Minnesota Family Photography | Family Photos along the St. Croix River

I am SO excited to be sharing this session with you today! First and foremost, I’m thrilled to announce that I will officially be offering Minnesota family photography during the summer months of July and August. It has long been my dream to expand my services to clients both in California and Minnesota, allowing me to spend more time with my parents and other family in the Midwest over the summers. This past summer marked the beginning of building my Minnesota portfolio, and I plan to extend my time there in the coming years. So, I can’t wait to share these images with you!

What made this session particularly special was that it was with a former friend and colleague. We both worked at a small restaurant in downtown Afton one summer. It was my first experience as a server, and to be honest, I was quite inexperienced at everything. Laura was one of the kind souls working at Sail Away Cafe that summer, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside her.

Anyway, let’s fast forward a little bit. Laura got in touch with me through Facebook, having followed my photography journey, and inquired if I ever returned to Minnesota. I was filled with excitement because, as I mentioned, expanding my business to serve clients in both California AND Minnesota has long been my dream. You see, I have deep affection for California and am thankful for the business I’ve built here, but my roots in Minnesota run deep, and I am genuinely a Midwesterner at heart. So as much as I cherish my West Coast life, I yearn to spend more time in the Midwest with my family. This is where I envision a life where I dedicate a month or two back in the Midwest every summer, reconnecting with family and friends while serving a different set of clients. It’s my dream. 😊 But for now, I’ll step down from my soapbox and return to Laura’s family session.

Laura and John are high school sweethearts, and I happen to know this because I went to high school with them. While they’re a few years older than me, like I mentioned earlier, I had the privilege of knowing Laura beyond the school environment as well.

Their session took place at Laura’s parents’ beachside property in Lakeland, Minnesota. It turned out to be the perfect location – idyllic and meaningful, situated along the picturesque St. Croix River. The day was ideal for capturing photos, starting with cloud cover and transitioning to sunlight filtering through the clouds intermittently. We strolled along the riverbank, dipped our feet in the water, and even had an adorable flock of ducks as good company that made frequent appearances in their images. The entire morning was exceptionally beautiful and serene.

Feel free to peruse through some of my favorite moments captured during their Minnesota family photography session, and don’t forget to leave them some warm words in the comments section below!