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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

Note About Schedule - Minnesota Photographer

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

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

New Collages and Collage Samples

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

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.