FOR THE DARLING
WHO DARE TO SLOW DOWN
Maple Grove Family Lifestyle Photography for the Playful
Call it cliché, but seriously. I remember being in the hospital like it was yesterday. Much too quickly I watched my five-year-old hang up his backpack before I retreated to the bathroom to stifle a scream cry. I can't be the only one. I'm sure you're also wondering where the time has gone. So let's hit that pause button. Put our phones down. Ignore the goldfish crumbs, messy counters, and mounds of loyal laundry. And take a deep breath together.
'Kara did such a fantastic job of helping all of us feel at ease."
Looking for the Perfectly Posed Family Portrait? You've Come to the Wrong Place.
When you try to create something that's perfect, it comes at a cost. Perfection often strips away the silliness, the genuineness, and the isms. This is especially true for families with young kids.
Creating that perfect family portrait is not my goal. My goal is to capture connection and authentic laughter, and to turn those moments where you think everything is falling apart into your favorite memories.
Lifestyle photos involve some directing and prompting, but it nothing is forced. The emphasis is not on perfect positioning, eyes to the camera, or smiling on cue. I'll have your family interact and connect while doing something simple, like throwing rocks in the water, playing in the sand, enjoying nearby flowers, walking through a field.
The Best Photos Are Beyond the Highlight Reel
Do you feel uncomfortable in front of the camera? Does it sort of feel like you need to perform, and like your hands are somehow on display? What if we stripped all that nonsense away? What if your only job was to simply interact and enjoy your family as you would during any other family outing or date night?
Let me worry about angles and where you should put your hands. You just focus on breathing your family in. Cuddle in, crack some jokes, tickle away, and just be.
You can sip your coffee. We can play some silly word games while exploring some nature. And you're free to think of your photo session as reaping all the benefits of a babysitter while I capture this precious yet chaotic season.
"Despite our awkwardness, our family pictures turned out perfect."
Real Stories Aren't Directed. They're Captured, then Set Free
Documentary and lifestyle photography are not only knowing how to see perfection, but also understanding what it takes to capture it. As your documentarian, I aim to tell the real story, not a fabricated one, in photos.
I love helping people see the beauty of what's already there, without fluff of neatly folded hands or strain and stuffiness of "cheese." I love to nix the rigidity of rules. Spills and spontaneous dancing. Messy faces and dimly lit spaces. It's all welcome.
Some of my all-time favorite pictures are the ones taken when nothings planned and one's expecting it. The first photo I take after the session is "done." The in-between, putting on a coat because it's just too cold to take another photo. The one they didn't know I took: Dad's hand on a new mom's back as they give their new baby a sponge bath on the kitchen table.
— STACIE R.
MINNETONKA, MN
"You listened to everything I said and didn't miss a thing."
A sincere thank you for delivering EXACTLY what I was hoping for you to capture! The photos captured our relationships with each other, all of our personalities and the intense love we have for our sweet fur baby.
"Everyone was in their element."
Kara captured exactly what we wanted to remember about this season of our lives: the chaos, the joy, the laughter, and the pure innocence of being a child. There is not one photo I look back on and think, “Man, that one was stressful to get.”
— KRISTIN P.
ANDOVER, MN
INVESTMENT
A TALE (MOST POPULAR)
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
In-home or outdoors
Limited number of high res edited images
Mobile app & print release
Option to purchase additional images
Option to upgrade collection
$100 retainer required to book
A TIME TO REMEMBER
ALL OUT, BABY!!!
In-home or outdoors
Entire gallery download
Minimum 60 images
Mobile app & print release
$75 album voucher & slideshow
$100 retainer required to book
STARTING AT $439
AVERAGE INVESTMENT $475
A non-refundable $100 retainer is required to book most sessions.
For availability and complete pricing info fill out the contact form.
ALL COLLECTIONS INCLUDE:
Full access to an online gallery
Up to 30 miles travel from Maple Grove, MN
Professionally edited digital images (no. depends on collection)
Option to upgrade your collection &/or purchase additional images
"The session was super relaxed and allowed our goofy selves to shine through in the photos."
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
01
Get in Touch with Kara
Fill out my contact form, and I'll get back to you pretty quick! We'll chat via email or a phone call about what you're looking for and go over your questions. If we're a match we'll set aside a date!
02
Book Your Session
A signed contract and $100 retainer is required to reserve your session date or newborn session time window. We can go over the contract and other details on the phone.
03
Prepare for the Session
You'll fill out a simple form or two so that I can get to know your family a bit! It also gives you a chance to let me know your preferences. Then I'll send along style advice, and we'll work together to choose a location.
04
Receive Your Beautiful Images
Your photos will be ready in just two weeks! You'll make your selections. You can purchase additional images, prints, & canvases through your gallery store.