Being Married...

I just got back from a 2 week vacation in SC with my family and while we were there Matt and I celebrated our 11th anniversary! There's nothing special about the 11 year mark but, we are in a very sweet season in our marriage right now...so 11 years is special to me. He is still the person I go do everything with and the person I want to be with over any other. With three young kids our main focus is on them and their needs, but celebrating an anniversary helps us to look at our relationship. As with any relationship, the more you put into it the stronger it becomes. We're in a season of pouring into our relationship...we don't want to get lost in parenting, working, and being busy. We want to enjoy life together. That's not as easy as it sounds, but it is worth fighting for. I love you honey.

Summer Photo Contest!

Are you ready to vote? here's how...leave a comment describing your favorite photo and why it should win the Summer Photo Contest! Don't forget by leaving a comment on this post AND on Facebook (Search NOEMIPHOTOGRAPHY, click like and leave a comment on your favorite photo) You can vote twice - once on each page! The person with the most votes by July 15th, 2011 wins. (Now's the time to get out your address list and press Send-All!) May the best Summer Photo Win!

Here's your options:

To VOTE for your favorite photo leave a comment at the end of this post describing your pick and go to FACEBOOK and type in NOEMIPHOTOGRAPHY!

Ohhh baby! Newborn Portraits - Bloomington, MN

I love babies. As mine grow I feel my heart loving the littlest ones even more. You truly don't know how fast they grow until they are HUGE! Pictures capture their tiny-ness (yes, I know I totally made that word up!) in such a beautiful way!

Taking your summer by the reigns - Summer Photo Contest! PART 2

After the longest winter ever we skipped spring and so far haven't really been able to enjoy summer...but all that's about to change. Are you ready? I am. I have contest for you. We are going to go looking for summer and capture it.

This idea was inspired by capturing my daughter at a play date last week. What do little girls like to do? Dress up! WHY NOT MAKE A PHOTO SHOOT OUT OF IT...in your own backyard? More on that in a minute. First I want to go over the rules:

1. Any image you submit has to have been taken by you this summer!

2. One image per person and it must be submitted by July 8th - yes, you have the holiday weekend so this is SOOO easy! (email me at: info@noemiphotography.com)

3. I will post the pictures on my blog and on my Facebook page and you will have 1 week to get your friends and family to vote (each person can vote once on each!)

4. Lastly, you must have tons of fun doing this!

What are you entering for? Reason to get out the camera and take pictures...you've never entered a photography contest before or you have entered tons and have never won or you've won everything you've ever entered, but love the challenge of one more contest...you are bored with your summer so far...and YOU WANT TO WIN A NoemiPhotography E-book!

I love this cause I don't pick the winner. YOU DO!

okay back to the inspiration of this contest. Here's some ideas of what you can do: girls playing outside dressed as princesses, fairies, queens, dancers, and then being themselves. (Yes, my daughter is wearing make-up and yes, her friends put it on for her! Sometimes you gotta let go a little!)

Summer Portraits - When the light is perfect!

I know we haven't seen the sun a ton this summer...so, whenever we do I get inspired to capture it! I beg you...when you see the sun get outside, bring your camera and have fun capturing your summer. After dinner when the sun is going down is the warmest, softest and loveliest time to get shots. Try it! I have a summer photo contest coming so i wanted this post to make you smile and remind you what summer is all about:

Family photography - Brooklyn Park, MN

Sharing some vintage love from a family get-together last weekend. Is your family getting together this summer? Why not hire a Professional Photographer to shoot candids? So fun!

The Gruber Family Photography - Brooklyn Park, MN

There are some families I hope to capture FOREVER! This is one of them. I met these beautiful little girls when they were 6 weeks old and have captured them every year since. They are in my heart. I love multiples and the miracle of life. :)

The Blomquist Family Photography - Bloomington, MN

I have a couple of favorite locations in Bloomington, MN...i love the lakes and the classic feel. Normandale lake is beautiful and I love the variety you can get just by walking a short distance! This lovely family was so a pleasure to capture. They are stunningly gorgeous and so relaxed in front of the camera. Enjoy!

Liz and Joe - Engagement Photography (Bloomington, MN)

i had tons of fun with this couple. It was such a perfect day (even though the forecast was rain!) The clouds were moving so we got a great combo of sun and overcast shots! Enjoy!

Senior Portraits have begun! Bloomington, Mn

I love capturing seniors. i fell in love with it last year and the love affair has continued. There's something very sweet about capturing the end of a season and the beginning of another...maybe that's why I love wedding photography too!

The Eddowes Family Reunion - Family Photography

I loved capturing this family get-together. I don't do these mini receptions very often but when it comes to capturing family, candids, details and moments...I've learned those skills from tons of weddings! The other reason why I loved it? I love celebrating marriage! Especially the couples who have been together for ages and still laugh together. I hope to be a couple like that.

Here's some of their moments:

Mini Sessions - the Stennes Family Portraits (Minneapolis, MN)

Friends...I loved this capturing this family. Oh my goodness so cute! I feel I should be connecting some model agency and asking if they need peeps!!!

Mini Sessions - the Karnowski Family Portraits (Minneapolis, MN)

I first met Shari a few months back when she attended one of my FOCUSED Photography Workshops! She is so sweet and has her hands full with 4 beautiful kids (3 of them being triplets) This shoot was so much fun...the kids did great. I love that we got some of their personalities.

Mini Sessions - The Evans Family Portraits (Minneapolis, MN)

Most couples get pictures for their engagement and then for their wedding and then they wait...until kids come. I'm not sure why because as our love grows I think we should capture it! This couple understands that. For their 5 year anniversary they decided to document their love - just for fun! I love that! I hope to capture them at 10 years, 15 years, 20 years and so on...they are beautiful! As the Mini Sessions happened I needed to keep being inspired! I love finding new places to shoot at an old location.

Mini Sessions - Stacey and Lane Family Portraits (Minneapolis, MN)

I love this age of baby...love, love, love her! I really liked the colors they chose because it totally suited their family!

Oh what a sweet little face eh?

Mini Sessions - The Stewart KIDS Portraits (Minneapolis, MN)

I love this family! (Do I say that a lot about the families I capture? Probably. But, it's true...I fall in love with my families!) I hope to capture them many times in the years to come...one can hope right?

Mini Sessions - the Horsman Family Photography (Minneapolis, MN)

I've been wanting to capture this family for ages. They have been friends of ours for years and they are beautiful! I could've posted so many cute individual shots of the kids but, instead I decided to focus on Mom and Dad! I love bright colors and summer and lots of kids. So this shoot was perfect! P.S. As much as i don't want to embarrass her...I have to say it, "Janet you are gorgeous!"

Mini Sessions - Starkey Maternity Photography (Minneapolis, MN)

It's safe to say I have shot at the Walker lots...it has beautiful light in the every season which is priceless! But, after all the times I've shot and visited I've never found the rooftop. It was stunning. I'm so grateful this precious couple was willing to make the trek up there. I think it was worth it!

Mini Session - Dorianna's 9 month portraits (Minneapolis Family Photography)

Dorianna was woken up from a short nap right before this session. She was so tender. It was my pleasure to capture her quiet moments and...not so quiet moments.

Mini Sessions - The Nielsen Family Portraits (Minneapolis Family Photography)

I got this family...their kids are the same ages as mine! They are smart for two reasons: they chose Mini Sessions instead of the normal portrait package AND they hired someone else to do capture their family! This is how you need to do it when you have 3 under 6 yrs old! Kids are fast and they like to run in different directions.