Category Archives: Photography

Small Town Scenes

There’s just something about Minnesota.

For me anyway.

I can never quite pinpoint it either, but I love the landscape.  From the dense tree filled Minneapolis – St. Paul residential areas, to the winding, rolling blues and greens of the lakes, there’s just something special about it.  It calms me.  It makes me feel like myself.  I can’t explain it.

Although maybe those places, the lakes and the city, make sense to people.  The Twin Cites are obviously beautiful (in the summer at least) and the lakes…what’s not to love?  I think where I truly stump people is when I talk about my love of where I grew up.  Specifically the roads branching off to the East and South of my hometown.

It doesn’t get any flatter.  It doesn’t get much more desolate.  But I also don’t think it gets much more beautiful.

Anytime I’m in my car driving those roads I dream about trying to capture what it is about the landscape that pulls me in.  I didn’t even try during my last trip home (don’t have the right equipment…yet) but I did stop here and there to snap some small town shots.

I didn’t make it to Ada because my bargaining tools ran out with my little sister.

Next time.

 

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Blake

A few weeks ago, while I was still on my extended Minnesota vacation, Jon and I went to my parents house for a large family dinner.  Upon arrival my adorable Aunt Angie cornered me in the kitchen and asked me to perform the task I believed to be my worst nightmare.

“Ali, will you please take some quick senior photos of Blake?”

Panic attack.

I had NEVER taken senior photos before and we had a very limited amount of light left in the evening.  I agreed to give it a shot and am relieved to say it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Quite the opposite actually.

It was SO NICE to be able to direct a near adult rather than the rambunctious and uninterested toddlers I usually try to wrangle.  I’m also thrilled that Angie pushed me to do it because otherwise I never would have tried.  I’m looking forward to doing it again!

I wish we would have had more time before the sun vanished, but considering my nerves going in I’m very happy with them.

Angie gave me approval to post several of my favorites here.

BlakeFetting-8Blake.  Thank you for being such a good sport and for being a natural.  It made my job much easier. : )

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Miss Livi

Fetting-Kinkade-5 During my three week Minnesota vacation, I got a few days solo with my baby sister Livi.  One day in particular was my favorite.  I threw her in the car with me and took her on a mini road-trip through rural Minnesota so I could snap some photos.  She wasn’t thrilled and refused to indulge me for the most part, so I just followed her around and snapped when she wasn’t paying attention.  Fetting-Kinkade-6 Fetting-Kinkade-7 Fetting-Kinkade-14 Fetting-Kinkade-15 Fetting-Kinkade-13Fetting-Kinkade-27 Fetting-Kinkade-28 Fetting-Kinkade-29So serious.  : )  I believe that’s her ‘are we done yet’ face.

Later that night I took her swimming and was flooded with memories of my own time growing up a the Dekko Community Center.  Everything looked just a little bit different and yet exactly the same.  : )

Fetting-Kinkade-32 Fetting-Kinkade-31Fetting-Kinkade-33It was good to be home.

Duluth Wedding

Christian&Jennie-4A couple weeks ago Jon and I hopped on a plane to our my favorite place on earth…Minnesota!  I am rarely more excited to head to the airport than when it involves a trip home, let alone a trip involving our closest friends, their wedding, and a 4 day weekend of goodness.  Jon’s childhood buddy Christian was the luckiest man on earth that Saturday when he finally locked down the kind, generous, and beautiful Jennie.  Christian and Jennie held their wedding in Duluth and in true Minnesota fashion the weather scared the crap out of everybody for 3 days.  Then on Saturday, in a rare act of kindness by our home state, the deserving couple was given the most beautiful and perfect day they could have asked for.  Christian&Jennie-6 Christian&Jennie-2 Christian&Jennie-1 Christian&Jennie-8Jennie asked me if on the wedding day I would tag along to the salon and document the girls getting ready.  Little did she know that I LOVE the salon and getting ready part of the day.  Especially with a bride as stunning as Jennie.  It was fun to shoot in the morning and then be able to attend the wedding as a guest instead of a photographer…way less pressure and way more wine that way.  : )

I’m always nervous heading into any salon situation because they can often be dark, full of fluorescent lights, or incredibly sterile.  Lucky for me Jennie chose Adeline Inc. which was filled with gorgeous natural light and packed with color and fun details.


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The Hurley Family

On last Saturday’s sunny afternoon I had the privilege to get to know and photograph the beautiful Hurley family at their home.  This is one of my favorite kind of sessions to do, more of a lifestyle shoot where a family gets to relax in their own home and I just get to take my time and fire away.

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I was ‘gifted’ to them by a past client to celebrate the arrival of their newest family member.  It was fun to meet a brand new family and also to be thought of as a ‘gift’ by another.  Pretty cool.

I was lucky to have an instant connection with them since Momma Hurley is from Wayzata, MN.  Anybody that knows me knows how much I adore Minnesotans.  So we got the “small world” talk out of the way and then I began to seek out some beautiful light to shoot their ridiculously beautiful family.

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I’m sorry, but have you EVER seen cuter twins in your entire life?  I just couldn’t get over it!

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I always thought wishing for multiples was a sure fire sign you were crazy, but after spending the afternoon with these two, I found myself thinking it would be so much fun!  They have this really cool connection that you don’t see as often in other siblings.

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Then entered the undoubted star of the day, little baby M.

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I am constantly forgetting how much fun it is to photograph babies, especially when they are as pretty as this one.

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She was such an angel all day, and it was pretty fun to watch her interact with her big brother and sister.

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I could go on posting photos of these guys all day, but I’ll just stick to a few of my favorites.  Thank you Hurley family for welcoming me into your home and being so easy to work with.

Welcome to the world baby M.  You are SO lucky to join your amazing family.

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