Creole Wisdom

the k family :)

My co-worker at The Magazine, Jen, asked me to come over last weekend and take some photos of her darling girls. Not only does Jen have a beautiful family she also has great taste for interior design. I had to grab a few shots of her and baby E in the nursery--

The K family is one of my favorites :) Jen is someone I really admire and look up to. Jen's mom who was visiting from out of state was able to sneak in some shots, too:

These older two are silliness embodied- oh, it's so hard to sit still for photos when you're little!

These were the last of the ones I shot, and some of the sweetest... just new baby E and her mama hanging out on the porch swing:

cute graduates + to dragma

I love going back to AOPi. It truly is one of my "happy places." A few weeks ago one of the seniors asked if I could take some photos of the graduating class on the stone arch bridge. I loved the idea!

I think this one is so cute. I love their excitement and joy for their future. I am so grateful that I decided to join a sorority. It was one of the best decisions I've made and taught and prepared me for life.

I love that these women have each other... oh, my first few years out of college were hard. I don't think I would of made it without my dear friends!

Alpha Omicron Pi... so many great memories! While I love the season of life that I am in now, I look back with so much fondness on my college years at the U of MN. Those were wonderful times. I hope these ladies will feel the same. 

Speaking of Alpha Omicron Pi... a few photos of mine appeared in the To Dragma, AOPi's magazine. Headquarters are located in Brentwood, TN and they contacted me (the eternal historian) for a few shots of our 100 year celebration. Seeing my work in print doesn't get old :)

recent work favorites

September will mark three years of taking photos at The Magazine. I am continually grateful, everyday, that I get to do something that I enjoy. Growing up I always assumed I would hate my job because most people I knew disliked what they did. I had pretty low expectations. I am so glad things turned out the way they did!

new perspective and angles:

getting more comfortable with my flash:

still loving available light and keeping things bright:

This past winter I learned how to shoot food with a flash (controversial, but at times necessary), photographed several glasses of beer, worked on a giant breakfast issue and fell in love with Gray House, Parka, Union and Borough. I am continually impressed with the restaurant scene in town and grateful for the connections I've formed with chefs and owners. So many good people who are passionate and knowledgeable about food in a a relatively small town.

protecting images on the web, my 2 cents

I think everyone has a system that works for them, If you have any tips, I'd love for you to share them with me in the comments!

Basically I never protected my images until recently. I felt like, who would want to steal them and also who cares? Then I wised up and realized I needed to be educated.

I'm not big into doing things retroactively because I don't have the time. Going forward this is what's been working well for me:

Some of my photos are stored on flickr:

-I can grab the link and simply paste it into the HTML box

-Flickr allows me to individually decide if photos are visible or not

-That can get annoying though, right? I hate going to a blog and wanting to pin something and then it takes me to a flickr photostream or private page

Some of my photos are sized for web and I add a stamp:

-I almost exclusively do this for projects I've done, things that I anticipate getting pinned or work photography :)

But... sometimes I don't do either and instead deactivate the photo link:

-Maybe it's just me, but I'm not going to watermark every image and not every image should be watermarked.

-In instances like that I re-size for web and then deactivate the link, that way the photo can't be opened up into another page. 

...

{all photos taken Mother's Day at Patisserie 46}

Baby M

I don't do many portraits these days, that's okay. I love trying my hand at more commerical work, but something about newborns always calls me back. Who can resist a fresh baby? They are just too precious. I met Baby M last week bright and early at 730am for a photo shoot.

Her parents were game for the giant collection of quilts I brought and even had their own. I spent more time admiring Baby M and enjoying their sweet pup Bernie than taking photos, I think! We managed to get a few favorites in among the fun and visiting:

{She was truly this peaceful the entire session-- even after about 4 outfit changes... what a love!}

{This blanket is the same fabric of Baby M's mama, gotta love crazy 1980s prints.}

{baby hands are such a testimony builder for me- so perfect and tiny, such a beautiful example of God's artistry.}

{Her expression in this shot just makes me grin, what a happy girl she was the entire session!}

...

recent work favorites

The past few months have gone very well at The Magazine. I've felt pushed to get more provocative and original with my work. I've also had the chance to capture things I don't usually. As time goes on I feel like my personal style is starting to come out, which makes me happy. 

Darker Restaurants & Lifestyle Shots:

People Exercising:

Trying to make round plates interesting & adding that human connection:

Treating food like a portrait:

All good stuff I am proud of. This weekend I'll be photographing more for fun: Karen's bridal shower is on Sunday and I've got an evening out with some AOPis [plus Allison] to celebrate the bride-to-be tonight! March may be really long and kind of gross, but I've managed to fill nearly every weekend with something fun.

cover story

Something exciting happened in January.

A shot I did of a bloody mary for work was on the cover!!!!!

This is kind of special for a few reasons: usually the cover photos are done in studio/on location by more seasoned photographers and while my work has been on the cover before [it was a collage of images, some were mine, some weren't] this was the first time one photo of mine made up the cover at large.

I was thrilled when I found out. It had been a hectic month and this made it all worth it. Naturally I begged our front desk person to give me the blown up size that is always displayed.

Like I've mentioned before, sometimes I feel weird writing about my success because I know people out there are looking for work and can't find it let alone do a job they love. Believe me when I say that I am grateful every single day! I am proud of what I do and worked hard to get to this beautiful place.

Strangely enough my favorite shots from this issue were drinks-- I like photographing liquid I think. These are coffee + pastry/bakery parings and then good ol' bloody mary's.

{1 & 4. Pistachio danish and cappucino from Rustica 2 & 3. Chocolate steamed nirvana and cinnamon twist from Dunn Bros. 5. Bostock and espresso cortado from Kopplins 6. Bar's Bakery's macchiato}

{1. Icehouse 2. Floyd's 3. Bryant Lake Bowl}

recent work favorites

{Thank you so much for the continued prayers and well wishes. Recovery is really slow. I don't really do much except read, eat and sleep. I get winded doing my hair and I have to wait until someone is home to take a bath so I don't kill myself getting in and out of my tub. However, I am so grateful to my mom has has been tirelessly taking care of me!}

I created a few collages for a co-worker before I had surgery of some favorites and I thought I'd share them today :)

{Drink from The Strip Club, one of the cool new eateries in the Delta Terminal at the airport, food from another Delta Terminal restaurant and catching a moment of cake decorating at Angel Food Bakery.}

{Beautiful southern Minnesota in the fall, lunch at Lucia's, a breakfast dish from the Red Stagg and one of my favorite ambiance photos ever-- these two guys enjoying drinks at Butcher + Boar}

{The breakfast lox sammie at Cosmos, the new Cafe Maud-- it's so pretty, Picollo's pretty dish and the owner of Cupcake with a few of his creations.}

One interesting story: in the first collage I have two photos from inside the airport. Now, getting a pass to go through security and not fly on a plane is serious business. I was excited to see the new places to eat though, because normally airport food is awful. The PR people flew out a nice guy from NY to show me around and help me get everything coordinated. It was really neat. I am so appreciative when people are helpful and go above and beyond. If you are local and you are flying out of Delta, be sure to eat at one of these places, the food is delicious and you order right from an ipad menu.

{ordering from an ipad menu}

{This cool noodle shop, I love how you can see the kitchen-- so neat!}

A photojournalist’s flair: press passes

I’ve wanted to write a bit more about what I do and so far this year I think I’ve done a good job of sharing what my days are.

Aside from working during the daylight hours to get good natural light, The Magazine also has me cover evening events: galas, balls and auctions many with the purpose of earning money for local charities or good causes.

The Jist:

Of course when you work them you aren’t there to party, but I always try to have a good time. Usually a few co-workers attend or else restaurateurs, business owners or other members of the community I might recognize. I’ve even met a few local celebrities: Josh Hartnett (he’s handsome and really tall!!!), politicians, some new anchors and NHL stars.

An editor co-worker and I will attend a given event together with the point of capturing guests. I always try and keep my eye out for celebrities or great fashion. We photograph them and write down their names. Then the photos are published.

I have to wear press passes and I love them—everyone knows why I am photographing and often I am given VIP status :)

So here I am with all the press passes from 2011 and 2012, I attended quite a few events!

The Fun Stuff:

Sometimes I get to bring a “plus-one,” I’ve brought Becky and Ashley to events.

The food is usually scrumptious and I’ve seen some incredible desserts.

Bands, music and entertainment are always interesting. Once there were women in lingerie pole dancing, my mother didn’t believe me until I showed her a photo. Another time there were giant clowns on stilts! Oh and a pretend paparazzi, too.

I loved Hope Rocks where everyone was encouraged to wear “rocker chic” attire and they had free henna tattoos, feather hair extensions, two music performances and delicious food by Crave. The Children’s Theatre did an Allison in Wonderland theme and the tablescapes were out of this world incredible, mind blowing. They also had drinks in viles that said, “drink me.” Dad happened to be attending that event, too so we did the photo booth to flipbook for fun.

They can eat up my Friday and Saturday nights in the summer and fall, but I love attending them!

2012 magazine favorites

I need to do a better job of showcasing my favorites from my work at The Magazine. I think I forget and part of me compartmentalizes. I also shoot such a volume that I literally can't recall everything I've done, but here are a few favorites from 2012!

Before you wonder, what kind of dork has her name on top of a collage, I did this for a separate project to show my boss so my name had to be on there and I'm sure as sun not going to crop it out.

yummy wings at Icehouse//visiting a real live mill, such a cool experience!//delicious pasta at one of the new eateries in the Delta terminal at the airport//I love gingham and the napkins at Birdhouse don't disappoint//Angel Food Bakery cake!//The popover from Bachelor Farmer//I can't remember!//Canned food at Kitchen in the Market//Yumminess that is the lobster grilled cheese with an egg at Butcher + Boar//another can't remember!

My darling dining room chairs//My sweet co-worker's porch//My jadeite collection!//Isn't this vignette pretty? It's at another featured home//Another co-worker's awesome book collection//A holiday table shoot from ages ago//Another featured home//This darling lady who designs cabins//Becca's sweet living room, I loved her apt!

I did this giant beer shoot where I had upwards of 50+ bottles of beer that I shot on white, I'm not much of a beer person but learned a lot about different kinds and labels. We have lots of breweries and home brewing is really big in MN//The Mrs. Meyer's clean day booth at the Uptown Art Fair, I was so happy to have a place to wash my hands//Pretty boat paddles at the chain of lakes//Christmas ornaments I show with my co-worker//The yummy typography on the Butcher + Boar menu//Of the many MN cultural things, "hotdish" is one of them and this print from 'I Like You' is perfect//Chocolate coins for a Christmas story//Clocks from the Junk Bonanza//Tractors from a summer flea market//Scandinavian fabric for our Nordic issue.

I am a sucker for signage, I actually have to reign myself in, but this was one time I couldn't!//The amazing chalkboard menu at Mara Mi//This darling lady owns a salon in Stillwater//An outtake from a fashion shoot we did on an Island on Lake Minnetonka//Bachelor Farmer's shop//Candles at Roe Wolf//This vignette is so sweet, from the Bee Cottage in Excelsior//A great display at I Like You//Hot chocolate at the kitchen shop in Stillwater//A view from Mara Mi.

2012 was a great year for me at work:

-I was promoted to staff photographer (!!!!)

-I upgraded my camera so I could do better work

-I travelled to three different places involving driving all the way up to Big Fork, Minn.

-Photographed caul fat, a pig's head, quail eggs and dead pigeons (good thing I'm not squeemish!)

-Attended the opening of Borough and enjoyed watching Fulton Brewery come to life

-Visited a letterpress

-Ran into an ex who is a sever at Union after he told me I would "never work for The Magazine" haha (I was very graceful!)

-Rock climbed and photographed at the same time at Vertical Endeavors

-Was only mistaken for a student or intern once!

-Met with a more seasoned photographer to learn how to use my flash better

-Had my photo on the cover (more on that later)

-Learned and fell in love with the craft of photography and photojournalism again and again