Adriah's friends pick 2 numbers between 1 and 32. She picked 10 and 11. the end.)
For all of you that are super excited to be teaching your kids about Christmas and Advent here's how you can get your own copy.
AMAZON it's $4.99
LIFEWAY Christian Book stores it's ONLY $2.99 (Crazy good deal!)
Here's the blurb I found on their website:
The Family Book of Advent by Carol Garborg helps small children grasp the true meaning of Christmas. This devotional will help you re-create for your children the memories you have of counting down the days until Christmas. It is a hands-on devotional that draws families together through Scripture, questions, and simple activities that progressively unfolds the story of our Savior’s birth.
I'm soooo excited to start reading it with my kids...thank you Carol!
Every year, at this time, I start thinking about Christmas. I'm a list shopper and I've already started making my Christmas list. (I usually do 90% of my shopping on Black Friday! I love crazy crowds and getting a lot done in a short amount of time.) As my kids get older I want to create a balance between teaching them about the true meaning of Christmas but, still reveling in the anticipation leading up to Christmas morning. i love giving and receiving gifts. Who doesn't? I have so many incredible memories of this as a child. I want to have yearly traditions some from my childhood, some from my husbands and some new ones.
One of my dear friends has written an incredible book for Advent.
It's a small treasure filled with 25 entries of creative ways for families to learn about Christmas. Carol has an amazing way taking hard questions and making the answers tangible for kids and adults. Her desire is that families learn and grow together...and I love that. I want every home to have this book! Seriously, it's that good. So, I'm going to give away 2 copies! All you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post with a memory or tradition you do every year with your family at Christmas. I'll randomly draw two names from everyone who posts and send you a copy of this book. (CONTEST CLOSES at midnight on Sunday November 7th, 2010...only 2 days to leave a comment!)
The book is available on Amazon.com and it's a great price $4.99. Click here to view and purchase the book as a gift!
FUN FACT: My daughter (Adriah) was one of kids who "proofed" the book in its beginning stages...so, her name is mentioned in the thank-you's.
Carol, thank you for writing this book and for loving kids the way you do. You inspire me to keep asking questions for myself and think of creative ways to answer Adriah's never-ending questions about God and life.
I had the pleasure of capturing this couple before they had kids and it is my honor to continue capturing them as their family grows. There's nothing like running around with a two year old on a perfect fall day. That's what we did and we had a blast doing it! We pulled out all the tricks for this shoot...anything to keep a toddler happy during a photo-shoot right? We had balloons, bubbles, snacks, sippy-cup, favorite baby doll and blanket...but, little did we know the biggest hit of the day was going to be my camera bag! She loved it! I think I have a future assistant in the making. :) She's adorable.
Enjoy the Walker family at the Walker Art Museum!
Something you may not know about me? I am a cheerleader at heart. I love cheering for friends, family and...the team with the cutest uniform! I grew up in Canada and the closest thing I had to cheerleading was movies made about high schools in the USA. Ooh and there's one other problem - I don't dance. So, unless you can join because of personality and lung power I wouldn't have made the team. Sad but true. I remember the first time I saw a cheerleader dressed in uniform on the street after moving here...I grabbed Matt's arm and said. "Ooh my goodness, look, there's a cheerleader!" He laughed out loud at me but, I couldn't help myself.
My oldest is 5 and loves to dance (what little girl doesn't?) but, I'm afraid I'm not a commitment mom who's willing to fork out the cash and driving time for her girl to be dancing at a studio. So, when the opportunity came for us to cheer for 3 days of practice and at the VIKINGS game...we said "SKOL VIKES!"
Good thing I love the color purple...and it looks great on my little girl! Last week Adriah joined a couple hundred other girls and cheered for the Vikings during the halftime show! Not only was I proud parent I was also the Official Photographer (official meaning: no one else was on the turf shooting!)
AND to top it off it was the first win of the season. I'm convinced it's cause Adriah cheered her little heart out.
Shooting this event was totally different then anything else I've ever shot - EVERYTHING WAS SO FAST and I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY SUBJECTS! 90 seconds and it was over. I was exhausted by the end of the day but, ready to learn more about sports photography and do better next year!
I'm only posting a few shots featuring Adriah and a couple of her friends because the rest of the images belong to the Viking Cheerleaders...I got so many cute candid moments!
It was a wonderful experience! Just look at the joy on her face! Wait until you see the last picture...a slice of American. Check out my purple and gold extensions? I'm hardcore.
This photo-shoot was crazy. I don't have 3 boys but, if I did I know they would keep me on my toes and make me laugh a ton. While trying to capture these boys they were moving non-stop...seriously, I was holding down the shutter and I got a different poses with every snap! They were moving fast! The contrast between active boys and newborn sister was amazing...these three boys just got a beautiful gift a few weeks ago. She is a perfect addition!
My favorite moment is when Aaron (the Dad) and I planned to surprise the boys by slowly throwing them off while they were on their Dad. LOVE IT! Their expressions are adorable.
Make sure you take note of the purple and gold tutu in the last shot! GO VIKES! (More on that in the next week...hint: my upcoming blog post will make you want to cheer!)
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This was my last shoot of the fall Mini Sessions...and it was hilarious. Boys will be Boys - even during a photoshoot! AND the best part is I got it all on camera! My favorite thing to capture is something for everyone...portraits for Mom, Goofy or posed for the oldest, wrestling for the youngest and candids of everything for Dad! AND THIS WAS THE SHOOT where I got a little bit for everyone. You are in for a treat!
Cool Story...i met Cris (the mom in these pictures) at one of my FOCUSED Photography Workshops she heard me talk so much about family photoshoots she decided she should get some of her own! Love that! It was a perfect day to run, slide, dance, have piggy back rides and smile for the camera. Precious moments captured/frozen forever. I love that part.
This first shot I had the parents spin and freeze, spin and freeze...it was a big hit with the kids!
These are my new neighbors...who I love! We are outside almost every day during the summer and it's been amazing to my kids to play with their new friends not to mention their sandbox and play-structure! I practically had to convince/beg them to let me take their pictures. I REALLY want them to have pictures with their kids at these ages! I'm so glad they did it!
And I hope we get to do them again next year...fingers crossed.
I love documenting families at every stage of life. I first captured this couple of their wedding and now we've moved into family portraits...it's amazing to follow their journey. Photo sessions should be fun...Johan had a blast with his Mom and Dad during the shoot and afterward they sat on the grass to have their picnic lunch together. So CUTE!
This next family is absolutely gorgeous - she's from Spain and he's from England...and they are raising bilingual girls! It was my first time capturing them and something I try to all the parents before the shoot is kids are kids...some days they are up for anything and other days they aren't. The day of your family portrait shoot you don't get to pick it. (Just like we didn't get to pick to not having swarming mosquitoes at our family photoshoot!) My job as the photographer is to take the time I'm given and capture them on that day. Sometimes it's all smiles and other times it's mixed with tears. Both are a part of our lives as parents and both are memories we want to capture for the years to come.
I love the emotion that was captured in this shoot.
The Kimball's were my first family of the fall Mini Sessions! I had never captured their family before and it was such a pleasure. Their girls came with plenty of smiles...in fact, before the end of the shoot one of the girls said, " My face hurts from smiling so much!"
I've been so busy i haven't really slowed down to think about Adriah starting school. My little girl...She was so ready. She barely looked up to say goodbye. I'm so proud of her. There is something really beautiful about watching her at this stage. I think she knows that this is the beginning of something great. She is going where Leyton and Clara can't and that makes it more special. She's alone in this and she's happy making new friends along the way. But, there's a part of me that's torn...I want her for myself. I still want to have a say, pour into her and help her know the truth about who she is and what life is really about. I want to be a part of this growing/changing process. I know in the years to come I will have less and less influence and this is the right order of things...but knowing that mean I want to make the most out of every moment.
Last night when we were praying before she went to bed she said, "God I need to tell you something...tomorrow is - what's that girls name who sits across from me? Ohh, Brianna! - tomorrow is Brianna's birthday and I really want to have fun at school!"
Adorable.
I want to be there and see how she shines. She's changing in front of me but, yet I still see the 1,2,3,4 year old when I look into those brown eyes. You know?
I think the whole change has been the hardest on Leyton. He cries every time we drop Adriah off and asks to be done when we're in line to pick her up (an hour every time!) He's been really whiny and i think it's his 2 year old way of saying, "I miss my sister." Break my heart. I'm cuddling (and wrestling) a little more these days to make up for it!
Here's some pictures from her first day! (It could be an advertisement for the school but her and Avery are so stinkin' cute!)
