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National Adorable Children and Pawsitively Adorable Contest Winners {SE MN Photographer}

We are proud to announce we had 9 winners in the National portion of the Adorable Children and Pawsitively Adorable contests. The National portion of the contest took place at the lab and was judged by a panel of judges based on quality, appearance, charm, expression, and personality.

In the National Pawsitively Adorable contest…

We had First Place for Me & My Human. They won a $100 Visa gift card.

We had Second Place for Newborns. They won a $75 Visa Gift Card.

We had a Third Place for Dogs. They won a $50 Visa Gift Card.

We had an Honorable Mention for dogs. Super exciting as this is my dog, Maverick. We won a $25 Visa Gift Card.

We had an Honorable Mention in Buddies. They won a $25 Visa Gift Card.

In the National Adorable Children contest…..

We had a Second Place for Bloopers. They won a $75 Visa Gift Card.

We had a Third Place for Bloopers. They won a $50 Visa Gift Card.

We had a Third Place for 13 Months- 2 Years. They won a $50 Visa Gift Card.

We had an Honorable Mention for 9-12 Years. They won a $25 Visa Gift Card.

The lab where these took place is having some website issues, but as soon as we can see the other winners, I will post them here, too. Congratulations, everyone! Thanks for participating and voting! =)

And since we did not do the local portion of the Pawsitively Adorable as it was mostly my assistant’s dogs and family pets, and I had not posted the Pawsitively Adorable images, these are the other images we submitted. So they each received a 16×20 print from their session.

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MN Toddler Portrait {MN Portrait Photographer}

Capturing the Joy of Childhood: A 2-Year-Old’s Portrait Session in Spring Valley, MN!

Here are a few of our favorite photos from a recent portrait session with an adorable 2-year-old girl in our studio.

Dressed in a cute outfit from our studio closet, specially curated for our young clients, this little princess stole the show with her big brown eyes and the most beautiful curly hair we’ve ever seen!

As the session began, it started in typical 2-year-old fashion – she was a bit shy, often hiding her face whenever the camera came out. But we knew just the trick to bring out her natural joy and curiosity after our other tricks failed – a balloon! The balloon worked like a charm, bringing out her playful side and creating moments of pure joy and laughter bringing out the most beautiful smiles and expressions. We captured some great photos that truly reflect the innocence and wonder of childhood.

Moments like these remind us why we love what we do. Capturing the magic of childhood and freezing those precious moments in time is an absolute privilege. Thank you to this adorable 2-year-old and her family for letting us capture these photos.

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Newborn Portrait Session {SE MN Newborn Photographer}

This newborn portrait session was not just about capturing beautiful images but also about celebrating family bonds and cherished memories.

My cousin and her family visited our studio now as a family of four, with a proud big sister, Miss B, who was eager to welcome her baby brother into the world. The family chose to wear shades of blue, creating a cohesive and timeless look that added a special touch to the photos.

One of the most meaningful portraits of this session was the inclusion of a cherished family heirloom – Mom’s Dad’s guitar. This guitar holds immense sentimental value as Grandpa passed away, making it a precious memento of his legacy and the time his family enjoyed listening to him play his guitar. The guitar was also used in newborn photos of big sister Miss B four years ago, creating a beautiful connection between the two siblings and their family history.

Capturing these moments was not just about creating newborn portraits but also about preserving memories and honoring loved ones, creating images that will be treasured for generations to come.

Lastly, the newborn guitar image is a composite to keep Mr. H totally safe.

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Kingsland Athletic Booster Club Posters {SE MN Sports Posters}

The Kingsland Athletic Booster Club 2024 Spring 10×20 banner photos are available and this year we added being able to purchase the individuals with different backgrounds. $10 of each team banner photo will go back to KABC.

We are using the same site used this fall and winter for orders. If you have a student on the team, you will/should have received an email from the coach/advisor with the link, access code, and 2 PDF files, one is a step-by-step on how to order and the other has a code for free shipping. I also added a video walkthrough if you are having trouble ordering.

The gallery will expire, on Sunday, May 12th, 2024.

These orders will also be shipped directly to you from the lab. These orders are sent automatically to the lab, we will not see them, so no changes can be made once an order has been placed. Please double-check your order and crop of photos before completing your order.Only order the team photos as 10×20’s, if you order as another size, it will cut the photo off as shown in the preview

before confirming, what you see on the confirmation screen is what you will get.

If you have any questions or did not get the email from the coach/advisor, please let me know.

2024 Kingsland Trap Team Poster taken and composited by Kari McGill
2024 GMLOK Softball Team Poster taken and composited by Kari McGill
2024 GMLOKS TrackTeam Poster taken and composited by Kari McGill

If you are looking for a Team Posters for your sports team, be sure to reach out and let me know. We would love to photograph your team.

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Capturing the Strength and Determination of Young Girl Wrestlers {MN Sports Photographer}

We had the incredible opportunity to photograph a recent sports portrait session featuring two exceptional young girl wrestlers. What made this session even more unique was the use of smoke and gels to create dynamic and captivating images.

Today they wrestled at NYWA Girls State and they both placed 2nd! This achievement is a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and the unwavering support of their coaches, families, and teammates.

Girl wrestlers are breaking barriers and redefining what it means to be strong and resilient, and I am grateful to have been able to capture a glimpse of their journey through my lens.

Additionally, one of the girls is also involved in dance, so I crafted a unique half-and-half image to showcase her love for both sports.

Here’s to celebrating the incredible achievements of these young athletes and honoring their inspiring commitment to excellence!

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A Watch Me Grow Session {MN Portrait Photographer}

This post will be a little different as we  take a trip down memory lane, featuring not only the beautiful photos from a 3 month  Watch Me Grow  portrait session but also the newborn and maternity sessions. 

Maternity Session

This Watch Me Grow Session with this adorable family started with the sweet anticipation of welcoming a new member. Before Miss M’s arrival, we had the pleasure of documenting the radiant glow of the expectant mother during her maternity session. The picturesque Spring Valley, MN landscape served as the perfect backdrop for capturing the excitement and anticipation that comes with the imminent arrival of a little one. Check out the beautiful photos taken in Spring Valley, MN that showcase the love and excitement surrounding this growing family.

Welcoming Baby – Newborn Portrait Session

Fast forward to Miss M’s newborn session, where we immortalized the tiny features and delicate details that make every newborn unique. The newborn session captured the essence of those early days – the delicate features, tiny fingers, and the overwhelming love that radiated from the parents and the new and very proud big brother. These timeless images are a testament to the joy and innocence that come with the arrival of a newborn.

A Delayed Watch Me Grow Session

Finally, the day arrived for Miss M’s Watch Me Grow 3 Month session, it was a little late from my recovery from surgery and then sickness at their house.  Nevertheless, it evolved into a heartwarming 4-Month Watch Me Grow session. From tummy time that she did not enjoy to adorable expressions, the session beautifully documented Miss M’s developing personality, from those initial smiles to the adorable milestones achieved in just four short months.

Creating Lasting Memories

Every photo session is an opportunity to freeze moments in time. Our goal is to provide families with timeless memories that will be cherished for years to come. Miss M’s Watch Me Grow journey over the past four months vividly illustrates the remarkable changes and growth. These images serve as cherished keepsakes that will be fondly remembered for years to come.

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Photography by Kari specializes in custom portraiture of newborn, family, children sports team banners, dog, and high school seniors in Spring Valley, MN, and surrounding Southeast Minnesota areas.

Areas, including, but not limited to, Rochester, Preston, Chatfield, Stewartville, Grand Meadow, LeRoy, Ostrander, Kasson, Hayfield, Plainview, St. Charles and Pine Island.

Southeast Minnesota based photographer.

specializing in newborn, family, children, and senior photography.

located in sPRING vALLEY, mn

TELEPHONE :: 507.951.0640

E-MAil :: kari@photographybykari.com