First time a go-go

I think Rachel and Brian managed to score the only fabulous weekend we have had -weather wise- so far this summer. Last weekend, we topped out at 50 degrees. Both Saturday and Sunday this weekend were a balmy, blue-skied 80+. Gorgeous, just like this stellar bride (and groom!)!!

Rachel and I graduated high school together and Brian has been good friends with my cousins for years, so it was great to be a part of their wedding and I'm super pumped at how the photobooth turned out. They had all sorts of little give-aways for their guests including glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets (which looked pretty cool on the dance floor), an economical donation to the wildlife refuge which came in the form of a wedding cake shaped paper cutout (a piece of paper with the seeds made inside it. Plant the paper and the seeds will grow-cool, huh?), even the beta fish which served as a focal point in the table centerpieces were given away along with instruction and little food pouches. But they also wanted something else; something for their guests to have as a little keepsake and something for them to look back and remember the day with. Thus the wedding photo booth was born.

This wasn't like a traditional booth where you pull the curtain and find yourself squished in a 3x3 foot box with a sticky floor and a blinking light always catching you just a titch off guard. Nope, we made this bigger for everyone to see! I printed off a 4x6 for each of the guests to take a copy home and Rachel and Brian will get a copy of each one as well.

I had helped awesome local photographer Lori Momberg do a Santa photo booth in December and, more recently, a Girl's Night Out photobooth in downtown Northfield. She gave me some helpful tips on how to get this set up and I ran with it. Thanks Lori!!!

These are just a few of my favorites from the night, enjoy!!

The oh-so-happy couple, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Trnka!!!!

So good...


Seriously, how cute is the flower girl (daughter of the bride and groom) with both her grandmothers (who were both looking mighty fine that night, if I do say so!!)




Hahahaha...can't do this in one of those little tiny booths!!


You stay classy, San Diego! ☺

• brown paper packages tied up with string •

I love days like today. Days that I get to plan fantastic things in advance, but still make room for a bit of the unknown. I mean, seriously, if everything in life were planned it would get ridiculously boring. Finding my afternoon wide open, I decided to take a drive downtown, grab a steaming skim latte and settle into a new update for this blog. Oh, Wednesday, I love you so.

I’ve been working hard the past couple weeks at getting my website up and live. It’s been a crazy, time consuming project, but I’m really enjoying being able to study my images and think of new ideas and where I see my work and career in five years. As I mused about life (past, present, and forthcoming) over my caffeinated goodness, I decided this post would be a personal affair; giving credit, thanks and praise to my favorite things.

There is the standard list of my favorite things which would feature happenings such as line-dried laundry, sunsets and rises, bright colored Sharpie markers, Hillshire Farm and Real Men of Genius commercials, nephews, getting up before the alarm, the buns (speaking about Thor and Kujoe, not sir-mix-alot topics), bonfires, coffee, oversized sweatshirts, volleyball, late night philosophical conversations, rainy mornings, sunny afternoons and anything homemade from the roommates. But…every post is just that much better with a photo, right? Without further ado, I present my top three favorite things:


Travel.
Yep, I am a mover and a shaker. Being in one place for too long does not suite me nor my spirit so I find that going someplace new not only helps me become more motivated when I return, but also provides inspiration and zest for things yet to come. Plus, it’s way fun to go some place new and explore. Wicked.

(a few of the best places I've been)



Photography.

Who would have guessed that would be my one of my favorites? It’s true though. I had this amazing epiphany a few days ago that I am absolutely in the right job. I love talking with other photographers, I can’t wait to get my hands on the monthly magazines that come to my doorstep, I have dreams about poses and locations (no joke), and I just get so pumped when I have a shoot coming up or have photos to edit. It is seriously the best feeling to know that I enjoy what I do and I do what I enjoy. Rock it! Strangely enough, right along with photography comes another favorite (a two-for-one, if you will)…

Memories. 

I have some of the best friends and family anyone could ever ask for. They have been there for me through more things than I would have ever thought possible and I love them all so much. Sure, on occasion we argue, bury each other in seaweed, start the occasional chocolate or flour fight, get into a bit of mischief with hidden Kailua bottles or almost get thrown out of casinos, but who doesn’t have the hilarious ‘Remember the time when…’ story to tell?

Mr. Nick.

Quite possibly my most favorite of all my favorite things (he totally knows this cause I say it to him all the time). I don't believe I've ever mentioned him in a blog this far, but we've only been together for a few years, so cut me some slack. (wink, wink). A very big high-five to the guy who can always make me laugh, never tells me to hurry up (what’s the point when we both know we’re gonna be late anyway), shoots me texts just because, fixes the cords my rabbits chew thru (two phone chargers, an electric skillet, an extension cord and soon to fix my computer mouse cord—why do they chew EVERYTHING!?), hangs out with me for no particular reason, lets me be myself and basically just rocks my world. Hoo-ya. (The most favorite of all my favorite things also came up with the PERFECT gift for his lady friend’s special day. What a rockstar.) ☺



Can’t wait to see what the next 25 years have in store and Jen I sincerely hope it holds more than just an opportunity to become an AARP member. ;-)

Baumberger Bash 2009

As the old saying goes; a family who plays together, stays together...right!?

In the Baumberger's case, this is most certainly true. It was a surprise for Grandpa Geno's 70th birthday and almost the entire family was able to make it for a weekend of camping, paintballing, fishing and all-things-lakeside. They had a beautiful weekend for it, I'm so thrilled that I was able to get some family shots! These guys were hilarious, cracking jokes, egging each other on...they were all so great to take photos with I ended up hanging around a bit afterward, too!!

On another note, I learned a very important lesson that weekend. ALWAYS check your driving route for unplanned construction. I knew the way to the cabin fairly well...I mean, this wasn't my first rodeo! :-) Apparently, there is ongoing construction on 35w all the way through Faribault and I didn't figure this out until there was absolutely NO opportunity to exit the freeway. Sweet. Anywho, after leaving my house early and excited to actually be well ahead of schedule for once (I planned on cruising down and taking a bit of the scenic route), I showed up 43 minutes late. No joke. But, that's another thing that's great about this family--they were having so much fun playing bean bags and hanging out, that they barely noticed my absence (and those who did notice were more than gracious--THANK YOU!!)

The guy next to me was reading a magazine so I though, what the heck, and busted out the camera. It helped to pass the time...


Yeah, there was actually this much traffic on 35W just outside of Faribault...the end was NOT in sight...


But I finally made it!!!


This one makes me laugh (I love photos like this!)

Hudson :: Leighton

One of the many perks of being a photographer has GOT to be the networking. Hob-nobbing, rubbing shoulders, working lunch, call it what you will, I love to talk shop! A couple girls and I became quite close during my two years at DCTC and I want to give a shout out to one in particular on this post...

Congrats to Liz and husband Crist (and big sis Autumn and big bro Brecken) on babies 3 and 4!!!! Leighton Ann and Hudson Christopher are so adorable, thanks for letting us come into your house, completely destroy your livingroom (note to self: newborns potty alot) and take some really fun photos. It's crazy that they are already three weeks old today (only seven days old in these photos)!!! I am so excited for you and your new family of 6. Good luck with everything, I can't wait to photograph these little gems again!!!

• America's heartland •

Growing up on a farm in the upper midwest has been pretty sweet. No, we don't have cows. Nor do we have pigs. Or chickens. No goats, sheep or other typical barnyard animals either. No skeins of wool, breakfast sides or Thanksgiving Day stars found here.

Nope, instead of black and white our farm gleams black and red and in place of manure, bleats and crows, we boast diesel smoke and train horns. Our Caterpillar doesn't crawl, it roars. The equipment is well-used, yet rarely is there a speck of dirt to be seen. The leader of this team rises before the sun and continues working long after it sets.

Agriculture has been around for at least 10,000 years. Crazy, huh? Practices have changed and techniques have evolved and with them the equipment has been upgraded and reborn.

Speaking of equipment (nice segway, eh?) check out this new beast of a planter. Looks wide, right? Wrong. The Case IH 1200 Series ASM Planter has a remarkable 12 foot transportation width due in part to new(ish) pivoting technology. Once in the field, the driver doesn't even need to leave the cab to make it pivot and spread, thanks to innovative time-saving technology. With the touch of a few buttons 12 feet twists and transforms into 30 feet of pure planting power. Not only is this planter reported to increase the overall crop yield, but it is also more consistent in seed-to-seed spacing and does not play favorites when it comes to seed size. Yeah, I'm a little jazzed about this thing.

Oh, how I love being a farmers daughter.







Did I mention it has a digital touch screen that not only controls the pivoting, but virtually everything else about the planter? Oh, I didn't mention that? Well...it does. And it's rockin sweet.



One of the many perks of being the daughter of a farmer is getting the 'inside scoop'. Most people would take photos of this bad boy from a safe distance (I mean, the planter does weigh well over 20,000 pounds). Not this chick. She gets to ride along, laying smack dab right on the planter. The only way I could have gotten closer was if I were the soy bean itself. Yeah...sweet shibui...for sure.

3 months and counting

Baby beans is getting so big! He's giggling and cooing and is just the most precious thing. I was asked to be a co-godparent to this little guy and I couldn't possibly be more excited!!! These were taken when he was three months and one day old..which was almost three weeks ago. Wow...I am catching up, though, I promise!!! Thanks to my sister for her endless patience with me!

He's such a ham, can't wait to take some 6 month outdoor photos of him this summer! I have a few ideas I would like to try out...Ooooo, I do love the summertime!!!

oh, britani dawn...

...what's that flower you have on?

Okay, so maybe those aren't really the lyrics, but it's a tune I remember my Papa singing/whistling while he jaunted out to his woodshop (where he proceeded to hide from all us kids). :-)

I can't believe this girl is old enough to drive! Oh, time does seem to fly...What a beautiful chick she's becoming! Thanks, Brit, for helping me with my random assignments this semester, what a trooper.

Oh yeah, your face. ;-)