Farewell, Old Blog and Website!

I am so excited to announce that my new website and blog are ready! If you've been to my old sites before, it's possible the new ones aren't showing up quite yet, but they're working for me so I just can't wait any longer!

The new flash website has more recent work and updated information, and the new blog has a brighter, cleaner design.

Salina J Photography | Blog

Salina J Photography | Site


If you are subscribed to this blog, I hope you will follow me to the next one.

What's a photographer's blog post without pictures? Here are some images of the new sites.

Desi - Lakeville, MN 2011 Senior

My new website and blog are so close to being done! I'd been holding back on blogging while I make the transition, but I am starting to get a back log, so I'm going to go ahead with one of my recent seniors. Desi is actually still a junior, but will be starting her senior year at Lakeville North in the fall.

Desi's portraits were taken in Minneapolis on a windy night, but she managed to look gorgeous and unruffled in every shot!

Sawyer - 4 Days Old

This sweet little man is Sawyer, who was just four days old when he had his first professional portraits taken. He was welcomed home by his parents and a very excited big brother. There were a lot of visitors at his house the day of his newborn session - it was easy to see how much Sawyer is already loved!

I just adore the little newborn details. As a parent, you think you will never forget your baby's tiny fingernails or what it feels like to have his face scrunched into your shoulder, but the newborn stage goes so quickly, it certainly helps to have photographs to remind you of those early days of life!

Win a free session + images for yourself or a friend!

Do you know someone who deserves to win something for herself or her family? Maybe she's never had a family portrait taken and she wants to do it before her kids are no longer kids, maybe a loved one is ill and she's hoping to record the way life is now before things change, maybe she's always wanted custom portraits hanging on her walls but she's been unable to afford the luxury. Or maybe you're the one who would love a chance to win custom photography for your own family.

Becky Higgins (formerly of Creating Keepsakes magzine) had a great idea to find photographers willing to donate sessions to dozens of lucky families across the US and beyond, and I am very excited to be one of those photographers!

Become a fan of Salina J Photography today so you'll be notified when the contest for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is open. Becky isn't sure when each photographer's turn will be up, but I will announce it here and on my fan page as soon as I find out, so tell any friends who might be interested to become a fan, too! Once the contest is open, you enter by posting comments on Becky's blog about why you deserve a gift of photography, or you may nominate someone special.

This isn't limited to those in the Twin Cities, either - if you're outside of this great state, check out Becky's blog to see where photographers have volunteered their time and talent.

The winning family will receive a free session, 10 completely edited, full-resolution images on disc, and one 16x20 mounted print.

Good luck!

Anticipating - Modern Maternity Portraits

Dusting this blog off! I've been busy working on my new website, which should be ready soon, as well as booking springs sessions now that the sun is shining and the snow has melted. Can't wait for the trees and fields to green up, I feel like I'm finally exhaling after holding my breath all winter.

I recently had the pleasure of traveling from Minnesota to small-town Wisconsin to photograph a family who is expecting a new baby boy in the next couple of weeks. What a gorgeous mom-to-be - she was feeling great and simply excited to be approaching the day she'd meet her son.

Pregnancy can feel like it goes on and on (and on) when you're waiting for the arrival of a baby, but once the little one is born you so quickly forget what it felt like for the baby to kick, or how it felt to rest your hand on your rounded belly. I hope these portraits help the parents remember this miraculous time in their lives.

Baby Maya - Lakeville Newborn

The night before my session with new baby girl Maya Brynn (love her name!), the Twin Cities got a ton of snow, and I got stuck in the snow twice in their neighborhood, had to be rescued by an off-duty plow.

Oh, to be a baby, all warm and snuggled inside in winter, no cares beyond eating and sleeping!

Meet gorgeous Maya, 12 days old and alert as can be. She did take a little snooze toward the end of our session, when I was able to catch a sleepy smile.

(Just a common sense note: I do not advocate putting sleeping babies on glider chairs if mom is not just outside of the frame with outstretched arms and a separate photographer is snapping a quick photo. Not a picture to be taken without an assistant, even new babies can wiggle around!)

Ella in the Sun and Snow

Going to the Como Conservatory in the winter gets you the best of two worlds. Inside the glass walls you've got the warmth and humidity that makes you think of tropical locations, and baring your arms won't leave you shivering. Outside you can stand in the glittery snow and... well, I'm trying to come up with something pleasant about being cold and coming up short. What can I say, it's February and I'm ready for spring!

Luckily our little five year old here with the hazel eyes can warm up any wintry scene. Ella did a great job posing for the camera indoors and out. I always love it when clients are up for snow pictures, so very Minnesotan!

Five Days Sweet - Northfield, Minnesota Newborn Photography

Would you just look at this lovely doll of a baby? In these photos she's just five days old, so cuddly and curly and sleepy. I admit, I think I took a few more pictures than needed simply because I couldn't get enough of her newborn smiles (caught one!) and sounds.

The scale is a prop I picked up at an antique shop in Northfield, and I have just been dying to use it on a new baby. Thankfully this little one slept soundly with her mom inches away as we quickly got the shot!

Brothers - Minnesota Portrait Photography

When I arrived at Tanner and Braxton's gorgeous house, they were deep into a viewing of Star Wars, and were hoping I'd get some photos of them battling it out with their lightsabers. Well, we ran out of time to capture the young Jedi masters at work, but we still got some great shots of them, indoors and out.

The wind was cold, but the boys stayed warm in their new snowmobiling gear and the hats their grandma made them!

Model Behavior - Northfield, MN Child Photography

Miss Riley here is no stranger to the camera, she has been a print model for a while now! She was so fun to photograph - not only did she pose and smile like the pro that she is, but she told me some hilarious knock-knock jokes and entertained me with stories about her little brother.

I have to say, I'm not always crazy about driving in snow, but shooting in the snow is great!

One Week New - Rosemount Newborn Photographer

Is there anything sweeter than a new baby? Maybe, just maybe, a sleeping new baby. Meet baby Breckin, seven days old. He wanted his mama to snuggle him (can't blame him, it's a wee bit chilly these days) but we got some adorable sleepy shots. Welcome to the world, little Breckin!