The Stephanie Newman Photography Journal

Family is the most important thing in the world.” – Princess Diana

Sarah reached out to me in early spring to book a family session with her her family and in-laws, as a gift to her mother in-law for Mothers Day. I thought that was the sweetest thing ever. Also something the matriarch of the VanBenthusyen family would cherish for years to come.

Kaitlyn’s session is my first spring senior session and I want to do more spring senior sessions! Check out the gorgeous flowering trees in the background. LOVE!! I’ve shot at this park a couple of times in the past but never in the spring when the foliage is so different than late summer early fall.

The weather was playing games with us all day the day of her session. It threatened to rain most of the day, then part of the day and then finally, just a little bit of the day.

This year’s senior class has created so many fun opportunities to be creative as a photographer. I’ve done sessions with cars, sports equipment, fun props like wands and light sabers. For Quinn’s session it was planes! It was so cool to head to the small airport in Lakeville and use a small plane for some of his photos!

Also, this is my first winter senior session. And as you all know with Minnesota weather in general, it is unpredictable sometimes

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve photographed the Johnson family. We’re maybe up to number 5?. They have been one of my biggest supporters of my business since the beginning. The last couple of years we’ve gotten together for their family pictures it’s either been freezing for the month of October or swealtering. This year, it was almost perfect weather.

You’ve booked your family session with a photographer, now what comes next? You want to make sure that everything goes well from location choice all the way to what to wear, but not sure where to start! I’ve created a checklist for you to make sure that you have all your ducks in a row when it comes to planning your family session.

I just LOVE the outfits that the Daly family showed up for their downton Farmington family session last month. I loved how it is very chic and would look great on Christmas cards. I’ve done a few senior sessions downtown Farmington before but never a family session and it was so much fun with Marie and her menfolk.

You’ve booked your senior pictures with a photographer, now what do you do? I’ve created a senior session prep checklist for you to make sure you have everything you need to make sure your session goes smoothly.

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve photographed this extended and blended family and they’ve added a few more family members since. I enjoy every moment of time spent with these fantastic people, it sometimes feels like herding cats but that’s the best part of being with them all.

The rain throughout the day threatened to postpone this extended family session with the Sodolka family. But it seemed to stay away for just enough time to get this family together. One plus to the threat of rain, we had the park practically to ourselves!