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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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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As the holiday season comes to a close, we want to wish all of our clients and followers a very Merry Christmas from Photography by Kari. ?? This year, Maverick and I had a little festive fun of our own, stepping in front of the camera on our gingerbread baking holiday set and embracing the joyful chaos that comes with the season.

Maverick took his role very seriously proudly wearing his chef’s hat and apron, thoroughly inspecting the bowl, wearing more than his share of flour, and reminding me (as he always does) that no photo session is complete without a face lick. ?? Moments like these are silly, unexpected, and perfectly imperfect — and they’re often the ones that become the most meaningful memories.

As playful as this session was, it also served as a reminder of what the holidays are truly about: slowing down, laughing a little more, and holding close the ones who make life sweeter even when they’re covered in flour. After the mess was made and the photos were finished, Maverick happily accepted his favorite Wufers cookie, because traditions matter (and yes, he gets one every night and definitely reminds me). ??

A huge thank you to my amazing assistant, Rylee, for stepping behind the camera and capturing these moments for us. Being able to trust someone to document these behind-the-scenes memories means more than I can say.

To our incredible clients and followers, thank you for another year of trust, support, and for allowing us to be part of your stories. We are so grateful for each of you and wish you a Christmas filled with love, warmth, joy, laughter, and just a little bit of mess, the kind that turns into the best memories.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Photography by Kari. ??

The post Merry Christmas from Photography by Kari | Holiday Photos in Spring Valley, MN appeared first on Photography By Kari -- Kari McGill -- Southeast Minnesota Photographer.

This Christmas mini session was full of energy, laughter, and all the fun that comes with a family of five and three busy boys. ??

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