The Breyak Kids

This session was so much fun! It was a blistery Minnesota day but we all toughened up to take a few outdoor pictures. Afterward we came inside, ate some gingerbread cookies, and Annie played the piano for us. I loved getting some candid shots of the kids. One picture that had to be captured was Emma, Jack and Annie all in Santa hats. Mission accomplished! At the end of their session the girls cried out in unison, "Do you babysit!?" They are just adorable. Below are a few of my favorite shots from our session.

Katrina and Brian

Katrina (Katie, to those of you who've known her since high school) and Brian were married on a BEAUTIFUL October day at the Basilica in Minneapolis. The sun was shining with minimal clouds. For this particular wedding we were invited as guests which can be even more fun because instead of taking in all the little moments through your lens and thinking of how best to capture those moments, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the fun. Don't get me wrong—I love what I do. But sometimes it is just fun to attend.

Katie and I have been friends since we were just wee ninth graders. Thanks to the wonderful world of MySpace/Facebook we re-connected after our college years and are once again great pals. She even blessed us with her spectacular voice at our wedding (where Brian sat in the section of pews in front of Katrina where no one else was seated. We will never forget looking down at the crowd and when we couldn't pick out anyone else who attended, we could certainly pick out Brian). The great thing now is that her wonderful husband Brian and my wonderful husband Troy are pals as well, so when the four of us get together we will no doubt have a great time.

Below are a few of my favorite pictures from the day. Katie was such a gorgeous bride. They looked so incredibly happy. We love having them as our friends.

Julie and Jason

September 13, 2008 was the wedding of Julie and Jason Myhre. The weather was less than perfect, but we were still able to get some nice outdoor shots of the bride and groom. By the time the ceremony was over the sun did peek through the clouds for a bit. This couple is perfect for each other. Before the ceremony, Julie read aloud a card she had prepared for Jason. Although I don't know them as well as the bridesmaids do, I couldn't help but get a little choked up. Julie and Jason truly are each other's best friends. I loved how Julie and Jason included Troy and I in their festivities as if we were part of their wedding party, and not just their photographers. Couples like Julie and Jason make me love my job! Below are some of my favorite photographs of the day.

Katie and Jeremy

Oh my was this session fun! Katie and I were college roommates at St. Cloud State University, and I remember the day that Jeremy asked if she would be his girlfriend (we were driving in downtown St. Cloud coming back from Chipotle). I will never forget that great big smile on her face. The good old days. I love seeing the two of them together all these years later, still making each other laugh. Troy and I went to the farm that Katie and Jeremy now live on for their session. It was a gorgeous day! Jeremy is an avid hunter so we also did some shots in their hunting gear. Of course, the session wouldn't be complete with out a college roomie picture. Man do we look tough. We always have a good time together, that's for sure! Love you guys!

Kellen and Erin

Engagement sessions are always a lot of fun. Seeing couples together, excited about being together, is a joy. I am always reminded of how much fun our engagement session was—I am reminded of what a wonderful time that was. Engagement sessions are even more fun when you get to do them for friends! Kellen and I have known each other since we were just teenagers in the high school drumline. It was so much fun being able to photograph him with the woman he will spend the rest of his life with! Erin is a doll and they are such a great couple. The weather that day was less than perfect, but the four of us had a blast running around in the drizzle. Their pictures really captured their fun-spirited nature! I even posed with them for a picture. The look on Kellen's face is priceless.

Favorite Seniors of the Summer

We had a lot of great senior portraits to take this summer. Along with the portraits of Richard Marshall, these three stood out the most.

First, there was Jordan. Troy and I ventured to Delano, MN for these pictures. Jordan's house has a lot of great scenery for pictures so we didn't have to go far! He has such a great smile and seemed like a natural in front of the camera. My favorite picture of him is the one below where he is wearing the cowboy hat. He looks like a model.




Next there was Kelsey, a local Prior Lake senior. Kelsey's house is in a beautiful area with great landscaping and a nice wooded area in the back. We started there and then moseyed on over to her grandparent's farm. This place never ended! They had trails, hills, wooded areas, silos, barns, a pond with a cute little white bridge. You name it. Kelsey is very photogenic and her pictures turned out great.





Our last senior session of the season was Carina, another Prior Lake senior. The weather was much too cold to photograph outdoors so we settled for an indoor session. She was so cute and bubbly! Carina was a joy to photograph.



Slots are filling up fast so if you are a junior getting ready to decide on your photographer, give us a call! We would love to get together with you to discuss a customized senior portrait package to fit your needs. 612.964.7731.

Website updates!

Check out all the new updates to my website! More galleries, new pictures, more fun! I hope you like the changes that were made. I always welcome suggestions, so if you have an idea on how to improve our website, please let me know!

More blogging to come soon!

Hope you enjoy the changes!
Ashley