Spring Hustle, Heart Work, and Horses on the Loose

YMCA Basketball tourney

This tournament is so fun to capture. The littles there to watch their big siblings are totally fun to keep entertained, and of course completely adorable!

My intern got some fabulous dance videos of me showing them how to pose. Too bad I can't put videos on here. :)

Spring is always a whirlwind, but this year? I can barely stand still, let alone edit photos. Having a high school senior of my own means every moment feels like a ‘last’—and I’m trying hard to soak them all in. For weeks, I’ve been thinking about writing this post. I even started it over a week ago… and yet here we are. It’s been sitting in my drafts, growing heavier every day. Ever do that?

Because I used to photograph nearly every genre of photography, the variety of subjects I capture certainly isn't as broad as it used to be, and you won't see these things on my website, but in the spring they're still captured through my lens. I have to make a very conscientious effort not to say yes more often, or it could consume my life the way these seemingly little events once did. That is the thing all photographers know, but few others understand: one yes = hours more of work.

These days, my focus is more refined. Most of what I shoot in spring doesn’t even make it to my website. I still capture all kinds of moments—just fewer of them. I have to be intentional with what I say yes to. Every “yes” adds hours of behind-the-scenes work—and photographers know all too well how quickly that adds up.

My spring officemates

Round one of my office mates. It was too cold to put them in the big barn when we first got them, so they kept me company for a few days. Man, they got loud- and stinky, unfortunately.

Sometimes my art still ends up on walls

I participated in the Bethany Lutheran College campus art show. Behind me is a teacup image by my student Emi Becker. She was granted the photography Merit Award.

MN State Speech Tournament

My senior. I took a day off to attend the MN State High School Speech tournament. Claire tied for first in extemporaneous reading.

I love to photograph the couples for the Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School prom grand march.

Formal Fun

Prom is nearly a full day of photos. Capturing the formal shots for everyone, and also fun with friends and dates all afternoon. This is Claire with the dress she designed and sewed with her boyfriend Jackson.

What I do say yes to in spring looks a little different. It’s often where I feel called to use my gifts: local Lutheran church confirmations, YMCA basketball tournaments, high school spring sports, prom, and graduation. I recently photographed the 10-year anniversary of Lutheran Military Support Group, and loved every moment. I also captured the MN State High School Speech tournament, a school production of Newsies, and a concert–because my kids were involved, I was taking photos anyway, and why not share the fun? Again, that's still more time staring at a computer, but it makes me stop and appreciate the photos I would be taking anyway, and then share with other parents who have the same sense of pride seeing their kids in the spotlight.

And then… there are the animals. OK—not exactly pet photography. More like cleaning up after mine! One of my unofficial year-long jobs is managing the chaos they leave behind. I just came in from mending a fence—fingers crossed the horse stays put for the grad party. Last night I moved my latest baby chick officemate to the big coop, so no more chirping while I work–except for the baby birds currently residing in my prop room. (A story for another day.)

I know everyone’s busy. This isn’t groundbreaking or profound. But I’ve been photographing so much lately that I haven’t even properly planned my daughter’s graduation party. So naturally… I’m procrastinating by writing a blog post. :)

I needed to get this one out so I can move on to the next—coming soon. (Warning: it may involve tears.)

Thanks for reading, now enjoy some very random photos, and have an awesome Memorial Day Weekend!

The end of the school year

Can't forget that I am an adjunct professor also. Alex Almeda decided to go into photography after taking Photo 1 with me, and I just know that he will continue to do amazing things with the talents God has given him!

My amazing department at BLC!

These men are a large part in why I love my job so much. I truly have the best peers to work with. They are all brilliant, and care SO much about Bethany Lutheran College, and her students. They also make necessary meetings so much more fun!

Spring headshots

My awesome sister-in-law Jes Woller graduated from the Bethany Lutheran College with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I took grad photos of others that weekend, but she was my favorite model.

Anniversary Event Photos

During the Lutheran Military Support Group Anniversary my friend, and co-worker Jason Jasperson spoke about the amazing military monument sculpture that he created.

Newsies was tremendous!

Minnesota Valley Lutheran H.S. did an amazing job with their production of Newsies! It was SO good, and our daughter Claire was a phenomenal Katherine!

This amazing show deserves more than one photo. SO good!

Overwhelming talent

The MVL Prism Concert- this school has SO much talent!

The brilliant budding scientist

When this girl asks for photos to be taken of her because she needs some headshots, I oblige. This is my beautiful, and brilliant, oldest daughter Rylee.

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