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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With his family’s permission, I wanted to share a few photos of Nathaniel.

On Friday, Audra and I had the privilege of taking Nathaniel’s senior pictures. His mom was there watching him smile and “enjoy” having his pictures taken, as much as most high school senior boys enjoy having their photos taken, and he was mostly doing it for her.

We started at the studio, made our way around downtown Spring Valley, stopped at the Kingsland football field, and finished at the Grand Meadow track and field with the very last bits of light. We worked around the rain and were able to capture not only his senior pictures, but some of the places and things that were part of Nathaniel’s life and that he loved.

The very next day, Nathaniel was in an accident, and on Sunday, he passed away.

There really are no words. I am just so grateful that we went ahead with his session that Friday and that his mom had that time with him, watching him smile, laughing, going from place to place together, and making memories that none of us could have known would become so incredibly precious.

It means more than I can express that I was able to be a small part of Nathaniel’s life and capture these photographs for his family and friends.

These are so much more than senior pictures now. They are pieces of Nathaniel’s life, his smile, his senior year, the places and things he loved, and memories that will forever be held close by the people who loved him.

My heart is with his family, his friends, his classmates, and everyone who loved him.

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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.

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