4th of July Nelson Family Gathering

Here is one happy grandmother surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! What a perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July.

And here is the entire family. Thank you for letting my assistant (my hubby, Charlie) and I be a part of your 4th of July!

Thinking of our great-neice Abby as she prepares for her 2nd kidney transplant

Our great-neice, Abby Logue is at Mayo for final testing and preparation for her 2nd kidney transplant. Abby was only 18 months old when she received her first kidney transplant in 2005. To read more about this remarkable little girl, please see her CaringBridge website.

Here are a few photos of Abby taken last fall - as you can see from the photos, she is a very happy and active little girl! We're praying that all the testing goes well and Abby will get her new kidney and be back home soon!

Roger & Judy's Wedding

Hooo, Hooo - Who is the Cutest Guy in this Owl Hat? Michael!

Alissa and Jamie's Engagement: A Love Story

I recently had the privelege of taking engagement photos for a very sweet couple; Alissa and Jamie. I've known Ali and her family forever, so when Jamie contacted me by email from Wales about his plan to surprise Ali with a visit and propose to her, I was sooooo excited! I had a big secret to keep but luckily it wasn't for too long :) Since Jamie had limited time in the US he wanted to make sure they could get their engagement photos taken during the time he was here. Jamie even made arrangements to have some of their photos taken with a special prop; an airplane, since airplanes have played a big role in their long distance relationship!

Jamie was sweet enough (he is actually a very sweet guy!) to write up their "love story" for me to share on my blog. Enjoy!

Ok, so I'll try to give you the condensed version of our relationship with the main highlights.....as told by Jamie

Fall 2008 Ali arrived in Wales to study at the University of Glamorgan for her study abroad year. This happened to be the university that I graduated from in 2007. I was invited back to work at the student bar during "freshers fortnight", unbeknowest to myself my old bosses had taken on a number of new staff. I began my first shift when about half way through in the main bar after serving a customer a Red Bull, I tossed the Red Bull can into the regular trash. Something I imediatley realised was wrong, but before I could correct my error, a shout came booming over the bar from the other side as an American twang sang out the words: "You can recycle that!" What ensued for the rest of the night was some pretty serious flirtation across the bar, which ultimately led to me telling my bosses that they had done well in employing the American :)

About a week later I had the night off from the bar, and decided to go out to Glamorgan. Having told a friend of my crush on the American barmaid I confidently bought her a drink and we began chatting. We exchanged numbers and the following week went on our first date to a micro brewery in Cardiff South Wales. And continued to develop a strong relationship over the coming months. With the prospect of being seperated by an ocean looming as the school year came ever closer, I decided to apply for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps and was placed in Baltimore, MD, for one year between August 2009-August 2010. We continued to date, and our long distance relationship began.

At the end of my LVC year I was due to enter the University of South Dakota to start with Ali, on the Masters in Social Work program. However, due to a technicality in my application for a change of status to take up study at USD my visa was declined, and I was asked to leave the United States, which I did in October 2010. And low, an ocean had seemingly opened up between us. before this decision it was my vision to ask Ali to marry me in April 2011, in New York, Strawberry fields in central park to be precise, as John Lennon and the Beatles are a big part of our relationship. Having been sent home, I still intended to keep to my April date, but the location was altered slightly. However, my dad passed away in February and I pushed back my plans ever so slightly, and I decided to propose in May. Selecting a ticket I decided that the date would be May 27th. I then spent the weeks and months prior to this preparing for my arrival. I did not tell Alissa I was coming, as I wanted to surprise her. However, when her grandpa passed away on May 20th I had to alter my plans again, as she would now be in Rapid City for the 27th.

So I flew into Sioux Falls on the 27th, and Ali's brother in law drove us out to Rapid. We arrived at Rapid City late Friday night, I went straight to see Ali's mother and father, to ask their permission, with that we then went to Aliss'a aunt's house where Ali would be staying. Ali was out at the cinema as her sister who was aware I was coming kept her out.

When she returned I had set out the deck with candles, tullips and a postcard containing the self portrait of John Lennon. When Ali arrived I was at the bottom of the decking, and our song played in the background. She came down the stairs, hugged me and said yes.

Thanks Jamie, what a sweet love story! Wishing you and Ali love and happiness!

Growing up with horses - what a lucky little guy!

One of the best things about photography is getting to meet new people and learning a little bit about them during a photo session. Dillon and DeeDee are new to our community and they have a brand new member of their family; Teegan, who I recently had the pleasure to photograph.

From talking on the phone prior to the session to find out what they may like to incorporate to make the photo session more personal, I knew horses were an important part of their lives.

It made me reminise to my childhood. My Dad had a real desire for me to be a "horsewoman." There were the early morning riding lessons, the cowboy attire, the trail rides with the Vermillion saddle club, etc. I was a bit too timid to become real comfortable on a horse but I loved my horse Lightening and all the horses my brother had along the way; Peaches, Ginger, and Commanche. I just loved them more as an oversized pet, more than riding them :)

Teegan has some growing to do before he fills his Dad's cowboy boots and hat but he will be living every little boy's dream of being a genuine little cowboy!

Switching gears for a week.....literally!

As much as I LOVE photography.....it is time for me to turn my attention to a hobby I have neglected over the past several months as I started my photography business. To give equal time to my bike, I will be spending the week on Tour de Kota, June 6-10th. With such little training I pray the winds will be kind to me and be to our backs!

I started biking in 2004 and have met so many wonderful people through biking, I can't describe the joy of riding a bike with your best biking buddies. Not to mention, how great it is to ride with your daughter! My oldest daughter, Ashley took up this hobby with me. We rode the entire 6 days of TDK in 2006 and 2007, as well as RAGBRAI in 2008. The last few years have been busy for her with her wedding, obtaining her Masters Degree, and having a baby! But I am so excited that she will be riding the first day of TDK with me!

It was also my biking buddies; Nancy, Melissa, and Marilyn who got me hooked on photography - we are the camera clickin' cyclists!

But the only camera I will be packing is an old, el-cheapo, dropped from my bike onto the road several times, dependable point and shoot Sony camera. But there will be photos I promise when I return!

If you're interested, here is a snipet of my cycling blog for one day of the TDK ride from 2009.

Congratulations to the Graduates!

Greg - Irene/Wakonda

John - Viborg

Cameron - Vermillion

Greg - Irene/Wakonda

John - Viborg

Take Me Home, Country Roads

This is from a family photo shoot I did over Easter weekend. The family consisted of the parents and 5 siblings and their spouses. We did the traditional family shots; parents with children and parents with children and son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws. The weather wasn't the best for outdoor photos; cloudy, windy, and temps barely reaching 50 degrees. Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun doing some shots of just the brothers and sisters with the farm place they grew up on in the background.

After taking the series of family photos, this gang was still going strong and didn't give me any grief when I told them (I'm rather bossy) we were heading 5 miles out into the country to get some more photos.

I think we definitely created some memories this day for this family. I was shooting from a distance and had the group walking away from me so I couldn't see their reactions when I asked them to walk towards the farm but I heard it was a "tender" moment. Thanks to Jennifer, the baby of the family (from one baby of the family to another), for coming up with the idea of a family photo shoot. Too often we don't get a family group photo until the funeral of one of the parents. I know that was the case with my family and my husband's family. Although we cherish those photos it is always a bit sad to think they were taken at the time of  a funeral. This fanily will have family photos with no negative memories linked to them!

The greatest compliment I have received to date in my photography venture came from this family, who said "Thank you so much for making our photo session FUN!"

I can't wait for Kim & Tyler's wedding!

I am so honored to be the wedding photographer for Kim and Tyler! Kim is a very close friend to our youngest daughter, Emily, and we think of her as a daughter, she is very special to us. We are so happy for her and Tyler and can't wait for their wedding August 6th!

Here are a few of their engagement photos that we took a few months ago.....

Happy Mother's Day

Thank you to all the mother's who have shared their children with me in my studio over the past few months. I have enjoyed the "play" sessions with the kids and getting to know the Mom's. Wow, I have a new appreciation for how busy you all are! And I know you hear this all the time, but TRY to enjoy this time, it really does go so quickly!

So in honor of Mother's Day, here are a few mother-child photos. I'm glad you took the time out of your busy schedules to have these photos taken, afterall we never hear anyone say "I wish we wouldn't have taken so many photos!"

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

First Communion

I had the privelege of photographing Katelyn for a very special event in her life; her first communion. Since the photos were taken a few weeks in advance of Katelyn's first communion on May 1st, it has been difficult for me to not post these right away! Katelyn, you are a very beautiful young lady, congratulations on your first communion. May you always grow in your faith.

Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys

Like in the movie Field of Dreams; "build it and they will come," I found the same is true of a saddle; bring a saddle into your studio and the cowboys will come!

Thank you to Gordon Jensen for loaning me his saddle. It is truly beautiful and I was anxious to try it out so I asked Kasandra to let me do some of Micah's 6 month photographs on the saddle. Turns out Micah's grandmother was raised on a ranch so he has some cowboy blood in him. Micah took to the saddle like a natural.

Then the following week Andrew came in for his 5 year photos and he had just received a special birthday present from his grandpa; all the clothing and gear that a cowboy would ever wish for! Including chaps, spurs, canteen, bandana, hat, etc. Andrew was filling me in on the Lone Ranger, wow, it has been a long time since I've seen those shows, it was nice to take a trip down memory lane and it is nice to know that Andrew is enjoying watching the Lone Ranger in 2011!

Thanks to my cowboys! Hi yo, Silver away!

Rub a dub, dub - one little man in a tub!

Little Cowboy