Salina J Photography - Northfield - Lakeville - Minneapolis - St. Paul - MN Photographer

Farewell, Old Blog and Website!

2010-05-12T21:56:00.003-05:00

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

2010-05-10T15:26:00.004-05:00

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

2010-05-05T23:22:00.006-05:00

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!

2010-04-17T23:06:00.004-05:00

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

2010-04-02T23:31:00.004-05:00

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

2010-02-26T10:41:00.003-06:00

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

2010-02-15T23:38:00.002-06:00

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

2010-02-08T22:01:00.003-06:00

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

2010-01-26T21:00:00.002-06:00

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

2010-01-20T22:37:00.003-06:00

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

2010-01-10T23:21:00.003-06:00

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!

Mr. Blue Eyes - Minneapolis, Minnesota Baby Photographer

2009-12-14T20:24:00.004-06:00

I just loved this little guy - so expressive and would look right into the camera. Carter is a newly-sitting six month old and one of the most laid-back baby boys I've met. His parents decorated his room beautifully, it was great to shoot with that bold blue in the background. Here are a few favorites from his session!

A New Baby Boy On the Way - Minneapolis Maternity Photography

2009-12-05T11:50:00.001-06:00

A great day to post these pictures - snow on the ground and a high of 25 degrees. Looking at these photos with the warm sunshine makes it easier to take!

This gorgeous mom-to-be is due with her first boy next month, and if he takes after his parents he's going to be one cute kid!

Fall Family Photos - and the Dogs, Too!

2009-11-29T23:25:00.003-06:00

Who says you can't have fall photos after the leaves have fallen off the trees? Got to love this warm(ish) November we've had, we eked out a few more sessions without coats on!

Love how they're laughing together in the first one, so cute!

The English springer spaniel here is such a sweet dog - he's 16 years old!

Brothers and Buddies - Minnesota Child Photographer

2009-11-10T09:54:00.002-06:00

I had such a fun time at this session, lots of laughter! You don't normally think of 5 and 3 year old boys as being the most cooperative when it comes to posing and smiling for pictures, but these two could give lessons on hamming it up for the camera. We had beautiful light filtering through the trees, and the kids did just a fantastic job, you can tell they are good friends in addition to good brothers.

Brother and Sisters in the Late Fall Leaves - Minnesota Child Photographer

2009-11-07T08:59:00.003-06:00

Nora, Isaac and Ella had a quick session recently amidst the last leaves of fall. Nora and Isaac were so sweet - not only did they give me some great smiles, they were also so caring with their little sister, holding her hands so she could stand between them.

The Ladybug - Minnesota Child (and Insect?) Photographer

2009-11-05T14:09:00.004-06:00

You know it's fall in Minnesota when your house gets overtaken by ladybugs (or, from what I've been told, "multicolored Asian lady beetles"). They can be a nuisance to us adults, but to a child they are adorable little creatures.

As I was working on a session this morning I remembered that I promised one young boy that I would show him the picture he requested I take of his ladybug - so this is for him!

New Baby Boy - Minnesota Newborn Photography

2009-10-27T13:51:00.003-05:00

This "little" guy tipped the scales at over 10 pounds at birth, and has a head of hair some grown men would probably envy. Here he is at 6 days old, already giving the camera a gummy grin.

Stylish Young Cousins - Minneapolis Child Photographer

2009-10-24T10:26:00.004-05:00

Way back in February I had the opportunity to photograph a charming baby boy named Rowen. Well, Rowen isn't so little anymore! Yesterday I was able to have a session with him and his beautiful cousins Rylee and Lauren. With some help from their moms, grandma and dad/uncle, we got some great smiles and natural expressions. Fun family, fun photos - here is their sneak peek!

Fall Family Photos - Minnesota Photographer

2009-10-19T17:44:00.004-05:00

My first session this fall was a family with two adorable young children (seriously, check out the eyes on these kids - gorgeous!) at the Plummer House in Rochester . They put up with the wind and chill to get some great shots. Here is a little sneak peak for them! I'd like to note that their outfits are perfect for family photos - colors that coordinate well without everyone wearing the exact same shirt, which makes for nice visual interest in their pictures.

A Summer Wedding - St. Paul Photography

2009-09-18T15:31:00.003-05:00

I do not offer wedding services as a lead photographer, but I had the opportunity to second-shoot for and learn with the fabulous Nicki of Nicki Gordon Photography over the summer. The wedding and reception were held at the St. Paul College Club on Summit Avenue, right next door to the governor's mansion. Besides being a fun (but hot!) day, I had the additional excitement of seeing a wedding there from a photographer's perspective rather than from a bride's - seven years ago my husband and I had our reception at the very same location!

The couple chose to have some time alone before the ceremony and to take a few photos - they were so sweet with each other!

Waiting inside before the ceremony began.

Married!

Almost There! - Maternity Photography in Northfield, MN

2009-08-06T16:34:00.002-05:00

I had a relaxed maternity session with this beautiful mom-to-be and her adorable daughter (and a few with Dad, too!). If she hadn't told me, I never would have guessed she was set to have her baby a mere two days from our shoot!

2010 Senior Guy - Minnesota Senior Photography

2009-07-01T21:47:00.002-05:00

What a difference a week makes! I had this senior session originally scheduled for last Tuesday, but it was over 90 degrees and insanely humid, so we rescheduled for last night, which was about 30 degrees cooler. Much better conditions for working outside!

James, a 2010 senior, was great to photograph. He had no problem being himself in front of the camera!

Young Family Session - Two Sisters and Their Parents

2009-06-28T15:36:00.005-05:00

Just a little sneak peek for this beautiful family, which includes two young daughters just about two years apart.

Anna has gorgeous, reflective eyes - she liked to give me quizzical looks, especially when we tried telling her there were cartoon characters in my camera. She's too smart to fall for that!

What is it about baby yawns that are so adorable? Little Claire letting us know she was about ready for a nap!

Pretty Polka Dot Baby - Minnesota Child Photography

2009-06-15T23:11:00.003-05:00

This morning I had a session with a little girl I did pictures for last year as well. Her mom commented that a lot had changed - last year she was hoping her daughter would be able to sit up on her own long enough to get a few shots, and this year Mom was chasing her!

I don't know how I get so lucky, but my clients have the most gorgeous eyes on the planet, I think, and this girl was no exception. Her eyes are so blue, with a little violet in some lights! Just beautiful.

Here are just two of the images I've been able to get through so far - can't wait to have the whole gallery done!

Family Session - St. Paul Photography - Como Conservatory

2009-06-08T07:29:00.004-05:00

Saturday morning this family and I braved the cold and rain for some portraits at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul.

Why are they wearing sweaters and turtlenecks in June, you ask? They were hoping to use these photos for holiday cards in six months, but the weather helped out by giving us a record COLD high temperature of 52 degrees. Yes, that's fifty-two degrees. In June. Go Minnesota!

But despite all that, the little guy was in absolutely wonderful spirits for our entire session, and you'd never know how cold they might have felt by the warm smiles.

Expecting - Minnesota Maternity and Child Photography

2009-06-03T17:57:00.002-05:00

This lovely mama is expecting boy #2, and wanted a short session to record her round pregnant belly and her "only" before he becomes an "oldest."

A New Look Coming Soon!

2009-05-24T19:52:00.002-05:00

You'll notice some changes coming soon - I am in the process of building a website, so the link www.salinajphotography.com will point to the new site (which will be easier to navigate than just the blog), and the blog address will remain http://salinajphotography.blogspot.com.

I'm excited to unveil the "official" look of Salina J Photography, but in the meantime you might just see a few small changes as I test out new colors and ideas.

The Princesses Aila and Milena

2009-05-24T09:42:00.002-05:00

These beautiful (and beautifully-named) sisters have the most stunning eyes! They were great troupers as we walked around town up to their bedtime, giving me lots of pretty smiles and fun poses.

Here's a little glimpse into our session.

Images from Chicago

2009-05-22T23:47:00.002-05:00

Last month I participated in a collaborative photography workshop in Chicago. What a great experience! It's not often I get to spend so much time just shooting or talking about photography with other photographers.

Here are just a few of the photos from that April weekend.

Note About Schedule - Minnesota Photographer

2009-05-19T22:37:00.003-05:00

My summer schedule is filling up quickly, so if you're hoping to get a session in, please contact me soon!

salina@salinajphotography.com

I am only making appointments through August 31, 2009, please keep that in mind if you have senior photo yearbook deadlines that will come up in the fall or would like photos for holiday cards!

Mini-Session Outdoors - Northfield, Minnesota Child Photographer

2009-05-05T15:08:00.002-05:00

I had a quick mini-session with a repeat model (serious little dude!), here are a few favorites!

Canvas Examples - Northfield, MN Photographer

2009-04-26T13:50:00.002-05:00

Custom canvases are a great way to show off special photos. Your photos can be turned into a canvas of almost any size, and feature either a gallery-wrapped edge (the edges of the photo actually create the outside border) or you can choose a complementary color and/or texture for the border. Canvases arrive to you ready to display (with paper backing and wire for hanging) or you can have them framed.

This first canvas was the biggest I've ordered yet - 20" by 20"! In the second photo, you can see how it compares next to a 5x7 of the same image. The third picture shows a bit of the rich texture.

This photo's colors made it a perfect choice for a canvas - it's an 11x14. The second photo shows how the corners are wrapped around the wood frame.

Chicago!

2009-04-25T09:47:00.003-05:00

I had the opportunity to participate in a photography workshop in Chicago last weekend. My portfolio so far consists mostly of babies, children, families and seniors, but the workshop in Chicago gave me a chance to shoot a boudoir session, some bridals, a maternity model, and an engagement couple. I've got some client work to finish, but once those orders are complete I'm excited to edit and post some of my workshop images!

Time to Start Thinking About High School Seniors

2009-04-03T20:31:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year! Minnesota high school seniors are looking forward to graduation in a couple of months, and that means ordering graduation announcements. I've started a gallery of senior grad announcements, be sure to check them out! More will be added soon.

Also, I'm looking for one or two SENIOR MODELS - students from the southern Twin Cities area (Lakeville, Northfield, Apple Valley, Farmington, Faribault, Montgomery-Lonsdale, and Burnsville, for example - or seniors from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, too!) who will be graduating in 2010 and would like to get two free sessions and some other free things for acting as senior reps for Salina J Photography. Please contact me if interested!

New Collages and Collage Samples

2009-03-27T10:42:00.002-05:00

New collages have been added to the collage gallery!

And I'd like to share a few samples of collages to show what they look like with photos placed in them. Not only can collages be ordered as photographic prints for framing, but they can be ordered as canvases, as well.

Strongman Wyatt - 7 Weeks Old

2009-03-18T14:23:00.003-05:00

Here are some more of my favorites from my recent baby session with Wyatt. I enjoyed this session so much, especially that the parents were willing to be in some photos. They will look back on these days in the months and years to come and have a hard time remembering their boy was once so tiny, fitting perfectly into their arms.

More from the Sisters in Minneapolis

2009-03-08T17:32:00.003-05:00

Here are some more from my shoot with sisters Lindsey and Amy. We started out in their house, which deserves to be featured in a home magazine, it is decorated so well! After that we headed to the downtown and lake for some snowy pictures.

The Strongest Baby in Minnesota - or at Least St. Paul

2009-03-06T07:42:00.004-06:00

This is Wyatt - I think he's been honing his adorableness since the day he was born, and also practicing his push-ups!

Here's a quick glimpse at our recent session - more to come soon!

More from the Little Charmer

2009-03-05T09:06:00.006-06:00

A few more from 10 week old Rowen!

Sisters in Minneapolis

2009-02-23T09:13:00.003-06:00

I had a fun session with two sisters yesterday. They braved the 13-degree weather in their cute shoes and headed outdoors for some photos in the quaint downtown near where they live, then by the local lake. After all the "sensible" pictures they started throwing snow and making snow angels, this was our last shot of the session before we made our way back to the car to get warm!

Little Charmer

2009-02-18T10:05:00.003-06:00

Meet Rowen, a 10-week old little boy with an infectious smile. Once his mom got him settled in and ready for his session, he was all about keeping us charmed with big smiles and wide, blue eyes.

Here's a first glimpse into Rowen's session!

Salina J Photography - Facebook Fan Page

2009-02-04T14:02:00.005-06:00

Salina J Photography now has a fan page on Facebook! If you're a member of Facebook, click here to take you to the fan page, then click on the link in the upper right corner to become a fan. And if you're not a member of Facebook yet, well, what are you waiting for?

Clients - if you become a fan, I will e-mail you two low-resolution, watermarked photos of your choice to use on your own Facebook page, to use on your blog, or e-mail to family and friends! You can tag yourself in the photos in my album, too.

(The images you select must have been first purchased as prints sized 5x7 or larger to qualify.)

Pink Coat, White Snow

2009-02-03T21:56:00.003-06:00

It's a funny thing about Minnesota - after you've gone through one of the coldest Januaries on record, barely getting above freezing for weeks, an afternoon with temperatures in the 30s feels almost tropical.

A few from a wintery session - she was such a good sport!

More from the One-Month Old Baby

2009-01-27T19:58:00.003-06:00

A few more of the baby girl from a recent session. She wanted to check out what was going on during most of the shoot, but she did sleep for a while after a lot of hard work from her mom getting here there, resulting in some angelic photos.

Gorgeous One-Month Old Baby Girl

2009-01-19T21:14:00.004-06:00

Another brown-eyed girl! This baby is just a month old, but she has a great head of hair and is very observant of the world around her. She loved looking out the windows and checking out my camera. A content little cutie.

Here's a quick glimpse at what we got today.

More from Our Brown-Eyed Girl

2009-01-17T23:04:00.003-06:00

A few more of my favorites from my session with a sweet six-month old last week. Such expressive eyes on this one!

And one from when she was being cuddled by Mom -

Beautiful Brown-Eyed Baby

2009-01-09T20:26:00.004-06:00

This adorable baby girl was so calm during our session. So were her parents, actually - they let me take pictures in all sorts of crazy places all over their house and temporarily rearrange some of their furniture. What we won't do for a good spot with light shining on it!

Here's a little glimpse of what we were up to today. You'll never guess what our lovely model was sitting on!

Babies

2009-01-01T23:03:00.003-06:00

I had the honor of photographing two newborn girls in November. Newborn sessions usually take about two hours - we're working around feeding and trying to catch baby while she's sleeping and warm - but the time just flies by. I love it! I can't decide if newborns are more fun because they're so sweet all cuddled up, or if older babies are more fun because of the unabashed smiles and curiosity. I think it's a tie!

Print Special

2008-11-19T21:13:00.014-06:00

Please visit my website for complete pricing details and session information.

Pricing - Sessions

2008-11-19T20:15:00.002-06:00

The session fee is $75, and is due at the time you schedule your session to reserve your date. This non-refundable creative fee covers shoots with up to five people for up to three hours; for each additional person, please add $10.

Session Information - Time and Location

2008-11-19T19:36:00.000-06:00

I am an on-location photographer. This is just a fancy way of saying I don't shoot in a studio. You can come to me (I have a few great locations) or I can come to you (you can give me ideas or I can scout out your area before our session).

When you schedule a session, there are no time limits. You can expect us to be taking pictures for 1-2 hours, depending on location and wardrobe changes. I want you to feel comfortable in front of the camera; for some people this comes naturally, for others it'll take 30 minutes or more before the real smiles start to emerge. And trust me, the camera can't fake a genuine smile for you!

You may change outfits as many times as you like, but keep in mind that we may be blocks or miles away from the nearest restroom, so you may want to wear a tank top underneath your clothes for easier shirt-swapping. For this same reason, please make sure young children have used the bathroom before our session.

About Me

2008-11-19T18:48:00.000-06:00

My name is Salina, and I am a photographer living south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. I've been writing stories since I could read, and my passion for photography came from realizing I could tell short stories through pictures the same way I could with words.

Each photo tells a tale - in years to come you'll look at photographs and be able to remember your children's quirky expressions and bright eyes, the trendy (or not) clothes you wore when you were a senior in high school, the giddy love you felt after the marriage proposal and before the wedding, or the way your newborn baby liked to sleep curled against you.

We all have photos we return to again and again to recall a time or a place or a feeling. I want to help you document those memories.