Shelley Anderson Photography Blog

personal challenge/minneapolis natural light photographer

shelley — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:29:20 +0000

one of the negatives of being in the business is that i never find/make the time to edit my own photos. and i take less photos of my own kids/family. recently my dad has been not doing the best and i honestly freaked out a bit last week and pulled out old photos to look at and thought to myself i need to take more photos, where is that one fabulous photo of my dad, etc. and i have a mess!!!! my negatives are all over the place, and i have tons of digital images on my back up…nothing has been done to them. yikes! while digging i found so many cute photos of my kiddos when they were little…and due to spending some time on pinterest and feeling like i am failing at everything in my life…sad, but true…i have set a personal challenge for myself to get 100 digital images edited this month/non client ones. wish me luck:) i truly want to start building walls of miscellaneous photos on several more of the empty walls in my house and i challenge you to do the same.

last week i honestly did not take my camera to dance events…sad, but true…as i hate the lighting and more than that i hate the pressure from other parents/kids as then i have deadlines on “non paid” images and feel even more pressure put on myself:) yikes. if an orono kid sees me at an event with a camera around my neck they come up to me and ask that if i get anything good to submit to the yearbook, and then i get follow up emails as well. crap:) LOL

i can say crap on my own blog, right? LOL i have parents patiently waiting for editing from not this past year baseball season, but the year before…2010. and i feel horrible inside.

i am flattered…but unfortunately my clients come first and i don’t get to my own images. sooooo, i’m quieter a bit in february and march and i am going to see what i can tackle:) here is image #1…nothing special but it still makes me smile inside. i am sure logan and allie are arguing about one of them not paddling right…and todd is just hanging on between them…LOL

ludlows/august 2011…

lucy and company/minneapolis newborn and natural light photographer

shelley — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:43:23 +0000

gosh, i flippin adore this family…i was so thrilled to do their newborn shoot and here are some of my absolute favorites…minus their birth announcement keeper:) lucy is one lucky baby girl…that’s all i am going to say on that!!!!

as we all know…i don’t do that many newborn shoots…i don’t specialize in them and i used to do more of them years ago! it truly is a whole other form of art from seniors:) but, it is such a precious time for each and every family and it was my pleasure to do this shoot for the H family as they truly do hold a special place in my heart for the last year+. i will be honest and say that i wouldn’t have signed up to do their newborn photographers if i knew they would be “difficult” to deal with in any shape or form:) LOL they are soooooo laid back and soooooo appreciative, fabulous to work with every single time! and i don’t always get dad’s like jeff either:) just being honest! just totally delightful…big hug from me H family! i’m glad we got some keepers for you!

shelley

lucy, lucy, lucy/minneapolis newborn and natural light photographer

shelley — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:49:42 +0000

i have permission to post this image and her delightful mom says it is one of her personal favorite from their private gallery. just look at lucy’s gorgeous skin and lips:) one lucky baby girl…this i know for certain! more to follow yet this weekend/week if all goes well on my end.

as always thanks for peeking…and be sure to peek back again for more of lucy and family!

winter mini shoots this month/minneapolis natural light photographer

shelley — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:43:01 +0000

i would love to book some winter mini shoots, perfect for kid/small family, senior, boudoir or head shot. i have the studio booked from 10-2 on both 2/17 and 2/20 (presidents day so kids are off of school). $295 includes 45 minute shoot time and the best 10-12 custom edited in a private gallery/cd. no prints. this is $100 off my normal mini shoot price…book now! *small family is up to 4 persons*. i’m open to heading outside as well for winter wonderland urban images:) your call! btw, no newborn mini though!..

FEBRUARY 17
10:00-10:45
11:00-11:45
12:00-12:45
1:00-1:45

FEBRUARY 20
10:00-10:45
11:00-11:45
12:00-12:45
1:00-1:45

lucy/minneapolis newborn and natural light photographer

shelley — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:55:11 +0000

whoa…it has been a long time since i did a newborn shoot. crazy long. but, one of my absolute favorite clients and i talked during her pregnancy and i knew she was due during my quiet time so i actually propositioned her to do their newborn photos as i adore them that much:) well…i don’t think she’ll care but she kindly thanked me for the offer but they chose another photographer/someone that they could do the whole baby plan with, as i do seniors most of the year, etc and i gathered this photographer was cheaper as well and i totally understood where they were coming from:) and i wished them the best. well…2 months later, i get the nicest email stating “why fix what is not broken”…and they were hoping i’d still do them as this certain photographer had not even been returning their phone calls, emails, etc…and would i do their photos? heck yeah:) why…? because this family is the nicest and even though newborns are not my specialty i knew it would be a heck of a lot of fun too-and i’d get them some adorable images:) well…yesterday was the day and my, oh my…newborns are a ton of work…and i have all admiration to photographers who do newborns each and every day:) i did their shoot in the studio and it helped that we had great light on such a dark, cloudy day and that all of my stuff was already there in the storage room!!! miss lucy slept great upon her arrival but then not so much after that:( anyways…without further ado…just a sneak peek from yesterday. i won’t be showing anymore until later this weekend or early next week and only after i have permission from her parents…just in case they are saving some images for their birth announcements too!

LOVE the name lucy:) thanks H family for being so great yesterday!

on another note…i am headed out the door to visit my dad today and my thoughts and prayers are also with my good friend, becky, as her dad is fighting cancer as comfortably as possible right now in his home. hugs those that you love each and every day:) and celebrate life…i was sooooo honored to photograph miss lucy as it’s great to see a new life enter this big, fabulous world as well:)

allie and madison/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:25:16 +0000

i am out the door for a full day of errands…lots going on in my life in all honesty as my dad has been doctoring and not doing the best. it stinks to have our parents health lessening and we have it on both sides. my dad has myastheniusgravidus and diabetes and my mother in law has alzheimers. i just hung up with my dad and i am heading his way for a visit/lunch on thursday:) i think a lot of his issues are diet and depression related…besides the mg, but it’s tough to meddle in his life…but like i told him this morning “it’s what your daughters are going to do and it’s all out of love”…and then he cried!

here is one quick image for today…just to let my blog readers know that i am here:)

what more can i say?/jenny and sammie/minneapolis boudoir photographer

shelley — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:07:36 +0000

I did a post on jenny earlier this month and she returned to the studio a second time for more boudoir play and this time she brought sammie with her. i did both of their senior pictures in the past…lucky me! back then they did not know each other at all and now they are best of friends…

i adore both of these young women…they are both very special to me…and we had fun together in the studio, and i hope you can tell:) leave them some love please! some images will only be posted here on my blog-per their request…which i always honor!

go grab yourself something to drink…here goes:) can i just say i love my job!

i am still running a valentines day boudoir special…hint, hint! why not?

shelley

my girl/allie/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:54:51 +0000

miss allie at 14. more from this shoot to follow yet this week! she borrowed madison’s fun ear muffs:)

i’d LOVE to do more winter shoots…just saying:)

madison/love me a snow day like today/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:26:52 +0000

this is gorgeous madison…one of allie’s dance teammates and friend:) we did a small shoot in minnetrista today, they froze, but we had some fun too! here is my first edit from their time with me! more to come later this week for sure!

avery/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:57:40 +0000

what can i say…one special teen, and to receive two nominations from one community is huge:) here is the second letter that i received on miss A.

Shelley-
I would like to nominate Avery Pilot. She is my daughter Lizzie’s best friend, so we know her very well. I am AMAZED at the resilience of Avery. She has had to deal with Owen’s illness for 5+ years. Although we know how hard it is on the family, watching Avery through Owen’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Avery has endured a scheduled that is unpredictable with grace. Whether it is being woken up in middle of the night and being dropped at our house or the Reiner’s house, or getting the call at school someone else was picking her up that day… she handles each of these with a positive attitude (just last night, she was here over night, I got a call from Liz at 9:15- ugh) As other kids could have wavered here, Avery excelled – she is in advance classes pulling A’s, she is in honors choir (only one other kid from orono!) and just landed a small part in Les Mes.

Avery is also very talented- from academics to singing and performing. I know she would find your photo shoot to be a real treat and very “dramatic”!!!
She loves the drama and their family has told me over and over they love Hannah’s senior pics- of anyone who would appreciate the photo shoot coupled with the love of your work, it is Avery Pilot and family

Patty Prendergast

a fun one of avery/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:25:44 +0000

and nomination letter #1 that i received on avery!

Hi Shelley,
I’m writing to nominate Avery Pilot as one who is deserving of your photo shoot opportunity.

Avery is an 8th grader at Orono Schools who participates in music and drama there, which happens to be her passion! She was just recently cast in an ensemble for a Bluewater play of Les Miserables. Avery is a very unique 13 year old. She is definitely her own person and wise beyond her years. She has a creative mind and a wonderful caring soul.

But Avery has had a trying life these past few years as she has been dealing with her brother, Owen, battling cancer. Recently Owen just received a bone marrow transplant and is recovery from it right now. Avery has had to deal with much sickness and worry and an unstable everyday family life, as each day holds it’s own surprise when one of your family members has cancer. She has handled it so well and stays strong for Owen, but there are many times I’ve seen her break down about the uncertainty of his future.

As you can imagine, these past 5 years, so much focus has been on her brother and I would just love some special attention for Avery. Something special that she can call her own. The family has had several photo shoots with the focus on Owen, but I think it would be so special for Avery to have something that is just about her!

She would be a great candidate and I’m sure you would have a blast with her as she would totally get into a personal photo shoot! Also, I think she could use some of your photos to put in a portfolio for her acting. She is starting to pursue that seriously and this would be a great start to that!

I could go on and on about this lovely girl!

Thank you for considering my nomination of Avery Pilot!!!

Lynn Reiners

just one edit tonight/minneapolis natural light and boudoir photographer

shelley — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:44:55 +0000

i honestly am about off to bed…but at the same time feel i really should be editing tonight as i have clients waiting! i am single parenting this weekend and until tuesday as my hubby is in vegas with a few of his friends. i honestly have not gotten a thing done work wise between kid stuff. my plan…if i get to bed earlier tonight i will wake up early and kick butt on edits…wish me luck! last night we had plans with friends and today i was in waconia all day with allie at an invitational and jv rocked and i stuck around all day for the awards with pressure from alllie to stay:) orono got 2nd place which is huge as this is the first year they have had a jv team at all!!!!! i knew allie would love dancing for the school…i just knew it…she fought me on this topic the past year, but did try out this winter and made the jv team…and it has been the best thing for her!!! it honestly has been hard balancing dance with homework/family life, etc…but well worth it in the end!

what else do i know…i still have avery edits to finish…but honestly, i only have it in me tonight to edit one image and this is the one i chose from a recent boudoir:) good night and thank you for following my work, and my life! i really do appreciate the traffic here on my little bitty blog!

i am still booking boudoirs and running my valentines day special…holler if you have any questions! honest-they can be as tame as you want them to be, i promise! at my studio OR your home.

sammie/minneapolis natural light and boudoir photographer

shelley — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:30:49 +0000

you may recognize sammie…as i have done two photo shoots of her in the past, both her senior pics and a tame boudoir:) she is friends with jenny-scroll down to see my previous posts this week…and i was blessed with both of them in the studio yesterday! i also did jenny’s senior pics…and she has helped me out with mini shoots, etc as she has an interest in photography. well, actually they both have an interest in photography! anyways…just one of sammie for now and MANY more of both of these young woman next week! check back soon, k?

a serious one/avery/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:16:20 +0000

miss avery was the winner of the free “mini shoot” with me…later this week i will share the nomination letters that i received:) this image is just another sneak peek…urbanized a bit!

more to come soon, i promise!

sue/minneapolis natural light and boudoir photographer

shelley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:12:49 +0000

for my blog readers eyes only! more of sue:) so fun…so witty…so sexy! if you are peeking, please leave her some love! edited to add: one photographer friend already said to me she has a sharon stone look to her:)

i love my job:)

jenny/minneapolis natural light and boudoir photographer

shelley — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:51:24 +0000

gosh…i did jenny’s senior pictures in the past and she has helped me out with some of my family mini shoots…so it was run to re-connect with this gorgeous, young woman in the studio! here are just a few of my absolute favorites from our time together last week!

and lucky me…jenny is coming back to the studio this week and we are going to play one more time:) check back next week for more images of her!

for your eyes/minneapolis boudoir photographer

shelley — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:41:39 +0000

this is my good friend/neighbor and her name is sue! she is truly one of the neatest persons i have ever come across. when i talk about her i honestly say that they broke the mold when they made her and i mean it:) she always has a smile on her face…she is just one of a kind! i have not heard which images she is “okay” with me sharing yet, but i did get her permission to share this one so far! check back later today for more fun stuff from sue’s boudoir shoot with me last week!

this is avery/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:41:38 +0000

she was nominated by TWO people as one special teen/tween deserving of a mini shoot with me!!!! she met me at the studio today…yes, she skipped school a bit:) and this is just a sneak peek of one of her images…more to come next week. i love that she had her hair/make up done prior to coming to her shoot! hello…stunning! her eyes just sparkle:) next week i will do a full blown post on her and i will even include her nomination letters that i got on what makes avery so “special”…i thoroughly enjoyed my hour with her her mom today:) good night for now!

hello gorgeousness!/laura/minneapolis boudoir photographer

shelley — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:35:01 +0000

laura has given me permission to post all of her images from her boudoir shoot with me…and i am going to show you a fantastic sampling for your viewing pleasure! thank you laura! she says she loves all of them and i know that as women we can be our hardest critic…so i take this as a compliment as we definitely took some bloopers-but, i didn’t edit them:) she looks drop dead gorgeous and she said that the one i posted last night of her is her hubby’s favorite…he couldn’t wait, he had to see the private gallery:) i am hoping that i learn and grow and get even better with each boudoir that i shoot, i am thoroughly loving this type of photography and i hope it shows! no matter if a woman is a size 0 or a 14 there are always definitely flattering poses and unflattering ones:)

without further ado…here’s gorgeous laura, if you are peeking, please leave her some love!

it’s shoots like this one that makes me LOVE my job! kudos to you laura:) it was my pleasure!!!

hugs,
shelley

tame and tasteful/minneapolis boudoir photographer

shelley — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:39:42 +0000

that is all i am going to say for tonight:) i am off to bed early! more to follow…more to follow!

boudoirs/perfect valentines gift/minneapolis boudoir photographer

shelley — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:34:59 +0000

boudoirs…i love them…and so do my clients that have done them. i have done a few this past week and i am having so much fun! i let my clients choose how much skin they are comfortable showing and which images i am free to share. be on the lookout for some more boudoir images in the next week..and just a friendly reminder that i am booking now at a reduced rate for valentines day:) i honestly do boudoir pretty tame…and i love letting our imaginations go wild!

kind of reminds me of tom cruise in risky business, how about you?

the H girls/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:01:22 +0000

where have i been? what have i been up to? studio time, another boudoir, ikea, moa dress shopping for allie’s first high school dance with a friend, traveling basketball tournament, a dance competition, etc. you name it it has all happened in the last 4 days. yikes! i finally finished up these girl’s edits and i think they are so, so fun:) here are just a few more of my favorites…i wish i could share them all with you:)

cute, cute, cute!

shelley

alexa/minneapolis natural light and teen photographer

shelley — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:47:13 +0000

just about to head out the door to the bus stop and then the night gets crazy and i was at the studio today working on a few things with my sub leasers:) anyways…one more quick sneak peek from the H girls shoot…here is alexa…such a cutie pie:)

one more of laura/minneapolis boudoir photographer

shelley — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:22:44 +0000

i will be honest and say that i haven’t done that many boudoirs…a handful of them so i don’t feel like an expert in any way. i was flattered when laura said that although she is very shy…she knew that i’d do her boudoir in a tasteful way:) ahhhhh! i always leave the amount of skin showing up to my clients and i truly believe that boudoir is best when images leave us with our imagination brewing on our own. there are so many different types of sexy in my opinion…again, i am almost 50 years old and i probably would have thought otherwise in my twenties:) LOL honestly, i think a women in victoria secret flannels can be as sexy as a thong:) and…an oversized shirt with cleavage showing that belongs to the hubby…perfection:) btw…laura and i did attempt this…more edits for me to do later this week:)

without further ado…one more image as a sneak peek. just look at her eyes:) yum, sexy and sultry!

btw…i do love winter as i will confess that i often have my flannels on by 4 pm if the kids don’t need a ride to and from that night:) i am always cold…i often think i have a thyroid problem?

boudoir sneak peek/laura/minneapolis natural light photographer

shelley — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:22:13 +0000

i am about off to bed…totally wiped out, but since i did a facebook sneak peek i thought i’d to the same thing real quick here tonight. i have so much to say about today…as i had so much fun with laura…and here is just a sexy head shot as a preview of her gorgeousness! be sure to peek back later this week for more:)

good night!