Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2012

Redeemer Church Family Fun Photos-- {Coon Rapids Event Photography}

 The pastor at my church emailed me a few weeks ago with an idea that I couldn't pass up, even though the event in question fell in the first couple weeks of Grad School.  Redeemer is currently doing a series on the importance of family, and wanted to do something unique to celebrate the families in our congregation-- a silly family photo booth on site during a normal Sunday service.

It was so much fun to photograph an event where I basically showed up with camera in hand and used their backdrop and props.   My husband was working at a show downtown, so Noah had to hang out with Mommie and try to be patient while I worked, which was a bit of a challenge.  He loved getting to see more of his friends from the church nursery and had to get in on some of the fun of making a silly face, which at this point as you can see for him means sticking out his tongue.

Here are just a few of the families I got to photograph.  So much fun getting to know all of you a bit more!


Monday, November 28, 2011

Jess and Jason: Getting Ready {Twin Cities Wedding Photography}


 Jess and Jason had a wonderful, intimate, family oriented wedding the week of Thanksgiving.  I spent my time before the wedding with Jess and the ladies (and a couple fellas) of the family getting ready for the ceremony. 

It was a wonderful time with the kids and snacks and plenty of hairspray.  Jess is lucky enough to be getting a sister-in-law who is in school for hair, so she was able to style Jess as well as several other family member's hair. 


Every so often Jess's cell phone would announce, "Hi Beautiful, you have a text message," as she was messaged by her nervously waiting groom.  Jason spent his time getting ready with his dad, who was also his Best Man.  




 I totally fell for her shoes-- check out that heel!


It was important to the Bride and Groom to have the whole family involved in the wedding, especially their daughter, Layla.  Jess's siblings, niece and nephew as well as their daughter were all loving the hotel suite where they got ready. 


 Jess was ably assisted by her mom in the details of her outfit.



 Mommy and daughter's shoes.  I loved how they matched, and I know that Layla loved having a new pair of shiny shoes. 

Soon everyone took off for the wedding location at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul, where an anxious Jason awaited his first glimpse of his Bride.  


I love this image of the future MIL's fastening Jason and his father's flowers while the Bride's brother and the Groom's sister look on.  It is so expressive of how this family has come together for Jess and Jason's big day.  It was so wonderful to meet you all and to be a part of your big event!

More photos of the ceremony and the family celebration afterwards are coming soon!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Is that a U-Haul Parked Outside of this Site?

Yes-  I am packing my bags and moving my humble little corner of the web to a brand new shiny site at http://www.cwestonphoto.com/!  If that link isn't working, try out this temporary one to see all of the wonderfulness.  I'll be packing up my slideshows, gallery links, tutorials and session info and moving over to my big fancy new digs, but what about this site I've used for so long?

Don't worry- you will still be able to see past blog posts, as well as new information and blogs here and always more info at my Facebook Page.  I will be updating you further as I make the changeover from this site and host to another.  For now:

My New Site: http://www.cwestonphoto.com/
My Old Site: http://www.carriewestonphoto.com/
My Blog: http://carriewestonphotography.blogspot.com/
My Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Minneapolis-MN/Carrie-Weston-Photography/122611844453428

"I Love My Mommie" Photo Contest On Facebook

Do you have a mother that you love more than anything? Are you a Twin Cities mom who deserves a bit of pampering for Mother’s Day this year?


Carrie Weston Photography is happy to announce an “I Love My Mommie” contest on my Facebook Fan Page. Prizes include a Classic Photo Session, which includes an hour and half of Carrie’s time and talent, location and studio options, a password-protected online viewing gallery with 35-45 edited and color corrected images to choose from, as well as a $25 print credit.

The winning mom will also receive an additional $50 print credit, free Boutique Packaging, flowers and more!

To enter you or your mother in this contest, simply “Like” Carrie Weston Photography on Facebook.com  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Carrie-Weston-Photography/122611844453428, and submit a picture of your mom in the contest folder and include a description of why you or your mom deserve to win.

Then make sure to spread the word to your friends and family to vote for you or your mom. Whoever receives the most “Likes” wins the grand prize. However, an additional prize for the contestant who receives the most comments will be awarded.

Voting is available April 1– 30th, with the winning moms being announced May 2– leaving plenty of time for the winning mom to claim her prize.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Adoption Sessions


Looking for an Adoption Session/ Gotcha Sessions but too far away from Carrie Weston Photography to arrange one of my free sessions? 

I was delighted to recently stumble across http://www.celebratingadoption.org/, a website offering similar services, and listings of photographers across the United States who are willing to donate their time and talent to you for your adoption session.
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Where I Have Been

Monday, December 6, 2010

Al and Barb Henderson~ Fridley Portrait Photography

 Meet Al and Barb.  a wonderful couple, great parents and grandparents.  Not that I'm biased or anything, but they happen to be my parents.  On a recent visit I got a few formal portraits of them as well as a few more informal while we were out enjoying a bit of family time.  It has taken way too long for me to get them up here,  but I wanted to share Noah's Gi-Gi and Grampy!









Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Boutique Packaging Now Available

Free for all print orders of $75 or more, and available for just $7 an order for print orders less than $75!  Makes a perfect package for any prints you are giving as Christmas presents.  


For a limited time only when you purchase a Christmas Card Mini Session, print purchases of just $40 or more receive this gorgeous packaging free with print order.


Saturday, November 20, 2010

Christmas Card Mini Sessions

You’ve made your list, checked it twice, and come to the conclusion that it was naughty of Santa to give you so much to do for the holiday season?

Carrie Weston Photography is happy to help you with just one of those items on your list.  I am offering a new Mini-Session option, just for the holiday season that will take care of your holiday photo and Christmas card needs. 

For a session fee of just $49 you will receive:

·      A 30 minute photo session at a location of your choice within the Twin Cities Metro
·      An online, password protected gallery with at least 20 images to purchase from with no order minimums.
·      You can create your own custom Christmas card using the photos in the gallery, or I will craft several selections for you to pick from.
·      Purchase photographic prints, merchandise (including mugs, magnets and coasters) and cards from the comfort of your own home.  Orders over $40.00 arrive in Boutique Packaging—perfect for gift giving.
·      Prints that arrive on your doorstep- no hunting through crowded stores or waiting in lines. 
·      Session preview on carriewestonphoto.com with 3-5 images




Simply email me, or call to arrange your session during the months of November up till December 15!  
Saturday, November 6, 2010

Liam: St. Louis Park Newborn Photography

Today I got to do one of my favorite things, have a newborn session.  It was made even more fun by the fact that, the baby was super-adorable and it was a gift session to a coworker of my husband's and his wife.  Little Liam is two months old, and so was able to stay awake for a while and give smiles, but also very kindly slept for us for a while.  It was so great to see a family so happy and to know that Liam will be growing up in a home filled with laughter and love.

It was also great to finally get to meet Erin, Liam's mom.  She and I have had very similar stories for the past few years-- moving for a husband's promotion and relocating without knowing anyone here in MN.  Hopefully we'll get to see you again soon!


Erin, this is one of my favorite photos I have taken, ever.  Your little one is just gorgeous!


Dreaming of his first Christmas!





Such a big boy, holding up his head all on his own!





Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Opinion~ How Much Do I Edit?

Sometimes working in my profession is a wonderful thing-- I get to work with wonderful clients and see them at some of the most important moments in their lives.  The new babies, graduating seniors, couples on the verge of marriage are all wonderful reasons to love photography.  

However, there is a side of photography that is much less a positive, when it is image manipulation that can give young girls negative body images.  Actress, and Minneapolis native Rachel Leigh Cook recently spoke out about image manipulation in Hollywood and in the media, and I feel that I need to address this in connection to what I do. 

How much do I edit?


I pretty much do at least some editing on every photo that I give you, and pretty much every photo that I use for myself.  Primarily I do simple color correction, vignetting, cropping etc.  But the side that I have to use a careful balance with is when it comes to further editing that may change any features of your face or body. In photography magazines and forums I see countless ads for software to get rid of freckles and wrinkles, make eyes larger, lips bigger, eyes brighter, bodies thinner.  

I'll admit, I brighten eyes, brighten teeth, soften a few wrinkles, and I remove a ton of blemishes-- mostly baby blemishes.  Milia are tiny white spots that appear on at least half of baby's faces, and can draw focus in a newborn photo away from seeing just how precious and beautiful your new little one is, and onto the tiny, white bumps that appear right on schedule for your  newborn session.  


In this photo of my own precious son at about a month old, he looks adorable- even with the milia on his face.  However, in the edited version I have simply: cloned away the bumps, smoothed his skin a bit, and brightened his eyes just a touch.  However, he still looks like him, which is my point.  I would never and will never change the things that make you, you.   Why would I mess with God's good work?


Monday, October 25, 2010

Swanson Session: Blaine Family Photography

Recently I was delighted to get a phone call from Denise, mom to Leah and Kyle and wife to Rick.  She told me that she  had seen the work I had done for the Marra Family and their son, Nick, and wanted to discuss a family session for her family and dog, Sammy.  It is always an honor to hear that a client is happy with your work, and to have someone else want to book me based upon that is doubly so.  

Because the Swanson family is neighbors of the Marra's we decided to meet up in the same location to capture some of the last gorgeous leaves of fall at the backdrop to our session.  The weather report called for the first rain in weeks, and it was supposed to rain and be quite chilly all day,  but thankfully the report was about as accurate as weathermen are stereotyped to be-- it was dry and thankfully warm enough to be comfortable.  


How great are they?  Even Sammy the dog stood really well for this shot!


Mom and son.  Their whole family is super active with football, hockey, golf and a whole slew of other sports.  It was a feat just to get them all at a free moment, and wonderful to get the chance to celebrate their family.



Sammy did so well and even managed to pose a few times.  It is great to include even the furry family members, especially when they are as well-behaved as Sammy.


Surprisingly, on a day that was supposed to be rainy all day, the light was still bright enough to get in their eyes during this shot, but I think that the result is so cute, so hopefully they will say it was worth it!









Thursday, October 21, 2010

My Life-- A Much Needed Break

This past weekend I paused from taking on clients to enjoy a bit of time with my family who were in town from MI to see my husband and I, but even more so to soak up a bit of time with the short one-- their adoring and adored grandson.

I have been so busy that I haven't had time to edit a bunch of photos from that session, although I did do some more formal shots of my folks that I will put up a few from later, but I just had to add this one basically SOOC (Straight Out Of the Camera).

He is the reason that my work takes about twice as long, the reason my formerly folded laundry ends up all over, and recently he was the reason a potato was in our bathroom, but I wouldn't change him even the tiniest of bits.

My son's other recent hijinks?  How about opening up the dishwasher so he can stand on the inside of the door to reach the top? Kisses? Rubbing our faces and making cooing noises when we remind him to use gentle touches? (He can get kinda grabby.) Discovering and identifying his belly button?  He also is obsessed with spices and smelling, and today got cinnamon up his nose.  He also loves going to get a sweater or one of his shoes and telling me, "Go?" as he walks over to the door that leads to the back yard.

I love my mini-man so much, and it was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with my family on the weekend at the apple orchard and playing trains down in the family room.

Thanks for visiting Gi-Gi and Grampy!  It was just what we Westons needed!
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