Photography by Kari Blog-- Southeastern Minnesota Senior, Children, Newborn, Maternity, Engagement, Family photographer. Updates and recent photoshoots from Photography by Kari. Photography by Kari is located in Spring Valley, MN.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Yard Signs {SE MN Portrait Photographer}

Parents and the seniors in the Class of 2020, as well as those students in spring sports, are feeling the sting of this pandemic in a harsh way. While many people are missing out on major events right now, we decided to come up with a way people can show their support. We created these yard signs as a way to boost our grads and spring athletes!

You can celebrate your senior or spring athlete by purchasing a custom 24″x18″ yard sign with a stake and setting up a time to pick them up with no contact, you let me know when you are coming and I will set it outside on our table at my house for you to grab.

They are customizable to school and sport and can be generic with just school colors and your mascot or you can send a PERSONAL photo to use (can not be a professional photo) or if you’ve had your photos done with Photography by Kari, we can add one of those.

As I was getting this post together, I thought I could also make designs for honor healthcare workers, truckers, grocery workers, teachers, first responders, etc. Just let me know and I can make a design.

Click here to order: https://photographybykari.com/store/index.php…

First sign – $25 plus MN and Fillmore county sales tax. 2 or 3 of the same design – $20 each plus MN and Fillmore county sales tax.. 4 or more of the same design – $15 each plus MN and Fillmore county sales tax.

***Please order by April 15, 2020. Fulfillment of orders is contingent upon the printer continuing to produce signs. If we are unable to fill any orders full refunds will be made immediately.***

Tags: 2020, Kari McGill, Photography by Kari, Rochester MN Portraits, SE MN Portrait Photographer, senior 2020, Senior Photography, Senior Photos, Senior Portraits, Southeast MN Portrait Photographer, Southeast MN senior portraits, Sports

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Monday, April 6, 2020

Chateau de Chic {SE MN Commercial Portrait Photographer}

My next small business spotlight for my clients is the amazing Jenn Slifka and her 3 small businesses. Jenn and I have collaborated together now for I think at least 12 years, maybe longer. Jenn is one of the most hardworking women I know and she loves to give back to her community and also strives to make sure all the small businesses in Spring Valley, MN thrive.

Jenn owns Chateau de Chic in Spring Valley, MN, a full-service salon plus spa offerings, hair, skin, nail, tan, cut, color, facials, peels, pedicures, manicures, and gel color. They also carry Moroccan Oil, Kevin Murphy, Eleven hair products as well as other pro product.

We have done photos for her salon, Chateau de Chic, including team photos of everyone who works to photos of models getting their hair and makeup done to the before and after of models and makeovers they have done. We have also captured family portraits for her, her husband and their 3 boys and also had the honor of capturing her wedding party after she and husband had gotten married in California and then had a party for friends and family.

If you are in need of any hair product, got to their online store, www.chicbychateau.com, or message them on their Facebook page to order for curbside pickup.

In addition to Chateau de Chic, Jenn owns a boutique in Spring Valley, MN, Chic by Chateau. Chic carries a variety of latest trends from clothing to accessories to home and gift items. At Chic right now, they are having a 12 days of COVID sales. Through this week, use code SALE20 for an additional 20% off ALL items, including the sale items which are already marked down 60%-80%!! Also, anytime you spend $100 you automatically get FREE shipping!! Furthermore, they are available for store pickups. You can find these sales at www.chicbychateau.com. Also, be sure to check their Facebook page daily for their 12 days of Covid sales.

Lastly, Jenn and her husband, Alex Slifka are working on opening Stellar 181 Taphouse in Spring Valley, MN. They are currently remodeling the building, you can follow their progress and see some of the treasures they have found at the building during demo on their Facebook page.

Here are some photos that we have done and I don’t believe have ever made there way to social media…. Enjoy and please be sure to check out what all Jenn and her team have to offer.

Women standing at Chateau de Chic counter

Chateau de Chic ladies dressed in vintage

Tags: 2020, Chateau de Chic, commercial photography, Kari McGill, mn, Photography by Kari, Rochester MN Portraits, se mn family portrait photographer, SE MN Portrait Photographer, Spring Valley

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Friday, March 27, 2020

Rack’s Bar & Grill {Spring Valley MN Infant Portrait Photographer}

Woohoo! It’s Friday! We made it through another week!

Today I want to share another client that owns a small family-owned and run business, Rack’s Bar and Grill in Spring Valley, MN. Once again, this family has been a client of mine for many years. I think probably since Photography by Kari opened 15 years ago. I have had the pleasure to take senior photos of 2 of their children, sports photos, prom photos, family photos and now portraits of their grandchildren as well.

Are you getting tired of eating at home? I know, I am. And am also missing my taco salad from Rack’s. Rack’s will be offering TO-GO orders (curb-side pick-up & delivery) starting March 17th at 5 PM. You will need to pay over the phone with a credit or debit card at the time of order. They won’t be allowing you to come into the building to pay. There is a $20 minimum charge for delivery orders plus a $5 delivery fee. Curbside pick-up there is no minimum charge. The phone number to call for orders is 507.346.1322. Please consider getting take out orders or gift cards if you opt to not do take out right now.

Also, tonight’s special (3/27/20) is a batter-fried fish dinner with choice of potato, corn and a dinner roll for $12.95 each from 5 to 10 PM. I personally am not a fish eater, but I know that I have had many friends rave about their fish.

I have many photos of this family to share and will do so by posting more later in the coming few weeks to share their specials. First up is Mr. I’s 6-month photos. Love his Rack’s hat that his Mom brought for the session….

Tags: 2020, Kari McGill, Photography by Kari, Rochester MN Area Children's Photographer, Rochester MN Portraits, Southeast MN Children's Photographer, Spring Valley MN Children's Portrait Photographer, Spring Valley MN Portrait Photographer

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Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Wolfram Angus Farms {Spring Valley MN Family Portrait Photographer}

During this trying time, the world needs love, healing, and understanding. We love every one of my clients and I am thankful and humbled they have chosen me to capture some of the most precious moments of their lives. With that said and the fact that I have so so many sessions I have never blogged. SO last night I was thinking about what I was going to do with my time and one thing was to blog. Then I decided I would also showcase my clients who also have a small business and could use our help during this time or maybe they have something to offer that someone may need.

First up is the Wolfgram Family. I have been honored to be taking their portraits since maternity photos with their eldest daughter, Miss A, who is now 6. I adore this family. The girls are at the studio so often that they just come in and make themselves to home, which we love. They also always have a million things to tell us when they get in the door or if we see them out and about around town.

Over the last almost 7 years, they have become friends as well. I recently got a new phone and had to transfer my texts as it had put everything in twice when I first transferred everything over. So I had to go about it differently and noticed that 7, 300 and some out of 35,000 were with Larissa. lol We apparently text often. We text about random things, shoots and about getting meat from their small business, Wolfgram Angus Farms. They have a farm in Spring Valley, MN where they raise Angus beef cattle. The cattle are completely raised on their family farm with no growth hormones, and are fed corn, oats, and hay.

We’ve been getting our ground beef from them for the past year and it is the best. It crumbles so easily and there is not a lot of fat to take off after cooking it. I highly recommend it. They currently have meat bundles available: 3 pound roast, a pack of 2 steaks, and 8 pounds of hamburger for $85. Choose from round, rump, arm or chuck roast, and T-bone, ribeye, or top sirloin steak. If you’d like to get a bundle, click on the facebook link above or call Brady at (507) 251-5362 .

With all that said here are some of the most recent photos of their family…. I also need to share photos of Miss A’s and Miss E’s yearly photos, too. So will do that another time this month.

Family of 5 with black and red plaid on wood background

Tags: 2020, Family Photography, Kari McGill, Photography by Kari, se mn family portrait photographer, Southeast Minnesota Family Photographer, Spring Valley MN Children's Portrait Photographer, Spring Valley MN Portrait Photographer

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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The Front Door Selfie {SE MN Portrait Photographer}

Wow, what a year we are having so far and it’s only March, still!! How is everyone doing?

As I sit here looking at my camera… I am a bit sad. It has been 9 days since we had to put our businesses on hold with any sessions for the safety of our clients, me and Andrea and for everyone to do our part in flattening the curve. I would never forgive myself if any of our clients ended up contracting this virus, or God forbid lose a loved one because we allowed transmission. Furthermore, Andrea is also at a higher risk as she is pregnant. Lastly, I’m also high risk as I have a lower lung function and also no diaphragm muscles to cough well.

We’ve never gone more than a week in these last 15 years without working with my wonderful clients. We miss you!
I want to be able to do something to help and I have seen many photographers doing family portraits on the family’s front steps(#thefrontstepsproject) and doing them with no contact and at a safe distance, Such a fun idea. However, since I’m higher risk as well as Andrea, I decided to not do these. Then this morning I saw a great idea from Always Happy Life Photography…. The Front Door Selfie.

You stay home with your family, take a selfie for now, then make a donation to a charity that is serving your community in this time of need. Then when it’s safe, I’ll schedule a time to come do a quick five minute family portrait session of you and your family with your front door. We will do these in a 25 mile radius of Spring Valley.

In Becky’s words, “you see, we really all need to just stay home right now to flatten the curve for Covid-19. There really isn’t any denying it and I want to do my part. But I also love the idea of capturing families, since that is my favorite type of session! We are all home with family right now, so it’s easy to get everyone in for a quick selfie and everyone has a front door. We also need to see our friend’s and family’s faces on social media, because the connection helps. Thus “The Front Door Selfie” #thefrontdoorselfie was born!”

Here’s how you participate:
1) Send a selfie of you and your family to me in front of your front door to kari@photographybykari.com with Covid-19 in the subject line and let me know you’re in! It can be from inside your front door or outside…or any door in your home or it could be a photo of what you are doing to keep your self busy! Also include a receipt from a donation to your charity of choice with a note that says #thefrontdoorselfie
2) Let me know if I have permission to share your selfie and I will!
3) When Covid-19 is not a worry any longer for any of us, I’ll reach out and set up a quick session (five minutes!) with you to photograph your family in front of your front door. You’ll receive a digital file of your family in front of your front door for taking part in this community movement.
4) Everyone who participates will also be entered into a drawing to win a Standard Session, which includes a $50 print credit. Drawing date will be determined at a later date once everything has settled down.

Lastly, we are still taking orders for sessions already completed. We are drop shipping straight to your house, at no cost to you. And if you’re needing graduation invitations, we can get them designed now and add the date later. Currently, the 2-sided and 4-sided are on sale BOGO ( buy a pack of 25, get a pack of 25) until May 1, 2020
I appreciate your patience, understanding and most importantly your support during this difficult time. We are all in this together!! Sending everyone prayers and positive thoughts!! Stay safe. May we all get back to our normal lives soon.

Here are our selfies to start us off.
P.S. Don’t laugh too hard at my selfies. Tried with Maverick, but it was a fail. So I did one by myself and shared my fails. 😉 Yes, Maverick is on my lap(crazy puppy), but would not cooperate with me nor were my arms long enough to take a selfie.

Tags: 2020, Kari McGill, Photography by Kari

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