We are proud to announce we had 9 winners in the National portion of the Adorable Children and Pawsitively Adorable contests. The National portion of the contest took place at the lab and was judged by a panel of judges based on quality, appearance, charm, expression, and personality.

In the National Pawsitively Adorable contest…

We had First Place for Me & My Human. They won a $100 Visa gift card.

We had Second Place for Newborns. They won a $75 Visa Gift Card.

We had a Third Place for Dogs. They won a $50 Visa Gift Card.

We had an Honorable Mention for dogs. Super exciting as this is my dog, Maverick. We won a $25 Visa Gift Card.

We had an Honorable Mention in Buddies. They won a $25 Visa Gift Card.

In the National Adorable Children contest…..

We had a Second Place for Bloopers. They won a $75 Visa Gift Card.

We had a Third Place for Bloopers. They won a $50 Visa Gift Card.

We had a Third Place for 13 Months- 2 Years. They won a $50 Visa Gift Card.

We had an Honorable Mention for 9-12 Years. They won a $25 Visa Gift Card.

The lab where these took place is having some website issues, but as soon as we can see the other winners, I will post them here, too. Congratulations, everyone! Thanks for participating and voting! =)

And since we did not do the local portion of the Pawsitively Adorable as it was mostly my assistant’s dogs and family pets, and I had not posted the Pawsitively Adorable images, these are the other images we submitted. So they each received a 16×20 print from their session.

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One chapter ends, another begins

As graduation season comes to a close, it’s hard to believe how quickly the years have passed. Collin has officially graduated from Stewartville High School as a member of the Class of 2026, while his little sister, is preparing to start preschool this fall.

These special cap and gown photos, taken at Stewartville High School, celebrate two important milestones happening at the same time. Dressed in matching caps and gowns, Collin and Miss K represent two very different stages of life, one sibling finishing a chapter and the other just beginning her educational journey.

One of my favorite things about senior photography is capturing meaningful moments that tell a family’s story. Watching these siblings together was a sweet reminder of how quickly childhood passes and how important it is to celebrate every milestone along the way.

To make the session even more memorable, we included the classic Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! Knowing these two and their sense of humor, I’m not entirely sure I want to know what they’re thinking half the time! But whatever adventures, dreams, mischief, and big ideas are running through their minds, I can’t wait to see where life takes them.

As if the session wasn’t memorable enough, Mother Nature couldn’t quite decide between sunshine and a light rain shower. The weather shifted back and forth throughout the session, creating a beautiful reminder that life’s biggest moments don’t always happen under perfect conditions and neither sibling seemed to mind the rain one bit.

As Collin and Miss K’s cousin, these photos definitely pulled at my heartstrings. It seems like just yesterday I was photographing them both as newborns and now they are preparing for their next adventures.

Congratulations, Collin! And good luck to Miss K as she begins her own exciting school journey this fall.

Looking for a Southeast Minnesota Senior Photographer?

If you’re searching for a senior photographer in Stewartville, Rochester, Spring Valley, Chatfield, Preston, Grand Meadow, or anywhere in Southeast Minnesota, I’d love to help create senior photos that reflect your personality, interests, accomplishments, and the people who matter most.

Photography by Kari specializes in custom senior photography, sports portraits, cap and gown sessions, sibling photos, and milestone photography throughout Southeast Minnesota.

The post Collin’s Senior & Sibling Session | Stewartville High School Class of 2026 appeared first on Photography By Kari -- Kari McGill -- Southeast Minnesota Photographer.

As graduation approaches, it’s hard to believe that the boy I once photographed as a newborn is now preparing to graduate from Stewartville High School. As Collin’s cousin, this senior session was especially meaningful, and I am excited to finally share some of my favorite images from his Class of 2026 senior portraits.

We began the session at Stewartville High School, highlighting two sports that have been a huge part of Collin’s high school experience, football and baseball. As a multi-sport athlete, it was important to capture both sides of his athletic journey. We even created several images that combined football and baseball into a single portrait, showcasing the dedication, hard work, and countless hours he has invested in both sports throughout his high school career.

Next, we headed to Meadow Park in Stewartville, where we captured a variety of natural outdoor portraits. From there, we made our way to downtown Rochester, Minnesota, for a completely different look. The urban setting, city lights, and evening atmosphere created the perfect contrast to the sports and outdoor images. As the sun set and the lights began to glow, we captured some of the most striking portraits of the session.

One of the most special parts of Collin’s senior session was including his dog, Tipsy. We recreated photos we had taken together eight years ago when Tipsy was just a puppy. Looking at the old and new images side by side is a reminder of how quickly time passes and how important it is to preserve these memories.

From football and baseball to downtown portraits and photos with his lifelong companion, this session truly captured who Collin is at this stage of life.

Congratulations, Collin!

Watching you grow into the young man you are today has been a privilege. I couldn’t be more proud of your accomplishments, your character, and the person you’ve become. Wishing you all the best as you graduate from Stewartville High School and begin the next chapter of your journey.

Looking for a Stewartville Senior Photographer?

If you’re looking for senior photos that reflect your personality, interests, sports, hobbies, and the people (or pets!) that matter most, I’d love to help create a session that tells your story.

Photography by Kari specializes in custom senior photography throughout Stewartville, Rochester, Spring Valley, and Southeast Minnesota.

The post Collin’s Senior Session | Stewartville High School Class of 2026 appeared first on Photography By Kari -- Kari McGill -- Southeast Minnesota Photographer.

There’s nothing sweeter than a brand new baby, and this session was extra special for me. I had the honor of photographing Miss V, the beautiful newborn daughter of my former assistant.

This sweet family is now a party of five, one proud big brother and one sweet loving sister who already adore their newest addition. Miss V was an absolute dream during her newborn session, giving us those soft, sleepy poses and all the tiny details that make newborn photography so special.

From her delicate features to those curled-up snuggles, every image captures just how loved she already is. These are the moments that pass so quickly, and it’s such an honor to preserve them for families to look back on for years to come.

Newborn Photography in Southeast Minnesota

At Photography by Kari, we specialize in creating timeless newborn portraits for families throughout Southeast Minnesota, including Spring Valley, Rochester, Stewartville, and surrounding areas. Our studio is fully equipped with a wide variety of backdrops, props, and soft, neutral setups designed to keep your baby comfortable while capturing those classic, natural images.

Newborn sessions are best scheduled within the first few weeks of life to capture those sleepy, curled poses, but beautiful images can be created at any stage.

Why Newborn Photography Matters

Those early days with your baby go by in a blur of feedings, snuggles, and little milestones. Professional newborn photography allows you to freeze those moments, tiny fingers, soft eyelashes, and that brand-new life feeling before they’re gone.

Miss V’s session is the perfect reminder of just how meaningful these early days are.

Book Your Newborn Session

If you’re expecting or have recently welcomed a new baby, we’d love to help you capture this special time.

Serving Southeast Minnesota & Northeast Iowa
Studio located in Spring Valley, MN

Contact Photography by Kari today to reserve your newborn session and create timeless images of your growing family.

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