The Minnesota Image

Baby Christian

Jenn Cheesebrow — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:02:52 +0000

Only two weeks until Tim and my baby number two is due so you can imagine I have babies on the brain. What a treat it was to spend some time with beautiful baby Christian. His mom Kinsey is mother of three and knows much about babies and motherhood. I had a great time taking photos and chatting with Kinsey. We know this couple through a recording project Tim and Lucas did together. Tim supplied the music, Lucas the recording equipment and expertise. Tim and I are very thankful for the time and energy Lucas gave to the project and to Kinsey for sharing him with us. We’ve enjoyed watching their family grow: celebrating with them at their wedding and now capturing the newest member of their family. Here are a few from our session.

Just after I put my camera away, Christian drifts off. Modeling is hard work after all. I grab the camera and snap a few more because who can resist the peaceful draw of a sleeping baby.

Minnesota Image, not just for humans.

Tim Cheesebrow — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:30:35 +0000

My Aunt, Cathe, lives on a horse ranch in Wisconsin. She boards horses for folks and keeps a few of her own. Recently one of her boarders moved her horse, Chant, somewhere else. Cathe thought it would be a great Christmas present to give this border a photo shoot of her big, beautiful Arabian gelding. Chant is a great horse with a very relaxed personality and lots of affection. I brought our son Finn to the shoot and he was excited to see Chant again, but he got a little scared when the horse gave him a kiss. I don’t blame him…that horse’s head is bigger than Finn’s whole body.

Chant was a great model…he cooperated and if I didn’t know better I would swear he knew English, because after giving him mock directions like “Let’s perk those ears forward” “Lift your chin” “turn your head a bit…more…right there” “Good, now straighten your neck” and so forth he would, sort of, do what I asked. I think he just liked all the attention and knew how to strut his stuff. It was my first time doing horse portraiture, but I hope to do it again because it’s just so much fun to be around those animals.

A Violin, a Race Car, and a Puppy.

Jenn Cheesebrow — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:12:29 +0000

Here is my last session before Christmas, a beautiful, blended family. We meet at Kelly’s aunt’s home and spent most of the session indoors as it was freezing outside. The kids were a lot of fun and brought their own props and ideas. I love when clients get excited and bring their own ideas to the session. It makes it more fun for me too. I though the kids looked like they stepped right out of a Gap ad so I told them to give me a serious look for the first photo posted here.

Matthew is Six Months Old!

Jenn Cheesebrow — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:55:54 +0000

Matthew is six months old! Check out this cutie. Here he is waiting for Santa.

I love the look on Mom and Dad’s faces in these two photos.

Our Friends…and Neighbors

Jenn Cheesebrow — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:53:41 +0000

It’s Christmas time again and we are busy at the Minnesota Image Co. taking photos of beautiful families. Here is one of our favorites, our wonderful neighbors, Nick, Lindsay, Zach, and Adam. Lindsay is a Creative Memories consultant and I’m sure will find wonderful ways to display and share her photos. You can contact her for ideas on what to do with your own photos here.

Twins, Charlie and Anders, Turn 6 Months Old

Jenn Cheesebrow — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:42:36 +0000

The twins I photographed at 3 weeks old are now 6 months! What a fun (and exhausting) session. Their mom Misti never once lost her cool despite the twins’ best efforts (my mere presence was a bit much for the boys at times). What an amazing mom. She balanced two better that I can balance one many days. Between feeding, singing them scat, burping, and changing, she was a joy to chat with. Congrats to you, Misti, you are clearly doing an amazing job. Here is your preview post.

Cohen

Jenn Cheesebrow — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:14:12 +0000

You may remember just a month or so ago I posted a preview of the beautiful and pregnant Christine. Well, She’s still beautiful but she is not pregnant any more! Cohen arrived on Sunday, November 6th. I got to take his newborn photos when he was 10 days old. Here is the preview for Neil, Christine, and Cohen. Congrats to you all!

Peter John is ONE!

Jenn Cheesebrow — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:25:43 +0000

Peter John turned one and I got to take his birthday photos! It was a chilly day but we moved fast and kept warm. Here is a preview for Mary and Peter. Thanks guys!

Zach’s Senior Photos

Jenn Cheesebrow — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:21:37 +0000

I got to know Zack last weekend. He’s a White Bear senior who makes pottery and plays ultimate frisbee. We had a great photo session at his home. We got to use Bald Eagle Lake as a background and even found some time for a few action shots with the frisbee. Here is Zach’s preview.

A Maternity Session and a Crash Course in Filters

Jenn Cheesebrow — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:19:02 +0000

This is beautiful Christine and her husband Neil. They are expecting a baby very soon. I was excited to take some maternity photos of the two of them last weekend. Christine and I spoke about different types of post editing filters: black and white verses sepia verses an “antiqued” look. I’ve posted some of each here with some simple explanations. Photography doesn’t end after pressing of the shutter. The editing is as much a part of the process as the pose, the lens, and the exposure values. Just as many artistic decisions are made after the image is captured.

These first two are what I consider traditional color. I’ve added a little vignette to both but basically left the color as shot.

Here is a black and white. But don’t think that black and white is a simple edit. There are countless ways to convert a color photo to black and white. Bringing a professionally taken photo to a Target kiosk and clicking “black and white” is like microwaving lobster. Just don’t do it.

These next two images are both edited in the “antique” style. This look is very popular right now. It is meant to replicate the look a printed photo takes on as it ages. This particular look can very greatly in its intensity and temperature, just as different films would age differently. To achieve this look I decrease color saturation, add a strong vignette to the edge of the photo, and adjust the color temperature as needed. You can see the one on the left is much warmer (yellower) and the one on the right is a cooler (bluer) antique look.

And lastly, these two are edited in a familiar sepia color scheme. Oh, and check out Christine’s perfect baby belly!

Congrats to you both! I am so happy for you and can’t wait to meet the little one at his/her newborn session!