Hi I'm Michele and I photograph families and all things motherhood in Minnesota.
Getting to the Heart of it all. . .
I specialize in all things motherhood; that means maternity, newborn, baby & family photos is my jam, turning the beautiful mess of family life into stunning art. My mission? To capture those genuine, joyful moments that make your heart sing.
Why I Don’t Wear Dresses to Photo Sessions Once, while capturing the perfect shot during a photo session, I tumbled backward into a kiddie pool filled with muck; remnants of summer days gone by. Dress drenched, pride wounded, but my camera? Heroically saved. The boys had a field day laughing, and the mom graciously lent me some dry clothes so I could finish the session and drive home. Why no one warned me, I'll never know! That event happened 14 years ago and let's just say I haven't worn a dress to a photo session since. Making kids laugh and having a good time at my expense is totally worth it especially since I'm pretty good at saving my gear.
My Approach Thanks to my background in photojournalism, I’ve mastered the candid, lifestyle approach, ensuring every session is unique and fun (did you read the story above). Expect heirloom-quality artwork that’ll be the talk of generations, with collections that include digital files and complimentary print credit.
My Goal Remember, the images you have taken of your children are for you, but the images you have taken with your children are for them. Let’s work together to ensure your family’s legacy is preserved—one beautiful, messy moment at a time.
Let me tell you my Why . . .
You see, I’m usually not in any photos with my kids. If I am, it's a blurry mess that looks like it was taken by a blind man. Imagine my delight when I get these real quick, real candid, real unflattering images. Honestly, I might be a tad envious of my clients. They get these stunning, frame-worthy images while I get... well, the shaft.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with photographs. I’d spend hours going through my grandmother’s photo albums, snapping away with my mom’s old film camera, and eventually spending hours in a darkroom in college. My biggest wedding expense? The photographer. When people say "your camera takes great pictures" I have to answer; not in my husband's hands.
Now, my kids are teens, and the window for capturing those beautiful images of us together has pretty much slammed shut. Let me share a few regrets with you:
- I never invested in maternity images.
- I went to a mall studio for my son’s newborn photos.
- I wasn’t even in my daughter’s newborn photos at all.
The Importance of Being Seen
Last year, my daughter asked for photos of us together when she was little, and after rummaging through endless folders, I found only a few. And they weren't that good. I found lots of my kids being adorable and my husband being the fun dad. But me? I was in nothing but quick, uninspired shots.
I wanted beautiful moments of me with my babies that I had envisioned in my head. Because I was there too. In fact I was there every day ALL day and ALL the long nights.
my journey
I have spent over 15 years capturing the magic of family life. With a minor in journalism and an emphasis in photojournalism, my experience has shaped my candid lifestyle approach to photography, a style I embraced long before it became popular. My work has graced the covers and pages of magazines and books, not to mention countless blog sites and Instagram hubs. In 2023, Expertise.com crowned me one of the Best Maternity & Newborn Photographers in Minneapolis, and back in 2019, Peerspace declared I was one of the 6 best lifestyle photographers in Minneapolis. I've taken thousands of photos, each one brimming with joy and authenticity, making me a true pro at turning life's beautiful chaos into stunning art.