The Lahtinen Family

This last week I flew to Pittsburgh, PA to photograph the family and intimates of the beautiful Heather Lahtinen of Weddings by Heather. Heather is a great photographer, person and a photoshop ACE. Her workflow is solid, we can learn from her!

Here is her family.
CA

From Michelle and Joe

I feel very fortunate to have such nice friends. They are there for me bit it a personal or business issue, to chat, support, etc. I love that they are in the industry and can understand and give sound advice. They are great.

When I came back from PA I had a delivery. Aren't they wonderful. I love this arrangement it fits in my newly redone dining room perfectly.

Thanks guys you are the bestest.

Go check them out : Michelle and Joe
CA

Select Intimate™ Sports

November 10-13 Select Intimate Sports Theme. Book your session by clicking here.

We've got the props for many teams but you are welcome to bring in your own stuff as well.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Funky Pumpkin Patch Preliminary

A lot of you have told us that your coming, we are looking forward to a busy night with lots to gather and donate.

Don't forget tomorrow from 5-8 is funky pumpkin patch time. Are these not totally cool. Almost ready to go, tried to get Guinness to model for me as everyone says I need a new image of him since he's grown so much.

Halloween - Funky Pumpkin Patch

Each year for the past two years I have opened the studio on Halloween for free portraits. It's fun for me to see the kids and adults in costume and this year we are stepping it up a notch.

You know I can't do anything normal right? Well the studio will be open with our funky pumpkin patch for you to come and visit.

And to make it even better we are working with the local Domestic Abuse Shelter to help them during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. They provide a safe place for women and children to go and they need food to put on the shelves. So...

Funky Halloween at AC Ellis Studio 5-8pm Friday October 31, 2008
Cost for your session: One boxed food item (stove top, hamburger helper type of stuff)
Cost for your file: Same as above. For a total of 2.
Who: Anyone. People and Pets. 1-3 subjects per image max.
Where: AC Ellis Studio, 1215 Trail Ridge Road Suite C, across from the new construction.

That's right two boxed food items gets your image taken and your file so you can get as many prints as you want made.

Here is Kirby who came in last year.

Portraits for Pink™

All new posts will go below this for the month of October. Originally posted on 10.10.08, but brought to the top of the blog each day by changing the date.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we want to do our part. There are many ways to do your part. You could purchase products that donate proceeds or like us create your own little fundraiser. Portraits for Pink™ is us giving you another reason to contribute.

We are proud to offer our Portraits for Pink™ campaign. For the entire month of October we will be selling certificates for $25. All of the proceeds (all $25) go to Breast Cancer Awareness.

You may redeem your certificate from October 2008 - February 2009 for one of the following 20 min. sessions and one image digital file from the session for personal reproduction:
- Pink Pearls Select Intimate™ : Only available with a Portraits for Pink™ certificate
- Individual Studio Portrait Session: For one person or pet.
- Couple Studio Portrait Session: Speaks for itself.

Click Here to Purchase.

This is S modeling our Pink Pearl Select Intimate™, While she is wearing little you of course are welcome to wear more. White or pale pink pantie and bra combo would be nice.

Here are a few things we purchased. Tough Enough to Wear Pink tees, Pink Kitchen Aid Scissors, Bialetti Pink Bag Clips, Pink Energizer Batteries, Quilted Northern with the Pink Ribbon, and last but definitely the coolest... I purchased the girls and myself a cute little Coach Pink Keychain.

Notice the nice low rate? That is because we want to get a bunch of you in here to raise some money. Also notice that your file is included so we aren't trying to make more money off you for us after the fact. This is how we give.

Ok one last image of S who was kind enough to come in and model this shoot for me.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Dave + Kristin: 08.09.08 by Maria

Dave and Kristin were such a great couple, and I had a phenomenal time at their wedding. I am always so lucky to have couples and their families who make me feel at home while I'm working!

They had a bell choir that played during the ceremony!

My favorite part of the day was how Dave and Kristin like being outdoors, so they were not afraid of being dirty (or prickly) and were psyched when I'd say, "why don't you go stand over there in that tall grass!!"
It does make for some great images!

The centerpieces on the tables were pieces of wood that Dave and his brother Steve had cut and fashioned together.

Even the cake was full of grass! Although it WAS edible!!

Brookings, South Dakota Wedding Photography
Reception: Old Sactuary

Intimates of Heather

I am a very privileged photographer. Not only do I have some great friends in my profession, but I am greatly humbled by them hiring me and flying me to them to photograph their families and their intimates. Friend or not they can hire anyone, and they have a huge list of favorites to choose from. And what do they do? They hire me. This is the second time this happened this year. Just crazy.

This last week I flew to Pittsburgh, PA to photograph the family and intimates of the beautiful Heather Lahtinen of Weddings by Heather. Heather is a great photographer, person and a photoshop ACE. Her workflow is solid, we can learn from her!

Here are a few of her intimates. We went shopping together and I played with a light she has that I have been wanting to try. I have to say I love it and will be getting at least one for the studio. She rocked her session and is one hot photog if you ask me!

Thank you so much for having me Heather, Craig, Ella and Boy Boy. Your family images will be posted later and I hope to see you next year.
CA

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photographer, Intimate / Boudoir Workshops

Damian + Kristina: 08.09.08 Marshall, MN Wedding

Kristina and Damian sure did put the pressure on for me. They are the second couple that has hired me after hiring another photographer first. I always feel bad for the other photog, but at the same time understand the importance of wanting to really love your wedding images and finding the right fit. What does this mean for me- lots of pressure to deliver. Can you imagine? This is an incredible compliment and what if I don't deliver and they wish they stayed with the other person and and and....

Well I think they are happy. I'll let them tell you that - actually they said so on facebook. And I was happy, It was a fabulous wedding and a wonderful couple and I'm so glad I got to photograph their wedding.

Here it is.

They got ready in Kristina's parents dining room and the light was great!

Then around the house I took some portraits of the lovely bride... she is stunning!

The guys waited until I got to the church to get ready. It's great to get both events.

And this is Damian as Kristina was walking down the aisle.

And this is Kristina and her Dad. And one during the ceremony too.

The happy couple.

Water before the reception? No problem for this lovely couple.

Or for the photog, you should see where I was.

The first dance.

And talk about a smooth dancing daddy!

And the fun didn't stop...

Details
the dress en route

wedding flowers

Mmm wedding cake. This cake was nice. And yes that is a fish in the fishbowl with flowers!

Thank you so very much for having me! It was a wonderful wedding and I'm so glad I got to photograph it.
CA

Marshall Minnesota Wedding Photographer

Kelly + Andy: 08.08.08 Sioux Falls, SD Wedding

Kelly and Andy had there wedding on a prime date. A beautiful Friday. Full of lots of color and joy. It was a great wedding and day. I'll tell the story with the images.
CA

They chose to see each other before the ceremony and met at Park that had much better light and background than the church.

Their ceremony took place in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sioux Falls and I love the light in this church. So bright and easy to photograph in.

I loved their exit to the bubble machine.

So did this young man.

They took a ride on the Sioux Falls Trolley from the ceremony to the reception at the Holiday Inn. The trolley and the windows of the Starlight Room offered some lovely light for portraits.

The first dance.

And some fun lighting I added in for dancing. I think it compliments the fun the girls were having well.

Details, lots of them for you. And I even left a lot out.:

There was road construction all around the church.I had to drive all over to get in.

The couple had a sweetheart table rather than a head table. I loved the idea.

Thank you for having me.
Cory Ann

The M Family

Session number 5 for this fab family. And while the day was windy the light was fun to work with.

I like this one best. Carrie did a great job at coordinating their outfits.

This has got to be the cutest little outfit ever!

The B Family

This is the 2 time for the whole family and about their 6th session so I knew it was going to be fun!

A couple of randoms for you.
This is Laney's room and here you see a 20x30 print from the first time I photographed her. She was such a stinker. Not much has changed. : )

And one of the longhorn cows on their property.

South Dakota Portrait Photographer

Baily Turned 3

And got some images to mark it.
CA

Natalie + David: 08.02.09 Aberdeen, SD Wedding

Another fabulous Aberdeen, South Dakota Wedding for us to photograph. Natalie and David got the whole AC Ellis crew and a lot of images for me to go through. Here are some favorites from the day.

The getting ready was fun...

During the ceremony lots of tears were shed when Natalie and David gave flowers to their parents.

The happy couple.

The parents dances...

And some singing by both sides of the bridal party made for some fun.

A evening portrait.

Some details:

The cakes.

Select Intimates™ Retro Housewife

Four new Select Intimates™ announced. One new sample to share. More to come later.

In October we have the much anticipated Retro Housewife. The backdrop is done, the props are purchased and S already showed us how to rock it. We have the props and the aprons, you can brings some strappy shoes and some knickers. O and flip that hair out, think June Clever, but sexy.

November brings in the sports. You know you guys would love to see you barely covered in his favorites teams colors. Stay tuned samples to come next week.

December and January samples to come in the future. Gotta leave something for you to think about. But you know it's good.

October 22-24: Retro Housewife
November 10-13: Sports
December 1-4: All Wrapped Up
January 5-7: Goddess

Click Here to Purchase.

Some Samples of the Retro Housewife for you all, you'll have to wait a couple of days for the Sports:

South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraske Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Intimate / Boudoir Workshops

Get Ready

For some major announcements and samples to show up between now and Monday. I'm going to try to post one each day instead of bombarding you with them all on Monday.

Keep a look out.
CA

Intimate of K

Just a couple of K.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Intimates of R

R came in for a couple of Night on the Town images.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Intimate of E

Going through the archives I found this images and decided to share. Just a simple little image.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Maggie Intimate Again

The spoils of working for a photographer. Maggie in another intimate.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

California Art

While in Cali Ayden and I took some time to walk around. We went into an art gallery at the old Company Store building. It is a cool old building that now is home to many different businesses. This gallery displayed the work of about a dozen artists. Amazingly enough the first artist I was drawn to was John Birchard. This isn't any big surprise since he photographed our wedding. I walked straight to his work before knowing it was his.

Then we rounded the corner to find a new artist Jim Moorehead and in the center of his display was a print of the fishing vessels from Noyo Harbor. And guess which one was the center of the image and the one the print is named after? Audrey, she is my dad's boat. So I bought a large print for dad (still need to frame and send it to him) which I showed him and he loved! And a small print for our home. I'm thinking the hallway or Ayden's room. And I'm still debating on where to put John's print.
CA

Here are our images that we bought:

John Birchard, this is the coast, nice and rocky. And Audrey by Jim Moorehead. If you go to Jim's website you will see Audrey and the opening image.

The prints in the back are of my Panton Chairs.

Intimate Album

We finally got this lovely album in. Filled with images of the lovely A. It's in the studio ready for you to check out.
This is my favorite album that we make.
CA

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Justin's Realtor Business Cards

Have you seen the business cards most realtors use? Yeah me too. Not so great. Well Justin a past wedding client and now portrait client had me take some images earlier this year and about a week ago he got his new super awesome business cards. I designed them for him so I'm a bit biased. Look out Brookings, Justin just took it up a notch. If your looking for a realtor and want to work with a great guy, give Justin a call or visit his website at: www.brookings4sale.com
CA

Old Friends

Ian and Elena passed through Omaha on their way to WA from NY. Since Andy and Ayden didn't get to see them in NY at the wedding we went down to spend the day with them. We went to the zoo and then out to eat before sending them on their way.

On the way there we stopped in to see Leslie (also photographed her wedding) who is now a chiropractor and just recently opened her own practice. All of us but Andy got adjusted. It was Ayde and Kaleb's first time and then thought it was cool.
CA

Then they decided to changed the rotation of the world.

In the jungle.

And on the lions.

Intimate of J

Another lovely lady I forgot to post from a while ago.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Love notes

I should have posted this a long time ago, but you know how playing catch up and get ahead can be. When I returned from Cali. I was greated with a pile of envelopes. It meant a lot to open up condolences cards from friends, clients and other photographers. Thank you everyone who sent your wishes on it means a lot.
CA

A Lake Day

One of the days I got to spend with the family at the lake. August is the good month for the lake and a busy month for weddings and I feel like I miss a lot of family, but I get to the lake whenever I can.
CA

Ayden in the tube, he was crying so bad, but then toughened up and loved it.

It's always fun to go out into the lake and swim off the boat.

No they aren't father and son at all...