Ty’s senior photo session was the perfect combination of meaningful and uniquely him. We explored the beautiful trails and structures atForestville State Park— a scenic location for senior photography in Southeast Minnesota.
From the wooded paths to the historic bridges and buildings, Forestville gave us a variety of rich textures and backgrounds for Ty’s portraits. We even captured a few photos with his sister during the session.
As a member of the Stewartville High School Trap Shooting Team, Ty incorporated his trap shooting gear and awards into the session. One of the most touching moments came when he posed with a gun that once belonged to his grandfather—a powerful tribute and one of my favorite shots from the day.
To finish off the evening, we headed out to the open road just in time for golden hour. With the sun setting behind us, we captured some epic shots of Ty with his motorcycle and truck—two things that really reflect his current chapter in life. The combination of light and the landscape, made for a perfect ending to an unforgettable session.
Looking for Stewartville MN Senior Photography?
Whether you’re wanting rustic outdoor photos, meaningful props, or a session that truly captures your senior’s personality, I’d love to help create a one-of-a-kind experience. Ty’s session is a great example of how we can blend interests, family history, and beautiful Minnesota scenery all in one shoot. Click here to explore senior session options
Senior portraits should reflect personality, passion, and style—and Alex’s session was the perfect blend of all three! We split his shoot between a dramatic studio setup and a scenic countryside location just outside of Spring Valley, Minnesota.
We started in the studio with some basketball portraits to highlight Alex playing basketball for Grand Meadow High School. Using smoke and colored gels, we created some dramatic sports portraits that perfectly showcased his love for the game.
Next, we headed to the country to catch the warm, golden tones of sunset. Surrounded by tall grasses, rustic fences, and wide-open skies, Alex relaxed into the more natural part of the session. These outdoor portraits gave us a beautiful contrast to the studio shots—laid-back, earthy, and full of light.
One of the most memorable moments? During a squatting pose, Alex lost his balance and took a little tumble. But it was totally worth it—we captured one of the best smiles of the night. That photo absolutely made the final gallery and is a perfect reminder that sometimes, the unplanned moments are the most genuine.
If you’re searching for a senior photographer in Spring Valley, MN, I’d love to help create a session that feels true to your senior—whether it’s bold, relaxed, or a little bit of both. From studio sports portraits to natural outdoor locations, we’ll make something unforgettable. Click here to explore session options
Senior sessions are always a highlight of my year—especially when I get to photograph someone I’ve taken photos of before! Elliot’s senior session took place both in my studio and outside around downtown Spring Valley, Minnesota. We captured a great mix of photos.
To make the session even more memorable, Elliot brought along his snowboard for a few photos. I love when seniors include something that reflects who they are right now. Whether it’s a hobby, sport, or favorite item, it helps personalize the session and makes their senior pictures even more meaningful.
This wasn’t my first time working with Elliot’s family. Years ago, I had the pleasure of photographing his sister’s senior photos and even captured baby photos of Elliot when he was just a little guy. It’s such an honor to see families return year after year for milestone portraits—it’s one of the most rewarding parts of being a portrait photographer in Spring Valley.
If you’re looking for a custom senior photography experience in Southeast Minnesota—whether in studio, on location, or both—I’d love to help you create something special!
Ready to book your senior session? Visit my Session Options Page to explore session options for a senior portrait session.
??Celebrating 20 Years as a SE MN Portrait Photographer??
I guess I shouldn’t let February get away without celebrating our 20th-year anniversary in business as a portrait photographer in Southeast Minnesota! It has been an incredible 20 years capturing cherished memories of families, seniors, sports teams, newborns, couples, and pets through the years.
Journey of Photography by Kari
My journey in photography began with capturing sports action photos for my cousins to use in their scrapbooks. Soon, friends who were getting engaged and having babies started asking me to document these special moments, which led me to begin photographing portraits. These clicks of the camera turned into a business.
I started with digital photography with a Canon 5D, focusing on natural light outdoor sessions and using our quonset shed on the farm, as well as our living room, as my studio when I started incorporating backdrops and lighting into indoor sessions. Then, in 2010, I rented a building in Spring Valley, MN, for my studio, and I have been there ever since.
Over the years, photography has evolved, and I’ve been dedicated to growing with it. I’ve embraced new technology and dabbled with trends while maintaining my timeless signature style. One of the greatest joys in my career has been photographing people multiple times throughout their life. I have been able to capture people at their newborn sessions and then again at their senior portraits. I have even done photos of seniors, then their newborns, and this summer I will have done my cousin’s senior portraits, his son’s newborn photos, and then will do his senior session. Crazy! It’s always so fun to see how they have grown and changed over the years.
Thank You for 20 Amazing Years!
Reaching this milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my clients, family, and the Southeast Minnesota community. Most importantly, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of my assistants—both past and present—who have been my arms and legs throughout this journey. I could not do this without them. Their dedication, creativity, and willingness to help in every aspect of the business have allowed me to continue doing what I love. From setting up lighting, adjusting poses, capturing the perfect angle, creating props, cleaning the studio to doing bookwork, my assistants have been instrumental in every step of the process, and I am forever grateful for their support.
If you’ve visited the studio and seen the photos lining the walls, you know I couldn’t limit myself to just a few client photos or images with my assistants over the years to share, so I put together a collage featuring my cousins, Connor and Courtney, along with two of our dogs instead. Although every family member has served as a model or assistant at one time or another, Connor, Courtney, and our dogs have likely spent the most time both in front of and behind my camera. Their photos have documented not only my growth as a photographer but also how photography captures change over time. My family’s patience, love, and support on this journey mean the world to me.
Thank you for allowing Photography by Kari to be part of your lives, whether by trusting me to capture your most precious memories or simply following our page to enjoy the photos. I am excited for what the future holds and look forward to continuing to provide beautiful, heartfelt portraits for many more years to come.
Celebrating Back-to-Back State Champions: Stewartville High School Football
It’s hard to believe it’s already been just over a week since the Stewartville High School football team clinched the Minnesota Class 3A Prep Bowl State Championship for the second year in a row and the excitement still lingers!
Capturing the Moments That Matter
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take pre-game photos of my cousin Collin this year—I caught a cold after my first weekend of Christmas Minis and didn’t want to risk him getting sick before the big game. However, this week, we finally had the chance to capture his portraits. These photos were a long time coming, as we weren’t able to take any last year after the state championship as I landed in the hospital for a few days after surgery and Collin needed to hand in his uniform.
We’ve been eagerly looking forward to taking these photos—not just for Collin but also for my uncle, who proudly displays photos of his family in his shop. Now, he can hang banners of both his grandsons, who have each been part of state championship teams. Collin and his cousin Connor, who was on Chatfield’s 2021 championship team, have made the family incredibly proud. For Collin’s banner, we created a design to complement the one I made for Connor after the Chatfield Gophers’ big win. It’s been an honor to help preserve these memories for our family and celebrate the hard work and achievements of both Collin and Connor!
Hard Work, Big Dreams, and Small-Town Pride
Being a sports photographer in Southeast Minnesota means I get to witness firsthand the passion and dedication these athletes pour into their sport. The Stewartville football team’s back-to-back state titles are a result of countless hours of practice, grit, and perseverance. As a sports photographer based in Stewartville, MN, I’ve had the privilege of capturing moments from some of the most hardworking and dedicated athletes in the region. Watching these teams achieve their goals is not only a joy for the players and coaches but also for the families, friends, and entire communities that rally behind them. These victories don’t just belong to the players—they’re shared by the entire community. It’s truly inspiring to see how sports bring people together to celebrate resilience, teamwork, and triumph.
The Value of Sports Photography
As a SE MN sports team photographer, moments like these remind me why I love what I do. Whether it’s team banners, individual portraits, or action shots on the field, sports photography captures the heart and spirit of the game. It freezes a moment in time, allowing players and their supporters to relive the pride and excitement of their achievements. Each photo is a reminder of the hard work, dedication, and memories made on and off the field.
To the Stewartville High School football team, congratulations on an incredible season and back-to-back state titles! You’ve made your community proud, created memories that will last a lifetime, and inspired the next generation of athletes.
Congratulations to the Stewartville Tigers!
To the Stewartville High School football team, congratulations on an incredible season and back-to-back state titles! You’ve made your community proud, created memories that will last a lifetime, and inspired the next generation of athletes.
For inquiries about sports photography in Stewartville, MN, or to book a session for your team, feel free to reach out. I specialize in capturing team banners, individual portraits, and game-day action shots throughout Southeast Minnesota. Let’s create something your team will treasure forever!
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.
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