Ok.  So I will be the first to admit that I am horrible about blogging.  I always WANT to.  Does that count?

Well I know it doesn't.  I won't make excuses other than I don't take the time.  I keep myself too busy keeping up with my clients and my business and when I do have a few moments to spare... the computer is the last place I want to be.  I want to be with my family, or outdoors, or reading a good book...  you get the point.  Not that I don't love you...  but hopefully you are busy doing those things too!

But once in a while...  I DO want to catch you up on what's happening in my world...  so here goes!

You would think this year would seem like it has gone on forever...  but I feel like it has flown by!  This pandemic has certainly thrown the world for a loop.  Stepping into such a scary unknown was a challenge.  People either went down a path of fear and concentrating on what they were missing while others decided to be positive and thinking what we were gaining and being proactive in getting through it.  Me?  I am an optimist and chose to have a positive outlook on it all and look for the good things.  Obviously keeping safe was number one.  Covid aside...  I actually had one of the best years with my business.  I cannot complain.  Here are some of the highlights:

In March, I rolled out my FAB50 Campaign (link here) to photograph 50 women over the age of 50.  I realized that our demographic often gets overlooked and pigeon holed in society for being irrelevant.  Well I am here to tell you that we are NOT.  We are strong, sexy and fabulous!  I wanted to celebrate us by photographing these women who all deserve it and in the end, celebrate with a fun gallery display to share with everyone who loves and supports us.  I had an overwhelming response and had over 40 women sign up from the start.  I had over 20 sessions already booked complete with hair & make up when BOOM... shut down.  So I had to postpone everyone till after my summer senior season in the fall.  By the time I was going to start rebooking everyone... the numbers started going up again and I decided that we will wait until next year to resume.  Everyones safety is my number one priority... and we are only getting better with age... so it's all good!

I had a very busy summer with some of the most amazing high school seniors!  My calendar filled up and I enjoyed every session.  We didn't let Covid stop us! Luckily most of these sessions are outdoors so the distancing thing wasn't really an issue.  But these kids are going through so much this year losing most of the best part of their senior year... so I wanted these sessions to be fun and to create some amazing images for them.  I am honored to be a part of their senior year!

2020 awards & competition season has come to a close and I have to tell you... I am SO honored to have won several great titles and awards.  I have worked very hard the past few years to start creating more artful images (link here) and to really grow as an artist.  I feel I have so far to go...  but I have a great start.  Thank you to all of my clients and models who helped me gain these accomplishments by letting me photograph you and try out my crazy ideas.

Here is my 2020 awards & accomplishments

JANUARY 2020

The Portrait Masters (international awards and accreditation)

Received 3 silver awards

Earned my Masters

FEBRUARY 2020

SYNC (Senior & Youth National Conference)

Photographer of the Year

1st Place Senior Girl/Studio Image

1st Place Senior Guy/Location Image

JULY 2020

THE PORTRAIT MASTERS (international awards & accreditation)

10 Silvers

OCTOBER 2020

THE RISE PHOTO AWARDS (international)

Peoples Choice Award

7 Silvers

DECEMBER 2020

TCPPA (Twin Cities Professional Photographers Association)

Photographer of the Year (non master)

Senior Photographer of the Year

Beauty/Boudoir Photographer of the Year

Pet Photographer of the Year

2 Judges Choice Awards

MN Top 10 Photographer

As if that all wasn't exciting enough, I had several images appear in national and international magazines:

SHUTTER MAGAZINE - January, April, September, October, December

SENIOR YEAR MAGAZINE - Best of the year

SENIOR STYLE GUIDE - Hot 100

SENIOR INSPIRE MAGAZINE

MODERN TEEN STYLE - 25 Most Influential Teen Photographers

TEEN YEARS MAGAZINE

SENIOR SZN MAGAZINE



Oh... and I have a new grandson! Being a grandma to these two cuties is the best ever!

I don't think it can get any better than that!

I wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season! I hope you enjoy whomever you get to spend the holidays with. I wish you many blessings for the new year and lets rock 2021!

xo

annie

I guess it was only a matter of time.

5 years ago when I went through the huge change in my business where I gave up my beautiful big studio in Excelsior and traded it in for shorter commutes, a studio share, working from home and on location sessions... I didn't realize I would be missing anything. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE the way my business runs now as I get to take on less clients and give them more of "ME". I get to spend more time with my family which was huge for me... I got my work/life balance back.

But I didn't realize that I would miss studio fine art portraiture so much. You know the kind... the artful, styled, mood based portraits that transcend time. The kind we have been enjoying for centuries in old masters paintings. I feel that with this digital age... we have gotten so used to selfies and quick snapshots that we have lost the love for fine art portraiture. Even I get swept up in creating the fun & energetic lifestyle sessions for clients which I truly love with a passion. But I got away from the true art of classic photography.

So I am bringing it back! I am now offering that timeless, classic, Rembrandt style of portraits. If that's your thing... then read on. If not... then I am happy to come and get silly as we capture fun images of you or your family. But I also want to be true to the other part of my heart.

These sessions are different in that together, we will plan the stylization of your images. These portraits have an end game in mind as we are shooting for a masterpiece. Sessions are for individuals, siblings or families and each person will be carefully styled to give that timeless look. I will provide outfits and props or give you suggestions of what to bring. Together we will create classic images for you to treasure forever. 

Feel free to click the link below for more details on the fine art sessions!

xoxo

annie