Minneapolis Photographer specializing in custom maternity, newborn, child, family and senior portraits.
I am thrilled and honored to share that I am part of a small group of photographers and mothers participating around the world in a project called “Letters to Our Daughters.” Each month we will be blogging photos and a letter to our little girls. I will be linking to another photographer in the group…
Today is it…your last day of 4. Tomorrow you wake up as 5. Here are my last snaps of you. I loved 4…so much. But I have a feeling 5 may be even better. Bye-bye 4…
Disneyland purchases: t-shirt, light up balloon, Minnie Mouse hairbrush…pirate set .
Disneyland. What can I say? I felt like I was 9 again…except not only did I feel the magic and joy…I saw it on your face. Can’t wait to go back.
There are so many reasons to love you. One is how you played that dang accordion the whole trip . For some reason the incessant sound similar to a dying cat made us smile. Especially when there was a room full of Barbies and Polly Pockets to play with. You are such a cool kid.
At the pier in San Diego (which I like to call Deb’s Pier, hee). You were so happy to be reunited with you sweet pal, Alexa. You 2 held hands for 7 days straight. I was so happy because of the dreamy light .
Sooooo. I was gone a bit spending time with my family. But there was a bit more to it than that. On Sunday morning we woke our girl up and surprised her with a trip to Disneyland for her birthday! This was in conjunction with a work trip for me (more on that later). Here…
Someone got their very first mani-pedi today ! This is the start of a whole week of birthday surprises for our girl. I will actually be taking a blogging break for a bit to spend some time with my family…but will still be continuing with the last of 4 project. I will update things in…
How about this cute little guy? It was so fun to photograph him as I have known his mommy and daddy a LONG time. In fact, I think his mom was my first ever play date over to my house! Feeling a little old here people!!! Anyway . Things are looking gorgeous out right now…
A gloomy spring day. I think we are all coming down with something. Again. Another reminder…to slow down.
Just a little sneak peek of the my first official Red Thread Session! See the full sneak peek and more information on celebrating adoption through photography and Red Thread Sessions HERE.
So incredibly adorable!
I adore your work! New fan here from Ashland, Wisconsin. 
You have some mad drawing skills Jess! Love the first picture. So adorable.
Love! Love the photos, love her, and love you . Miss you tons.
She is deliciously cute and that first photo is magnificent!!
Shawna
Sometimes I fail you. Like today. I promised I would be home to tuck you in. But I was late. I had a session and then a client consult and it ran over. You waited up for me…reading in the half light. I also failed because I didn’t have time to take a ‘real’ photograph…
Blanket. You had each other at hello. And then there is thumb. Hiding underneath. Your little buddies. We’ve talked recently about letting go of thumb before kindergarten. But who knows…since I think I sucked mine longer than that…and only cayenne pepper could seperate us, ha! I’m not in a real hurry though. It’s how we…
Jess, those are BEAUTIFUL pictures. and they made me cry. Elizabeth’s blanket is her lifeline. And I have no hurry to force her to get rid of it:)
Oh my goodness…that first image. Absolutely priceless.
As mothers…we often want to give our kids what we didn’t have. That is the deal with this dollhouse. I bought it for me her . I LIVED for playing with my dolls as a kid…and I always dreamed to have the biggest dollhouse they made. It didn’t happen for me for one reason or…
There’s nothing quite like hiding around the corner, listening to a child’s pretend play chatter. Love these images – a little peek into her world.
alexa was sitting like that putting her doll house together for when her special visitor comes, eek! all i could think was, “ouch, my ankles.”
The top one, those eyes, heart melter….
These are perfect in every way. Love them!
One of my favorite things about you is how intentional you are in photographing your daughter. Her beauty is a reflection of your beautiful momma-heart!
omg.
So cute! Happy Easter!!!
Wow, Jess. These images are…not technically very good. They’re grainy…not perfectly in focus. The light? Not the best. Yes. But sometimes in life…there isn’t time to move into the perfect light. Sometimes we need to crank the ISO to 2500 and just go with it. Sometimes capturing the moment is more important. And this was…
LOVE. Kitchen dancing is a long-standing tradition in our family. What a wonderful post.
So true – I need to crank up the iso more for photos like there – the only spot my 8 year old “Tebows”….
Love it!!!
We have a stick….and a beautiful little ninja too. SO cute!
I love how you just explore in the yard. Make up games. Tightrope walk on the garden ledge. Today you were making dandelion bouquets. It got off to a shaky start after Dudley (our pug) stole the first bunch and ate it. Typical big brother foiling your plans . But you just began again. I…
awww…she’s so adorable!
too cute..xxxx
Alright, so today’s photos are a bit more “styled” than I initially intended to shoot for this project. But. When she brought home the ‘letter case’ from preschool today…I couldn’t help myself. This just immediately came to mind…oh and the dress. I have so many vintage dresses for her that she is close to growing…
Love, love, love!!!!
oh jess… these are just adorable!
My little girl. You are anything but easy to define. You are complex. Sensitive. Sweet. Active. Quiet. Loud. Silly. Thoughtful. Competitive. You are girly…but not a girly-girl. Your favorite color is blue…it’s never been pink. You prefer reading, arts and crafts, board games, mazes, zooming around on your plasma car and any outside activity. You…
OOh,I’ve seen that look a few times…somebody wants to WIN big!
I miss you,hunnybunny:(
I took this shot just before you sailed down a HUGE hill. A guy yelled out, “look at Evil Knievel!” Lord help me. This tiny one with giant courage.
by admin
Oh my. My sister and I are sitting here balling our eyes out! This is amazing and what an INCREDIBLE woman you are to share this with us but most importantly your daughter! I am honored to be in this group with you and can’t wait to get to know your sweet princess more!
This is beautiful and worded so wonderfully. I share these same feelings.
Oh Jess! Such profound words you’ve shared. You are such an inspiration — as a mother, friend, and photographer. I am so thrilled to be participating in this project with you and to get to know you and your precious girls even more. What a beautiful family you have. xoxoxo
Five sentences in and I could no longer see through the tears. I am moved so profoundly by this letter as I am a child of adoption. Every year on my birthday, my mom and I take a moment to celebrate my birth-mother so your stunningly written letter is particularly special to this happy reader. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to read this, and so happy to be a part of this project with you.
What a captivating love letter. No doubt your sweet daughter will treasure this always. So glad to be collaborating with you. xo
Jess, it’s an absolute privilage to be in this project with you. I adore this first letter to your sweet girl and I’m already looking forward to reading the next one. <3
I am covered in tears wth no tissues on sight! Your little girl is a lucky one! I’ve never met you in person, Jess but I can feel you have an enormous heart filled with love. This letter took my breath away and so did the beautiful image your paired it up with. You are an inspiration. I am so excited for your new little girl to arrive to her loving home. She doesn’t know what a beautiful life awaits her. Oh, and I don’t want to forget to say Happy 5th birthday to your sweet big girl!
Oh Jess, you brought me to tears. She is going to treasure this letter forever. Happy Birthday sweet girl! Lots of love – xoxo
Jess, I started tearing up at your third sentence and then the tears kept coming. Your sweet and beautiful child is the lucky one too. Happy Birthday to all of you. xo
Jess, this is so special, and heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time – you made me cry such happy tears – your daughter is so blessed to have you – Happy Birthday to your little 5 year old sweetie x
just beautiful.
Your words have touched me so deeply today… Your love for your daughter is beyond words, and I love that you share it with your readers. Happy Birthday to your sweet Miss P.
Happy Happy birthday to your sweet little girl Jess. I am in tears reading your letter. What a special gift she is indeed.. and yes, i can so imagine her birth mama thinking about her today too.. wondering how she is doing, and how she looks, and how she talks. I can’t wait for you to bring her sister home soon. I am so grateful to have met you because of this circle of letters. xoxo