Minneapolis Photographer - Olive Avenue Photography

Madison | Wayzata High School Senior Portraits |

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:25:48 +0000

This session was SO much fun! Madison has incredible style and totally rocked it during her session. I wanted to do a more dramatic/retro look with makeup on one of our models…and Madison was totally up for it and the results? Well, all I can say is WOW! And BTW, our senior portrait sessions are customized to you! And part of that means you can choose 1 or 2 locations. So maybe you are more of a nature girl…but also want to add a bit of funk to your photos…we can do urban too!

Vanessa | Minneapolis Portrait Photographer |

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:21:08 +0000

And another Olive Avenue Photography 2013 high school senior model rep! We lucked out with such a gorgeous day…you look stunning, Vanessa! Thank you for being so great to work with. Senior portrait sessions that take place before July 31st save $50 on their session fee!

Emily | Edina High School Senior Photographer |

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:40:30 +0000

Here is the beautiful, Emily, who has taken (and I am sure passed) more AP tests this week than I’ve EVER heard of anyone taking. Olive Avenue Photography senior portrait sessions are booking now…check out our web site for more details or click ‘contact’ at the top of this page to book your session!

Samantha | Eden Prairie High School Senior Portraits |

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:31:50 +0000

Hey class of 2013…it’s time to start booking your custom senior portrait session with Olive Avenue Photography! All of our portrait sessions include complimentary professional makeup service! Stay tuned for more of our gorgeous 2013 senior model reps…

The Tree of Life | MN Family Photographer

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:51:38 +0000

A big share today with this lovely mommy and her babes…and just in time for Mother’s Day. When I got the request to do a session that captured the love between a mother and her children…I was floored. No one ever asks for that. I usually have to beg moms to get in the photograph. But that is exactly what Sam wanted. In recent months, several families she knew had received difficult news of illness with loved ones in their families. And often when this happens, the rest of us take a breath and realize how precious and fragile our lives are…so she booked a session with me. We spent a glorious evening under the buttery sunlight surrounded by the sweet perfume of apple blossoms…and I snapped away.

A remarkable thing happened after our session…with Sam’s husband’s reaction to the photographs. He said that they reminded him of the movie ‘The Tree of Life.’ Now I have only seen the first 10 minutes of the movie. I couldn’t handle it. The death of a child was just too much for me. Sam told me she couldn’t finish it as well. But her husband did…and it changed him. “Those photos were some of the best I’ve seen of the family. Ever. Definitely the best photos of you. Some were hard to look at because they were almost exact copies of scenes from the Tree of Life. Same time period, so the clothes were even the same. Hard to look at without tearing up”. Somehow, with never seeing the movie…our session turned into something that was even more meaningful to this family. Of course now I realize that I must put on my big girl pants and see this movie. I know it will break my heart…and who wants to feel pain if we don’t have to? But if it helps me to embrace my life and the blessings I have more tightly…it will be more than worth it. Life is so very precious. How lucky were are to have moments like these. Thank you, Sam, for asking me to do this…it was truly an honor!

Letters to Our Daughters | April 2012

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:43 +0000

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 each month and they will do the same…so feel free to follow our little ‘chain’ of links…there are some incredibly talented ladies participating and I am so excited to see their posts as well. So now to begin…letters to my daughters. One at home and one waiting in China. This month’s letter is to my girl already home…as today is her birthday…what a special way to start .

My Love,

Happy Birthday! Five years ago today you came into the world. I wish I could say I was there to hear your first cry…but I was not. We didn’t meet until you were 6 months old. But another woman was there. And though I think of her often…it is today I think of her the most. I owe her more than I could ever repay. She has given me my greatest gift. You. She loved you enough to give you life. She sacrificed her body for 9 months and carried you inside her. And I know she is thinking of you today. Remembering the baby girl she gave birth to five years ago. I know nothing about her…but I think I can guess a few things just by knowing you. I can guess she is beautiful. I can guess she has a strong will. I can guess she is has a good sense of humor. I wonder if you got your cute little ears from her? I wonder so many things. And I know she wonders about you too. And I wish she could see the girl you have become. I wish she knew the absolute bliss it is to watch you grow and just be you every day. What it is like to be loved by you. I feel so lucky that I get to be the one who does…but it makes me sad that she doesn’t. You are such a bright light…and everyone who knows you is taken by it. And I know part of that light about you is from her…and I love her for it. Though we may never know her…she is still apart of you. And a part of our family. I love you more than words can say. And I thank God everyday that I get to be your mommy. I am the lucky one.

Mom

Now here is the fun part…follow the link chain and go check out Rashmi Pappu | Alexandria VA, Washington DC!

last of 4 | day 29…the LAST day.

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:03:21 +0000

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…

last of 4 | day twenty-eight

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:00:54 +0000

Disneyland purchases: t-shirt, light up balloon, Minnie Mouse hairbrush…pirate set .

last of 4 | day twenty-seven

admin — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:42:29 +0000

Best. Day. Ever.

last of 4 | day twenty-six

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:40:39 +0000

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.

last of 4 | day twenty-five

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:04:47 +0000

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.

last of 4 | day twenty-four

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:54:52 +0000

“I don’t want to have my picture taken. I want to go to the beach.”

last of 4 | day twenty-three

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:42:22 +0000

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 .

last of 4 | day twenty-two

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:48:26 +0000

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 she is hearing about her big birthday surprise for the first time…

last of 4 | day twenty-one.

admin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:24:58 +0000

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 a few days!

Spring Blooms | Minneapolis Baby Photographer

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:05:06 +0000

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 with all the spring blossoms and everything greening up. I love photographing babies born in the fall/winter at this time because it’s often the first extended period they’ve spent outside. So fun to see them light up with the wonder of it all!

last of 4 | day twenty.

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:38:17 +0000

A gloomy spring day. I think we are all coming down with something. Again. Another reminder…to slow down.

Better Together | MN Adoption Photographer |

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:08:08 +0000

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.

last of 4 | day nineteen.

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:04:39 +0000

Just for fun…

last of 4 | day eighteen.

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:31:39 +0000

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 of you today. I slunk in late…and snapped this. When you are a mom someday…you’ll understand. Some days…no matter how we try…we fall short. It’s the worst feeling. As your mommy I want nothing more than to be perfect in every way for you. Spend the perfect amount of time with you, have the perfect amount of patience, feed you healthy, perfect food and the list goes on. But I am human. I fail. But I suppose that is an important life lesson as well, isn’t it? People in this life will fall short…they will hurt you. They won’t be what you need. So. I guess as your mommy, it’s my job to teach you a bit of that as well. Thank goodness, we can also teach you forgiveness.

last of 4 | day seventeen.

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:02:43 +0000

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 first saw you in the orphanage. You had no toys or possessions…just that thumb. I love that thumb and remember we were so grateful you had it. Had something for a little comfort when you were oh so alone. And blanket. Oh my. Thank goodness I had the mind to run and get a backup before they stopped selling them. It’s so much a part of you. These are the images that pop in my mind most when I think of you baby girl…

last of 4 | day sixteen.

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:21:43 +0000

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 another. But I wanted it to happen for her. I told her today how I used to ‘feed’ my dollies my Easter candy…glad to see she decided to carry on the tradition. I play with her now…but it isn’t the same. How lucky you are little girl to slip into a dream world…and really be there. I’m sad that I forgot how to play like that. But it gives me such joy to hear you upstairs chatting away and having adventures with your little friends.

last of 4 | day fifteen.

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:46:06 +0000

last of 4 | day fourteen.

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:04:52 +0000

Four years old. The year we first saw the posed, awkward smile. That we love.

last of 4 | day thirteen.

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:02:10 +0000

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 one of those times. I saw a print on pinterest that says “my kitchen is for dancing.” This house so needs that on our wall. Because our kitchen has turned into quite the ballroom lately. Except you won’t find any fancy dresses. More than likely we are in our jammies. With wild hair. Lana Del Rey has been her music of choice lately (probably because she know’s I’ve been into it)…and when I hear the first track blaring from the kitchen…I know it’s dancing time. As we twirl and dip…I know both your daddy and I get a glimpse of the future. Of the amazing woman you will be come. Someday you probably won’t want us as your slow dancing partner anymore. So we dance. In the kitchen. It will never get old. Never.