Mr. Blue Eyes - Minneapolis, Minnesota Baby Photographer

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.