I'm going to do 2 posts for this family. The first is going to be a sneak preview and the second is going to share their about their adoption journey so far! Check out this lovely family!
Urbanhalo - my new favorite accessory!
When I like something I tend to tell everyone about it in hopes that they will LOVE it too! Then I get to be apart of that perfect purchase...I like that. Whether you are running, working out, hanging with family, going out with the girls OR on a hot date - THESE ARE PERFECT! Urbanhalo is a unique and fashionable line that is breaking all the rules of typical headbands… they are comfortable, designed to stay in place, keep us free from headaches, and come in each season’s hottest prints and colors!
Urbanhalo headbands are functional for workouts, spice up the typical ponytail, and are fashionable enough for a night out. Perfect for athletes and fashionistas alike, women (and girls) LOVE them!
But, I don't need to say anything really...I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
So having said that...let's have ourselves a little giveaway shall we?
This giveaway is open now until Sunday, Sept 11th at 11:59 CST, when a random winner will be selected. There are several ways to enter (please leave an ADDITIONAL comment for EACH entry in order for it to count!). Start typing...
1) Leave a comment telling me where you are going to wear your Halo!
2) Post a link to Facebook
3) Follow me on Facebook (click here to do so)
4) Follow Urbanhalo on Facebook (click here to do so)
5) Follow me on Twitter (I’m @noemiphotograph) and tweet this post by saying – It’s another @noemiphotograph giveaway! Enter today:
ONE lucky winner will receive an Urbanhalo in the mail next week...I LOVE FREE STUFF!
(side note: I won a pair of tickets to the MN Zoo by entering a giveaway this week AND I NEVER WIN GIVEAWAYS! This could be you chance to win!)
The Joas Family Portraits - Bloomington, MN
Have you ever met someone and thought, "I really hope I'm going to be friends with you!" You know from the start they are a "kindred spirit?" That's how I felt when I met Jen Joas. She is absolutely lovely! I've gotten to know her and her kids through the blog world...and I'm so thankful. I'm getting to know her family and they have already found a special place in my heart!
Muah!
Letting go but wanting to hold on.
My baby girl is not a baby anymore. She's 6 and starting the first grade tomorrow. This post is straight from the heart...I'm processing.
In so many ways I look at Adriah and I know she's ready. She is a beautiful kind-hearted child with a great head on her shoulders. She's ready, but am I? I look at her and I already miss her. I want to keep her all to myself. Kindergarten was okay because I had her all morning, but now she's gone all day. I feel like I'm handing her over...giving her away.
I feel something I haven't felt before. The feeling of: have I done enough? Does she know who she is? and who she is not?
-I'm sad about missing all of her "ahhh, I get it!" moments.
-Seeing her push through on a project and shine when she does.
-Watching her help her siblings.
-Learn from her. Talk with her. Hold her...whenever I want!
A friend of mine came across something that is helping me process...It's from a book called "A Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas.
"When a woman has a kingdom heart, she has an active understanding of what matters most to the heart of God. She lives in the balance of passion and contentment. She learns to love well, give without regard to self, and forgive without hesitation. The woman with a kingdom heart may have a duffel bag full of possessions or enough treasures to fill a mansion, but she has learned to hold them with an open hand. Hold everything with open hands. I don't think we are ever allowed to grab hold of anything or anyone as though they matter more than the kingdom of heaven. When you hold relationships with open hands, then people come in and out of your life as gifts of grace to be cherished and enjoyed, not objects to be owned and manipulated. And then when you hold your dreams with open hands, you get to watch God resurrect what seemed dead and multiply what seemed small."
I have to trust that I have poured out my heart, values, thoughts into her and now she needs to walk it out. Of course I'll always be here. I'm going to be her biggest cheerleader for the rest of her life. We'll keep walking together. When she falls or gets pushed down...I will be there to pick her up. She's my baby. The first of my three precious gifts from the Lord!
The Winger Family Portraits - FOCUSED Photography Workshop
Thank you for being so lovely.
Practical Photography - Evening FOCUSED Workshop
Thank you to my lovely models and the women who came out for the Workshop! We had a great time together. Here's what the attendees are saying:
Do you have any other suggestions for future Workshops? My only suggestion is that you to invite me to all future workshops you have! :)
I would LOVE to attend a photography round table workshop! Definitely count me in! I think that it would be so informative and answer a lot of questions in my head regarding those topics!
Thank you again! I left your workshop feeling so inspired and more confident. I feel like attending your workshop was just what I needed and gave me the push I so desperately needed to really get serious about pursing my love of photography. You're awesome Noemi, It was so great to finally meet!
~Chris
Noemi, Thank you for the workshop! First of all, I learned so much at your workshop. It was a perfect fit for me. I feel like I was able to apply many new things the next day. I practiced on my kids and although they were not as cooperative as your models, I got some very nice shots. I was able to "embrace" the sunlight a bit more and try some new things. I love learning and growing. You are a natural teacher and fun to listen to and interact with. Sarah
I've heard back from a couple of the attendees and they've posted some pictures. Here's where you can check them out! www.rhondaharrisphotography.blogspot.com www.unexpected-joys.blogspot.com
www.snappyapplephotography.com
http://www.annetteparephotography.com/
I'm already planning the next Workshop! It's going to be JANUARY! And it's something new...Business FOCUSED Photography Workshop!
It's only going to be available for anyone who has attended a NoemiPhotography FOCUSED Workshop before. We are going to have a "roundtable" of sorts. We're going to sit around my dining room table and talk shop!
This is going to be your opportunity to ask every question you want to ask a PRO Photographer but can't or won't or have tried but no one will answer you.
I'm going to have one-on-one time and group discussions about:
blogging,
website design,
marketing,
social networking,
packages,
pricing,
Lightroom
and I am going to have you send questions ahead of the Workshop so I'm sure to answer them!
Doesn't this sound like so much fun?
More details to come.
Email me if you're interested and I'll contact you when the details have been firmed up.
I'm limiting the number of attendees to 6 to make sure I have a good chunk of time with everyone!
Classic Cars - Lakefront Days, Prior Lake, MN
And the hits keep coming...more great shots from Lakefront Days, Prior Lake, MN
Minnesota Vikings Junior Cheerleading
Got this in my inbox this morning! What a great way to start off my day! A picture of my beautiful girl cheering her heart out at last year's Viking's game...I had to share. I'm including info below for anyone interested in joining in on the fun!
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A good Children's Museum is worth every penny!
Give me a good children's museum and my camera and I'm good for hours! We found this little Children's Museum in a renovated old bank...one of the "dress-up" rooms is in the old vault! Between dress-up, a crazy vent, and my nephews loving taking shots of their own...we had a blast!
Have you been to a great Children's Museum lately? Or any crazy spot that I must check out with my kids? I'd love to hear about it.
Adoption - the continuing story
I think the hardest part of adoption is learning patience. AJ has walked an incredible journey I asked her to share more of their story with us today!
"What we have gained on this journey thus far has been nothing short of AMAZING! There have been many bumps and even total heart ache (when we were matched and our adopted baby to be, Liv, died at birth), but the desire to adopt has never been stronger than it is now! I always say God is the master of hitting three birds with one stone. He takes us on a journey that is completely stretching and then we choose to obey Him, but that is just the beginning. We have learned things that we knew with our heads, but now feel that it is a true heart knowledge. When we lost our little Liv, although very hard and incredibly sad, we had a peace and knew that Liv was not our daughter just as our biological kids are not our own. They are on loan to us so that we raise them to know Jesus. God has that right to cut out the middle man and bring her straight into his arms. Her name means life and she started hers in eternity...I think it's quite fitting. We will hold her when we meet her with our Father. We really felt that God used Liv, in order to minister and be there for this 16 yr. old birth mother who had no support at all and endured abuse during the pregnancy. This mother was our first adoption. We have seen just a glimpse of the real life stories that are out there and in experiencing all of this, the Lord has also shared a bit of his heart for them, with us. Oh how he loves them and oh how he longs for the fatherless to be loved on and to know him. We are responsible. We have learned that when one is called to adopt that we need to walk in obedience and accept the call and allow God to make the rescue. We need to know that it may not be the child we expected, but He knows exactly what child we are to have and he will bring that child to us. The Lords timing is perfect and better than ours! How foolish we can be when our patients runs thin and we try to work it out ourselves. Micah and I have many reasons and excuses to justify paving our own way, but God is a beautiful Father who's word never returns void. I stand on 1 John 5:14&15 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we have asked for." We know that adoption is his will for us and therefore he is hearing our prayers and he WILL answer them. His timing is perfect! We are so excited to meet the child that God has for us and are so thankful that God has called us to adopt. We feel blessed that he has shared his heart with us in this area. He is our father and always wants what is best for all His children. This doesn't always mean that the road is going to be easy and straight, but the reward at the end is magnificent!!"
We pray for grace in the weeks, months or years to come...only God knows when more children will be added to this lovely family!
Fall Mini Sessions - 2 Spots Left!
I've decided to have the location for the shoots at the Walker art Museum - it has variety of backgrounds, indoor and outdoor places to shoot (so, we don't have to worry about rain or shine!), easy to find and convenient parking.
There are only 2 spots left!
2:00pm - Available
3:00pm - Available
The session fee of $200 + tax is non-refundable (due to the amount of interest in the day and the limited number of spots available).
Feel free to bring any fun props with - this will make your session truly unique to you and show your personality!
If you have any questions, be sure to contact me.I know you'll be on the look out for outfits. Keep checking my blog (www.noemiphotography.com/blog) because I'll be doing some posts with ideas!
Practical Photography - Evening FOCUSED Workshop Entries for the FREE SPOT!
We have 3 in the running for the FREE SPOT! You can click a LIKE on the NoemiPhotography FACEBOOK page AND you can add your comment to this post for your favorite entry!
I heart Adoption (Fundraiser/Mini Sessions) Family Portrait Photography – PART 5
I have captured this family many times. AND I fully intend to keep capturing their family in the years to come! We share a love for adoption.
If you follow my blog then you know that I did a fundraiser for a start-up adoption agency called Olive Tree Adoption Agency! I did Mini Sessions for 5 families and they donated all the proceeds to adoption! I mentioned that I have a couple of friends who are in the process of adopting...the Benson's are one of those families. AJ and I have been friends for years and I've captured their family many times! LOVE THEM! I walked with her through the last 18 months in their journey with adding to their family. We'll hear more from them as their story unfolds! :)
I asked AJ to write a little about the beginning of their journey into adoption. Here it is in her own words,
"Our adoption journey began a year and a half ago initiated by a dream I had. In my dream I was in a hospital room sitting next to a woman who was giving birth. After this child was born, they immediately placed her baby in my arms and the Dr. said, 'here is your baby girl'. I knew this child was not mine, as I just saw this woman give birth to her. I explained this to the Dr. and he said, 'she is yours now'. He also said a specific address and told me that this is where we found her and then I woke up from my dream. The address I never wrote down and I am kicking myself to this day, but I believe it was to send my heart searching for this child. From that moment on, I cannot tell you how my heart was changed. I was longing for this child that I have only met in my dreams. I remember that morning after my dream I did everything I could online to find this address in hopes that this child would just fall into my lap, but no such luck. That following Sunday, after church service, I was sitting holding Noemi's new and sweet little Clara and a woman of the church came up to me and said, 'AJ, I have to tell you something that I really feel the Lord is telling me about you and Micah.' I said, 'OK, what is it?' She said, 'Adoption. I feel like the Lord said that he wants you to adopt.' Sudden tears streamed down my face. I felt a relief, an answer and permission to pursue this journey that had been burning in me. It was the confirmation I was looking for and I knew it was from God. On the car ride home, I told Micah everything. I wasn't sure how he would digest it all and just trusted the Lord for the rest. After our conversation he was surprised, but he felt it was from the Lord and just wanted to pray about it. He wanted the Lord to confirm it in his heart also. He prayed for confirmation within the next month. A few weeks later, Micah was in CA for a healthcare conference. One evening many of the attendees decided to go out to dinner together. There were about 30 people and he did not know any of them. It ended up that he found himself in a conversation with a woman who was adopted and she and her husband also adopted their child. She was a Christian and she talked with Micah about their whole journey. That night Micah called me and he said that he had a confirming conversation and that he really felt we should go forward with adoption. I was floored because if any of you know us, you know that I am the emotional and adventurous one and he is the very steady and constant one. God took care of it all. He did that. For Micah to say, 'Yep, lets add to our family through adoption.', based on a single conversation he had with a total stranger... that was a God thing. So that is how our journey all began."
I heart Adoption (Fundraiser/Mini Sessions) Family Portrait Photography – PART 4
The great thing about Mini Sessions is that people who don't usually have a pro-photographer capture their family try it and love it because it's so painless! This was my first time capturing the Forsbergs and they were such troopers! It was hot, the mosquitoes were out, I was chasing the sun and moving them around...but I think they had a good time anyway!
I heart Adoption (Fundraiser/Mini Sessions) Family Portrait Photography - PART 3
Every family is precious but give me kids with curly hair and I melt! I love this family...I've known then for years and can't believe that the last time I captured them they had two kids! Time flies. We are bonded by many things...our love for adoption is one of them.
The Krause Family
I heart Adoption (Fundraiser/Mini Sessions) Family Portrait Photography - PART 2
More love for Adoption! Here's the details of the agency we're raising money for! The Olive Tree Adoptions ministry defends the cause of the fatherless by providing support and resources for adoptive families of Bethany Church and by reaching out in love to support women in crisis, providing them with an alternative to abortion.
To that end, we have established several avenues of ministry to meet the call to care for the fatherless and see them "grafted in" (Romans 11) to both an earthly and an eternal family:
The Olive Tree Adoption Agency: We have a team that is working to pull together the resources necessary for license in Minnesota in order to establish an adoption agency that will provide low cost adoptions for families in our community. By utilizing the existing structures of the local church, and it's volunteer force, we are seeking to provide an answer to one of the greatest barriers to adoption - the financial cost. The Olive Tree Adoption Agency will provide support, consultation, mentoring, and resources for families throughout the adoption process.
The Olive Tree Fund: In conjunction with a low cost adoption agency we have established The Olive Tree Fund that is prepared to help adoptive families in our church financially through loans, grants, and fundraising. This will further decrease the cost of adoptions for families. You can download the fund summary and application HERE. If you would like to make a contribution to Olive Tree Fund, simply send a check to Bethany Church payable to the "The Olive Tree Fund"or donate online.
The Anderson Family Portraits
My baby is 18 months old! Portrait Photography
Things are moving fast this summer...but I haven't forgotten Clara hitting a milestone! this little girl is beautiful. I love her so much. She has rockstar hair which is messy more then it's done nice...and she likes it that way! She has her own mind. She decided that she liked being carried more then walking...so she waiting until 2 weeks ago to start. She talks and sings all day. She is a wrestler - not scared to get in there! Clara you make me smile.
I heart Adoption (Fundraiser/Mini Sessions) Family Portrait Photography
I love adoption. A couple of my closest friends are in the process of adopting right now. Do you know what that means? Any moment they could get the call saying, "Your baby is ready and waiting for you. Come pick her/him up?!" Incredible. It is powerful to forever take another child into your home and into your heart. That's why I love adoption. It's a beautiful picture of unconditional love. No, we're not adopting as of yet but...you never know what the future may hold! Until the Lord calls us into adoption I want to serve the cause...one way I can do that is to raise money for OLIVE TREE ADOPTION AGENCY! So, that's what I did. Using my love and gift for photography...I did Mini Sessions for free and each family gave to the Adoption FUND. Beautiful right?
So, enjoy the next few days of family photography knowing we worked together for Adoption!
Fall Mini Sessions - Twin Cities Portrait Photography
I’ll be offering Mini Portrait Sessions once this fall! These "short-n-sweet!" sessions are perfect for updated shots of the kids, some new fun headshots/lifestyle pictures of you, couples session or getting a jump on Christmas photos. (Here’s a link from past fall mini sessions)
• When: Saturday, September 24th, 2011
• Where: Location will be given when you register
• Times: Sessions will begin at 9 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 4-5 people max (kids, families, couples, headshots welcome) If your family has more then 5 people contact me for details…you may 2 Mini Session spots to make sure we have time.
• Assorted posed and candid shots
• Feel free to bring a few props of your own
There will be two packages:
Basic Mini Sessions are $200 and include:
• Time and processing
• Assistant on hand to help entertain the kids
• 30-40 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.
Premium Mini Sessions Packages are $325.00 include:
-everything in the basic package, 40-50 images and an 8 x 8 album with 20 sides ($250.00 value). This is a beautiful coffee table book to show off your new portraits or give as a gift! (Additional copies may be purchased for $100.00.)
MINI SESSIONS USUALLY SELL-OUT so reserve your spot quickly! To book your session or inquire for more details, please email me. (All photo-sessions are on a first come first serve basis.)
The Toler Family Portraits - Prior Lake, MN
nothing like capturing neighbors in the neighborhood! 
