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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Pine Island High School Senior Photos | Brecken’s Class of 2026 Senior Session at Cedar Lake & Lanesboro

As I continue sharing my Class of 2026 seniors, Brecken’s session is one that stands out for so many reasons.

Brecken’s senior portraits were especially meaningful because I’ve known his family for years. His parents are longtime friends, and his dad, Brandon, is one of my best friends from high school. Getting the opportunity to photograph the children of lifelong friends is one of the greatest privileges of my job, making this milestone even more special.

This senior session took place over two seasons, allowing us to capture two completely different sides of Brecken’s story.

Summer Senior Photos at Cedar Lake

We began the first session at the family’s cabin on Cedar Lake near Faribault, Minnesota. The lake has been a special place for Brecken and his family, making it the perfect location to start his senior portraits.

We photographed around the cabin, on the dock, and with the family boat before creating one of my favorite images of the entire session. To make that portrait happen, my assistant, Taylor, was out on a pontoon holding an off-camera light while I photographed from shore. It took a little teamwork, but the final image was absolutely worth it.

Taylor also photographed Brecken waterskiing from the pontoon, capturing incredible action images that added even more personality to his senior gallery.

Although it was technically summer, the weather certainly didn’t feel like it. Temperatures only reached the lower 60s, but Brecken never complained. He climbed into the lake, waterskied, and gave every part of the session his best, despite the chilly conditions.

Fall Senior Photos in Lanesboro

Later in the fall, we met again in beautiful Lanesboro, Minnesota, to finish the second half of Brecken’s senior session.

We explored downtown Lanesboro, photographed near the historic dam, captured trap shooting portraits, and included several family photos along the way. The combination of historic architecture, scenic river views, and fall colors created the perfect backdrop to complement the summer lake images.

By photographing Brecken during two different seasons, we created a gallery that showcased not only the places that mean the most to him but also the activities and people that have helped shape his high school years.

Congratulations, Brecken! Thank you for trusting me to capture this exciting milestone. Wishing you all the best as you begin your next adventure.

Looking for a Pine Island Senior Photographer?

Photography by Kari specializes in personalized senior photography throughout Pine Island, Rochester, Lanesboro, Stewartville, Spring Valley, Faribault, and Southeast Minnesota. Whether your perfect session includes a lake, sports, hobbies, family property, or your favorite small town, I’d love to help create senior portraits that tell your story.

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Kingsland High School Senior Photos | Emma’s Class of 2026 Senior Session in Downtown Rochester

As I continue sharing my Class of 2026 seniors, Emma’s senior session is one I couldn’t wait to feature.

Emma’s senior portraits took place in downtown Rochester, Minnesota, on one of those rare October days that felt more like late summer than fall. With blue skies overhead, warm temperatures, flowers still blooming, and beautiful evening light, the conditions could not have been much better for a senior photo session.

One of the things I love most about downtown Rochester senior sessions is the variety of backdrops available within a few blocks. Throughout the evening, we incorporated downtown architecture, city streets, urban textures, flowers, views from the parking ramp, and the city lights that began to glow as the sun set.

The combination of modern city elements and soft evening light gave Emma’s senior gallery a fun, timeless, and urban feel. From bright blue skies to downtown lights, every location offered something a little different while still creating a cohesive collection of images.

Of course, beautiful locations only go so far. Emma brought a natural smile, relaxed personality, and positive attitude that made every part of the session enjoyable. She made my job easy and helped create a gallery full of genuine expressions and beautiful portraits.

Sometimes a senior session doesn’t need a long list of props or activities. A beautiful day, a great location, and a senior excited about this season of life are more than enough.

Looking for Senior Photos in Rochester or Southeast Minnesota?

Photography by Kari specializes in custom senior photography throughout Rochester, Stewartville, Spring Valley, Chatfield, Grand Meadow, Preston, and Southeast Minnesota. Whether you’re looking for an urban downtown session, a country setting, sports portraits, or a session built around your hobbies and interests, I’d love to help create senior photos that tell your story.

The post Kingsland High School Senior Photos | Emma’s Downtown Rochester Senior Session appeared first on Photography By Kari -- Kari McGill -- Southeast Minnesota Photographer.

Greta’s senior session was fun because I’ve known her family for years. Her parents are friends, her mom was a classmate of mine in high school, and a few years ago I had the privilege of photographing her brother’s senior portraits. It’s always special when families return and I get to document another milestone in their story.

One of the things I loved most about Greta’s senior session was how personal it was. Some seniors choose to focus on a sport, an activity, or a favorite location. Greta’s session included a little bit of everything that makes her who she is.

We began in the studio with classic senior portraits before incorporating one of her favorite hobbies—knitting. These images added a unique and personal touch to her gallery while highlighting a creative interest that has been part of her life.

From there, we headed to Good Earth Village for outdoor senior photos. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, and our session was cut short by rain. Thankfully, we were able to meet again later in the fall to complete the second half of her senior portraits.

Our next stop was Maple Valley Golf Course, where we captured photos celebrating Greta’s love of golf. We then visited the tennis courts at Stewartville High School to highlight another activity that has been an important part of her high school years.

To finish the session, we stopped at the Stewartville Public Library. Outside, Greta posed with her two dogs, and inside we created portraits that reflected her love of reading and learning. These final images helped tell a complete story about the interests, hobbies, and passions that have shaped her high school experience.

From golf clubs and tennis racquets to knitting needles, books, and her beloved dogs, every part of Greta’s senior session reflected something she genuinely enjoys. By the time we finished, we had created a collection of senior portraits that felt completely and authentically her.

Congratulations, Greta! Thank you for trusting me to capture this exciting season of your life. I wish you all the best as you prepare for the adventures ahead.

Looking for a Stewartville Senior Photographer?

If you’re searching for a senior photographer in Stewartville, Rochester, Spring Valley, Chatfield, Grand Meadow, Preston, or anywhere in Southeast Minnesota, I’d love to help create a senior session that reflects your personality, interests, hobbies, sports, and the things that make you unique.

Photography by Kari specializes in custom senior photography throughout Southeast Minnesota.

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