James has gotten so big! fargo baby artist

James was a tiny preemie, the first time he came to the studio...look at what a big boy his is now! Such an easy going sweetie.


...he was still a little wobbly at sitting, so we tried a basket to help.





I have had a bunch of 1 year olds lately! Here is a peek at the shoot with Marley.

Displaying your portraits...fargo photographic artist

It's Fathers Day so thoughts are about family today... I have been getting a lot of requests for ideas on where and how to best display portraits so I am going to put together a gallery on the website or blog with pictures and ideas. Last Fri, I went to a clients home to help her with some ideas for hanging her artwork as well as her portraits and it was helpful for both of us to look at the space and hold up size templates to the walls. For now...here are some ideas to get started.

Last fall, I did a session at the Fall Home Show put on by the Home Builders Association, on the art of portraits along with 2 painter friends of mine, and here are a few of the photos I used of my own home.

...this inside my front door. There is a little series of babies in a vertical row (not even my babies, but an art series by a photographer friend from Minneapolis.) The larger (11x14) B&W's are my 2 son's senior pictures. I know...I cut them in half but I was shooting the small series. There is a portrait of my daughter on the other side of the window on the same wall.

Did you know that it's good Feng Shui to have prominent photographs of people you love near the entrance to your house? And, it makes your home feel warm and happy!
...in the dining room, there is a series of my daughter Maija above the pass through to the kitchen. They are mounted on standout mounts and have a fun contemporary look. I threw in one in color just for punch. I have red accents in the room and liked her red camisole.

...this is a portrait of her at about 2 1/2 carrying a HUGE bunch of lilacs. I have it hanging near the kitchen sink.

Did you know that it improves a child's self esteem to have prominent portraits of them on the walls? Especially in their bedrooms? I will put more about that research later.

These are some other ideas that I love! People are always asking what to do with a HUGE wall. This is a great idea! I love how the subjects are on a smaller scale in the images, so it's more like an art piece that happens to have your family in it! Think Urban landscape or North Dakota/Minnesota landscape... either one can be fab. Imagine a great shot on a dock at the lake. Hanging a group together like this gives the impression of one very large contemporary art piece. Notice the picture rail on the left.

I have some large ones that I have done for Fargo/Moorhead families ...I will post some photos from their homes when I get them shot.

This is a great series of 8x10s in 20x20 brushed steel frames. They look would be even bolder if the images were the size of the frames in either a gallery wrap or standout mounts. This is something that you could start with 3 and add 3 the next time and so on...

The playful portraits of the children below are not as easy to see with the reflections on the glass here... but the point is... think about your portraits in a new way! Portraits of your family don't have to be small, in a frame on the mantel or on a desk. And they definitely don't have to be smiling faces looking at the camera. Choose images that show your child's personality, or capture the essence of their childhood. It goes by so fast. I have a photo of my boys building a tree house, that I will always treasure. Think of your family as the best art in your home!

Invest in 1 large wonderful piece or series that will make an impact and showcase what matters most to you... and then you can skip all the little ones that can make things look cluttered.

A couple Birth Announcements...Fargo newborn photographer

...and I had to throw in a pic of Jackson in the alley...
front side
flip side...
little Ella..

Little Leighton...

I am loving this mustard woven chair, it's a great vintage color. This is the only time she fell asleep, and then only for about 4 shots... and she was wide awake again!

wide eyed in her hat from the hospital.
I usually make these b&w, but her pink little toes were so cute.

my buddy Jaxson back again! Fargo Children's photographer

Jaxson was back for his 4 year pics and we had some fun...

...animated as usual!


we even got grossed out due to a freak accident and I ended up wearing only one shoe for the rest of the day! (since the other one was FILLED with old nasty beer) What can I say... the hazards of shooting downtown.


bikes on Broadway...
...hey Jaxson.."hurray" to you!
more bikes across the street!

my sweet Jackson at 4 days old...the art of baby photography

These were taken in their dining room, most of them with natural light from the patio doors. I have always had something going on with nests... so I had to make a nest for Jack. This one is out of shearling scraps.

sleeping in Mommy's arms....
he's 2 weeks old here. His first visit to grandma's studio in Fargo. He looks soulful and wise.
the rest are at 4 days, at home after all the company left.





I know...I know... but everyone wanted to hold the baby... including the elk.

welcome to the world Finn...baby photographer

I sooo wanted to post the one of him being a fountain with dad holding him... but thought it best to keep that one for his parents only! Boys are boys you know...