Met Tyneal and Ryan at the Cannon River Winery, in Cannon Falls on Saturday.  As I set off to meet them, I drove out of our neighborhood with people walking their dogs, mowing their yards and out on the lake boating and fishing.  It was a glorious day!  As I neared Cannon Falls, the weather turned black.  The vehicles on Hwy 52 all had their lights on and it looked like rain or worse.  In my mind, I was imagining umbrellas and big puddles of water.  When I first met this beautiful young couple, I knew we would easily connect.  We each ordered a glass of wine, looked at a sample Graphi Studio wedding book, and talked about life and how they met, wedding details and family.  By the time our glasses were half gone, the rain had passed and brighter skies were radiating light through the windows of the winery.  We strolled around the block and even though the wind gave us its best, we managed to get some really fun shots in.

Holly = Incredibly Special.  Holly is no doubt, one of the most inspirational people I have ever been blessed to meet.  For those who know her, they know what I am talking about.  It is rare to come across someone with such perseverance and character.  She is a bubbly, vivacious individual who is hard working and greets everyone with a smile, because "if you smile at someone, they just might smile back".  A lesson for everyone.

Senior Season has begun!  Callen and Jocelyn at Mill Ruins Park and the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.  We rocked it out!!!

I come from a long line of beautiful people.  No, I'm not saying my ancestors were all models, but my family is and has been beautiful on the inside. 

My dear sweet Grandpa is one of those most special beautiful people.  He is a good man... one who cared for and took care of his family.  He lived his life with integrity and honesty.  He worked hard.... very hard. 

Recently my Grandpa has resided at Thorncrest in Albert Lea.  He has been there for 3 years.  Thorncrest is 2 blocks from my parent's home.. the home I grew up in.  Every day at 4:00 pm, my parents go to see Grandpa for an hour.  This is in additions to other random visits, hair cuts, mass at Thorncrest etc...  Lately though, my parent's schedule has not been the same. 

On February 1st,  my Grandpa was moved to Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul.  He has dementia and had become agitated at Thorncrest and needed more help in balancing his medications so he was moved for a short term to get him back on track. 

Grandpa was resting when we arrived.  He was in a large room with several other patients.  The sunshine was smiling upon him, which caused Grandpa to close his eyes.  We brought him to a family room to spend some time with him.  The room was private and quiet.  We spent quite a while trying to rouse Grandpa from his slumber.  He has difficulty speaking clearly and mumbles quite a bit.  We did hear something like "sunshine bright" which is why he didn't want to open his eyes.  We convinced him that some pretty good looking people came to see him and he should take a peek.  With some conversation about his shoes and how he had fitted so many with shoes of their own, as he was a shoe salesman for years we were able to get a few smiles.  He also sold clothing at a high end men's clothing store in Spencer Iowa.  When he was a young man, his family ran a service station.  He smiled when we reminisced with him and began to button his shirt.  He always wore a shirt and tie.  His lifetime work ethic was still in him and he wanted to get back to work.  We told him it was Sunday and he had the day off.  That satisfied him for a while. 

Lunch came and we sat him at a table.  When the food began to be uncovered, Grandpa caught sight of the cookie on the plate... first thing he grabbed!  He did end up eating pretty well, but finished the cookie first.  After lunch, he wanted to get up again.  This time to go get some candy!  I asked him what kind he liked, and he was mumbling so I asked him if he liked chocolate.  That was an instant and positive, yes!  I went to the cafeteria and came back with some chocolate pudding, two raisin cookies and a couple packages of Oreos.  Before I got the selections out of my mouth, he grabbed one of the raisin cookies.  No question my Grandpa has a sweet tooth!  He has been a disciplined eater all of his life and all of that has been thrown to the wind.  He now eats what pleases his tastebuds.

The day couldn't have been a better day.  I enjoyed the time with Mom, Dad and Grandpa so much.  These moments in life are absolutely priceless.
 

On the way to see Grandpa.

Sleeping in the sunshine when we arrived.

Trying to see Grandpa's baby blues.

Dad helping Grandpa button his top button.

Trying to understand what Grandpa is saying.

Time to get up and go to work.

Grandpa loves Dad's backrubs.

Looking out the window.

Haven't even got his napkin secured and he has his hands on that cookie!

Grandpa has learned.  Life is short.. eat dessert first!

Trying to be good and get some vegetables in between bites of cookie!

Have to button that shirt again.

Grandpa and his doctor.

Getting his meds mixed in a chocolate malt.

Jacob's coat of many colors.

Mom writing a prayer to tuck into the coat's pocket.

During this slower time of my year, I remain busy with projects such as wedding book design, product literature, continuing education, and this year I am working on a new and more interactive website!

Technology is awesome and with each new birth, there is much excitement! I remember launching two websites in the past, and both of them gave me the same exhilaration I am experiencing now.

The new website is self inclusive with no further need to select an event site, wedding site or senior site. This has it all in one! It is so easily to navigate!

This is the second year that I have been truly honored to be a part of an event to remember the life of an American hero, Corey Goodnature.

Chief Warrant Officer Three Corey Goodnature was the Flight Lead Pilot of an aircraft, that on June 28, 2005 answered an urgent radio call for assistance from a team of Navy SEALs that came under intense fire in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. Two aircraft departed their firebase with a SEAL security team in an attempt to rescue the stricken SEALs. During landing, the lead aircraft was hit by Taliban and Al-Qaeda fire and crashed on the mountainside below. All eight aircrew along with eight fellow Navy SEALs were instantly killed.. Corey and his fellow soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in an attempt to save others from harm. He and his crew responded to the challenge that day because that was their very nature. He’d rather die than quit, and he proved it that day. The 160th motto — “Night Stalkers Don’t Quit!” — is how Corey lived his life. His devotion to that ethos and his fellow warriors was embodied in his death.

Corey is remembered every year with a Golf Tournament in his name. The purpose of the event is to raise money for a scholarship fun to assist high school graduates further their mission of education.

To see all of the images from yesterday's event Click Here

Select - Event Photography

Select - Event Images

Password - goodnature09

Last Monday, I met with a friend of mine Susan Austin (blog click here) . Susan lives in the Twin Cities and volunteered to help me scout out some great shooting spots in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

I needed a model or two for the day and Brynn contacted a few friends. Ryan was able to join us and happy to do so. I didn't realize at the time that he is actually a senior and in need of a senior shoot anyway. He came loaded with clothing but I quickly selected the black button shirt that seems to make a best choice of clothing in my mind.

We met Sue at The St. Paul Hotel grabbed our gear and wandered over to the Landmark Center . What a find that was! This historic building had big open areas with pillars and sunlight streaming through. Stunning and beautiful! There were unique staircases and historic court rooms housed within this building. The lighting was fabulous!

We left the Landmark and walked over to the Ordway for a few outdoor shots against the sides of the buildings. We scooted across Rice Park where a band had just finished playing. Brynn and Ryan tossed their sandals off and dipped their toes in the water fountain. We headed to the St. Paul Grill for refreshment and so Ryan could change clothing. This place is so fancy, the bathrooms are even beautiful. The image of Brynn by the mirrors was taken there.

We left the St. Paul Hotel and traipsed back across Rice Park to the Library and finished our shoot there.

Brynn and I were invited by Scott and Jen Elder, to participate in Rochester Carefest 2009 by giving of our time and talent in photography. We began the day early at Century High School where volunteers cleaned out lockers, cleaned walls and desks and chairs. We moved on to Kellogg Middle School where they were cleaning out the Media Center, Computer Labs, lockers, chairs, classrooms and more. We left Kellogg and journeyed out to southwest Rochester to Seasons Hospice, where many projects were happening, painting, windows, library etc... and we ended our time at a residence of an elderly couple who was having carpet torn out and replaced and landscaping work done.

It was a great experience to be a part of, just knowing how much the workers were helping so many in need. It was a blessing to us to be able to witness it and capture it for others to see and appreciate. I am posting this video that was created from our images along with images from several other photographers. I will post individual images that Brynn and I created a little later.

There is this special family in our neighborhood... you know, the one with 4 beautiful kids? The Pastikas... Shawn, Ann, Bradley, Beca, Nick and Emma. Bradley is graduating in 2010 and I promised him I would take him out and shoot his senior portraits. Since we are neighbors and friends, we have a bit of flexibility in our schedules. We headed out last Friday for some shooting... definitely not the entire shoot, but enough to get the ball rolling.

We loaded the truck with Bradley, Beca, Emma and Brynn and headed towards Rochester. We stopped in Oronoco because there are some incredible old buildings in this small town. Everyone was suddenly hungry once we finished in Oronoco so we drove in to Mr. Pizza and got lunch specials to go. Stopped at a baseball diamond, ate, watched a bird "dumpster dive" and pull things out all over the parking lot, and did some shooting. Stopped on a pedestrian bridge on the Douglas Trail and had to head back so Brad could get to baseball practice before his game.

Delightful!!! That is one of the words which describes this beautiful couple. Rock solid, everlasting... the list goes on.

Nathan is like literally a rocket scientist. He is super smart, meticulous and extremely precise. Then there is Sarah. She is classic, to the center core of her being good, and she is in love with Nathan. Nathan is the softly spoken one who is in love right back with her.

Brynn and I shot this wedding in Bloomington, at the Richfield Lutheran Church. Nathan's father Reverend Tom Koelln, co-officiated the ceremony. Nathan and Sarah have such a large support group of family and friends who gathered to celebrate their joy.

We photographed Sarah and her bridesmaids at Minnehaha Falls Park, where Nathan proposed to Sarah. Then Nathan followed with the groomsmen to see his bride. Her bridesmaids led him with eyes closed across the bridge to have his first sight of Sarah in her vintage wedding dress. Sarah cried, and I saw a tear in Nathan's eyes too. We did some fun shots and headed to the church to do some photographs in the front of the church. Once the ceremony began, Brynn had the D300 and second shot the ceremony. She nailed the shots I needed her to, and got more to boot!

The reception was at Buck Hill and once we arrived, Nathan, Sarah, Brynn and I drove to the top of the hill to do some couple shots. Crazy cool view of Burnsville and Lakeville and who knows what other towns we could see from atop of the ski hill. The meal was delicious with amazing toasts to the bride and groom. A surfer safari type group played some darn good tunes, dancing, bouquet tossing and garter obtaining moments as well.

Nathan and Sarah are definitely one of my favorite couples ever! I feel extremely blessed to have been a part of their day.

More images to follow...