The Stephanie Newman Photography Journal

  A Fall Family Session at Schaar’s Bluff with the Blackwell Family As a photographer, there are few things more rewarding than working with a new family and capturing the beauty of their unique dynamics. The Blackwell family was one of those wonderful sessions that I will remember for a long time. They were such […]

I had the pleasure of photographing Parker, a senior from Farmington High School, during her September senior session in the charming town of Northfield. Parker is hoping to pursue a career in fashion merchandising after graduation, so I knew this session was going to be special—not only did we have to capture her personality and beauty, but we also wanted to bring her dreams and interests to life through the images.

Senior photo sessions are always exciting, but sometimes, a little chaos can make them even more memorable. That was certainly the case for Emily’s session in downtown Northfield. It was the first day of Defeat of Jesse James Days, one of the biggest events in town, and let’s just say I wasn’t fully prepared for the festival vibes to kick off so soon! I had thought the event started the following day, not on the day of Emily’s session. That little mix-up led to an unexpected twist in our plans, but one thing remained constant—Emily’s amazing energy, which kept the session fun and relaxed from start to finish. 

When we planned Abby’s session at the Lyndale Rose Garden, I was a little nervous. The last time I had been to the garden was in the summer, and it was in full bloom—every corner was bursting with color. But September is a tricky time for flowers, and I wasn’t sure how much of the garden would still be alive with blooms. Would the roses still be vibrant? Would there be enough natural beauty to create stunning portraits?

The historic buildings, quaint shops, and beautiful parks all contribute to a unique atmosphere that beautifully complements the colors of fall. As we strolled through the streets, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot and the crisp autumn air set the tone for a memorable day. We made our way to Bridge Square, where the iconic bridge over the Cannon River provided a stunning viewpoint. With the river reflecting the fiery colors of the trees, it was the ideal spot for capturing the essence of autumn.

As summer draws to a close and the excitement of senior year begins, there’s no better way to celebrate the journey than through a memorable senior portrait session. For Ashlyn, a dedicated soccer player at Apple Valley High School and member of the Class of 2024, her recent shoot at Spring Lake Park Reserve in […]

These peeps are my favorite peeps. Enough said. HA! Laura is my bestie and fellow photographer. I could tell you the LONG story of our friendship, but I won’t. She is the Frodo to my Sam.  I love these guys like they are family. The girls call me Miss Neffers, a nickname that goes back to Laura and Kevin’s second oldest couldn’t say my name right, so she called me the closest she could get to my name, and it stuck. 

Ava was my second to last senior girl of my Class of 2024. I was a little sad that my season with this senior class was coming to an end, but happy that I got to spend it with this beautiful bubbly girl. It was windy and a little chilly the day we met for her session and that didn’t seem to bother her at all. Girl was so used to being outside in cooler temps as a cheerleader. The wind helped create some great Beyonce moments when we were down by the lake. Which sometimes is awesome, others it was a pain in the behind trying to not let her hair get into her face so much.

It’s really hard to see kids you’ve known since they were like 8 years old and then all of the sudden, bam! They’re fully grown people who are basically adults now. Anthony is the youngest of the Peters family, and the third I’ve photographed for their senior portraits.