Thursday, August 30, 2012

Saying goodbye to THIS BLOG

I'm excited to have a NEW BLOG to be showcases recent session sneak peeks and updates. That means that THIS blog will no longer be current or up to date, as I'll be posting all new posts on my new and improved blog! SO....please update your RSS feeds and bookmarks so that you're are getting the very latest and current information from Alison Stumpf Photography! You can find the new blog at www.alisonstumpfphotography.com/blog As always, I love to hear your comments and input- questions... so PLEASE don't be afraid to post your comments. The more interaction the more fun! I'm the first to admit as I approach the busiest season of the year, the posts sometimes come sporadically but you can sign up for notifications of new posts and always see the latest on my FB PAGE as well!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Audrey | Senior Pictures- Spirit Lake, Iowa

Audrey is a beautiful girl who is as sweet as the day is long. My children almost grew up with Audrey when her mother provided daycare for my children and consider her an adopted sister. It's always fun to take a great group of girls out on a shoot- especially when they are up for anything. I made a brief appearance at Audrey's house to help her choose some outfits from her closet...and it just goes to show how one doesn't need to spend a lot on new outfits for senior pictures (but of course usually for a young lady that is half the fun). I encouraged her to bring some colorful bracelets, jewelry, hair accessories and we were set! I always enjoy scouting out new locations and though I've shot in Spirit Lake, Iowa before it's amazing what new locations one can find...and even the same locations can look totally different with different light and a different lens, and of course a different model! I'll be shooting Audrey's full session later this summer...so stay tuned for more images of this beautiful JCC senior girl.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Senior Model Session - Miranda | Lakefield, MN Senior Photography

Too many amazing images to choose from! That was the problem I faced when I sat down to grab a few pictures of Miranda. Kari Mertz of Kari Mertz Photography came down to shoot with me and we work so well together we always wish we were a little closer so that we could shoot more together. We seem to have a good artistic ying and yang and have a ton of fun besides. Plus Kari is always game to shoot in the Okoboji area as she thinks it's one of the neatest places around! We started off shooting in some familiar locations, and in the process of doing a U-turn found a neat ole pick up we grabbed a few very quick shots with besides. By this time the light was fading fast so we had to move into a scramble to do all we could before the light was gone. Miranda has the biggest eyes and a suitcase full of adorable clothing and a kind sweet personality that shines through. Stay tuned (is that the right word for a blog?) for more posts from our senior model shoot out in the Iowa Lakes. Adrienne and Audrey from the Senior Class of 2013 are coming up next!! Don't forget to feed the blog! Your comments are always welcome! You can check out ALISON STUMPF PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook for more Senior Photography images, tips and updates!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Vintage Woods Walk Session | Okoboji Parks Children Photography

Vintage Woods Walk seems a fitting title for these images~ I brought a variety of vintage props for this children's session. The Okoboji and Spirit Lake, Iowa - Great Lakes Area offer a variety of great background greenery for the session and Mady and Chase were the perfect models. Even Mady's American Girl doll got in on the shoot. (she proved to be a most cooperative subject as well). The vintage tone to the images add to the nostalgia of the days of childhood...when playing with dolls, tea parties and just having a relaxing day is all part of the summer experience. My own daughter's been complaining of her over-scheuled summer life. I remember my own childhood as being busy, but filled with intermittent days of nothing that allowed time to make mud pies and pick flowers from the garden and having time to just do... nothing. Maybe it's time to grab a doll and take a walk in the woods, or a picnic lunch at a park. I love these images because that is just what they speak to...the sweet nostalgic days of summer.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Your hands tell a story | Art Portraiture | Big Buddies

I've been volunteering my time as a photographer the last couple years to a local organization that is dedicated to pairing adults with kids who would benefit from a one on one mentor and friend. BIG BUDDIES of Jackson County, MN believes that it is the responsibility of adults to provide every child with the resources and opportunities needed to grow and mature. One of their youth projects involves bring youth into local nursing homes to interview residents and learn about their life and interests. It's a great opportunity to build relationships across generations and the kids learn that everyone has a story! The residents stories are written up and framed with a photograph featuring just their hands and an item that related to an important part of their story. The frames are given to residents and are often cherished by them and their families. Here are a few samples of the images captured this past year.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

When's the last time you did family portraits? | Family PIctures Okoboji, Iowa

When is the last time you've had a family portrait done? Hey, trust me-- I understand from a mother's perspective it can sound like a lot of prep work. Finding the right outfits, buffing the kids up all nice and clean. And occasionally dad's have about 25 things on their list that they'd rather do too... but it's one of those things that you never look back at and think, 'Boy, I wish we'd never done that!" In fact, it's always a memory worth making. It's always amazing to me when I look back on my own family portrait how the kids change from one year to the next. I've gotten in the mode of doing at least one of my own every year that I simply don't want to break the cycle now! This lovely family came to me last summer and was delightful to work with. I especially always love cooperative dads! Hey- again...painless, right? Fall is often a time when families' think about doing portraits in preparation for holiday cards and greetings, but summer is a fantastic time as well. Especially in a rural area when the field work is done. Family vacations make a great time when the gang is all together and gathered at the lake home or cabin. If you're a visitor to the Iowa Great Lakes, Okoboji or Arnold's Park- we're only 20 miles away and are willing to come to you if you prefer. Take advantage of the sun, summer tans and family fun to document your family in the Summer of 2012!

Friday, June 1, 2012

2013 SENIOR PICTURES | Jackson, MN Boy Senior Pictures

Senior picture season is gearing up at Alison Stumpf Photography! It's an exciting time for 2013 Seniors....colleges to consider and senior year and for some the last year of their high school career seems a ways off....there's summer jobs and the beach to think about after all! June and July are great months to think about getting your senior portraits scheduled. The light is lovely and there tends to be a little more flexibility in the schedule than when school starts and family sessions begin booking. One of the best compliments I hear after a senior boy sessions is, "Hey, that wasn't so bad...it was actually sorta fun!" Sometimes senior boys aren't thrilled with the idea of senior pictures, but I will say I hear that it 'wasn't so bad' pretty consistently after sessions. After all, you don't just want great professional senior pictures..you want it to be painless as well. It's time to catch up the blog and I thought featuring some of the 2012 seniors would be a timely way to do it. If you're looking at booking a senior session- and do so today thru Monday, June 4th, you'll receive a FREE iphone cover with your session. Check out the ALISON STUMPF PHOTOGRAPHY Facebook page for more information.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Jack 6 months | Fairmont Baby Pictures| Portraits

I've had some happy babies in studio lately. I'm always in awe when moms and dads bring in these happy go lucky little souls who sometimes travel many miles to see me. First, because my own children never sat in a car seat for more than 2 minutes without letting go in a fit, and secondly because it's such an honor to know people are willing to put on the miles to have their baby's and newborn portraits done at our studio. At 6 months old, some babies can sit while others are a bit less stable- so I try to be ready with a variety of ideas depending on baby's abilities and what I have in my mind's eye for creating that day. Jack kept smiling through it all. Since Jack is one of our "Watch Me Grow" Baby planners so he'll receive a collage at the completion of his 12 month session featuring an image at each of his sessions. Even tho I'm a mom of three it always amazes me to see how these little ones change in that year. Creating the baby plan collages are one of my favorite parts of my job. Here are a few peeks of Jack's session.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Layden- Super Baby! | Baby Photography | Okoboji Photography

My last few sessions I've had a rush of SUPER BABIES...Kade was my newborn who could lift his head up already at his newborn shoot and then comes 3 month old Layden who could sit up for a few seconds and even support himself on his legs for a few seconds. What are they putting in the water, uh...milk!? Layden is a little cowpoke and he is a joy to photograph. It's always so amazing how much babies change from that newborn session to the 3 month session when they fill out. It's one of the most significant transformations and it always makes me sad that I never captured the newborn portraits with my oldest two children, which was before I started doing photography. Occassionally someone will say to me that they don't want to do newborn portraits because they 'change so fast anyway" and I think "THAT is exactly WHY you do them!". I love little Layden's big eyes and even though we disrupted his nap he was a little trooper.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Kade's Newborn Portraits | Worthington MN Photography

Little Kade was 9 lbs at birth and he is one of the strongest little baby's I've ever photographed. He held his head up on his own..and he's even rolled over (at home) once already! Look out mom and dad. Not only did I have the privilege of doing Kade's first portrait session, but I have the honor of being his great-aunt as well. Kade started out with eyes that were wide awake but after some cajoling he dozed off and allowed me to do a variety of fun poses. I love combining natural light and studio light in my newborn sessions for a variety of looks. He certainly is a loved little man.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mother- Child Newborn Portraits {Mommy and Me Pictures}

I've been very busy at the studio with newborns this month. It must be spring! Getting in on their baby's pictures is not usually at the top of new mother's lists. There's the sleep depravation, the baby weight that is still hanging around and the time to do one's hair is hard to find. I encourage mother's to put that aside and literally come as they are. Throw the hair in a pony tail and you're good to go. Think about what it will mean to show your baby in a few years just how tiny they were to fit in your arms. The way they look into your eyes like no one else exists. Let the responsibility for your portraits to turn out great rest with me- your photographer. A professional photographer knows how to mold the light to accent what you want and to hide what you don't want to emphasize. I will help you to pose in a way that will FLATTER you. Finally, I use a variety of editing techniques like skin softening so that you can get in on the action of the session without worrying about make-up, hair or anything else. I'm learning that I have time to shoot portrait and manage a business and a family but blogging sometimes takes a back seat at the end of busy days. If you're not a follower of the ALISON STUMPF PHOTOGRAPHY Facebook page, please like us now to get all the updates and sneak peeks that sometimes don't make it to the blog.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Dance 2012- Parisienne Theme March 14, 15 and 17








Thanks to my dance models, I have a few sample images for my 2012 Mini Dance Sessions. I think the White and Grey Paper Flower Parisienne Theme is going to go great with the dancer's costumes and really make the images POP! I had a great response and my Thursday sessions are booked solid, but I have a couple remaining openings for Wed the 14 and Saturday the 17th. In addition to the portrait packages, I have collages, and other boutique offerings as well!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Newborn and Baby Portraits-






It must be spring, or close to it. The babies are showing up at the photography studio for their newborn portraits. I've had some sweeties to work with. Mr. Layden was as sweet as could be and his mommy and daddy were proud parents. Daddy is a farmer and more used to cows than babies..as evidenced when he told me that baby was only fussy when he "needed feed". LOL. He quickly corrected himself but it gave me a chuckle.

Our studio offers baby pictures and newborn pictures utilizing both natural light and studio lighting with a variety of props and looks. Each session is different and all the images are edited for final enhancements for a professional finish. If you know someone who is expecting- please feel free to contact us for information about our maternity, newborn and baby plan portrait packages.