It was a gorgeous afternoon so we had to head out on the town for a bit too!

We had to hide the balloons from him until it was time to shoot them because he is a balloon fanatic. He got so excited when he saw them!

And what is better after a long hot session than a little chocolate ice cream???

This time he was up to the studio for his five year pics… and he will be off to kindergarten in the fall (sniff, sniff…). Where does the time go?

He brought along little sister Lydia too… and even though she’s been here a couple of times before he had to show her the ropes and convince her of how fun it is to take pictures!

Next it was time to head outside, but by that time Lydia was pretty much done being convinced that pictures were fun! A whole container of Gerber puffs and one skinned knee later, we finally gave up. But the Matilda Jane outfits that her mom had brought along were just to die for!

Thanks for coming up to see me again D and L… promise to come back every year!

Then it was outside for a couple of different outfit and location changes. Love this little girl… and so does the camera. Isn’t she just stunning?

Oh sweet Kenna girl… she was a little bit nervous for photos.

We literally had to “wait our turn” for this alley on the day of our shoot because it was so full of photographers!

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And just in case you don’t get the Patina White mailings….

It is time for her annual holiday event this weekend! I am so excited to be heading out to Detroit Lakes with my mom this afternoon to check out all of the fun, vintage wares that she has prepared!

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Ria

This photoshoot was the brain-child of Casie, a photographer for tiny sprout. She had a ‘vision’ for a romantic family shoot at sunset complete with paper lanterns hanging from a tree. I love the fresh ideas and energy of budding photographers… sometimes when you do shoot after shoot you forget to be inventive and creative and get back to your passion for photography. We had a fun “photographers night” thanks to this adorable family who came out last minute to help us out. We would have hung out much longer if it hadn’t been for those pesky biting bugs. Thanks Casie for setting this up and for taking the time to make your vision come to life!

And then, since it was… ahem… literally eighty degrees outside, we ventured out to a field for some more. Love. Love. Love.

Maybe a clothing change will help… no?

Well I persisted and …. tah-dah! A smile…

But they were definitely far and few between. That’s okay though… I think she looks adorable with that little pouty face.

Had to throw the big brothers in for a few shots. Now THEY are smilers! Talk about toots and boogers is ALWAYS funny to boys their age.

I will be seeing these boys at the rink quite a bit this winter because they are both hockey players!

and when I had them all lined up and sweet little Anya squatted down in front all on her own, I couldn’t help but get flashbacks to that image from last time.

Something that I’ve noticed that can make a session go from good to GREAT is a fun dad. A relaxed dad who is “up” for a family photo session can really set the tone. This family was lucky enough to have a super-FUN-guy for a dad, and as you can tell from the photo below, he had just said something totally silly and unexpected… and I LOVE the expressions that were captured as a result.

Hope you enjoy your images Perry family… thanks again for making the trip to Fargo!

We actually had to split this session in two… it was raining on the day of their first session, but I just couldn’t stand the thought of not getting shots of these two in their adorable matching dresses out in a field. So back up to Fargo they had to come!

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A few things to note:

All fall workshops are now FULL (first one coming up this weekend!), but we do have a waiting list started in case any attendees need to sell their spots. If you’d like to be on the e-mail list to be alerted when more workshops are scheduled for 2011, just let us know.

The first round of voting for The Forum’s Pet Calendar contest  is going on right now! Even if you have not entered a pet, you can go online and vote for the one you want to win a spot on the 2011 calendar. Each vote costs $.25 and proceeds will go toward purchasing newspapers for area classrooms as well as funding the needs of the FM Humane Society. The top 50 pets with the most votes will move on to round two. Some of my favorites right now are Lucy5, Dozer, Betty, George, Summit, Nevaeh, Buddy2, and Mario. My pups, Emme and Mya still sit with zero votes each, so I may have to send them a few sympathy votes to make them feel good. Who are your favorites?

Also, I need to thank everyone for their kind words about the recent article in the Forum’s business section. It was so neat to be featured and we loved seeing the FM photography scene highlighted and recognized. You can read the article by clicking here.

Happy Tuesday!

~Ria

Love this family, loved their simple and colorful clothing choices, love these photos. love. love. love.

Finally the rain won out. Pierce was just as sad as I was to have to be done with the photoshoot. (Totally kidding… he was ready to be DONE!)

How old are you?

See what I mean? SERIOUSLY cute.

I had been dreaming about doing this red balloon/alley shot for quite awhile now… I couldn’t have had a better little model to help me out with it!

And we finished off the session with a big ice cream cone… it doesn’t get much better than that! YUM!

I just had to take a snap of these most delicious orange shoes from Pout. Did you know they have ONLINE shopping now????

Then we ventured out to the sidewalk in front of the studio to take “puppy” for a walk.

And it was such a gorgeous morning that we decided to do a little location shooting as well.

During this session I had that “goosebump” moment. Other photogs will know what I’m talking about. It’s that time when everything just seems to be working together and falling into place. The weather is glorious, the wardrobe is killer, the light is exquisite, AND the child is cooperating. I had that moment while I was shooting these…

Have a great Memorial weekend everyone! We will be back in the studio on Tuesday. (**Don’t forget that registration for the workshops opens on Tuesday morning, and we will also be opening our fall calendar for bookings on Tuesday.**)

~Ria

Anyone remember the photo last winter of the little baby with the red hat and red tutu with the big pouty lips? Yep… this is her. Love this girly.

This time I visited, it was winter and my trip started out with me in the ditch and their wonderful daddy coming to save me and pull me out. [Don't ask.] But, I was so excited to visit them this time because they had somebody super special to introduce me to! A new baby brother…

I got to spend a cozy afternoon with these boys and their awesome mama . I really thought maybe I could have stayed all day. They are the kind of people that just make you feel so comfortable. They make you want to hang around and never leave. This little guy is so lucky to have been born into such a wonderful family.

Just think of all the things these three big brothers are waiting to teach little baby “A”!

Thank you Swenson family for such a fabulous afternoon, (and for saving me from freezing to death all alone in the ditch!) I can’t wait until I can come and visit again… maybe next time another summertime session with FOUR boys running around!

The oldest sister in this group has such a tender, care-taker spirit. I think it really shows in this photo…

And I just LOVE the personality of sweet “J”… she is a spitfire!

And little brother “O” is… well… TWO.

And very adventurous and curious, and ALSO….who wants to get their picture taken when there is a park just up the hill anyway?

This year, as always, I am so so very thankful to all of my wonderful clients who continue to trust me to capture their lives in photos. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

~Ria

sorry Jack… just had to post it.

 I really do count it a privledge to be given the chance to document the lives of so many wonderful children and families. And the fact that they come back over and over and I get to see these little ones grow up is so special to me. I have so looked forward to the sessions of all of my repeat clients this holiday season… thank you!

~~–~~sigh~~–~~ … these are some of my ALL-TIME favorites.

This fall…

Isn’t it just crazy what a difference a year makes? For their session this year, I met these four boys and their mom and dad (who is my cousin!) at their gorgeous home tucked way back on some of the most beautiful property I’ve ever seen. It would be any little boy’s dream to live here. They have lots of room to run and play, woods with many creatures to discover, [they even have a camera mounted on a tree so they can see all the different animals that wander by... kinda cool, but maybe a little creepy when you know exactly what's out there.] They even have their own dirt track in the back yard for racing.  Even the littlest boys get in on the fun!

A funny story about the little gray kitten from the collage above. It was a stray, and when we started the shoot the boys noticed it watching us from the edge of the woods. It kept getting closer and closer to us, and everytime we moved to a new location it followed us. So, of course when we were almost done shooting, their dad went in the house and brought the little kitten some milk. His wife just had to roll her eyes (hey, it’s better than a squirrel or fawn, right Heather?). I wonder if little gray kitty has stuck around?

Thanks so much for the fun afternoon Miller family! I want to come back again very soon, but this time I’m going to bring my boys with so they can “shoot” something in your woods!

The shabby old building…

The grove of trees…

The sun setting over the evergreens…

The old tractor…

And the way “J” kissed his little sister…

Loved it all. Thank you Thompson family for inviting me out and showing me around! It was a photographer’s dream.

Or possibly, it could be that the Patina White studio event is this weekend!                      

   ***photos from the Patina White blog***                                                                                                                                                                                                           

I just LOVE going to this sale… my home is filled with many Patina White treasures. Beth Schaleben normally has an adorable little store at the Shady Hollow flea market near Detroit Lakes.

But once a year, she holds a “studio event” at her home studio tucked way back in the woods. I love Beth’s style – industrial, shabby and country all mixed together. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a total PatinaWhite copycat and wannabe.  My favorite part of her blog is called “a corner of my world” where she gives a short little photo tour of her uh-MAZ-ing home.

 This got me thinking that maybe during the slower months this winter I could do something like that on my blog … a little photo tour of my home. (See? total copycat.)

Anyway… the big studio event runs this Friday-Sunday, and also next weekend… and I am super excited to go and see what great finds will be there for me this year! I think I put enough links in this post that if you want to go too, you should be able to find out all the necessary info!

One more thing I’d like to note… this Sunday, November 8th, is Orphan Sunday. Watch this video and click here for more info.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Have a great weekend everyone… get out and enjoy that nice weather while we have it!

I have wanted to do a shoot at this little ice cream shop ever since it opened… I had even planned to have our family photoshoot there this summer, but it was ALWAYS closed! Even when we arrived on the morning of this shoot, a big closed sign greeted us on the door. Disappointed, we decided to get out of the car and walk around and find some other places to shoot. By the time we got back to the car, an OPEN sign had magically appeared. It was our lucky day! And of course Lucy was thrilled with the idea of getting to eat ice cream for her photos. Here are a few of the other shots we got before the ice cream!

Lucy’s momma just happens to be the owner of the fabulous Pout Baby Boutique… and I would like you all to note that this chick had an emergency craniotomy in September. That’s right people… brain surgery… less than one month before these photos were taken. Amazing woman I tell you… but if you know her, you already knew that. Love ya Kris… we are so glad that you are okay!

Every kid that comes up to the studio just seems to love my BlaBla dolls. Lucy wanted to line them all up for a photo with her.. how cute! I mentioned to her mom how popular they are with the kids and that she should see if she could carry them at her store. I am so happy to report that these funky little sweater dolls will soon be available at Pout!

How adorable is she???

I have a HUGE crush on these hot-pink wellies… thinking about getting myself a pair!

When we got back to the studio after shooting outside, she said… “Ria… really… I just wanna rock!” So guess what we did… we cranked up a little Pink on my iPod and rocked out like crazy girls! What a fun sweet and adorable little girl! Love ya “P!”

My favorite little model…

Our TEENAGERS…

And I had to include this one too because it makes me laugh… we like to pretend that our dogs are BFF’s too, except that Alex wants absolutely nothing to do with poor sweet little Emme.

Thank you daddy “K” for not thinking we were completely nuts, and going along with our idea. Because… seriously… does it get any cuter? Nuh-Uh.

And then all of a sudden… these sweet angelic children in white were… SUPERHEROES!

And I just have to share this last one because I was laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants while I was taking this photo. It was oldest brother “O’s” turn to get his photos taken by himself and I had asked him to put his hands in his pockets. And… because “monkey-see-monkey-do”, he had two little brothers right behind him trying to find their pockets and get in on his photo. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE them????

That is… until you’ve had enough and you just want your nukie and blankie! I love this little series of “C”… he was d.o.n.e.

Here are some from the studio BEFORE we headed outside… where he was all smiles and ready to go, go, go! I loved the simplicity and color in his little one-piece romper!

Just a couple of hours before sunset, when the light is all warm and has that “glow”….

This lovely family invited me to their home in the country for their photoshoot and were so kind and welcoming. And the light… well it was just perfect.

I love this next shot… perfectly captures busy family life. Puppy running in one direction, toddler running the other…

What good sports they were when we wanted to take them outside … it was one of those freezing windy 50 degree days we had in July!

I love big sister’s expression in the photo on the right…. so sneaky!

I think I may have a new assistant!

LOVE, LOVE, puffy heart LOVE this one…